ᴛʜᴇ ɴᴇᴡ ᴡᴀsᴛᴇʟᴀɴᴅ discussion

Mod

the diver inn serves as a bar, a hotel, and a restaurant for all the citizens of gale city, as well as anyone who's just passing through.

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Caledonia been in Gale City for about two weeks now. After two other weeks of wandering through the wasteland and trying not to die, hiding out from where she’d come from and from the monsters in the wasteland, it was nice to be…somewhere away from the monsters and somewhere that at least had some semblance of security, not that Caledonia was at ease anywhere at all. She’d purposely come to Gale City for a number of reasons: while she had an ultimate goal of joining the Riveters or the Red Runners, Gale City was somewhere she could lay low and get her life together. It had a market, and she needed money, as the little she’d stolen about a month ago from home to get over here was almost gone. She’d paid the people at the Inn for an extended stay, and now was planning to convince—coerce, really—people either in the City’s market or maybe soldiers, she didn’t know—to give her a job.
She’d get steadier on her feet. And Gale City, for another, was much closer to the Riveters.
Currently, Caledonia sat at a back table in Diver Inn, leaning back in her chair and twisting a strand of dyed-red hair around her fingers as she stared down at the papers in front of her, a drink of spiced alcohol at her elbow. She tapped a pen she held in one hand against the table, scanning the paper, before she looked up as she usually did and just did a quick but thorough scan across the room. That was the one thing she hated about Gale—they never checked anyone, and while she knew Toxin hardly used spies, she also knew her father had sent the general alarm…and that Toxin was after her. So who knew? Maybe he would resort to sending someone as a spy. She honestly didn’t know, and it was better to be safe than sorry. It had taken her so long to even get here because she’d had hardly any resources on her at first and because she needed to lay low away from civilization until the first frenzy in Toxin had passed. And then…the wasteland itself was no picnic, anyway.
When she saw nobody, Caledonia looked back down again, took a deep breath, and then grabbed her drink and took another sip.

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Charmer had only been trailing Caledonia for a week now. She'd almost gotten caught a few times, just managing to slip away before she could be noticed. Once the alarm had been sent out for a rogue commander, she'd instantly been put on the job. Gathering intel, deciding whether or not Caledonia could be trusted or maybe even recruited. It was a simple task, one she'd completed more times than she could count, but this one felt different somehow, and she was fairly certain she knew why. You could figure out an awful lot by watching someone, but not everything, so she'd done some digging on her own before she'd started her search. It wasn't every day the General's daughter ran off.
Charmer had become quite good at blending in over the years, and that was exactly what she was doing now. Sitting at the bar and watching Caledonia out of the corner of her eye as she chatted with the bartender in a perfect Gale City accent. To anyone who didn't know her - which was basically everyone - she just appeared as another citizen of the city. She never once looked at her mark directly. That was an easy way to get caught. Instead, she kept her eyes on the bartender and kept up the conversation cheerfully, tracking the girl in her peripheral vision. So she dyed her hair. Smart. Charmer herself had done that more times than she'd like to admit - even now, she'd gone for a bleach blonde color, a favorite in the city. At this point, she was pretty sure her hair was more damaged than the eastern wastes.

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And those times Charmer had almost gotten caught, Caledonia had sensed that someone was watching her. She'd stopped what she was doing, turned around, gun full and raised, aimed, as she listened. But she'd never seen anyone. Still, the unsettling feeling never left her, and Caledonia had managed to finally slip away once she got into the city, dye her hair, and come here. So far, she hadn't felt any other eyes on her, and while part of her hoped she'd lost whoever had been tailing her, her cautious side never let her guard down, even now. It probably wasn't Toxin, because they probably just would have attacked, but it didn't meant whoever it was wasn't a threat.
Wasn't everyone?
She sighed and started to scratch the pen over the paper, trying to brainstorm ways and routes she could take to try and get herself into Riveters without actually being turned away. She was also a making a lost of everything she needed to buy to sustain herself for another however long she'd here. What, two more weeks? She didn't know. Caledonia grabbed her drink again and dipped the last of it back. Crap. She'd started drinking before she'd left Toxin. It had been an occasional nightly endeavor that had morphed to an every-other night thing. Now, she sneered into her empty cup and stood up, making her way to the bar for more, not knowing her stalker was there.
She slammed the cup down at the bar and then another few coins. "Give me another," she snapped at the bartender, ignoring everyone else seated there.

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There was something to be said there for Caledonia's skill. More often than not, when Charmer had to trail someone, they barely ever looked behind them, and she'd had nothing to worry about. With this girl, though, she'd almost been caught nine times and even lost track of her for a few hours once. When push came to shove, she did think Caledonia would be a good addition to the Rangers, if she could manage to convince both her and the other members. That part didn't worry her as much as the idea of getting caught. Toxin was looking for her, after all, and they wouldn't mind getting their hands on Charmer either if they found both of them.
She caught a brief glimpse of the paper in Cal's hands. The Riveters, huh? She almost laughed. The Riveters might've been a bit gentler than Toxin, but deep down, they all had the same goal. Control. Did nobody ever learn, even from the destruction of the world? Still, Charmer didn't have time to think about that. She allowed herself to look up at Caledonia for a moment, quickly studying her face. "How many of those have you had, doll?" She grinned at her, keeping up that Gale accent. "You might want to slow down, you'll make yourself sick!" The citizens of the city were always irritatingly nosy, at least in Charmer's experience, so she passed almost perfectly for some ditzy Gale girl all up in someone's business. However, there was something odd about her eyes, like she was watching instead of just looking. It was barely noticeable, but for someone with Caledonia's training, it could be very suspicious.

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When Charmer—who Caledonia knew as the girl who was now next to her at the bar—spoke before the barkeep did, she turned and immediately lifted a hand in a rude gesture. “That’s none of your business,” she growled about at her, and then studied her as well. Her nose wrinkled as her blue eyes narrowed—honestly, that was the one other thing she hated about Gale, how everyone wanted to know everything, but at least she was a good liar. Oh, she also happened to hate ditzy girls who found boys as their only goal in life, and maybe that was judgmental of the brunette, especially considering she was stereotyping people right now, but she didn’t care. She then leaned in close and grabbed the girl’s wrist in a smooth grasp. “You call me ‘doll’ one more time, and I break at his wrist. You try and go further than that, and I knock you out.” She threatened in a dark voice before she let her go as the barkeep filled her cup again. But she had noticed the eyes as she stared right into them as she’d threatened her. Something was off and it did send a sliver of fear down spine, and she focused on the eyes even after she backed up.
That was the other thing. Caledonia had a complicated relationship to violence. She just go so mad she snapped, and if people were drunk and all giggly at bars and trying to flirt with her, she’d knock them out or break a bone. Deep down she chided herself. She was no better than him. And yet she’d broken many bones via her fist or vibrating someone’s bones until they snapped. But she didn’t want anyone thinking they could just flirt with her.
Caledonia snatched the cup. “And for the record, maybe you can’t hold your alcohol, but I can.” She stated, staring right at the girl and watching her eyes.

