A small shrug.

"Those that do survive get to help us study Avatars in more depth to improve the process. They also get to take starring roles in future battles."

[attr="class","beck"]his mind drifts to a thought. he chooses to voice it.

"are you asking me to volunteer?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

"No."

A small shake of the head.

"You can if you choose. You need to be strong both physically and mentally to not die on the table. I want you to help me find suitable candidates."

[attr="class","beck"]he considers it for the briefest of moments, but shakes his head after.

"i'll pass."

he clicks onto the next file, sifting through for one in particular.

"when do you need them by?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

"Just whenever you find them. This is a new project. It doesn't have a time limit. We just throw resources at it until we get it to work or it fails."

The idle petting starts again. The Skitty purrs, filling the room with the noise.

[attr="class","beck"]"understood."

he stops, clicks on a file, and watches with a hint of distaste. it shows in the way his brows furrow, albeit slightly. he closes it not long after.

"anything else you need from me?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

"You never drank your tea."

It's no doubt cooling now from their conversation.

"Take a moment to relax, Beckett. Your work can wait a few breaths."

[attr="class","beck"]it's difficult to relax. but for choi, he'll make an attempt to. he reaches for the cup of lukewarm tea, raises it to his lips, sips.

"it's good."

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

His own cup is picked up, tilted back, the last few dregs at the bottom of the mug drunk down. There is the softest clink when it's placed back on his desk.

"What's Kanto like now?"

Just conversation.

[attr="class","beck"]"it's not exactly open to toursists. but it's stable."

better than hoenn, but that much isn't really a surprise. he takes another sip, its aftertaste lingering.

"how's life as an underboss?"

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

An assessing hum. He wonders what it would be like to visit. There was an attachment to his second home.

"More paperwork than you might expect. Also feels like herding cats at times."

A hum.

"Will you be staying on the sub or elsewhere?"

[attr="class","beck"]he spares a glance around the room, small smile forming at choi's words.

"should come naturally to you, then."

the smile disappears quicker than it had formed.

"wherever i'm needed. i have a room here, though."

[attr="class","noodles"]Chu-e Choi

His own small smile persists. what did they do to us Chu-e wonders that we can't even talk about comfort

"In Lavaridge, they have this very nice little cafe. They make everything from scratch. It's a little expensive, but very good. 'Leaky Teapot', I think? You should try it if you're in the area."

i don't want to hurt you any more