[ This is a serious situation and a serious conversation, but Lapis still can't help but jump slightly when his thumb pokes into her side. She's just a little ticklish. Just a little.

But he's right, she wouldn't be surprised if someone decided enough was enough and took her out themselves. Eizen already made that clear on the network, but she hopes he won't do anything... Else he'll be the prime suspect, and she doubt the higher-ups would be kind about them killing one of their own. ]

Maybe it's a warning... Behave and step-up, or we send someone worse. She's not the only crazy Zealot in the Order, but we can't just let her do whatever she wants.

[ She hears how he trails off, and she frowns softly as she waits for his answer. Part of her expects him to brush it aside, to tell her it was nothing, but...

He tells her and Lapis feels as though she's been drenched in ice water. She almost wished she heard that wrong. Teresa really... ]

What?

[ Her voice is flat, eerily so, as shock freezes over into anger. She doesn't even notice the shadows lashing out again, almost coating the entire forge once more; the expression on her face thunderous, furious. ]

I'll kill her myself. How dare she say that to you-!