Manolo had been a blessing, not only helping get the house together but giving advice and watching out for them. He was well worth the price of his services. The dilapidated house was starting to feel more like a home in many ways, and even the spots that didn't look inhabitable were cool to explore.
Once the stairs are fixed, he so wanted to go look out the windows of the tower, but as it was, he was too heavy to risk that.
Hearing the door, he shifted quickly, phone sat face down and the cigarette between his lips tossed quickly away. "Boss... it's not..." The excuse died on his tongue. It wasn't the Monarch. He let a breath out, realizing it was her, as she spoke. "It's cool, I can go if you want, or you can hang out. That's always an option, ma'am." he bumbled a little, trying to bypass the fact he had been smoking. He knows how the Monarch felt about it. All the Henchmen did. That never stopped them though.
Sheila also doesn't know what they'd do without Manolo. Construction-wise, and just acquaintance-wise. Maybe it's weird, maybe its a New York thing but the day he has to leave them will be incredibly sad.
Ma'am....Sheila's going to have to break him out of that one of these days. They aren't equal, but he isn't the round-faced little (big) teen he was once, and she wasn't the untouchable queen anymore either.
Smiling a little, she does take a seat beside him. Taps a smoke from the pack, and offers it to him.
"Thanks, 21. This is good weather for it, isn't it?"
Gary would miss having someone to practice boxing with down in the cave when Manolo moves on to his next job. Plus talking to him has helped his Spanish improve beyond what he learned from Rosetta Stone.
If anyone could break him of it, it was Sheila. He had mad respect for her, just like he did for her husband. He used to idolize these people, and getting to know them has brought him out of his shell some, but some habits were hard to break.
When she tapped the smoke out he gladly took it. Pulling his lighter from his shirt pocket and held it to her first. "No problem, it's nice to have company." He seemed to ease up a bit, placing the cigarette between his lips before he spoke around it. "Yeah, right? It's like the perfect weather, I wonder what the winter's gonna be like here."
They might have to hire him on as something else, or else Monarch might just kidnap the man, and try and pass it off as something professional and not just he makes my family happy. Can't have anyone thinking he's soft.
That first rush of nicotine after a long day is what some people call better than sex. No comment on that front, as throaty as her sex life happens to be. But it's certainly nice. A cold beer would make it perfect, to go with pleasant company.
"Oh, here? Well, New York winters suck ass generally...doubt we'll be spared, but at least we have a good setup."
It would be a lie to say Gary wasn't hoping that the Monarch would just offer Manolo a henchman spot. They would need more henchmen eventually. Granted, Manolo had a family, so who knew if he'd take it if it was offered. No one was allowed to know the Monarch might have soft spots, even if both of them knew better.
Once she's taking that first rush of nicotine, he lights his own, sitting back. The lighter going back into his shirt pocket as he relaxes back in the chair. Even if he had already half smoked the one he'd tossed out in the yard, it was still a vice that brought some much-needed chill when he needed it.
If he had expected company, there would totally be beer. Sadly, he didn't. "That's going to suck, but, you're right, we have a good set up." Being from the midwest, he was used to mild winters. He was going to learn this winter. Lifting his phone as it buzzed, unlocking and cursing under his breath as he raised the bid and set it back aside. "How was work?" A lame question, but at least he seemed less on edge after a draw or two from the cigarette.
And apparently, the two of them have gotten pretty good at hiding their discarded cigs from The Monarch, too, as he hasn't complained about it recently. She hopes Manolo isn't the one covering for them now that she thinks about it...
Not even a lonely beer for a lonely night, that's a bit sad. Honestly, she could use something stronger, though. Sheila's gaze is split between the sky up above, and her companion beside her.
"Work was..." A soft chuckle, a weary one. "The usual. Refereeing stupid arguments. I don't know if my job actually has changed."
Manolo, maybe a landscaper, or maybe a hidden ashtray. Which the latter was most likely. Gary's stress smoking had been hidden away from the Monarch long enough to not be caught since they moved into the house. He likely had a system. Or collected and tossed the butts before going to bed. He'd hate for Manolo to get one of those speeches.
