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[/i][/INDENT][/INDENT][CENTER][COLOR=04cf3a][sup]________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sup][/COLOR][img]https://i.imgur.com/uxnptlQ.jpg
[/img] [/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=04cf3a][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Jim's Office, P.R.C.U. Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=04cf3a][b]Dance Monkey #4.017:[/b][/COLOR] [color=white][I][b]I Confess, I Messed Up[/b][/I][/color][/right][/sup][/indent][COLOR=04cf3a][SUP][sub]____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________[/sub][/SUP][/COLOR][INDENT][sub][color=04cf3a][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Jim [@Lord Wraith][/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=04cf3a][b]Previously:[/b][/COLOR] [url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5541943][I]The Black[/I][/url][/right][/SUP]

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[COLOR=silver][sup][b]| One Day before the Dance[/b][/sup][/color]

It was the first time he had dressed in his full uniform since the Opening Ceremony. It felt stifling and constricting, though that was almost certainly the nerves and anxiety more than the fabric. He had spent a whole fifteen minutes making sure the tie was appropriately knotted and set. He had even gone through the effort of affixing the black beret and Blackjack armband appropriately, and checked them in the bathroom of the administration building before approaching Jim's door. His father hadn't given him much helpful advice over the years, but 'always dress up for a dressing down' finally made sense in this circumstance. He was as prepared as he was going to be. Rory approached Jim's door, delivered two firm knocks, and announced. [color=04cf3a]"It's Tyler, sir."[/color]
 
[Color=white]"Enter."[/color] Jim ordered gruffly, the door opening to reveal Rory promoting a raised eyebrow from the Chancellor he was walking away from a nearby cabinet before taking a seat and placing two highballs on the desk. He produced a bottle and poured himself a drink before looking at Rory again.

[Color=white]"Aren't y'all a bit over dressed?"[/color] The corner of his mouth turned up, his moustache twitching with the small smirk. [Color=white]"Take a seat, Tyler, do you drink it neat?"[/color] Jim asked motioning towards the bourbon bottle.

[color=04cf3a]"Neat is fine, sir."[/color] Rory walked into the office, taking a deep breath. He approached the desk, sitting down in one of the chairs before the desk. He sat straight, his expression stoic as he glanced at Jim. But he couldn't help but crack a smile as he raised an eyebrow when looking at the Bourbon. [color=04cf3a]"After this week... I'm beginning to understand why my father drank so much."[/color]

[Color=white]"Try running this place with about eighty Blackjacks running around having adventures. Though certainly none quite as life and death as yours."[/color]Jim replied taking a sip of his drink. [Color=white]"I am disappointed though Tyler, but I'm not disappointed in y'alls leadership. To my understanding, Baxter stepped up when y'all were emotionally compromised and ultimately you saved Barnes with no losses."[/color] Jim took another drink while clearing his throat.

[Color=white]"What I am disappointed about is that there could have been losses, losses that if you had come to me first could have been completely avoided. Kruger could have been pinned and drowned, Cahors lost to a panic attack at the wrong moment."[/color] Jim continued.

[Color=white]"I trust y'all Tyler, I do. And Baxter showed excellent potential. I'm sure she already let y'all know you two will be working side by side. No what I am disappointed about is that you don't trust me or the faculty and I want to talk, man to man, about what I can do to change that."[/color] He spun the glass absently for a second before speaking again.

