Aradia silently edged herself to the back of the room, cool as her complexion may be, nothing could prepare her for the words that were about to be spewed out. As much as she hated to admit it, Aradia did flinch a little when Bill had thrown the mug across the room, only to be caught by the psychic powers Bill tried so hard to deny. Well, Aradia didn't know for sure that it was his psychic powers that stopped it, but it did make more sense than an invisible pink dragon named Kissy. The lack of evidence for Kissy drove Aradia mad. Locating spells, radars, crossing your eyes like when looking at those magic eye puzzles, nothing seemed to work. Aradia was ready to dive into a mental rant before Bill's harsh and steely tone brought her back into reality.

"‘Could have just retreated and kept an eye on’im until we knew what to do, but that’s not how it went. Ain’t that right, Agent Coventry?”

Aradia felt that need to rebel swell inside her, the temptation to roll her eyes or tease him was maddening, but for once, Aradia kept her mouth shut. Right now she was more willing to face an alien invasion than Hadley's wrath. Aradia simply nodded, face stony and still, the slightest move could set Hadley off again, and exciting as that prospect may sound to her, Aradia wasn't ready to lose her job over it.

She zoned out a bit after that and let Hadley drone on, best to just let him talk and release some of that pent-up anger, even though the urge to call him out as being a demented old man seemed more and more fun the longer he talked. Aradia only caught snippets of the briefing, something about a party and Madame Fred or whatever. It was late and the witch just wanted to call it a night, she was also the confident her dear old coworkers would fill her in later. After what felt like hours, finally he seemed to have stopped talking. Aradia wasted no time and stepped towards the door, eager for a relaxing bath and a quick snooze.

“Agent Conventry stick around.”

A chill ran down Aradia's spine as she heard those words. Reluctantly, she turned to face the man. "Of course, Mr Hadely," she replied in the most unassuming tone she could manage while her mind wailed with the mantra "Please don't fire me, please don't fire me, please don't fire me..."

She side stepped aside, opening the way for the others to escape before Hadley opened his mouth again. A feeling of dread seeped into Aradia's confidence, but she fought hard to keep her expression neutral. Deep inside, she was ready to defend her actions. What else was she to do? Let the thing go to brainwash even more people? A 100 retorts, arguments, and shut-downs were bubbling beneath her skin, ready to burst the second Hadley dared to say that F-word. But would it work to change his mind? Was he about to fire her? She prepared for the worst. Throwing one last longing glance at her team-mates, she turned and faced Bill head on. Making sure her posture was relaxed yet serious.

"Look," she sighed, those 100's of arguments already slipping out of her mind, "I did what seemed right at the moment and I know things didn't go to well, but, look at it like this. The alien is out of our hair for the moment!"

A little light of hope sparked in Aradia as she looked back at Hadley, hoping to see a softened expression. Right now she wouldn't be surprised if Kissy just blasted her with the fury of hell.

Mithias cast the magazine back onto the pile and stood quietly aside the other agents while Bill spoke. Writing a report was nothing more than a simple, routine task. It was no more a bother to Mithias as it was to stay up half the night to do it. He'd be using his own office down the hall from here for those next few hours. If anyone wanted to speak with him, they would find him there.

Life as a Syndicate agent was relatively easy for the vampire, and occasionally interesting. Mithias found the various personalities and family-like interactions strangely comforting, secretly indulging in the meaning it seemed to provide in his own life. Bill did not cause him fear, losing his job didn't cause him fear. Nothing caused Mithias fear.

The vampire lingered for a moment as the others began to leave for the night. Silent, he watched Aradia from behind, nearly being forgotten while the other two spoke. Aradia was obviously quite unsettled as she defended herself with childlike reasoning. Mithias decided to intervene and to break the tension. He stepped up before Bill could reply. "Director."

Hadley's heat would momentarily be deterred off the trembling doe. "Come with us to Madame Red's. You want answers, and your presence would add far more weight to the importance of the party. Surely you have some 'nice' ties in your collection?" Mithias raised an eyebrow mockingly. Yeah, I just slammed you.

Buck was glad that after all that, they managed to get away relatively easily. He sympathized with the Assistant Director and the headache that would be covering that up. Still, he gave a polite 'Goodbye' and left quickly. He was still surprised that nobody lost their head for this, except maybe Coventry. Honestly he could see how the Asst. Director's instructions could've be confusing, but he wasn't going to speak up without being asked. He would have to remember to get in contact with Mithias in case he needed to talk to him.

He walked down the hall, speaking to himself as he made a list of what he needed to do before tomorrow evening. "Alright, need to grab some silver-tipped and UV rounds for my gun, get my nice suit dry cleaned, be wound up to make sure that I'm ready for when something goes wrong, and check in Dr. Treadaway." He was looking forward to this little soiree. It was a chance to be fancy, and to be around others who were 'dead'.

