D. Knightridge the V
Recruit - Division
Room Number:
Handler:
âThe people NEVER have the power.. Only the ILLUSION of it.â - Templar Grandmaster H. K.
 Honestly, some part of Isaac wanted to take part in the chaos that took place, but on the other hand, his hair dripped from a recent shower and he was in no mood to be covered in vegetables or rice. Not to mention mashed potatoes were a bitch to clean, as he saw someone receive a huge clump of it in their hair. Why hadnât he sat closer to the doors? At least then heâd be able to skip this food fight and enjoy the not-having-any-part-of-this in another place.
But no, he was about in the middle and although Mensa wasnât that big, it also meant that once something like this blew up, it happened fast. Oh god. He would punch Grason for skipping dinner that night and leaving him alone in this food fight with no one to watch his back. He has already left his table, but also his meal, stupidly enough and was left ammo-less as he tried to make it to the door. Just then a mass of something wet and sticky hit him on the back of his head, soaking his hair and shirt. Freezing, he turned and saw Daniel Knightridge the fucking Fifth.
"You did not." He said under his breath before he tackled him, pushing him to the ground and using him as a sort of cushion as he stood up. Being dirty, he had nothing to lose. Time to be creative. He was angry and not in the mood for something like this. Dipping his hand in the vegetable soup of the food area, he slapped Daniel. It wouldnât seriously injure him but hopefully the wet smack would would leave some kind of impression.
Daniel didn't really care where the food would land in, as long as it didn't land on the guard. At the quick motion of events, the guards were left utterly speechless, and since there were only like two - probably thinking that mensa was one of the most dismal times - probably because of the food. They never in their lived thought that something like this would have happened. Truly then, they were wrong, because everything was a beautiful chaos. Different, appealing and well, apart from the shit they have to face later - messy as well.Â
Taking up another scoop and making sure that he was in the clump of many other people he threw whatever he could, took a few more and then threw again. As long as he wasn't too in the sight of the guards or whoever, then he would be safe - and relatively clean. Or as clean as he could be. One could hope at least! By the time of his nth throw - as he didn't really count and after all he was enjoying - he was suddenly heaved down. "When the fuck did this become a wrestling match?" he said out loud despite the roaring of the other recruits. An "oompf" later as his back hit the floor, he opened his eyes and saw one definitely pissed off Isaac. "Hey!" he cheered, after all, despite seeing Isaac at times during class, they never really got to talk even after the flood, Daniel felt it was something a little bit sad since he wanted them to be friends of sorts, but then again - Isaac seemed too busy or thinking about something that Daniel could never think of anything to say. "I'm glad you're okay! How -" and then he was slapped.Â
"Ooowww" he started a small frown forming over him and then tackled Isaac back, pining him not so hardly with his legs. Isaac then, probably landing on something mushy or gooey behind him. "No fair! You had me as a dead-target!" he started before reaching up to smear some sticky rice on his hair. "Now we're even." he said a smile starting again - maybe Isaac missed him somewhat that's why he slapped him with soup, but still - he looked pretty angry for something like a "hi".
It was becoming boring. The whole thing of Division was becoming boring and even the plots of getting out couldnât keep Isaac entertained when they werenât training because he would most likely never bring his plans to realization anyway. It had been so fascinating at the start, something so secret and compelling that he had almost gone into overdrive from excitement at being part of it. Of course, it had been accompanied by the more negative emotions but right now it was overwhelming boredom. He was still coming up with slightly ludicrous ways that he might have escaped, having wandered off the path of actually working on getting out.Â
But it seemed that he wasnât the only one, when he sat in the Mensa and he heard someone shout. People turned to the shout as if a nuclear bomb had gone off, and in a way it had. The hushed speaking of the recruits and the sound of cutlery was something that was simply part of the way things worked around here. Isaac, facing the male recruit that he hadnât spoken to before, simply raised his eyes from his mashed potatoes and stared with dead eyes. Really? Couldnât he eat his food in peace?Â
Apparently not, as the disturber lobbed a handful of mashed potatoes at someone a table over. Recruits scrambled away, remained seated with an air of âare you fucking kidding meâ around them and others shouted at the recruit who started it all. But all of them were filled with the same curiousness as to what would happen next.Â
Definitely he was missing his own bunker. That place had cool stuff, even a library and a pool table when soldiers needed a break. There were so many things that could have kept him occupied. This time - in this godforsaken place, Daniel had no answers, no thoughts, no challenge and really seemed to be no point in anything possible. He was bored. He looked at the same people, went in the same class, ate the same way, and sometimes the same thing over and over again. Talked to the same people, got irked by the same ones and it was just too - normal. Too ordinary, too, too painfully worthless for his time.
