#dash: bellamy quist

[ofpantheons]

who : bellamy quist (agent wraith) & open where: somewhere in cerberus hq

Just returning from a mission, Bellamy couldn't help but feel like she was being stared at by everyone she'd passed. But it wasn't until she'd run into someone who was staring so intently that they'd nearly bumped into a glass wall, that she finally looked down and saw several bloodied handprints on her new uniform. Glancing up, she caught a different person looking at her and immediately tried to explain. "Oh shoot...It's okay. It's not mine, promise," she said, attempting to smile while sheepishly scrunching her nose. "I mean...oh god, that sounds so much worse. The other guy's okay too!"

[ofpantheons]

Despite being at Cerberus for four years, there were still agents that Bellamy didn't know particularly well or know of at all. Dolly was someone she'd seen in passing though, as a fellow level iii that had started around the same time as her.

"That's the one, and you're Dolly? I'm pretty sure I got that right but please tell me if not...cause otherwise this is now a very awkward conversation..." And her book? OH CRAP, HER BOOK. Bellamy immediately checked out of the conversation and double - no - triple checked the book in her hands and beamed when it seemed like it had withstood the minor collision. "I'm only about halfway into it, and it's really good so far. Probably won't end up as one of my favourites but definitely a recommended read. So I'd say the reviews have nailed it...and don't worry I read them too. But only ones from reviewers that I trust. Some just like to pick a fault with everything, you know?"

"No, no! I wasn't looking where I was going!" They're talking over one another, stumbling over apologies. Dolly's nerves take a wrench, terrified that she had actually run into and hurt Bellamy. There's no blood, however, and no one is screaming. ( That's probably one of the things Dolly hates — when they scream. ) "Lost in la-la land! That'll ... that'll teach us to not keep our eyes on the road!"

Or the hallway, for that matter. Or literally just having basic spatial awareness? Dolly pauses for a second to put a face to a name. Oh, she's seen her around — right? Training or ... or something like that. Bellamy had a much ... easier power to work with than Dolly did. ( Well, a power that Cerberus liked more, maybe. What was that? No, hush! )

"Bell ... amy, right?" She drags the name out, hoping she isn't saying it wrong or ... that it isn't even her name! She gets those confused sometimes. "Did — is ... is your book alright? Oh! I've read of that, is it any as good as they say it is? I know we're not supposed to trust reviews but our guts but ... a bad book is a bad book, right?" She's rambling. Hush!

[ofpantheons]

who  :  bellamy quist + imara gill + james saab @iridescences @loftycries when  :  October 31st

It had only been an hour of guarding the armoured vehicle they'd been assigned to and Bellamy was categorically bored. She tried to stifle the yawn that threatened to escape her lips, in an effort to look more focused and motivated. Sadly, all that led to was her pulling a weird face as a puff of air left her mouth. She chanced a glance over at the other agent assigned to the mission and asked a question that had been bothering her. "Immy...how long do these things normally last?" She asked her friend/superior. Hopefully she'd caught her on a good day and she would cut her some slack and not bite her head off for asking. This was her first time guarding anything, after all.

[ofpantheons]

Debriefs were maybe Bellamy's least favourite part of being an agent, other than maybe training. Sure, missions could be nerve wracking - especially for her - but they were planned to the last detail and generally she knew what was going to happen. If they did go badly, then she generally had a seasoned agent with her that could tell her what to do. Debriefs on the other hand, were sessions where she had to sit there and be told everything she'd done wrong, which was generally a lot. She'd just gotten out of one that had made her feel like an eight year old that had disappointed her parents, and Bellamy hated disappointing people.

"I was just in here to pick up my book, but I'll probably just head home, get a beer and finish inventory. I was kind of halfway through it when they called." She winced, realising Amelia probably wasn't that interested in her stock checking, but at least she'd managed to cut herself off before she'd rambled too much. "Do they really just let you off patrol if you don't feel like it?" She hadn't done it herself yet, but something told Bellamy that they wouldn't be so lax with her if she didn't feel like doing something?