Still, the news of a drug that got the attention of the Syndicate was interesting. It wasn't his place to speculate on the connection between Madame Red and the new drug, but he still felt he should read up on the basics first. At least grab some material to read while he wound up. As he got to the stairway, he was already figuring out where he could get such data.

_{interacting with:@redbaron1234}
The moment he was dismissed, agent Harrison quickly stepped out of the office. The feelings in the room had been uncomfortable to say the least, and he knew that the longer he stayed in there the less easily he would be able to get to sleep. He was grateful that Hadley had taken a bit of the blame, and he understood why he was so upset, and that wasn't just because Harrison was a medium. No, had been a fiasco, and to top it all off, there would no doubt be mounds of paper work to take care of because of it. Besides, the man cared about his agents- well, probably. Even still, Harrison couldn't help but feel sorry for agent Coventry. She was fairly new to the team, if memory served him right, and though he didn't know her well, he sympathized with the her being called out like that. Still, somebody had to get the brunt of the blame.

Harrison mulled over the new mission they had been given as he walked towards the building's exit. He had never been a fan of parties. Too many people all close together. Being around many auras messed with his senses. Still, getting information would certainly be far more easy than what they had just gone up against. The biggest challenge would probably be finding his tux -or more accurately, renting one. Harrison didn't have the paycheck to waste money on items that he hardly used. Even his apartment was a bit much for him, and it was a far cry from the pleasant farmhouse he had once lived in. Still, it was home now, and more than anything, he just wanted to go to bed.

Harrison noticed Buck approaching the stairwell, and though Harrison had never been a fan of small talk, he still felt as if he needed to say something to his fellow agent. After all, that's what "normal" people would do.

"Hey, Buck, that was quite the mission, wasn't it?" he said with a smile. "tomorrow's should probably be a bit more easygoing though, well, if you like parties, that is."

Bill had been ready to listen to Agent Coventry’s excuse when the vampire, Mithias, interjected:

Director…Come with us to Madame Red’s. You want answers, and your presence would add far more weight to the importance of the party. Surely you have some ‘nice’ ties in your collection?

Bill metaphorically fortified all of his personal walls at the suggestion of him going to the ball. The assistant director’s eyes lowered to his desk, mostly to the hands that rested on it. His fingers were interlaced as his old eyes seemed to stare as though he were recalling a memory. The man frowned, and he decided to actually be a little honest with the vampire and the witch (since she just so happened to be there).

“I can’t go to the ball,” he confessed. “Madame Red’s been trynna’ bite my neck for years. I have more responsibilities now, which means I have access to things y’all don’t know. If she bites my neck, the entire Syndicate could be compromised. She’s an important contact, but she ain’t worth risking this business over.”

Bill’s brown eyes returned to Mithias. “Now will you get the fuck out of my office? I gotta deal with this agent right now.”

@Witch Cat@Wraithblade6

Vivid yellow eyes lingered on Bill for a moment, before Mithias turned and walked quietly to the door. It closed behind him with a creek.

So, Madame Red thought to invite the entirety of the Syndicate Investigators to her place, knowing Hadley wouldn't show. Her plan was obvious, to tempt us with promises of information, then suck on Hadley's jugular while he remained behind, unguarded by his agents. Mithias was going to make sure that little scenario didn't happen, but first, he had a report to print out.

Entering his own private office just down the hall, Mithias checked that everything was just where he had left it. He booted his comp and logged in, opening a word document that he had already saved previously. His vampire ears could still hear all that was said in Bill's room, a fact he didn't care to reveal.

Once the vampire was gone, Bill returned his attention to Agent Coventry.

“Agent Coventry, you nearly cost yer entire team their lives. Despite you havin’ so much hocus-y pocus-y power, you’re reckless!” Bill scolded. He ran a hand back through his hair and sighed heavily. “What can you do Agent Coventry? Do I need to assign you a chaperone every time you go on a mission? Because it seems to me that under a certain level of stress, you crack, and when you crack, you endanger your whole team.”

@Witch Cat

Aradia felt a moment of shock and gratitude when the vampire intervened, only then to mentally scold him. "What are you doing?" she wailed in her mind, obviously the vampire couldn't hear her thoughts but Aradia's widened eyes delivered the message just fine.

Aradia switched her expression back to neutral once she faced the director again, temporarily amused when he spoke of Madame Red. When talking to anyone else, Aradia would've teased saying the person has an admirer, but Aradia didn't want her life to be on the line too. So she remained tight-lipped and still, only moving once the vampire turned to leave and she only did nod her head slightly at him. Now it was just the 2 of them with an infinite and deafening silence stretching between them.

