Colin's posts

Unsurprisingly, it seemed that Leo had been engulfed in a project he was working on, and when she spoke his name, he jumped a little.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, before whirling around.

"...oh!" he said.

"Oh, geez, right!" he remembered.

"Hey, Desiree." he greeted her with a wave.

"Come on over!" he called, waving to her.

He knew the speaking was pointless, but it was just habit. He knew she couldn't hear him due to her headset being busted, but... he couldn't help it.

"Sorry." he then said when she was close enough.

"Guess I got into another 'project-trance'..." he admitted sheepishly.

Ilias blushed as Desiree made her comment about Kiah, and cleared his throat.

"Hm. Yes." he said.

"Right, head right." he told her.

"6th door on your left." he went on.

"Just be sure to knock before entering." he finished.

"Got it?" he asked.

"Hey." Ilias replied.

"And for me? Nah, had them all my life." he told her.

"For others? Depends on the person." he shrugged.

"Regardless, come on." he went on, opening the door even further.

"I assume you're Desiree, and you're here to see Leo." he continued.

"I'm Ilias." he introduced himself.

"You're welcome." Zeke replied.

"Talk to you later." he finished, before heading off. As soon as he did, Ilias opened the door.

"Oh, hello." he greeted her, a few of his snakes writhing about out of his hair.

"Come on in." he told her.

"Leo's waiting."

Zeke smiled weakly.

"Heh, I'll keep that in mind." he replied.

"But right now? We're just completely stuck." he sighed.

"It's just good to know that YOU'RE doing well." he then added as they got nearer the R&D lab.

"Odds are they were called ahead and are expecting you." he told her.

Zeke just sighed.

"I don't know." he said.

"But she's not been heard from for a while." he told her.

"A long while." he went on.

"Won't even answer her phone." he continued.

"She... she's just... gone and disappeared."

Zeke just chuckled.

"True." he said.

"And... a bit stressed." he mumbled.

"Aunt Lilim's missing." he told her bluntly.

"And we need to find her." he went on.

"Uncle Lex is... well, he's not doing so well because of it."

Zeke blushed a little when she made her last comment.

"Heh." he chuckled.

"Haven't technically been that for a while." he admitted.

"Anyway, let's go." he said, as they headed off.

"How have you been?" he asked her.

"I haven't kept good tabs on you for a bit, but I assume things are going well?"

"I do." Zeke confirmed to Jake, who darted his tongue out again.

"All right." he said.

"In you go." he told them, buzzing them in.

The two of them stepped inside, and Zeke looked at her.

"Looking for Leo?" he asked, signing it as well.

"He should be in R&D. Let's go find him." he told her.

"....." Jake was silent for a moment, before snapping his fingers.

"Ah!" he exclaimed.

"Of course." he said, his tongue darting out for a moment.

"Right." he said further.

"I'll have someone escort you to where-" he started to say, before Zeke stepped in from outside.

"Oh!" he said when he saw Desiree.

"Hello." he greeted her.

"Yes, extremely effectively, but not perfectly." Hal responded.

"Allowances will be made, of course." he assured her.

"But, in time, everyone will come to see that you are you." he then said further.

"Time will be needed." he finished.

- - -

Jake sighed as he flipped the newspaper page, as a female stepped into the security area.

He looked at her and raised an eyebrow.

"Yes?" he greeted her.

"How can I help you?" he asked.

Hal sighed again.

"It's a long road to recovery." he told her.

"But just know that we're all here for you." he said.

"I realise that this process takes time and understanding." he went on, before getting up and making his way to her.

"We'll help in any way we can." he said to her.

"I promise."

Hal noticed this, and sighed.

"...lesson learned on mentioning that name..." he mumbled.

"Erica, you don't have to do that." he told her.

"It's all right." he said.

"You're safe. You're away from her."

"....there's no need for you to apologise." Hal replied.

"It's not your fault." he said.

"It's Vanessa Encrae's." he went on.

"She's made all our lives miserable for the longest time." he sighed.

"Seems nobody is safe."