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Lilian Rook     Let it not be said that Lilian Rook is too much of a bougie freak to handle setting up a business that's supposed to run in the Backstreets. Instead let it be said that she is a bougie faildaughter who doesn't quite grasp the point of a business and who kind of sucks shit at gentrification. Yes, she tried. It's nearly cute that she even bothered.

    The central headquarters of the newly named and officialized Trídéag Association, surely soon to become the bustling hub of a vast empire of professional Fixer offices (surely), is opened in the more tolerable regions of the technically 'lawless' Backstreets of District L, home to Lobotomy Corporation, where the people behind it will face no interesting questions. One of several potential locations delegated down to and scouted out by the Warprunners, it'd been an unassuming strip of relatively disused but (rare) structurally sound communal storefront and apartments until a few weeks ago. The brave labourers who were paid entirely too much of a gratuity under the watchful guard of entirely too-qualified personnel are named somewhere on a plaque inside.

    The private Warpgate is not on the street, but you can see it from here. Freshly redone pavement stretches for what feels like 'more than one block was too much', cutting between the front office-- which you are inside-- and what used to be an empty lot across from the front door, now cleared of rubble and renovated into an annoyingly good-looking park area, enclosed by a U of preexisting apartment complexes that now look out over it. The Association's logo is set up on the stereotypical corpo-monument on the green, but it seems as if the people outdoors just . . . live there, actually. They did before, or they do now, or both.

    Given the two small (for the City) buildings bought out (for dirt cheap) to either side are what's been glowed up into subsidized employee housing, this has no ostensible purpose but to either flaunt the Association's status-- aiming to attract clients rather than hoping to hide peacefully in filthy obscurity-- or because Lilian really cannot stand having to spend hours around grungy asphalt and no trees day after day, and was that snotty about it.

    The office complex you're in likely used to be a ring of two or three storey workshops, garages, and storefronts, with concrete brutalist housing crammed in behind and overhead, but they've since been heavily knocked out and joined up so that the Warpgate takes you to a ground floor lobby that encircles the entire core headquarters. Ahead of you, a shiny new (sweatily shatterproof) glass door front-- that will require keycards later, you can see-- and behind you, a pair of starcases up, two down (there's a basement?) and four core elevators between. To your right you have only a short walk to what looks like a strip of sponsored outlets along a visitor cafeteria. To your left, a streetfront lounge.

    The fact that it's not exactly sized for a corporate mega-skyscraper makes it all a little quaint, but given the seating capacity alone, it's clearly sized for more than the fifty-odd Fixers the Association actually has right now. Given space for clients, visitors, community outreach, and the employees that do everything from maintenance, cleaning, cooking, wiring, driving, accounting, surveillance, deskfront, clerical work, and petty security, it's clearly a bigger deal than an office for fight-brained freaks. At least, if you're a civis-minded sort of person, who can dissect this at a glance.
Lilian Rook     Lilian is at the front with you, dressed in her sharpest, quietly malding over a balance sheet on a holographic screen projected from a palm-pad. She's totally not frustrated that hazard pay in the Backstreets made her absurd idea cost triple what she wanted. Totally. Never mind that the shiny floor tiles aren't plastic, the concierge computers are new, and the cute little indoor plants are the halfway the same kinds as from the Sapient Heuristics Arboretum. There's no way at all she wishes she got to set up in a Nest. Perish the thought.

    "Ah, welcome to the office. You're all members, associates, or prospectives, so there's no need to excessively stand on formality." she says, at your arrival. "However, while you're on these premises, you're members of the Association first, and your respective factions second. As lofty as that sounds, that goes the same for myself as well." She stops to gesture at the streetfront outside.

    "Also, before I begin handing out badges and identification please take note. There's not a corner of the Backstreets that people aren't trying to survive. It's a matter of maintaining trust with the community, and professional face as a company, that the people who were squatting here are now permanent residents of the surrounding area. They aren't part of our staff, but it goes without saying that an Association that can't maintain order beyond its front doors is worthless." Taking a deep breath, she continues to, "And so those people are your neighbours. They're under your protection, and are expected to treat our property and our employees with respect. Please get along." She is eyeballing some people in particular.

    "It should also go without saying that as much as I intend to display that this organization doesn't even begin to fear the ordinary dangers of the Backstreets, we are still outside of the L Corporation Nest. That means their laws-- their 'taboos'-- don't apply here, and so you have an unusual amount of discretion to act as you see fit. The company tenets are posted on the wall behind you, and included in your orientation package, but at least keep in mind this much." Lilian says.

    "You're here to impress people, not push them around. You're important enough that you should be able to overlook minor problems, and you're strong enough as to not need to treat the desperate with the harshness the City would otherwise expect of you. If you find yourselves in danger; you aren't alone. And if you find yourselves involved with a Syndicate . . ." Lilian only pauses for effect, not second consideration. "Discourage the curious."
Kale Hearthward Kale wasn't keeping up with the Trideag's headquarters, so everything here is a surprise.

Then again, maybe it shouldn't be.

Kale arrives early and spends some time looking around the courtyard first. He'd gotten used to seeing zero (0) trees out in the backstreets, so the presence of greenery surprises him.

"It's a matter of maintaining trust with the community, and professional face as a company, that the people who were squatting here are now permanent residents of the surrounding area."

Kale gives a short nod. Providing housing like this is obviously overkill, and he's sure everyone understands that it'd be faster and easier to just run the illegal squatters out, but doubtless there was some complication that prevented Lilian from taking the simplest path.

> "Please get along."

Gee, I wonder who that sign's for.

> "Discourage the curious."

Another short nod.

"This complex looks impressive enough on its own. Especially with the warpgate on the inside, there's enough facilities and housing here to take care of our needs, right? We don't have to leave except for missions - it's practically an arcology."

There's a thought that comes to mind immediately after Kale finishes talking - would there be a situation where leaving the complex would be inadvisable? Not an outright siege, maybe, but just sort of - high caution, don't go out alone or at night, sort of situation where Trideag members might be targeted.

Targeted more than to be expected, he mentally adds, thinking of District 23.

When there's a moment of downtime, he gets out his phone, and taps out a short message to his team's analyst - tasking him with perusing the known intel on any local notables in the District L Backstreets - particularly any that, say, would be sitting up and taking interest in a shiny new Association facility being built in their backyards.
Angela The Dame Commander had explicitly sought out people who were not already well off when hiring for local members of the Trideag Association--that is why The Rats had been so keen on signing up and even got hired despite being largely unaugmented, unwashed, and unwanted (having a home mostly helped with the unwashed part).

Most of the local membership is present today, though many aren't front and center--Solace in particular is looking after a sick child in her new home and is avoiding others in an attempt to avoid spreading the illness. Presumably. Maybe she's just not a fan of crowds as is.

But Knifty is down in front, as one of the shortest members of Trideag, sitting on her knees and fidgeting violently as she stares up at Lilian with nigh-religious awe. The other Rats are nearby, having essentially adopted Knifty into their crew, but are behind her and are kind of brimming with pride after having successfully completed a mission for Trideag even before the Orientation! They're devoted and bought in at this point, though they aren't exactly stronger except in the sense that they are eating a little better and are more enthused in the job than ever. Pete thinks he's finally gotten his big break and is doing well enough that his ambitious instinct is being somewhat tempered by his desire to look after his fellow Rats--Knifty's presence encourages him to be the sort of leader who looks after his crew rather than seeks to use them to advance his own dreams. Lenny is happy that her talents are coming in handy and Mang-Chi is just...enjoying the flow.

They are paying attention as best they are able, though Knifty's attention is drawn to the plants with a sort of quiet fascination and is impatiently waiting for the opportunity to gawk and sniff at them.

Ceri is standing by Lilian silently--her role in the group is to essentially be the local who knows how the local bureaucratic chicanery works. Her loyalty to Lilian has also solidified only more with time, and she's feeling good but weird about the Trideag Association. Weird because--it has been so long since there has been a new Association--she never expected to be in a position like this ever again.

She has already swapped to wearing the Trideag Association jacket uniform and is standing at attention habitually more than formally.

She only says, "Remember we are scarcely established. A bad look early on can sink a new Office and that goes for Associations too."
Angela But there's some new faces here too, even for those that have been to the Naming Ceremony. The former G-Corp officers didn't go to a fancy manor because they are reviled by society in ways that even Rats aren't due to the nature of their bio-augments. Each one has some kind of insectoid-flavored augment and they're not always in places that seem particularly helpful and, in fact, at least one G-Corp remnant is clutching his forehead and whimpering in pain as a carapace starts pushing out of his face wholly against his will. The group in general is hanging by the back and trying to be unobtrusive, largely standing at attention except for the suffering man and the woman looking after him.

"It's progressing," Arachne, the G-Corp remnant with spider mandibles growing out of her lower face, fangs, and fuzzy forearms murmurs to her compatriots. "How long do you think he has?"

Sanction, who only has augmented arms that are nonetheless permanently sharp, and bladed with a brown thick exoskeleton, says "Few months, probably. Then bug'll take over."

Bombini, who only has antennae, seems to be the least augmented of the others. "Shit," They say. "Try not to draw too much attention to it--maybe once we've done some work we can see if there's treatment..."

They are actively trying to avoid attention and seem anxious about the timing of--whatever this is happening.
Rita Ma      It intuitively feels like Rita should still be stained. A week isn't enough time to absolve anyone of that. There should be blood under her nails. There should be bone splinters between her teeth. You don't get to come away squeaky-clean and cutesy from making a whole human being disappear.

     . . . .

     So she's got an adorable transparent raincoat on over her button-up, skirt and tights. A cute bobble-tie decorates her hair. She doesn't even look haunted. That's so unfair.

