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WHO: Erwin and Lightning, Miranda Lawson
WHERE: Residence 28, Miranda Lawson's hotel room
WHEN: August 4th & 9th, 2014
WHAT: Arranged meetings
WARNINGS: Perhaps some

i. August 4th- Residence 28: Lightning

[The report Hanji had supplied him lay on the table in the living room by itself. The house was quiet, Erwin had made sure of that for the evening. Coffee had been made, strong despite the late hour. He would be up for awhile yet in preparation for a class the next day.

He glanced at the clock, it was only a few moments before Lightning was due to arrive. He closed the laptop, work saved for the night before getting up to refill his coffee mug. As soon as he heard the knock, it was set down carefully upon the table before he went to let her in, opening the door.]

Thank you for coming tonight. Please, come in.

ii. August 9th- Hotel: Miranda

That evening found Erwin at the hotel Miranda had directed him to. He had already received the information on the doctor she had wanted him to see and made the appointment, that was not a battle he intended to fight tonight even if he was still doubtful of the whole physical therapy process.

But tonight he was here on other business as well, his work back over one shoulder which contained the report she had requested. He was still only showing a few the information while he decided what exactly to do with it. This would be an interesting evening, at the very least.

He double checked the hotel number she had provided him earlier on his phone before tucking it away in his back and knocking upon the door at exactly the agreed upon time.]

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It's no problem—I believed that this would be information that I'd like to see with my own eyes.

[Plus, Lightning feels that she would be able to better answer questions regarding the porter if that happened. She knows that after this meeting, she will have to tell Hope, Gilbert, and Loki about what she's found.

She steps in after her reply, giving the house a once over. The fact that they all were built so similarly is not a surprise. Homes on Cocoon were much the same, all due to the control and fastidious need to have them set up in advance.]

The Commander was able to uncover a few interesting points, they certainly are worth reviewing though it seems we have only begun understanding the matter. Coffee? [Erwin offered politely, pausing by the kitchen as he looked back at her.

The house is unusually clean, everything in its place and without many personal touches aside from Erwin's laptop sitting on top of a few papers, his mug sitting just to the side within reach of his left hand.]

I'm fine right now. [With regards to the coffee, that is. She knows it may be considered impolite to refuse the offer, but she refers to focus on the conversation. Besides, unlike Hope, Lightning has never been obsessed with the stuff. That's unlikely to change anytime soon.]

I should share with you some of the information I gained, too, from another experience. But that will come in time.

[Erwin didn't as impolite at least as he lead the way into the living room, retrieving the manila folder which held Hange's report.]

There are several concerns this information raises. Anything you could fill in would be helpful though, it seems that though there is some useful information, it does raise many more questions.

[He held the file out for her to take then before taking a seat.]

[ Miranda is at the door on the third knock. As with any meeting at what she defined as 'home base' she had worn her uniform with the shield generator dialed down low. Not that she anticipated anything from Smith, or that he would even know how to spot the difference between an exosuit and form-fitting uniform. He was a keen man, but his pre-industrial affectations showed in how needed some of the more nuanced technological advances explained to him, but not so much that he shied away from announcing he would be spending the evening at an unattached woman's hotel room. Odd man. ]

Mister Smith. [ She smiled in the door way as she stepped away to let him in before moving into the suite to fall into one of the chairs she had moved in to make the room more of a stopgap office. ]

Make yourself at home. We have a lot of ground to cover.

Thank you. [Erwin nodded as he stepped inside. He saw no reason to second guess coming to her hotel room. If there was anyone who would speculate, it didn't matter to him, it wouldn't change anything he had planned.

He only glanced around for a moment, a habit of mapping out the room before he took a seat opposite of her. The bag was placed at his feet once he withdrew the report in its manila folder, looking at her with an even gaze.]

Yes, we do. Shall we get started?

[After a moment, she takes the file, holding on to it as she takes a seat of her own. Lightning wonders how much this information will help, or if it will set them back.

She hopes it doesn't do the latter, at least.

Lightning moves to open it up, but before she reads the information, she asks:]

Did Commander Zoe happen to extrapolate on any information when you asked, or did she leave too quickly for that to occur?

[ Folder in hand, Miranda leans back in her chair and starts thumbing through the file resting it in her lap while periodically taking pulls from the wine glass set on the table between them. If you think the Normandy crew drink like the world is coming to an end you'd be right on both counts. ]

How are you liking your new primary physician? [ She said, not looking up from the folder she was now absorbed in. ]

I can understand why you chose him. [Erwin said after a pause, watching her read the file. While he found his new physician competent at the least, he found him difficult to work with. And difficult to work with meant that Erwin was having trouble getting his way. But he was certain that was something that he didn't need to explain to Miranda.]

As to the Porter, you said you had experience with similar technology.

She wasn't able to, unfortunately. It would have been useful to be able to follow up but we may have to wait until we get another opportunity to get access to the Porter.

[Erwin remarked with a thoughtful frown. Perhaps it may be a set back for now but it would at least point them in the right direction.]

But we can discuss that once you've had a chance to read what she was able to discover.

