Colin's posts

Vincent nodded in response.

"All right, I will." he said.

"Thank you, Emelie." he then said further.

"You're such a kind and gentle soul." he commented. "Anyone with you in their life, is lucky that you're in their life." he told her.

"I'm going to pay a quick visit to Cass before I go." he then said.

"Catch up for a minute or two, and tell her I'll be helping the girl, as far as the bureaucracy goes."

Vincent scowled.

"Some people... I really don't know how they continue to survive in this world." he said.

"Sheer luck, I suppose." he mumbled.

"At any rate, rather than dwell on the negatives right now, I should concentrate on getting this pushed through the necessary red tape, before any officials start to stick their noses in." he told her.

"Is there any other info?" he asked.

"I know you said Cass has already sent word to the Council, but... any closing info before I go?"

"A fair point." Vincent responded. "Empathy can go a long way. Far longer than sympathy." he agreed, crossing his arms over his chest.

"Still... a Dagger-mouth?" he asked.

"It's a miracle she survived." he said. "Those creatures attack to kill, and when they decide to kill, they have an 80% success rate." he went on.

"Then again, her survival may be attributed to AJ." he continued.

"He's one of the best here, and handling animals seems to be something of a speciality for him."

Vincent was silent for another moment, and then sighed heavily.

"If that had been said by anyone else, I would have taken some level of offence." he told her.

"But it's you. And you know these things. Factually." he continued.

"And your opinion carries a LOT of weight. For me, especially." he went on.

"Let's hope someone can be found, then. The sooner someone like that gets some stability, the better." he reasoned, looking in the direction of the girl.

Vincent nodded.

"Of course." he replied.

"And you're right. All we can do is see to it that her future is bright. So bright that it caused the shadow of her past to all but wither and disappear." he then said.

"Hmmm." he then mumbled, seeming to be thinking about something.

"Damn it." he cursed.

"I wonder if I can't adopt her, myself." he then thought.

"But the system won't like how nomadic I tend to be." he mumbled.

Vincent's expression hardened when he heard all that.

"....I see." he then said.

"Of course." he told her.

"I will speak with my sister immediately." he said further.

"Make sure she knows what's going on, and the little one's circumstances." he continued.

"I'll see to it that she can stay here, even if temporarily." he went on.

"...such a foul past for one so young..." he then mumbled, sadness in his tone.

Vincent just nodded when Emma explained the situation.

"Of course." he responded.

"I'll do everything I can to help." he told her.

"Can you give me the details?" he asked. "Explain to me why you think her and 'the system' would not get along nicely?" he asked further.

"I do need more information." he insisted.

"Would you prefer to give it to me in the privacy of your office?" he then asked.

"Child that AJ returned with?" Vincent asked.

"Already that sounds concerning." he commented.

"And yes, I do know where it is." he assured the woman, before they parted ways, and he made his way down towards the medical wing.

Once there, he went through the doors, and looked around, scanning the area. He noticed Emma by the window in the back, and then made his way towards her.

Vincent stepped through the door, and waited until it was shut, before speaking.

"Hello, Vyn." he greeted her with a smile.

"And Emma sent me a text, telling me to come here." he told her.

"She mentioned proper channels, and a potentially bad reason for them." he said further.

"She told me to meet her in the medical wing." he then added.

I'll be there in a few minutes. she received.

With that, the one she had texted used his mana to disappear from where he was in a small cyclone of wind, appearing not where he thought he would.

He expected to land in Dani's office. Instead, he was outside.

"...oh, right. The security was recalibrated very easily." he muttered.

He then went to the front door, and knocked loudly.

Again, AJ nodded.

"All right." he replied.

"Let me know if I can help." he told her, before leaving the office, making sure to put the sign up on the door before heading off to get some things done.

--

The recipient of the text read the message, and was a bit confused.

All right, when? they sent back.

And what do you mean on the second part? That sounds concerning and ominous. they then sent further.

"I see..." AJ responded.

"Sear and Mick, huh?" he muttered.

"All right." he said.

"Want me to put the 'Do Not Disturb' sign up when I go?" he asked her.

"Direct them to my office, where I will need to go, to field any paperwork or questions?" he went on. "You know, so you can have some peace and quiet." he added.

"If not, it's cool." he said.

"Just say the word."

"Good." AJ responded.

"That's good." he said.

"At least there's that." he muttered, sighing and shaking his head slightly.

"Still..." he then mumbled. "I feel bad for the girl." he told her. "Sounds like she's been cheated out of a proper childhood. I know the feeling." he continued.

"....." he was then silent, and looked to be thinking about something.

"I guess I'll leave you be." he told her.

"Let you recuperate." he said further.

"....who DID get the hit on you, anyway...?" he then asked, narrowing his eyes.

"...............hm." AJ muttered.

"That's true." he said.

"...so she'll need a legal guardian to keep the Council away." he mumbled.

"I see, I see." he muttered under his breath.

"Well, I'll go tell Emma." he then told her.

"Oh, and the girl's supposed to be awake sometimes mid-tomorrow." he informed her.

"Seems she had multiple other injuries, rather than just the hound's attack. Pre-existing, too." he growled.