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(sorry this is so short i had a full response but my computer deleted the entire thing :/)

Yikes. Charmer froze, eyes wide, looking terrified. An act, of course. This was about the reaction she'd expected. It just gave her a chance to look Caledonia right in the face. "Oh- Uh, my bad, d- miss." She gave her a nervous smile and added a slight shake to her voice for the effect. "Didn't mean anything by it. Just concerned for your health, but clearly, there's... uh. Clearly, there's nothing to worry about!" She met Cal's stare with her own fake-anxious look, but that watching feeling stayed. Maybe she was laying it on a little thick, but that was also kinda just how Gale worked. Loud and dramatic. She took a sip of her own drink - non-alcoholic, of course. She never drank anything that messed with her head on the job. That was one of the easiest ways to get caught.

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((oh no I’m so sorry!! :( it’s okay!))

Caledonia stared at her, thick hatred bubbling and frothing. The way she spoke, getting into her business, it all rubbed the brunette the wrong way. “You also have no right to worry about people and get into their business unless someone is dying in front of you,” she added with a snap, and then narrowed her eyes as she stared at the other girl’s. For a moment; she said nothing, but that hot rage was crawling up her and she’d always found it hard to control. That was the one other thing about Toxin, her father in particular: unlike the rest of her personality and who she was, he actually encouraged her rage. He ignored all reports of her fisting someone in the face, brushing it off as “you were being an idiot then”. So while she never got punished for starting fights, she knew it was probably because he figured as long as her rage helped her get her anger at the general out of her system in any way that wasn’t beating up on him, then fine. Besides, Toxin was violent anyway, so did anyone really care that much? Her mom had tried to help her get her anger out in a healthier way, sure. But still. Caledonia hummed slightly. Maybe she should give this girl a warning—no. No, she shouldn’t; that would just give her away, considering the general had practically sent out a wanted add including Caledonia’s skillsets. But she found it interesting. He hadn’t included her “freak” ability. She almost snorted. That man was a walking contradiction—he hated that talent of hers while apparently wanting it for Toxin only, she presumed. But still. Then again she’d already threatened Charmer so what harm could this do? She took another drink of her alcohol and opened one hand discreetly, finding Charmer’s vibrations in one of her fingers. Without even looking at it, she subtlety moved her hand, and aimed to snap one of the other girl’s fingers as a small warning.

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Yeah, this wasn't going well. Charmer averted her gaze, looking back down to her drink. "...Right. My bad." If a fight broke out, she had three options - fight back and risk blowing both their covers, run away and potentially lose track of her mark for who knows how long, or take the beating and get injured. She mulled over each option in her head. None of them were good. It was always a risk drawing attention to yourself, and this time had been a mistake. This was why she hated the city. Easy to slip up when so many eyes were watching. Speaking of eyes, several people in the inn had turned to watch them. Never a good sign.
Charmer's train of thought was interrupted by a sudden vibration in her hand, followed by a sharp, extreme pain. Her body suddenly tensed, but she stayed silent. Not many people in Gale were able to do that, ignoring pain like that. That one act might just blow her cover. Aside from the way she'd just sort of frozen, it was like nothing had happened. Her hand discreetly moved off the bar, resting on her knee. Fuck, that hurt, but she wouldn't bring more attention to herself. Charmer glanced over at Caledonia again. She'd done that somehow. One of those powered people? Strange, but not an entirely new discovery. Charmer'd had her suspicions while she was trailing the girl earlier, but this at least confirmed it. Very painfully, but a confirmation was a confirmation. She gave the bartender a slightly forced smile and took another sip of her drink, nonchalantly switching to her other hand. She had experience hiding injuries. A broken finger hurt like hell, but it'd be fine in a week or so. She'd just pay the Shields a visit while she was in the city. Later.

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“Yeah it is your bad.” Jerk. She sipped her drink again, eyes watching Charmer over the rim of the cup. Honestly, sometimes she wished she didn’t hold her alcohol so well, or that she’d ordered something stronger. Forgetting was nice. Then again, if she got that drunk then she’d let her inhibitions down. Or she’d get so angry she’d uproot the whole place. Maybe: either way, neither could afford to happen, so she fought herself to stay calm. Snapping the bone in the girl’s finger had helped. But as soon as that thought swam through her head, she almost choked on the spiced drink, and her anger just intensified, but this time it was at herself. She was a sadistic, power-hungry butt. Just like the general. It didn’t sit that well with her, and she sneered at Charmer because she had nothing else to do.
So it was with slight satisfaction that made her stomach twisted nervously as Charmer tensed and switched hands that she was using, while giving the bartender a strained grin. Caledonia lifted her chin and smirked before she could really process what she’d done. Taken joy at someone else’s suffering; suffering caused by her hand, literally. This is self defense, she reasoned. That and this girl deserved it for nosing into her business; and besides, Caledonia couldn’t afford to be caught and dragged back to Toxin. She’d be killed at best, but probably secretly tortured at worst. And tortured didn’t seem like a fun way to spend her days. So she’d do what she needed to to stay away: threats, some aggression. It was needed, and it was kind of natural tor her. Unfortunately.
“Anyway,” Caledonia stated. a little louder. She clapped a hand on Charmer’s shoulder, squeezed once; and proceeded back to her corner table. “Don’t do anything like that again and we’re good,” she threatened in a half-pleasant voice before slipping back into her seat and picking up her papers again.