     Rita walks up and shakes with the new neighbors without being told, with the hands that pulled meat from bone. She smiles with teeth that-- well, you know. "Is there anything we can get you?" "Are those local trees, or...?" "We're hoping to make the City a better place, so..." "Oh, my name's Rita! Sorry for being rude." That's about how it goes.

     "It looks really pretty, Ms. Rook!" Rita says earnestly, but her eyes are foremost on the worker plaque. It sparks a vague thought that she keeps to herself. At first she blends with the Rats- "You all did really well! I hope you don't mind if I keep looking out for you?" she sotto-voces during Lilian's speech- but then her attention's drawn to the G-Corp remnants. After reading the tenets on the wall, she looks at the man with the growing carapace and scrunches her lips.

     Her approach to them is shyer, like a woodland animal, though it's more a touch of social anxiety than entomophobia. They seem like a tight-knit bunch with a lot of history! Her shoulders draw in and she puts on a peppy smile: "Um, I'm sorry. Is it okay if I help with the pain? I don't think I can fix things, but..."

     She holds out her hand, glowing with a white light from within. If he lets her touch him, it does help- the glow suffuses from her hand into his face, carrying a lingering sense of wellbeing and ease. This much should be fine. I got a decent amount from that old man.
Xion Orientation! Not a party, but a working day! A meeting about doing things, and expectations, and rules, and reasonable needs.

Since it was important, Xion had been prepping most of the day, completing little tasks and making sure everything would go smoothly later in the day.

A stop by the dry cleaners to pick up some clothes, a stop by a florist for flowers, a stop by a bakery for treats.

When she arrived, hours later and freshly fitted with black collared shirt, silver vest, dark grey trousers and black belt and boots. Around her three o'clock belt-loop was spun and tied in the keychain dangling golden empty star-charm, having picked up a jakcet during arrival to pull over her shoulders and give the particular 'professional fixer' look she had figured out for the City.

It was, perhaps, a bit too clean for the reality of the City, but the Tridaeg's grounds were a bit different than the rest of the city in general.

> it's practically an arcology.

Xion, left thumb hooked into the bottom of her trouser pocket, steps up besides Kale as he observes the truth of the space and tries to put it to word, giving the hawk-man a light elbow--bump.

"It is, isn't it? Already, a whole place to be, with growing things and places to live and everything. We're here to impress people, she says - and isn't this kind of living understandably impressive for folks from this City?"

Xion's attention, leading Kale's intentionally with a subtle shift of index and middle finger uncurling from fist to give stage direction to the Rats. "An invading force would be defeated, but a breakout success can be trailed behind as a guide."
Madeleine Cadrasteia     For today's occasion, Madeleine arrives wearing a knee-length charcoal dress with two rows of buttons down the front, a large bow tied at the collar, and three red cords over the left shoulder. Her curse must be under better control today, if she's risking wearing a *color*.

    After stepping through the warpgate she offers Lilian a polite curtsy and sits for the Dame Commander's opening presentation. She's mostly pays attention to the speech, though her gaze does wander to admire the surrounds on occasion. When the G Corp remnants at the back catch her eye she lingers on them for a long moment before turning back around to face Lilian again. She'll have to see what's up with them later.

    Once the little keynote is finished, Madeleine stands up to mingle. She finds herself drawn once again near Xion - the Nobody's fashion sense and social presence alike are both comfortable to the huntress. "Whatcha got there?" she asks, pointing to the box of baked goods with an eyebrow raised. It's a pointed question, but Xion wouldn't have brought a whole box if she didn't want to share, right?
Odette Raskins For someone who's used to solely practical working conditions where the only real life comes from the people and little dorm spaces, the Tridéag Association's aesthetics surrounding the warp gate and office area have Odette marveling at what she's even walking through. The contrast with the surrounding Backstreets certainly helps illustrate the differences even more plainly for her, and she looks up at the apartment complexes with all the self-awareness of a tourist. She still looks about as out of place as ever, of course, even though she's switched out her usual uniform jacket for the Association's, just wearing it right over a buttoned up blouse and long skirt that was probably bought off the rack somewhere to try and look a little fancier.

She forgot to take the tag off the back pocket. 60% off!

"Everyone's fighting for survival all around us... That's kind of the case everywhere, isn't it?" She lets out a quiet little sigh at that, then inhales quickly and puffs herself back up to try and look just that ittle bit firmer in her stance and posture. "Then.. R-right. It just means we need to work harder so everyone knows they're in good hands!"

"Discourage the curious."

A beat, and she looks back towards Lilian. "H.. How? Um. Not all of us are fighters, you know? Heck, I don't really even have a weapon besides..." She raises her trusty duffel bag, then gives it a few half-hearted swings just to show that it's fairly heavy. "All I've really got is this, Dame Commander. And..."

Odette trails off, just staring at her bag for a moment longer. She's got the Belt in there, too, but she's pretty sure using that for something like this wouldn't go over well. "I guess... Throwing stuff? I don't know if poisoning anyone would really discourage much without encouraging worse things, you know?"

The Rats get her attention, too, and she can't help but smile lightly at seeing them sharing in the moment of wide-eyed wonder. "Cool, isn't it? We've got a lot to live up to, and a lot of people counting on us... Um. I-i'll be counting on you as the experts around here, too!" She gives them a little fist pump of encouragement, then lets her gaze drift over to gawk at what's going on with the G-Corp remnants and Rita's glowing hand in particular. "A lot of us aren't from here, and... Heck, someone ike me doesn't really know this kind of place at all, so if you have any tips... I-I'll listent to anything you have."
Ivy Carrow     Ivy is there for the orientation, overseeing its reveal...Or at least the beginning, of it, before her Vice-Captain tapped her on the shoulder, pulling her close to whisper, in low, somber tones.

    "Today? They KNOW I'm busy."

    "They do. Which is why I'm worried."

    "You think the blues...?"

    "Don't know." A beat. "Want to risk it?"

    A swear, murmured under her breath. "I'm going." Alex clapped her on the shoulder, once, and then she was gone.

    Nina is lingering by the warpgate, taking notes and murmuring instructions to her team...Coven...? As they familiarized themselves with the place. Meanwhile, Luz approached the G-Corp remnants with a professional distance, asking questions like, "Does it have its own intelligence?" Or "What is the terminal state of the infection?" And "Would you prefer to be put down?" At this, her eyes slipped from the G-Remnants and, briefly, to Rita.

    It's Alex who approaches Lilian. "My apologies. My captain was looking forward to attending. There was some urgent Runner busienss." Irritation flitted below the surface of their mind--but not directed at Lilian. He shook his head, sweeping the thoughts away to make room for, "You must have great plans for this place."

    And he could see it--the ways it was all laid out around them, just enough to know that this is was only a beginning. "My Captain and I were considering. While operating within the City, it might make sense to allow the Warprunners to function like an office." He was thinking about the future, and 'recruits' and 'sustainability.' "Some of our runners are already considered fixers under the Thirteenth. Establishing it here could be a sensible step. With your permission of course, Director."
Xion Xion, who had entered carrying a stiff folded-cardstock box under her tucked arm, lifts her attention from trying to volley a few extra clues Kale's way and faces Madeleine.

Expecting who it was by the pointed question yet still playing a little foolishly with a catlike curl and purse of her lips. "What's who've got, where?" She inquires as she turns, right hand reaching under the arch of left's span to retrieve the box and proffer without opening in raised fingers bracing bottom. "Madeleine, do you already need an emergency eclair? The strong treats are further back."

True to her guidance, the box is a confectioner's chaotic everything box, a film forest of white wax paper crinkled about a bounty of sugarpowdered and cream-leaking treats. A noble trio of cake doughnuts frame the front, adding a few dots of grease to leak through the front in faint rings. Behind them is a bounty of bream puffs sweat a thin glistening-beading of thawing moisture, pressed to paper that divides them from jam preserve doughnuts, and finally, chocolate eclairs with chocolate sprinkles pillowy periscope peeking from the back of the bakery box.

"I didn't know if orientation would be catered, but you can't go wrong with treats." Xion reasons.
Rita Ma      "Would you prefer to be put down?"
     Rita's stare pans over to Luz. Her mouth and eyes open a little wider in horror, but she can't quite find the right reproachful words. What rule of etiquette does that even break?

     "I'm sorry," she says to the G-Remnants instead. "Do you want me to lead her out?"
Lilian Rook     'We don't have to leave except for missions - it's practically an arcology.'

    "Half of you have your own lives to live. I don't expect you to settle down in the City." Lilian replies. "But as for those who have to live here . . . Any other Association, any other Office, is perfectly prepared to put their nose to the grindstone and let them figure out the rest for themselves; it hardly matters to them what becomes of their employees when they can always find new ones." she says. "But you know that I always value quality over quantity. We're building our entire brand on the investment we put into our Fixers. So if I'm not prepared to take them off the streets, then what am I even promising them?"

    She lets it hang for a moment, then relents. "But yes, the intent is to keep our vulnerable junior members out of harm's way off the clock. At least until they can fend for themselves. I'll be rather cross if I lose trainees halfway through; it's a waste of investment."

    'Remember we are scarcely established. A bad look early on can sink a new Office and that goes for Associations too.'

    "Furthermore, remember that you are representing me, and to a significant extent, Rita Ma. Don't make me look like the sort of imbecile who throws warm bodies at her dirty work. I understand that the line between self-respect and offputting aggression looks like a thin one, if you aren't used to it, but I won't hesitate to remove anyone who drags the credibility of the Association through the mud." She totally would, for some people.

    'How long do you think he has?'
    'Few months, probably. Then bug'll take over.'