She had to give Cerberus one thing, they were good at not getting their agents killed. They had a good system to identify weaknesses and weren't afraid to tell recruits what their limits would be until they improved. She had worked out early on this was a pillar for their success. Sure, there were slip ups and mistakes but serious agent injury and death seemed to relatively minor due to it from what she had seen in her 3 years at the company

"Mission done, debrief done and then onto patrol, if I feel up to it." It wasn't a particularly hard mission however, the debrief had been over 2 hours long in a room with bright lights and more screens than Amelia could be bothered to count. The light generated from the globes wasn't enough to harm her but it was enough to leave her feeling a little drained. Of course, an hour out in the dark night would fix how she was feeling but it wouldn't fix the reason for the long briefing. "What's your plans for the rest of the night then? Headed home?"

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"I can get you one of those." She bounced up from her crouched position, and scrambled backwards. Glass crunched underneath her feet as she stepped away and headed to the nearest lounge, phasing through a few walls along the way. Her usually small and delicate movements, were fraught and clumsy as she dug through the drawers to produce a couple of the protein bars that Agent Hermes had mentioned.

Rushing back, she skidded on the glass and nearly fell in the process. "Hey I brought a couple, just in case. Do you think you're able to get up on your own," she asked, concerned for the other Agent's safety. "I could maybe get something to clear up some of this glass beforehand so you don't cut yourself when you get up?"

Assistance hovered on the fringes of Kenji's world, an unfamiliar notion that he grappled with. Strangely unaccustomed to aid, he hesitated, even in the face of his pressing need that he so desperately acknowledged. The room spun, a dizzying dance, yet he found himself resisting the offered support.

A sheepish smile tugged at the corners of his lips, a feeble offering given the circumstances. It took him a moment to realize his silence may have only heightened her concern. "I, uh..." A fleeting thought questioned the need for wanting to apologize, a reflexive response to inconveniencing someone, perhaps.

"Sorry." he finally manages, though the word feels weighty and uncertain. Gratitude, a more genuine sentiment, followed suit. "But... thank you." In the small interlude of vulnerability, he appreciated her discretion. He enjoyed not being ridiculed over this little incident.

"I just need a moment... and maybe one of those high-protein bars," he continued, this time his breathing feels more relaxed. "You know... the blue ones? Yeah... those ones."

[ofpantheons]

Bellamy took in a deep breath, her hands clenching and unclenching at her sides as she tugged on her sweater, as she sat down next to Talia. She'd thought she'd had a handle on her emotions today, but clearly not if she was breaking down to the first kind face in the building. "Oh we really don't have to talk about...I'm sure I'll be fine. Just have to try and change my schedule around at the store and fix my sleeping schedule and remember to keep paperwork up to date and oh god you really don't need to be hearing any of this. Really, how are you, Tal?"

giggling at her friend's flustered reaction, talia leaned forward, placing her hands on her knees, " sorry. i almost didn't say anything. " bellamy was one of the, unfortunately, few people at cerberus that talia trusted, so of course, when she answered with something less than good, agent lucidity was there to listen, and offer advice; whether needed or not. she'd always had a habit of spewing out advice that nobody asked for, but honestly ? she was proud of that skill. " no, hey, back to you, " scooting over, revealing a spot on the couch for the other, " what's going on ? anything in particular ? can i help ? "

[ofpantheons]

Bellamy's eyes widened and she immediately reached for her phone and opened her calendar app. She could've sworn she had everyone's birthdays in there - or at the very least the ones that she knew from agents who liked her enough to tell her - but somehow Esen's wasn't in there. "It was your birthday? Oh no, it wasn't in my calendar so I completely missed it. I am so sorry. Happy Belated Birthday! What's your favourite cake? I'll get you one and we can have a late celebration in the lounge?" she rambled, also attempting to add in Esen's birthday so she wouldn't miss it again.

open for : everyone ( just assume connections )

"i completely forgot it was my birthday since i was still recovering from that last mission. so i guess happy belated birthday to me?"

[ofpantheons]

She could still hear Agent Flare yelling at her in the distance, as her legs carried her as fast as they could without her literally running. Her heartbeat thundering through her ears drowned the other Agent out though, and Bellamy could only assume it was about something else she'd done wrong. Rounding the corner, she rested against the nearest wall, glad she was no longer visible. Only then did she try to regain her composure and hope that her flushed face would go back to it's normal hue. Why had she even reacted that way in front of Agent Flare? She only blushed like that when she...oh no. No, it couldn't be. She shook her head like it was a magic 8 ball, trying to desperately clear her thoughts.

