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[h3][color=dc143c][i][b]Thalia Carmichael[/b][/i][/color][/h3][i][b][color=dc143c]Location:[/color][/b][/i] Mess Hall (C) -> Education Center (M)
[i][b][color=dc143c]Skills:[/color][/b][/i] [s]Stealth[/s]
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[right][img]https://i.ibb.co/D9f1NPS/Thalia-Irritated.jpg[/img][/right]
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	Oh, Thana was a sarcastic little bitch, wasn't she? First thing out of her mouth was some comment about her eating habits, the entirety of which she'd witnessed while they were on the road. True, the situation was different out there, where you had to eat what you could, when you could, with as little ceremony as possible. Even when things were more secure, such as when they were in a cleared, locked-down dwelling with chairs and tables, forks and such, Thalia had retained fewer fucks to give than average on the subject of table manners. She [i]had[/i] them, granted; it wasn't like she was raised by wolves out in the deepest of woodlands, even if she spent a huge chunk of the ongoing apocalypse out there. She was raised at first by a more or less decent mother in an upscale part of Boston until she was ten, then by her father (and his people), a Catholic priest operating near Monterrey in Nuevo Leon, Mexico. She knew manners. And makeup. She had a formal education, diction, and many would argue breeding. She was simply indifferent to it all. It gave her no advantage in this new world whatsoever, or at least it hadn't so far. In fact, it started out as a hindrance as she clung to her more urban ways, forcing her to adapt away from them for survival.  

	To wit, Thalia's response to being compared to a feral dog, when Thana knew full well that said comparison wasn't really that far away from the reality of her situation, was a simple, [color=dc143c]"Nnn."[/color] It was the same noncommittal, monosyllabic sort of noise she made to acknowledge someone speaking to her, or for any other number of reasons where actual words were pointless. Fitting to Thana's observation, it was very close to a growl. Thalia tended to do that. She didn't even bother to slow, let alone stop, her meal in progress. 

	The bit about pinkies out left impression enough, which did cause her to stop eating, if only for a moment. Slowly, her head tilted up from her plate so what she could lock eyes with Thana, mouth still working through what was already in there. Still staring at her, Thalia moved her hands, flesh and steel both, in front of her so that Thana could openly see her manually actuate the pinky on her prosthetic. She extended the artificial digit and locked it into place, then tried to return to her meal. Even this effort was in vain, seeing as Thana continued to press her for conversation. But this time, she got a response out of Thalia. She knew something. or suspected something. Thana was the one who put her on this dumbass quest that she would have been a lot happier not being a part of, but for the sake of sheer, morbid curiosity (and to better learn the layout of CMB) could not just abandon. So, how was her day? Did anything happen? Thalia's response was not within the context of the questions, though she felt it was in the spirit of the inquiry. [color=dc143c]"I'm thinking ahn getting a haircut, Navy,"[/color] she started, swallowing hard. [color=dc143c]"Shave the sides of my head. Maybe tahlk to Shears some while I'm theah. He knows things, right?"[/color] Despite herself, Thalia started to crack a smile. The woman in front of her was like a sister to her, making the bullshit Dora The Explorer Scavenger Hunt she inflicted upon Thalia more of an act of love than anything else. An annoying, rage-inducing, I-want-to-strangle-this-woman act of love. Like a sister. Thalia shook her head, the smile still there. It did a poor job of hiding the anger that seemed permanently etched upon her face. She didn't mention the fight in the gym. If others wanted to share, that was on them. 

	After a little while, Thalia saw Ashton in the line for a tray. This looked like the perfect time to slip away unnoticed, hopefully to avoid whatever initial, half sickening declarations of squishiness the two of them would have for each other. That, and she had to be at the Education Center shortly for the Court Martial. Thalia hated to be the last person someplace unless she could get in unnoticed. Too much attention paid to her when she already stood out. So she gestured to the line of lunchgoers, observing, [color=dc143c]"Hey, isn't that your man, over there?"[/color] The moment she was sure line of sight with her was broken, Thalia rose and gathered up her tray, intent on blending into the crowd by the time Thana looked back. Unfortunately, her fork slipped off and clattered to the table. It was not enough noise to raise a general alarm, but certainly sufficient to disrupt her attempt. Playing it off, Thalia offered up, [color=dc143c]"I'm going to get a good seat for the trial. Hope we can hang out lateh on,"[/color] before going about her way. 

	Soon enough, Thalia was entering the Education Center, looking around for indications of where she was going to have to go for whatever role she was to play in the proceedings. 