At least - that was before he almost finished eating, almost placed his tray back early and locked himself up in the room or computer area - before he would almost gave up that Division was his grave. Turning around, he couldn't help but lift an eyebrow and then shake his head, and smile. This wasn't the kind of intervention he was thinking of, and there was a big chance that things would go downhill. But if this was going to be a change in pace at least just once in his life while in Division and may never again happen - he would delve into it.
So without further ado, after the shouting and the terse looking around- people joined in, some had nervous looks, some had smiles that were almost shining. Â Daniel didn't even hesitate to join the group of people who ran over to the food area and scoop whatever their grubby little hands on and throw. It was stupid. But it was exhilirating. It was dirty and messy and gooey against his usually clean hands (especially so because it's always connected to the keyboard) but this time, he'd have fun and so he did toss - a mixture of ketchup, soup, pasta moving around them.
She smiled at his quip, looking down at her hands, suddenly fixated with them. The almond-colored beds were clean but not evenly-shaped. She would have done any manner of wrongdoing for a nail file, but she knew such a thing wasnât readily available. Division wasnât exactly acquiescent when it came to the finer details, but they were forthright in their demands - cleanliness, being one â as well as their rules. Nothing remotely resembling weapons were to be granted to the recruits. It was obvious they didnât have a lot of faith in them, Keira noticed with chagrin. It was yet another item to the growing list of why graduation, as silly as the name remained, was endgame. She could buy nail files, beer, burgers. The little things had always been a cause for joy, and she had been deprived of them for too long.
She looked up, pursing her lips. She tilted her head back thoughtfully, sparkling eyes searching the air for answers. âIt is a kind of paradise, in a way.â Her mouth twisted wistfully. âThree square meals, private room, a chance to learn and grow and start all over again.â She lowered her forehead, brow furrowing. âBut if it was really paradise, I could come and go as I pleased. And I could see my family again.â Giving him a sideways glance, she asked, âWhat about you?â Did he have a family he missed desperately, the way she did? Friends? A love? Keira was thankful to be spared the injury of that, at least. She hadnât anyone in her life of that nature to make the separation of Division more difficult. At least there was that small mercy.
Releasing a choked laugh, she couldnât help but agree with him. She had received the attention of a few too many older women in the correctional facility with calculating gleams in their eyes. It hadnât been fun, but they were knowledgeable enough of Keiraâs connections to stay away. No one really messed with her, and it was with some measure of disgruntled satisfaction that she was spared any lasting abuse. âTrue,â she conceded. She nodded slowly in understanding, letting the notion grow over her. âOh, yeah,â she returned, lips bundled to the side in consternation. âI definitely encountered that. âJaggedâ is one way to put it. The word that immediately comes to mind is âbitchyâ, if you ask me.â She smiled slowly, her good nature peeking through. âBut not for everyone.â
"If paradise means time to yourself and all that, then this is it- not exactly the best type - but we all have preferences. This isn't exactly the paradise I've thought about - but I guess I have more questions rather than answers when it comes to Division." He thuoght more about the last part she said, grow and start all over again. Again? He had... and this was his third? Or would it be fourth at least theoretically? He had almost grown and started well the last time and bam he just had to be placed in somewhere totally new. Maybe it was his curse, or something. Definitely he might be... might be one of those people who weren't meant for great things... even if he wanted to be. Those kind of people who were stomped and shot down before being able to do anything good. With a shiver, he quelled down his thoughts. No use of beating himself up right now - maybe later.
"What about me what?" he asked a bit absent mindedly- after all he had just been thinking really deeply about himself that he almost didn't even notice that she asked him something. He took a chance and answered, not knowing if it was the question anyway - "If I think of this as a paradise? The recluse maybe.. but not everything. I don't know... Division still feels like a stranger to me, too much."
"Sometimes I think people think of me strange, though I don't know if I should mind. They think me either deranged that I think I'm innocent, or a liar... either of which I don't know, or I don't know if I should care." he felt like he had a tic in his cheek. He definitely didn't want to be seen like a liar, but that was the truth - he didn't know why he was here and he would forever try to find answers on why. He didn't want the government to let him down like that - not after everything.
He laughed with her, agreeing with what she said. "Bitchy? You've met Skylar haven't you?" he smiled - not that he knew her that much face to face, but he had definitely seen the girl in classes and it's not a surprise to hear a few whispers among other recruits. "I think it's just someone's bad day - hopefully things would get better..." he ended with a sad note. After all, either it was better because they get cancelled and eternally free or because they were free, and yet still caged. None of which seemed to be too pleasing.