    "I don't do seasonal contracts." Lilian says, forcefully indicating that she heard, while trying slightly too hard to sound cold about it. "I hope you didn't think I'd let shoddy augmentations pass quality assurance either. Your group will be reporting to the sub-level medical facilities after this." A pause. "I need to claim my humanitarian action credits from the Paladins, after all. Taking care of this sort of thing helps subsidize running a tiny hospital like you wouldn't believe."

    'It looks really pretty, Ms. Rook!'

    "It turned out decently." Lilian says, so-so. "The Backstreets are all the same sort of shithole that I couldn't bear to look at them as they are. I'll catch depression." She blows out a little puff of air. "Besides. A prosperous little island with good aesthetics will draw attention. If we can keep trees in this pit then it says a great deal about keeping lives." The trees are totally not local. Lilian couldn't even find local trees. She's just a freak about trees in the first place.

    'We're here to impress people, she says - and isn't this kind of living understandably impressive for folks from this City?'

    Lilian closes her holo-window, just so she can fold her arms, just so she can do that smug little chin-tilt. "Why throw away the hype~? I'll keep blowing them all away until it makes powerful people start seething. That's when the fun begins."

    'You must have great plans for this place.'

    "I'll forgive the Captain this time." Lilian says. She's unable to flip her hair, given it's tied up fancy like prior-usual, but she has that tone of voice. "My plans are, as usual, to outdo everyone to the point that it makes them look bad, then poach their premium talent.

    'My Captain and I were considering. While operating within the City, it might make sense to allow the Warprunners to function like an office.'

    That snags Lilian's active attention. "Oh? I'll admit that's an interesting idea to bring to me independently, but why an Office? Are you planning to take contracts on the side? For . . . ?"
Lilian Rook     'H.. How? Um. Not all of us are fighters, you know?'

    Lilian looks at Odette as if she's said something puzzling. She thinks just a moment, and then turns to the gathered locals instead, seeming to think that her following words are especially to their benefit.

    "Prioritize your lives, and come home. If you can't handle something, someone here can. And lastly, I expect you to defend one another; you should expect the same from me."

    Lilian breathes out slowly. "If nothing else sticks, remember that you have a Star of the City and a Grade One Fixer behind you. Just be sparing with how often you use our names." Then back to Odette. "Fixer work isn't just killing things, Raskins. You'll likely be needed more often than the fighters. No one in this pit can exactly afford a good doctor."

    "Ah. Speaking of which." Lilian steals a furtive little glance at Rita.

    "All client charges are to be processed directly to headquarters. You do not work for free. You do not accept jobs on the side." Lilian says. "The structure of this Association is that all revenue is pooled into an organizational fund, reviewed by our in-house accountancy, then put towards employee living allowances and collective resources, then reinvested into training, equipment, and facilities. The remaining pay from your jobs will be handled as thus:"

    "A percentage is set aside as a requisition fund to be accessed on a personal basis for out-of-house equipment from Workshops that pass our vetting process, privately preferred augmentation procedures, or miscellaneous discretionary expenditures that would aid in the completion of accepted contracts. Another percentage is paid into a discretionary medical fund, separate from unlimited coverage for injuries sustained in the line of duty. The remainder is yours to take home. Don't worry about taking on enough work to make ends meet, but keep in mind that your work supports everyone here. We expect you to do your fair share if you want to ask for extras."

    That taken care of, Lilian adopts a slightly different stance. Opening her bag, she produces a stack of hardcover booklets, ID lanyards, and a pocket scanner to take fingerprints and retinals so that the secured doors let people in and out (she clearly expects theft of ID cards to be a strong liability in the Backstreets), passing all items around the circle and handing out an extra on Ivy's behalf.

    "Now, if you'd follow me." Lilian says, turning towards the elevator. True to her word, the company tenets-- guidelines, motto, precepts, whatever you'd like to call them-- are engraved on a slick little monument at the rear of the lobby.
Lilian Rook 1: You are responsible to your comrades before anything else. Guard them as they would guard you.
2: Represent the Association with the dignity your comrades deserve. Give no one reason to doubt your honour.
3: Degrade no one who deals with you fairly, and spare no thought to their past. Excuse no one who seeks to degrade you in turn, and spare no thought to their station.
4: Respect the rightful order of the City. Respect the Association more.
5: Every one of you has been chosen for a reason. Keep what you have justly earned, and deprive no comrade of theirs.
6: Believe in your potential. Accept no bargains.
7: What the Association invests in you is to only be used for the good of the Association, and those the Association protects.
8: Live with diligence, care, and respect for yourself. Accept only the fruits of accumulated effort.
9: Wield your authority with tact. Display your power responsibly.
10: Your word is unbreakable. Expect that you will be held to it, and do not give it easily.
11: A Fixer of the Thirteenth is a warrior and not a servant. Dispatch evil without hesitation.
12: Confuse no law for virtue, and no unlawfulness for evil. The City's responsibility is to the many; your responsibility is to those it does not choose.
13: Show no consideration for that which preys on the innocent. You are accountable to nothing that cannot be held accountable itself. You are to hold that which cares nothing for your life in contempt.
Madeleine Cadrasteia     "Mmm, do not mind if I do..." Madeleine says as she pores over Xion's box of baked delights. Settling indeed on an eclair, she delicately extracts it from its neighbors and takes a modest bite off one end. Her eyes go a little wide for a moment, and she makes a pleased sound as she chews. "Oh, that *is* good," she remarks. "How thoughtful of you to bring refreshments! I should think to do that more. And I hope you are keeping well?"

    As the pocket scanner is passed around from elite to elite, Madeleine grows visibly nervous. Fingerprints, sure, but a retinal scan? She's never *done* one of those before, and isn't sure if it'll even work. Each little beep-beep of a successful scan adds to her mounting dread. Hopefully the Dame Commander will understand... finally, it's Madeleine's turn for the scans. Fingerprints go just fine, beep-beep. Holding the scanner up to her eye, she braces for it to short out or explode in her hands.

    Instead, it... plays a little tune, in place of the normal double-beep. Was that 'Battle Hymn of the Republic'? The pixellated display on the scanner briefly scrolls to read 'LO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTORED / LIGHT DIES BEFORE THY UNCREATING WORD' before flickering to the usual 'SCAN COMPLETE'. Madeleine breathes a sigh of relief and passes the scanner along.
Odette Raskins "Remember we are scarcely established. A bad look early on can sink a new Office and that goes for Associations too."
"Furthermore, remember that you are representing me, and to a significant extent, Rita Ma. Don't make me look like the sort of imbecile who throws warm bodies at her dirty work."

That's a surefire way to get Odette to really feel the pressure of her new position here. She swallows lightly to force some of that building anxiety back down, and her face... Actually doesn't betray how nervous she actually is for once. Her mind definitely does, racing as it does with how many possible and impossible ways she could screw things up, but her face and tone still remain upbeat as ever.

Her expression firms up at Lilian's direction to prioritize survival, too, and she nods slowly while scratching the side of her cheek. "Right... W-we can always save more people as long as we're alive. Um.. Don't worry, I don't.. I won't flaunt you or Miss Rita's names around if I can help it." She affirms with a quick nod, then chuckles bashfully when Lilian mentions the need for her medical skills. "U-understood! Heh... I mean, we could probably use a real doctor, but I won't let you down!"

That's easier said than done, of course, but hearing about the need to properly account for client charges and not working for free hit Odette a little harder than even she would expect. She doesn't look disturbed by it, but there's some visible 'working through it' on her face as she mulls over just how far that might go. "W... We can still save people if they're in immediate danger, right? Just not.. Um." She waves her hands around a bit, then snaps her fingers. "Joining some... Uh. Expedition somewhere for free just because we'd be a good fit?"
Angela ''Would you prefer to be put down?''

"The hell?" Sanction says, barely reining in something else that they want to say. "If we wanted to be put down we wouldn't be here--" This has successfully prevented them from answering the other questions--they still remember being soldiers, having pride and hope in the war they had to fight even if the promise of that war never came to fruition, like an apple rotten from the inside.

"Lady, you gotta work on your bedside manner." Bombini adds before getting startled by Rita, hand instinctively moving to their weapon before snapping back a moment later. Those antennae of theirs quiver fearfully even if the rest of Bombini manages to get themselves under control. "You..."

Arachne is oblivious to the smell of bloodbreath. "Heey---you're the new Star, aren'tcha?" She blows out a pink bubble from the bubblegum she's been chewing on before popping it and pulling it back into her mouth. "Real Ritamazing of ya-- You can do that?"

She looks over to Bombini who after a moment of hesitation gives a nod. "..Yeah, sure." They say. "It's fine. We lose control of our augments sometimes, you uh--you know what that's like?"

Giving Rita the benefit of the doubt, it seems, as they step away and let Rita do her thing. The fourth ex-soldier's pain seems to ease and he passes out.

"Oh wow...what is that magic?? Thanks, doll!" Arachne chirps before remembering to check the poor guy's pulse. After confirming it (no doubt thanks to Luz mentioning mercy killings), she repeats, "Thanks, doll!"

''I'm sorry, do you want me to lead her out?''

"It's... fine..." Sanction says, no doubt in a manner that's quite depressing. "We're used to it--people looking at us like we're bugs. Lab experiments. WE didn't know what we were signing up for, we thought we'd get a Nest Pass... But we still gotta live at the end of the day. Most of us weren't as lucky as their posterchild."

Posterchild? Probably nobody important (right now).
Angela ''Cool isn't it?''

"Hell yeah it's cool," Pete admits, glancing over to the G-Corpers when Odette looks. "Oh--yeah... Bit above our ability, but...nice that she can heal her. She's practically an angel huh?"

