[IC] The Two Sides

[Hawksnest565]

Brianna was entirely surprised by the interruption of The Boss. He actually seemed quite mad to her. Hadn't he given her outright permission to do whatever they wanted? After all, Ambrose was nowhere near death. "Sir! I mean, Boss! I, um, you see..."

The Boss held up his hand to stop her talking. "I don't want to hear it Brianna. In fact, neither of you talk." He shoots an angry look at Hunter. "Let the boy come to me right now." He beckons Ambrose over with a shaking hand. "Let me look at you, Ambrose."

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione looks out into the woods one last time before crossing into the clearing. She sighed. She knew she wouldn't have the energy to search for Ambrose all night, but every part of her body - at least, the parts that weren't aching - told her to do everything in her power to pull him back from whatever dark hole he had fallen in. She looked back at Sacha. "What are we going to do?"

Misha froze. "No." She unbuckled her seat belt and edged towards the door, body tensing in suspicion. "Nope, you can let me out here. I can walk back." She grabbed the door handle but it was child-locked; instead, she began unrolling the window.

@xiaomiau

"You are going to rest, and let the healers look you over. I'm going to send out various search parties to see if we can't pick up a scent or a sign of them." she says firmly. "We'll find him, I promise."

Mona quickly locks the window. "Hey, we just saved your sorry ass. And you still don't trust us?" She looks at the girl sadly. "We don't want to be associated with people who hurt children."

[Fionraella]

Brianna was entirely surprised by the interruption of The Boss. He actually seemed quite mad to her. Hadn't he given her outright permission to do whatever they wanted? After all, Ambrose was nowhere near death. "Sir! I mean, Boss! I, um, you see..."

The Boss held up his hand to stop her talking. "I don't want to hear it Brianna. In fact, neither of you talk." He shoots an angry look at Hunter. "Let the boy come to me right now." He beckons Ambrose over with a shaking hand. "Let me look at you, Ambrose."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose hesitates, watching the Boss warily. He glances at Brianna, almost as though looking for permission. He hesitantly shifts, leaning on one foot. He then slowly limps to the man, hoping this wasn't some sort of horrible trap. He looks down at the ground, not wanting to meet the old man's gaze and risk some sort of punishment.

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss grips the boy's shoulders, helping to hold him up. "This is terrible. Just terrible. Ambrose, my boy, I had no idea that this is what those scientists, no monsters, had in mind for you. I just wanted a little blood. That's all." He gently ruffles Ambrose's hair. "Come with me. I'll take you some place safe. These people won't hurt you anymore." He urges Ambrose to leave through the door.

[Fionraella]

The Boss grips the boy's shoulders, helping to hold him up. "This is terrible. Just terrible. Ambrose, my boy, I had no idea that this is what those scientists, no monsters, had in mind for you. I just wanted a little blood. That's all." He gently ruffles Ambrose's hair. "Come with me. I'll take you some place safe. These people won't hurt you anymore." He urges Ambrose to leave through the door.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose flinches slightly at the man's touch. He resists the urge to duck away from his hand. It confused him, somehow it felt nice to be talked to like a person. He glances at the old man for a moment. "Are...are you sure that's okay?" He asks quietly, looking at Brianna worriedly. "I don't want to get punished sir..."

[xiaomiau]

<Snipped quote by xiaomiau>

"You are going to rest, and let the healers look you over. I'm going to send out various search parties to see if we can't pick up a scent or a sign of them." she says firmly. "We'll find him, I promise."

Mona quickly locks the window. "Hey, we just saved your sorry ass. And you still don't trust us?" She looks at the girl sadly. "We don't want to be associated with people who hurt children."

@Fionraella

Dione made a shrill whine. "Sachaaaa." She let out a dramatic sigh that wrenched her side. With a wince, she shrugged in solemn acceptance of her condition. "Fine. But you have to tell me the second you know anything, even if I'm sleeping or something."

Misha glanced out through the inches of open window she had managed to unroll before Mona locked it. They were well into the town, now, but she couldn't tell if anyone was around. She pressed her fingers up to the glass, crawled towards the hole, and shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Help! I'm being kidnapped!" she wailed, banging on the glass.

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss nods slowly. "These people, they will be fired. This is my organisation and I will not have such barbaric behaviour taking place in it." Noticing Ambrose's limp, he hands him his cane. "Here. I know this isn't quite the right size for you, but it should help." He holds open the door.

[Fionraella]

The Boss nods slowly. "These people, they will be fired. This is my organisation and I will not have such barbaric behaviour taking place in it." Noticing Ambrose's limp, he hands him his cane. "Here. I know this isn't quite the right size for you, but it should help." He holds open the door.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose looks more hopeful. He manages a small smile. "Oh, thank you sir..." He takes the cane and tests it a bit. "Thanks.." He limps out of the room, careful not to put too much weight on his burnt foot. He glances back at the two scientists, wondering if this was a trick.

