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Anger suddenly flashed across her face and she frowned. Without even thinking, her hand flashed out in the motion to slap him across the face. "No, you're not the 'fall guy' you're the smart a** who can't learn to watch his MOUTH around Elites."

Rubbing her hand, which now stung from the contact it had made, she glared at him. "Well, obviously you're delusional..." Oh, she hated that she had to hit him like that, but why wasn't he thinking clearly?

"Do you really think that I'd be doing stupid things like going and risking myself by talking to an Elite on a matter that doesn't involve me if I was out to hurt you? Panther, just the other day you were asked me to be your Leading Lady, and I assumed that it's because you trusted me enough... and that you cared about me just like I care about you. Am I wrong about it? Do you not care that you're not the only one being affected by this? Do you...." Her voice faded and she looked down, a knot forming in her throat and her eyes starting to sting that familiar sting. "Do you not care about how I feel?"

"I can't believe... how ******** stupid you are, Panther. And I wonder what that says about me." Her voice shook a little and she laughed rather bitterly as warm tears rolled down her cheeks. "Because, obviously, no matter how much I try to help you, no matter what I'd go to sacrifice for you, you'd never care."

Standing up, she rubbed at her eyes. "I hope you're happy, Panther. I hope that giving up an easy out is worth becoming a janitor for life." Turning and limping away, she paused a few feet away and looked back. "By the way, those where Miss Nadja's words... talking about not having time to play mental games and stuff. She also had mentioned something about being rewarded for going and seeing her, as well as talking a bit with her on your future."

Taking one last look at him, she turned and hobbled herself down the hall, slamming her finger into the elevator button and waiting with her arms crossed. She felt like a fool, having gone so far for someone like him; he really didn't even care at all about anything anymore. The tears continued to run down her cheeks and she stared hard at the doors until they dinged open.

She was going back to her room and going to do her best to forget about him. She couldn't help him anymore than she already did, and she needed to let it all go now. He was on his own now, and that was that.

Elites were busy creatures not given to sitting in their offices, but Panther was in luck. A distracted "Yes," came from the other side of the door.

When Panther opened the door Nadja was at her desk with a slim laptop open in before her, one hand on the keyboard. The other was scanning down the index of a fat reference book. Morning light streamed in through the windows; her Arcanine was making the most of it, lying on its back with its paws in the air, sunbathing.

When the grunt entered the giant fire dog opened an eye to look at him. The elite looked up. "Ah." There might even have been something approaching a smile.

"Very good," the elite replied, and now there was a slight curve to her lips, however brief. "You've earned yourself an afternoon."

The woman gestured to one of the two chairs near her desk and moved her work aside, closing the laptop screen. "Have a seat."

One slim brow arched at the tone and his dismissal of the offered afternoon. "Oh?" Nadja asked lightly. "In that case I'll find someone else to run these supplies from Camphoreon." She gave him a look. "We're here to discuss how to make changes to your behavior. 'Thank you' is a good start."

Moloch rumbled and sniffed at Panther's boots, then snorted. Cleaning chemicals.