Scene #9142: Trídéag Reloaded

Owner	Pose
Lilian Rook	Very technically, the occasion is the Trídéag Association's quarterly review. Given that Lilian owns practically everything and has no shareholders, the review ends up being mostly for the employees. The review is even mostly of the employees. So never let it be said that Lilian Rook has even the faintest idea how to run a business efficiently enough to be a CEO of five and still go out for brunch. Personally obsessing over every detail will surely work as well for the Association as it does for supervillaining. Trust in the plan. The Director (that's Lilian), has posted it as a revolving door review and update panel set for a four hour block of time to allow multiple groups to return from jobs and run errands, but the reality is that it'll get done in three rounds at most. Though the fifth floor commons would be more accommodating, keeping work separate of recreation; the one floor strictly tailored to it especially; is judged important enough that Lilian calls Fixers to the second floor 'lounge'. As you'd seen before (and perhaps frequented), it's no more than a private faux-bar tucked into the same floor as the kitchens, separated from the corner windows by an elbow corridor, but it's just big enough for twenty-odd people to fill up the chairs, and privately out of the way of high-traffic areas, so there's no issue reserving it as Fixers-only, excepting the bar staff themselves. It almost feels just right, in its own way. The dark upholstery, the low, warm lights, the separation from the windows, and the residual scent of many smoke breaks, make it feel like taking an alley turn into a secret dive for hardboiled business with your usual informant and a dozen familiar faces in biz. Or something. A bartender politely inform you that the Director is paying the tab until six. There's already a round from Fixers before you being cleaned up. Lilian herself is halfway through a bottle of her own, several stacks of papers and separate, offline-only PDAs arranged along the counter within her arm's reach. Company jacket half-off, hanging from her arms, she faces the interior tables with a certain clock-watching expectation.
Sarracenia	It still feels very odd when Sarracenia thinks about it. She works...for Lilian. Not only is it odd, it is a bit unnerving. Someone who hates her and seems quite sincere in wanting Sarra dead. But, for some reason Sarra believed Lilian when she said 'this is this and that is that'. And so, to show proper respect for once (and because it is just a nice looking dress) Sarra arrives in her custom made Trideag dress. Black velvet with gold embroided seams and trim and a twin row of gold buttons down the front, modeled after Madeleine's. Of course, Sarra's skirt reaches to her ankles where shiny black, heeled dress boots can be seen. She even has a matching satchel purse to go with it and long black gloves to make sure her arms are not exposed. And of course she still has her crown and her burgundy metal lotus in her hair. The bartender informs them that drinks are paid until six, and Sarra ponders before ordering a...lemonade. A large lemonade. She then takes a seat near but not right next to Lilian. She does not say anything so as to not draw any unnecessary aggression, but the look on her face makes it clear she is not a fan of the smell here. And while she sits there she pulls out her Grade 6 license, just to look at it for a few moments before putting it away again.
Kale Hearthward	Kale's of two minds about some things. On one hand, he absolutely gets that the Fixer grading system was implemented for certain reasons and purposes, and those purposes are sometimes orthogonal to being a strict objective numerical ranking of the rankee's functionality. He picked up as much from Oliver's thoughts, and was probably also directly told as much at some point. (You shouldn't expect Kale to remember something after being only told once. He's got a mind like a steel trap, in that it is rusty and you need to hammer it in hard to leave any impression.) Going up* in Fixer grades is, at best, a tertiary or quaternary objective, an ancillary metric and/or advantage for what sort of change Kale's actually here for and actually believes in. On the other hand: Number go up. It's always good when number go up. If you can define your self worth and the quality of your output via a single objective numerical value then you know precisely where you are in the universe and don't ever need to ask yourself any hard questions like 'am I a good person' or 'what do I want to accomplish with my life' or 'maybe the checkout girl is paid to be nice to me and is only fake laughing at my jokes'. No, when you have a number, you can trust in that number and not have to worry about anything else. ... Even if seven is a little bit low** for where he really should be. He'll work on that, though. At the lounge, Kale slides in, wearing a tan vest that's only mostly coordinated with his natural colors, and orders something overly fruity and complicated, like the sweet equivalent of one of those viral bloody mary drinks with a whole plate of sausages and a pizza slice pinned to the glass. down *high
