♖ 2

[vengefulagent]

[this time, Wash arrives on the Plane unarmed, all weapons left safely behind on the Mother of Invention. not that he needed to be armed right then, not during a mission briefing. in fact he would still be there if it weren't for one single reason: someone who should be there isn't. and this fact alone bothers him...]

Where the hell is she?! Damnit, of all the times to come here...

[...probably more than it would have prior to their first gaining access to the Plane. he grumbles a bit under his breath before he regains his composure. he'll just have to search for her and bring her back.]

[while he's here, though, he can take care of another matter. he removes a small datapad from a compartment in his armor, the device's screen glowing softly once he turns it on. it isn't the first time--nor will it be the last--that he's had to do something in secret and keep it from his friends. at least he doesn't have to worry about the insurrectionists and what they might be doing to get into the program, but here...it's another matter entirely. and from the people he's spoken to and what he's seen so far, he's definitely convinced something must be done, especially since he still doesn't know what happened to cause all that noise recently.]

[but he can't do it on his own. so, while he's searching for a certain colleague of his, he can at least speak to people about helping him with a side project. hopefully he can meet people who are interested in protecting others on the Plane...]

Comments

[darkercalling]

[Interested in protecting others on the plane, hmm? Well, here's one. You'll find Riku brooding minding his own business, just outside of the bar. Looks like he's come here to think for a bit.]

[vengefulagent]

[thankfully, the bar is one of the closest places he happens to be near when he first starts looking for her--but he initially walks past Riku, takes a look inside the bar, then comes right back out.]

[under his breath] Damnit...

[turns to Riku] Hey, have you seen another person dressed like me--but only in a lightish purple ad green--come through here very recently?

[darkercalling]

[He looks up when Washington walks by, blinks when he immediately steps back out of the bar. His eyes might be covered by those aviator sunglasses the Doctor gave him, but they don't hide the single raised eyebrow.]

No. Sorry. [Slight headtilt] Want help looking?

[vengefulagent]

[he finds it vaguely curious that he's wearing sunglasses when there is no actual sunlight around, but then again, he can't talk. not when his own visor is polarized and all.]

No, thanks, but...maybe you can help me with something else. Were you around to hear that really loud crashing noise that took place about a week ago?

[darkercalling]

[And Riku's pretty wary of the Plane, but full armor? That's pushing it a little. Oh well...]

Yeah, the "technical difficulties". [And he has a few theories, but... best not to share those, probably. For now.] Why?

[traitortwin]

[It is not at all like Washington to not show up for briefing. South isn't exactly worried - especially not for him - but she can't deny that she's curious as to what could possibly make him miss out. Maybe something on the Plane...? So that's why she's here, to look for him.

And when she spots him, she's honestly surprised.]

Hey! What are you doing here?

[vengefulagent]

[whirls around when he hears her voice] Me? I should be the one asking you that! [marches towards her] We're supposed to be having a briefing and you're not there!

[traitortwin]

What? I'm not there? [Slight, incredulous laugh.] I've been there. We've all been there, except for you! What's holding you up?

[vengefulagent]

You. You're holding me up because the Director won't proceed without everyone there! [annoyingly enough] What are you doing here anyway?

[traitortwin]

[Wow, talk about frustrating...]

Were you even listening to me? I came here to find you. Because you're late, and no one has seen you.

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies is watching him curiously] Missing someone?

[vengefulagent]

You could say that. [he sighs] I'd ask if you do missing persons as well, but this someone I need to find myself.

[his tone shifts to a more business-like one] But since you're here, Detective Menzies, I was wondering if you'd like to help me with a different matter.

[grip_on_reality]

[Menzies smiles faintly] Ah. Trouble with the natives, I take it?

[but she raises an eyebrow at that, curious] Yeah? What's that?

[vengefulagent]

[a bit terse] Just one, and I can certainly handle her myself.

Well, I've been doing some thinking lately, and I think what the Plane needs is a security force of some kind. A team of people devoted to protecting those on the Plane from any of the dangers, be they experiment-related or not. We wouldn't be able to prevent the experiments from happening, but it'd be more than what's here now.

[grip_on_reality]

[touchy topic, is it? she shrugs] If you say so.

[but she perks up at that] Yeah? What exactly did you have in mind?

[lamb_of_gold]

"She?"

[vengefulagent]

Yes, she's...[trails off for a second, searching for a neutral kind of word to describe South]...a colleague.

[looks at him a little closer] Wait a minute...you're the one who was being choked by the guy with a whip, aren't you? Good to see you're okay.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu kinda rubs his neck reflexively.] Yes it's resolved itself.

[vengefulagent]

Figured it did. You wouldn't be here now, otherwise.

[holds his hand out to Mu] I'm Agent Washington, by the way.

[lamb_of_gold]

[Mu meets his hand with a deceptively gentle grasp.]

Mu. Thank you for trying to assist me.

[hisoldgirl]

[all she cares about is his datapad, if her expression says anything. plans of protection or even who he's looking for are meaningless compared to his tech]

What are you doing?

[vengefulagent]

[glances at her, immediately trying to figure out if she'll be able to help at all] Searching for a wayward colleague. I'll find her soon enough.

[pauses very briefly then adds:] But that's not all that I'm doing. [looks at the few names of people he's managed to speak to already, then back up at her.] My name is Agent Washington. I'm trying to put together a group of able-bodied and minded people who are willing to assist others around the Plane during times of crisis and emergency. And any other time, really. There's peace now, but we don't know how long that will last.

[hisoldgirl]

[that earns him a skeptical look, at best] And you assume I would be one to offer said assistance?

[vengefulagent]

[adjusts his stance, his arms hanging at his side. his thumb discreetly grazes over the surface of the datapad, turning it off] No, I never assume. But you did ask what I was doing, so I told you.

[hisoldgirl]

[nods toward the datapad] I assume you are keeping names of those who join your crusade?