 âWhere are we going?â She asked. Halle had realized there was a little time between classes, but she usually just headed straight for the next. She didnât dare be late. âIâm not a princess, though I guess one could have mistaken me for one before all of this.â She explained. âI lived in a huge house â practically a mansion. I drove a little white sports car. I wore expensive clothes and had credit cards. Then, I got involved with a guy. He wasnât a very good guy.â Halle told him. She didnât want to get into specifics. She didnât even want to think about Dalen. It was too painful, too hard. She definitely didnât want Daniel to know that she was a murderer. Daniel was a funny guy and Halle liked that. He brightened her day a little more each time she saw him. She didnât know how he would act if he found out that she had killed a man.
Halle suddenly realized that she was doing too much talking â well, too much talking about herself. She wanted to know more about Daniel. âYou donât have to tell me,â She started. âbut how did you end up here?â She knew it was a personal questions and before this she had asked only one other person. That person had been Amanda. Amanda had answered her with ease and she hoped Daniel would be the same way, but she couldnât tell. After all, if Daniel had asked about the circumstances that lead up to her recruitment at Division, Halle would keep silent.
Halle was so preoccupied with her curiosity that she forgot their conversation of computers.Â
He wondered how much time they could have before having to go back and slug to class. Hopefully enough at least."Just around the classroom corridor. Other recruits usually like to be late, I tend to be early though, and I guess you like being early too?" he grinned as he moved around the corner. "I dunno, plus I wanna get out of his-" he cocked his head back to their previous classroom as his regards to the instructor. "-his ire, after we've talked the whole period." Daniel listened to everything he said and yes, it did make sense that she was like that - at least in this case onec aupon a time. He just nodded. "I didnt' have any fancy stuff like you, but I was into girls and wasn't even involved with em and they already turned my life upside down - didn't keep me from trying again though." he grinned once more, not wanting to past of it to let him down that much. After all, he was having fun with other girls in Division, not that it was the best setting... best to be optimistic anyway.
By the time they stopped beside the classroom, Daniel pursed his lips in thought. "It's not that I don't want to tell you, but even I don't know myself." he said with innocence. After all he was clueless about the whole thing. "When I asked Wesley, my handler, about it- he just said that maybe Division, Olivia something something wants something from me, or sees my potential or shit? I honestly don't know why I'm here, but seeing as it's a government structure, I don't think I have any say in it. It's a depressing thought." That was at least the gist of it. "I think Wesley knows more but he's hiding it from me... I don't mind though, I feel almost comfortable being here than anywhere else to be honest." he heaved as he said it. After all, saying you want to stay in a bunker for a good chunk of your life? That was stupid... even Halle would think he was stupid for that.
"I"m... I'm sorry I can't share anymore, even if I did want to -" he shrugged.
  Halle didnât like the perplexed look that donned Danielâs face. âItâs okay. No worries. Like I said, it happens. I only get the shakes every once in a while. The nightmares are the worst. I swear itâs like they haunt me.â Halle revealed, not quite sure why she was opening up the innermost parts of her soul. Daniel was just so easy to talk to. She felt like maybe, just maybe, someone else could understand her. Of course, she could be completely wrong, but she hoped she wasnât. In just this brief conversation, Halle had found herself a friend and she prayed that Daniel thought so too. It would be nice to have someone to talk to around here.
She liked that they had gone from casual to serious to funny and back again. They had already covered so much. âI had a very privileged life, as most would call it, so I havenât a clue about majority of this stuff.â She confided. âI couldnât even imagine the military life. But, then again, I could never dream up anything like this either. It must have been crazy.â Halle smiled. She was doing a lot of smiling actually. It came so natural in her exchanges with Daniel. It was nice.
âSeriously? You like computers too?â She asked, laughing. âThey make so much more sense than the rest of this mumbo jumbo. I swear, if they would just stick me in the IT room all day, Iâd get so much more accomplished around this place. But, of course, I have to train. I canât even through a straight punch, you know? Right now Iâm just working on getting my endurance up because, quite frankly, it sucks.â She giggled. Somehow through all the shit sheâd gone through in the past few months, she had found a kindred soul.Â
Blinking, he tried not to think that much about it... he bit his lip he nodded and shrugged not pushing the topic anymore, even if he so wanted to. Even if he was really curious about it. Halle's face that seemed to have now lacked the usual smile he was getting used to stopped him. "I understand." he said plainly knowing that if he pushed he might get what he wanted, but not the way on how he got it.
"Ooh a hightown girl?" he asked with a smile. Just as he was starting to do a little act, the instructor stood up and called the class to leave. Daniel gave him a look and he knew he was going to be in trouble tomorrow for talking to a seatmate... still, it couldn't be helped anyway. "Come on, there's..." he looked at the clock overhead "like fifteen minutes before the next class." With that he stood up, waiting for Halle on his chair. "Anyway what was I saying? Oh yeah, I meant uptown girl - d'you know that song?" he made an action to clear his throat and started singing. "/Uptown girl, she's been living in an uptown world ----" he sang until a few lines before stopping. Daniel didn't have the best voice, he didn't have the worst though, he could hold a tune, but that was it. Everything else would just come because he liked to sing.
