Neela had spent so much time growing up running back and forth between the Green army and the army of Iron that she’d come to learn a lot about what both Cities stood for and valued, and though she didn’t ‘pick a side’ per say, she couldn’t understand why the City of Wheat didn’t use machines to make things easier for themselves, but there was that small part of her that respected their attitude.
Perched on the edge of her workbench in a position that one can only describe as painfully uncomfortable to any normal person, the kind of position that once you’ve sat in it for so long, you can’t move, laid out before her was every precisely placed part of a large weapon that had been stripped down to replace parts.
Jumping at the unexpected noise she looked up with a scowl, only softening when she saw Meg drop into what had become her chair. “Again? What are you doing to these poor things Meg?” Reaching across she went to grab the tablet only to jump in surprise as it was slammed on the table, a small grin parting her lips as she tried to make Meg feel better. “Oi, how would you like it if I banged you against the table….” Picking up the blue screened device she rubbed the back of it as though it were a living breathing thing, whispering sarcastically, “don’t worry, i’ll save you from her.”
For a solid five seconds or even longer, Meg could do nothing but stare at Neela, without blinking or showing any other kind of reaction. She just watched as the other lovingly picked up the piece of technology that still displayed a blank, blue screen, very much the same expression that was mirrored on Meg’s face.
“How would I like ...”, she repeated, her voice barely more than a coarse mutter as she found herself taken by surprise by Neela’s unexpectedly straightforward advance -- only to realise what the other had probably meant with her statement moments before a smug grin would begin to form on her lips. Blinking rapidly, she snapped out of that shocked state, clearing her throat and letting out a sound that lay somewhere between a scoff and an awkward laugh. “I considered myself quite gentle with it, really, way more gentle that it deserved.”
At first, there could still be detected a weak stutter as she spoke, but soon she fully found her voice again, confident enough that it wouldn’t reveal the thoughts still poking at her mind. “Can you get it going again? I was notified of a message and when I tried to open it, that happened.” She sourly gestured to the tablet, her anger having ebbed down rather suddenly, though at the same time she discreetly tried to avoid any form of eye contact. “No rush, though, of course, I don't think it's that important, I'm just, y'know, curious.”
