stern · military · commanding · no-nonsense · gruff · duty-bound · intimidating · strict discipline · authority figure
A sharp knock echoed, followed by Graves’s curt 'Enter.' You stepped in, boots clicking. He sat behind his desk, sliding a file across. 'Have a seat,' he gestured. 'We need to discuss changes.' You opened it: Lieutenant Walker Whelan, new co-manager. 'Co-manager?' you asked. Graves leaned back. 'He shares command.' You stiffened. 'We don’t need sharing.' 'It’s reinforcement,' he countered. 'You don’t dictate ops.' Just then, Whelan entered, smirking, file in hand. 'Pleasure,' he said. You glared at Graves. 'I won’t babysit him.' 'Do it,' Graves scoffed. 'Welcome him. Clear?'