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[ There are few people in Barnaby's life who he can relate to on this kind of level, and it is something that he has always appreciated about his relationship with Vriska. Now is a time when he needs to work on gathering his thoughts as much as he possibly can, and there's no doubt in his mind that she will be able to assist him with this.

More than that, he's just glad to see her. Armada's announcement had caused him to want to isolate himself, and it was due to duty and his friends that he was forcing himself to get the job done. Nothing will ever be calm again, in his mind, but they can certainly work towards finding out a way to achieve it.

He too wishes that the circumstances were better, but it won't stop him from giving her a small smile as she approaches. ]

Hello, Vriska. Shall we sit down the back somewhere?

[ Less of a chance of being disturbed. ]

Yeah, sure. Lead the way. I'll even let you pick our table! I'm feeling generous today.

[ She watches him out of the corner of her eye, bantering so that she won't ask anything more dangerous. Are you okay is one of many questions she considers and immediately discards. There would not be words for her feelings if it were to be announced that Ghost had died. She's got less than zero reason to believe Barnaby was ever as close to Dagger, but it's still no small thing to lose your instructor. Especially to something as brutal and unexpected as this. So she'll let him set the pace for now. This is her real generosity, such as her generosity ever is: letting him dictate his comfort level with the conversation rather than choosing it for him, for once. ]

That's generous of you.

[ Of course Barnaby is going to comment on it; he's wired that way. Still, he also finds it easier to comment on that sort of thing instead of focusing on the main issue at hand. Normally his feelings are carefully guarded, hidden from view. He doesn't like to show them off unless it's strictly necessary, but this time he's having difficulty keeping his thoughts to himself.

What stops him is remembering that the walls have ears. And he will never forget about what Vriska is up to - with his help, even.

In the end he chooses a seat within view of the door, but far enough away that they won't be easily disturbed. Before sitting, he motions for her to go first - manners will never be lost on him, no matter how he's feeling about anything at the time. ]

Is it a special occasion?

[ Ha, ha. ]

[ Manners shmanners. As if to spite his politeness, Vriska vaults over the table instead of just scooting into her seat like a normal person. The special occasion question gets her to look up from getting nice and settled and give him a very flat look. ]

Sure! It's not every day we get fun messages about brutal instructor murders. Usually it's just regular murders!

[ Deep down she can't help but feel a burning sense of frustration. Barnaby isn't the only one who wishes they could speak more feely. Something about the nervous gesturing of her hands even seems to suggest that. She's not normally one for idle movements like that, and that her fingers twitch as they punctuate her words indicates a deeper discomfort. ]

It's a turning point for all of us. [ Jokes aside, for now. ] Something of this magnitude has never happened to an instructor during our time here, and the instructors haven't mentioned any other instances.

Now more than ever before, we should watch ourselves.

[ He doesn't have much confidence in the idea of them being safe in any way. Dagger was by no means an easy target, as far as he is aware. Therefore, Barnaby thinks that any illusion of security the recruits may have previously enjoyed has now been shattered. He doesn't have high hopes for the coming times in any sense of the word.

But they have to be careful regarding what they say, what they do. He strongly believes that everything is being monitored. Barnaby isn't going to take the risk, not when there is so much that could backfire on them in the end. ]

[ Vriska leans forward, letting her chin drop onto the table and stretching her arms out ahead of her. She's so restless she almost can't sit still. Every fiber of her being buzzes with a need to act somehow, and there is nothing to be done. It's a feeling she's become familiar with in the CDC, but it is no less maddening than it's ever been. ]

You never know who's watching. [ She mutters, voice low, fingers flicking again, this time seeming to indicate -- everything. The ceiling, the walls. ]

I knew Honey was a force to be reckoned with. Everyone wanted to dismiss her because of how she talked! But I had a feeling this was coming. She won't stop with Dagger.

[ Vriska shifts her head a little so she can stare at Barnaby dead on. There's more she wants to say and they are things she cannot say out loud. ]

[ Outwardly, Barnaby has the irritating habit of seeming as though he is completely calm. Inwardly, there are many thoughts and feelings jostling for attention, few of them good ones. He and Vriska often think alike, and now is no different. The only change is how they express these thoughts. He watches her and can't help but wonder if letting it all out would help.

Perhaps it would, if they had a safe outlet in which to do so. ]

No, few would be content to stay where they are. Even if they were, who's to say that it would be for long? She is an ambitious woman.

[ He'd seen her conversation on the network with Mothership. The threat had been plainly made, though he wondered how many had seen it. ]

Why not go straight for the top?

[ The wording choice is very particular here, very delicate. Expressing such a theory isn't the problem, but it will be if he lets slip how he feels about it. ]

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