Daniel didn't have the most privileged life, but he had enough... evenwith a father, he couldn't help but ask. "So yeah apart from your privileged life, wow, you seem like a princess straight from a castle, not that you're dainty, but I dunno you really just have that look, what kind of life do you have then?" He asked curiously as he looked at her. "If, you know, you don't mind telling me at least."
"Yeah, I love them well - I swear I didn't have much of a life so here I am doing stuff with computers and well anything that I could tinker really." He sounded like a mechanic and he couldn't help but just chuckle. "I wouldn't expect you to you know like computers, but that's a good thing unexpected. Good for you, i'm usually just bumming around but you're right I've got to man up sometimes and get training going yeah?" he smiled again
 Wesley noted the smile that Daniel gave him, but took more notice of the wince that followed after. Whoever did this to him knew what they were doing. He knew that the doctor would be able to take care of him, but seeing at he was busy at the moment, it wouldnât hurt to at least take a look at it. He wasnât a doctor of any kind, but he knew a bad wound from a fatal one.
"We came across a little trouble. Nothing we couldnât handle though." Of course he was sugar coating it. He was forced to take down about a dozen men on his own only to be overwhelmed and eventually hit on the head with a bat or possibly a crowbar if he saw it correctly. From there, they took great pleasure in stepping on his hand and breaking his fingers then shooting him. He would never admit it, but he was glad that Jason was there and lucid enough to fight some of them off long enough for him to kill the spares.
"A girl too excited to kill? Would you happen to know her name?" He was afraid that it was Skylar. He had let her run a little free recently, knowing that she was mourning the loss of her friend, but perhaps it was time he tried to reign her in. He couldnât have her trying to kill his recruits. "At least you made it in one piece. Let me see your jaw to make sure itâs not broken," he said as he motioned him forward with his good hand.
"Doesn't really seem like a little trouble but hey, all in a day's work." he shrugged. He'd seen his fair share of soldiers coming back weak, half dead and well, shot a lot. He was just concerened because Division didn't do a lot on team effort, unlike soldiers who would mostly move around in teams. It was a weird thing how Division was ruled like that - once you do the job, it's every man for himself, even pirates had more familiar and loyalty bonded between them than anything Division might have in terms of rules.
He didn't argue anymore though. There was still so much about Division he wanted to know, he wanted to get to know even if he was afraid too. As long as he didn't get 'cancelled' then he was probably safe to do whichever... for the meantime.
"Hm?" he said thinking. "I think the instructor said something called 'Edlund'" he said with another shrug. "She's kinda pretty, but it feels like she has a tree trunk - or a cactus up her arse I don't know. Brunette though..." he shrugged again. "It's fine really, I just posed it as a girl who had her period - or maybe lack of it." Daniel did care about Skylar, on a certain level, but her manhandling him probably also made him take the liberty of saying whichever. "You're her handler right? Not sure, kinda heard someone say Wesley along the lines of the sparring but that's all."
He looked at Wesley then at the doctor, and then he shrugged. "Eh, okay, as long as you don't crack it anymore." he said as he shuffled himself towards his handler. Funny how that sounded 'his handler', he had never had someone handle him like this before... just about the jaw, but about everything else.
âNo, no.â Halle drew in a deep breath, held it for a second, and released it. âEverything is fine. Flashbacks. Happens a lot.â She told him. Halle tried her best not to think of that fateful night anymore. She liked talking to Daniel. He was a good distraction and she didnât have very many of those at Division. Halle looked at the boy in front of her - his jittery words, tripping over his word, and that goofy smile. He was someone she wanted to know. She wanted to know why he was the way he was. It surprised her. In her former life, Halle would have never even looked twice at Daniel. It wasnât because he wasnât cute, because he was, it was his demeanor. He wasnât like other guys she had known and as far as Halle was concerned, that was a good thing. The absolute best thing about him was that in no way did he remind her of Dalen.
âDonât shut up.â She said. âI like hearing your stories.â She smiled. âBut what I hate is this class. I donât understand a single thing about Weaponry and I really hate guns anyway. Iâd rather be working on computers. IT is my favorite, really.â Halle wasnât sure when that happened, but it was true. She would rather be in a computer lab working on code than learning how to effectively dismantle and reassemble a gun or which weapon would work best in a certain scenario. âWhat do you like here? Or what are you good at?â She questioned, her tone genuine.Â
Watching her made him uneasy, as if it was he was taking liberty in watching her, in what she was feeling. If maybe she wanted personal space. Daniel in all his life had looked at people blatantly for observation purposes, and he had never shyed away for an oppurtunity to learn more about them. This time though, he couldn't help but want to tear his gaze as if he was looking at something he couldn't. When she said what it was about, or at least a gist of it - he honestly wanted to help her somehow, but even hew knew he could ruin a perfectly good moment with only a word. "I'm... I'm sorry." he murmured, he wanted to hit himself how plain that was to say, but it was the only thing he could say. "I hope it gets easier on you though. Time heals and those proverbs shit." he said managing a chuckle.
