Colin's posts

"We'll stop at Starbucks, then." Zeke replied.

"Whatcha want?" he asked.

"Oh, and maybe we should get something for Liv and Lunet, too." he went on.

"Surprise them with a little treat or something." he suggested with a small chuckle.

"....mmhmm." Jake muttered.

"Well, have fun, then." he told her.

With that, he went back to reading his paper, as Zeke and Angela made their way out to her car. They got in it, and he started the car up, pulling out of the parking lot.

"Want anything?" he asked her.

"Something to drink, or something to eat, before we get you home?" he asked further.

"Just... you know, I can stop by anywhere on our way back."

Ryker just smirked.

"Good." he said.

"I'm glad you're eating again." he told him.

"So am I." Aly replied.

"You need to get your strength up." she reasoned.

"And to be fair, your appetite HAS been crap for the past few days." Ryker added.

Zeke accepted the keys, and was silent for a moment... before sighing.

"Right." he said.

"We'll head out." he told her.

With that, the two of them made their way to the exit that was connected to the security landing, where they were greeted by Jake.

"Headed home?" he asked.

"Yeah." Zeke replied.

"Was wondering how long before Sharp forced it." Jake said to Angela.

Hal had left when she was sitting in the break room, as he had other things to attend to, but she wasn't alone for very long, before she received a response.

I can drive you home. the text read.

Where are you? the next one asked.

Break room. Angela responded.

Sure enough, about 2 or 3 minutes later, Zeke stepped into the room.

"What's going on?" he asked. "Is everything all right?" he asked further, concern in his tone.

"....." Hal was silent, before stepping closer to Angela.

"Come on." he said.

"I'll help you in any way I can right now." he told her.

"You don't look steady on your feet, and odds are you need to get some things before you leave for your impromptu time away." he commented further.

"So let me help you with that." he continued.

"That acceptable?" he asked her.

Hal just nodded in response.

"Yes." he replied.

"I will allow that." he told her.

"Angela, I know you're not happy about this, and for good reason." he then commented. "But... sometimes things just don't work out the way we want them to." he lamented.

"Some things even -I- can't make perfect, or better." he admitted.

Hal just sighed as well.

"We can only hope this doesn't hurt her too badly." he said.

"...." he was then silent, before thinking about something.

"Maybe I'll make sure Hollie is there, too." he said. "She's warm and friendly, and maybe it will help put Lunet at ease." he reasoned.

"Regardless, Angela, go home." he then ordered her.

"Go home and get your life back together."

Username: Colin
Draw me: My character, Terri.
Style: Whatever you feel my offer is worth
Offer: 25k volts

"Whatever makes the transition easier." Hal replied.

"I want this to be as smooth as possible for Lunet." he assured her.

"If you wish, you can have a few days off to tell Lunet this, and make sure she's ready." he went on.

"And Olivia as well." he added.

"All I want is what's best for all of you." he then said. "And I highly doubt Lunet would feel good about herself if she were to be the reason you self-destruct, heaven forbid it come to that." he went on.

"I want to avoid that situation altogether."

"I know your intentions are good." Hal said. "It's why I let you try in the first place." he told her. "I'd hoped you could make it work. I guess it was just a bit much, is all." he added.

"My schedule is busy, yes, but I can do most of my paperwork from home, and I can just use my mana to come here for emergencies or meetings." he went on with a shrug.

"But I'll do it." he said.

"And if you think it'll help, Olivia can have unconditional access to my home, so she can visit Lunet whenever she wants, or whenever Lunet wants." he then added, hoping that detail might help ease the frustration and concern that Angela was no doubt feeling.

"But it's taking a toll on you." Hal said.

"A massive one, and it'll all come to a head soon." he told her.

"So you need to make a hard decision, and you need to make it NOW." he went on.

He then sighed, and shook his head a little.

"...I'll discuss it with Hollie." he then said, seemingly going off on a tangent.

"But what would you say about MY taking in Lunet?" he asked her.

"Yeah, see, that's a problem." Hal said.

"It's been like this for a bit now." he went on.

"And it's all coming down to Lunet, isn't it?" he asked.

"She's draining you of your financial resources, as well as your physical and mental ones." he went on.

"And eventually, you're either going to lose your job... or Lunet."

"Half days?" Hal asked.

"That's doable." he said.

"But that means half-pay." he went on.

"And we'll need to do a little bit of renegotiating on benefits and such." he continued.

"How long do you want to try and do that?" he asked.

"And can you financially AFFORD to do that?" he asked further.