Blitscreet

Lilith caught the tone directed at her with another shudder. "Oh i know all too well what you do to weaklings. And I'm not weak. Just uncomfortable being out of the city for too long." She tried to play it off a bit, but doubted Mynt would buy it. It was more to try and convince herself. It was quiet for a few more minutes before she spoke again. "Alright we're here. You, place the beacon there and I'll do the rest." She turned to the Swatbot carrying the beacon. It did as she ordered and she got to work setting it up. Each of these things required a little calibration. So she hoped no freedom fighters would happen upon them until it was completed.

As she set the kettle on the stove, Jolteia slowly calmed herself down completely, the small routine of making tea was easy enough to get her thoughts wrapped around. So much so she barely noticed Kate's question regarding her clothing. To be honest she herself had forgotten what she was wearing up until now. "Well to be honest, barely fit is still more comfortable than my work clothes. And they were just kinda laying out in the open..." It wasn't exactly true, they were out in the open, just in the drawer, after Jolteia opened it. "Are you saying you don't want to share? Or you worried I might look better in em than you?" She turned and stuck her tongue out at Kate, trying to lighten the mood at bit.

Lilith followed close behind Mynt obediently, feeling the safest when right beside Mynt. However it wasn't long after that her ears picked up the fighting behind them. "Well, that didn't take long. We better hurry. I don't like the idea of having to stay out here for longer than I have to." Lilith was visibly nervous, completely out of her element here. Fidgeting with her scanner she determined that there was no false bots this time around, just a straight up sneak attack.

"You call them jokes, I call them compliments. If you plan on spending more time around me you're likely going to get them more often." He smiled, then suddenly took her hand before kissing it. Then got up to go back to tinkering with her weapons. It didn't take long for him to polish up and reassemble her gun, looking even better than before. Her rod was simple enough as it stripped the leather surrounding the steel core before replacing it. Once all was said and done he placed them back in the bag before bringing it over to the table where she sat. "And there you go." Giving her another smile he sat back down beside her again. "You know, you don't have to bang up your weapons to come see me. Any time past midnight is fine, that's when the last of the other people in this building leave. They lock the place down usually so only those with the key are allowed in. I'm pretty sure getting a key would be a lot easier than banging up your weapons. I doubt you would find it as enjoyable however." Stretching back on the chair, he cracked his knuckles before letting out a deep sigh. "So how about you go get yourself a key, and come back later? Up to you though, I certainly wouldn't mind actually spending time with you and getting to know you better. Entirely up to you though." Sitting up straight Burner leaned over to gently lift her hat to look her in the eyes. "But I know that I would really like it if you did. We could make it a date." The last word out of his mouth came a little rough. He hadn't really thought that word at all, but sitting right in his work space was the deadliest echidna in the Legion, prettied up for him, so as of right now he was not going to waste this opportunity. The worst thing that could happen he figured was that Robotnik sent here to kill him after toying with him for a while, give him that slight bit of hope that he could be happy before taking it away. At this point he didn't care, he wanted to see how this would go.

Nodding softly with a smile he took the liquor and put it back in the fridge leaving the water. "Aye I was, Blacksmith for the royal family, forged most if not all the armor and weapons for them. Robotnik thought it would be best to keep me around, flesh and blood that is, seeing as how even he respects that doing some things yourself is much more efficient. Implanted an explosive device attached to my spine on the back of my neck, his little insurance policy, keeping me in this room." He went back to fixing her pistol, but this time keeping some of his attention on her as well. "Well apparently the damage isn't as bad as I initially thought. Just a lot of dried and caked blood." Completely disassembling the pistol he separated the delicate electronics from it and put the rest into a mild acid bath to clean it. The rod could wait a bit since it was easier. Once he finished that he walked over and took a seat next to Mynt. "You know, despite all the talk about you, as well as your attempt to keep up that appearance, if it wasn't for how banged up your weapons are, I would find it impossible to believe a beauty such as yourself capable of such acts."

For most it would be a little confusing dealing with someone who seemingly changed their minds so often. But for Burner, as he was very keen when it came to people's actions after watching them come and go for so long, he had learned to recognize when someone was dealing with a bit of internal turmoil. As she sat down he smiled at her and headed over to a small fridge, built himself, as most of his luxuries were. "So would you like anything to drink while you wait? I have some ice water, or some aged rum, thirty years old before the coup." He chuckled softly before just taking both and setting them on the table next to Mynt. "As for my name, I am Bartholomew Magnum. Most people I knew called me Burner. I would ask the same but that would be pointless, as is obvious, your name was a part of those rumors. I'd like to drop the officer title and just call you Mynt if that is alright?"