[Color=white]"Y'all were dealt a short straw five years ago joining when you did and you drew it again this year before graduating. I don't like the Foundation being here but I ultimately want what's best for y'all, the team and the rest of the student body. So tell me Tyler, what do y'all need from me to convince y'all I am in y'alls corner?"[/color]

Rory took a sip of his bourbon, hissing as the alcohol burned his throat. There was a warmth to the liquor that was unfamiliar to what he usually drank. But he went back for a second sip as he mulled over Jim's speech. [color=04cf3a]"Harper was the first one I called, because I knew she could track Haven down. I didn't know who took her, or why. I made some bad split-second calls after that."[/color]

[color=04cf3a]"Harper asked me not to inform you, when I mentioned getting you involved. Reminds me that I need to ask her what she was on about..."[/color] He trailed off, taking another sip of bourbon to calm his nerves as he focused his thoughts. [color=04cf3a]"I didn't put up much of a fight. I trusted that she knew something I didn't."[/color] His eyes returned to Jim, his demeanor still stoic and calm. [color=04cf3a]"There is almost no one in Blackjack who is ready to trust authority given what they've been through. If there was one I could point to, it would have been Harper."[/color]

Rory lifted one of his legs, resting his ankle across the opposite knee while his free hand tapped on the back of his polished shoes. Frustration seeped into his voice. [color=04cf3a]"After this week, I'm finding it hard to trust anyone, Jim. My girlfriend was nearly killed twice in the past week, one of my closest teammates might have been involved, and my oldest friend and roommate was in critical condition."[/color] He let out a long exhale before taking a deep breath, slowing himself down. [color=04cf3a]"If you want to earn back our trust... it needs to start with heightened security. And re-evaluating the staff. I think it's one of your expressions you used for Tad once... 'Get your house in order.'"[/color] His Jim impression was abysmal, and Rory averted his gaze to the window as he took another sip of liquor. [color=04cf3a]"I'll talk with Harper, so we can start getting ours in order too."[/color]

[Color=white]"I appreciate y'alls candor, we've been doing employee evaluations since the reveal of House Orcinus and Michael's involvement. It's why Dr. Rivers hasn't been around lately, she's been doing mental scans of staff members for the past week. Gruelling, exhausting work."[/color] Jim replied before finishing his drink. [Color=white]"I'm surprised at how quickly Baxter has become an integral part of the team. Students don't generally integrate that well in their first year but she's proven to be a boon to y'all."[/color] The Chancellor mused, spinning his empty class on an edge of its base.

[Color=white]"Since you mentioned the investigation, how is it going? Do y'all need any support or do y'all have any leads?"[/color] He paused again, before looking directly at Rory.

[Color=white]"One thing that escapes me still, that sub-basement was a lab for one of Hyperion's supporters, it was meant to stay buried. How did y'all know about it?"[/color]

The mention of the investigation led Rory to take another sip. The warmth in his chest was oddly comforting. Lying wasn't going to do him any favors. [color=04cf3a]"I have a strong lead... and I'm looking to confirm it today. As for the basement... the trail led there. By the time I got down the stairs, the water was already pouring. I just followed where it came from."[/color]

Jim nodded solemnly at Rory's words, if the younger man wasn't confident enough to share his lead at this time then Jim wasn't going to pry further.

[Color=white]"Alright, if the trail led y'all there then that's the end of it. Was kind of curious if someone had prompted that line of thinking which could lend weight to your investigation. But no matter, seems like you have everything handled."[/color] Jim replied, [color=white]"And Tyler, if you're absolutely sure that you can trust Baxter, maybe bring her in and see if she can see something you can't."[/color]

The larger man stood to shake Rory's hand.

[Color=white]"Otherwise, I won't keep y'all any longer than necessary. Big night tomorrow, I imagine y'all want some time to prepare especially now that you have, as y'all said, a girlfriend."[/color]

Rory nodded softly, his smile not quite reaching his eyes. He downed the rest of his drink in a single gulp, before resting the glass on the desk. He rose to his feet, shook Jim's hand, and left the office quietly. As soon as he closed the door behind him, Rory unbuttoned the top buttons of his shirt and took a few deep breaths. Relief and regret shook his wavering exhale, and he quickly made for the exit. He expected more of a dressing down. Part of him was prepared for the harsh words and an even harsher hand. But the specter of Cole Tyler only lived in his expectations and fears, and ghosts meant little to him these days. As one fear subsided, a deeper feeling persisted.

Rory wanted to go home.


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