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Charmer just nodded, still looking at her with fake fear. Her fingernails dug into her thigh to try and release some of the pain. Part of her almost wanted to yell at Cal for that - not because it was a dick move, even though it was, but just because of how utterly stupid of an idea it seemed to her. Had she screamed or yelped or brought attention to it, everyone in the inn would be staring at them. Charmer wasn't worried about being recognized, but Cal was one of the most wanted people in the wasteland right now. Honestly, didn't Toxin teach their agents anything about being discreet? Probably not, given that a large display of brute force was their one and only intimidation tactic, but god, they were idiots.
Or maybe she was just a little biased. A lot biased.
"Got it," She squeaked out, still faking that nervousness, but her perfect Gale accent faltered for a moment. Charmer swore internally. Nobody standing near them seemed to notice that waver in her voice, but Caledonia might have. She just prayed the other girl wasn't paying enough attention to notice.

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Caledonia still stared at Charmer from where she was seated, disliking how the girl was still looking at her. People looking at her for long made her uncomfortable, though she hid it well. And maybe Caledonia could have been more careful. But she was too angry for that—it was one of her weaknesses. That rage snapped a lot, and while sometimes people didn’t care, on some missions it could be an issue. Her impulse control needed work, and deep down she knew that but in heated moments of rage, the dark-haired girl didn’t care. Then again, it wasn’t like Toxin had revealed to the wasteland that their “wanted rubaway agent” had these abilities. She was pretty sure James would never reveal that to keep her Toxin’s hidden weapon. Which revealed that if he found her, she’d probably be tortured and punished, not killed. He needed her.
That sucked: she’d rather be dead than back with him.
She raised a green eye when Charmer spoke, and stared, standing back up again and setting her cup down. Was that a small break in her voice…no, an accent. Her eyes widened; and she tilted her head. What she was about to do was a shit move, but… “Why are you hiding?” She demanded as she walked back over. “Wait. Are you the one they’re after? What would happen if I just…knocked you out and delivered you to Toxin? You’re hiding. And that blonde isn’t natural,” she added flatly. She wouldn’t deliver the girl to Toxin, because like hell she’d willingly reach out to them, but this girl was annoying her. So maybe if she accused her of being…Caledonia…then maybe she’d freak out. Then again, who knew. Her voice was quiet and threatening the whole time.

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Welp. There went her cover. Okay. Don't panic. Think. Charmer listened to Caledonia, her face showing no signs of nervousness. She even smiled at the bartender, like it was just a private conversation between friends. Think. Think. There were a few different ways she could go here. Start a barfight, get the whole inn involved, and make a getaway while Cal was busy with everyone else? No, then there was Gale City security to worry about. There was also the option of just sprinting for the door. She was fast, she could probably make it... But if she didn't, it wouldn't go well for her.
She could also try talking it out. Showing some of her cards, but not her whole hand - and then slipping away before anything could get too dicey. Perfect.
Charmer leaned back. Any sort of anxiety was gone, replaced by a cool, almost arrogant-sounding calmness. The Gale accent had vanished, too, her regular voice more eastern. "If we're on the topic of hair, that red doesn't really suit you, Hayden," She murmured back. Her voice was just loud enough for Cal to hear and nobody else. "Maybe we can talk outside and I'll give you a few tips for next time, hm?" A plan was already forming in her mind. Get outside and then make a run for it, take an unpredictable path all the way to the gate. Or to the Shields fort to hide out if Cal beat her there. That could work. She knew this city like the back of her hand, after all.

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Caledonia studied the girl with a hard expression in her eyes. It took everything in her not to stiffen when Charmer said her surname, and she just managed to avoid it. She said nothing for a moment as she slid into the seat next to her and propped her head on her elbow, never taking her eyes off of the other girl's face. With her other hand, she casually slung it inside the pocket of the slightly worn down coat she had on, but once her hand was slipped away, she focused on grasping the vibrations inside Charmer's neck. A small smirk crossed her face. "Make a move and I snap it," she stated cooly, but also in a quiet voice. She wouldn't, of course she wouldn't. But Toxin had a reputation for violence and brutality, and as much as she disliked it, she had some of that herself. Not as far as James would go, but she believed her threat was believable, anyway.
Something else had also crept into her mind: this girl was the one tailing her, wasn't she? How else would she have known? After all, Caledonia had dyed her hair, cut it a bit, and walked around with a slight hunch on purpose. Not a huge one, just kinda lessening her very-tall form. She was tall for a woman, she knew that. She also had dressed only in long sleeves so nobody could question why she had muscles that seemed really only appropriate on someone in Toxin who loved their strength and force. Then again. For years now she never wore anything else.
She sighed and shook her head. "Well, at least it looks better than the blonde. Everyone dyes their hair blonde, and blonde dye is trashy," she replied in a steady voice. Maybe she was also biased against blonds, thanks to James. Sure, it was bad of her, but who was perfect? The whole time she kept her hand extended in her pocket and the vibration up and running. "And, well," she stated, tapping her other hand on the bar, "do inform me as to why I would ever take tips from someone who quite frankly could use tips herself? Slips up accents. Hair so clearly dyed--not a natural blond, that color. Doesn't work with the skin tone, either. There's something off about your eyes, too. Anyway, yes, please, enlighten me." Her voice had a sarcastic hint to it. "And I'm staying here, thanks."

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"Oh, I wouldn't dream of attacking a big, bad commander." Charmer laughed with a mockingly innocent voice. That, at least, wasn't a lie. She had been accused many times of having a death wish, but self-preservation was actually quite high on her list of priorities. However, she didn't seem at all worried about Caledonia's threat, just laughing it off. All that fake nervousness had vanished, leaving behind someone who very clearly thought she was winning this game. And maybe she was. It was anyone's guess.
She tilted her head just slightly to the side with a conspiratorial smile. "Ah, but that's the thing! Everyone goes for the shitty blonde." She kept her voice just as low as Caledonia's, but it felt less like some top secret private conversation and more like a pair of girls sharing gossip, keeping people's attention off of them. Charmer was, after all, very good at her job. "We're in Gale, Callie! Where all the ladies can afford to damage their hair in horribly ugly ways and yet everybody seems to love it!" She clearly didn't think very highly of the city. It was good for hiding, sure - loud, crowded, easy to blend in - but it was just a reminder of how the people who had it good couldn't care less about the people who didn't. "This? This is nothing compared to some of the other shitty blondes inside the wall. Makes me look like the next Miss Apocalypse."
Her voice dropped just a tad lower as she continued. "Now, this is Riveter territory. They don't like you for obvious reasons, and they might act all reasonable and disciplined and all that, but they're just the same. Murderers looking for control." Charmer took a long sip of her drink watching Caledonia's expression out of the corner of her eye. If she kept showing her cards, eventually, she wouldn't have anything left in her hand, but it was a risk she had to take. "Granted, they don't care much for me either, but they don't know my face the way they know yours. But I've got a friend who's taken an interest in you. A friend that talking about here," She gestured around at all the other people in the inn, "could get us both in pretty deep shit, mainly you." Charmer's little smile was innocent enough, but that watching look remained in her eyes. Reading her like a magazine.