He managed to chuckle when she spoke. "Well, sounds like." The nicotine had helped some of that nervous energy, he even managed to grin a little looking her way. "Remember when you had to reprimand us all for the fight over which was better, the Princess Bride or Star Wars." The poor cocoon if fights like that happened often. Though, it was likely just a screaming match with far too many henches involved. "The council has to be a little better than that, right?" He spoke before ashing off to the side.
A drink was starting to sound good, he looked back to the sky then back to her again after another drag. "If I sneak back in and get a drink, you want anything, and would you hold this?" He spoke, motioning with the hand holding the cigarette. Sneaking back in smelling of smoke was one thing, having the cigarette in hand was another.
Oh god, that argument. She hangs her head, groaning at the very memory of it coming to mind. She can remember 21, now cowering in the face of a bigger henchman, and 24, cowering behind the younger young man. But that passion-- he'd always had it, even then, as a little guy.
It was a fond memory, despite that.
"Their arguments are almost just as stupid. Who was hotter, Audrey Hepburn or Liz Taylor-- like I give a shit!" She throws her hands up in the air, blowing a frustrated breath from her nostrils. Kind of like a tiny dragon with coiffed hair.
If only he had had half the moxie he has now, back when he was still practically a kid. Gary might have thrown down for Star War's honor. Alas, he at least yelled and coward as loud as he could, and had 24 behind him as back up. Still, those stupid moments meant the world to him back then and even now.
"Really? The group that makes all the choices are arguing over which woman's hotter? It's Audrey Hepburn, obviously. Breakfast at Tiffanys, classic!" He used that same tone he always did when he could dig his heels in on a subject. A grin offered her way when she tossed her hands up. Grabbing his phone as he held the cigarette to her.
"Aye, aye Captain! I'll be right back with the booty!" He really should have considered the phrasing, but he was already starting in once she had his cigarette. It wouldn't take him long to slip to the kitchen and grab a few bottles, sparing a moment to pop the tops off before heading back out.
These stupid arguments now between Guild members is not the world to Sheila. There's nothing fond in her heart about it-- for such professional and legendary villains...they are idiot babies. Will she ever not babysit them?
For the moment she just watches 21 go, and when he returns, happily and gratefully accepts the beer.
"Audrey was a mysterious soul, too, I'll give you that. Breakfast at Tiffany's was so weird though....couldn't follow it without wanting to smack a couple of 'em!"
It had to be worse between her ex, and the others. At least she could tell the old henchmen to shut up and they usually would. The council probably not.
When he returns the beer is switched for the cigarette as he takes a seat again. The bottle sat where his phone had been as he checks it again. Upping his bid before sitting it aside and looking back to her.
"I don't know a lot about her, besides that one movie and that she's iconic. What makes her so mysterious anyway?" He was always curious to learn and while he could look it up it was cooler to listen to Sheila. "Right? It was like a hot mess, but entertaining. No worse than any modern romcom." Gary added as he took another pull off his cigarette. Less flustered when it came to talking media.
Somehow, she heard more jokes and snarky comments about her period working for the Guild council than when she was living in a cocoon with a bunch of men. Imagine that.
The beer tastes like piss, as per usual, but it's cold at least.
"The life she lived was very sad, I think. A bit of that dead at a young age thing-- actually no she died as an old bag." Maybe Sheila felt too close to the story of that movie. She suddenly remembers that from her own youth.
That was a travesty. 80 plus dudes dressed like butterflies, being more respectful at times than the guys at the Guild. Some things we're just not cool, and that was one of them.
Piss quality beer didn't phase Gary, he's probably never had better, but it was cold and he had good company. Even if sometimes he didn't know how to act around her, he enjoyed Sheila's company.
"I've heard some pretty gnarly stuff about old Hollywood for sure, did she die old? Huh. I guess I'm reading her Wiki later." And he so would. When she spoke up again, he nodded. "Oh yeah, that's like the second-best rain kiss I've ever seen. Tobey's Spider-Man totally gets the first place there. Wicked cool."
They always knew they'd be murdered if they said too much within earshot. These old men she can't kill without problems. It's unfortunate.
