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

[maddeninghatter]

Of Mister Stark, I know little, apart from his apparent eccentricity.

[ IT TAKES ONE TO KNOW ONE ]

This Mister Blue, however, very publicly went to pieces on the network not too long ago. He's a pleasant enough fellow, but he's hardly a cool head in a crisis.

[crocodilesmiles]

Some people need to know they've got reasons to keep it together so they can. Though you didn't answer my question, Break! My original one.

[maddeninghatter]

[ You noticed that, did you, Collette? ]

As for Miss Kate Kane...

[ She tried to punch him in the jaw within two minutes of meeting him. Which... isn't a record, actually. ]

....patience is not her strong suit, I'm afraid. Mister Nathan Summers I don't know personally, but I understand he has some knowledge of time travel and warfare, and his posts on the network seem sensible { Break has actually gone back and reviewed them ].

I'll recuse myself and Gilbert. As for the other adults on your list, I've no comment — with the exception of Mister Vanadi. Not only has he demonstrated himself to be vulnerable to manipulation by the United Earth, I seem to recall an occasion when he left you to fend for yourself in a bar, without your chair.

[crocodilesmiles]

Yeah. He sure did that.

( She allows, because she doesn't deny facts, even when she might choose to overlook them for a moment. )

He's also saved my life, twice, at a big cost to himself. Only you're picking apart my list, Xerxes Break! That's not having one of your own. I like the educational process, on one hand... and I'm glad it's coming from you.

( Not Emily, if she's being honest, with how she feels the doll is his way of breaking past certain things to say what it is on his mind. )

[maddeninghatter]

I... I have a friend whose business it is to know every detail about everyone and everything, and make sure a complicated, bureaucratic organization runs smoothly.

[ Rufus Barma has been making a stunningly good illusion of his servant, for Break's benefit. It's testament to how much Break wants him to be there, that it's managed to fool him for so long. ]

I don't see him in a leadership capacity, but as senior support staff, he would be invaluable.

[ Wryly: ]

But I should hesitate to nominate him publicly without speaking to him first.

[crocodilesmiles]

( Break basically honestly apparently speaking highly of someone.

Collette is immediately intrigued.

Possibly also a little enamored. )

He sounds like a great kind of person to know! ( But probably not have know too much about you... though that'd be his job! ) I'm glad you have him here. Sometime, you should let me know his name! Not exactly for this, but you know, in general.

[maddeninghatter]

[ It's a good thing this is an audio line, as he's aware that his cheeks are flushing at that. He's glad too, that Reim Lunettes is here, though it's selfish. ]

Yes, all right. I'll introduce you.

[crocodilesmiles]

( She's pleased; it carries across in her voice. )

Thank you! Cookie Monster.

( ... Heh. Levity. Who does that anymore. )

[maddeninghatter]

[ In a stern, icy tone: ]

Don't call me that.

[crocodilesmiles]

Okay! I will never call you That.