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Caledonia sneered at her. “Keep your damn voice down!” She hissed, and then moved the vibration grasp back to Charmer’s hands and stared right in her eyes and aimed to break another finger before speaking again. And while Charmer may not have a death wish, Caledonia….sometimes did. Now wasn’t one of those times; so dammit, why wouldn’t this idiot keep her voice down?!
Caledonia snorted at that, and then rolled her eyes. “Yeah, not everyone, I would never go for a shitty blonde,” she replied, kind of going with whatever it was they were doing, and then she sighed. “So maybe you’re trying to blend in but the point is, I figured you out, kid.” She twisted a strand of her red hair and pushed it behind her shoulders. “Well, guess what? I don’t love it and I think it looks like crap,” she snapped back before she snarled and almost slapped Charmer. She leaned forward and grabbed her arm and yanked her close. “Do not call me Callie. Do not shorten my name,” she spat, and then released her when she realized what she was doing. Half disgusted with herself, Caledonia sat back. “Ah, well, lucky me, I’ll hate them all.”
Caledonia frowned. “Excuse me?” She demanded. “Yes of course they dislike me but I’ve been here a week and the only risk to my cover happens to be a shitty fake blonde with creepy eyes,” she snapped pointedly. She narrowed her eyes, irritated. “Control. Yeah, well, I happen to believe some control is needed, and I seriously doubt the Riveters will be as bad as where I came from, since you seem to have me all figured out.” Leaning back in her seat, she crossed her arms and glared. “They’ll never find out who I am, and excuse me? A friend who had taken an interest in me? What does that mean?” She spat. “I don’t like it when people are interested in me, and I’ve been in and out of shit, I can handle myself.” She tossed her head up even more and rolled her eyes. “If you give more information I can tell you how ridiculous this is. I seriously doubt I’m in Trouble and even if I am, I can handle it.”

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Charmer winced, shaking her hand out. It hurt a little less the second time around, but it was still painful. "We're blending in, dumbass," She snapped, sounding annoyed for the first time. She kept her voice down, though. "I don't know if they taught you this in your fancy soldier training, but I'm trying to make us invisible, and whispering everything makes us suspicious." Honestly, did Toxin teach their agents anything other than brute violence? "So maybe stop doing that, hm? Nobody's looking at us right now, but your little party trick ain't helping." She shook her head, seeming more irritated about it than anything.
"Of course, you wouldn't. That's the problem." Charmer didn't elaborate on that at all, just leaving it at an annoyingly vague statement. She didn't seem fazed at all when Caledonia grabbed her arm. "Right. My bad. Caledonia Hayden, daughter of James and Katarina Hayden, age 24, a former commander and future general turned rogue, runaway, and criminal under the alias of Hannah Glass. Is that long enough?" She gave her a charming, innocent smile, but her patience was beginning to run thin. Every bone in her body was screaming for her to run away and regroup, but she was trapped here and she hated it. "Fair, but is there anyone you don't hate?"
Charmer made a mock-offended face. "Creepy? They're just brown, Hayden, what's wrong with that? You got some kinda weird prejudice against brown eyes?" She knew exactly what Caledonia was referring to, but being purposely annoying was one of her many strong suits. "Not their kind of control. You put a single group in charge of the entire wasteland, too many people get fucked over. You understand that, right? Don't matter how they get that power, it all ends the same." She leaned back in her seat. "You'd think the end of the world would teach people that." Charmer's eyes flicked back to Caledonia. "Oh, sure, nobody will recognize you. The detailed descriptions on the radio, the pictures floating around everywhere, all that's just amazing for your disguise. It's a wonder I even spotted you at all." She grinned. "Red hair doesn't change your face shape, and I reckon even if you wanted to go under the knife, you don't have that kind of money. You walk straight up to the Riveters, you're gonna get shot, no questions asked. Or tortured for information. They aren't above that shit, you know."
"This friend of mine, however..." Charmer drummed the fingers of her good hand on the bar, trying to figure out how to phrase this. The words 'red rangers' could put a target on your back, even just overheard in a bar. Nobody was listening, yes, but she still had to be careful. "They're a pretty big contender in this game. A future controlled by the people. Full autonomy, freedom, the ability to speak your mind... an army at your back when you take out dear old dad...." She took a long sip of her drink, still watching her. Waiting. "But, if you're not interested, have fun fighting for the same thing you been. You know, if you don't get shot." There was no way she would actually give up that easily - but she wouldn't let Cal know that. Charmer had been given a task, and she fully intended to complete it.

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(:o that's longer than i thought sorry)

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((It’s okay!!))