"I think she did. Maybe she was happy, but from the story...I don't know. Don't fall down the rabbit hole of the wikis," she teases with a smile. "That Tobey kiss couldn't have been that great, think of all the snot in their mouths."
That fear kept the fluttering horde in line. Even if a few, not just the now no longer little kid; had crushes on her and knew better than to say much on it. They all knew the Monarch would kill any of them if they crossed his queen or tried to make a move.
"Let's hope she was happy, cause otherwise, that majorly blows." He took a drink of his beer before looking back at her with an amused look. "You so know that I'm going to go down that rabbit hole of wikis." Though, the amused look vanished for a cringe. "Oh my god, why would you say that! Now I can't unsee it! Ew, that's so disgusting."
Shaking his head some as he looked back out at the city sky.
Her expression mirros his own-- amusement, something knowing in her twinkling eyes. Knowing someone for so long, even if it wasn't so direct until just the last few years-- she knows a few buttons to push to tease him good naturedly.
"You can't tell me you were swooning so hard you didn't consider the snot."
Something about her expression gets him shaking his head. The amusement returning. She was good at pushing his buttons, nearly as good at it as 24 used to be. Or maybe that was in his head. Some days he couldn't be sure.
He looked at her a second before letting out a breath of smoke off to the side. "Fine, I won't tell you." That's a total yes. "Besides, it looked cool, if not gross now. Come on, can you name a better one?"
His phone buzzed again, as he lifted it to up the bid once more, the auction nearly over, so soon he could set it aside.
The chuckle from her keeps that easy smile on his features. These days in the house, he was finding it easy to relax around both of his bosses. Even if they felt more like family these days. He'd grown a lot, but he'd always be that nerd from the cocoon.
"Oh that, yeah, I never watched that." He admitted, "The guys all said it was lame. But, if we're going Ryan Gosling, it's gotta be the elevator kiss from Drive. Like one hundred percent. That was so wicked cool." Not that he could really say that when he's not seen the Notebook. But, of course, when it came to that movie, he trusted the guy's opinions.
"Why don't we hang out more like this?" He asked, feeling like he was echoing himself from years ago. He would likely bumble again tomorrow, but for now he was comfortable and enjoying their time outside, even if it was a little chilly.
"I actually never saw Drive. It was on my Netflix list but I think they took it off. And it's not like the Guild hooks us up with actual useful things..."
That's what stealing passwords will be for, eventally. You bet your bottom she's going to take Hamilton's first. The ass.
His question isn't really a hard one, but it brings a jolt of guilt to her heart despite it. Her career is important, she knows she's doing important work...but she doesn't want her boys to suffer for it.
Sheila sighs, her gaze flickering to the lawn before them.
"Lots of things, I suppose. Work has been grueling, that whole Morpho thing...And I felt bad, too."
"Oh, dude, you gotta see it! It's awesome. I have it upstairs if you want to borrow it sometime." He was all about sharing his media. "So, speaking of... How does the guild feel about internet privacy? Hypothetically."
Phantom Limb deserved it.
He looked back over to her, as he took another drag from the cigarette to finish it off as she spoke. A sheepish look crossing his features. He knew the Morpho stuff caused so much stress. But it was so fun, the body count aside. "Sorry about that again..." He muttered before tipping his head some. "What? You don't have anything to feel sorry for."
She might take him up on that offer sometime. She could use a good movie to just relax and veg out to, the cares of the world on the backburner for awhile.
"The same as they feel about piracy-- don't get caught, don't ask questions, blah blah."
They might even be proud. Hypothetically.
Her own cigarette is puffed rather slowly, like she's nursing it, when usually when she's chatting and smoking it's gone in a flash, only for another to be lit hastily. Maybe she's relaxed, maybe she's guilt-ridden.
"Well...I have this position now, and I can't...I don't know how to get away from it in any sense of the word. And you two don't really need me to wipe your asses all the time," a knowing look, again, "but still."
It could be fun to chill on the couch with some popcorn and a fun action movie. Maybe they could even get the Monarch to watch too.
"Cool, that's all I need to know." He was already pirating stuff, but as long as he didn't get them in trouble, that was what mattered.
