When Kites stepped back inside the compound, folding his wings, he felt full of vigor and confidence.? He kept going over what he was going to say, how he was going to say it, over and over again.? Every footstep was determined, sure, as he ambled over to the elevators and pressed the up down, waiting for the thing to descend.? Once the elevator chimed, the doors opened with a whoosh and he stepped in, pressing the button for the office floor and leaned against the corner, crossing his arms as the doors closed and he felt the all too familiar g-force pull as it started to go back up.? Looking around and seeing the mirrored surfaces, he felt his cheeks flush as he recalled himself and Gen pressed against the wall at one point.? He wondered if this was one they were in before, or the other, but both elevators looks identical in their make-up.

With a resounding ding, the elevator reached the top floor and its doors opened.? As soon as Kites stepped out of it, he suddenly felt his confidence falter, replaced instead with nervousness.? The man intimidated him now especially, ever since they've gotten the worst dressing down of their lives, even though they all deserved it.? The closer he got to Chord's door, the more he felt uncertainty take over.? As he stood in front of the door, he felt himself break out in cold sweat and hesitated.? At that moment, Raine's words rang out, "just go in, talk to him, take responsibility for your actions and let him know that you're going to do everything in your power to prove that you are worth it.? Don't give up."? Though it wasn't quite verbatim, that's what Kites took away from it.? Still, though it bolstered him before, he was just very uneasy now.? Well, I've got to get it over with, he said to himself and knocked on the door three times.

"Chord, s-sir, this is Kites...May I come in and talk to you?"

[Chord/NPC ]