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

[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?