There was a long pause in which everyone was quiet, Elena sensing the chastise in Rufus' voice as clearly as if he had yelled at her. But the President was silent, and Tseng was as well... and Elena was already bitter at Reno.

The blonde shouldered her newly-reclaimed purse spitefully, and couldn't help but say simply, almost scared, "... I don't know if Reno and Rude are coming, sir. Reno's had... trouble, with his journal. And if it's not working right, he won't know the area well enough to make it here in time to whatever it was you had in mind." Her voice was timid, official, and respectful as she added an almost-forgotten, "...sir."