Vexation arc

The Vexation arc: Indiana Darling fails to set sail in the most spectacular fashion yet. 
==Pests==
Alice skids into the canteen, throws herself onto a bench. “It happened.”
Mikayla carves up her chicken. “Lots of things are bound to happen.”
“Good point.” Eyes alight, “Darling almost killed Jones.”
“Darling-the-Cadet almost killed Jones-the-Ranger.”
“It’s why they want her for the Mark V.”
“Good point.” Arranges her beans. “I’m surprised it’s taken her this long to try.”
“She has a patience of a saint.”
“I think saints don’t kill people by definition.”
“Would you stop nitpicking me?”
“Sorry.” Mikayla pokes at her salad. “Did you win anything?”
Alice snugs. “Twenty bucks.”
“Well done, Martin.”
Alice preens.
“How’d it go down?”
Alice leans forward. “So they pass each other in the hall and Jones is being, well, Jones–”
“‘Absolutely awful and a terrible human being’?”
“Not quite. He’s being mean and a downright ass and when she doesn’t pay him any attention, he pulls her hair.”
“Jesus.” Sets down her fork. “No wonder you told me ‘not quite’.”
“Yea. ‘Absolutely awful and a terrible human being’ for five hundred. May I–?”
Mikayla offers her water.
Alice sips, then, “Seriously glad I’m not on Team Vulcan; I don’t know if I’d be able to work with him after this.”
“Retweet.”
“So he pulls her hair and honestly, I have never seen anyone so determined to utterly destroy another being.”
“Good lord.”
“She gets behind him and gets her braid around his neck and then she strangles him with it.”
“You’re joking.”
Alice shakes her head.
“Her hair care regiment must be in/sane.”
“I /know.”
“So what happened?”
“He’s confined to Medical and she’s off to Psyche.” Absently twists her cup. “Probably talking her down from finishing the job.”
“Hope their charisma check rolls a natural twenty.”
“Or that Jones’s learned his lesson.”
Mikayla argues–concedes. “Unlikely but a better outcome.”
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