Gary tried not to smoke much at all anymore, but when he did he usually burned through it quickly. Always expecting someone to catch him, he cared more now then he did when he was younger.
Nodding as he listened to her. "Red Death told The Monarch once that you have to separate your life from arching. Potentially, you just need to separate the guild from your personal life? Which, majorly hard when, you know, are members." He reached up to take a drink from the bottle he had set aside. "And dude, we so don't need that level of hand holding anymore." He spoke as he lifted his hands, phone in one hand, bottle in the other. "We totally for this, and if we need help, we can call. I promise." He wasn't terrified saying it, just trying to help her feel better.
The Monarch always did like Red Death-- and frankly, after working so closely with him this past year, Sheila does too. He's an amazing villain, father, and just a real nice guy. Probably the one on the board who respects her the most.
"I don't know how he does it, with a kid to boot." Thank god they only have Gary-- yes, Gary, you're their kid, sorry. Try recruiting some little butterflies and that'll solve that.
"I know, and I trust you." Mostly.... "I...maybe I miss it a little," she finally admits, curling her legs up, chin tucked into her knees. It's stupid, she knows. It's selfish.
Red Death was the coolest, even Gary couldn't deny that. The man was like a legend and the sweetest and most terrifying person he's ever met. Even if he did try to out creepy the man with 24's glove. Which, yes, he still. Just not on him at the moment.
"Dude, right? And he's like Mr. Rogers with her, and the scariest guy when working!" He had a good idea that at least she considered him as their kid. He called Malcolm his best friend these days, but he would eventually start recruiting more little butterflies once they had a new cocoon. But no one else would be allowed to have the numbers 21 or 24.
Lowering his phone, and checking the screen again, the bid hadn't raised yet. "Glad to hear that, it means a lot, Mrs. Monarch." He looked proud to hear she trusted him. Even if it was mostly, mostly was understandable. "Oh no, I get that. Every time I've left, I've missed it and came back. I so can't imagine life without arching." He might have gotten on okay in the OSI, but he just loved the hench life so much more. That tattoo said as much.
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Once the stairs are fixed, he so wanted to go look out the windows of the tower, but as it was, he was too heavy to risk that.
Hearing the door, he shifted quickly, phone sat face down and the cigarette between his lips tossed quickly away. "Boss... it's not..." The excuse died on his tongue. It wasn't the Monarch. He let a breath out, realizing it was her, as she spoke. "It's cool, I can go if you want, or you can hang out. That's always an option, ma'am." he bumbled a little, trying to bypass the fact he had been smoking. He knows how the Monarch felt about it. All the Henchmen did. That never stopped them though.
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Ma'am....Sheila's going to have to break him out of that one of these days. They aren't equal, but he isn't the round-faced little (big) teen he was once, and she wasn't the untouchable queen anymore either.
Smiling a little, she does take a seat beside him. Taps a smoke from the pack, and offers it to him.
"Thanks, 21. This is good weather for it, isn't it?"
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If anyone could break him of it, it was Sheila. He had mad respect for her, just like he did for her husband. He used to idolize these people, and getting to know them has brought him out of his shell some, but some habits were hard to break.
When she tapped the smoke out he gladly took it. Pulling his lighter from his shirt pocket and held it to her first. "No problem, it's nice to have company." He seemed to ease up a bit, placing the cigarette between his lips before he spoke around it. "Yeah, right? It's like the perfect weather, I wonder what the winter's gonna be like here."
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That first rush of nicotine after a long day is what some people call better than sex. No comment on that front, as throaty as her sex life happens to be. But it's certainly nice. A cold beer would make it perfect, to go with pleasant company.
"Oh, here? Well, New York winters suck ass generally...doubt we'll be spared, but at least we have a good setup."
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Once she's taking that first rush of nicotine, he lights his own, sitting back. The lighter going back into his shirt pocket as he relaxes back in the chair. Even if he had already half smoked the one he'd tossed out in the yard, it was still a vice that brought some much-needed chill when he needed it.
If he had expected company, there would totally be beer. Sadly, he didn't. "That's going to suck, but, you're right, we have a good set up." Being from the midwest, he was used to mild winters. He was going to learn this winter. Lifting his phone as it buzzed, unlocking and cursing under his breath as he raised the bid and set it back aside. "How was work?" A lame question, but at least he seemed less on edge after a draw or two from the cigarette.