"Don't say that to her, Pete." Lenny murmurs. "I think she'd prefer just being normal friends, you know...?"

"Ah, yeah..." Pete admits. "Good point.

The Association members quiet down as Lilian speaks. Ceri quiets down again to let Lilian speak. Her presence here is entirely to support Lilian, particularly regarding those that might be uneasy about an Outsider ruling the Association. Not that there seems to be that much of that going on here.

''Your group will be reporting to the sub-level medical facilities after this.''

The Remnants can't help but be a little nervous about this--Bombini and Sanction in particular. But Arachnae chirps, "If you can save us, you can bet I'll sign on as long as you'll have us!" POP goes the bubblegum. "Dunno if it's something we can go back on but if you can pause the progression..."

''I'll keep blowing them away until it makes powerful people start seething!''

"Hell yeah!" Pete says, going from a guy who wanted to be a Syndicate toadie to completely on board with Lilian's plan in the span of like a month.

Knifty starts crawling towards Rita in the general commotion and ends up bumping into Xion. "Belts..."

''Not all of us are fighters, you know?''

"Yeah..." Lenny admits. "Lots of us are probably easy pickings for the sort of trouble that goes on out there. To say nothing of any conflict between a Syndicate we might get into..."

''Collective resources...''

"...Huh...You mean...we get paid relative to how good a job we do?" Mang-Chi seems vaguely confused by the idea.

The group follows after Lilian, the Remnants lingering behind like before.

''The Code of Trideag''

"Gonna have trouble with nine and ten, Pete?"

"H-hey, I'm plenty responsible..." Pete's face pinkens.

"...Responsibility is to those it does not choose..." Arachnae murmurs as tears well up in her eyes. "...Fuck... It's so fucked I've never seen anything like that before..."

"See, I totally got six down," Pete continues. "I totally believed in my potential for sure!"

"I like eleven..." Knifty giggles, "Miss Rita I like eleven..."
Kale Hearthward Xion jumpscare!

> "An invading force would be defeated, but a breakout success can be trailed behind as a guide."

"Ah."

Kale considers this.

"That... approach makes a lot more sense." People can practically see the gears turning (slowly) as he aligns himself with Xion's way of thinking.

The person who's turning into(?) a bug draws his attention. "Does... he need medical attention?" Kale has a medkit in his gear bag, but - no, Lilian's got a handle on it. Luz has a handle on it too, maybe? But Luz's approach doesn't seem to be what's desired.

> "I need to claim my humanitarian action credits from the Paladins, after all."

And this draws a raised eyebrow from Kale. Something that he *does* have the edge over Lilian on, even if it's something small like this, can't go without comment. "You hadn't already maxed them out for the year? I ran through all of mine already." He means the fiscal year - which started in July. Then again, he's had his own projects (one of which was a country), and runs a dedicated disaster intervention team.

> "That's when the fun begins."

Another short nod, this time with a bit more meaning behind it, accompanied by a fist pounded into a palm. Kale might still be catching up on the general thrust of the efforts here, but he understands that sort of 'fun' pretty well.

> "Fixer work isn't just killing things, Raskins. You'll likely be needed more often than the fighters. No one in this pit can exactly afford a good doctor."

Kale raises his hand once Lilian's done layout out the financial outlook. "I'd like to bring my team in-house, then, if that's how we're operating," he says. "Especially my medic. I'll put them through whatever vetting you see fit, but you have my word that they're dependable and capable."

And then - thirteen tenets! Of course. Kale doesn't even have to memorize a fresh set of numbers.

It's not till a moment later that it strikes him - this isn't merely the code that Lilian's following on her own, that Kale's option-selected into using or not using when it's convenient for himself. This is what she *expects* everyone to follow, all the time, if they're taking part in this with her.

It shouldn't be too hard...

... Right?
Ivy Carrow     "Oh? I'll admit that's an interesting idea to bring to me independently, but why an Office? Are you planning to take contracts on the side? For . . . ?"

    "What we're looking for isn't so much for contracts. But personell. I fear we lost one of our main avenues for recruiting runners, when we established ourselves." A pause, weighing. "In our native universe has been copted by..." Corporate shills, thieves, pests..."...A rival party of explorers with opposing ideals."

    A risk, weighed carefully on the balance of their mind. An admission of vulnerability. Risk it? "I want to establish us across multiple exoverses. Make our organization more stable, more resistant to disruption."

    Nina has finally broke free of her studies, walking out into the floor of the orientation. Her eyes scan the crowd. Snare on something, and she pales.

    But, what would the association get from it? "We could train these recruits to better serve the Thirteenth. Establish permanent gates in disparate places. We'd be able to help the the association rapidly deploy across the city. If we can find a way to ascertion that W could wouldn't retiliate, we could even arrange contracts for rapid, emergency transport."

    "I believe it could be a mutually beneficial arrangement."

    We're used to it--people looking at us like we're bugs.

    ''I'm sorry, do you want me to lead her out?''

    Luz scowled. "If I'm going to work alongside someone, I need to know what I'm--"

    "--E-excuse me!" Nina is there, suddenly, grabbing hold of Luz's arm with a yank that nearly put her off-balance. "W-w-we gotta go, Luz, your...Um...Y-your cat is on fire."

    "I don't--" YOINK.

    "H-hurry!"
Xion > That's when the fun begins.

Xion, still very slightly smirking over her box of sweetly-wafting treats, is caught in the reception saying things that cause Lilian to adopt her ~~Class~~ Organization President chin angle and talk about 'fun'.

"Oh! Well, I *do* like fun things." The noirette chimes with empty cheer, not sure enough about the kinds of fun being described to have a stronger stance on it.

Madeleine needs to get into the box to get her eclair - and when she pulls back, Xion gives the huntress an appraising quirk of a dark brow over curious blue eye. "Oh. Already one of those days? Well, feel better Madeleine." The noirette decides, closing her box up and tucking it back under arm when she's bumped into by a crawling Knifty!

Lifting a leg and dangling a foot momentarily, balanced casually and looking down at the muttering Rat, Xion drops down into a deep crouch, planting lifted foot after pivot and dropping to sit on her ankles and open pastry box anew to offer sweet treats to the 'belts...' murmuring sort.

"Having a rough one too? Have a pick-you-up." Xion offers.

Kale, having gotten her advice, gets a gentle nodding-along, but she's waiting for Knifty to select a treat or move on in her crouch, so for once, Kale's taller than her!

...For once. And at few other points!

Raising hand to accept scanner and badge once that's complete from Madeleine, Xion frowns at the display of the chiptune and text narration. "Maddie, did you make the eye scanner play Doom? I mean, that's pretty cool, but--" Blithely checking her own right after as she talks, Xion passes along the wand as it starts failing to find a complete fingerprint off of her for partial matches with dozens of people. Normal girl activities, apparently?

"I've been okay? This is basically my day off. The other organization I work for, um, also Thirteen? It's complicated, but this really was a natural fit for me, aheh-"

The noirette scratches the back of her head. "It's been moved around to do a lot more active fighting across a bunch of different places, to try and slow something bad down that's happening, but mostly what it means is that everyone's busy and not around. It's..." She looks away for a moment. "Seasonal. It's fine."
Rita Ma      The turmoil around Luz, followed by her sudden abduction, forms a social vacuum. Rita stares after her for a moment before crouching by the collapsed man. "It doesn't usually do that," she murmurs, checking his pulse on his other arm just to be sure (and then sighing). "Was he just that worn out?"

     "Heey---you're the new Star, aren'tcha?"
     "She's practically an angel huh?"
     "Oh wow...what is that magic?? Thanks, doll!"
     There's no weathering a storm like that. Still crouching, Rita draws in her arms defensively, tucks some of her hair behind her ear, and looks away while her cheeks pinken just a little. "It's- not magic," she manages, because that's the easiest thing to answer, and then swallow-smiles. "Just a little talent."

     So when Lilian says "I don't do seasonal contracts," there's an excessive amount of residual blushy warmth in the way Rita smiles up at her. Damage reflection. "Thank you for taking care of these people, Ms. Rook. I know you'll do a good job."

     "We lose control of our augments sometimes, you uh--you know what that's like?"
     "Um, sort of." Rita had to weigh that answer a little too long. She stands back up, dusting her skirt off for no reason. There's a funny feeling in her chest: Sometimes I tell Ms. Rook that somewhere out there, there are 'Lilians, but less lucky'. Are they 'me, but less lucky'? "I can't look down on you. I was 'experimented on', too. It used to be really bad. But a lot of friends, like Ms. Rook, helped me get better. Whatever 'getting better' means for you, I hope you will too, okay?" Her eyes-shut sunny smile is as brilliant as ever.

     (Rita has perfectly concentric fingerprints, like a pebble dropped in a pond; and perfectly radial retinal vessels, like a sunflower. It'll do.)

     "remember that you are representing me, and to a significant extent, Rita Ma."
     That startles her into looking over. Have I ever been 'represented' before? The idea is a little scary! But after she casts her gaze around the room again, she settles back down into an uneasy smile. If it has to be anyone...

     After Lilian moves forward, Rita steps forward and reads the monument. Then she realizes something, widens her eyes, and reads it again. Her fingers trace down the lines to make sure she hasn't missed anything. Something isn't there- wait, no, it's only been altered?

     Thou shalt never heed the words of that which has consumed the flesh of man.
     Show no consideration for that which preys on the innocent.
     Is that because of the City's customs? Or is it because...?

     Her cheeks are re-pinkened when she falls into step beside Lilian, posturing herself in the shape of a friend. There are a lot of questions she wants to ask, now. But a safe one is: "Ms. Rook? You said you don't want us taking jobs apart from the Association. But, as a Star of the City, I can't be held legally responsible for anything, right?" The implication is obvious: do you want to use me deniably?

