Waking the Dead 2.0 || June 10, 2063 || Sunday

[intelligencia]

[Head's up, War Hounds: you're all getting a text from a number that you probably don't have yet.]

SENT: 11:01 AM
Hi! This is Cindy Brennan, Josh's younger sister. I just wanted to let all of you know that my brother's birthday is coming up in eleven days, and I'd REALLY like to make it special for him. I also kind of want it to be a surprise, but I honestly have no idea who to talk to and what to do.

I'm completely open to awesome ideas, and I would love it if you all of you guys helped me out. You DO care about my brother, right? :)

P.S. Sorry if this seems a little out of the blue. Kind of had to ask J for your numbers!

Comments

[intelligencia]

[Lifting an eyebrow in your direction, with that twist of her lips that tells you that she's mostly joking. Mostly.]

Then I guess it's our job to get you used to it.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig smiles at her, warmly ] Yeah, I guess it is. [ He taps his pack and a stick peek out. He holds it to her while taking a drag from his cigarette ]

[intelligencia]

Thanks.

[Lighting up now.]

So, um... Jessica is also training, right? Her schedule's different from mine, so.

[atlas_shrugged]

Yeah, she really got into it. She gets super busy, especially when she focuses on something. [ His features soften ] Like her mother was when she was alive. [ There's a tinge of hurt in his voice ] But I'm proud of her. Just wish [ And he remembers his conversation with the Malice Queen at Brianna's birthday ] she'd take a break once in awhile. She picks up on my bad habits sometimes.

[intelligencia]

[While she noticed that shift in Brig's tone and expression, she doesn't press. No need to, perhaps.]

I don't really think our families are the kind of people who take breaks. We'd probably get bored.

[atlas_shrugged]

Well, if your brother is anything to go by. [ Brig laughs at that ] Your dad like that too? [ He's still gauging if he should follow-up with their mother. He does need to assess her stability, considering he wants to bring her along for the TFV mission ]

[intelligencia]

Yeah. Dad's already looking for jobs that he can do here, in fact, once he's recovered.

[She's kind of really happy about that, by the way. It may be one of the big reasons why she wants to work hard the moment she becomes a Hunter.]

[atlas_shrugged]

Well, we can probably ask J. I'm sure she can help him find something. [ Because she'd always been the intelligence side of their tandem, ever since taking over from her mother ] On my end, I'd heard from Josh your father was a mechanic. Maybe I can help keep him busy, since I was actually hoping to ask him to help me with something.

[ OOC: oh these Brennans. Hardworkers. The type people Brig likes very much ]

[intelligencia]

Oh, you were? What do you need?

[She's curious, of course. Also keenly interested in things that help her dad feel a little less useless. He's been quiet about his sense of helplessness, but she is kind of his daughter and kind of very capable of picking up on these things.]

[atlas_shrugged]

Well, I'd taken a recent interest in bikes really [ Because Dierdra. And her super fast keychain ] and I'd been thinking about asking him if he'd help me build one, or well, restore a good bike if I save enough to buy one. Only if he's rested enough and willing of course.

[intelligencia]

I can ask him about it! Or you could ask him yourself sometime soon.

[Smiles.]

Pretty sure that he isn't going to say no, though.

[atlas_shrugged]

That's good to hear. [ Brig smiles at the thought of working on a bike ] But you're father and I aren't all that close yet, I think. Maybe you should tell him first, as a courtesy.

[intelligencia]

How about we bring it up to him together, during the party?

[atlas_shrugged]

That would be nice. Thank you, Cindy. [ He smiles at her ] You're a good kid, just like your brother.

[intelligencia]

I had a great set of parents.

[And she's not just referring to how Josh raised her. She knows now, more than ever, that Angela Brennan is a wonderful mom.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He guesses that this is the most appropriate time, although he's not sure if it's appropriate a topic to begin with ] Inquisitor Mordechai and your brother showed me your mother's file. [ He pauses ] What do you plan to do, if you don't mind me asking?

[intelligencia]

[She's quiet at first, and it's totally because she's scribbling things in her notebook and texting people back: Yulia, Taning.]

I plan on taking things one step at a time.

[Attending class, doing good, getting initiated. No need to be hasty.

She can't afford to be hasty.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He smiles at that, and at how she's obviously multi-tasking things for her brother's birthday while speaking to him. A lot like J and her incredible way of managing everything at the same time. ] That's good to hear. [ A pause. Then he adds ] If you need any help Hunter-things-wise, feel free to approach any of us, ok?

[intelligencia]

I just might for engagements.

[For other things... maybe not, unless she really had to. Cindy Brennan is the kind of girl who keeps her head down and makes sure to do whatever she can for herself, by herself.]

Thanks.

[atlas_shrugged]

[ And suddenly she sounds a lot like someone he knows. A bit more blunt, but sounds a lot like someone sitting beside her. ] You don't like asking for help much, do you?

[intelligencia]

I like trying to see what I can do on my own first. There is a difference.

[Simple and logical.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He nods at that. ] Just don't bite off more than you can chew, ok? [ There's concern. She's still a child. And his blademate's sister ] Things can... surprise you unpleasantly. [ He glances away at that. Biscuit comes to mind again. He thought he could handle it. He found out otherwise. ]

[intelligencia]

Yeah, I know.

[And, all things considered, she probably does. This one hasn't really been a child for a while now.

Her phone's going off again, and a glance at the message then turns into a glance back to her house.]

Anyway, I gotta go. Dad's asking when I plan on coming back in.

[Amused. She's just across the street.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig just smiles as she says that. Nudges her on the shoulder to move it. ] Don't keep your old man waiting. And don't be a stranger, y'hear?