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Not even a lonely beer for a lonely night, that's a bit sad. Honestly, she could use something stronger, though. Sheila's gaze is split between the sky up above, and her companion beside her.
"Work was..." A soft chuckle, a weary one. "The usual. Refereeing stupid arguments. I don't know if my job actually has changed."
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He managed to chuckle when she spoke. "Well, sounds like." The nicotine had helped some of that nervous energy, he even managed to grin a little looking her way. "Remember when you had to reprimand us all for the fight over which was better, the Princess Bride or Star Wars." The poor cocoon if fights like that happened often. Though, it was likely just a screaming match with far too many henches involved. "The council has to be a little better than that, right?" He spoke before ashing off to the side.
A drink was starting to sound good, he looked back to the sky then back to her again after another drag. "If I sneak back in and get a drink, you want anything, and would you hold this?" He spoke, motioning with the hand holding the cigarette. Sneaking back in smelling of smoke was one thing, having the cigarette in hand was another.
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It was a fond memory, despite that.
"Their arguments are almost just as stupid. Who was hotter, Audrey Hepburn or Liz Taylor-- like I give a shit!" She throws her hands up in the air, blowing a frustrated breath from her nostrils. Kind of like a tiny dragon with coiffed hair.
A side-eye.
"I will watch your cig if you get me a beer."
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"Really? The group that makes all the choices are arguing over which woman's hotter? It's Audrey Hepburn, obviously. Breakfast at Tiffanys, classic!" He used that same tone he always did when he could dig his heels in on a subject. A grin offered her way when she tossed her hands up. Grabbing his phone as he held the cigarette to her.
"Aye, aye Captain! I'll be right back with the booty!" He really should have considered the phrasing, but he was already starting in once she had his cigarette. It wouldn't take him long to slip to the kitchen and grab a few bottles, sparing a moment to pop the tops off before heading back out.
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For the moment she just watches 21 go, and when he returns, happily and gratefully accepts the beer.
"Audrey was a mysterious soul, too, I'll give you that. Breakfast at Tiffany's was so weird though....couldn't follow it without wanting to smack a couple of 'em!"
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When he returns the beer is switched for the cigarette as he takes a seat again. The bottle sat where his phone had been as he checks it again. Upping his bid before sitting it aside and looking back to her.
"I don't know a lot about her, besides that one movie and that she's iconic. What makes her so mysterious anyway?" He was always curious to learn and while he could look it up it was cooler to listen to Sheila. "Right? It was like a hot mess, but entertaining. No worse than any modern romcom." Gary added as he took another pull off his cigarette. Less flustered when it came to talking media.
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The beer tastes like piss, as per usual, but it's cold at least.
"The life she lived was very sad, I think. A bit of that dead at a young age thing-- actually no she died as an old bag." Maybe Sheila felt too close to the story of that movie. She suddenly remembers that from her own youth.
"The kiss scene was very sweet, though."
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at timesthan the guys at the Guild. Some things we're just not cool, and that was one of them.Piss quality beer didn't phase Gary, he's probably never had better, but it was cold and he had good company. Even if sometimes he didn't know how to act around her, he enjoyed Sheila's company.
"I've heard some pretty gnarly stuff about old Hollywood for sure, did she die old? Huh. I guess I'm reading her Wiki later." And he so would. When she spoke up again, he nodded. "Oh yeah, that's like the second-best rain kiss I've ever seen. Tobey's Spider-Man totally gets the first place there. Wicked cool."
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"I think she did. Maybe she was happy, but from the story...I don't know. Don't fall down the rabbit hole of the wikis," she teases with a smile. "That Tobey kiss couldn't have been that great, think of all the snot in their mouths."
Gag worthy.
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"Let's hope she was happy, cause otherwise, that majorly blows." He took a drink of his beer before looking back at her with an amused look. "You so know that I'm going to go down that rabbit hole of wikis." Though, the amused look vanished for a cringe. "Oh my god, why would you say that! Now I can't unsee it! Ew, that's so disgusting."
