voice | it's a simple question

[crocodilesmiles]

( When she speaks, Collette aims to sound warm. She's tired, keyed up, and confused as well as trying to understand what's gone on since the mutiny began, and what's continuing in the aftermath. She brings a question she'd talked to Ros about, in her own way; something she wants to know very simply because she doesn't, and it's all the more important now.

Out of respect for that same woman, she keep's Ros's name out of this. )

When it comes down to do or die, who do you trust here to make decisions to pull people through, and not leave people stranded high and dry, or freeze up and fall into inaction? People who keep their temper in heated circumstances. Ones who maybe aren't going to forget the bigger picture, even if that doesn't make it easy on the smaller scale.

I've got a few names myself! Blue, Kate Kane, Nathan Summers, Caesar Silverberg, Lenalee Lee, Xerxes Break, Gilbert Nightray, Jaime Reyes, Ashraf, Kang, Peter Quill, Donny, Armin Arlert, Chrono and Rosette, even Dick Grayson and Ahiru and Vanadi, of all people, would stand by you figuring things out.

Those are some of mine. What're yours?

I'm going to keep talking, though, so you might want to tune out if you don't want to hear me ramble about a few maybe important, maybe not things!

Hey, Blue? All those questions about AIs... I think you were asking for a reason. Is it up for discussion? Because I think it should be past a planning stage.

Jai-- ( She coughs. ) Hi! Blue Beetle? Hahaha, I'm sorry, that's two blues in a row, but um, with all that stuff on Project Chimera, have you like, found anything talking about when they started learning how to grow people up so fast? Someone had to have a breakthrough on that, unless science really works that way! I'm not sure, it's all super advanced for when I'm from.

And um... okay, I'm not sure about this one either. Tony? Tony Stark? What do you know about uh... renewable energy stuff?

Comments

[crocodilesmiles]

Hahaha, hey, if it's honest, does it still count as flattery?

[gevurah]

My exes would beg to differ.

[crocodilesmiles]

Yeah, but I'm not looking to date you -- ( she giggles ) -- so what's it matter? That's way different, you know!

[gevurah]

No, I mean —

I'd get arrested, first of all. [ AHAHA. By her own girlfriend too. ]

I'm surprised, that's all.

[crocodilesmiles]

( Collette just bursts out laughing AHAHAHA

HAHAHAHAHAHA

Kate you're like ancient





super old








so old okay )

You helped me when I needed it. I know we don't always get along, but... well. Yeah.

( Kate hadn't told anyone without asking, either. That had mattered a lot to Collette, especially at the time. )

[gevurah]

[ She might start greying before they get off the base... ]

Wouldn't be right to refuse, you know?

[crocodilesmiles]

I'm not sure that's how everyone would see it, but, well, yeah.

( At a time when she'd been vulnerable, she'd been able to turn to Kate, and Kate had been there. it was embarrassment at timing along with other factors, strength being one of them, but still. Kate hadn't turned away. )

[gevurah]

Do you know the Soldier's Creed, Collette?

[crocodilesmiles]

When you say it like that, I'm not sure I do.

[gevurah]

It's a code in which the Army are encouraged and expected to live and abide by.

[ She draws in a breath before she begins: ]

I am an American Soldier.

I am a warrior and a member of a team.

I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values.

I will always place the mission first.

I will never accept defeat.

I will never quit.

I will never leave a fallen comrade.

I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills.

I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself.

I am an expert and I am a professional.

I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat.

I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life.

I am an American Soldier.

[ She's quiet for about half a minute. ]

I might have been separated from the Army years ago, but I'm still a soldier, and I still have to do what's right.

[crocodilesmiles]

My brother said those all to me before, a couple years ago. It's nice to hear them again.

( Nice to know people can choose to do what's right, regardless of there being an onus on them to do so at the time. )

[gevurah]

Where was he deployed?

[crocodilesmiles]

Germany. He says it's pretty there.

( They don't have very deep conversations about it. )

[gevurah]

Had he come back home before you ended up here or...?

[crocodilesmiles]

He didn't know if his deployment would get extended.

( It'd been months, and it probably would have been years. )

[gevurah]

How it is.

[ Duty, after all. ]

[crocodilesmiles]

Yeah. His wife's with him, so I know he won't get like, super lonely or anything! At least...

[gevurah]

That's good.

[ She wants to ask what about herself, but Collette sounds tired and this sort of post is garner mixed responses, she bets. ]

I'll catch you later, alright? I have some things to take care of, but I'll be in touch.

[crocodilesmiles]

Mmm! Okay, Kate! I'll hear from you soon, then.

( No statement on good or otherwise. She's thankful Kate doesn't push. )