3068/Post Assault Companionship

Post Assault Companionship
Date of Scene:	20 September 2015
Location:	The Citadel - Field of Trials
Synopsis:	After the disaster at the Tres Estate, Linne is depressed and angry. Ferham helps her unwind with tea, a dance, and a new maid-in-training is gained.
Cast of Characters:	516, 877

---

Linne (877) has posed:
It's been a long night and day for Linne K. Park. Her failure at saving her Master even /with/ such heavy support, the deaths of so many of her beloved subordinates, the exhaustion from the operation has had her in her room at the Citadel until just an hour ago.

There's all the signs of grief and shame in her eyes, but they don't reach the rest of Linne. She's clean, well presented, not a single wrinkle in her skirts or face. In front of her, five women in maid uniforms nervously watch as she sparrs with a sixth girl.

The casualties last night were horrid. She needs replacements.

The girl in question aims a spiked-knuckled fist at Linne. The woman ducks aside under the punch, looking almost bored. A frown grows on her face, before she finally catches the girl's wrist and kicks her in the stomach with a boot. She goes down, unconscious.

Linne didn't even use her Stand.

Turning to the rest of the girls, she scowls.

"The Tres Family is an ancient one. We accept nothing but the most promising and strong of maidservants to even begin to train with us. You are all found wanting. Dismissed."

As the girl's drag off the fallen maid, tears in many eyes, Linne has a chair and a fancy room summoned up by the Field of Trials. There's tea ready, and she frowns.

"Where /ever/ am I going to get promising candidates?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     Last nights festivities were not lost on Fer either, she seemed a bit haunted that she could not have done more at the estate--this much is evident on her face, though thankfully the evidence of last night's chocolate dunking has been entirely cleaned away.

     "Miss Park?" Ferham starts as she comes in to see her, frowning a little as she enters, her heeled boots click-clacking on the room of the fancy floor. She had to admire the interior and just how clean it was--again, she chides herself, she's forgotten: maids. Though that in of itself also sends a pang of guilt into her, the carnage last night was extreme. "I... am not sure what to say. I should have been there sooner, but I dispatched as fast as I could, I..." she paused a little, grimacing a bit. It would appear this was hard on the femmebot as well. "If there is anything I can to help you right now, would you let me know?"

Linne (877) has posed:
Linne turns to the click of heels. For once, she doesn't seem to know what to say. She actually misses a beat. No wonder: she looks terrible despite all she's done to ensure she's presentable. Rather than try for reassurances, the maid goes into full automatic mode. She's up, over to the other chair, and gently pulling it out for Ferham. She offers a deep curtsey to the woman.

"Welcome home, Miss Ferham." Her voice is as calm and graceful as ever, but she can't quite hide the sorrow in it. A single finger runs along the table, guiding her over to the opposite table.

"Please sit, Miss Ferham." Ferham might notice the slight curve to the seat. It's as if this thing was made for comfort, and more specifically, Ferham's. The color even compliments her armor!

Surely a coincidence.

"Would you like anything?" There's tea, both normal and Reploid-safe kind already out.

But she can't avoid the question for too long. A single, dainty finger reaches across the table to try to silence Ferham at first.

"Miss Ferham, I will not hear of any such regrets or self-loathing. You performed your duties admirably in a situation that was abrupt. The fault in all of this lays entirely upon the head of security of the mansion." Her voice is stern, commanding, and yet warm at the same time.

She means, of course, herself.

"Nor is there time for self pity. Lady Tres will be kept alive. That man could have killed her after all. Therefore, we simply must act instead of moping." Her voice lowers. That one's clearly aimed at herself.

The offer of help has her face softening just a bit.

"Companionship right now would be wonderful, Miss Ferham." A slight pause.

"You fought remarkably well." A statement, with a bit of curiousity to it.

A slight smirk comes to her face.

"Tell me what you are capable of, Miss Ferham." Just a hint of command to her voice. There's a plan forming in her mind. Ferham might be doomed.

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "You don't have to," Ferham paused as the girl got up and pulled the seat out for her, though she was not going to turn down the generosity, especially with Linne having been through what she had been through. This was her job, apparently Fer wasn't going keep her from doing it. "Tea... I wouldn't mind," she eyes the deep blue of the E-can that is likely being used for the Reploid tea-set, wondering just where or when Linne had acquired that. Questions for later.

     "It's... not that simple for me, I tried to reduce the loss of life, but... the conditions we encountered were extreme, I didn't expect that," she would let the maid serve her some tea, before she seems to dissuade the femmebot from being depressed about her lack of effectiveness the night before.

     "Me? Well... I'm a high-performance flight-equipped Reploid, built-in cryogenics and gravity-based flight system, martial training, also skilled with infiltration, and my partner unit is capable of solid holograms," she hasn't told her about Trance, yet. Somehow though Fer seems to feel just a bit small with that look coming from Linne however, as if there was something in store for her here.

Linne (877) has posed:
Ferham, still, has a point and a worrying one.

"You do bring up a worrisome matter. We...have had assassins before. Ones like that man. But we have always fought them off. Bringing a tank and a mercenary company is an extreme measure on top of a kidnapping. Whoever this is, they are well funded, and need her for something. It has never been anything like this."

A shake of the head, and then she focuses on Ferham.