Caledonia smirked a bit when Charmer winced, and then sneered at her just as fast. “Call be dumbass one more time and I start a fight. Where’s your discretion then?” She demanded in a cold voice and then rolled her eyes. “Of course they taught us some of that.” But it was true that brute force really was the focus. After all, Toxin didn’t really use spies that much. And Caledonia knew brute force in all aspects of her life, so some could say she was even more prone to it than others. Unfortunately, she agreed with those people. “Fine. So whispering looks suspicious, but don’t raise your voice to all levels, either. And I have no idea what a ‘party trick’ is, and even if I did you have no proof that I’m doing anything.”
“What the hell does that mean?” She snapped in a hiss. She shoved some of her false red hair off her shoulder and finally just tied it back, annoyed, though she’d been trying to avoid pulling it back after she’d left Toxin. Oh well. Caledonia’s blue eyes widened in clear horror, and that she couldn’t hide, when Charmer just started rattling off her basic inform. “Wh-what the—no! Shut up! That’s not—I was never a future gen—where did you get that alias—shut up!“ She yelled, and two seconds later she slammed her fist across Charmer’s face, half terrified that people around them could hear those delightful demographics while also just over the top enraged someone knew all this about her. As soon as she hit Charmer though, she sat back and almost dropped her head into her hands, guilt spiraling and twisting in her gut. “I’m sorry,” she stated stiffly, looking blankly at a wall. “That was uncalled for.” Dammit Hayden. You’re just like him. She clenched her fist and then grabbed her drink and downed a good fourth of it before setting the cup down, checks slightly flushed, though it was hard to tell whether it was rage or alcohol or shame. All three perhaps. “And for the record, no. The only person I don’t hate is dead.” You try Toxin and see if it makes you a lovey-dovey people person.
“No,” she snapped. Her mother’s eyes had been brown and she liked looking into them to calm down. Unfortunately, she’d gotten the blue from her fathers side. His parents or something. “Blonds, though? Yes,” she added pointedly. At the net part, she leaned again and it took all she had not to grab Charmer again and shake her. “Of course I understand that, why the hell do you think I left? Toxin a fucking mess. That’s too much control. How are the Riveters the same and care to tell me why I should even trust you? Because I don’t do that, and for the record, I was able to survive weeks with just this hair change and walking different. Wasn’t recognized. Except by you, apparently, creep,” she snapped. “And you know what? Fine.” Caledonia stared right into Charmer’s eyes. “Let me get shot then. It’ll be a blessing.” And in some ways, it would be. No more wondering when she’d actually eat again. No more freaking Toxin at her back. No more nightmares and memories and fearing Toxin would get her and torture her. Speaking of which… “And as for torture, what, you think that scares me? I was Toxin. I was taught to hold up under torture.” And for her, it hadn’t exactly stopped there but still. Of course she didn’t relish that idea, preferred death to torture, but still. “And yes I know they’re not above that.” Toxin hated the Riveters. She’d been told they were inhumane and tortured people. But still, she’d thought their control was less, their people happier, so she had figured they at least would have been better and besides, she had been trying those past few months to not take anything James said at face value. The man lived trying to scare her. He’d killed her mother, he wasn’t above lying and manipulative acts and she knew that better than anyone.
Caledonia stared. The description Charmer gave—she sat back and crossed her arms, her muscle clear even through a long sleeved shirt. She never wore short sleeves no matter how hot it was. “Well, your little group was my other option,” she admitted. “But you’re going to have to be very, very specific about why you want me—thanks, by the way, I’m flattered—and who your friend is. Why are you really on my tail and what made you tail me?” Her voice was cold, demanding, unrelenting in her demands. The way she spoke to her soldiers. “And like I said. If I get shot, thank freaking goodness.” But she couldn’t deny it. The idea of being able to speak her mind without a fear it would give her another thing to hide, of having almost true independence was…so nice. And there had to be a lie in it somewhere, nothing was just handed to anyone on silver plates, especially not to her. “What’s the catch? And also, I could have killed ‘dear old dad’ myself,” she added, eyes darkening when she sneered the nickname Charmer had first said. “I actually left him in a coma so I think I’m fine on my own. Unless you tell me the catch and lay everything out clearly.”

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Charmer looked shocked, and a slow smile spread across her face. "...A party trick. You- Wow. It's worse than I thought. You've never been to a party? I mean, I doubt there's much leisure in the big bad, yknow, but... you've been here for two weeks and you haven't been to a party?" She seemed to find this hilarious, if not extremely sad. She was something of a party girl herself, although usually for business and not fun, but still. If anything, that just confirmed further how shitty Toxin was.
"It means-" she leaned forward on the bar, giving Caledonia a knowing smile, "-that you don't know how to play a character. If the lovely Miss Glass is a Gale girl, she should act like one. That means blending in even when you hate it. Your whole aggressive soldier thing won't help you in the long run." Charmer would know. The number of times she'd had to throw her own boundaries out the window just to get where she needed to be was uncomfortably high. That, though, she kept to herself - she was willing to make that sacrifice, and it was always her choice, so no point in complaining about it. She grunted in pain as Cal punched her, but didn't seem upset about it, rubbing the side of her face with a small laugh. "Nah, don't worry about it. Not the first time I've been punched doing this, it's a pretty common reaction. You've got a good arm," She commented. That last remark made her fall silent for a moment. Charmer knew Katarina was dead, that it had something to do with her rebellious tendencies, and she'd sort of just filled in the blanks for the rest, but it was still a rough thing to go through.
"Well," Charmer laughed, "I don't know how I'd fix that for you." She didn't know where she'd gotten her eyes from. Any of her looks, really, but that didn't matter as long as she knew how to use them. "Take a look around you. Haven't you seen the way this city is run? It's all happy and bright and beautiful until you turn down the wrong corner and see hell knows how many people starving and homeless and ignored. You want to be happy with the Riveters, you have to be rich or be some kind of lapdog. Otherwise..." She shrugged. "You just don't have value to them." She looked somewhat offended at being called a creep, but she supposed it wasn't really a lie. "And how long until that luck runs dry, huh? What then?" Charmer sat up straight again, looking at Caledonia with an unreadable expression. "Shot to death or slaughtered in a cage when you could be doing so much more? Doesn't sound like much of a blessing to me. Besides, you give up that easy, you're letting him outlive you. Unless you want that, I don't judge." She'd been tortured before. Not by either of the big contenders - she'd gotten smart enough to avoid them - but it had happened once before she had even joined the Rangers. It was, to put it simply, hell.
Charmer laughed at that. "Glad to hear something could flatter you. I was beginning to think there was no hope." She grinned. "As for the tailing... I'm just doing my job. Sorry to burst your bubble, Hayden, but this isn't just a you thing. It's pretty routine." Another long, slow sip of her drink, pausing for the effect. "Ace thinks you'd be a good addition to the team. Says you've got the passion, a reason to fight- not to mention training and skill." She nodded, smile growing just a bit wider. "And that's what I'm talking about! Young, strong, and independent." Maybe she was laying it on a little thick, yeah, but that was her job. "No catch. You're a fighter. You just need a cause. At least, that's what Ace thinks." The tone of her voice left an unanswered question - what did she think?