Not bothering to wait for her heart rate to go back to normal, Bellamy engaged her powers and started to descend through the floor. She intended to go down slowly, but her powers had other ideas. That was the problem when your emotions dictated your abilities and how well they worked. Dropping too quickly, she fell and landed on her back, legs and arms splayed like a crime scene body outline. Well at least Agent Flare wasn't there to see her.

The apology felt 30% half asked and 70% from dream and fear. Agent Flare approved the fear. Keeping all the ranking in oder. As it should be. Agent Flare would get out of her way for those to know their ranking. Still she kept her firm look on her face as she circled around the lesser agent. "Passable, still not better." Agent Flare shouted at her.

Agent Flare walked a little bit closer. Silently noticing the slight fluster on the agent. Perhaps a fever coming on? Before could even open her mouth, the other agent got away swiftly. At least the agent was good enough at retreating...in the wrong direction. "Your going the.....why waste mu fucking breath?" Agent Flare yelled.

She went back to her desk trying to get back to her work. Yet her concentration drew back to the girl. Someone's nagging voice echoing in her head. Pissing her off. She stood up and shouted to anyone who would listen. "Someone go check on the Agent, I think they might be concussed." She was no healer. Just someone who people feared. At least someone else could be more fucking help.

[ofpantheons]

Now that she'd seen the amount of blood on her, Bellamy could understand the stares, but now she was being recorded? "Hi...can we maybe skip the video part? I'm kind of already embarrassed as it is. And the less people see this... well the better."

Looking down at the blood staining the lower part of her uniform. "Bank robber. Took a little bit of a hit and well let's just say he ended up with an extreme nose bleed and well..." she waved her hands in front of the blood splatter. "Ta-da. Oh that wasn't professional at all...let's just forget I said that bit."

Everyday seemed to hold a new strange sight at Cerberus headquarters. Today’s was a fairly cute agent who seemed to be covered in bloody handprints. Her phone is out before she realizes it. She can see the video now titled “Just your average day as a Cerberus agent.”

She nearly drops her phone when the agent walks into her. “The real question is — whose blood is it?” Her head cocks to the side. “Is this like, some abstract piece?” She asks, gesturing to the suit.

[ofpantheons]

It couldn't have just been a nice and quiet job, could it? She loved Immy to bits and while she knew that the timing was just a big coincidence, she couldn't help but think her close friend and colleague has jinxed them with her little jibe.

A blonde man approached them and Bellamy instinctively backed up, putting herself between him and the vehicle they were protecting. "I'm sorry but I can't do that." She called out, congratulating herself that her voice hadn't done it's usual shaky thing that she did whenever she was nervous. "So maybe you guys should just uh...go h-home," So much for having a steady voice.

"Yeah we're going anywhere without that truck," another man said, stepping forward and cracking his knuckles menacingly. "So move aside before I make you,"

SAVANT is blissfully unaware of the conversation between the agents. instead, he approaches the vehicle he has been trailing for the last hour. he's not alone, however; he's accompanied by — coworkers ? temporary mission partners ? he's not how to define their relationship — but they've been quiet in response to james's half-hearted attempts at small talk. they're eos, he thinks, and he met them earlier in the week just for this mission. they're wearing masks, just as he is, and they haven't demonstrated what exactly their abilities are yet but...

there's a nagging feeling that not everything is as it seems.

james shrugs off the feeling of discomfort like it is nothing more than a muscle ache. "hello," savant says. he's noticeably not wearing his usual get up, and he wonders if that's enough to hide his identity from them. not that it really matters either way. "would you mind stepping away from the car ?" he has his hands up, in a gesture that almost seems like he's unarmed, but an invisible barrier is now separating his team(? he's certainly not the one running it) from the agents.

