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Post by noodlerface on Dec 14, 2017 23:42:19 GMT
Johnny laughed, eyes softening at the thought of his girlfriend. "I'll give the bribery another crack maybe." Smiling to himself, he slipped his phone out of his pocket and keyed in a quick message to Sheila. miss u! discover some cool new sea life today and name it after me. 
Johnny glanced back up at Elroy as he clicked his phone off, realising he was being rude. "So what's the agenda for today? Besides getting heckled by your troubled coworkers." --- Kaiser floated alongside Angel as he walked before touching his feet to the ground. Stumbling at the contact, he righted himself quickly, flushing at the error. "I don't know," he said. "Maybe still on the drive over. I don't think it'd be very easy for any taxi to have kept up with us." As he spoke, he pulled his cell from his pocket. "Siri, call Angani," he spoked into the phone. |
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Post by Skidar on Dec 14, 2017 23:48:12 GMT
Elroy was staring at his empty mug, he tried not to spy on people texts, though it was a little hard when they flashed up in front of him all the time. "Oh I don't know, I have some papers to grade but I might blow it off til Sunday again." he looked up seeing some Commandos walk into the commons, a shock of red hair was with them and he blinked in surprise. Molly didn't see him, or if she had she was faking it pretty well. She and the girl with her, a slender female cadet that Elroy had had in his class not even one semester ago before she recruited. Piper. Elroy sighed in frustration. Piper too had dropped out to join the commandos. She seemed happy, but he still felt she would have excelled if she stayed.
Piper, unlike Molly, DID see Elroy and Johnny and waved excitedly before hurrying over.
"Hello Professor Seibert! Mr. Johnson! What are you two doing here so early?"
Elroy wished he could vanish as Molly turned to see where her charge had dashed off. They held some awkward eye contact before Molly started over as well towards their table.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 0:06:00 GMT
Johnny waved a hand, about to suggest blowing off grading all together, when he noticed Elroy's attention drift elsewhere. Turning in his seat to see what had caught his curiosity, he broke into a smile at the sight of Piper. "Well I thought I'd do the world a favour and give this shut-in a bit of company," he answered easily, throwing a cheeky wink at Elroy. "That, and the lunch ladies were missing me. How is it with the Commandos? You look like you're doing bloody well over there if you're already hanging about with that one!" He waved to Molly as she drew near.
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 0:14:45 GMT
Molly rested an elbow on Piper's shoulder. "I was giving you instructions." she smirked at her. "And you ran off like a puppy, stay by me next time." Molly's eyes dropped to Johnny and Elroy. "Hey boys."
Piper's face lit up. "I love it! I just got certified to fly to hover craft and last week I stopped a mugging near the station and next week I get to go on a solo patrol for the evening!"
Elroy nodded. "Sounds nice." he glanced up to Molly. "Saw you were in the news?"
Molly nodded. "Nothing I can't handle."
Elroy looked away. "I don't doubt that." his brows furrowed. Molly crackled with technopathy, incoming signals to her phone, pagerm tracker, battery packs, armor warnings. It was a real headache to be around normally without the added ten pounds of tension that thickened everytime they were forced to make small talk.
Angani picked up his phone in the nurse's lounge. "Yellow!"
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 0:51:27 GMT
Johnny beamed, listening to Piper attentively. "Crikey mate, that's a trip!" he exclaimed at the news. "One thing I'll tell you about the Academy, they don't give teachers hover crafts. Or fancy suits like that one." He pointed to Molly's armour. "But I'll have you know, I did request a vending machine for my office. They haven't agreed to it just yet, but I'm feeling pretty good about my chances. What d'you reckon, Elly?"
---
Kaiser smiled at Angani's voice as he picked up the line. "Hey hon," he replied. "Are you nearby? Angel and I are just signing in to the Academy now."
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 0:59:53 GMT
Angani sighed. "Yeah I'm at the Nurse's office, I guess they forgot it's my day off they just told me to go look someone over in the back." he groaned. "I might be a little late, where are you guys meeting up at?"
Elroy perked at his name, having been zoned out by the hum of tech in the air. "What? Oh yeah, possibly. Possibly."
Molly leaned against the wall. "Still living in the Greenhouse?"
"That is my house." Elroy shrugged.
"More like a prison, you should leave the Academy some days." Molly suggested with an edge to her voice.