Odette Raskins	Odette's looking pretty conflicted about this review. Sure, things could have gone way better with the Merelisa situation, but the City's recognition of her efforts through the shiny new ID card must count for something, right? But it's not exactly a secret that things could have gone way better, and with the public eye turning towards the Trideag Association as a potential scapegoat for everything involving Elites... she's already overthinking times by the time she gets to the lounge for her review. What if she was faster? What if she just manhandled people instead of trying to convince them to escape? What if she injected Merelisa with ten people's worth of tranquilizers? She even had an opportunity to do easily when she was inside that curtain thing. What if... Odette's interrupted by the warmth of the lounge hitting her all at once, and she breathes in lightly to just absorb all the ambience that both matches what she was expecting from a lounge, yet not expecting for a formal review. She doesn't dare get any heavy drinks for herself yet while Lilian's waiting for her, although she does take a few mental notes about what glasses and what smells she can recognize while passing by. She does, however, ask for some kind of fruity mocktail to have something to bring over to start with. "G... Um." Deep braeth. She can do this. "Hello, Dame Commander! ODette raskins, here for the review." She announces herself, somehow managing to sound clearer than she's ever been in a non-emergency situation. She's dressed in her standard-issue Trideag uniform, although the jacket comes off and draped over her shoulder so she isn't overheating before the review even starts.
Rita Ma	Rita- wearing a slightly scruffly, sunfaded affectation of a vest and sundress- shuffles into the meeting room with a shoulders-in tinge of guilty tension. Minus a few inches, she looks much more like the Rita of a couple years ago. That particular anxious-to-please cast was her resting expression back then. Up at the counter, she orders something called a "devil's blood", and then has to explain to the bartender what it is, and then has to explain a second time when she said the ingredients too quietly. When finally decanted, it's black-red and fizzes. When she squeezes in at the table, near where she hopes the Rats will deign to sit- and suddenly her threadbare-chic look makes sense; she's affiliating herself- her hands ball up in her lap, even if her smile for Lilian is genuine. She did cause a substantial incident with the Middle the last time she was here. That's probably why. Its aftermath, she has only a foggy impression of. Slurrrp. She handsfree sips from the vile-looking crimson concoction. That cheers her up a little.
Lilian Rook	Lilian waits a little while for people to trickle in, but seems to know when the last of this round of Fixers is going to show. The bartender smiles at Sarracenia, does their very best to not look judgy at Kale's order (they're paid well enough to pretend), and Lilian gestures towards the tables at Odette, saying "Take a seat." in smooth and orderly tones. Then . . . "First things first." Lilian says, for not the first time today. "You have your Grade assignments from Olivier already. I was preemptively notified of all but one, so I have the back-end sorted well in advance." Something about the thought prompts her to gently massage her temple, but she goes flipping through paper files right after. "As of right now, all Fixers employed with the Association remain below Grade Five. That's well within projection, so it's no issue, but it means that there are no updates to the curriculum situation in of itself." Lilian glances up from the sheets, and a glimpse alone says enough. "Thus the current alterations are mine. By prerogative of the Director's chair, all Multiversal Fixers who were involved in the 'Lambent Dragon' incident that went public the other week are being shifted from 'at-will' hours to mandatory cross-training. You will report to floor twelve for thrice weekly drills under my personal direction, focused on tactical group exercises and team coordination." says Lilian, pausing to shuffle the papers together with a tap-tap on the counter. "Don't interpret it as a punishment or as a sign of my personal displeasure. It was inevitable that this situation would arise eventually. If everyone in this room could handle a 'Star of the City' grade threat on their own, we'd have simply rushed every B and C corporation headquarters in the City by now." Lilian says, drily. "Rather, understand that your names and faces have been widely shared as part of what some will consider a high-profile failure. It'll go badly for you if a second incident like this occurs, so it's best for you, as well as the Association, that you show measurable improvement and put a strong foot forward." "Plus, I'll be teaching you how to work together to overcome a much stronger opponent. Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?" says Lilian. She shrugs at nothing. "It must be frustrating to show yourselves in front of a villain, full of righteous indignation, betting on a sure thing, only to get laid out all at once. Right? Wouldn't you rather feel the catharsis of overcoming that sort of enemy for once?" "Well, moving along . . ." Lilian reaches for a PDA instead, rapidly scrolling through a digital tap list and swipe-selecting certain files. "Everyone promoted to Grade Seven or above has until the end of the month to submit specifications for one piece of personal issue equipment valued at three million ahn or less from or Workshop connections. I've readied a catalogue already. Those--" Lilian grimaces, pretending there's more than one, "At Grade Six or above, may commission two items, or one valued up to ten million, within Grade Six restrictions." "All Fixers of Grade Eight or above are to be equipped with a personal-issue armoured uniform, company standard weapon, and sidearm. They're yours to keep, but be wary about having them tinkered with on your own dime; there are plenty of Workshops that aren't as consistent as our vetted procurers. Preparations are being made to certify Association-backed augmentations for our first batch of Grade Fives."