     Knifty comes up alongside her too, just about then. Innocently, she takes the girl's hand and squeezes a little too hard without thinking. "Which one was eleven? 'A warrior and not a servant'... but didn't you say you liked it when I gave you orders, too, Ms. Knifty?"

     Oh no. She's not even teasing. She's just that defenseless against perverts.
Odette Raskins Lilian and the ~~Code of Thirteen~~ Tenets

Odette's gaze goes all over the place. At first, it's a quick read to just get a quick look at each of the company's guidelines, but then she goes right back to the top. Once she does, her eyes move agonizingly slowly as she starts assessing each of the tenets one by one. "Gotta get through everything alive and together. Yeah, that makes sense... Making sure our reputation doesn't take a hit from... Yeah, that's good. Might be tricky, but.. Y-yeah, that's good."

She takes longer on the third and eleventh. "Excuse no one that... Dispatch evil... Hh. I-I might need a few pointers on doing those two when... Um. Wh-when someone's free." She admits with an awkward chuckle, rubbing her arm and avoiding direct eye contact with anyone while staring at the monument again. "Makes sense, that's good, that one.... Should be straightforward."

Her gaze lingers on the sixth and eighth for quite some time, too, but in a different way from the other two she had focused on. She doesn't ask anything about those two, but she does look a little more distracted than before. How far has she actually come with Lucius' training, if she hasn't even created a spark yet?

"She's practically an angel huh?"
"I think she'd prefer just being normal friends, you know...?"

"Miss Rita can really do some great stuff, that's for sure..." Odette murmurs in agreement with Pete, watching Rita's healing efforts a bit longer before tapping her chin at Lenny's idea. "Would she? I mean... H-has anyone ever asked? I know some fol-er. People don't like making a big deal about what they can do, and others really like the recognition. I wonder what Miss Rita likes."

Looking back over at Rita, Odette eventually approaches her, actually looking fairly relaxed for once. She's probably forgotten about her flub the last time they spoke over the radio. "H.. Hi, Miss Rita! I-I've been meaning to ask..." She starts, glancing back at the Rats to see if any of them have actually come to listen, then turns back to Rita with less nervousness than she usually puts out at any given time.

"Do you like being recognized for stuff you do, or would you rather people act... Um. Normal? Er. Treating you like normal and it's no big deal, I mean."

"Lots of us are probably easy pickings for the sort of trouble that goes on out there."

"M.. Maybe, but that's why it's even more important we stick together. One of us would be, but if stick together and run as a team, we can all get out of anything safely!"

"I'd like to bring my team in-house, then, if that's how we're operating," "Especially my medic."

"Your team has a...?" Odette gets a bit of a brighter spark in her eyes at that, and also at seeing Kale as one of the few people here that isn't taller than her. "Oh! M-maybe we'll be able to trade triage tips the next time we meet. Er. If your medic isn't too busy next time, I mean."

"... but didn't you say you liked it when I gave you orders, too, Ms. Knifty?"

"Eh? O-oh, Miss Knifty's kind of like me, then. I.. Think?" Odette half-says and half-asks, sounding a little hopeful at Rita's question and her own mental image of Knifty improving considerably at finding a kindred spirit. Like Rita, though, she also isn't teasing.

She just doesn't realize it. "Having direction really helps me focus, especially if things start going to heck real fast. L.. Like taking a second to assess damage and risk factors and all that, right?"
Madeleine Cadrasteia     "Oh. Already one of those days? Well, feel better Madeleine."

    "Oh, no, I mean, uh, it's been a weird week." Despite her best efforts, Madeleine blushes faintly as she recalls yesterday's meeting with Persephone; the warmth of her hands, her body, her presence. Madeleine recalls her past anxieties about Phony - anxieties she's expressed to Xion, even - and looks slightly away, almost shyly. "Weirder than usual."

    "Maddie, did you make the eye scanner play Doom? I mean, that's pretty cool, but--"

    "No, I, uh, I don't know why it did that." Has Madeleine ever told a less convincing lie? Perhaps not. She feigns (poorly) a blank look at Xion, and a falling star streaks down across one of her eyes.

    "That all sounds frustrating though, the... other organization 13 stuff. If you need any help with that bad stuff, let me know! I mean, I'll be a little more busy now with the Association starting up but I'd be happy to lend a hand if I can manage it."
Angela Knifty snatches Xion's offered pastry and skitters away, messily devouring it and then looking back to Xion, then finishing it off. If she wasn't so desperate to obliterate that tasty treat, she probably could've savored it more, but she reacted instinctively like she expected someone to try and snatch it back. She stares at Xion and says, "Thank youuu..."

''But didn't you say you liked it when I gave you orders, too, Ms. Knifty?''

Knifty's face turns bright red, "Aehehehh..."

She places her hands on her face. "Aheheheheheh...." She looks away from Rita. "Eheheh..." Then she looks back to Rita and covers her face more with her hands. "Ahaehheheh...."

She swings her body from side to side, 'looking away once more. "Aheheh..ehehehehmmmff..."

''It's-not magic.''
''H-has anyone ever asked?''

"Ahh--woops, aha, sorry Rita..." Pete manages, rubbing the back of his neck.

Lenny can't really answer Odette while Rita's attention is on them but Odette asks the question--"Hey, I didn't mean it like ''that''." She protests. "Obviously we recognize what she does." They don't really know most of what Rita did, though, to be honest--how would they?

'O-oh Miss Knifty's kind of like me, then. I... Think?''

Knifty stops laughing. She takes a long look at Odette. Then, she makes a decision and turns away and returns to giggling again now with more energy and wiggling.

"Yeah," Mang-Chi says. "Probably good to stick together, like Liu does," looking directly at Knifty.

''I can't look down on you. I was 'experimented' on, too.''

Sanction and Bambini look a little guilty (Arachne did nothing wrong).

"Ah, well--I'm sorry you went through that, Miss Rita." Sanction says.

"Yeah, um, sorry for getting startled. Well--it's not like I don't get how they react..." They kind of feed into one another and when one's attitude shifts--so does the other.

"Well, ain't you a darling." Arachne says, smiling(?) at Rita. "You been through a lot yourself and you're lookin' out for others." She reaches out and gives Rita a pat on the head with one of her fuzzy arms.
Lilian Rook     'LO THY DREAD EMPIRE CHAOS IS RESTORED / LIGHT DIES BEFORE THY UNCREATING WORD'

    Lilian snatches the scanner out of Madeleine's hand and spends a good long while scrutinizing the screen before putting it back into circulation. Caught in a furious contemplation loop, she gravitates to a Xion-provided pastry and a thank-you.

    'Heh... I mean, we could probably use a real doctor, but I won't let you down!'

    "--Are you not?"

    'W... We can still save people if they're in immediate danger, right? Just not.. Um.'

    "I'm serious." Lilian says. "It's not about 'fair pricing' or 'market rate' or whatever. Save the people in front of you, but you should expect something, even if they can only give nearly nothing, in return. Don't take yourself for granted and fall into that trap of 'heroism is its own reward'. You'll be eaten alive by this City."

    'Most of us weren't as lucky as their posterchild.'

    Lilian will save this information for later.

    'She's practically an angel huh?'

    "The difference is that she's real." Lilian says offhandedly.

    'Dunno if it's something we can go back on but if you can pause the progression...'

    "I wouldn't be satisfied without at least that much." Lilian says. "But I was aware of your situation before I approved your applications. Don't take me as unprepared."

    'Lots of us are probably easy pickings for the sort of trouble that goes on out there.'

    As if waiting for this specific topic to come up, Lilian replies like it's spring-loaded. "The unique advantage of this Association is that it was transparently suggested as a means to quarantine the involvement of Multiversal Elites. That means that we happen to be relatively glutted with combat professionals for our current size. My intent is that all jobs in the immediate future will be organized using a mixture of Multiversal veterans and newer talent for that very reason." Lilian says, "By the time our ranks swell enough to make this non-viable, our original crop of talent should be capable of shadowing them in turn."

    '..Huh...You mean...we get paid relative to how good a job we do?'

    "You're prohibited from shovelling up extra work to get it done and beat the rent." Lilian says, flatly. "I have discretion over bonuses, but what I'm saying is that . . ." She has to stop and think about how she'd boil down what she's saying, actually. "Everyone gets paid. No bullshit. No special favourites. But in order to make that work, everyone has to pull their weight. Trying to get a lot of jobs done fast is bad for the Association; get what you're assigned done well."

    '...Responsibility is to those it does not choose...'

    Lilian tries not to look uncomfortable along her way to the elevator. It ruins the impression her clicky heels make. "The Nests don't need Fixers. The people chosen to live there already have the law looking out for them. The reach of their wages, the public order, the watchful eye of their Corporation, for good and ill. They don't need your service too. There's no use in heaping more and more on those who are already ahead." She pauses only verbally. "And I forbid that besides."

    'You hadn't already maxed them out for the year? I ran through all of mine already.'

    "Funny. Men don't typically boast about finishing quickly."

    'Especially my medic. I'll put them through whatever vetting you see fit, but you have my word that they're dependable and capable.'

    "Have them submit their applications themselves and I'll give them a fair shot." Lilian says. It sounds vaguely dismissive, but it's implicit already that she means it. It's written on the wall.
Lilian Rook     '...A rival party of explorers with opposing ideals.'

    "Don't go poaching my talent. I'll know." Lilian says. Her voice edges on the border of a menacing purr. "If you want an office, Carrow will have to go through certain procedures with me. And you'll have twice the drudge with half the support, you know." She notably hasn't said no. "A Runner network does admittedly sound tempting. Especially considering the potential for refuge and safehouse sites."