"I like hearing you too-" he smiled and then blanched "I mean, you know what I mean yeah stupid class." he said with a disgusted look. Another stupid Daniel moment. "Actually, I'm not that bad about weapons, I know a lot- in theory, though I've only managed to shoot pistols." he shrugged. After all, military upbringing had it's perks. He was so mediocre about it that he almost did not hear the words computer--- and the most important. "Wait what?" he said his face almost a whiplash of movement. "Really?" he beamed. She was definetly a girl after his heart and everything else.
"Uh.. I.. I like everything I guess--" he said trying to tone his beating heart down. "I have a bit of skill in everything because I've been down a bunker like this before -- military. But.. but my true love is you--- what you said --" he chuckled. "Computers. I love IT too." he smiled, a genuinely in awe and happy smile that there was someone he liked, and liked what he did too. After all, there weren't people who were like that - that much.
Nikola smiled a little, slightly embarrassed that his identifier was the pyro dude. Not that he minded necessarily. Fire was beautiful and he didnât mind being called that. He nodded at him. âYeah, Iâm Nikola.â He was glad that Daniel was one of the people who didnât seem to freak out about his pyrophilia. He had come to realize that despite the lies in Division, everyone seemed very accepting. They claimed to be not ânormalâ but Nikola liked them all more than the normal people heâs met in his life.
He laughed a little and nodded. âI donât mind bad food, but it could use a little more spice sometimes. Thereâs nothing wrong with adding a little chili in there.â He felt a little guilty for not telling him that he wasnât going to the kitchen for food. Was it lying if he didnât tell the truth? He was pretty sure it was and he didnât want Daniel to think he was a liar. âActually though, I wanted to use a stove. You know, to look at the fire for a little bit.â He didnât know if that would be weird or not. He was hoping that it wouldnât be a problem for Daniel, knowing that.
He followed after Daniel, hoping that he knew where he was going. According to him, he knew the timing of the guards so hopefully they could get there in one piece. âI uh donât really have a favorite food. But⌠if I had to pick, my mom made us this soup called Fishermanâs Soup once. I really liked it.â
He only liked a few spicy foods, not a lot... just enough maybe, the only things he did appreciate that were a bit spicy were the ones placed on nachos and tacos - those things. Sometimes it would be grilled meat with a dosage of eggs mixed in it for palatability. Thinking of those kinds of food made Daniel more hungry... to think he just wanted a walk outside to learn about Division and he ended up wanting to eat. How funny it was.
When Nikola said about his own reason he only raised his eyebrows a bit surprised, silly to be surprised actually since Nikola was a pyro... he realized he should be careful about this. If anything happened, both their heads would be fucked and Daniel didnt' want to be a fucked up head. "That's... weird, but I guess you being a pyro, you need that somehow - just don't go blowing the stove up while I find something to eat- I don't want Division suddenly poking us with tazers or shuffling fire extinguishers on our faces." he said with a smirk.
"Fisherman's soup?" he asked thinking about it... "What is it made from, do you know how to do it?" he asked. He had never heard of that kind of soup, and it was a curious thing, it sounded nice, albeit a bit, for the masses but that was probably a bit of judgemental thinking running through him.
A few more moments and finally they were on the corridor towards the kitchen. "Great, we're almost here. I'm damned starved..." he sighed as he moved under the surveillance and towards the delicious kitchen area. At least, he had to hand it to Division, the kitchen was always clean.
He's usually the kid who has that dull eyed, no care look on his face and even his body screams like that. It's kind of a heartwarming moment you know? For me, his mother to see his eyes light up about something, whatever it is. The fact that he's showing emotion... about something apart from joking around - you know? Something real?
Putting Together || Daniel and Nikola || 6/22/2014
Location:Â Division
Time Frame:Â IT Class
Word Count:Â 1570
 Daniel looked at the mess on top of where each PC was in the room. Next to it was a small tablet, that was working, but on each table, the desktop pc were gone, replaced by laptops that were opened, things were removed, wires, chips, all outside a small hill of mess. He wondered what the instructor was going to have them to do. "All you recruits find a partner and go find a seat wherever so we can get this started, if you don't see it, each table has two seats, so don't fucking ask me if you can have more than two people on the pair-ing, which is why it's called pairing. Don't touch anything unless I tell you to, now scram and go find someone." The recruit thought maybe he wasn't in a good mood... definitely no. Looking left and right, he could see people start to form pairs, most of which are the ones who seem friends already, there were still some looking at each other... Daniel wondered whom he would get paired with. It was IT, he could do this well, but the fact that maybe he'd be left with nothing didn't seem like a fun thing to be in. He hoped the group was an even number.
