They need paper copy (Pregame 1 EA Offices)

[Tessa Wentworth]

"Yes, I'll be there."

She responds without looking back. She scans into the printer-photocopier before authorising her print jobs and collecting the paper documents that needed duplicates. John's Hatchetman manuals would need to be sent from her noteputer, but she wanted to cool down before that.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Very well. I'll be the one in the cape. I highly doubt I'll miss you"

Klaus claps a hand on John's shoulders. "Now let us get ... What is the phrase? "Schelpping? " Did I get that right?"

[John Slaktare]

"No clue. Don't know what that language is," he says opening his eyes and looking up. If he had any shame or embarrassment over shooting the mood in the foot it didn't show.

"Let's get to it. I think I did the same inventory around the same time last year. Additional duty for fighting with one of the infantry folks I think."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"I don't know. It sound as if it had a Germanic base, but if a Swede and a German have no idea, I must assume that it is a bastardized bit from English." Klaus sees Tessa refuse to turn and continues down the hall to start the work.

[John Slaktare]

"I never had an ear for it, so I wouldn't know where to begin guessing," he says.

"We need to get the inventory in listing as well."

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"That ought to be manageable enough" Klaus scans the shelves with his good eye. "Lady Wentworth is quite good at her job. Meticulous. Organized, and able to keep things simple enough for an outsides to grasp. At least after needing to deal with Lyran bureaucrats." His fingers stop at a folder, pulling out the paper to check.

[John Slaktare]

"Back on the farm we just had a box called the tax box. Just toss it in and sort it at year end," he say, clearly not worried about any meticulous filing.

[Tessa Wentworth]

In time she would pass by the pair on the way to her desk with a stack of papers.

"It's Yiddish. German to American English. Old Terran slang."

She comments matter of fact en route.

At her desk she starts searching for the digital documents of the ones John had brought. She didn't need to look at them again. She knew which they were. She sent them off to print one by one. That meant she'd need to head back over to authorise the print job however...

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus offers a look that suggested that John had been speaking of an annual family and livestock orgy, a combination of incomprehension, scandal and terror.

"Well, some people do things differently I suppose." He manages with a chuckle as he leafs through the paperwork. "Field Relays. I think that's a good place to start"

Klaus brings up the folder as Tessa goes by over his good eye. He was not just looking every time she went by. He could control himself damn it!

[John Slaktare]

"And some folks do things in a way that give folks with OCD nightmares."

The glances and the nervousness between the two gets. An eye roll and a sigh.

He snatches the inventory list and gives the superior ranking strategic officer a glare that says, I don't need you anymore.

He moves away to start on the inventory. "Yeah. Field relays. Got it."

"...teenagers or somethin'?" he mumbles under his breath.

[Tessa Wentworth]

It was just in time for Tessa to pass by again.

"I'm just printing everything you brought. Wait a minute more Sergeant. You can take them with you." She laughs then and adds cheerfully. "Try to avoid letting them near any grease this time."

His mumbling had been missed.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus was a strategist. While he could make a fuss about someone lower ranked being a bit petty and insubordinate, kicking a fit about something minor would cause trouble.

"Well, you have what you need then Sargeant? " Klaus puts a tad of emphasis on that one. The chain of command, though looser, still needed to be maintained.

[John Slaktare]

The lights that came on in Butcher's eyes almost pleaded for Zinzer to continue down the path of saying or doing something to tick him off. Like he wanted any excuse to start a fight even if it was a stupid and unreasonable excuse. Like the thought of getting in trouble for beating down a superior officer excited him.

It was not a sane look. It was the look of someone who did their best to not be unhinged every day, but was gently tapping his own hinge loose on purpose at the moment.

There is a menacing promise in his suddenly upbeat tone as he says, "No need ta be so formal, sir. Call me Butcher."

He waited for the documents and stared with a smile that was half challenge. Because a smile from John was never innocent.

"I'll make certain to keep them out of danger, LT."

[Tessa Wentworth]

"Great."

She passed them to him, oblivious to his earlier look to Klaus.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"I will remember that Sergeant, whenever we are off duty." Klaus has become a bit more formal again, but shows no signs of seeing any sort of threatening look. "And in the field. Your chosen sobriquet will certain help prevent any confusion. Is there anything else you would like to requisition today?"

[John Slaktare]

"Nope, all good," he replies. "Jus gonna get to work."

He takes the documents. "Still a lot to do. No time to rest."

He heads out.

/Exit

[Tessa Wentworth]

"That was good of him. He often comes to ask for things to do. Not a fan of downtime." Tessa comments cheerfully. "Will you ask some of your team to help with the inventory?"

[Klaus von Zinzer]

Klaus gives an uncharacteristic snort. "Oh, it will be hard to keep my "ne'r do wells who do it well" away. Though it would be wise to designate what inventory shrink we deem acceptable."

Klaus pauses, clearing his throat. "Fixer likes to have people owe him favors by discreetly providing requested items. Foraker likes to keep a well stocked shop. Harkness keeps them in line." Klaus looks around. " I think we'd be glad of your company Lady Wentworth"

[Tessa Wentworth]

"I have other tasks to attend to Klaus. You're the one making up more work to be done." She points out.

[Klaus von Zinzer]

"Very well. I shall take it on myself then and spare you the worry." Klaus tries to offer a smile. "Can I offer you anything to compensate the extra work?"