Angela	The local agents, except for the former Cinq Association who are in the middle of jobs and will come back towards the latter half of the evaluation and the Rook Office team which is now leaving, are all present. Finn and Pete are trying to reassure Knifty who is having a minor anxiety attack over what the 'quarterly review' will mean for her. Finn in partiular is pampering her and holding a little box of animal crackers that he keeps offering her samples of periodically. Pete himself, while worrying over Knifty, seems to feel pretty confident. Solace is difficult to read as usual and is quietly discussing future jobs with Ceri who has a large folder packed to the point of nearly spilling out in her arms. They will stand at attention when Lilian enters but they're being quiet now--less for conspiratorail reasons and more to accomodate Solace's voice. Naturally, Soothe and Cheer aren't invited down here and Solace was extra firm with Cheer that she's not joining the review and seems to have convinced her it'll be 'boring work stuff' so she won't try to find a way to sneak in. The G Corp Crew is less anxious than Knifty, but there's some anxiety all the same since they feel they haven't had the chance to really prove themselves yet. Lenny and Mang-Chi are hopeful, particularly the former. "Feels nice, huh?" Mang-Chi asks Sarracenia when Sarracenia drops nearby. "Sometimes the right job just comes along..." "ECch I get why we had to stop her but personally the Middle had it coming," Lenny mumbles. "A lot of people will be better off 'cause of that blast..." "It hit innocent people too, but I dunno if it's possible ... not to. Dunno if it'll last though." Mang-Chi mulls aloud. Pete naturally breaks off from Knifty for a moment to snag some pizza slices. "Hey Kale, we gonna see you around in the field a bit more?" He fits the right spot of being in most but not all of the missions so far to get Pete to ask. Odette being anxious calms Knifty down a bit, paradoxically and she hands Odette a fistful of animal crackers. Finn meanwhile notices Rita.... ...Huhhhhhhh. "Hey um, Rita..." Finn lowers his voice. "You have special dietary restrictions right? I used to cook for my sister all the time but I haven't been able to see her since I'm paying so she can stay in a Nest... She's been visiting the doctors a lot more lately in prep for her operation...You mostly like fish, right? And your...nutrient shake?" He seems unsure of what else to call it and is too shy to ask if she's a Blood Fiend despite not having red eyes.
Angela	When Lilian speaks up, the local Fixer quiet down. Lenny gets a hopeful look in her eyes and balls her fists against her uniform impatiently. She doesn't interrupt or fidget too much, but it's clear she's hoping for... ''something''. Whatever that is. When Lilian speaks to 'The Multiversal Fixers' about the Lambent Dragon incident, Solace's expression visibly sours. Not by much, but it's frankly remarkable her facial expression shifted at all. She feels a strong personal connection to the event, not just because she couldn't get past Merelisa's defenses--but also because her falling for that trap with the Middle is what led to Merelisa's attack in the first place. It may have been all bu inevitable, but it doesn't read that way to Solace. She isn't just content with being a capable Fixer of the Association. She wants to be the very best like no one ever was. Which is a new feeling. She didn't care before She cares now. But what can she do with but an axe, a sword, and a sidearm against a satellite laser? Not much on her own. Solace has been more inclined to cooperate with others as of late. "Director..." She says softly. "You are speaking to Outsiders, but may I participate in the training of... Cooperation as well?" Pete's eyes widen at the idea of being able to commission a piece of personal equipment. He is already drawing up plans for his personal do not steal piece of actual Workshop grade gear. Has he narrowed down what he wants to call it down to like two different names? You bet he has! ...Oh it's a catalogue? ... Well that's okay. He can still name it. He's sure there's something that'd work. He's so hype. "Aw man..." Sanction murmurs. "We really gotta make a splash..." "I have sooome ideas..." Arachnae murmurs back.