Before she made it to the door he managed to close the gap and take her by the shoulder to stop her, at least for a moment to talk to her again. It wasn't just the fact he could see she didn't want to leave, he didn't want her to leave just yet either. "How about you come back and sit down. I can can get you a drink instead. I'm pretty sure I have some good stuff if you want something hard, or even just water otherwise." Offering a drink was definitely out of character for him, especially since getting liquor was a rare occurance. He would offer food if she wished, but that was something less appealing. Given he really didn't get anything more than something that barely passed as food, which kept him sustained throughout the day.

Burner had effectively zoned out as he kept working on Mynts pistol. He chuckled softly, almost inaudible a couple times, thinking back to the hat comment. Those kinds of threats and expressions were wasted on him. Robotnik had already tortured him well past breaking point, so anything Mynt could do or say wouldn't have much of an efftect on him, including her rod which he was already well aware of its capabilities. However when she stood up behind him, barechested hug to his back, there was no ignoring that. He could feel her mounds squished against his back as her hands slid around front. However when she spoke again, taking his jands and bringing them to her crotch he pulled away before turning around to face her. He wore a solemn expression on his face this time as he pulled up her blouse. "I'm afraid you've got it all wrong. I was simply showing you some kindness. I don't want anything in return." As much as he wanted too, and as much as he could just take her. No amount of torture could break that bit of morality. He didn't care how savage or brutal her reputation was, or how some people would call it deserving, he needed some control in his life, to keep himself sane, or he would just walk out those doors and end it all right there. The small explosive surgically attached to the back of his neck would see to that.

Burner stopped for a moment, turning to Mynt before letting a soft chuckle escape his lips. He knew what Mynt was doing, but it didn't bother him, and not just what she was doing at this current moment. He did know what she did outside these walls on missions, even he couldn't deny those rumors, and the amount of dried blood he had to clean off her weapons every time wasn't much different. As he opened the bag and took them out he finally replied. "Well I'd be tad more concerned if my mother hadn't passed away quite some time ago, but despite that I still say it is quite a lovely hat. Especially on your head." His smile never really faltering. Unless she had actually done it to his own mother, than he would probably have a different tone, but he couldn't bring it past the fact that despite everything, it felt like Mynt was testing him, and he wasn't about to fall for such an obvious trick to rile him up. In his mind, he would form his own opinions, despite her trying to make him despise her by bringing the thought of her slitting his mothers throat into his head. As he examined her weapons he gave a soft whistle. "Well, you certainly did a number on them this time, no simple repairs either, I'm going to have to replace a few parts for your gun, given your rods nature being echidna tech, its still relatively easy to fix and polish up though." With that he got to work, giving her a soft smile each time he glanced her way.

When Mynt walked in a few days earlier than he expected, it definitely caught Burner off guard. He would never admit it, nor did it show in his work but he did have her on his mind a fair bit, ever since she came in wearing that blouse. He caught himself laying awake a couple nights cursing under his breath. He had made it this long because he refused to really become attached to anyone. He hated it here, but there was no other choice, and tried to push any bit of hope or happiness out. Getting comfortable and such lead him to think of hope of escape and freedom, he had to just keep going one day at a time, until an opportunity presented itself. But still, even when he did allow himself those brief moments of happiness, the sight of that echidna woman blushing, despite everything he had heard about her, that was definitely the one that came to mind. This day of the week was usually the slowest, so it was the only time he could really work on cleaning the forge. When Mynt came in through those doors, there was no lingering ash or soot, the lighting in the place was actually turned on and not lit by the dim glow of the forge and molten metal. The lights were of course still dim but even then the place was rather spotless. He was in the midst of sending the scraps into a chute, designed to take them and bring it to the main Swatbot factory. Mass production didn't need fancy metals after all. Hearing her clear her throat and dropped the bag off, he walked over with a puzzled look on his face. "You're a tad early, not that I'm complaining, but usually you take a bit longer than that to break your toys. Afraid the tools are put away for today, but if you don't mind waiting around a bit I could get em all patched up. Unless you have other things to do, no point in leaving than heading right back then, doesn't take me long anyways." He spoke calmly, wiping his hands off on a cloth as he headed over to the bag, standing at full height. "I like the hat by the way, it really goes well with the blouse."

He took note of the blush, and gave her a small shrug. "What's there to fear? When you live life as a slave as long as I have, there isn't any real fear to be had. As for what others say is none of my business. You haven't done wrong by me, so I see no reason to pay those rumors any mind." Giving her a soft nod as he continued to work the metal. "Though I hate to say it, you shouldn't stay too long in here. The soot and smoke could ruin that nice blouse of yours." It actually felt quite nice to get that kind of reaction out of her. It felt like to him that the opinion of others did weigh heavily on her shoulders, so treating her with something other than fear was obligatory. It was like a little light in this big cloud of darkness he lived in. Always doing things for others but never really deriving any real satisfaction or pleasure from it. It was nice actually feeling like he was doing stuff on his own again, versus what he was told or what was expected. If even for a moment, it was nice not feeling quite like a slave.