Elroy frowned and stood up. "Well, I've got papers to grade. It was nice seeing you, Piper." he added with an edge of his own.
Piper wasn't sure what the thinly veiled hostility was about but she stole a strawberry off Johnny's plate before he could object.
Elroy headed out the door rubbing his temples and trying to ignore the blazing ones and zeros flooding his vision.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 1:12:04 GMT
Kaiser pulled a face. "Tell them they can't have you," he pouted, scuffing his foot on the ground. He was keenly aware of Angel striding alongside him. "We're heading over to the Flyer's gym. We'll meet you there?"
---
Johnny winked at Piper. "If you have Elly on your side, anything goes here. I'll have that vendor in no time," he told her in a hushed voice. He started as Elroy stood up suddenly. "Catch you later then, bud!" he called out to Elroy's retreating form, before raising both brows conspiratorially at Molly. "You guys are doing so well! Really, much better than last month."
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 1:19:12 GMT
Elroy groaned and pulled his hands down his face as they headed back to the lab. "Don't remind me... I wish she'd stop coming around here. Taking the students. She knows how I feel about that." he breathed a sigh of relief as they stepped back into the lab. It wasn't as secure as his bedroom, but it blocked the worst of the outside world. He sat at his desk and gave himself and exasperated spin in his chair. "Piper was a great student. It killed me to pass her. You know what I found out? I traced a feed from my grading computer through the Dean's server and back out to the Council and Chief Falconer. They literally spy on my T-Path class and after midterms they start tailing the progress of my passing students. Makes me sick..."
--
Angani groaned and hung up and walked into the room at the end of the hall, brows popping high at the sight before him. "How'd you even?? Why would y--? Never mind..." he tugged on gloves and shut the door behind him.
-
Angel whistled as he hovered above the path. "He ditch ya?" he teased. "This place is like a fly trap, come here on your day off and they call it surprised scheduling."
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 1:38:28 GMT
Johnny winced, lounging back in the office chair. "I don't suppose you could just...cut the feed?" he prompted. "But at the end of the day, I mean. S'pose Piper looked happy. Maybe it isn't such a bad thing for them to offer places to the students." He trailed off, knowing it was a touchy subject. "I think we're lucky to have Molly where she is. I know she's looking out for them."
---
Kaiser dropped his phone into his jacket pocket, slumped. "I shouldn't have asked to come out, maybe," he muttered. "He hardly gets a break as it is. I hate to think this is my fault." He ran a hand through his hair, frustrated. He'd find a way to steal him out as soon as he could.
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 2:48:22 GMT
Elroy snorted and folded his arms. "I did cut the feed. That's what the argument was about. Got personal in a hurry." He dug through his top drawer and picked up a fat folder. "That's why I'm back in the stone-age of grading. Cause Falconer got a friggin' Council ordained letter saying they can access my computer. So, I went low-tech." he dropped the heavy folder with a thud. "See how they like that. I don't appreciate being spied on."
Angel shrugged. "He'll be fine. I think they were just short handed, some sorta muscle head kegger. Probably getting that rocking chair outta that guy's--- Oh hey! Its Molly!" he waved seeing her cross the courtyard with Piper. "Hey flamer!"
"Angel," Molly warned.
"Fine fine, how's it slingin'?"
Molly sighed. "Alright, just, run in with an old... how's it going with you."
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 7:30:54 GMT
Johnny laughed, slapping a hand to his forehead. "Well that explains why you're sitting here grading papers all day! Brilliant, if not a little self destructive." He picked up a stray pen and started playing with it, when there came a knock at the door. He swivelled in his chair as the door swung open, seeing Nailah stride in, all crisp uniform. He sunk in his chair.
"Good morning Elroy," she began, before pausing at the sight of the Johnny. She extended a hand quizzically, "I don't believe we've...?"
Johnny shook her hand quickly, rising from his seat. "Johnny, very good to meet you - I can see you have business so I'll just be going - Elly, buddy, I'll catch you later," he rattled off in his haste to catch the swinging door. With a wave of his hand, he was off. Like he was mental enough to stay.
Nailah turned back to Elroy, dumbfounded. "Sorry, I didn't mean to cut your time with your friend short," she started, before catching herself. She took a breath, schooling her expression. "Elroy. Falconer sent me to speak with you. This is about...the information you've been withholding."
---
Kaiser ducked out from behind Angel. "Good morning, Lieutenant!" he called enthusiastically. "I haven't seen you in a while."