Lilian Rook	"Lastly," Lilian sighs, tossing that PDA once smart device notifications reach Elites in the room. "You have a backlog of work I've been reserving for selective assignment. These are marked 'all hands', so I'd suggest that everyone in the room make themselves available for at least one." Picking up another device, Lilian double taps, clears her throat, and begins skimming. "Those available to Grade Eight and below are:" "The Stray Dogs gang, responsible for hiring rats to attack Fixer Finn two months ago, are still at large. They're almost certainly working on behalf of the Thumb, but I doubt that the Syndicate will step in to defend that little gang over something like this. We could leave them, but if we don't hit back for their stunt, they'll get 'the wrong idea' about us. I want them eliminated. I don't care how. I'd prefer Finn be present for this mission." "Greta, District twenty-three, from the Seven Chefs league, ostensibly wants to thank us for our earlier work. Why she's filed it as a job, I don't know, but work is work. She especially wants to thank--" Lilian glances at Rita, "--a certain 'hungry girl', so let's not disappoint her." "The Sweepers in the local Backstreets have become unusually active, to the detriment of everyone in the district. Ordinarily, those creatures are nocturnal, limiting themselves to attacking pedestrians out on the streets after dark. We don't typically have good reason to try and cull their numbers, but lately they've become attacking in the evening, multiple times a day, and even breaking into residences in search of prey. You'll be on protection detail, cooperating with a hodgepodge of other Offices and even the Syndicates on-site. Making friends while you're there is encouraged." "We'll also be investigating G Corporation ruins, located outside of any existing Wing's jurisdiction. It's likely the ones we've marked for exploration are picked clean, but Lenny needs all the help she can get in researching the bio-augments affecting several of our staff. You'll be escorting her, and likely Arachne, Bombinin, and Sanction, dealing with local mutants, and recovering any data or samples you can. An intel or retrieval specialist will be mandatory." Lilian pauses for a drink, incrementally raising her alcohol tolerance meter for the umpteenth time in the last five years. To think she used to be selective about it, too; nothing like now, fanning herself with the loose sheets for a moment while she rotates tablets again. This one is hers; it has the Starktech glow. "The following missions are restricted to Grade Seven and above. They require specialists, networking, keeping your nose clean, and have a greater potential for exigent difficulties." she says.
Lilian Rook	"One Catherine Earnshaw of Wuthering Heights, our biggest backer, and one of the very few I allowed, has entrusted us to recover her deadbeat brother: Hindley Earnshaw. He's unfortunately notorious for gambling and vice, and currently putting serious financial pressure on our valuable backer by flitting away the family estate on low-class back alley gaming. This mission takes place in district twenty; TimeTrack Corporation's territory. You'll have to be filled in on the local legalities, and extract him with preferably minimal bodily harm, while contending with whatever criminal elements are no doubt happily squeezing him for his fortune." "The Southern Section Director of the Liu Association, Director Xiao, is interested in recruiting our assistance in a regular frontier skirmish in the Outskirts; that is to say, you'll be contending with monsters from outside the City. Though this is a low Grade job, I've conferred with our experts and escalated the threat profile for this enemy. You'll be cooperating with Zwei and Liu; the two most heavily militarized Associations besides Hana. They're crucial allies that I need to have in our corner, and I plan to take every opportunity to have our star Fixers work with them. I'm assigning Solace to this as our Outskirts consultant." "We also have a delivery job from the Deyvat Association; a fellow Fixer Association that specializes in courier services and secure retrieval and deliveries. While their cooperation isn't as crucial as Liu and Zwei, we'll inevitably need to start making use of them eventually, and ensuring a good opinion of our reliability will help ensure our use of their services will remain confidential. I don't know why they're enlisting us specifically, but several of our Fixers will be escorting one of theirs through conflict territory in the Backstreets. I'll only permit Fixers who can keep up with high speed urban traversal for this; Deyvat's reputation lives and dies on their speed, and their pay is directly tied to how fast they deliver." Finally, Lilian lowers the last device. Leaning back, she arches her back lightly against the counter, braces on her elbow, and pushes hair stuck to her neck away with an idle flick of her fingers. "You're included in the drill plans already, Solace. I expected as much from you." she says, offhandedly. "It's a shame it happened so early; I'd have liked another six months, but I plan to get you there." She raises her tone to a general address affect. "I didn't get to where I am now by never learning to coordinate with anyone. Once upon a time, I was weaker than you are now." "Ah, but I shouldn't forget to add . . . If you encounter Merelisa Shaynore again, you are not to engage without Rita Ma or myself being notified. The City has room for this sort of thing to happen once, but after our previous defeat, they won't accept us sending out any less than our administratively-approved best next time, or they won't believe we're taking our job seriously." Gesturing with her other hand, Lilian says "The floor is yours. Questions?"
