[ phone audio ]

[struckout]

They killed him!!

[ Some time after the rather unfortunate message by Paul is cut off, it's this that pierces the network as a reaction, full of fury and horror and who knows what else from the utterly distraught Kallie who happened to witness it. Her voice is slightly echoing in a way that suggests she's still in her bathroom, but as for any visual, it's been days since she had the foresight to cover both cameras on her phone. Regardless, her tone should be more than enough to spell out her feelings on the matter...

Or in other words, spell out that she's right in the middle of being mired in sheer panic. Her breathing is rough and audible, but for a moment more it seems like her initial outburst is going to be the worst of what she has to say... up until her anger seems to focus again, voice rising even louder than before- ]

You!! Captain whatever!! What do you have to say for yourself?!

[ Nonsensical, perhaps, but her lashing out is more than furious enough to emphasize her point- with a distinct smash of something breaking before she continues. ]

Are you happy now?!

Comments

[11ady]

Being overly-emotional implies the contrary.

[struckout]

What are you talking about...?

[ Isn't it possible to be upset about something without freaking out, too? Kallie may have gone straight for one of the extremes of the spectrum herself at first, but the idea of anyone sticking to the opposite rather than somewhere in the grey area between is kind of... really alarming to her. ]

[11ady]

If you must be outraged, it's best not to show it so publicly.

[Don't you play poker...]

[struckout]

[ Silence, because Kallie has to stew on that a minute first. Her annoyance is likely still palpable all the same, though - turns out she does in fact have a little bit of emotional ability left to her after all. ]

[11ady]

Look, I grew up in vicious social circles. Surrounded by sharks. You don't know the true nature of the people on that network. You can't let them smell blood in the water.

[Just smile and wave. Make small talk. Put on a mask and socialize. It's how she's learned to survive.]

[struckout]

[ ... She has a point... but Kallie is just not that kind of person. She's too straightforward, her neutral, standoffish baseline meaning her emotions are just too strong to efficiently concealed when ignited; there's little she finds genuinely upsetting in the first place.

Because of this, the poor woman's basically incapable of deceit. No successful stealing from the cookie jar for this girl. ]

So, what do you suggest?

[ Still irritated. Might be hard to tell if she actually wants to know or not. ]

[11ady]

Bide your time. Watch how they move and mimic their motions as best you can. Blend in but keep your guard up. Keeping records of all the data for your private use would be a good idea.

[Elle knows how to play the long game. Smile through the outrage and look as harmless as possible. Don't be a target. Playing the observer nets an advantage when it's time to make a move. There's a reason she favors playing black when it comes to chess.]

[struckout]

[ Kallie's nails bite into her palms, and she moves her arm off her face entirely to stare at the ceiling, even though it's difficult to make out in the darkness. ]

... I'm not interested in doing nothing.

[11ady]

So you'd prefer to move haphazardly? Are you the type who doesn't study for a test and just blitzes through it by randomly shading circles? At first, it may seem that the goal can be accomplished that way but you'll swiftly ascertain your failure once the results return. Preparation is key. It's not a matter of doing nothing. It's a matter of doing something a bit more low-key. Everyone wants to be the hero who goes in with their guns blazing but do they want to be the corpse pumped full of lead, too?

[struckout]

You misunderstand.

[ And now she's annoyed all over again, tone darkening. However, this time, she seems set, with zero uncertainty in her voice. Later is when the questions directed at herself will come, but for now her wall is building up on itself, her natural resistance to being pushed quick to kick in- consciously or no. ]

[11ady]

Then explain.

[struckout]

No.

[ ... You're not her real mom the one who just now advised her on playing your cards close, Elle. You're welcome. ]

[11ady]

Then we're done here.

[end feed]

[struckout]

[ Rude.

But... but whatever. Kallie is sure to pull the phone in front of her, a touch disbelieving, but then sullenly just extends her arm and drops it right off the edge of her bed, ignoring the sound as the battery case promptly separates and clatters across the floor. It's cheap. It'll survive, probably.

W H A T E V E R . ]