Thread: Awaiting Word (immediately after New Moon)

A.J. walks out of the warehouse with a deep scowl on his face. He doesn't even notice Mackenzie standing out there as he walks up to his Suburban and opens the back. He throws his bag into the back. He is clearly angry and it shows even more so when he slams the back of the Suburban shut.

Mackenzie frowns at A.J. display. She's glad that he appears physically fine, but she knows his emotions have the best of him right now.

"A.J.?" Her voice is calm and she smiles slightly at him. "Do you need to be alone or do you want to talk?" She sits down on the curb of the street and gestures for him to sit if he wants.

A.J. turns and sees Mackenzie there and he closes his eyes, forcing himself to regain his composure. He walks over to her and takes a seat on the curb with her. He doesn't say anything for a long pause. It seems he is still trying to calm down his anger. He doesn't look at her as he says, "I had to get out of that place. I couldn't stomach being in there any longer."

Mackenzie places a hand on his shoulder, squeezing slightly before settling her hands in her lap. "I can't pretend to know what you have went through and it appears upon landing that things were not as you'd hoped. As always, A.J., I am here to listen. I will offer advice if you ask it, but otherwise consider me a person you can vent to."

Her gaze goes to the door of the warehouse and then back to A.J.'s face. "I only ask one question...." Her voice turns soft. "How many casualties?"

A.J. takes a deep breath as she asks about casualties. It was clear to him that there may be casualties to come inside the warehouse from the way Walker was acting. He looks over at Mackenzie and says, "The ones you know survived. Domino lost his father. As you could see, Corin and Jano are down but not out." He shakes his head in disbelief and says, "If being in the same position that Ben holds now means losing your honor and compassion for those that fought beside you, then I do not want to hold that same title anymore. I thought he was a better man than that."

Mackenzie's face hold relief as he shares that everyone survived. She listens closely to his words. "You mean the Archon position? You think the position causes you to lose your honor and compassion for those beside you? Or was that an observation of Archon Walker's himself?"

She smiles slightly. "A.J., any new position changes a person, they have to think more about their place in the political net or lack thereof that the position holds. I'm not saying this to pick sides, as I truly refuse to do so, but rather to give you another angle to look at. Myself, I have to change..it's a process, but my words hold great weight now. It's not something to take lightly. The things people do and say around me now have to be watched and recorded."

"What happened after I left? Is Lenore okay?" Her voice holds a note of concern.

A.J. stands up and says, "Then I guess I cannot vent to you as you said anymore, if you have to record what I have said. I have already said too much." With that said he walks back into the warehouse.

Mackenzie shakes her head. "That's not what...." She watches him disappear into the warehouse. "...I meant." She sighs and sits there, waiting to see who else will come out.