TWELVE : Wake up, wake up, wake up

[wristsniper]

[Call goes out to all of Mayfield. Olivier sounds a bit hassled, completely annoyed, and there is a familiar, somewhat screechy voice in the background. It is less effeminate than usual; however, it is clearly the source of her call

Comments

[passes_out]

[Ichabod had awoken but the ringing of the phone. He's been sleeping in his study while Lucrecia takes the bed which was fine with him. He rubs his face and sits up to answer it.]

Hello, Crane residence.

[He listens to the call and his eyes widen and is now very awake.]

I'm on my way.

[He hangs up the phone to grab his shoes and his keys. After a few minutes with wrestling with his shirt, he's out the door and on his way to Olivier's. He arrives 5 minutes later and out of breath, knocking on the door.]

ENJOY HEIGHTENED LOLDRAMA

[wristsniper]

[Olivier flings the door open, sheathed sword held defensively in one hand, her back to the entryway. Dist is sitting on the couch looking masculine. EVERYTHING IS HORRIBLE.]

Every time I go toward the bedroom, he follows me.

Sounds fun!

[passes_out]

[He furrows his brow and looks at Dist on the couch.]

I will keep an eye on him. If he moves, I will apprehend him.

[He moves inside slowly and looks very perturbed. He's not happy about being awake at this hour much less being awakened for a reason that a drone can't keep himself in check.]

Disgusting cad.

[wristsniper]

[She glances back at him. Hold up.]

Why did you come over at this hour?

[Oh, right. This hour.]

I should have thought about that. He just came at me in the middle of the night. Do you know if this level of aggression is normal?

[passes_out]

[He waves his hand dismissively.]

It is of little consequence.

[He keeps his eyes on Dist as if he's studying the man.]

I have not seen this type of aggression with the other drones. He could very well be rejecting his conditioning if he is behaving so rashly.

[He gives a sardonic chuckle, thinking back to what Lucrecia said to him earlier in the week.]

He must be breaking down mentally to react so boldly.

[wristsniper]

Actually, I think he's just a pervert...

[She backs slowly into the kitchen, carefully reattaching her sword to the harness she'd donned over her night clothes. After a moment, wen she's sure Dist hasn't followed, she sighs.]

Yet another reason for me to rightly refuse to associate with him.

[passes_out]

[He kept his eyes on Dist, watching for any sign of movement toward Olivier. He readied himself in case he tried to make any aggressive advances.]

The drone, before Lucrecia, often did the same thing through with her, she refused me to sleep on the couch. She would pull my arm or try to drag me off the couch if I simply implied that I was intending to stay. So I locked the door to my study.

So tell me, Dist, why is it that you have not listened to Olivier when she told you she didn't want you near her? Have you not the sense to know that she does not like you at all?

[Then something occurred to him.]

Why is it that Mayfield pair bonds people that do not get along?

[wristsniper]

[She eyes him, one eyebrow creeping up.]

I can defend my own honor, you know. He just took me by surprise when I didn't have my weapon in my hand.

I'm not certain it's on purpose. He's become tolerable enough, other than this instance.

[passes_out]

I have no doubts that you can. A call from a friend in need is still a call that requires attention. I will leave if you feel that I am no longer needed here.

[He gives a soft but embarrassed chuckle.]

I suppose that old habits are hard to break. I'm sorry to intrude.

Somehow I missed this tag. Sorry, hon!

[wristsniper]

[She shrugs.]

Nothing my men wouldn't do, in this situation. I think it's just one of those things.

Do you usually jump up and rush in for near-strangers?

That's okay. I know how that goes.

[passes_out]

You would be surprised. I have rushed into things that most people would never want to encounter. So, in a way, yes. I have solved many a case by simply being proactive. By no means does this indicate that you are a damsel in distress if that is what you are implying.

[wristsniper]

[She laughs a bit and gestures to the fridge as if to say "help yourself".] I get paid to do that, so I can't be shocked by that kind of action.

You can stay and talk, if you're awake. I've been meaning to ask you a few questions, but I like things to seem relevant when they're asked.

[passes_out]

I have time and I am fully awake.

[He moved toward the kitchen and grabbed a bottle of soda from the fridge and headed back to the living room, once he figured out how to open the bottle.]

What would you like to ask?

[wristsniper]

[Olivier gestured for him to take a seat and looked him over. There was something about his attitude that made him different from most of the people she dealt with here. She wasn't sure if it was his nervousness, or his eagerness to help others, but something made her want to grill the hell out of him.]

You get along with your assigned partner? How did that come about?

[passes_out]

[He notices the glance and took a pull from the bottle to clear his mind before responding.]

Yes, I do though the start was rather rocky at first. She wanted to throw a lamp at me. Then I managed to calm her down enough to talk to her and we went out for drinks. We talked mostly about our worlds and how we came to this place. Where we were when we left and how we felt about it.

We became good friends, I think, through communicating.

[He thumbs the sides of the bottle with his right hand and felt the ring on his finger.]

She was confused and I told her the truth. Nothing more.

[wristsniper]

Dist and I still don't see eye-to-eye on anything. I got sick of listening to him complain and have been sleeping on the couch for over a month. But it's no worse than the barracks.

And what of friends, and friendship? Do you believe everything you hear from everyone you meet, so long as they aren't a drone?