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[h3][color=4682b4][i][b]Ash Holloway[/b][/i][/color][/h3][i][b][color=4682b4]Location:[/color][/b][/i] Quarantine (W) -> Mess Hall (C)
[i][b][color=4682b4]Skills:[/color][/b][/i] N/A
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	[color=4682b4]"Um... no, Guy."[/color] It was really the only thing that Ash could say to the fact that Guy somehow took him seriously when he said that Officers' Quarters had miraculously acquired cable television. If anything, the fact that Guy couldn't tell that he was being sarcastic spoke more to how long Ash hadn't quite been himself. Guy knew him before anyone probably anyone else who was still alive, and was fully aware of his once-proclivity for sarcastic comment in the face of any situation that wasn't professional in nature. [color=4682b4]"Sorry, haven't flexed my [i]snark[/i] in a while."[/color] Or not enough, at any rate. 

	Just as much as Guy passed over the slip, calling him "Boss", Ash passed over it, too. It was a little comforting, like a reminder of things from years back. Working at the family's distillery long ago, when both Ash and Guy were much younger, much different men. [color=4682b4]"You should, you know. Sign up, I mean. You're a hell of a shot and never let me down. You'd make a stellar officer, Guy."[/color] It was a thing he wouldn't have said back in the day. But now, he meant it wholeheartedly, [i]with one exception[/i]. The day that Maria Smith entered into the protection of Newnan and decided to assume duties in the watchtower without orders or even telling anybody in advance. Guy must have thought it was a legit shift change but didn't bother to confirm one way or the other, and allowed a first-day newbie to take over the primary watch/sniping position over the whole of the settlement. Oh, Ash had words for him. And he assigned Guy stable duty, shoveling shit on everyone's shift for the next thirty days, if memory served. But Ash also remembered how he took the punishment with humility and grace, accepting it, offering apology, and committing to his work without complaint. Guy would have made an excellent soldier, a superior officer, and he was an asset to any community he called home. [color=4682b4]"Let me know if you need a letter of recommendation,"[/color] he said with a tiny smile. It was only half a joke, seeing as a LoR was one of those odd formalities that really didn't have bearing in the world today. But if it was to be done, Ash was the best person to give one for him. After all, Guy had worked for him three times - once for his family as Ash managed the floor of the distillery, and again when he took control of the Esmont community (prior to handing the reins over to Lt. Colonel Leann McCormick when their groups merged), and finally when he inherited command of Newnan following Leann's death. 

	All of that would be for another time, as things of this nature tended to be. Following along with Guy, Ash responded to his question about Thana being in the Mess Hall today. [color=4682b4]"Believe so, yes."[/color] It hadn't quite solidified in his mind, upon making the decision to get a quick lunch before attending the Court Martial, that he might get the chance to see Thana beforehand. The mild surprise reflected in his voice. 

	It looked like luck was with Ash. Entering the Mess Hall with Guy, the first thing he did was scan the room for Thana. At first, he expected to see her with the staff, even so far as getting ready to ask if she was in the kitchen someplace. That was unnecessary as Ash caught sight of her at one of the tables. Her hair got his sense of familiarity at first, out of the corner of his eye, and further recognition followed from there. But she was sitting with that mildly caustic Gonzalez woman. This might make for an awkward meal, like the last one they all had together. Ash bolstered himself with a more optimistic outlook, reasoning that just because something offputting happened once, it didn't mean it would again. They were all allies here, and some were as close as family. Plus, he wasn't about to be deterred from sitting with Thana based upon something that [i]might[/i] happen, with little in the way of actual consequence even if it did. [color=4682b4]"C'mon, Guy,"[/color] said Ash, moving to get in line for a tray and then walking to join Thana at her table. By the time that he got over to her, Ash was almost relieved to see that Thalia had already vacated the table, off to wherever she was going next. 

	[color=4682b4]"Hey. Missed you today,"[/color] greeted Ash, taking a seat next to Thana. They didn't have a whole lot of time left before the Court Martial was slated to begin, but any amount of time to be with Thana, even just a few minutes to toss back a quick meal, was worth it to Ash. He said as much to her with, [color=4682b4]"Got to be at the Education Center soon. Glad I got a chance to see you before. How's your day going?"[/color] He might have gone for a more physical display of affection for greeting, but Ash wasn't sure if Thana was off duty or just on a meal break. Perhaps he'd get a better feel for the place with a little more time immersed in CMB. For now, he was playing it safe as to not damage Thana's credibility among her peers and/or subordinates. Though the look in his eyes held nothing but affection for her.