social link GO?!!!

[aphelionix]

Wallabin's frankly boring visits were starting to become commonplace at the Gladsheim base; to the point where even Locke was getting dirty looks from the fellow soldiers. When he slanted his glance their way, they usually shut up their gossiping and returned to what they were doing, though. One would think they'd be used to it by now, but they didn't cease to find amusement in Locke running the duo around. (They always silenced themselves when Gearhorn turned up, though.)

Luckily for Weiler and Locke, they were allowed a break from Wallabin while he met with Gearhorn and several other officers. (More demands to be met, more money to be donated and the like, Locke was sure.) There weren't many safe places to talk on base, unfortunately. He didn't even trust his own quarters.

There was only one place that he knew would be safe, due to the sheer loud volume of it; the cantina. It was less than glamorous, and the drinks they had to offer were definitely not as exquisite as the bar they had gone to. The company even less so. It was with a little reluctance that Locke suggested it.

"We could kill some time at the cantina," he had said, "but I don't think you'll like it."

Comments

[tactician]

'Later' came much later in the week and the day when most soldiers had retired to the privacy and relative quiet of their bunkers.

Wallabin hadn't made an appearance once in the base within that half a week, which was both unsurprising but unusual for him. The meeting he had last attended had sounded like a serious one, given the dour expression and the set in the senator's jaw the entire ride back to his residence. He had spent nearly the entirety of his next seventy-two hours holed up in his study, leaving only to sleep. He had ordered his meals brought up to him, and only gave Weiler a passing glance when the tray was set down. This wasn't entirely unheard of - despite his penchant for indulgence, the man did have certain bouts during which he actually did work, but considering how he had made it a point to visit the base at least once every two days (to 'touch base,' he said), some might have found it odd.

Weiler had been rather preoccupied too. He had spent the first day and a half carefully observing Wallabin in case this bout of seclusion wasn't ordinary, but none of the bugs and none of his instincts could pinpoint what was wrong, although the niggling feeling he had in his chest never quite left. Then, before he could really come to any conclusion on that, his bi-monthly report to the Circle had come and gone, which left him with an empty sensation that only intensified as the next day wore on. Weiler had all but forgotten the phone call until that last day, and even then, only as he was about to turn in did he recall it.

Locke's phone rang at eleven-forty-three PM, at the end of three days.

[aphelionix]

Locke was becoming reasonably worried about both the lack of appearance and lack of call. If something went wrong, Circle members naturally had to react quickly, but he hadn't heard anything suspicious from Gearhorn. As far as she had let on, everything was still normal. She was cursing the Circle more than normal, and how troublesome it was dealing with that 'god damn organization', but that was about it. Granted, he was in the middle of getting her drunk. That was the best time to catch her slip-ups.

It was a stroke of luck, really, that Locke hadn't been in his bunk when Weiler called. He had to be wary in his screening of calls, knowing he was always being watched or listened in on. Gladsheim was incredibly thorough. His Circle meetings always took place off base, and with another member to guard him.

When his cell vibrated in his pocket, he pushed off the bar and excused himself from Gearhorn, who was well past tipsy at this point. She simply waved him off. Locke stepped outside before finally picking up after four rings.

"Hallo, mein Liebling," he answered. He definitely wasn't sober himself, but upon seeing the number, Locke mustered himself up (a bit of Circle instinct as well). Unfortunately, he was drunk enough to think his German was good.

[tactician]

A sharp bark of laughter came from the other end, followed by a teasing, "And what are you wearing tonight, darling?"

[aphelionix]

"Still in uniform, actually."

[tactician]

"I don't suppose I can ask you to take it off and think of me, then," Weiler sighed.

[aphelionix]

"Maybe next time. I'm not sure this bar appreciates naked patrons of the male variety."

[tactician]

"You're at a bar?"

[aphelionix]

"Gearhorn and I," he clarified. Locke checked over his shoulder for anyone. "I'm outside, though."

[tactician]

"All by yourself?" Weiler cooed sympathetically.

Is this line safe?

[aphelionix]

"I am," he said.

[tactician]

"Poor thing," Weiler responded, tucking the phone between his shoulder and ear as he turned to face his door, watching for any shadows that might pass under the crack at the bottom. He systematically checked for bugs in his room, but one could never be too sure.

"Well, I just wanted to check up on you and tell you that things over here are hectic, but that I'm all right," he said vaguely, drumming his feet against the floor. "All's clear on the work front, though Wallabin's been in a straight fit these days over something or other."

[aphelionix]

"Gearhorn's been in a fuss over something herself," he admitted, his back flat against the bar's outer wall to have a good view of any possible eavesdroppers. Even if there was, the cars of the tall highways and roads were loud. Despite that and the lack of company, he was still careful in how he worded things. "So I brought her here to loosen her up."

[tactician]

"Ah~, what a good subordinate. But you've got to be careful then. Don't let some prowling cat snatch her away while you're out here talking to me," Weiler teased, a thump-thump coming from his end of the line as he kicked off his shoes and loosened his tie. Even that didn't help with the niggling feeling that persisted somewhere at the pit of his stomach.

"I get the feeling something dangerous could happen," he said, and to the outside observer, it might have sounded like a follow-up to his previous statement, though it was anything but.

[aphelionix]

"I thought so as well," he said, Locke's tone becoming more serious. He leaned over to glance through a window. Gearhorn was still sitting at the bar, drink in hand, watching one of the dancers. (She had insisted on a more risque club this time; she only did that when she was really stressed. That had tipped him off too.)

"Was yesterday strange for you?" If he remembered right, they had both had their meetings with the Circle yesterday.

[tactician]

"Every day's a little strange for me," Weiler answered lightly. "Although recently more so than others. Must be in some sort of funk," he said, failing to clarify whether it was him or the Circle suffering from it. "Everything seems a little off and unfamiliar. How about you?"

[aphelionix]

"About the same, I'd have to say." Locke gave his surroundings another glance around, before easing off to the side of the building. "Do you know of Commander Foster?"

[tactician]

"Mm, he was the one Wallabin and Gearhorn met with last time, wasn't he? Along with that Aquilos soldier."

[aphelionix]

"Yes," he confirmed. Locke had drawn his scarf up, his voice muffled to anyone who could've possibly heard him outside. "They're part of special ops." (Or, as any Circle member would know, the part of Gladsheim that was specific to going against up the Circle.) "I don't like that they're involved, suddenly."

[tactician]

"You mean they're not frequent visitors to Gladsheim meetings?" Weiler answered, sliding down the back of his bathroom door as the sound of running water began to echo over the line - another two or three layers of protection never hurt anyone.

and now locke is thinking about weiler getting naked

[aphelionix]

"Only if it's to do with the Circle."

JUST AS PLANNED-

[tactician]

"Then all the more reason for us to be on our toes. I've been waiting for some more relevant information for months. It's almost exciting," Weiler said, with a bit of a laugh in his voice.

SNEAKY BASTARD

[aphelionix]

"Kind of a bad time to joke around, isn't it?" he sighed.

[tactician]

"What would you have me do?" Weiler responded, good-natured. "Panic? I don't do panic, Herr Locke. And technically, nothing has happened yet."

[aphelionix]

"I didn't say that," Locke said. "As long as you're prepared."

[tactician]

"I have a gun in my drawer, but there's really nothing more I can do than that without looking suspicious." Weiler chuckled. "Just worry about yourself, soldier. I'm not the one surrounded by trained forces."