Sarracenia	'The bartender smiles at Sarracenia' Sarra blinks in surprise, but quickly returns the smile. "Thank you~" she says when the drink is given. Put more at ease by such a simple gesture, Sarra sips on her drink daintily through a straw as Lilian starts to speak. Others arriving receive a wave from Sarracenia. Even Kale after his lack of venom during the Fixer grade announcements. Rita's vile looking concoction draws a somewhat unnerved look from Sarra despite her friendly greeting. She listens quietly until the world 'mandatory', at which point she cannot quite help a bit of a soft 'hmph'. Just because she works here does not mean she has to like working for Lilian. It is further explained not to be punishment, which Sarra looks initially skeptical of, but only for a moment. She knows Lilian certainly does not want to be embarrassed or troubled by further failures in the City. "Knowing how to coordinate properly is good." is all she says to that part. 'Plus, I'll be teaching you how to work together to overcome a much stronger opponent. Isn't that what you've always dreamed of?" says Lilian. She shrugs at nothing. "It must be frustrating to show yourselves in front of a villain, full of righteous indignation, betting on a sure thing, only to get laid out all at once. Right? Wouldn't you rather feel the catharsis of overcoming that sort of enemy for once?' Sarra mmphs softly at this. She does not have to answer more than that and her dour expression. Lilian knows already that that is something Sarra wants. Though, Sarra wants to ultimately be able to lay out such villains without having to rely on group tactics. 'At Grade Six or above, may commission two items, or one valued up to ten million, within Grade Six restrictions.' Sarra can't keep her lips and nose from turning up in a bit of a haughty smirk at Lilian's grimace and choice of words. "Ten million, huh?" Sarra giggles. "I wonder what I can afford with that? It is quite generous, Lilian~" she says. Standard issue armor and weapons are offered as well. Sarra will take them of course, but she wonders if she would ever use such things. "I do not really use guns. They feel a bit too...cold, to me." she says, with some obvious intended meaning there. "But, if they are standard issue I suppose I must keep them close." Sarra listens to the list of jobs after that, sipping quietly on her lemonade until Lilian opens the floor to them. "I will happily help with any escort or exploratory missions. Between my athleticism and my power-ups, I should be able to handle high speed urban travel with ease." The mention of Merelisa and the orders that follow draw a melancholy expression from Sarra rather than the anger that might have been expected. "...if we have to engage her again in combat. I am still hopeful that a peaceful solution will be found and that she might even become an asset to Trideag."