Nikola stared down at the table, not quite listening to what was going on around him. He knew that IT was a class that he was generally comfortable with and could keep up with, so most days he found himself day dreaming and anxiously waiting for time to go by so he could see Maya during Russian. He thought of all the verbs that he taught her recently when everyone started moving. He looked around nervously, not sure what was going on until he realized that they were looking for partners. He glanced at the friends meeting up, not sure who he should try to go with. Then he spied Daniel and he figured that he's as good a person as any to partner with, especially since he was so good at IT. He went to him and offered a little smile. "Hey. You mind partnering with me?"
Daniel was about to go to one of the empty computer areas when he someone started to talk. He didn't really look back at the person, he might be one of those last kind of kids doing dodgeball, the same way how he seemed to be on nobody's radar. It made him feel a bit left out. "Yeah I don't mind." he shrugged again, still not looking nor knowing who he was. If he knew some IT then all great and good, if not, then the recruit was sure he could do this. The brooding feeling that was stemming around him pretty much came from the past of being last or at least near to last when doing groupworks. With a sigh out of his own misery, he cocked his head towards an empty table. "So... what do you know about computers and stuff?" he asked as he sat down, finally looking up to his partner, who Daniel was indeed surprised to know who it was. "Oh it's you!" he said with a hint of a smile starting since now he knew who it was.
Nikola noticed how sad Daniel looked and he suspected that maybe Daniel didn't want him to be his partner. Maybe he should go look for someone else. He didn't want to be a burden to him, but he didn't know any of the others who were without a partner and he would prefer Daniel's company who he at least knew enough to not be completely awkward. "I know some stuff. I can keep up." He glanced away again, thinking that maybe he should leave, but then Daniel's expression changed and he thought that maybe he was overexaggerating. "Yeah it's me. Who'd you think it was?" He thought that maybe that was why Daniel seemed sad. He must have mistaken him for someone else. He sat down at the empty work bench and glanced at all of the wires around him. "Did you think I was someone else?"
Daniel brightened up really when it was Nikola, how stupid of him acting like a jerk or some miserable kid who didn't even look at his partners face. "Sorry, nah-no, it's not that it's ..." he took a breather and shook it off. "Just got a lot of things on my mind, I guess - yeah sorry, us gotta stick together anyway." Nikola was nice, a bit silly, a different kind of silly of what Daniel was, but it was alright for him. He felt a bit guilty on how he acted. "Yeah you are, I mean, you know IT. I'm sure." Nikola didn't seem to be totally stupid regarding the subject, and he was familiar to him, so maybe this whole class wouldn't suck really. The instructor started telling what to do, the laptops did not just have their insides removed, but also modified. Some of the possible pieces are bugged, some of them don't work, while others are working parts but not the right one. It was a simple match and test, the worst part, was that every time they try to finish it up - they had to do a coding to determine if it did work, and it should work for a total of five minutes, any less and it would mean there was something wrong with the puzzle. "This is going to be time consuming," he murmured. "Anyway, let's start? Do you want to be the one to place the parts or something? What do you think we should do?" he asked as he started to pile up the doohickeys that he was familiar with and those that he wasn't.
Nikola smiled at Daniel, grateful that it wasn't him that he was upset with. Still, he seemed upset about something and Nikola wanted to know what it was. Thankfully, his mother taught him not to pry too much into other people's business so that he decided to keep quiet this time. He glanced at all of the wires, recognizing most of them. When generators weren't around to make a house fire, he found that an unprotected spark redirected from the stray wires in computers could help him. He remembered all of the different devices he had to rig up to get his fires going and he figured that this would be no different. "I can put stuff together, if you'd like. I'm really good at it." Rebuilding a laptop wasn't quite the same as building a bomb, but he knew how things went. He could catch on quickly enough. He started to pick at the different wires and motherboards around him, mismatching the ones he thought might go better together. He couldn't be sure if he was doing anything right, but only the test would be able to tell. "This is funner than hand to hand combat at least," he muttered. Maybe if he was lucky, he can slip a couple wires back into his room with him. That would come in handy later on. He put together the first test and gave it to Daniel to see if it worked. "Let's hope that we're lucky this time," he said with a little smile.