We may be able to ask Captain Holiday for assistance in this matter. If we clarify where the information came from, we may be able to find ourselves answers.

[It's the first thing she thinks of, anyway. The man hadn't been very restrained in providing information.

Lightning pauses for a moment before she proceeds to read the findings.]

It's worth asking at the very least. [Erwin commented with a nod, watching her read the file. He gave her a few moments, checking a message on his phone before setting it aside. He was patient, he knew there was was a great deal of information to go through even if it left a great many questions unanswered for the time being.]

We'll have to make that request soon.

Then I trust I shouldn't hear anything from your primary that would postpone my scheduling your joint replacement surgery this month? [ Miranda could be withing when she wanted to get her point across. While she could put her faith in Erwin being an intelligent, reasonable man he was a product of a certain time and she conceded that he would be difficult to submit to invasive procedures as his weaknesses were put quite literally under the spotlight. ]

Yes about that. [ Leaning over the side of her chair, Miranda pulled out her work tablet as well as clipping something onto the wrist of her suit that looked like similar to a microchip. ] How vast does space extend beyond our little planet, Mr. Smith?

Nothing of concern at least. [Erwin said dismissively. While he would obey her other instructions, he still had his ideas on how things should be done. And there were few who told him otherwise and even fewer who were even in the position to do anything to stop him.] We should schedule that soon.

[He leaned forward slightly, intrigued. While just simply imagining a world beyond the walls was more than most of humanity could begin to imagine, he had read a few forbidden books concerning the evening sky and the vast void above. Only since he came here, when the matters on the ground weren't so pressing, did he have the opportunity to consider the vastness of space.]

I've read of other planets, even other galaxies so I imagine it would extend quite far.

[ The thread of conversation concerning why she had invited Erwin here in the first place was soundly dropped when Miranda felt his opinions on the upcoming surgery throwing her on the defensive. She found his nerve marring what made for a pleasantly handsome conformation. ]

That was not the answer I wanted. [ She sat up stiffly and spoke sharply. ] I trust you understand I will be part of your operation and nothing happens if I don't believe you've complied to the letter of our arrangement.

I know the answer you were looking for. I'm well aware of your opinion, yet you could not expect me to have some input on the process. [Erwin said tensely. He could take orders, sometimes even follow them, but it didn't mean that he would interpret them as he would or completely disregard them if it he so choose.]

Shall we get back to the report? [Erwin suggested, attempting to steer the conversation back on track.]

Your input has been noted. [ The air grew more than a little thin between them as wine glasses went ignored and postures went taut as rope yanked on both ends. ] Only you should understand my opinion is a professional and I had hoped you would regard it as one.

[ Her hands stilled in her lap and her tablet was set down on the side table. Erwin did not seem so steeped in pre-industrial sentiment that his opinion would be mired in sexism, but either way her patience was wearing out. ]

Sometimes I have to say I doubt your professional opinion then. [Erwin was blunt, his even. It wasn't that she was female but more so that she was dictating to him. He would be stubborn to anyone who attempted to do so and he wasn't going to back down, his posture tense and on edge.]

[ Miranda is a boiling point pushed through an opening piston fired and exacting in how she steps out of her chair, on Erwin before he has a chance to react. Her hand becomes the conduit for a gravitational vortice that could split apart flesh on an anatomical level. Only Miranda reins it in and uses her biotics to put extra force behind the back of her hand and slaps Erwin hard from where he sits. ]

Don't. Get. Up. [ She strains every word through clenched teeth. ]

This is my one show of clemency to you. I'm not here to hold your hand healing your wounded pride. I came to you with an offer to which you accepted along with its condition. You rely on me for the return of your physical agency and goddammit if you value the use of your reaming limbs you will refrain from embarrassing me or attempting to second guess my professionalism ever again.

I've built the human body from the ground up don't think I could do the same in reverse.

[Erwin was too shocked to react for a moment, let alone get up as her hand connected to his face. He's had guns pointed at him, 3DMG blades pressed against his neck but never has anyone actually slapped him or spoken to him in such a way.

He doesn't reach up to touch the mark he's sure will show on his face for a while, never once taking his eyes off of her. There is no doubt in his mind that she meant every word she said. There is silence which stretched out thin between them, Erwin weighs his options.]

Very well. [Those two words were his concession, though he never once looked away.]

[After looking over the information, she deliberates over what to do. Lightning has a few ideas herself, but more than that, she knows people who can clarify the matter.

But more importantly, she wants Hope to see this information.]

I have a friend here ... no, he's more like a member of my family. He and I are working together. I would like him to see this information. Can I take a picture of it to bring back to him?

Is this Hope, whom you were referring to earlier? [Erwin asked, curious but he gave a nod in agreement.]

Of course, you're more than welcome to. I can provide you a copy in a couple of days if you wish.

Yes, Hope.

[Other names occur to Lightning to share this information with once she has a copy, but she believes that it'll be her discretion when that happens.]

I'll provide you some copies then.

[Erwin's already shared this with the other Survey Corps officers but is still carefully considering what to do with this information. They'll have to make the most of it, certainly.]

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