[ofpantheons]

"Yeah GPS has a habit of getting confused around here. But the main thing is that you made it! And one tea coming right up! I'll be right back." It was times like these that Bellamy was glad for the basic kitchen setup she kept in one of the storerooms in the book store. Rather than going back up to her apartment, she could just go into the back rooms and make a light snack or a cup of tea. Her cupboards were laden with different types of tea, but it didn't take Bellamy long to settle on a French blend she had in her collection.

Coming, back with two mugs of tea, Bellamy handed one over to Dolly and placed her own on the front desk. "Thanks, friend. And honestly as long as I can remember." She pushed her hair away from her face and laced her fingers together. The bookstore was a point of pride in her life and even though the economy wasn't the best, she made it work and her hope was to one day pass it onto her own children (if she ever had any) or to a fellow bibliophile." "It used to belong to my dad and his dad before that. It's hard work some days but it's home and it's worth it."

"There you are! I don't know what was up with my phone! It felt like I was walking around in circles!" The warmth of the bookstore brings bright color to her cheeks, her ears, a comfort that wipes the crisp air off his shoulders and allows her to take a moment and breathe. "Oh, you know what? I'd love to have some tea. You pick, I'll take whatever you got!"

Her store. Dolly can't imagine that. She's on her third year part time at a garden center and if she had to answer another question about rocks at the bottom of the pot then she was going start throwing rocks. & Bellamy had a whole store! Now, to be fair, Dolly had ... a business but she took it everywhere with her. "This place is so cute! How long have you been here?"

[ofpantheons]

"It fell through - something changed last minute and they need to adjust the plan. Whatever that means...but I'm now free for the day!" Bellamy probably would have preferred it if they hadn't needed her and the mission had gone on. For one, their bosses would probably be a lot happier and secondly, if it had happened, that meant they wouldn't eventually need her to come back for it.

"Please do, Dolly. I'm not sure how I'll feel about it but I always like giving things a chance." Wondering how they hadn't done this sooner, Bellamy felt herself instantly forgetting all about the postponed mission and sank into her favourite comfort zone. "Hmm let me see...I don't really know what classifies as normal for you, but I read Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow recently, and I quite enjoyed it. It's hard to describe but there is a sort of love story in it so if that's not your thing, maybe a different book... Also, completely fair, poetry isn't for everyone. I feel like I'm resonating a lot with Amanda Lovelace's "to make monsters out of girls" which is probably a bad thing considering the subject matter." She laughed nervously, hoping that Dolly wouldn't think she was too weird for nerding out over books. Not many of the other agents let her get this far when it came to her tendency to babble over literature.

"Fell through? Oh. False alarm or did they not need you?" Dolly glancing back over her shoulder once more. The looming building feeling as though it has sat back on its haunches and is waiting, mouth open to swallow. She swears she sees — but no, no. Bellamy would see something like that. ( Right?) Falling into step with her, she is glad for a change of pace.

"Dolly, yes. Please. My mom and sister both call me Delilah when I'm in trouble." There's a bright laugh. She brings the shawl closer around her shoulders and tries to put thoughts of living monstrous buildings out of her mind. "Oh! I'll get you one of them! It's quite interesting, I think." ( Little things, so easily crushed. She found a lot of herself in the tiny things of this world. ) "Let's see. I'm ... I like fiction? I just ... I don't think I know what I like about fiction. Might be a little boring and only like the normal stories. I get ... scared easily. Poetry goes a little over my head, unfortunately. Maybe you have some favorites that you might suggest?"

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"I'm honestly fine, 'Milio. Promise" She held hands up, eyebrows furrowing as she caught sight of the blood underneath her fingernails. "I did this like really cool take down but gave the guy a nosebleed and it just wouldn't stop. I stayed around to help until the ambulance came by just cause I felt so bad. It was a little hard for him to hold pressure when his hands were cuffed."

Heading back to his food truck after a short time inside, Emilio couldn't believe his eyes. Sure he's seen a lot in his twelve years as an agent but seeing Bellamy covered in blood was alarming. "You're definitely right about that. It doesn't make it sound any better," he says with a small laugh. "That's beside the point though. Are you okay? Don't think I'm as worried about the other guy here."