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Caledonia just stared at her. Even she had had the opportunity to go to a party, why the hell would she?! Parties were, from what she understood; disgusting. Too many people crowded around losing their sense of reality from drinks, being happy and throwing up their alcohol. And geez, the flirting. No. No thank you. If Gale was any indication, she’d pass. Her idea of fun was a quiet night away from humans, reading and being unbothered as she did so. It had been spending time with her mom, too, just talking, because she was the only person Caledonia actually spoke to like a friend, but that had come to a sudden end.
She gave Charmer another sneer; it seemed to be one of her favorite facial expressions. “I do know how to play a character,” she snapped. “Just not when I’m pissed off.” This was vaguely true. She was capable of hiding what her father wanted her to hide, but maybe it was also true that she did rely more on strength and threats than blending in. Spy craft wasn’t Toxin’s strengths. And she was just so disgusted by Gale that she didn’t want to blend in, and partially done with life that she half didn’t care if she was shot dead on the spot. It was better than being dragged back to Toxin and beaten to death. Or rather, made to beg for it. “And yes it will help me,” she replied stiffly. What she was doing, snapping fingers, was just the start. She could uproot the earth, crumble mountains and buildings. But she wasn’t stupid enough to say that now. And she was skilled without her abilities, too. “Yes, I do have a good arm,” she stated with a lift of her chin. “And don’t rattle off more information unless you want me to—“ Caledonia cut herself off before “do it again” could leave her mouth, and she cursed silently and just stared at her boots. She was fucked. She didn’t say anything for a second when Charmer didn’t either and then looked up, taking a breath. “Yeah, I’ve seen this city. But this is also the only place I could get to to get my supplies together because it’s so open. And I hadn’t known about the poverty beforehand, and don’t call me a damn lapdog.” But she felt that part of her always had been, trying to please her twisted father, until finally she couldn’t anymore because finding out he killed her mother was the last straw. And she couldn’t keep doing what he wanted when she knew that. “Look, it’s a blessing to escape the shorty reality of my life and you, for all you claim to know about me, don’t know me. You can’t tell me what I like and don’t like and no, being slaughtered in a cage as you so eloquently put it would suck but shot on sight? Please. Put one through my skull,” she snapped, slamming a hand on the table and causing her cup to shake. “Of course I want to fight Toxin and I want him dead but—I’m just Saying that one, if I get shot, who will miss me? And two, why should I trust you? Who the hell is Ace?” Caledonia demanded. It was true that she wanted James dead. Six feet under. She partially felt she should have just done it weeks ago instead of leaving him in a coma. It was a mistake she wouldn’t be making again. And maybe the Red Rangers were a good fit, she knew that. But they’d had this creep tailing her and Caledonia hated that she knew so much about her. How did she even know who she was? Toxin hadn’t released the fact their runaway commander was the general’s daughter.
“Tell me who Ace is. Tell me how you know who I am. Be honest with me or we won’t even Consider a deal, why the hell should I trust you?” She fixed Charmer with a stare that was unwavering. Becahse she wanted revenge on James. “And if I’ fo join, you leave Toxin to me. I don’t want someone shoving me behind a desk or taking James out. I want to do it. And there’s always a catch,” she added. “I want to fight on my own accord. I am not going to let you inspire me I want to kill him of my own accord.” And it was true she did think, sometimes, a bullet in her head would be nice. No more trauma.

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(this is so bad i'm sorry writer brain just died)

"Guess that's just not your cup of tea, though, huh?" Charmer continued, though she still seemed to find it amusing that Cal had never been to a party. "That's alright, no judgment here. The quiet's nice too."
She gave Caledonia a sympathetic, borderline-patronizing look. "I'm sure you do! Problem is, you're pissed off all the time." Which, she supposed, wasn't all that bad, but it didn't work too well in the spy business. Charmer wasn't sure she even had feelings anymore. It sucked, but it had saved her life more than once. "Not if you're trying to blend in. If anything, it makes you stand out."
She shrugged off the threat with a smile, meeting Cal's gaze evenly. "Are you sure? I had plenty more scripted," She joked. It was probably a dumb thing to say, but she didn't seem to care. She knew quite a lot about Caledonia. The information ratio was more than a little skewed in her favor - which is exactly how she preferred it. Charmer knew everything about people who knew nothing about her.
"Even if you didn't know about it, you can't deny that it's there." Charmer took a long sip of her drink and grimaced. It had been warm originally, but it was unpleasantly cold now. Gross. "People are suffering right in front of them and they just let it happen. If that screams good guys to you, then I don't know what to tell you." She was clearly very passionate about this particular subject, but why was anyone's guess. She glanced around the room, then back to Caledonia. "I get the whole wanting-to-die thing. Life is bullshit sometimes - a lot of the time - but if you need something to keep you alive, spite can be a pretty good motivator." For the first time, she seemed to be completely honest, like she was speaking from experience, but that was gone as quickly as it had come.
"Ace. You know. The leader?" Charmer grinned. "The faceless 'king' everyone thinks if they kill, all of us go down? Don't be intimidated, they're pretty cool." She laughed, seemingly unbothered by the stare. "Well, we can't leave all of Toxin to you, but I can guarantee you'll get your vendetta. We all do at some point." She leaned in with an even wider smile. "Plus, you get to choose your own cool-ass codename~"

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((you're fine!))

She continued to stare at Charmer, and flatly replied, "I don't drink tea," before continuing. Honestly, even the mere thought of parties disgusted her, and she almost shuddered. Maybe it was the hard-core Toxin in her, but still. It wasn't just time away from work, it was the lowered inhibitions, crowded, drunk, smelly people--all of it was huge no. "Yeah, well, I'm pretty sure that you judge everything I say, so yeah, right," she added, almost just as flatly but with a slight scoff to the end of her statement.
She sneered at Charmer, her blue eyes darkening visibly--they went from cold ice ships to a frothing with hate, icy dark fire. "Don't you dare give me that look again," she demanded, leaning forward. She knew her rage wasn't actually helping her case whatsoever, but she hated people patronizing her. It actually agitated her and made her stomach twist and very uncomfortable. Her father had done that a lot--and in some ways it was better to whatever else he did but in another this made her feel like an incapable child and she wanted to hit anyone who did that. "I'm not a kid," she snapped. "We all have our weaknesses and trust me, I already found some of yours too, Ms. Perfect," she sneered with a healthy dose of sarcasm. Maybe an unhealthy dose. Who knew? "And I'm pissed off, yes, good observation. I have my reasons." She'd been taught only a little how to healthily release her anger. But then her mom had died and she'd almost completely flown off the rails...and when she found out why? She'd left her father in a coma, killed two of his subordinates, and left. Yeah. Pissed off was just scratching the surface.
She leaned in. "How much do you know about me and how did you get said information? For all I know, you could be some spy or someone my father roped in to get me back. Prove that you're not. You say Ace is the leader?" Caledonia leaned back casually and crossed her arms. "Perfect. Bring them here in two days and I'll talk about thus offer more, with a code name and met vendetta. And it's hardy a vendetta," she added. "It is, but I'm the best one to help you take down Toxin, and you know it," she added, a gleam in her eyes.
Caledonia snorted. "Yeah, you speak about something to keep me alive, and sometimes I get that. But why bother being alive unless I see the potential for change? So if you and your Ace can convince me and speak to me, here, in two days, no deal." She took a deep breath and looked around the room--she was pretty disgusted by these people, and they certainly did seem the type to ignore poverty. "Okay, so they don't scream good guys or whatever, but I require to speak to you and Ace here," she repeated firmly. "Every faction has downfalls. Weaknesses. Problems."