    'The other organization I work for, um, also Thirteen? It's complicated, but this really was a natural fit for me, aheh-'

    Lilian freezes for a moment, then gently swears under her breath. Oh god. She didn't think about it at all. "I'm certain you'll see the soft impression of what will happen eventually; soon." she says to Xion, on the other subject.

    'Thank you for taking care of these people, Ms. Rook. I know you'll do a good job.'

    Lilian crosses her arm, hitting the call button. The doors slide open near-soundlessly. "They're my employees." she huffs. "What use are they to me if I can't be bothered to keep them in working order?" She might still be a bit salty about Rita calling her out at being bad at capitalism. Clearly this will show her that she's a great capitalist.

    'Ms. Rook? You said you don't want us taking jobs apart from the Association. But, as a Star of the City, I can't be held legally responsible for anything, right?'

    Lilian falls silent. It is for the exact length of time that corresponds to her preparing to answer a question that she hadn't expected to be forced to consider so soon; and yet one that she recognizes the deceptive gravity of nonetheless. She can't look too uneasy in front of the new hires, but she would if she could.

    "That may be true, but it's not as if I can't just decide to let you go at my own discretion." Lilian says, carefully. "There's practically no law here anyways. It's the Nests that cannot hold you accountable; and whatever goes on there is beyond my jurisdiction." she adds, much more carefully. "The powers that be have seen fit to appoint you as a special exemption to my transparent role as Elite chaperone. As such, I have no complaints, should only you represent the Association to the best of your ability in the Backstreets it serves."
Kale Hearthward Kale gets a good grade at Xion! This is rare enough to warrant pinning to the base fridge with a magnet.

> "Aehehehh..."

Oh, right. Kale should... go talk to Rita. About... stuff. And this feels like a good time to intervene.

"Hi! Sorry, a moment of her time, please," says the hawk, putting himself between Knifty (who he's actively trying to *not* read the mind of) and Rita, and trying to get the latter off to one side.

"(Hey. You alright? Everything alright? No weird uh...)"

... Oh, right. Kale never actually figured out or rehearsed *what* he's going to say to her.

"(... Cravings?)"

Think, think! "(I mean, I brought some fried chicken, if you're hungry.)" It's actually Kale's lunch, not emergency food supplies, and he's offering it spontaneously. But - actually, would that work out?

If I get Rita hooked on fried chicken, which tastes a lot better, would she stop wanting to eat people?

> "Oh! M-maybe we'll be able to trade triage tips the next time we meet. Er. If your medic isn't too busy next time, I mean."

"I'm sure the two of you will get along like a house on..."

Kale trails off. He gives Odette a look up and down.

"She's... probably going to try to lock you in one of the quarters here until you catch up on your sleep. Just as a fair warning."

> "Funny. Men don't typically boast about finishing quickly."

"I mean, I'd rather be accused of finishing my good works too quickly than be accused of faking them."
Odette Raskins Knifty giggling and assorted noises

Odette doesn't know how to react to that beyond staring at her somewhat cluelessly. Once it starts to dawn on her that she might be getting teased about something, though, she starts to pout. "Hey... C-come oooon, what's so funny?"

As she asks that, she doesn't notice herself subconsciously starting to wiggle just a bit while waiting for an answer.

"--Are you not?"

"Not in the... Y-you know, the white coat and degree way, no. I've got way more on-site experience doing surgery than lots of the doctors in some stations, though!" Odette chimes in reply to Lilian, her voice going in a strange gradient starting with 'anxious admission', shifting to 'upbeat confidence', then dipping at the end into 'despairing realization'.

"Save the people in front of you, but you should expect something, even if they can only give nearly nothing, in return. Don't take yourself for granted and fall into that trap of 'heroism is its own reward'."

Once again, there's a longer silence as Odette tries to comprehend her own feelings on the matter while also incorporating these tenets as part of her new job. She rubs her mouth lightly with a thoughtful murmuring noise, uncertain as she is about the entire idea on multiple fronts. She should be saving people if she has the chance, right? But it makes perfect sense not to spend so much of herself without some effort to preserve herself and her limited funding.

Besides, it's not like she's a hero like so many others here. "Right, that.. Yes, that makes sense. If we've got templates for invoices for this kind of work, that could make the process of.. Um. Of doing that way easier...? Er. S-so we don't feel pressured into doing the heroics thing just because people are watching."

"She's... probably going to try to lock you in one of the quarters here until you catch up on your sleep. Just as a fair warning."

"Eh? But I get enough..." Odette murmurs, starting to protest a bit before clenching her jaw to hold in The Yawn. It's a little harder to see the bags with her HUD glasses on, too, but the bags are definitely there. Once she fights off The Yawn, she coughs briefly before rubbing her neck bashfully. "Er.. I-I'll try to get some more sleep before then... Then."

ENTENDRES

Odette doesn't understand what she's hearing, but she's learned enough to know she's missing something weird. She takes out her PDA and quickly updates one of her text documents: 'finish good but fast vs. faking good but slow?'
Lilian Rook     Reaching the elevator is just one thing. What Lilian means by 'follow me' isn't clear until it starts moving. The main lift is a little crowded for this many people, but it manages, with a decent view of the back wall window for most as you go, revealing slices of each floor as you pass, more like a fancy mall that a boring apartment elevator.

    "Basement one is our clinic level. Basement two is for surgery and extended care. Basement three is secure storage; arms and ammunition especially." Lilian says, running off a verbal checklist as the elevator ascends in the opposite direction.

    "The second floor is the employee cafeteria and kitchen. The outlets on the first floor aren't free. There's technically no minimum drinking age in the Backstreets, but I don't want to see anyone under eighteen getting smashed at the bar and lounge on the other side of the level." 'Lounge' is maybe a slight overstatement, given the building not being gigantic, but the elevator does indeed slide right past a slice-view of a cheerily furnished mess hall with a capacity around fifty and dark-veneer 'hole in the wall tavern' type bar across the other end. Perhaps it's silly, or perhaps Lilian understands that people who get up to their knees in gore every day tend to drink.

    "Third floor is maintenance, requisition, quartermaster issue, and computer lab. Please keep visits to the former to business, and visits to the latter for research and educational purposes. The fourth floor is our in-house workshop--" The elevator glides beyond a view of unremarkable corridors down a separating split and reveals the fourth floor is full of a lot of boxes in the process of being unpacked and heavy equipment being assembled. At least the floor is work safe. "--We'll be assessing equipment aptitude later this week, but our Association's standard issue has already been vetted. We're moving the atelier into the building to keep trade secrets, and for reasons of infosec." Lilian says like it's nothing.

    "Fifth floor is Fixer commons and rec. There bare necessities are installed, but you're permitted to bring in and install anything you're fine with everyone making use of; after you sign off on it." She doesn't specify, but you're pretty sure you caught a glimpse of a similar set of televisions, coffee corners, game tables, and so on, as provided for in her Supervillain Simulation project; probably surplus sourced. "Mind you, that is Fixer commons. We aren't housing every single employeee in this one building."

    "Sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth floors are Fixer private accommodations. The complexes outside are for our support staff, office representatives, and so on." Here, the building shows its origin as an apartment complexes; everything is cleaned up, re-painted, warmly lit, with carpet, but the doors are in the same places, and the rooms are 'cramped two-person quarters', thus plenty for one.

    "The tenth floor is our server room, cold storage, intelligence lab, and R&D. Don't let me catch you screwing around here." Lilian says as a stripe of darkness studded with ghostly lights blurs past. "It is keycarded. And for your own good. There are biohazard ready rooms here for examining . . ." She makes an incomprehensible offhand gesture. "Right now, I believe they're taking apart the blood fiend I brought back from our initiation mission." Um-- "The secrets of the City are something I have personal interest in, and that's all you have to know. Rewards for exotic technology returned to headquarters are to be discussed at a later date."
Lilian Rook     "Eleven and twelve have been fully remodeled as a joint floor for the purposes of training. The ceiling to floor ten already had to be radiation lined and blast proofed, so it was a convenient place for full impact sparring, firing ranges, and so on. The outdoors field is behind the building for anything else." For but a moment, the elevator is bathed in near-blinding light, evening out to a softly intense glow as it slows to a stop.

    Through transparent panes of what certainly doesn't feel like glass, you can see the dramatically large indoor field that takes up two thirds of the floor, worth two storeys of height, separated from static activity lanes to either side. The ceiling gives the illusion of being on the roof, save the faint triangular seams you see through the screens, currently beaming down 'outdoors' midday sun. The floor is fenced off for a demarcated stretch that dominates one half, while on the other, multiple raised platforms and currently stacked and stored obstacle clutter await unused. Mock weapons are already set on the walls, and steel doors at the back lead to smaller chambers. An open door along the near wall shows a hint of an ordinary gym. She may have actually splurged the most on this affair.

    "All Fixers below grade five will be expected to obtain mandatory training sessions according to regular schedule, barring only medical incapacity. Fixers at grade five and above will be assigned a flexible cumulative hours schedule with monthly review. Grade three and above will be assigned individually tailored curriculum." Lilian says, effortlessly throwing out her frankly ridiculous expectations for the future of her little Association.

    "Multiversal Elites with combat experience and private duties are, obviously, exempt on a case by case basis, but will be required to report in for any group drills and announcements I deem critical. I'm aware of your schedules." she says, back to the extant group; most likely for the benefit of Kale, the Runners, and so on. She expects Xion will probably enjoy the enrichment.

    Then, hands on hips as she steps off the lift, Lilian says "Oh, and the thirteenth floor is mine.", ever so proud of herself. Don't ask if she chose this building because it had thirteen floors. "Not just my office, you understand. Important things." Attempting levity, she says "You only get to go there if you've been very good."

