Colin's posts

The one she was talking to nodded in response.

"I am." they responded.

"I will say, her mana and soul are very elegant and elaborate, but I am absolutely certain I can copy her, and fool anyone." he told her. "I am even certain I will be able to fool her significant other." he stated.

His tone was bland, lacking in a lot of emotion... except for one.

Confidence. Not cockiness like some others she had working for her, but confidence. She could tell this one was not making that statement hastily.

"Duly noted." Hal responded.

"But whether it's Mira, Jake, or someone I hire from a trusted source, I WILL make sure you can rest soon." he promised her.

With that, they said goodbye and he went back deeper into the building.

"I need to contact Syraene." he mumbled. "She's the only one that can help me end this lockdown." he reasoned.

"And I need to see if Vito is willing to work for me temporarily, and if she can spare him."

"...if you say so." Hal responded.

"Thank you, Izea." he then said. "For your tireless efforts, now, in the past, just overall." he explained. "You're one of my most diligent and reliable employees." he continued.

"And I'll see to it that you are compensated accordingly." he assured her.

"I will try and find someone to relieve you decently soon, though." he then said.

"A couple more days or not, I intend to let you rest ASAP."

Hal just pinched the bridge of his nose, and muttered something under his breath, though Izzy heard it as 'beautiful...'.

"Then I need to find someone to take your place." he said.

"Thankfully, you and Jake are NOT my only security professionals." he stated. "That being said, not sure how many would be up for..." he started to say further, before pausing and thinking.

"I could just use a contracted security guard." he then mumbled.

"I DO know that Hollie is willing to lend out a guard or two in emergencies..."

"Like I've been through the wringer." Hal responded.

"Like some part of me was torn apart, and then thrown back in." he went on.

"Quite frankly, I feel like I'm going to be reeling from this for a while now." he commented further.

"What about you?" he asked.

"How are you feeling right now?"

Hal was silent, and shook his head.

"Not EVERYONE." he said.

"Jordan is still under the effects and influence of Encrae, so she'll need to be quarantined away still." he told her. "And Aedan... is going to need a soul specialist to help her..." he muttered further.

"But. Other than those two, yes. Everyone's good now." he confirmed.

"Reeling from having themselves be made whole again so quickly... but all right, overall."

Jake and Hal looked at each other, and the latter sighed.

"Well, normally I'd say it's her arm acting up, but... given the info you've told me about yourself and Azazel not being able to sense anything, that... complicates matters." he mumbled.

"It really does." Jake agreed.

"However, YOU two concentrate on recuperating." Hal then told Jake. "You should recover faster than Anya, so you be sure to give her the best care you can give." he said further.

"I have all intention to give nothing less." Jake responded.

"Izzy, I'll see you sometime in the near future." he then said to Izea.

Jake and Anya stepped through the door, and started to head towards the entrance/exit, before they paused.

And Jake looked back.

"Weird shit?" he asked. "How do you mean?" he asked her.

"Indeed, I would like to know as well." Hal commented from where he was, raising an eyebrow.

"Has something else been happing in the world right now? Or around here? Or what?" he inquired, folding his arms across his chest.

"And how serious is it?"

"Ah, right." Hal said.

"That would have done a number on you, huh?" he asked rhetorically.

"Well, just tell me what's hurting in specific, or if there's anything worse than anything else, or even if it's simply a migraine, and I'll see about getting something to help speed that up." he told her.

"In the meantime, I'll get to unlocking this damn building as well." he finished, as Jake looked at Izea.

"...hey, Izzy." he greeted her.

"Sorry about how I've been acting." he apologised. "I know I seemed to be ambivalent and non-caring about it, but those sweets REALLY meant a lot to me." he assured her further.

When they made it back to the office, Hal was surprised to see them there. But before he could say anything, Jake dropped the key to where he'd been onto the desk, and looked him right in his eyes.

"I wish Anya and I were safely back at our home, in our bedroom, on our bed." the Ramaarin stated cleanly.

Hal was silent for a moment after hearing that, but then sighed.

"Lockdown is still too strict for that to happen right now." he lamented. "However, I do have something for that sort of emergency." he quickly added, taking a coin out from his desk and imbuing it with his mana. He then handed it to Jake, and stood up.

"I will help you and Anya to the front, and when you are in the security area, use the coin to get you home." he told them.

The three then made their way to the landing in question, where Izzy was, and Jake smiled slightly at her as they approached the barrier that had been keeping them in.

"Izea, Jake is clear for leaving." Hal told her. "And the rest of the Unit is as well, save for Jordan Sherwood and Agent Callimachi." he added.

Jake was silent, before nodding.

"Right." he said.

"And I'M in no condition to drive either, so... hm." he mumbled.

"I'm sure Hal can arrange us a way back." he reasoned, as he stepped out of the room, closed it behind him, and locked it.

"Need to give this key back to him, anyway." he added.

After about 10 seconds, the door was opened, and Jake was looking a little better. A little.

He looked at her, and smiled slightly.

"Hey again." he greeted her.

"Starting to feel better, little by little." he reported.

"Anyway, what's the plan?" he asked.

"I get the feeling Sharp's sending you home now?"

Hal nodded in response.

"You do that." he told her.

"I'll make sure Jake's not expected back in for at least a week." he said.

"Now go and do what you need to, I have a Unit to get functioning again." he reasoned with a sigh, as he slowly stood up.

"And thank you for all your hard work during this."

Hal thought about it, before looking at her again.

"If you wish to try that, go ahead." he told her.

"I'll... well, actually I cannot sign off of that. She doesn't work her and I have no guardianship over her." he admitted.

"But I won't stop you." he said further.

"I get the feeling SHE'D want you to try anything at this point."