Understanding. (10)

Things more or less went the same way for the Dawn crew at the second shopping center, with Natalie definitively fobbing Builder Baby off on to Morgannin and running off with her flyers. Ryan followed suit, disappearing from sight almost immediately, and Bryant looked at Morgannin expectantly, before gesturing for him to get to work. Morgannin sighed and looked at Builder Baby and started walking in the direction of one of the entrances, with the mascot quickly following suit. Unlike at the previous location, it took absolutely no time at all for the horde of kids to make its way to the truck, but just like before, the mascot's chaperone looked about ready to destroy the planet, frustration dripping from their face. As everybody got closer to the truck, the mascot let out a slightly muffled sounding 'goo goo' which prompted the children to laugh and let out a call of its own.

"DERP DERP!!" They thundered in unison, causing Bryant's head to snap towards the crowd.

He looked thoroughly confused, and then looked at Morgannin, seemingly for some kind of explanation, but his colleague offered none. Instead, his head vibrated just a touch, as if it was fixing to explode.

"Welp, that was quick." Ryan remarked, sitting up from the inside of the truck bed.

"When the Hell did YOU get here?" Bryant asked as he looked at Ryan. "I hope you handed out your flyers and didn't just dump them somewhere."

"Would you get off my case? Besides I'm the one in charge of this. I'll hand out my papers as I see fit."

"Damn, Morgs looks about ready to have a brain aneurysm." Natalie remarked as she popped up next to Bryant.

She looked entirely too amused by the look on her colleague's face – almost reveling in it. Just then, Builder Baby and his horde reached the truck, which signaled the end of the idle chatter and the start of the hard work – getting rid of the kids and their parents. After what felt like an age, the crew drove out of the parking lot and was on its way towards the third location. Bryant, who had actually been the one to deal with most of the parents as well as random people, was the only one who didn't look like he had just had his soul drained from him. Morgannin was basically paste in the back seat with Natalie laughing at him, and Ryan looked like a balloon that had been deflated due to a slow leak. That said, the closer they got to the third and final destination for the day, the more he seemed to re-inflate. This caused Bryant to not only become suspicious, but also a tad anxious.

"So… we're heading right into the contested neighbourhood." B said while glancing over at Ryan.

"Don't worry nothing will happen. I've informed the District Councilor of our arrival, and the purpose of what we're doing. He said we would be safe, so don't stress too much, B."

"Your desire for chaos will be the end of us all, Ryan." Bryant said with a sigh, to which Ryan just scoffed and chuckled.

As the truck approached the third shopping center, something in the distance caught the eye of both Bryant and Ryan. A large banner with some writing, as well as a massive poster with a face on it dominated the parking lot. There were even a few balloons, and a small podium. The Dawn Logistics truck pulled in to the parking lot, and the smattering of journalists from small time, District specific news publications turned to face it. They appeared to be waiting for the occupants of said truck to hop out, but none of them did. Bryant, who was glaring daggers at Ryan with unblinking eyes took a few deep breaths before speaking.

"…were journalists and banners also mentioned in your conversations with the Councilor?"

"…they weren't."

"This smells like chaos, doesn't it."

Ryan didn't answer, he just climbed out of the truck and went around to assist Builder Baby. The rest of the crew also got out and once they kind of assembled, they all looked at not only the banner, but also the giant poster with Counciler Mkhize's smiling face on it. His name was written in a font so large, it looked like the banner was going to burst. On the poster, there were LED lights in the eyes and the teeth, which periodically flashed and changed colours. Music was blaring from the sound system, and the moderately sized crowd that had gathered was being mildly entertained.

"I don't get it." Morgannin quipped. "What does any of this have to do with us doing promo, Ryan?"

"Why does this feel like instead of us promoting our business, we're instead about to promote the Councilor?" Nathalie asked.

Just then, the sound of blaring car hooters filled the air, while a motorcade of black SUVs with flashing blue lights streamed into the parking lot. Each and every car drove right past the Dawn Logistics crew, who watched in absolute silence as the near Presidential sized convoy entered, and looked like it was threatening to fill the lot completely. Once parked, many, many large men in black suits exited the cars, barking orders and getting into formation. They did all this in full view of the journalists, who were recording and snapping away with their phones and cameras. Eventually, one of the guards opened the door of one of the vehicles, and out stepped Councilor Mkhize, who smiled widely and waved at nobody in particular. Once his entourage of staff and security was assembled, he made a beeline straight for Bryant and the rest, before introducing himself and making a show of greeting them and shaking their hands. His own photographer snapped pictures throughout the entire process. Once that was done, he made his way towards the podium, smiling and waving still.

Bryant, whose eyes were looking particularly dry and crusty from a lack of blinking, looked at Ryan once again. Apart from a momentary lapse, where the crew smiled and nodded while greeting the Councilor, B's gaze hadn't shifted from Ryan.

"This smells like the chaos you wanted, doesn't it?" Bryant said while looking at Ryan, before glancing up at the Drone that was perched on the roof of the truck.

Meanwhile, Nathalie looked at Builder Baby and squinted a little.

"…you didn't just greet that shiny faced Councilor by saying 'goo-goo' did you?"

"…goo?" The mascot replied as it looked at Nathalie.

"It looks like things are about to get started – let's get ready." Ryan said behind poorly veiled excitement and anticipation.