[video]

[madscientits]

[The video switches on and... All anyone can see is a hand trying desperately to hit keys on the keyboard. And then, an annoyed little grunt is heard and the hand disappears, seemingly giving up.

And then, the terminal starts rocking. Lightly at first, and then violently enough that the desk the keyboard was in and the monitor go toppling onto the floor. By some odd miracle, they still actually function.

Now that it's down on the floor, the video shows Stein looking rather pissed off, and kind of like she was playing Twister without a mat. The awkward positioning of her legs and left arm is held in place by some glowing white strings stitched between her hand and feet, and the floor. Weird.]

I'm in the library. I need something sharp.

...Please.

Comments

[deadliestberet]

Er, w-well I do have a knife...

[madscientits]

That would work perfectly, actually. Can you bring it to me? [She's talking a bit like how a teacher would address a particularly dense student.]

[deadliestberet]

{He's debating on whether or not he should actually help her out, or back talk her for that tone of voice. After contemplating it for a moment more, Preston sighed.}

...Alright, I'll be there in a minute.

[madscientits]

Thanks.

[When he makes his way up there, she's still going to be stuck in the same painful-looking pose she was in on the video, still with those glowing strings stitching her to the floor.]

[deadliestberet]

[It doesn't take him long to reach her and he starts to scratch his helmet in contemplation as to how he's going to cut her loose without harming her.]

[madscientits]

[She scoffs, rolling her eyes] If you're that worried, [Stein holds out her one free hand] I can handle it just fine. But really, you shouldn't worry; it's not like I haven't been cut before.

[deadliestberet]

Yeah but still... [He unsheaths his knife, looking at her hand for a moment before shaking his head and kneeling down to get to work.] This isn't exactly something that you can rip off.

[madscientits]

Not without something of mine getting hurt in the process at least. [She's perfectly still as he cuts around her fingers. She's had a lot of practice being awake during surgery and not moving.] And thank you for the help.

[deadliestberet]

Anytime miss.

[madscientits]

Doctor, actually. [As soon as he gets her hand free, she stretches her arm out and over her head, flexing her fingers a few times. It really was starting to get a bit stiff.] But still, there's no need to be so formal. Just call me Stein.

[deadliestberet]

Er...okay then...Miss Stein. {He kept cutting away with his knife.}

[madscientits]

Are you always this polite to people, or am I just lucky? [Once her one leg is free, she stretches it out in front of her until it makes a popping sound.] And I never caught your name.

[deadliestberet]

{Preston gave a small, but careful, shrug.} Army and parents made sure that I was polite.

And my name is Private Preston Marlowe.

[madscientits]

I should have guessed from the attire, probably. Nice to meet you, Private. Back where I'm from I'm... Sort of in the army too, you could say. Your version of the army must emphasize manners far more than mine does.

[deadliestberet]

More like appearances. {He mummbled to himself before finishing up cutting her free.}

[madscientits]

[Once she was free, she straightened up to her full height of just-a-bit under 6-foot-2, and folded her arms, looking slightly miffed.] Sorry, I didn't quite catch that. What was it you just said?