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione made a shrill whine. "Sachaaaa." She let out a dramatic sigh that wrenched her side. With a wince, she shrugged in solemn acceptance of her condition. "Fine. But you have to tell me the second you know anything, even if I'm sleeping or something."

Misha glanced out through the inches of open window she had managed to unroll before Mona locked it. They were well into the town, now, but she couldn't tell if anyone was around. She pressed her fingers up to the glass, crawled towards the hole, and shrieked at the top of her lungs. "Help! I'm being kidnapped!" she wailed, banging on the glass.

@xiaomiau

Sacha laughs a bit. "Yeah, of course I will." She smiles slightly. "Soon as you are given a stamp of full health, you can help inthe search, I promise you that." She says gently as they walk into the camp.

Mona sighs heavily and quickly grabs the girl, putting her hand over her mouth. "Do you want to go to social services, be put up in foster care states away? If not, tell us where your friends are!"

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss closes the door behind Ambrose and quickly goes to speak to Brianna and Hunter. "Do not think poorly of me. This is all going according to plan." Observing the area he notices the tray containing the four wisdom teeth. He picks one up and examines it as he talks. "That child comes from a place rich in shifters. If he can come to trust me, he will lead them into the palm of my hand. We will have all the research subjects we will ever need instead of picking up strays from the back alleys of dirty streets."

"You're talking about a psychological attack?" Brianna observed, still a little shocked but equally impressed. She knew that her employer was smart, but had no idea about how brutal he truly was. "Well, a psychological attack works best with repeated use-"

"Do not think that I am so old as to have my mind lost." The Boss cut her off. "I am well aware of what needs to be done." He glances between the two of them. "From this moment on the boy is to believe that you two are working of your own accord. Come and find him in a little while. Make it appear as if you have stolen him from me. A game of cat and mouse shall be started." He put the tooth down. "But, ah, not you Brianna. See what you can whip up from the stem cells in these teeth." He nods at Hunter. "The, ah, hunting," he chuckles a little at his joke, "shall be left up to you. Consider both of your salaries raised. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a little boy to comfort." With that, he exits the room and joins Ambrose. "My boy, you look awful. How does a soft bed and a warm drink sound to you?"

[xiaomiau]

<Snipped quote by xiaomiau>

Sacha laughs a bit. "Yeah, of course I will." She smiles slightly. "Soon as you are given a stamp of full health, you can help inthe search, I promise you that." She says gently as they walk into the camp.

Mona sighs heavily and quickly grabs the girl, putting her hand over her mouth. "Do you want to go to social services, be put up in foster care states away? If not, tell us where your friends are!"

@Fionraella

Dione nodded. "Thank you, Sacha," she said, a bit less worried than she had been before. Of course, she was still anxious to find where Ambrose had gone and if he was alright, but it made her feel better to know people would be looking for him.

"No!" she yelled through Mona's hand. She jerked away and then turned back, biting into her hand.

[Fionraella]

The Boss closes the door behind Ambrose and quickly goes to speak to Brianna and Hunter. "Do not think poorly of me. This is all going according to plan." Observing the area he notices the tray containing the four wisdom teeth. He picks one up and examines it as he talks. "That child comes from a place rich in shifters. If he can come to trust me, he will lead them into the palm of my hand. We will have all the research subjects we will ever need instead of picking up strays from the back alleys of dirty streets."

"You're talking about a psychological attack?" Brianna observed, still a little shocked but equally impressed. She knew that her employer was smart, but had no idea about how brutal he truly was. "Well, a psychological attack works best with repeated use-"

"Do not think that I am so old as to have my mind lost." The Boss cut her off. "I am well aware of what needs to be done." He glances between the two of them. "From this moment on the boy is to believe that you two are working of your own accord. Come and find him in a little while. Make it appear as if you have stolen him from me. A game of cat and mouse shall be started." He put the tooth down. "But, ah, not you Brianna. See what you can whip up from the stem cells in these teeth." He nods at Hunter. "The, ah, hunting," he chuckles a little at his joke, "shall be left up to you. Consider both of your salaries raised. Now, if you would excuse me, I have a little boy to comfort." With that, he exits the room and joins Ambrose. "My boy, you look awful. How does a soft bed and a warm drink sound to you?"

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose was resisting the urge to hobble away down the hall. He jumps slightly as the Boss leaves that room. He blinks at the offer. "I'm not sure..." He frowns. "I just want to go home..." He sighs sadly. "But I'm guessing that's completely out of the question." He manages a wry smile. "Even though you seem like a reasonable old man."

[Fionraella]

<Snipped quote by Fionraella>

Dione nodded. "Thank you, Sacha," she said, a bit less worried than she had been before. Of course, she was still anxious to find where Ambrose had gone and if he was alright, but it made her feel better to know people would be looking for him.

"No!" she yelled through Mona's hand. She jerked away and then turned back, biting into her hand.

