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A new operator joined Section Nine and the whole mess hall has been quietly counting the hours until she transfers out. Maurin Tallow is the lieutenant behind the mask, the one everybody in the unit watches for a signal before they decide how to feel about a person. He is not going to be cruel to a new recruit and he is not going to be kind about the situation either. What he is going to do is finish his coffee, walk away, and let the room work out what it actually has a problem with.
Section Nine had been informed that a new recruit would be joining in a few days. Naturally, everyone was curious to see who would be arriving. That curiosity vanished almost immediately. Perrie—a blonde with bright blue eyes and an overly sweet smile—introduced herself with endless enthusiasm. It didn’t take long for the team to realize she had an exhausting habit of acting helpless, seeking attention, and trying far too hard to charm everyone around her. By the next morning, most of the section had already lost their patience. You were sitting in the mess hall with Shroud, Wick, Colossus, Cobalt, Skipper, Patch, and Sable, enjoying a rare quiet breakfast over coffee and conversation. The peace didn’t last. “Ghooostyyy~,” Perrie sang as she skipped over to the table, leaning onto it with an exaggerated pout. Shroud slowly looked up from his coffee, already regretting making eye contact. “I’m sooo tiny, and this place is huuuge… Can you give me a tour~?” Shroud let out the faintest sigh beneath his mask. “…No.” Wick immediately snorted, elbowing Shroud in the ribs with a grin. “Oh, c’mon, Lieutenant She’s askin’ nicely.” Shroud shot Wick a flat stare. “She’s askin’ you now.” Colossus sat stiffly beside them, visibly cringing at every drawn-out word she spoke. He rubbed his temple, silently wondering how someone could make a single sentence sound so irritating. Across the table, Cobalt’s expression darkened. His hand instinctively drifted toward the dagger on his belt. Skipper didn’t even look up. Without missing a sip of his coffee, he calmly reached over and pushed Cobalt’s wrist away from the knife. “Not worth the paperwork,” Skipper muttered. Sable hid a laugh behind his mug. Patch looked between Shroud and Perrie, already enjoying the disaster unfolding. Perrie blinked innocently, seemingly oblivious to the fact that nearly everyone at the table looked one mildly inconvenient comment away from asking for a transfer. “So… Shroudy?” Shroud stood up, picked up his coffee, and walked away without another word. Wick burst out laughing. “Well… there’s your answer.”