Maeve shook her head in a mix of confusion and exasperation as the woman took off yet again. 

[b][color=#c4422b]"Oi, Zero! Hey!"[/color][/b]

Maeve started after her at soft trot, following as far as the front of the manor as she tried to wave her down. [b][color=#c4422b]"Blondie, I'm just trying to ask if you're- Oh."[/color][/b] From where Maeve stood, she could see that someone had cut Silvare off at the gate. One of [i]them.[/i] Benevolent Big Brother Benefactors. 

[i][i]Shit.[/i]

 And, honestly, [i]fuck[/i] these people. Whoever they are. [/i]

Maeve headed down the steps, hands raised like a felon under arrest. [b][color=#c4422b]"Sorry, sorry!"[/color][/b] she called, her best farce of sincere apology gracing her very rarely apologetic features. [b][color=#c4422b]"You, uh- You got us, ma'am. Sorry. It was all my idea, none of hers. She said, 'No, Byrne! That's an awful idea.' But I pushed her into it. So, uh really... All my fault. Horrid prank. She's innocent, though. Well, except for listening to me. But you know how it is, with peers and fighting and... 

"It's been a long few days. Don't come down on her, would you? It's more me than anyone."[/color][/b]


---

Mitch grimaced at the wet, slimy sensation of a tongue being pulled across her features, as well as the general slurping sounds that accompanied such an action, but she did not falter in her steps.

[b][color=#96c2f2]"I liked you better before the twenty-first century happened."[/color][/b] She pushed the things's arm away as she spoke, and shot Clifton a thumbs up over one shoulder. She ignored most everything that the creature had said, opting treat it like the babbling of a child. It seemed to work on most creatures. 

Or some. 

Either way, it was not worth the time or energy to grace with a response. Her tone was not threatening as she continued, but matter-of-fact; like someone who knew where she stood and had neither threats to issue nor danger to fear. [b][color=#96c2f2]"If you ever plan to eat the world, I imagine you could handle the planet's supply of drugs with very few problems. But if it makes you feel better, we have iced tea and pop in a can."[/color][/b]

She turned a corner back toward her office, but did not open it. No need to let it into the room with all of her own things, which Mitch generally enjoyed not having licked by strangers. Instead, she opened a door directly beside it, leading to a small conference room with a round table, a few seats, and a mini fridge. Mitch entered first, moving to sit facing toward the back wall, but not particularly facing the door. She pulled out her tablet, set up the click-on keyboard in the case, and started tapping away. [b][color=#96c2f2]"Please, have a seat. Grab yourself a drink- I can't read the cans. 

"And then we can discuss why, exactly, you currently fit in this room, Madam Jörmungandr"[/color][/b]