As she left Burner kept a satisfied smile. To him it felt like more than an accomplishment. It felt as if he finally figured out just what she was about. At least a little bit. And with that after she left he got back to work. By the time she returned the next day, all had been prepared well in advance. As she walked in he took immediate notice of her outfit, as well as her hair. "I must say, I like what you're wearing today. Just wish I had gotten to see it sooner." Setting her bag down onto the table he walked over to the anvil to get back to work, the soft smile on his face showing more as she approached.

It was the same thing every day, working the metal and forge. Legionnaires and other mercenaries loyal to Robotnik would come in, drop off their stuff for him to fix and then pick it up the next day. Other days there would be a special task on top of those repairs. It was expected of him, they looked at him like a broken man, like he was just some tool useful only until he messed up. It had been this way for years now, ever since the coup, a captive in the siege. Normally those captured would have been roboticized, but Bartholomew Magnum was special. He himself was responsible for all the amazing weapons and armor that the Acorn Royal Family was outfitted with, a prodigy from birth in these skills he was quick to learn and master. Now held as a slave, forced to work for the very man who would take every bit of freedom from those who deserved it, who came to him and gave him a choice, work for him, or he would start executing helpless Robians. Those whom he knew, held against their will in a metal stasis. And so it was he worked, never leaving that furnace of a room, which made so many people uncomfortable just being around. He heard them talking about him, about the broken Blacksmith, who never spoke. But he heard things too. Some people were always so casual about talking around him. He would be caught staring a couple times but that didn't stop them from talking. Most of the gossip was casual hearsay, sometimes about a plan or two. However when the Legion moved in there was one rumor specifically he was very interested in. Something about a woman echidna, with cold grey eyes and black leather clothes. Who could make even the most battle hardened man cry out for mercy. Those ones in particular had him very intrigued. He fancied the day he could set his eyes on this woman. When that day arose, what he saw compared to those rumors threw him off. In all the years he had been held captive, he had learned well how to read people based on their expressions, how they walked, even how they spoke if they did. When he seen this echidna woman, he didn't see this horrible monster, some manifestation of pain and hatred, to be feared and avoided. He seen this beautiful young woman, head held high. It was odd for high ranking members of the legion to come down themselves, usually sending a lower ranked recruit to do this sort of thing, but he did his job and when she came back to pick up her stuff he didn't say a word. It went like this for quite some time, every time he would watch her, try to figure her out, even just a little bit. Then on a whim he decided to create her a gift. It wasn't much, a metal rose as a small token of affection for the young woman, something nice for her. He doubted she rarely got anything nice, given the nasty rumors that seemed to circle around her. However the next day he figured he stared a bit too much as he was met with a firm backhand across his face. What she didn't see as she left, was the wide grin on his face. The first smile he had in a long time. When next she walked through those doors, he kept to himself till she got closer before stopping what he was doing to turn to her with a soft but kind smile. "Nice to see you, figured after last time you might have sent someone else to do this for ya, it pleases me you didn't." It was the first full sentence he had spoken to anyone in a long time.

After that hug Jolteia took a moment to get composed. Heading over to the kitchen Jolteia started working on making some hot tea to calm her nerves. Knowing she had to talk to the Princess tomorrow as well didn't really help any. Jolteia was also Knothole's councilor, since this life was stressful and everyone did depend on her to vent and for her to help with their problems, meaning she had to keep herself composed as best she could. Taking a few deep breaths she adjusted the top she was wearing slightly before hearing her daughter speak up once again. "Oh yes, I did work today. It helped keep me focused, and my mind off of today's events. Thankfully it was all just routine stuff. Which reminds me, you need to have your post mission check up as well. And don't think I've forgotten you're overdue for an actual appointment. I may be your mom, but I can't give you special treatment when it comes to that sort of thing. So I want to see you up and early when I get up tomorrow, you're coming in with me to get that taken care of first thing."

"I know baby, I know she is, I love Brianna too, I just wish that this day went differently, or rather, didn't happen at all." Jolteia looked down into Kate's eyes, a couple tears still rolling down her cheeks. It pained her to look down at her daughter and just imagine what would have happened if things had been any worse. Holding her tightly she slowly began to purr till she started to calm down a bit. It took a while, she didn't let Kate go at all, she couldn't. This moment right here was what she needed right now, to remember that her daughter was fine, and somehow, despite everything that did happen today, it was going to be alright.