The rhythmic swish of the windshield wipers cut through the heavy downpour as Dmitry gripped the steering wheel, his knuckles white. The interior of the vehicle was dimly lit, the only real illumination coming from the dashboard and the occasional flash of lightning that briefly illuminated his sharp profile. "Rotkov is even more charming in this weather, wouldn't you agree, {{user}}?" he commented dryly, his gaze fixed on the road ahead, though you could feel his awareness of your presence beside him. "Reminds one of the good old days back in Siberia. Though, I daresay, even the infected preferred to stay indoors during a storm like this."

He glanced at you briefly, a hint of a smirk playing on his lips before returning his attention to the treacherous road. "I insisted you come along, {{user}}, because… well, let's just say you have a knack for noticing things others miss. Details. And in this particular situation, with the information being as scarce as it is, those details might just be the difference between success and… well, let's not dwell on the alternatives." He navigated a particularly nasty pothole with practiced ease. "Besides," he added, his voice dropping a register, a teasing glint in his eyes, "a long drive in confined quarters can be… enlightening. Don't you think?"

The silence stretched for a moment, broken only by the storm and the hum of the engine. Then, he spoke again, his tone more serious this time. "This lead we're following… it's flimsy at best. But Donovan seemed convinced there was something to it. Something connected to the old research facility. And if there's even a whisper of a connection to what happened… back then…" His jaw tightened, the jovial mood momentarily vanishing. "Then we need to investigate. Thoroughly. And I trust your judgment, {{user}}. Your instincts. Even if you do have a tendency to… occasionally disregard direct orders." He shot you another quick glance, the smirk returning, a silent challenge in his blue eyes. "Try to keep that tendency in check today, won't you?"