@xiaomiau

Sacha nods. "You're very welcome." She points to Aya's tent. "So head in there, Aya and Destin will be with you shortly." She heads towards her tent hmming to herself.

Mona yelps in pain, then shoots Liwei an irritated look. "You going to help?!"

[Hawksnest565]

"My boy, my boy." The Boss gives one of Ambrose's shoulders a comforting squeeze. "Who said that you cannot go home? I fully expect you to do so." He lifts Ambrose's chin gently to look at the awful burn mark on his cheek. "Just not like this. You come from the woods, don't you? These burns will surely get infected." He began to walk down the hallway, speaking as he went. "You know, health is very important to us old folks. It should be just as important to you. Tell you what - I'll make you a cup of tea, fix up those nasty burns and then put you to bed. How about we discuss taking you home in the morning?" He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Or do young people like hot chocolate these days? My great-granddaughter tells me I always get it wrong."

[Fionraella]

"My boy, my boy." The Boss gives one of Ambrose's shoulders a comforting squeeze. "Who said that you cannot go home? I fully expect you to do so." He lifts Ambrose's chin gently to look at the awful burn mark on his cheek. "Just not like this. You come from the woods, don't you? These burns will surely get infected." He began to walk down the hallway, speaking as he went. "You know, health is very important to us old folks. It should be just as important to you. Tell you what - I'll make you a cup of tea, fix up those nasty burns and then put you to bed. How about we discuss taking you home in the morning?" He rubs his chin thoughtfully. "Or do young people like hot chocolate these days? My great-granddaughter tells me I always get it wrong."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose flinches again at his touch. "I just assumed...you seemed to want to keep me around longer..." He then gives a slight smile. "Yeah, woods. But we have.." He then curses himself for almost revealing more than he already had. He then shrugs slightly as he limps alongside the old man. "I do like tea. Just so long as it's not black tea." He then blinks, realizing that was rude. "but any tea is fine..." He nods eagerly. "I do want to go home..I have a girlfriend I'd very much like to see again."

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss noted that Ambrose had decide to hide some information but didn't press on it. "Haha, I agree of course. Green tea is my personal favourite." He lead Ambrose along the halls, eventually stopping at a door. This was actually the first door Ambrose had opened in his grand escape attempt and lead to a break room with a little kitchen top and some chairs. "Why don't you sit down while I get the water boiling? You can even tell me about this girlfriend of yours, if it makes you feel better. Nothing warms the heart like thinking of the ones you love."

[Fionraella]

The Boss noted that Ambrose had decide to hide some information but didn't press on it. "Haha, I agree of course. Green tea is my personal favourite." He lead Ambrose along the halls, eventually stopping at a door. This was actually the first door Ambrose had opened in his grand escape attempt and lead to a break room with a little kitchen top and some chairs. "Why don't you sit down while I get the water boiling? You can even tell me about this girlfriend of yours, if it makes you feel better. Nothing warms the heart like thinking of the ones you love."

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose smiles. "I like peppermint and chamomile." He looks around the small breakroom. He sighs softly, recognizing it from his escape. He nods and sits down at the table, setting down the cane next to him. He shrugs. "I suppose I could talk about her...What do you think would help to talk about her?"

[Hawksnest565]

The Boss slowly filled the kettle with water and then flipped the switch. It began to boil away. He looked into the cupboards for some spare mugs. "Ah, how about when you first met? There's something very romantic about first meetings, Ambrose." He found a white mug with the words 'World's Greatest Dad' and placed it on the countertop.

[xiaomiau]

<Snipped quote by xiaomiau>

Sacha nods. "You're very welcome." She points to Aya's tent. "So head in there, Aya and Destin will be with you shortly." She heads towards her tent hmming to herself.

Mona yelps in pain, then shoots Liwei an irritated look. "You going to help?!"

@Fionraella

Dione limped into the medicine tent, clutching her side. She glanced around at the supplies Aya had gathered through the year, wondering absently if those would last them through the winter.

Liwei's shoulders rose, but he kept his hands on the wheel. "I'm driving, ladies," he barked, beads of sweat forming on his forehead.

Misha clawed at Mona, then scrambled over the back seat and into the back of the van. "You guys are crazy! Homicidal maniacs! Totally awful child killers!"

[Fionraella]

The Boss slowly filled the kettle with water and then flipped the switch. It began to boil away. He looked into the cupboards for some spare mugs. "Ah, how about when you first met? There's something very romantic about first meetings, Ambrose." He found a white mug with the words 'World's Greatest Dad' and placed it on the countertop.

@Hawksnest565

Ambrose swings his legs slightly, pondering the question. "I met her when I was living on my own." He says carefully. "I was going through a rough time, and things weren't going well, so I decided to live on my own for a bit. Me and her sort of just ran into each other while hunting." He smiles slightly at the memory. "She was the sweetest person I'd ever met! It was pretty much love at first sight..." He looks down sadly.