Kale Hearthward	> "Hey Kale, we gonna see you around in the field a bit more?" Kale's viral instagram-ready monstrosity of a drink is sweet, not savory, so Pete would be grabbing giant lollipops or entire fruit off of it, not pizza slices. "Yeah, I'm planning on being there, much as I can. My duties elsewhere are dying down a bit. You want to team up?" "... It sounds like we've got a choice for missions, anyway," he says, after Lilian lists the backlog they've got. He pulls up the list on his phone and starts considering the options. "I wouldn't mind having someone with some local knowledge along. Extracting Earnshaw from the trouble he's gotten into? Nonlethal solutions, intrigue, and possibly a need for a quick getaway, might be a good fit-" Kale pauses, and remembers. Pete's an eight, and that's on the seven and above list. "Oh - I'll have to handle that one myself. Then - the sweepers? Protection detail, multiple agencies... That sounds straightforward enough, and has opportunities for outreach." Lilian announces training changes. Well, not having to do the mandatory training was nice while it lasted. Skyrah's gradually finding its own legs again, and doesn't need to be babysat so much, so Kale can't use that as an excuse anymore, anyway. Equipment! "Uh, I'll have to see what's in the catalogue." What do you get for someone who already has melee, ranged, and special attack options? "What's the ahn to commonwealth credits ratio..." he mutters to himself as he looks it up. Yeah, okay, that wouldn't pay for airship upgrades, so there goes that idea.
Sarracenia	'Feels nice, huh?' Sarra blinks in surprise as she realizes she was being talked to. "Oh! Uh...very much so! The right job has been something I have been waiting for since...forever! 'Ecch I get why we had to stop her but personally the Middle had it coming, A lot of people will be better off 'cause of that blast...' 'It hit innocent people too, but I dunno if it's possible ... not to. Dunno if it'll last though.' "...there are a lot of people that will not be at all because of it. And it still may not last. People will move to fill the void in the power structure. I tried to tell Merelisa that if she had continued in that fashion she likely would have had to destroy the entire city to accomplish her goal of leaving no evil alive since...it seems to infuse most everything and everyone in the City in one way or another. She...so far has not agreed with me. She thinks with enough fear then the masses will just...stop being evil. I think we need the opposite approach. We need to give them hope. Hope that things can be better, and that they can make them better."
Rita Ma	Ranks don't concern Rita at all. Incidents concern her a lot. She listens to the not-a-punishment training with a troubled detachment, still sipping intermittently at the concoctience. Knifty's anxiousness is, in a way, a welcome development. 'Caring for someone' is a great way to distract from her own distress: Rita commandeers her from the pizza tables and scrunches Knifty down into the chair next to hers, arm-around-waist and squeezing gently. "Remember what we talked about," she says in a moment of eyes-locked sincerity, before returning to idly side-hugging like Knifty's a stuffed animal. (By which she means 'how Lilian doesn't give up on people who try their best', and 'how there's work for her here even if she can't cut it as a Fixer'.) The spot to Knifty's right remains open for Pete. Finn poking her is very welcome, too. Rita looks up from another drink-sip with pinked lips. "Huh? ... Oh! The drink's called 'devil's blood'," she says perkily, and it's unclear how literal the name is. "You're not thinking about cooking for me, are you? If it's not mostly raw meat, I can't handle it..." Come to think of it, her teeth are pretty sharp. Notch two for 'blood fiend'. Her cheek comes to rest propped-up in her hand, dreamily fond. "But there's lots of ways to prepare 'raw meat'! One of my favorites is spicy marinated crab." There's a more serious topic wrapped in that too, though. The smile slides off her face, though her eyes stay tender. "Your sister's operation... is she going to be better then, Finn? Actually, I think I forgot to ask what she's sick with."
Rita Ma	By the time Rita's murmured conversations are winding down, Lilian's briefing has moved along. She sits up straight to listen with redoubled attentiveness, though she still avails herself of refreshments. Slurrrrrr--ack, hack, cough! "I'm not a 'hungry girl'!" the hungry girl protests soggily, dabbing spilled red from her lips. "I didn't even eat anything from District 23!" Which is technically true, only insofar as she ate anyone. But she doesn't refuse. Right. Deep breath, straightening-out. With the benefit of practice, Rita goes from soggy girl to professional almost-office-lady in just the time it takes Lilian to recount the jobs. "I'm requesting assignment to: the Deyvat delivery," 'urban mobility' is a check for her; "the Outskirts skirmish with Liu and Zwei," 'monsters' check, and a warm glance to Solace; "the G Corporation exploration," intel/retrieval check, and a glance to Arachne; "the District Twenty-Three job," with a slight grimace still; "and..." Her eyes slide back over to Finn, probing him with a silent question. But if he doesn't strongly object: "The Stray Dogs gang. Thank you, Ms. Rook." And a little businesslike nod. Not because it couldn't be done without her. But because she'd feel uneasy about not being there for it. That's a lot of discretion for what might be punching down.