Once Hadley spoke, Aradia could almost feel the silence shattering like fine China. She let him go on his tirade, not bothered by his talk of chaperones and cracking and only stopping him once he stopped.

"It seems to me that under a certain level of stress, you crack, and when you crack, you endanger your whole team.”

That same fiery passion sparked once again in Aradia at that comment, she felt her cheeks grow hot but she spoke coolly. "You should know better than anyone that when in battle, you don't have time to just sit around and think about your next move like it's a game of chess. I can tell the future, but I can't predict everything. In dire situations like those, I don't crack, I react."

She took a calming breath and continued, her posture now more loose and confident, oozing her "challenge authority" attitude. She wasn't going to go down without a fight. "Our cover was blown, exits were blocked and an attack incoming, and so I followed my instinct. 'Fight' it told me, and so I did. It may seem like a foolish choice now, but remember, everyone is a general after the battle, Mr Hadley."

@jumpadraw

Buck turned to Harrison, and gave a small wave. "Hey there Jimmy. It was a cluster fuck if I ever saw one. Glad we all made it out alive though." He opened the stairwell door for his fellow agent. "Speaking of the party, I'm heading actually heading to the Archives. Thinking about seeing what I can find about that drug Hadley was talking about." Taking the stairs slowly for Harrison, the mechanical man continued, making broad gestures with his arms. "But apart from that, it's an excuse to be fancy. I mean sure we'll be on the job, but not every day you get to go to a classy event, amirite? Wining and dining and all that stuff." He rubbed his chin as if contemplating something. "I do wonder how forthcoming Madame Red's gonna be with the info though. She could just tell us straight up," he shrugged. "Maybe it's a vampire thing." A dopey grin crossed his face, playfully nudging Harrison with an elbow. "Or maybe she wants to try and convert some juicy human." They reached a landing. "But enough from me. You looking forward to it?"

Harrison paused at the landing, letting himself think for a second. "It should be less of a hassle than what we dealt with today. Still, just because it seems like it'll be fun, doesn't mean we should let our guard down. I'd rather keep all of my blood in my veins personally." Harrison let out a chuckle, in spite of himself. It was pretty tough to be stressed around Buck. His positive and upbeat attitude seemed to rub off on everything around him. "It should be fun, though," Harrison continued, "Well, aside from the distinct possibility of Madame Red wanting us to trade one of our own necks for a bit of information on whatever drug she knows about. But that probably won't happen. I hope. The biggest challenge will be finding a good place to rent a tux. None of the clothes I got at home really work for a party." He gestured towards his wrinkled button up shirt and jeans with a smile. "I should probably check in with Mithias before I turn in for the night, see if he needs any help with the report he's writing. You'll have to tell me if you find out anything useful. Anyway, I'll see you later."
Harrison gave Buck one last nod before turning and heading back up the stairs.

@redbaron1234

Bill listened intently to Aradia’s response, again peering down at his fingers as they tapped on the desk when really, he was gazing back into his mind. He countered, “Wasn’t it you who also tried to make a spectacle of yerself? What if no other agent had gone up there, and it was only you? ‘Cover still woulda’ been blown. Sometimes you don’t need to react, Agent Conventry. If these monsters we’re dealin’ with were as smart as that alien, I may not have a team left. Like fish to the angler…y’all had time to think y’all just didn’t grasp the opportunity. Knowin’ when to act and to think will work well for ya agent. But for now, I’m gonna give you a partner. Yer not goin’ on any solo missions until I’m convinced you know how to behave yerself.”

Bill sat back in his chair and grasped his scruffy chin. He frowned off into his thoughts as he tried to think of the best partner for a witch. Who seemed to be the most level-headed in the group?

“If you gotta mission to go out on, from now on, yer takin’ Frank (nickname because he’s a Frankenstein) @redbaron1234. He could use a backup. I almost considered the old bastard @Wraithblade6 of a vampire, but I don’t want too bloodlustin’ maniacs workin’ together. I also considered Bugs@ShaggyDoo0, but he gots enough work on his hands. He doesn’t need to be disturbed.”

Bill’s eyes lowered to the witch as he finished, “We’re done talkin’. You can go tell Frank that yer partners.”

@Witch Cat

A tiny part of Aradia wanted to agree with Bill, sure he was right about some stuff, but she wasn't going to readily admit that. She let him go on, unable to conjure up any retorts and just hoped she'd do good enough next mission as to not warrant another meeting. And while slightly insulted that he thought she needed a partner, she couldn't really blame him. Aradia tried to look at the bright side, at least now she could better learn about one of her co-workers.

Giving Bill a curt nod, Aradia then left the room, hovering down the stairs silently and towards her new partner. She caught up with him quickly, trailing behind him and Harrison waiting for an opportunity to interject.

