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[crocodilesmiles]

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[quackery]

okay do you want to meet up somewhere? or if you would rather not say that's fine too!

[crocodilesmiles]

we can meet up! it's not that i mind, i just
hmm
it's something to think about but not something to toss to oz
when you get people being defensive they stop hearing and stop listening
oz gets defensive with jack

[quackery]

how's the observatory?

[crocodilesmiles]

sounds like a nice place to roll through in about half an hour or so!

[quackery]

okay! i'll be there

[crocodilesmiles]

( bundled up against the chill (it wasn't cold, precisely, but Collette felt cooler than usual), the teen finds herself by the monitors showing stars and a few shots of the Earth, looking away from them and out the lonely window. She wonders how reinforced it is, to exist here, but it's nice.

Probably the least claustrophobic part of this base.

Her fingers fidget with the blanket over her legs and in her lap, plucking at it, letting it fall back down, then smoothing it out. She's stuck with what Break had said a while ago, not saying anything for or against Jack. It just came up as something she typed without thinking: Don't Involve Jack. She could still explain it as tension between Xerxes and Jack, but that wouldn't precisely be fair.

She just wonders what to trust Ahiru with without overburdening her with the kinds of secrets Collette has learned to bear. )

[quackery]

[She wanders into the observatory around thirty minutes later, giving a smile when she sees Collette. She hurries over, taking a seat next to her.]

Are you feeling cold?

[crocodilesmiles]

A little.

( She admits with a small, wry grin. )

I don't know if I actually am, or looking out into space is making me feel that way. It's cool, but maybe a bit too literally!

[quackery]

[She nods.]

It's sort of weird. I mean, you look out the window and it seems all neverending and infinite, but we're still in a pretty small space in here. I mean, not that I can really complain.

[She doesn't like it, of course. Coming from Exsilium, a place where she could finally roam around as she wished (not that she left the borders often, of course, but the choice meant worlds to her) to here was almost akin to torture. She feels boxed in again after learning at last how wonderful it was to experience the opposite.

Still, considering what happened to the Exiles who were left there on Earth, it feels awfully selfish and ungrateful to feel this way.]

Anyways, we were going to talk about Jack, right?

[crocodilesmiles]

( It's just another cage. Collette rubs against it with the memory of the Holding Compound; but here, there's no one to prick her with needles, to argue over her faults, to observe a blooming bruise on her leg and consider it a job well done.

She smiles. Then she lets the expression fade. )

Jack tried killing one of the kids in the hospital, back during the last round of bombings we had in June. When everyone was sick, and we were helping the Exiles evacuate underground.

[quackery]

[Every expression fades from her face to make room for the shock. It invades her voice as well when she speaks.]

What? Shouldn't—

[A breath, trying to calm herself.]

And Oz won't listen to reason about him at all?

[crocodilesmiles]

Oz sees what he wants to see. I mean, what do you think of Jack? He seems nice, right? And pleasant. Once he knew someone was watching, he switched up what he was doing fast enough. In the end, he saved that same kid.

( She looks to Ahiru, eyes worried. )

So what kind of proof is that to offer? Oz considers him a hero. Would you want to listen to someone tell you that hero you believe in isn't the hero you thought he was? Could you listen to that?

[quackery]

[She sighs, thinking.]

I've only really had one conversation with him and that was through text, so I can't say for sure what he's like, but I trust you enough to know you wouldn't lie about something like that.

Maybe we could catch him doing something sometime and get proof of it? But we don't really know him well to know what bad things he might be up to, do we?

[Another sigh, pushing her fingers through her hair.]

I guess the best thing we can do is watch out for Oz for now.

[crocodilesmiles]

Or observe Jack ruthlessly until we get evidence Oz can't refute.

( She says, far too casually. )

But you know how it is. Watching out for Oz is part of the best we can do... and that's why I don't want Jack at the tea party.

[quackery]

Just be careful. I mean, not that I don't think you wouldn't be, but if he's awful enough to try to kill a child... You know.

I get it. Does Gilbert know what he's like?

[crocodilesmiles]

I'll be careful.

( She grins. )

Even if it isn't my middle name! And no... I don't think he does. As far as I know, only Break does, and, well, I'm sure you've seen how they all relate. Gil's got to think Jack is the same kind of hero as Oz does, or he wouldn't let them near each other.

[quackery]

Yeah, you've got a point there. If Gil knew there was even a chance he'd hurt Oz, he wouldn't hesitate to do something about it.

[A pause.]

Do you want me to help you? I mean, we can both change forms. We might be the people for the job.

[crocodilesmiles]

Tagteaming... think you can make yourself look like you belong, or else keep to the shadows? There's at least one dog up here, if most the cats will probably leave you alone. Cats respect what birds can do with their wings.

( She points out. )

[quackery]

I think so, yeah. I mean, do you know if he's, like, supervillain level smart and perceptive or is he just crazy and awful?

I could probably get away from the dog if it found me. You taught me how to fly, after all! Someone solved the werewolf problem by now, right?

[crocodilesmiles]

... Uh. I assume supervillain. I'd rather think he's too smart than think he's stupid and end up bleeding out too fast to demorph.

( Said so very bluntly hahaha. )

I have to warn you though, he plays around with time, and I'm not sure how often he does it. Oh! Yeah, yeah, Peter says both Isaac and Scott are doing okay now, they're under control. peter might be out and wolfing it, but he also said he doesn't attack anything that doesn't attack him first, so he's fine!

[quackery]

[collette that is terrifying wow]

Y-Yeah, good point. I'll remember the time thing... I wonder if anyone here has a power that could stop that.

[crocodilesmiles]

I don't know about stopping it... but I can match it, technically. I just haven't had a chance to test it out against what Jack does.

[quackery]

You can match it? What do you mean?

[crocodilesmiles]

Hmm? I can stop time, for a few minutes in total.

( She says, tapping her chin, thoughts elsewhere. )

I wonder if Break knows all of what Jack can do...

[quackery]

Hey, wait! You can't just say that like it's nothing and go on! Since when can you stop time?