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What he wanted to say, desperately, was: they aren't people. They aren't old women, or little kids, because they aren't people. But he didn't say it. As far as other people having problems with it--as far as the suggestion that there might be shades of grey--that was another thing he didn't want to think about. He'd gotten good at not thinking about difficult things, and so he didn't. At least the foul-mouthed Alpha Dog a*****e in front of him wasn't having any internal conflict. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," he deadpanned, and it may have been sarcastic, but almost might not have been.

He also wanted to ask whether the slithering into the head thing was literal, because at this point he had a feeling that wasn't really that unreasonable a question. And he wanted to ask what kind of tablet--the image in his head was an iPad--and he wanted to ask how he'd pick anything and how long he'd been asleep, but he sat on that too, and instead he said the only thing it seemed reasonable and at least somewhat intelligent to say, shoving his hands into his pockets and hunching his shoulders like he was trying to vanish into his own body: "Lead the ******** way, then."

It was almost a relief to deal with someone who wasn't super saccharine or optimistic. This guy gave every impression life had already ground him firmly into the dirt. It was how he'd felt when he arrived, the island a purgatory without definite hope of redemption or light at the end of the tunnel.

He raised a brow at the other man but offered him no other kindnesses, simply led the way to the weapons cave in silence.

He didn't like the way everything the guy said made him feel like he was being defied but he could presumably deal with it after he was armed. There were always priorities.

Candace was close by, ready to catch whoever fell out of the pod. She could remember when she woke up and practically collapsed when her body was suddenly finding itself being released from suspended animation. It was good times. "Morning, pretty lady," she chuckled, keeping her hands out and ready should the girl stumble.

"Easy steps~. My name's Candace, I'm here to catch you if you have trouble waking up," the woman explained kindly. "Well, you're on an island, the home base of Deus Ex Machina. Do you want the extended edition or the abridged explanation?"

"Mhm! Any questions you have, I'm happy to answer. We can walk and talk together, I'll be taking you to pick up your partner and then your division assignment." She nodded at the girl's first question. "An island, we're in the Bermuda Triangle right now. See, you're what's called a Hunter now. We protect humanity against monsters, demons, ghosts, things like that. Everything that goes bump in the night...as well as another race of beings that are currently a much bigger threat than a few monsters." Candace waved a hand as if to say she would explain that later.

Ah, there it was. Who is my partner. Candace chuckled. "I don't know, actually. Everyone's partner is different and no one knows who their partner is until they need them. Mine's Atropos..it's...easier to explain afterward. If you want I can wait for you outside and give you a better explanation when you're all settled and feeling more awake?"

Sometimes Molly did like walking down the rows of eerily sleeping people. She liked to wonder. She looked at all the faces and wondered what their story was to bring them here, or what kind of person that sleeper was. She was idly trailing down one of these aisles, and turned, when movement out of the corner of her eye startled her. Movement in the sleep room…

Well…startled as an understatement.

Molly squealed loudly out of surprise when there was a pod open and a young man taking tentative steps out of it. Ah! A sleep that had just woken up! Molly fanned her heated face with one hand, now feeling awfully embarrassed for getting scared like that. She pressed a hand to her thumping heart, took a deep breath, and then her abundant concern started to kick in.

“I’m so sorry for that!” She greeted, her tone warm. “You gave me quite a scare! I’ve never actually been on duty when someone woke up before!” Jeremy didn’t count, and Molly didn’t have to walk him from the pod. She approached the young man, holding out her hands just in case to steady him.

Molly held onto the sleeper’s hand gently, but firmly, incase the poor kid might topple over. She remembered being rather disoriented when she woke up as well! “Oh, it’s alright!” She assured. “I just wasn’t expecting anyone to be awake, that’s all! My mistake!” Molly beamed at him, responding well to another kind soul. “Oh yes! I’m on sleeper pod duty! I’m here to greet anyone who wakes up! Oh! Which reminds me…!”

With her free hand, Molly fished into her coat pocket, and pulled out a small stack of 3 x 5 in note cards that she had prepared for herself in the event a sleeper wake up.

She then read from them. “Um…welcome to Deus Ex Machina! We’re in the main training facility on an island located in the Bermuda Triangle.” She had to let go of the sleeper’s hand momentarily to flip to a new card. She then resumed holding his hand. “You’re apart of the forces of men and woman who take up arms against the evils that plague the world and go bump in the night!” She flipped her card again. “You’ll received a more detailed explanation later, but until then, I’m to show you to the weapon’s cove, where you’ll meet your partner! Then the next step is to report in for your division assignment! Followed by getting your dorm room!” She smiled at him then, and tucked the cheat cards back into her coat pocket.

“Oh, and my name is Molly! I’m from the Mist Division!”

“It’s so nice to meet you, Dylon! The pleasure is all mine!” Molly gushed happily, and shook his hand as well. “Oh, there are five divisions...or is it six...I keep hearing about an Angel Division..." She hummed, before she dismissed the thought. "Each that do different things! Mist is the…ah…’jack of all trades’ division! We fill in when another division is lacking!” The young woman then paused, and look embarrassed. “Oh, sorry! I didn’t mean to ramble! You’ll learn all this, and much, much more later, I promise!” She beamed at him again.

“Now if you’ll please follow me, I’ll show you to the weapon’s cove…Oh!” She paused again. “But before we go, would you like any hot chocolate or rice krispies treats?” Because Molly always had those on hand for potential wakers.