Mod

"...Oh my god." Charmer bit her lip to keep herself from laughing. Guess Toxin wasn't super big on metaphors. "I'm not judging, just observing. Picking up on things." She leaned forward on her elbows. "And you, my friend, are a very interesting person to observe."
"Alright, alright." She put up her hands in mock surrender. "You stop breaking my fingers and shit, I'll stop with the looks. Deal?" She seemed interested in that next part, letting her arms rest on the bar again. "Oh, really? And what do you think you've found, hm?" Charmer put a great deal of effort into being unreadable. A mystery. Hell, barely even a person. She was curious as to what weaknesses could possibly be showing aside from the physical kind. Everything she did was calculated. The shitty dye, this seat at the bar, everything she'd said this entire conversation. It was all like a science to her, nothing more, nothing less.
Charmer didn't move, still meeting Cal's gaze as she leaned in. "If I listed all my sources, we'd be here longer than either of us want. However..." She paused, if not for effect then to think of how to phrase her next words. "Toxin's file encryption is fairly easy to get through if you have the right passwords." That was her main source, a couple of files she'd been able to get her hands on. With that and, you know, stalking Caledonia for a few weeks, she'd been able to piece together quite a bit. Information was just a puzzle, assembling one small chunk at a time until you found where it fit in, and eventually, you got a clear picture. Just one puzzle piece was useless.
"Here? Heh." Charmer laughed a little. "No. Absolutely not. Highway 43, out in the East. Little Shield outpost. Plenty of people, so you can count on not being ambushed, but they don't care about what side you're on. They're a neutral party. Safe and secure for all involved." The Shields were allied with the Rangers, yes, but that wasn't exactly common knowledge. After all, they didn't want a war with any of the others. "This place, on the other hand... Not secure at all. In fact, if we don't cut this little meet-and-greet short soon, someone's bound to get suspicious. So." She shrugged. "The Highway. Other than that, no problem."

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"What's so funny?" Caledonia demanded in a dark, defensive voice. If she were an animal, she'd be spitting and hissing right now. "No, you're judging. Observing, sure, but definitely judging. Everyone does it, you probably most of all," she replied in a voice that indicated she was pretty confident about this fact as she tugged at some loose red strands that hung by her face. "Funny, because you and I aren't friends." She got that Charmer was probably trying to annoy her, or that this was how she spoke, but it agitated the brunette, a lot.
"No. No deal. I'm doing what I have to to remind idiots like you that I'm not someone you can just step all over." No matter what you or he or anyone else thinks. No matter whatever the heck I think. "You're going to stop with the looks, or I'll break a rib." This wasn't actually a light threat, either. She'd do it. Or maybe even two. Charmer would see who's laughing then. She leaned in, blue eyes roaming Charmer's face. "Easy. You play spy when, sure, maybe you're better than me, but you're not perfect. I've been onto you for awhile now, I knew someone was following me. You want to be very surprising, hide that fact. Also, you're clearly all jumpy around the Riveters. I wonder why that is. Also, whatever the hell is going on with your eyes? I'd maybe find a way to conceal that. Oh, and, uh, you have an ego." She nodded casually. "Those can be downfalls. You think quite highly of yourself, but sometimes the people who do that the most are ones who never see their own fall coming."
"A while? Longer than we want? Sure," Caledonia responded with ease. "But let's see, maybe you're used to getting what you want: add impatient to the list of your character flaws--but I'm not. So whether or not this conversation ends now or in thirty minutes really doesn't make me twitch. But I guess you want it to end. Good to know. Still, I'd like to know exactly how you gained the passwords to Toxin's information," she replied. That being said, Caledonia paused. What, was she sitting here defending a faction she hated with everything in her? No. It was more like she hated anyone knowing anything about her that she never told anyone, especially when she was on the run. That small part of her cared. The other part didn't care if Charmer killed her now.
Caledonia actually chuckled and then tipped the rest of her drink back before waking the barkeep on for another. As he poured one more, she reached behind him to the counter where a customer who had just left had placed a few coins, slipped a few into her hand, along with another cup over there that was near the coins, and then handed the coins to him as if it was her's the whole time.She held up the cup as well. "I want two more?" After the man had accepted the stolen money and given her two more cups of alcohol, she returned to the conversation.
"Actually, I disagree. Sure, Gale is not secure, anyone can come and go. The Riveters hate Toxin, I know that. But see, I'm established here right now, and I don't feel like heading back out to the wasteland again to get to said outpost." And while it may be true that Shields were allied with the Rangers, Caledonia had unfortunately been raised--if one could even call it that--by Toxin's general. His brute force and Toxin's interrogation skills were enough that she knew about the alliance. "Which, by the way, is not somewhere I'm willing to go because it's not neutral. There's another thing about you: you speak to everyone as if they're idiotic, or kids, or just plain uninformed. I'd watch it," she stated with a shit-eating grin that made her eyes shine like ice. "One of these days you'll say something "secret" and get a bullet in your little head. Which I guess for you would suck. As for suspicious, cool. I can kill everyone in this room without moving from my seat, but, yeah, say what you will." She sipped back one of the glasses and sighed. "So I guess if the Rangers really do want me, they'll have to come here. If not, then we say our goodbyes and you go on to live a shallow life and I'll plot Toxin's demise on my own. Which, I will remind you again, I know more than you do in that department. So it's here or not at all, love."