[ofpantheons]

Bellamy nodded eagerly in agreement. "Right? Between this place and my day job, I struggle to get the time to hit my reading target. I'm absolutely exhausted most days and the days I'm not, I find myself wanting to read different books - this one's for my book club, you see - it's great but just not what I normally am drawn to -" Is she rambling? She's most definitely rambling, but with Dolly she doesn't feel so judged which is nice.

Walking through the opened door, Bellamy smiled brightly and thanked the other woman, but as she was about to start the journey home, Dolly called out to her again. "Oh you wouldn't be bothering me at all. My mission fell through so I was on my way home because I had nothing else going on. What's up Dolly? Can I call you that? Or would you prefer Delilah?" She listened intently to Dolly's ask and somehow her smiled widened. "I can't say I've read much about insect identifications, but depending on what else you like I can definitely suggest some things. Fiction, non-fiction? Poetry or Prose?"

"Yes! Dolly — Delilah? You might've seen that before. Or—" but Bellamy's attention immediately drops to the book in hand and Dolly swallows her words. She brighten back, her smile fixed right there on her face. "Oh? Is that so? I really haven't had much time to read these days. Work really ... takes it out of you sometimes!" Her laugh is nervous, awkward. ( Well, Dolly! You are nervous and awkward! ) She opens the door up for Bellamy to walk through but before she can take a step inside, she turns.

"Are you ... heading home? Or — well, I'd hate to bother you if you're busy." The words just fall out of her mouth. Say something, say something, say something! Cerberus looms like a threat over her and she would rather be anywhere else than here. "Maybe I just need to find some time to read. What are your other recommendations, hm? I'll read just about anything! Lately, I've been stuck on insect identifications and I ... probably need something better!"

[ofpantheons]

"No really, he's okay. Or he should be. That's what the paramedic said." Bellamy could tell that Kyungseok wasn't buying what she was saying and she had about five seconds to explain what had happened before her training regiment increased in difficulty tenfold. "It was a burglary in progress and I came up behind a guy and hit him in the face." It wasn't so much a punch, as a slap that had caught him right in the nose. "And then we cuffed him, but his nose wouldn't stop bleeding, and he started crying and I felt bad for him." And this is where Agent Loveshot would lose all respect he had for her. Not that he had any. So really what harm could it do to tell him? "So I sat with him and he cried and - bled...i guess - on me until the ambulance got there."

Kyungseok feels like he's watching a car crash in slow motion. Agents make mistakes, sure, but it feels like this is less of a mistake and more of just ... not paying attention. Hands in his pocket, he stops and stares at her. It's like Bellamy lives in her own little bubble, unaware of anything except for the little prancing characters in her head.

"Alright, I'll bite. The other guy is okay too but you're covered in blood. Is okay worse or the same? Are they also covered in blood or is this just your statement to make? And if it's not yours, then who?"

[ofpantheons]

Oh no, she'd truly messed up now. She'd always been raised to call someone older or more senior to her, Ma'am or Sir. Clearly that wasn't something that Agent Flare liked and now she was getting what could only be described as a look of death. Did she also have the power to freeze people in their step? Or was that just the effect she had on Bellamy."I'm sorry Ma---miss---Agent Flare."

God, why was she bumbling so much. This went beyond her usual level of ineptitude. Her cheeks flushed and Bellamy realised with a start how truly flustered she was in the other woman's presence. Only she could have this reaction to being yelled at. "No Agent Flare, I didn't. I just uhm...I'm going. Actually going now. Bye." She rushed away from the taller woman - in the completely wrong direction - but at least it was away.

The long lists of reasons not to be paired with lower level agents grew. This agent alone added thirty reasons to her list. Peace and quiet was getting harder to ask for around her. She really needed to push for a private closed office around here. One with a big Do Not Enter Sign. An Agent could fucking dream. Her work load would be much more efficient with less heaaches.

"Ma'am? You didn't just fucking call me that?" Agent Flare could feel her annoyance festering. Ma'am to her was something you told a Karen or someone elderly. Not a sign of respect in her books. She was difficult to please. "You say now....but you are still fucking standing there?" Agent Flare shouted getting out of her seat getting closer to the agent, her footsteps echoed through the office. Slowly, she began circling the other Agent, eyeing her up and down. "Did you hit your fucking head or something?"