Exploring Options (Nova/Daniel/Leif)

[Leif Adamson]

"They had me and a couple of other troublemakers on a special operations team. We did the dirty jobs... The things that other, upstanding citizens wouldn't want to do."

She said the last sentence with bitterness, her shoulders setting at that, and turned her gaze away for a moment. Taking a deep breath to try to calm herself, she gave a little shake of her head.

"Basically, we were the squad they didn't mind messing up, mentally."

[Gunslinger]

Daniel nods. Prota had much the same in terms of teams to do dirty work, the only difference being... that was all of them.

"And you're still haunted by it."

His tone suggests he means nothing by it, it's just a statement of fact.

[Novocaine]

"Did you have a choice in the matter?" Nova tilts her head.

She's just curious if it was a bad choice Leif had made or if they were forced into that position. Either answer didn't take away from the experience, she just wanted more context.

[Leif Adamson]

Leif stared at each of them in turn. Yes, it still haunted her, and yes, it had changed her. She didn't like the fact that it was so obvious, however. She sighed softly.

"Choice? No. They made it seem like an honor at first, so we were all biting at the bit for some kind of glory. Didn't realize what exactly glory entailed."

Her shoulders were tense. How had she gone from coming in for a little chat to exposing her past? She cleared her throat slightly. "Could I get a water? Is that possible?"

[Gunslinger]

“My dad used to say that glory came in a lot of different forms, but most important was to serve your family and your country.”

Not originally in that order, but Daniel had changed it after a few months of being here.

“I’ll get your water.”

He glances at Nova, then gets up to get the glass.

[Novocaine]

Nova gives Daniel’s arm a pat as he gets up, just as a comforting motion.

Her attention remains on Leif.

“Do you resent it?” She asks curiously.

[Leif Adamson]

She fell silent, thinking about Nova's question. Did she resent it? Did she resent Cabal and all of the things they put her through?

"I don't know, honestly. They put us through hell, and I saw it break some of my squad... but I don't know if I really hold it against them. I'm bitter, but I don't know... who towards."

Leif sighed and gave a little shrug of her shoulders. "That probably doesn't even make sense."

[Gunslinger]

Water’s a fast thing to grab, and Daniels already on his way back.

“Here. This’ll help.”

He places it on the table in front of Leif, then sits again.

[Novocaine]

“Bitter at the situation rather than anyone in particular, maybe?” Nova would offer.

[Leif Adamson]

Leif gave a little shrug and took the water, raising it in a salute. "Thank you," she murmured, before taking a drink.

"Maybe so. I haven't spent much time thinking about it." She glanced between the two, and then shook her head. "I have a feeling a lot of people feel that way."

[Gunslinger]

“Bitter at the same situation?”

Daniel asks, frowning.

[Novocaine]

Nova looks at Daniel in surprise.

[Leif Adamson]

Leif looked at Daniel and chuckled, giving a shake of her head.

"I'm pretty sure my squad is dead, now," she said, sadness overtaking the bitterness in her tone. "I just meant that there were probably people out there bitter, with no real idea as to why."

[Gunslinger]

“And that concerns you?”

[Novocaine]

Nova just has a bite of her cake, not looking to overwhelm her with questions.