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Katrina Halloran skidded to a halt seconds away from running face first into the mortal form of General King Zinkenite. "Balls." The curse fell easily from her lips, green eyes narrowing in irritation that he'd spotted her again. It wasn't the first time her game of cat and mouse was cut short, and she doubted it would be the last, but each time he caught her she learned something more.

"You slowed down. I thought that meant you might know, but on the off chance you were just feeling paranoid I thought I might have a chance to throw you off." If she'd been able to lull him into a false sense of security she might have continued to observe for a bit longer without getting caught. He was better than that, though. Even out of practice he knew what to watch out for.

"What gave me away this time?" Her brow quirked, demeanor shifting into one of familiarity as she reached over to tear off a piece of his pretzel. If they were going to stand about topside and chat it would be much easier to pretend that they were at least friends.

"I've used it a couple of times to add a bit of temporary color to my hair, but I think there are better ways to go about it. If you're interested I can show you the shop I pick up my boxes of dye at..." She was entirely certain that was notwhat the man had in mind when he asked her opinions on chalk. She was just as certain that she could continue playing 'dumb' for a moment or two for the sake of amusement.

"I told you the last time we played that I thought this sort of game would be better suited for getting you back on your feet and used to the more subtle aspects of our job -- you know, before we get into the grittier parts of it." She was still looking forward to the opportunity to spar against Zinkenite as Tourmaline, certainly, but with activities like this she had a different kind of opportunity to learn.

At the lingering afterthought that she might devour him upon catching him she laughed, just managing not to choke on the bit of pretzel as she chewed and then swallowed. "You needn't worry about me eating you once I've caught you. I'm afraid you aren't my type."

"I am regularly offended by the lack of information readily available to me, but that is why I joined the branch of our office that I did. That is what we're calling it when we're out and about like this, isn't it? I thought I overheard you telling someone earlier -- that you didn't work in the same department, wasn't it?" Likening the Negaverse to an office job amused her. She had never seen herself as the sort for that kind of work. That she'd been able to hold down a semi-regular shift or three at the Sugar Cube to fill in where needed was more than enough rules to follow on the civilian side of things for her.

It was when he continued on to comment about others coming on to him that he had her full attention again, expression alert and more than a bit... Protective?

"Do they not know who you are? Or is it just that they do not care and hope to achieve something of making themselves available? Unless the advances are on the civilian side of things and not "work"?" She made a show of the air quotes, although it did little to wipe the look of distaste from her face. "Do you feign ignorance in regards to it or establish firm boundaries? Assuming you aren't interested in their advances..."

"Katrina, or Ms Halloran if you're insisting on being formal when we're dressed down, please." It might have seemed paranoid of her to insist on such a thing, but anything could have ears and she would prefer not to take any chances. She enjoyed the life that she had built for herself, no matter how strange it might seem to anyone else on the outside.

"And if you need someone to defend your honor, I am certain that I could. Honestly, I am more likely to tell you a thing or two about standing your ground and asserting yourself to put boundaries in place with those who think they've earned that level of comfort-- and if they aren't at least Generals tey haven't earned anything at all." That thought made her own nose wrinkle with distaste once more. No one should assume familiarity that they hadn't been offered the opportunity to take.

"I generally operate under the assumption that unless someone gives me a hard yes I should assume that it's a firm no. It makes life, and relations, a lot easier."

Katrina nibbled on the last bit of the piece of pretzel she'd stolen as she pondered his words, weighing whether or not it would be a wager worth taking. He'd not asked anything of her in return, but the temptation of information just lingering there... A question, just one simple question, could still be a boon.

"Deal." She dusted the pretzel salt from her fingers onto her pants before extending her hand to the blue-haired man. "I'll give you twenty-four hours to establish any other terms in regards to catching you off-guard. You can send them in a memo to my tablet unless you'd prefer to discuss them in person, in which case you know how to contact me..."

Business drifted out of her voice, a bit of softness slipping back in. "You seemed a bit tense just before I caught up with you. Anything you'd like to talk about? Or are we done for today?"

"Hm..." She had feelings in regards to the topic of conversation; a number of loud, opinionated feelings on the matter that she would be only too happy to share were they not out in the open. There were too many risks involved with talking so candidly about affairs of the Negaverse while in an area that anyone could happen by and overhear. The reserved way in which she responded did not stop the flash of borderline violent irritation that flickered through her eyes, however.

"Some like that should be taught lessons. It's.... A relief in a number of ways to have the strength to be able to do so. We could chat more about it somewhere more private, if you'd prefer. I'd like to make a request for an information file either way, if you wouldn't mind." It was always a good thing to have information on potential threats, or annoyances.

"Have you had lunch yet? Beyond your pretzel?"