circle7 | how about some baddie screen time

The Seventh Circle was a mess when Joel and Quelorie arrived. (Just the way the Commander liked it, really. All the easier to scoop it up into their palms, and drink from it what they needed.) Information was being leaked and tossed like chicken feed; intel soaked up from the double agents by the ones who shouldn't be hearing it; incorrect information sent back to them. And the puny Circle members not at the center of the Seventh were none the wiser.

What pleasant chaos, Joel thought. Though it was a shame that they had to wear the Circle uniform while present. (Teal wasn't his color.) He couldn't help but wonder if this was how the double agents of Circle Seven felt, hiding in plain sight.

The waiting room was circular (fittingly) and quiet while the Commander and Quelorie waited for the agent they were to meet with. They were to receive intel on the weak points of the other Circles, as well as the ones who would help with further infiltration. A large file, Joel was sure.

"So," he spoke up, sipping the coffee they were served. "What do you think of the Circle?"

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Daijia's returning smile was automatic, but at the mention of compensation, it smoothed out a little in amusement. "Will you, now," she drawled suggestively, the follow-up chuckle a deep and quiet sound.

Her eye flitted briefly to Quelorie, who didn't seem to have relaxed in the slightest. If anything, her commander's upset seemed to have achieved the opposite effect. "But you're right. Bentley Foster, as long as he is under the watch of the First Circle, is untouchable. They watch their own like a mother over her young. To get to your tin-can doctor, you will have to pull more strings than even the Seventh Circle has at their disposal."

Quelorie was taken aback at Joel's reaction to this news. She'd never seen him react to anything like this before... It wasn't often that he lost his cool, somewhat humorous demeanor. He hadn't told her much about his brother (only what she had needed to know), but it was obvious that this 'side mission' of theirs was more important to Joel that he had been letting on. As much as she would have liked to add something helpful (though what that 'something' might be, she didn't really know), she was given an order to be silent and had no intention of breaking it. Her glance wandered back to Daijia again. It seemed that all they could really do for the time being was wait until more of the Circle fell under Gladsheim's control.

Though his smile was obviously forced, Joel nodded.

"You were right as well. He is rather low priority, as far as Gladsheim is concerned. If we get such resources, they won't be wasted on only him." As he slowly accepted for the time being that there truly was nothing else he could do about apprehending his brother, Joel seemed to ease. Not quite into his nonchalant ego, but certainly closer.

"I hate to cut our meeting short, but our pilot is an impatient man. I believe we've sufficiently verified our information. Quelorie, will you inform Vercelli we'll be boarding in ten minutes?"

She waved a hand toward the door they had come through. "By all means."

"Just don't shoot anyone on your way out this time."

"Yes sir, Commander." Quelorie responded with a nod. She turned to leave, glancing back at Daijia over her shoulder. "I'll try my best."

With that, she headed out the door and back the way they had come.

"Daijia," Joel said with a respectful salute before turning and following Quelorie. He didn't say a word about his outburst or his mood when she had finished her call; just silently lead them back to the docking bay.

Just as Joel had estimated, it took about ten minutes for them to reach the bay where their ship was docked. It was a small craft, unmarked and inconspicuous, but it did the job. Quelorie entered first, climbing the small ramp to the door and pressing the button on the side to release the lock. "Tootsie, are we ready to leave?"

Vercelli, who was parked in the cockpit seat with his heels perched up on the dashboard, leaned his head back as he heard the hiss of the door. He threw an upside-down glare in Quelorie's direction as she greeted him, the lines on his nose wrinkling. "Not my name, fish-face."

Vercelli straightened, turning around in his chair.

"What took you?"

"Had a little run-in," Joel said as he climbed in. "And the rep took his sweet time."

He took the seat next to Vercelli, strapping in and slouching the seat back. It was clear he was still in a sour mood, his brow wrinkled and arms crossed.

Quelorie ignored Vercelli's retort (just like she always) did as she took her own seat in the back and buckled in. She'd taken quite a liking to teasing Vercelli, something she'd obviously picked up from Joel. The fact that she could blame some of the things she said on cultural ignorance only made it more amusing to her.

Tucking the reader in his hands away, Vercelli aligned himself with the control panel, but not before giving Joel a skeptical look. Despite his antagonistic nature, it was rare to sense such an abrasive air from Joel. Vercelli raisdd both eyebrows, his mouth shrugging. "Must have been some run-in."

"Daijia," he clarified. "Get clearance to leave already?"

Quelorie said nothing about Joel's explosion. To her credit, she was quite good at keeping secrets. Glancing over at Vercelli, she leaned her head back against the seat. "Please try to fly smoother this time."

"I've had clearance for twenty minutes," Vercelli said testily. "Get strapped in."

"I've been strapped in for two minutes," he snapped back. "Get a move on."

"As have I." Quelorie agreed, closing her eyes.

There was a low rumble from engine as Vercelli powered the ship, the bridge hissing as it filled with an oxygen-based gas solution. Windows were reinforced and doors double-sealed themselves. The take-off started off rocky, but Vercelli pulled on the boost as soon as the ship went airborne, sending them on a smooth path back home just as soon as it was out of range of the seventh circle's territory.

how about some baddie screen time

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*protip: joel only calls him vercelli when he's being SRS

SRS BZNZ

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