    Absently, she tacks on, "I was vaguely considering a rooftop garden, but right now it's undeveloped . . . I wonder if that's too much?"
Rita Ma      "You been through a lot yourself and you're lookin' out for others."
     That makes Rita look the shyest of just about any compliment she's ever gotten. "Well... people have been really kind to me, too. Like all of you! I'm just trying to be that kind to others. That's all..." But she takes the headpats like a champ, guiltily smiling and angling herself into them.

     - - - -

     "They're my employees." she huffs.
     Rita smiles very knowingly, and not unfondly. "Okay, Miss Rook!"

     When they talk about Stardom and unofficial affairs, Rita visibly struggles to keep up with the hedging and the double-negatives, right up until the "as such, I have no complaints". That makes everything click, and she looks relieved-satisfied-proud all at once. "Then I'll do my best to represent it well, Ms. Rook!" she says, with a scarily punchy enthusiasm.

     So I do get free rein. Thank goodness.

     Rita, afterwards, stares at Knifty like she's witnessing a bizarre medical event.

     "Ms. Knifty...? Are you-- is everything--" Turning her concerned attention to Odette, who intercedes: "Did I say something wrong...? I think she might not be okay."

     "Do you like being recognized for stuff you do, or would you rather people act... Um. Normal?"
     "Ahh--woops, aha, sorry Rita..."
     "Oh! ... Oh. No, it's okay, Mr. Pete." While they pile into the elevator, Rita taps her lips in thought. Finally, she comes up with:

     "I think I need both. 'Like normal' makes me feel reassured, and grounded, sort of. 'Like a hero' or 'like a monster' makes me feel sort of happy, but unsteady. But I'm getting both already, from certain people and certain places. So, whichever is easier for you, I guess?"

     "(I mean, I brought some fried chicken, if you're hungry.)"
     Kale, pulling her away on the other side, makes Rita blink-blink. Her cravings are about the same as usual- which is to say, she's fantasizing about chewing the cardiac muscle from around his heart valves- but much diminished from the escapade at Chewie's.

     "Oh. Um. You're really trying to be good to me, aren't you?" Guilty-conscious smile, drawn-up shoulders, clasped hands. Her eyes scan the elevator for a nonexistent Petra, just to make sure. "... I can't. It doesn't have to be human, but it has to be raw. But... thank you."

     "Why? You're not worried I'll hurt someone, are you?"
Xion '...it's been a weird week.'

Xion's deep blue eyes, brightened by a coronal splash of lighter lines intermittent like an eclipse across an azure star, are all-too-normal compared to Madeleine's shooting-starfields.

"Madeleine." Sighs Xion, her chin dipping a degree or two, her eyes staying on - credulous? Patient while Knifty urchins about her box of treats, Xion finally rises to stand settle her box closed again with her eyes entirely on the huntress. "Now, don't take this badly, but you're a little weird yourself."

It's said warmly enough, a little asking-more, a little stating-the-obvious. "If this week's been wilder than usual, if you'd like to talk about it, we can? And..."

Xion leans in closer, up on leading-forward tiptoe to get *conspiratorially* intimate with Madeleine's ear. "It's okay, my phone's haunted too." She whispers, entirely genuine, and then retreats back to standing, smiling.

Lilian's words of encouragement during retrieval of sweet treat pastry lifts the Nobody's expression and eyes both, cheerful. "You're welcome! -"

She tries to generate more, and then turns that curious-seeking gaze on Lilian for a few more considered beats. She can't quite figure out what to say, so she just bobs a nod and slow-closing cycle of her eyes and works through a smile and functionally-affirmative note in offering.

Lilian calls for them all to follow her for the tour, and Xion has a moment to take up her box and chase after Knifty, stepping up and holding out the box. "I've got a Tridaeg mission for you, since, I got these for everyone - could you make sure they're passed out? I think some of your friends would like some too, but they're hanging back." She suggests, gives Knifty a double fingerguns when she sliiides back and leaves and the box just sort of...

... floats there, slllowly rotating in place as it hovers. A Key Item, a slightly-opening relic that Knifty can probably taste the item lore text form (sugar) just from proximity.

Joining Lilian on the tour, Xion keeps her hands slid into her pockets as she meanders in pace-locked step, until the eleventh floor is named, and then she thinks of the pattern. By twelve, she actively and hopefully looking, following Lilian and the elevator's path up and to the end of the explanation where

'You only get to go there if you've been very good.'

"Oh of course it's got thirteen floors too!" She's excited, and most of all for what happens for Very Good Association Members. It's activated something in her, but, unfortunately for Lilian, it might be the Wrong cult programming.
Kale Hearthward Kale takes on a carefully neutral expression at 'mandatory training sessions' - but fortunately he seems to be exempt. He most certainly does keep up with his training and doesn't occasionally skip the fundamentals or basic drills because he thinks he doesn't need to pay as much attention to 'basic stuff', nope. Not at all. Never. Perish the thought.

Entirely unbidden, as Kale picks up on Rita's thoughts accidentally, he remembers that one weird restaurant that was offering to clone patrons.

> "Why? You're not worried I'll hurt someone, are you?"

Say no. For the love of everything, say NO.

"No," lies Kale. "You haven't ever hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it, right?"

"But you were pretty stressed before, and pretty... relieved after. So I was worried, you know?"

"First tenet, we're responsible for each other. Eighth tenet, you should be using the fullest of your competence and-"

He pauses, and checks the ~~convention swag~~ association materials that Lilian handed out. "Wait, no, it's... diligence, care, and respect... well, still applies. The point is if you're distracted like that, that's not good, right?"

> "It doesn't have to be human, but it has to be raw."

This domino starts a short chain of events that ends with Kale in the hospital with salmonella poisoning later this week.
Lilian Rook     'I mean, I'd rather be accused of finishing my good works too quickly than be accused of faking them.'

    "If you fall for a fake then you weren't even qualified to be there." Lilian says. "A competent businessman would rather take any loss than publicly admit that he can't close a deal."

    'Not in the... Y-you know, the white coat and degree way, no.'

    Lilian groans. "Dear Christ you're lucky they dont' require a certification in this hole."

    'Then I'll do my best to represent it well, Ms. Rook!'

    "I'm very happy to hear it." Lilian says. Not 'I know you will'. It means many different things. "And I'm glad to have you here."

    'I think she might not be okay.'

    "She's . . ." The word 'normal' dies on Lilian's lips. "She'll be fine. Probably." Her eyes widen in dread, but she manages not to look.

    'Oh of course it's got thirteen floors too!'

    "Naturally~" Lilian smugs. "What sort of headquarters would it be if it didn't? How else would be start rumous about 'the thirteenth floor of the thirteenth association, which no one has ever seen!' without it?"
Ivy Carrow     "Don't go poaching my talent. I'll know."

    It's hard not to sweat, a little, but he had a great deal of practice. He felt like she was putting her teeth just around his neck, to see what he would do with it. "I wouldn't dream of it, Director Rook. I'm sure we can find a path that enriches both."

    "If you want an office, Carrow will have to go through certain procedures with me."

    "But of course." A smile, a nod of the head--almost a bow. "You know my captain; she'll likely enjoy every step. And it's well-known what you think of those that would try to rely on shortcuts, yes?" At this, they stepped back, disengaging.

    There's a rustling, near the back of the group, where Rita"T-That was Rita Ma! S-s-star of the City! You c-can't just--"

    "Hgn. She's not the first monster I've seen. Maybe if you weren't so afraid of your own shadow--"

    "Muh..." Nina made a frustrated sound through her teeth, ending with a shove, finally spitting out. "Maybe you should be MORE scared! Alex said..."

    He coughed, loudly, and Nina's eyes jerked toward the sound, only for Luz's to follow. His experession was a thundercloud, and he made a soft cut it out gesture. The pair sulked, like a pair of kittnes walking out of the rain.

    When the time came to view the floors, Alex had maneuvered himself over by the others, where they could monitor them. He pulled a notepad as they ascended, taking copious notes, while Nina 'ooohed' and 'aaahed,' and Luz crossed her arms, looking like she'd swallowed a lemon.

    "What sort of headquarters would it be if it didn't? How else would be start rumous about 'the thirteenth floor of the thirteenth association, which no one has ever seen!' without it?"

    "Oh, it's perfect..." It actually gets a chuckle out of Alex, a smile. "Ivy will love that." The momentary lapse in his professional veneer comes and goes so fast, blink and you'd miss it. "I knew this would be worthwhile."
Angela ''I've got a Trideag mission for you''

Knifty's eyes widen and she takes the box. "Yes ma'am..." Technically they're the same rank but Knifty prefers to be on the bottom...of the ranking system. So she'll just act that way--but effectively!

She rushes around, offering a pastry to Kale, then Madeleine again because she totally wasn't paying attention, then others.

''Ms. Knifty...?-- is everything--''

Knifty squeaks and says in the tiniest font ever. "Yes Miss Rita. What should I do Miss Rita?" She didn't think twice about the pastry box floating in the air but will wake up in 3 am and yelp 'flying pastries!'.

''Hey... C-come ooooon, what's so funny?''

Feeling a little guilty, Knifty scootches closer to Odette and whispers, "If you want to get squeezed by Miss Rita that's ok by me but...can I watch?"

She then collapses into giggles again, her shoulders shaking. She's fine for sure.

''I'm just trying to be that kind to others.''

"Well then I'll try to pass on the good vibes, sweetie." Arachne says. "Sanction and Bombi are just a little shy, don't you mind them they'll open up in no time." She winks. It kind of feels like she blinked four times in the eye in quick succession before the other follows up with another four.