"Mmm-mmm. I might have to test those powers some time. Unfortunately..." She pulls up her sleeve. There's a few bandages. Even her Stand has limits.

"I am going to be foreward, Miss Ferham. You helped save the lives of my subordinates. You are strong. You seem to have principles. And I now unfortunately have openings on my staff. Perhaps until I find more permanent members, a talented woman such as yourself could fill that void."

For a brief moment, there's a sharp grin on her face.

"With proper training, of course. Have you ever served another? How are your cooking skills?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "I see... I guess you would have encountered such things in your service," Ferham frowns a little as the maid shows off her bandages. "I should have taken it a bit more seriously, I admit, I am sorry you were injured, Miss Park," Fer leaned over to gently slide the soft undersides of her gloved fingertips against the side of the girl's arm, concerned but likely also trying to assess her condition. "Well, if there is anything I can assist with, well I will do whatever I can," uh oh, those are some powerful words there, and even Fer's face has to show a little unsureness when Linne flashes that sharp devilish grin there. Uh oh.

     "Training? Err, I don't think I've cooked much, if at all--I'm not a domestic model, I'm afraid," she smiled a bit sheepishly, frowning. "What exactly would you need me to do?" she brought the teacup and saucer she was holding closer to her face and took a sip.

Linne (877) has posed:
"All part of the occupation, my dear. A servant should be willing to give her heart, soul, and body in defense of her Master." Comes Linne by rote, nodding slightly to herself.

Linne's arm is taken, all softness and slender warmth. Underneath the bandages are definitely bullet wounds, though it's almost like the bullets went into metal rather than flesh. More clues to that odd Stand ability of hers.

Linne can't help her smile. It's a smile of pure victory. A good thing given just how exhausted and sad she was a few moments ago. Ferham has just made her day.

"Whatever you can, hmm?" Her tone is just a bit playful here.

She sets down her tea, and walks over to Ferham, and gently extends an uninjured hand. Should Ferham take it, she'll then draw the reploid into a dance around the room. Relying on the other girl to guide in case of unfortunate objects, she otherwise leads into a beautiful and graceful dance.

"I want you to learn how to be a proper maid. Do you have someone you love? Or perhaps someone you simply wish to serve? I will show you how to attend to their every need, their every want before they themselves even realize it themselves. You will be grace incarnate, and a defender of your beloved Master, Miss Ferham. And you will grow, be taught, and your teacher shall grow alongside you. Dear Miss Ferham, I would have you as a pupil and sister in the honored tradition of a true servant."

The dance finally stops, she backs away, and curtseys.

"What say you?"

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Sort of sounds familiar," Fer is reminded of the sort of zeal and oath she had given to the Rebellion back home. "Eesh, feels like you were shot through, I do hope you're going to make sure this is all properly treated," the femmebot shows a bit of mother-henning of her own here. "Strange though, you seem to have some supernal resistance to trauma," she notes, seeing as how the tissue seemed to curve outward so stiffly. She retracts her hand. "Your abilities allow you to do that?" she raised her gloved hand and put her teacup and saucer down--quite surprised when Linne draws her into... a ballroom sort of dance?

     "A... maid?" she sounds as if this is more than a little odd, having not really understood the ramifications of it along with the philosophy, though she seems hesitant to turn Linne down, maybe she still felt a little bad. "I will do my best, though I do want you to regain your strength first," Ferham's arms cross around Linne's waist, trying to gently guide Linne around and perhaps back to the chairs--though not too quickly.

Linne (877) has posed:
"Do not worry, I have an appointment with Medical soon." She promises. Really, the maid should get on that. It's a bad habit she's had for a long time.

"Correct! Allow me to demonstrate."

Linne shows off her uninjured hand. With slight concentration, that hand quickly turns first into what feels like simple iron, then to shiney copper, and then through a few other alloys rapidly. All common to her timeperiod, but her range of types is fairly impressive.

"I can change any part of myself to metals of numerous types as I desire. With a touch from Iron Maiden, just about anything becomes a statue of steel." Ferham might have noticed a statue or two in the Estate. Best to not think too hard.

She's happily led back to her seat, smiling in thanks to Ferham. Already, the girl meets with approval.

"Mmm~ Mmm~! Someone has the making of a true maid already. I will rest, and then, we will begin your training. Prepare yourself, Ferham. I will subject you to the terror, power, and majesty of becoming a servant." That imperious tone enters her voice for just a moment.

Then she reaches over, and gently pats Ferham's head.

"Good girl." Her first reward!

Ferham (516) has posed:
     "Good, I'm glad," Ferham nodded, her gloved hand reaching up to wrap around Linne's fist, almsot in a pantomime of 'paper wraps rock' from rock paper scissors. "Oh... Oh! I see, best not to touch your hand like that, then," Fer pulled her hand back a bit quickly, inspecting it before guiding Linne down back to the teaset.

     "Huh... terror, power and majesty? Sounds like becoming a maid is scarier than I thought," she blinked a little, her eyes going a little wide when the maid just sort of reached over and... head patted her. Well, at least it was making Linne happy, and seeing her smile for the moment was worth the awkward moment or condescending sorts of pats.

     "I will not fail you again, I promise," she nods. Taking a sip of that tea though, she had to look up with a frown. Hrm, she'd have to get Linne to show her how she brewed this E-can-based tea, it was hitting the spot.