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[@Plank Sinatra] [@Fourze] [@Hammerman][/center]

Were it not the end of the world, Hazel doubted that Corinne Shourichi would be let anywhere near a project like this.

No wonder the JSDF sent her to MAX FIRE.

Keeping up with the commander usually required either more caffeine or another drink, depending on the situation. More illicit substances might do the job more efficiently but they were frowned upon for a reason. Caffeine sufficed. At this point, Hazel wasn't at all surprised that she wasn't tired. She doubted, frankly, that Shourichi could [i]get[/i] tired. She'd yet to see any evidence of it. And the mute [i]certainly[/i] wasn't quite caffeinated enough to keep up, not yet.

But despite her protests, a faint smile tugged at the edges of her lips. It wasn't quite morning until the commander came along.

[color=a0410d][i]<Haven't seen them yet.>[/i][/color] She signed, dutifully leaning in to take a sip of the proffered drink. That was about the time that Ryoma, one of the people with a bigger paycheck than her, wandered in.

The good doctor[color=a0410d][i](?)[/i][/color] had never entirely been comfortable with Hazel's presence. Not that it was something they had discussed, Hazel felt no particular need to explain herself. But no doubt the engineer had raised protests about allowing a thief, swindler, and would-be-hijacker onto the team. He [i]did[/i] seem to check on the machines every day. Maybe he thought she would steal one for real this time?

A wider smile crept onto the mute's face, and she quite intentionally locked eyes with the engineer.

And pickpocketed the commander for a couple of lollipops, while she was leaned in taking a sip. Well, to call it pickpocketing greatly overstated the difficulty of the theft, seeing as they were all but spilling out of her jacket, but she doubted Ryoma would care about the semantics. The candies disappeared into Hazel's pocket under the table as she leaned back, looking innocent.

[color=a0410d][i]<They might be getting breakfast,>[/i][/color] She added, transitioning smoothly into a small wave at the scientist presently attacking the coffee pot. The mute wasn't [i]totally[/i] bereft of manners. She spied Jack, briefly, on his way past. There was a coworker she hadn't quite puzzled out yet. Nevertheless. [i][color=a0410d]<I doubt they're still sleeping. I'm glad to hear of your victory, Commander.>

<Is it just me, or does the support staff keep getting younger?>[/color][/i]