Shaking his head some as he looked back out at the city sky.
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"You can't tell me you were swooning so hard you didn't consider the snot."
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He looked at her a second before letting out a breath of smoke off to the side. "Fine, I won't tell you." That's a total yes. "Besides, it looked cool, if not gross now. Come on, can you name a better one?"
His phone buzzed again, as he lifted it to up the bid once more, the auction nearly over, so soon he could set it aside.
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"In the rain? Oh, the one with Gosling was nice. Sad as hell...a little-- he was kind of an ass."
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"Oh that, yeah, I never watched that." He admitted, "The guys all said it was lame. But, if we're going Ryan Gosling, it's gotta be the elevator kiss from Drive. Like one hundred percent. That was so wicked cool." Not that he could really say that when he's not seen the Notebook. But, of course, when it came to that movie, he trusted the guy's opinions.
"Why don't we hang out more like this?" He asked, feeling like he was echoing himself from years ago. He would likely bumble again tomorrow, but for now he was comfortable and enjoying their time outside, even if it was a little chilly.
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That's what stealing passwords will be for, eventally. You bet your bottom she's going to take Hamilton's first. The ass.
His question isn't really a hard one, but it brings a jolt of guilt to her heart despite it. Her career is important, she knows she's doing important work...but she doesn't want her boys to suffer for it.
Sheila sighs, her gaze flickering to the lawn before them.
"Lots of things, I suppose. Work has been grueling, that whole Morpho thing...And I felt bad, too."
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Phantom Limb deserved it.
He looked back over to her, as he took another drag from the cigarette to finish it off as she spoke. A sheepish look crossing his features. He knew the Morpho stuff caused so much stress. But it was so fun, the body count aside. "Sorry about that again..." He muttered before tipping his head some. "What? You don't have anything to feel sorry for."
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"The same as they feel about piracy-- don't get caught, don't ask questions, blah blah."
They might even be proud. Hypothetically.
Her own cigarette is puffed rather slowly, like she's nursing it, when usually when she's chatting and smoking it's gone in a flash, only for another to be lit hastily. Maybe she's relaxed, maybe she's guilt-ridden.
"Well...I have this position now, and I can't...I don't know how to get away from it in any sense of the word. And you two don't really need me to wipe your asses all the time," a knowing look, again, "but still."
She misses you idiots, okay?
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"Cool, that's all I need to know." He was already pirating stuff, but as long as he didn't get them in trouble, that was what mattered.
Gary tried not to smoke much at all anymore, but when he did he usually burned through it quickly. Always expecting someone to catch him, he cared more now then he did when he was younger.
Nodding as he listened to her. "Red Death told The Monarch once that you have to separate your life from arching. Potentially, you just need to separate the guild from your personal life? Which, majorly hard when, you know, are members." He reached up to take a drink from the bottle he had set aside. "And dude, we so don't need that level of hand holding anymore." He spoke as he lifted his hands, phone in one hand, bottle in the other. "We totally for this, and if we need help, we can call. I promise." He wasn't terrified saying it, just trying to help her feel better.
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"I don't know how he does it, with a kid to boot." Thank god they only have Gary-- yes, Gary, you're their kid, sorry. Try recruiting some little butterflies and that'll solve that.
"I know, and I trust you." Mostly.... "I...maybe I miss it a little," she finally admits, curling her legs up, chin tucked into her knees. It's stupid, she knows. It's selfish.
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"Dude, right? And he's like Mr. Rogers with her, and the scariest guy when working!" He had a good idea that at least she considered him as their kid. He called Malcolm his best friend these days, but he would eventually start recruiting more little butterflies once they had a new cocoon. But no one else would be allowed to have the numbers 21 or 24.
Lowering his phone, and checking the screen again, the bid hadn't raised yet. "Glad to hear that, it means a lot, Mrs. Monarch." He looked proud to hear she trusted him. Even if it was mostly, mostly was understandable. "Oh no, I get that. Every time I've left, I've missed it and came back. I so can't imagine life without arching." He might have gotten on okay in the OSI, but he just loved the hench life so much more. That tattoo said as much.
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I spent WAY too long on this.
shhhhh <3
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