Daniel continued to try and group the hardware from each other. Some were wires, some were built up pieces, some seemed brand new pieces, some were just plain junk, still he spotted some of the junk that had perfect insides and placements while some of the newer one had a chip on the side, or a missing connector. It was a jumble of wits and of course basic knowledge on how to put it together. The hard part is going to know if they were going to fit and they were in the end going to work. He looked up at the instructor who turned his back from them, probably playing with his handheld or something, not like he ever did anything to teach them anyway. The recruit nodded at he said, "Yeah you can build it, while I start and see if there are some codes I can work out for trial and error." he said. Finished with his grouping, he looked at the neat fifteen pile clump of organization that was in front of him, newest, most useful, broken, possible pieces, wires etc. "Here's what you need to see it easier, now remember not everything new is good, if you aren't sure about anything even if it seems like it might be working, just tell me, if we're both wrong in the end that's fine, trial and error." he smiled, after all, this was his element. Â Taking the tablet and moving away from the items for Nikola to rummage in, Daniel checked the task... nodded to himself and grabbed some paper and a pen that was nearby. "Hey, thanks." he said with a grin towards Nikola, they have talked a few times before, and bonded once to get to the kitchen without getting caught, but they haven't really worked together like this... it was something to think about. Without turning to look anywhere else, he started to pen in a fit of wriggles and squiggles in writing about different possible codings. Later, they could see if this would all work out, for now, again and again, trial and error.
 Halle couldnât help herself. She laughed - only for a second, but one second was enough. âIâm sorry I made you smile.â She told him. âI didnât think about it making your jaw move. Iâm an idiot.â She laughed again. She young blonde turned her attention back to the subject at hand and ultimately back to boredom. In all actuality, Halle probably should have been paying attention to the lesson. She knew nothing about guns or knives or anything that could be used as a weapon. Sheâd held a gun only once and that was only long enough to pull the trigger. The distant memory of a man covered in blood flashed through Halleâs mind. A visible shiver crawled over her body as Halle struggled to shake off the all-consuming terror that haunted her on a daily basis.
Soon enough her attention was back on Daniel. âIâd offer to beat her up for you, but Iâm afraid Iâd come back looking even worse.â She grinned. The grin grew to a full on smile as Daniel tripped over his words. âDaniel, chill out. Breathe. I know what you meant.â She snickered. Halle hadnât smiled or laughed so much since sheâd been at Division. Come to think of it, Halle hadnât laughed since that fateful night where she had taken a manâs life.
âWell, Iâm glad youâre okay.â Halle told him, giving him one more smile. âAnd you definitely did say that out loud.â She giggled. Guys had always fallen all over Halle. She was used to it by the age of thirteen. It stemmed from her good looks, but she was also from a wealthy family, had all the right things, and wore all the right clothes. But, there was something so genuine about Daniel that Halle found herself intrigued by him. In what way, she didnât know. She just knew that she wanted to know more about him.Â
If his face could melt in what would seem as an eternal bliss this was it. He melted against the small sliver of laugh that came from her lips. It was wonderful and he was so wonderfully captured by it all. A small part of himself wanted to kick himself on the groin for being smitten. Still, he couldn't help himself. Taking a deep breath, he smiled back, a lopsided smile, amused, friendly, open --- and then she shivered.
"Uh are you cold, is my jaw making me ugly?" he asked, people shivering meant they were cold, girls shivering, at least from his experience meant... they were cold, or they found something disgusting, at least that was it to him and his limited knowledge on them. "Oh no, don't ruin yourself for her, I mean, I guess she's okay, but you know girl's - you're a girl, uh course you are..." he was getting too jittery. Another breath, and then he lowered his voice. "You know how girls fight, not pretty, and you're pretty so yeah there's that.
Was it Christmas? Maybe it was. She had smiled all throughout the short time they talked, and it was like a blanket of beautiful while snow and blonde locks comforted him throughout the cool winter. "I'll... I'll shut up now." he chuckled, blushing. It didn't last long, since after a two heartbeats he went back to look again at her. She was pretty, a lot of boys probably have fallen for her, apart from that and how she seemed to be nice and sweet, Daniel didn't know anything about her. Or why she was in Division in the first place... still, he couldn't imagine this girl being anything short of an angel.
"So... enjoying the lesson?" Three words. Awkward, small talks. He should hit himself on the wall later after curfew.
At the lack of answer from the boy and his seemingly flustered exterior Maya couldnât help herself but giggle, an almost childish sound, light and deprived of any seriousness or stress that she might have felt before their conversation. This boy made her smile and even though that couldnât be considered a hard task around her, he did accomplished it with such an ease that turned out to be contagious. âI am glad you like it.â she laughed, having to cover her mouth with one hand in an attempt to conceal her amusement in hopes to not offend him. âAnd just between the two of us - You seem very likable as well. However, I would appreciate for you to use less naughty words. Donât even consider to ask me for translations of those.â she said, the words meant to rebuke him but that thought was forgotten once a teasing tone grazed her voice, not showing that the Russian did have any intend to correct the recruit in front of her. She found him too amusing to do so anyways and at least he didnât use that kind of words that would have left her gasping for air due to the shock she was experiencing.