Once the briefest of silences passed between the pair, Aradia swerved herself into the conversation. She appeared at Buck's side, greeting him warmly before continuing, "Just came down to tell you that I'm your new partner, can't wait till our next mission,"

While her words were friendly and her tone kind, Aradia was inspecting every inch of Buck, trying to deduce whether he was going to be pleasant to work with or not. Her sharp eyes darted from ever seam in his clothes to the way he held himself, though she covered it up with small gestures and a light-hearted mood.

@redbaron1234

The click of keys was subtle in the background of an otherwise fairly quiet building. Mithias had left his door partly open for several reason, one of which was to improve his surveillance over the rest of the offices. Even subtle drafts had meaning, a door opening, a window, a shift in wind direction outside. It all helped the vampire own his surroundings, and this kind of control brought Mithias a sense of security and peace.

He had heard Jay and Buck's exchange, and knew of Aradia's new partnering. It seemed a wise decision. Terminating a supernatural from the Syndicate was inevitably fraught with difficulty. As much as Hadley threatened, actually carrying out his threats would be a serious pain in the ass. There was no way he'd let her go.

"Friday, Dec. 14, 2016, Approximately 7:15 P.M. 114 Downer St. St. Anthony’s Church of the Holy Flame. Affected number unknown: 100 humans presumptive. Complications: surviving affected, affected Syndicate agents, witnesses, lost gun..."

Pretty standard. As Mithias droned on in text, his mind was more concerned with protecting Bill on the night of the soiree. Kissy, whatever she was, wouldn't be enough. Vampires were all very different from each other in their gifts, but they were more likely to have ways for dealing with telekinesis or psychic entities. Madame Red absolutely threw this event together for the personal entertainment factor, but there was no doubt she had other intentions. Being a vampire, Mithias could probably keep track of her at the party, but if she had sent someone else to do her dirty work... Mithias frowned. Planting a tracking device on the assistant director would reveal his constant location, assuming Hadley didn't find it and suspect treachery, but it would tell nothing of his vital signs or other actions. There was something that would however, but it was permanent...

Mithias paused and glanced down at the back of his hand. A vein ran subtly between his metacarpals. If he could convince Hadley to drink even a small amount of his blood, he'd be able to sense him even from afar. The gift would give none of Bill's memories to Mithias, but it inform the vampire of his physical state. Unfortunately, as a side affect, drinking any of the vampire's blood would make the acting director of the Syndicate vulnerable to Mithias' control.

Mithias glanced back at the glowing screen, pausing in his typing. No way in hell Hadley would go for that. The old man didn't trust anyone, and rightly so. A lot of supernaturals would like to get their claws into him.

The typing commenced.

@Witch Cat

Buck waved Harrison goodbye before turning to go downstairs. Aradia's quick appearance startled him, though he recovered quickly. Scratching the back of his head, he replied, "Well, didn't realize that Bill was so concerned about me that he wanted me to have a bodyguard. Still, nice to have you as my partner." He grinned as he gestured to the stairs. "I was actually going to go see if I could find some more info about that drug Hadley mentioned," he shrugged, "I don't expect to find more than what he gave us but it's a due diligence thing. You're welcome to come help if you want." Snapping his fingers, he added, "Oh, by the way, how did your talk with Bill go?"

Aradia took placid steps next to Buck, following him in his steps even though she was unsure where they were going. "Oh I'm not a bodyguard, and even if I was, you wouldn't need one. Hadley thinks very highly of you," that was most likely a lie, but Aradia didn't mind buttering up her new partner a bit. "I'm sure you're very capable, but anyway as you were saying, that drug," she said while gliding over the stairs, "You know, if it's supernatural in nature, I might be able to identify it or at least some components of it,"

A bit of satisfaction sparked in Aradia, those negative energies that clung to her was slowly wafting away. Until, of course, Buck thought of asking that dreaded question. "Perfectly fine," she replied dully, trying to force any hint of emotion out of her tone.

@redbaron1234

@Witch Cat
To his credit, Buck was able to detect the shift in her tone and tried to change the suspect. He grinned as he took the stairs to what he liked to call 'The Archives', the one place in the building where an agent or other employee of the Syndicate could acess the secure databases, assuming they had the clearance. The exact extent of the security went way beyond his understanding (and clearance), but he had no doubt that the place was protected by the some of the best security the Syndicate could afford. "Well, I'm sure that if we do get a sample of the stuff tomorrow you'd be one of better choices to look at it. I can think of a few things off the top of my head that would turn 'punks into monsters' but those are all known. Meth, Crack, Bath Salts, those sort of things. I'm sure you can think of a bunch of , magical potions and stuff yourself."