((OOC: This occurs immediately after the Infiltration Meeting.))

Buddingtonite wasn't quite sure what to think of this little game that Apatite was playing, and while he was usually one for playing a good game, he was in it to win. And he felt like there was really no victory here. There was no winners, only a room filled with either confusion or pure apathy, with the taste of disgust here and there. Buddingtonite wasn't quite sure what to think or make of this little ordeal, but he knew one thing was for certain.

He drew the short end of the stick on this one. Infiltration was perfect for him, on paper. Less chance of breaking into a fight, working good PR work, get allies instead of enemies. And thus far, everything was working out great, until he realized just who his superior ranking officer was. Or rather, the little twit she was. It wasn't that he was upset that she had threatened him with Twilight or had the audacity to consider punishment that came from a book (unless that book was Dante's Inferno, then there was nothing for the captain to fear). It wasn't even how she seemed to talk down to him, an adult that was probably a good ten years older than her.

It was the fact that she didn't seem to be taking this seriously, and demanded respect for it. That's what made Buddingtonite exhale angrily through his nose before forcing himself to appear outwardly calm once more. He had willingly joined a fraction whose leader worshiped a stale-performing actor that wanted nothing to do with the movie he found himself a part of. How odd... that Buddingtonite could almost sympathesize with Pattison? That's what kept him from simply turning around and ripping the poster from the wall. Not because he feared punishment, but because he felt like he had volunteered himself to work under someone who obviously cared more for whatever stupid story was on her little iPad than her duty to the Negaverse.

He heard Osumilite's voice and could sympathize with the complaint he made, but he made no outward comment on the matter. What he wanted to say was 'of course, there's nothing but children here', but he kept the comment to himself. He saw officers around him, younger than him but suspecting that the most of them took their roles seriously. No, best not think ill of them for the poor example that their leader set. Any one of them could do a better job running Infiltration, even the newbie Amethyst. But Buddingtonite kept these bitter thoughts to himself. He could have mingled, and in all honesty, he was looking forward to mingling with his fellow soldiers. Yet, the mood was dead, and he didn't feel like taking part in it.

So, he decided to make his exit, tipping his cap to Amethyst as he made his way towards the door. He would have ample opportunities to meet and mingle with his fellow officers soon enough, assuming they took their new energy gathering quotas seriously. For now, he simply wanted to get the hell out of this place and get a drink. A real drink.

And maybe go buy ALL of the Twilight collection from every book store in Destiny City and have kindle for the rest of his days. Yes, that and bourbon would have certainly put a smile on his face, assuming he couldn't find some poor victim to drain. He had a quota to fill, after all.

(Word Count: 589)