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 7:38:58 GMT
Elroy shot Johnny an exasperated look and shot him a T-path as he left the building:
Oh you DICK! I am so gonna key your car for leaving me alone with this--
Elroy frowned and his computer screen flickered tensely. "Nailah. I haven't been withholding anything. I see your feelers probing into my computer right now from your tech van in the parking lot. My students receive their grading and reports from me and that information is filed with them individually. Turns our they're students and not just the fodder pool for the force to hand pick their latest recruits."
--
Molly smirked. "A very long time, its Captain now." she smiled proudly. "Not sure if you've met my new Cadet, Piper Pettigrew. This is Kaiser, he used to be a top notch flyer with the Silver Wings."
Piper shook his hand. "So cool to meet you! I heard from Bear and Em' that you developed a new way to fly with radar? Is that true??"
Molly raised a brow. "Emery knows Kaiser?"
"Well Emery knows Angani and Bear's Emery's roommate and you know, we chat." Piper shrugged.
"Its a small world after allll." Angel cooed.
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 7:57:52 GMT
Johnny cackled. Scooter, mate!
Nailah looked at him for a moment, before filling Johnny's vacated seat. She placed her hands on the desk. "Elroy, I know you're not happy with the situation. Frankly, I would be more than a little pissed too. But you are going out of your way to make this difficult for all of us." She let out a small sigh. "We're not trying to be the bad guys here. We want to offer students a future with the force. The programs we offer are good ones, all with the express intent to give students a rewarding and rich career. Please don't take this as us trying to make trouble for you."
---
Kaiser gaped. "Captain!" He gave her a jubilant smile. "Congratulations, Captain! And hi, Piper, it's great to meet you." He took Piper's hand and gave it a firm shake, flushing through Molly's praise, heart pounding at her commendation. She'd been his hero since the Academy days, for Zeus's sake! Hearing Piper, he nodded enthusiastically. "I have! It's a weird and wonderful way to travel. In a way, I see a lot more than I used to with just plain sight." He playfully knocked his elbow against Angel's. "And don't worry, I'll soon be the best flyer in the Silver Wings again! This guy looks way too comfortable in my seat."
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Post by Skidar on Dec 15, 2017 8:04:52 GMT
Angel ruffled his hair. "Gotta get him an extra thick helmet for his thick head." He looked over hsi shoulder seeing Angani strolling across the lawn.
"How'd it go?" Angel asked with a cheeky grin.
"I... have no words. How muscle heads achieve some of the things they do." he shuddered then pressed against Kaiser for warmth.
--
Elroy stifled an eye roll. "This is an introductory course into telepathy. I know why Falconer's poking around in here. They want to cherry pick their recruits so they can score the Big powers and ignore the Lessers that apply." he stood up. "The Commandos snaked six students from my course last year alone. Three wanted to be doctors, two wanted to study microbiology and one wanted to be a pastry chef. They dropped all their courses when the Commandos snatched their files. And I don't want these kids being shot at by Reboot thugs for target practice when they had no interest in joining the commandos to begin with." He nodded and the door flew open behind her. "Bye bye."
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Post by noodlerface on Dec 15, 2017 8:24:45 GMT
Kiaser beamed at the approach of Angani. "Hey," he said softly as Angani pressed against him, slinging an arm around his middle easily, tugging him close to warm him. "Didn't take you as long as I thought! Small miracles."
---
Nailah furrowed her brow at the accusations. "That's not true. We offer placements to all recruits that apply, to the best of our ability - " she was cut off as Elroy continued, trying to get her word in as he spoke in a rush. At the dismissal she stood in indignation, slamming her hands to the table. "Listen, you pompous ass," she snarled. "Those kids were not snatched - we reached out to them and offered them a place with the force. All those students were offered positions that suited their strongest qualities. They agreed to it. None were coerced! Just because you see something wrong with the force, it doesn't make it true. Your students were aware of that. Stop blaming us for their decisions to join the Commandos." Nailah straightened, trying to restrain her anger with a steadying breath. She straightened her jacket coat. "I'm trying to be civil with you, Elroy. We don't have to be enemies, and I'd rather we weren't. But to hear you speak like that is insulting, to me, and to everyone who has committed their life to the force. We are here by our autonomy."
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sometime after ten, hope you'll be up! also.... WILL PROFILE thatisall 