âAnyways ⌠how have you been, Daniel?â Maya wondered then, smiling at him softly as she continued gathering her papers and books, grateful for the entertaining distraction the brunette boy offered. It was refreshing and relieving even, leaving Maya with hope that maybe not everyone was robbed their joy by Division.
How curious, his thoughts said. How fun and sunny and wonderfully shining this person was in contrast to Division, or really anywhere that the government would touch and taint. Normally people were so brooding, the recruits in this bunker moreso than the cadets and newly appointed captains and sergeants back then.
He wondered as well why she was laughing like that, probably because he seemed a fool again. "It's because of me yeah?" he said a lopsided smile starting on his lips, "why you're laughing cause i'm silly?" with that he began to join in his own little laugh. He wasn't that affected that this girl was laughing 'at' him, moreso it's because sometimes the small stupid things he did was for the benefit of others. In a way, being able to be at ease with this person told him that it was all going to be fine.
At the mention of not saying any curse words or so, Daniel visibly blushed even though his eyes conveyed surprise. Someone in the military who doesn't do curse words? How really odd... he remembered this girl to be an agent and yet she acts just like a Civilian. Daniel very much knew that there were no Civilians here anyway. "I... I know some words, but no- no I'm sorry, it just got away from me. I promise-" he said with a salute to his heart. "That I won't use any more curse words in front of you..." after a beat he added "Okay i'll try, I can't be liable if I just blurt something out, unintentionally." But his smile said it all, he would try at least in front of this girl
"Uhm. I've been okay." he shrugged as he watched her fix her things, he wondered if she needed to go now or if they can chat for a little bit more before he would go back to run for training. "Division, Division is different from wherever I was... lots of kids, lots of brooding, lots of brooding kids." he chuckled at his words. "Uhm I guess Division is yeah I haven't really been around that much to see everything yet." Which his sentence to Daniel also meant something in itself.
He looked up to again to look at Maya, thinking. "Uhm, what about you Maya? How have you been? Washington looks uh, nice? Building-ey?" he sucked. He knew it. He hasn't even seen the sun for how many years and if he was honest, if it wasn't for surveillance camera's and monitoring ranges he would never know what the outside looked like again.
 âI want you to let go of it.â, she imitated his voice, mocking the words. Everyone tried to be so bloody helpful and no one really knew that they were doing it all wrong. Skylar wasnât sure if there even was a right way to console her. Maybe she wanted them to tell her to snap out of it. No one had done that and it took away her answer full of anger and spite. Comforting gestures werenât something that the brunette grew up with and she didnât know how to react. The ground she was standing on was shaking, breaking away beneath her, whenever someone tried to reassure her that it would be ok. Fuck the lot of them. She stared at him intensely, hoping to get him to avoid her gaze.
She was in a fury now, completely absorbed in the act of inflicting pain in her victim, in hopes of easing her own lack of control. Skylar wasnât an individual that ever had appreciated feeling powerless. And he was the perfect partner for her intention since he didnât fight back at all, this was so easy. She had him pressed to the ground now and wanted him to shout and scream. It wasnât enough to just see him struggle a little. She wanted him crouching on the ground in agony. Her fist rained down on his face again. Fuck him and his stupid self-restraint. What good did it buy him? It certainly wouldnât get him into the good graces of the authority. She wanted to ruin his face for that alone.
The sound she made to imitate him made him make a face, where both sides of his lips turned down in a sort of 'huh' look. Though he didn't remove his gaze. He knew hurt. He knew pain. He grew up trying to have restraint amongst other things. The pain in him was searing, but it was nothing compared to every single bunch of training he had had. Just because he was new didn't mean that he was a weakling or certainly had nothing on him. After all, Division wasn't his first - but he wasn't about to tell the world how much he knew.Â
By the time someone stepped in between them he was already berated in fury. "Knightridge, you've already been a recruit for a month and you've been able to beat other older recruits and here you are pansying on a girl!" the instructor shouted - "And you! Weren't you already on watch from the start? Heh, it's a good thing you have one handler, have him learn the hell of this." Â
As he felt the floor on his own two feet again, he still looked at Skylar, wondering - and then he yawned. "Oh ow.." he muttered, of course yawning was a bad thing considering his jaw was starting to hurt. Why the hell did she just go for his jaw? Stretching his head and arms a bit, he felt lighter, easily so. "Want to hit me one more time?--" he asked, solemnly, "Wait-- you should go, your hand is bloody, dunno if it's from mine or yours." he shrugged. He'd have to get checked up on this too. Looking at her one more time, he sighed inwardly, despite his height on her, which was by a few inches or so, he didn't even dare try to fight. This was her problem, not him. The only wrong thing was taking the emotions into the ring.Â
