[Network Video]

[target_audience]

[The video is chaotically shaky, and the noise staticy with what turns out to be splashing water, sending droplets splattering across the lens. In it, Shaw is standing on the sand, being recorded from the water. The camera is drifting away from her, or more accurately, kind of in circles. Stu's voice is off screen, sounding panicked.]

Anybody out there? Hello? This lady just cornered and threatened me. Hello? I'm in the ship, I'm in the--beach--if anyone is close to the ship--

[ooc: The Agrii have recognized a threat and lowered the boarding restrictions for the ships. Anyone can board, if they choose!]

Comments

[cactusy]

[Shaw turns to glance at him over her shoulder, raising an unimpressed eyebrow.]

I didn't start my conversation by recording him, because I didn't want it to escalate to this point unless I did turn up proof. Shocker.

[sunglassesincluded]

[ Wesker isn't here to impress. He is here to be rational. ]

You have taken it upon you to investigate the attacks that have occured. Not having records of any action taken in relationship to that investigation is sloppy work. Acting dismissive doesn't change that.

[cactusy]

You get that we're talking about a seventeen-year-old kid beating people up, not a criminal conspiracy, right? It's bullshit and I want it to stop, but it's not like we have juvie or even a courthouse here. Nobody's gonna be going on trial. I don't need to prove anything, I just need to get him to knock it off.

[sunglassesincluded]

We are talking about a seventeen-year-old kid that you accuse of beating up people. You have no solid evidence to your claim yet but you have somehow coerced him into letting you search his living space. And now you are telling me you don't need to prove anything. That you are looking for nothing but to intimidate him into submission. I must say that I am very disappointed in you. I nearly mistook you for a professional.

[ He turns to head back outside. ]

We are finished here.

[cactusy]

Wha--

[Shaw looks up from an open drawer, looking over her shoulder to gape at Wesker. As much as she'd love to just let him walk out without argument... Macher had insisted on his presence, so they need him, apparently. Which means she's going to have to dig deep into the extremely shallow well that is her ability to be personable.

Not for the first time, she wishes she had an earpiece in her ear and John on the other end of the line. How do you deal with idiots? she imagines asking.

Well, Shaw, I'd start by not calling them idiots, he'd tell her, dryly.]

Okay, wait, look. I know on detective shows, this stuff is always cut and dry, but real life isn't like that. We can't just throw up our hands and give up when there isn't an obvious answer - we have to talk to people and poke around and theorize. And yeah, when you're in a place with no police or you don't have police power, sometimes that means all you can do is rattle the perp enough to get them to think twice about messing with people. I get that you're not into helping - I got that from the first time we talked. But no one's asking you to do anything but stand here.

[sunglassesincluded]

How naive of you to believe you can lecture me about police work. You also clearly can't see your own faults. Which is concerning.

Regardless. You are now going to leave with me. If you refuse I will act in my function as ship security and remove you from this location and ship. The outcome is going to be the same but I am offering you the choice of how you are going to leave.

[cactusy]

Okay, number one, I'm also security.

[Granted, she's security on the other ship.]

And number two, seriously? Do you actually think "investigate nothing and hope the culprit decides to confess on their own" is a viable tactic? The hard proof you're so obsessed with comes after an investigation, not before, so why not just let me do my thing?

[sunglassesincluded]

You made your choice.

[ It happens in the blink of an eye. Wesker has vanished from his spot by the door just to suddenly stand right before Shaw with his flat hand about to hit her solar plexus with just enough force to instantly knock her out. ]

[cactusy]

[God, it's been ages since her first proper fight. And with someone who actually seems like he's on her level, skill-wise? It'd be fun, if it weren't also equal parts annoying and baffling.

Shaw ducks and sweeps under his arm, aiming a punch towards his face at the same time as she aims a kick towards his right kneecap.]

You're so scared that I'm going to hurt someone; do you have any idea what a hypocrite you're being right now--

[sunglassesincluded]

[ Seeing her managing to dodge that first blow is a good display of skill and if Wesker weren't fed up by her attitude, he might consider being a little impressed. But as it stands he doesn't even bother humoring her attempt at hitting him by moving out of the way and simply lets her fist and her kick connect. Which to her might feel as if she punched an Exo. With the difference that Cayde may have playfully feigned being hurt.

He moves again, faster than the human eye can perceive, to adjust his position to now crouch before her ducked postion while she processes the outcome of her punch. ]

Once you come to again, you may contact me. Then we can discuss your understanding of the presumption of innocence.

[ His words are calm, yet very much final and he allows them to settle before his hand strikes again, aiming for that very same bundle of nerves. ]