As if on cue, there's the sound of low voices down the hall.
Two men round the corner, down near the next stairwell. The first is part of ROMAC's reinforcements, in uniform and holding a gun loosely at his side as if he's forgotten it's there. The other is in plainclothes and apparently unarmed. Despite this, the guard is the one retreating, pale-faced and backing down the hall as the other advances.
The Balladeer glances up quickly towards the group - Greta, thank god, and two strangers. They sound dangerous, but Greta doesn't look frightened. Friends of hers?
He turns back, narrowing his eyes down at this guard. The guy isn't even pointing the gun at him anymore; he's had enough. It all feels more natural when he's got a weapon leveled at him, honestly. Without, it just reminds him that he's never had this effect on people before. Back home, no one is scared or ashamed when he talks. They're angry. But this is what he needs to do to get his friend back, so he doesn't let himself consider it too closely.
"You should go home," he says quietly, dismissively. "Call her. You'll never know what could've been if you never try, you know. And for god's sake, Rick, just give me that gun and stop already. You're not cut out for this." Rick nods shakily, hands the gun over, and bolts up the stairs. With a few quick motions, the Balladeer unloads the gun, letting the bullets clatter to the floor. Sure, maybe it'd be smarter to keep a weapon while running around down here, but...really, him with a gun? People pay plenty of attention to him without one.
He checks the gun once more and tosses it aside as well, then turns with a wide grin. "Greta!" he calls, nearly bounding down the hall towards them. Only the presence of the two strangers keeps him from just diving right in for a hug. He doesn't know who they are, but he saw a few dead guards on the upper floors and knows someone must have set all those alarms off. "Are you okay? What happened?"
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Two men round the corner, down near the next stairwell. The first is part of ROMAC's reinforcements, in uniform and holding a gun loosely at his side as if he's forgotten it's there. The other is in plainclothes and apparently unarmed. Despite this, the guard is the one retreating, pale-faced and backing down the hall as the other advances.
The Balladeer glances up quickly towards the group - Greta, thank god, and two strangers. They sound dangerous, but Greta doesn't look frightened. Friends of hers?
He turns back, narrowing his eyes down at this guard. The guy isn't even pointing the gun at him anymore; he's had enough. It all feels more natural when he's got a weapon leveled at him, honestly. Without, it just reminds him that he's never had this effect on people before. Back home, no one is scared or ashamed when he talks. They're angry. But this is what he needs to do to get his friend back, so he doesn't let himself consider it too closely.
"You should go home," he says quietly, dismissively. "Call her. You'll never know what could've been if you never try, you know. And for god's sake, Rick, just give me that gun and stop already. You're not cut out for this." Rick nods shakily, hands the gun over, and bolts up the stairs. With a few quick motions, the Balladeer unloads the gun, letting the bullets clatter to the floor. Sure, maybe it'd be smarter to keep a weapon while running around down here, but...really, him with a gun? People pay plenty of attention to him without one.
He checks the gun once more and tosses it aside as well, then turns with a wide grin. "Greta!" he calls, nearly bounding down the hall towards them. Only the presence of the two strangers keeps him from just diving right in for a hug. He doesn't know who they are, but he saw a few dead guards on the upper floors and knows someone must have set all those alarms off. "Are you okay? What happened?"