[b][i]Ashton Andrews-Hyuga[/i][/b]

“Thanks for the flattery, Ms. Li,” Ashton said, not entirely taken by said flattery, but knowing that confronting her too soon about that would be… Dangerous. So instead, he changed the subject, “I’ll make a lot of [i]boys[/i] very happy too, if I ever get the chance.”

A smile, “Mind if I ask what your tastes in men are? Or other women, if you are so inclined? And yes, I am a hormone addled teenager - I just know that fact, am comfortable with it, and I play it up to my advantage. Of course, revealing [i]that[/i] begs the question: How [i]much[/i] is my judgement actually affected by pretty faces and how much am I using it as a mask? I hope no one tries to find out.”

Then a chuckle. “You’re an inspiration to those of us with even the smallest traces of foriegn blood, Ms. Li. It is my hope to emulate your success one day, as a cybersecurity specialist and seller of security software. In the meantime, though...” He trailed off, “There is a foe to be defeated. A foe whose Freudian Excuses and underlying grievances do not justify their methods and end goals. I hope to build my future success on [i]their[/i] ruins.”

Pride and arrogance were in Ashton’s words, but also an undertone of resolution. His idealism and his hatred of the Jinrai were both real, after all.

A smile at Chris, then. “That’s all right. You don’t sound so bad now that I’ve met you. By the way, want me to upgrade your personal cyber-security for free? I need to do something to foster goodwill among this group, after all. 

“Actually...” He says this as he looks around the gathered guests, “Which of you guys wants a free upgrade to your personal cybersecurity, for your internet usage that does not relate to your job? I’m offering to do it right now...” Ashton holds up his smartphone, which was still linked to his personal computer lab, “In order to show you guys how capable I can be. Consider this a free sample designed to whet your appetites.”

Then he turned to Daiyu, “Note that as you probably spend billions on your own cybersecurity and obviously won’t trust a kid whom you’ve just met, I’ll offer you something else.”

He takes out a small old-fashioned-looking laserdisc. “This is a new Antivirus program I developed. If it’s even half as good as your professional staff’s software, do think well of me in your dreams!”

It was, by the way, [i]exactly[/i] half as good as Daiyu’s professional staff’s software, with the implication that if given an even better laboratory and training, Ashton can do more.

[@GrizzTheMauler][@Landaus Five-One][@MK2][@silvermist1116][@Smike]