[color=silver][center][img]https://i.imgur.com/vwj8cVe.png[/img][/center]

[center][b][H1][color=slategray]R E F O R G E[/color][/H1][/b][/center][hr]
[color=slategray][b]TIME:[/b][/color] [i]8ish[/i]
[color=slategray][b]LOCATION:[/b][/color] [i]SDN Meeting Room[/i]
[color=slategray][b]INTERACTIONS:[/b][/color] [i][@GingerBobOh] [@princess] [@Oso] [@FunnyGuy] [@Infinite Cosmos] [@Tae] [@DClassified][/i][hr]

Sylas believing he was ready for whatever came next was almost laughable as each member of the team filtered into the meeting room. First, was Quinn, who had given him a nod of acknowledgement and took his seat, quietly. Like himself, he was [i]just here[/i]. He was tame, at least as he was currently, which was the closest thing to a breath of fresh air compared to those who followed. 

Next was what Sylas could only describe as the personification of anxiety. Roxanne or Starburst shuffled in as if she wished to be invisible while being the most visible person he’d ever seen. Her beverage (he couldn’t consider it a coffee) might as well waved to himself and Quinn with how high the swirl of whipped cream was. Then there was the fact that she was literally [i]pink[/i] wearing… [i]pink[/i]. He couldn’t help looking in her direction, and just as they made eye contact, she nervously averted her gaze. [color=crimson][i]Come on, I’m not that damned scary,[/i][/color] he thought with a brief and slight grimace.

[color=#af4d67]“Um… hey,”[/color] He could at least give her a few points for actually being the first to initiate some form of conversation. It was weak, but it was something at the very least.

[color=crimson]“Hey,”[/color] He replied dryly.

[color=#af4d67]"... Gonna be… fun, right guys?”[/color]

[color=crimson]“...”[/color] He stared at her, plainly, right into her eyes, mentally questioning what she was trying to socially accomplish. Part of him didn’t want to entertain it, but another felt cruel if he did not offer anything in response. [color=crimson]“It’ll be a movie, for sure.”[/color] He broke out the slightest smirk while hoping Roxanne might find a little comfort in that response before looking down at his digital watch. 

It was four minutes past the top of the hour when Poe entered. He almost shot her a look of disapproval, but stopped himself remembering this wasn’t his circus to ringlead. Besides, Chadwick hadn’t even shown yet, which gave anyone else the flimsy excuse of showing up late as well. Unlike Roxanne, she seemed used to making small talk, even if she did have the tone of someone who was denied retirement and had to work an extra year to accomplish it. 

[color=795580]“I’m Poe. I’m the Z-Team’s dispatcher. You must be Reforge.”[/color] She gave a curt nod. [color=795580]“Welcome to the basement. I already read your file, so you know the vibe of the Deniable Ops division, yeah?”[/color] He slightly leaned in, already speaking his language. Okay, maybe everyone wasn’t so bad at this point. 

[color=crimson]“The vibe? Yeah. The SDN takes all the credit for the good, and we take on the blame for the bad.”[/color] Sylas shrugged half-heartedly. [color=crimson]“Don’t worry, I have some experience with being at fault. It’s why I ended up…”[/color] He looked around the room for effect. [color=crimson]“Here.”[/color] He said the single word with unfiltered disgust. [color=crimson][i]The basement.[/i][/color] The term for this place couldn’t have been described any better… at least until Murph/Tripwire entered.

Murph was… something. He couldn’t put his finger on it, but maybe it was because the guy seemed more out of place than Pinky quietly picking at her muffin. She didn’t fade into the background like she appeared to want to, but Murph practically forced himself into center stage… and no one asked.  

[color=#CCFF00][b]"First order of business for the day,"[/b][/color] he started as he made his way to the head of the table, sitting down and throwing his legs up on the edge just like the kind of guy that looked like him would. [color=#CCFF00][b]"ignore whatever the fuck has brought us here this early."[/b][/color] Sylas side-eyed him silently, trying very hard not to hate the guy’s very presence.

[color=#CCFF00][b]"Hey boss lady? Is he the reason I'm drinking Jim's ambrosia this fine ass morning?"[/b][/color]

Sylas let out a noticeable sigh as he finally faced Murph, his expression deadpanned.

[color=crimson]“How ‘bout we [b]continue[/b] to ignore whatever the fuck brought us here this early? No use in [i]talking[/i] to try and figure it out, right?”[/color] Sylas nodded with a sarcastic pursed smile. 

[color=goldenrod]“Sorry for being late, everything looks the same around here.”[/color] The familiar voice barely registered as eyes shot daggers toward Murph. If the tatted mohawk-wearing member of his team was an indication of how much of a basement this place was, Muyang was the hard, undeniable evidence. Hearing the chair groan against the stress the former gang member put it through with his style of seating, Sylas naturally turned his head opposite of Murph.

[color=crimson]“No fuckin’ way.”[/color] Sylas muttered as he recognized Muyang, tail and all. 

[color=goldenrod]“[i]Damn,[/i] homie. In high school you was [i]the man,[/i] homie. Fuck happened to you?”[/color] Sylas shook his head, but not at the quote. It was the fact that he was facing someone whom he had been gunning for in his early days as a bright-eyed hero. 

[Color=crimson]“[i]You[/i] work here?”[/color] He squinted his eyes at Muyang while wondering if pinching himself would make this whole scenario vanish so he could start the morning all over again. He sighed for a second time, but it sounded more defeated than anything. Even when the lively Azaela/Moxie entered, Sylas could give her a head nod and his name. [color=crimson]“Reforge,”[/color] he replied plainly. He didn’t focus on her too much, only noting that she seemed a little too friendly for his liking, even with knowing a little about how her abilities worked. Aaaand, looking like she flew right out of the depths of hell [i]probably[/i] didn’t help either.

Then, there was Liam. Sylas only glanced at the guy who quietly walked in, looking as miserable as he felt right now. [color=crimson][i]I need a cig and this meeting hasn’t even started yet… He looks like he needs a whole pack. Just keep your composure, and you’ll be out of this room in no time, Sylas.[/i][/color] [/color]