Arachne is rapidly growing attached to Rita Ma. There's a slight sticky sensation in those fuzzy limbs--probably residue from webs perhaps?

Pete whistles at the idea of one day being as badass as the multiversal elites. "Guess we'll be hitting up the training a hell of a lot."

"We'll have to take it real seriously if we want to be able to match them... But this is our big shot... We souldn't waste it." Mang-Chi agrees.

''The difference is that she's real.''

Pete seems to get an understanding from this statement and gives Lilian a nod. He feels a little weird being clean after so long being no so but...

The nerovus undercurrent wih the G-Corp Remnants seems to be fading somewhat but doesn't entirely dissipitate--these are people who have been given big promises before. They probably would recoil from promises like these now if they had any other choice.

''The tour!''

Lenny of course is most interested in R&D and science--she's already thinking about trying to get trained in THAT shit.

"Below grade five..." Ceri murmurs. "...That's going to be a lot of training for a long time. Ideally, they'll keep working on it on their own--but we'll have to consider better equipment too. I can check with Thread sources if you want to go local..."
Madeleine Cadrasteia     "Now, don't take this badly, but you're a little weird yourself."

    Madeleine smiles a little. "Heh, don't I know it."

    "If this week's been wilder than usual, if you'd like to talk about it, we can?"

    "Okay so, I- oh, uh, looks like it's time to get on the elevator. I'll... I'll text you." Madeleine accepts a second eclair from Knifty as the crowd filters into the elevator, and spends most of the ride up typing into her phone, deleting everything she typed, and trying again.

    Ran into Persephone yesterday. I was wrong about her - no cornfield. It's a weird feeling. Don't know if she even has a bad side to get on. I guess you were right about her.

    That's all she manages to write, but she only hits 'send' when the elevator's passing the twelfth floor.
Odette Raskins When Lilian passes out all those books and lanyards and things, Odette's already prepared with a neatly folded pouch from her duffel bag. She puts her own set of stuff into the pouch, flattens the top half neatly, then puts that into the duffel bag so it's all within easy reach and not lost within the rest of the stuff in her bag!

She'll have to read the booklets over later when she isn't actively talking and listening to people, and also when she isn't in the middle of Lilian's tour. Knowing the layout of the building needs focused attention, too, especially when Lilian mentions the clinic, surgery, and the cafeteria. "Sounds like I'll be in those lower floors a lot, then... A-and the eleventh and twelfth floors for those sessions, mhm."

Maybe the lounge, too, in case she needs to take a nap after a long shift.

"Oh, and the thirteenth floor is mine." "Not just my office, you understand. Important things." "You only get to go there if you've been very good."

A new goal starts to form in Odette's head: Improve enough that she can considered worthy enough to see what the thirteenth floor is like! She's not sure what she'll actually see there, but it must be something cool, and that means she'll have to take her training in the self-defense lessons even more seriously.

"Did I say something wrong...? I think she might not be okay."

"I think... She's making fun of me about something." Odette reasons to Rita with a slight frown and shrug, still not quite getting what's going on with Knifty. Sensing a chance to draw an answer out, however, the EMT puts on her sternest face as she turns to Knifty. "M.. Miss Knifty! Tell me how you're feeling, or I'll have to... Take you to the basement for a proper diagnosis!"

That's authoritative, right? ODette even made sure to lift herself up an inch on toes for that!

"If you want to get squeezed by Miss Rita that's ok by me but...can I watch?"

Odette's eyes glaze over a bit, and then she gives Knifty one of the most confused looks she's ever given anyone. "Sq... Squeezed?  Like a hug? That..." Still blinking slowly, she looks over at Rita, then shrugs with only a fraction of that confusion disappearing. "That'd probably be nice, right? Er... Y-you could just ask Miss Rita if you wanted one, though..."

The giggling and shaking gets more stares from Odette, and then she looks oevr at Rita in the hopes that she might have an answer to all that. Despite that, the idea of a hug from Rita does have Odette starting to wonder just a little.

"I think I need both. . . So, whichever is easier for you, I guess?"

"Whichever's easier... O-okay! That doesn't sound too hard, then." Odette replies eagerly. "You already seem pretty... Big sister-like, you know? And you've got cool monster powers that let you do..." A pause. What would she even describe eating that guy as?  "... Gray? Gray stuff. I-it's nothing I could ever see myself doing, but I really appreciate it. Just..."

Odette holds her hands out towards Rita's, as though hoping for Rita to take hers in return. "Even if it's something small, let me know if you need a hand with anything else, okay? I want to be someone you and everyone can rely on, too."

"Dear Christ you're lucky they don't require a certification in this hole."

"I-it should only take another ten to fifteen years, if I'm lucky!" Odette tries to sound chipper, but fails halfway there. "Er... A-after I save up enough and get paramedic certification, anyway. Then I can start saving to become a doctor, get through all that..."
Kale Hearthward > "Er... A-after I save up enough and get paramedic certification, anyway. Then I can start saving to become a doctor, get through all that..."

Kale closes his eyes and pinches the bridge of his beak.

"I'll have my team make sure she gets a basic certification of some sort," he says, in Lilian's general direction.
Rita Ma      Tenth floor: "taking apart the blood fiend I brought back".
     Rita angles her head and tries to peek as it glides by, as if she might catch a glimpse of the monster. "Let me know if it's a good idea for me to have any, okay, Ms. Rook?" Rita's sure Lilian has more than one reason for wanting monster bits, but the Rita-centric one is the only one that jumps to mind.

     Thirteenth floor: "You only get to go there if you've been very good."
     "I've been very good," Rita says, which is neither pleading nor demand, but a catlike-slightly-smug fact.

     Tenth-and-eleventh floor: Rita had gotten in alongside Lilian, and so is at the back of the elevator, and so exits last. She makes a little noise of awe at the ceiling-that-almost-isn't, and then percolates gradually forward through the crowd.

     "I want to be someone you and everyone can rely on, too."
     'Big-sister-like' catches Rita's breath, but that tone from Odette snags her further. Rita's lips draw in a look of recognition as she squeezes the medic's hands, and then fall to an achey smile.

     "You know... you remind me a lot of how I was when I was younger, Odette. So, I guess that means you'll go a long way," she says, defraying the self-compliment with a little laugh. "I know I'll find ways to depend on you. Thank you."

     But it's nothing I could ever see myself doing stings a little, from a younger her. Could Rita have seen herself doing this, either?

     "No," lies Kale. "You haven't ever hurt anyone who doesn't deserve it, right?"
     "Once," says Rita bittersweetly. "Bota. A long time ago." She sounds like the memory isn't entirely bad, even if there's guilt mixed in. The way she looks at him- glittering-eyed- almost calls him a liar.

     "... You'll never fill me up. It's not rational. I could have gone for seconds. And, anyway-" Rita hitches for a second. This is something she struggles to explain. She's self-conscious about it, too.

     "When I- eat human meat- it's 'rewarding' myself. I can't reward myself if I haven't done something good."

     "T-That was Rita Ma! S-s-star of the City! You c-can't just--"
     "Hgn. She's not the first monster I've seen."
     Rita feels precarious here. She's been unprecedently revealing in front of a larger group of people than ever before, sans the Union Busan, which is just different. She doesn't talk frankly about eating humans on Apple Tree Island, even. So when Luz draws her attention again, the words are slow to come to her tongue.

     Eventually, just before she passes by, Rita says: "It's okay. She can be exactly as mean to me as she'd be to anybody else," with layered meaning and a lingeringly uncomfortable look.

     Then she strides out onto the open floor.
Xion Xion had passed off the treats because Knifty had really wanted more, but Lilian's strong rules about spreading the benefit around the organization had meant a little gifting-over had only felt evermore natural and easy.

There was something about invoking the Organization that made Xion act a particular way.

While talk of Special Gym Days begin, Xion checks her phone, pulling the checkered-popsocket hyacinth blue rectangle trailing a three-pronged golden crown keychain phone charm from a dark nowhere spot and dropping her eyes to the screen as her thumb and index revived the face. Reading the text, then lifting to respond, the noirette takes her time, alternating between phone-to-chest pensivity and thumbstriking clicks of response.

    Some people have strong effect on others. Obviously, she does, but in every sense of that word. A cornfield would only make her weaker, I think. Fragile. And she doesn't seem fragile at all.

Xion walks with that paragraph sent, both hands to phonesides, thumbs bracing bottom of case bar, fingernails digging into the charging-port slot. Then, she types a little more into the text chat.

    Having to confront the world being different than you imagined is being pretty weird, though. So the feeling's probably correct. But,

    Don't you know it? :3

With that, Xion smiles, and puts her phone away.
Rita Ma      Rita briefly examines the training weapons on the walls. The swords that look like Night Mist are going to be the 'standard' ones, right? That was sort of in the symbol too.

     She steels herself with a little tight breath. Rita already feels naked. Just a little more nakedness than this. It'd be nice if the Rats knew how they could count on me. So...

     And then something huge, and wet, and invisible can be heard snaking and slithering through the air. Her raincoat crinkles and shifts with its presence around her. A dozen identical swords 'levitate' off the wall, wielded by cloaked limbs as if telekinetically, and then rest point-down as a forest around her.

     "Yes Miss Rita. What should I do Miss Rita?"
     Rita bows shallowly from the waist. "Unfortunately, I don't have a high grade. And I don't really know how to use the Association's weapon." Her tone shifts to 'gently imperious heiress'. Where on Earth did she learn that? "I'd like help brushing up. All Fixers of grade five or lower, please join me for your mandatory training, okay?"

     The dozen training swords flick upwards, into the approximated angle of Lilian's ready stance. Rita's hands stay folded before her in the posture of a maid, and the cute smile stays on.