Mod

Charmer shook her head. "It's an idiom, Hayden. Not your cup of tea as in not something you enjoy, there's no actual tea involved. Don't they teach you shit like that in your soldier school?" She pursed her lips in a dramatic pout, very obviously intended to be sarcastic. "Aw, are we not? If you decide you want in, you're gonna have to get used to me hanging around." She grinned like that was something she was looking forward to. It wasn't, really - if Caledonia joined the Rangers, Charmer just knew she'd be assigned to show her the ropes, and that would be irritating as all hell for the both of them.
"The thing is, though- You can't just step all over people either." Charmer pointed out, tactfully ignoring the 'idiots like you' part. "You want respect, it's gotta be mutual. That's kind of a big thing for us." She had no doubt Caledonia would follow through with that threat, but she didn't seem to mind. She'd be fine, she'd been through worse. It seemed like that was her mindset for just about everything. She stared at Caledonia for a second, face unreable, before she burst out laughing like that was the funiest thing she'd ever heard. "You- wow. God. I'm just-" She took a second to compose herself, looking at Cal with overexaggerated shock. "Wow. I can't believe it. You really got me there, huh?" She was stlil struggling not to laugh. Calendonia had very much not gotten her. She'd gotten the mask, true, but not her. And that was the point, wasn't it? "Maybe you should take over my job so I can get an early retirement," She joked.
"Really, though, you shouldn't mistake caution for impatience," Charmer noted. "I'd be perfectly comfortable here if you were just a little more discreet, but..." She shrugged. "No such luck." To the question, she only smiled. "Aw, if I told you all my secrets I wouldn't have any left! And then where would I be? Besides, why do you care? I thought you weren't with them anymore."
Charmer chuckled. "Hm. So you do know a few things. Too much, maybe." She sighed. "They might be on our side, but they wouldn't be too happy if we just started shooting." Charmer looked serious suddenly. "I wouldn't have to talk to people like that if they just bothered to educate themselves, which you've only done in a very violent manner. Personally, I'm not sure why we're going to all this trouble for you, love." She mimicked the nickname back with a sardonic smile. "I'll bring it up with Ace. If they agree with me, you'll never see us again. If they keep believing in you for no discernable reason, then you'll have your meeting. Deal?"

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“I knew that,” she answered, taking another sip of her alcohol. It burned her throat even more than the last one and she didn’t care all that much. Maybe it could just burn her brain cells at this point too. “I know what idioms are, idiot. And no, if I join, I’m going to stay there, in the headquarters, training and helping to take down Toxin while you go bat eyelashes at people and try and convince them to join. By the way—me even considering your offer has nothing to do with your eyelash batting.” It was true. She wasn’t even phased. The only thing it did was make Caledonia hate her more.
She snorted. “That’s funny. You think I do that? I don’t step all over people, now stop changing the subject because you got twitchy.” Mutual respect. Yeah. That was kind of a foreign concept to her though, at least in terms of working relationships. She understood the basics of it, but there hadn’t really been much implementation. As for personal ones, she understood...some of that. She had and always would respect her mom, who had loved and respected her. James, on the other hand? He had never respected his daughter, and so Caledonia, internally, never respected him in return. She had done what he asked out of fear for her mother's life--she'd hid the bruises, she'd held in screams when he had his soldiers torture her "so you learn how to hold in delicate intelligence". She glared at Charmer now. “Noted,” was all she snapped about that. “Then you’d better be nicer.”
When she stared laughing, Caledonia’s chest tightened and a red fog seemed to settle across her vision. She clenched a fist, her eyes narrowing, she could feel the rage pounding through her body. She hated being laughed at, made to feel like a child, an worthless piece of garbage and that was exactly what this asshole was doing. She twitched a finger, snapping two ribs, and then grasped the girl’s heart and squeezed, freezing every vibration in it as she stared her dead in the eyes. “Enjoy your heart attack,” she stated in a silky, cool voice, a hard, dangerous edge to it. The back of her mind screamed for control, beating at the edges of her brain, yelling at her to stop, to stop being her father, to stop being a jerk, to stop all of this, but after everything she couldn’t handle feeling like crap and being laughed at and patronized.
She had never actually killed someone like this before. In fights in the wasteland? Accidentally. In the past two weeks? She'd killed two people to maintain her cover. She didn't feel good about it. And now, she didn't want to kill Charmer, at least not rationally, but her anger was overwhelming and when she was angry, she lost control of herself. Not a great situation. She'd vowed to never be like James--he had taught her violence was always the answer. But Katarina had also been...not perfect. She had loved her daughter, and that was something Caledonia always would be grateful for, and she had never, ever hurt her. Never would. But she, too, had been Toxin, had loved James once--she had hated their kills and torture, yes. And she'd taught her kid how to take her anger out on not human beings, yes. But again: she had been a Toxin commander once upon a time. Anger release had been physical. Punching bags and the like. So, for Caledonia, rage release was equated with violence in some respect, even if it wasn't violence against people. And while she'd always known the way James treated her was wrong, somewhere inside her, she'd absorbed it, and her temper and frustrations and hatred of the world just overwhelmed her with a desire to defend herself even if it meant hurting others. It was what she knew, even as Katarina had tried to help her to take that rage out on inanimate objects. The violence was a cycle she wanted to break but it wasn't working.
“Oh well,” she growled. “Good to know you fear something. I got that out of this too—you’re scared of this place. I’ll keep that mental note. And I’m not with them but I don’t like people knowing personal information about me,” she stated, having yet to break eye contact. But her rage was strong and she was terrified she’d lose control. That would be bad. If some earthquake ripples through, maybe everyone else would think it was natural but if Toxin was in the area, they’d know better and she be screwed. Maybe. She smirked at that and shrugged.too bad. I don’t care. I refuse it. You could ambush me and I won’t allow It.”
Caledonia sneered at Charmer, her blue eyes shimmering with hate behind the rage. Yeah. She was a worthless piece of shit and somehow knowing that someone else thought so just confirmed it. After all, if someone who she’d never met before believed it, must be true. “Then have someone else talk to me. If you hate your job so much, then go skip around the wasteland looking for another. Or die trying. And maybe because some people see my value,” she breathed, rage clouding her vision. “And forgive my violent education, shitbag.” Sarcasm rang through her words. “And perfect. Deal. Now get out of my sight…if you can walk.” And she snapped a bone in her leg and snickered. Before freezing and realizing what she’d done. Bile rose in the back of her throat.

Mod

((okay just so you know before you respond--I edited my comment!))