Lilian Rook	'Knowing how to coordinate properly is good.' "If you don't like it, then you can always quit." says Lilian, cooly. "Though, then you'd be Trídéag's first ever washout . . ." 'I wonder what I can afford with that? It is quite generous, Lilian~' "Something that will help you survive when the next big threat isn't quite so soft on you, I hope. That's what the Fixer budget is for." 'But, if they are standard issue I suppose I must keep them close.' "At bare minimum while patrolling the City. Firearms are an extreme luxury here, so consider it a status symbol." Lilian says. "Four of you in company black with standard issues, even holstered and sheathed, will cut a more imposing profile than eight of you swarming around in your generally uncoordinated attire. People here don't take note of gaggles of eccentrics; the smallest particle of notice in the City is an Office or a gang, so the more you look like one, the better." Indeed, even Lilian herself is wearing a branded coat. Admittedly, it is her branding. 'I am still hopeful that a peaceful solution will be found and that she might even become an asset to Trideag.' "Don't get your hopes up. She strong-armed you last time. You're never going to negotiate from a position of strength after already being brushed aside like that." 'Oh - I'll have to handle that one myself. Then - the sweepers?' "You can take on as much work as you feel like." says Lilian, shrugging once more. "But if you miss a job or show up looking exhausted, it goes against your Grade." The second time in two minutes with this. 'Uh, I'll have to see what's in the catalogue.' "Most of what Fixers deal in. Weapons, modifications, specialty munitions, quick getaways, entry tools, armoured weave clothing, shielding, augmentation tattoos, prosthetics . . . honestly, you should see some of the gimmicks they come up with here." Lilian dovetails off into a strangely fond tone. "The standard issue for the Liu central office is this sort of pugilism gear that causes striking at just the right angle to set the target on fire; no fuel or anything. People complain about it being magic. Oh but of course there's those stasis boxes for materiel retrieval, or some of the hacking tools I've seen the Offices using. One of them operates boating and diving gear for salvage jobs, another deals in clockwork implants, and I'm fascinated by those devices that the Warp Corporation people are using . . ." 'She thinks with enough fear then the masses will just...stop being evil. I think we need the opposite approach.' For once, Lilian is kind of on the same page as Sarracenia. She commemorates the occasion by not saying anything. 'I'm not a 'hungry girl'!"' Lilian gets out the biiiig shrug, smug grin and all. "Her words, not mine. Take it up with the client." Lilian says, knowing full well that Rita won't beef with a sweet old* lady. "As a Star of the City, you can take any job you want. I'll have you assigned in the personnel files. I'm certain our clients will be relieved to have you on the case."
Odette Raskins	Taking a seat at the tables, Odette fidgets slightly while doing a decent enough job keeping her cool. Everything sounds fine so far, at least, as everything's within Lilian's projections, nothing out of the ordinary. So far, so good! She's still anxious as all heck, though, mirroring Rita's downcast expression and glancing over a few times as Lilian speaks. She could've sworn Rita looked taller just a few days ago, and Finn seems to notice that, too! She's justn ot sure whether or not it's polite to say anything about that. Knifty's animal crackers are taken graciously, and that (along with Knifty looking even calmer than herself) actually helps Odette settle down just a bit, too. "Thanks... Ah? Oh, this one's..." Wait. She doesn't recognize some of these animals. She's probably holding some of them upside down, but they still get eaten all the same. ""thrice weekly drills" More training? That gets Odette's eyes to widen in surprise and first, then mild excitement even as the rest of her posture relaxes in her seat. She's been working hard already at going through the usual morning drills already, but having direct training for these kinds of exercises means she's really doing something right! "This doesn't sound like punishment at all. Um. Thank you!" She chirps, holding in the urge to kick her feet back and forth. She settles for just the lightest of foot-taps on the floor, then exhales in relief. "I just need to arrange for coverage at..." Wait. If she's on official Company business doing this kind of outreach, wouldn't that mean she doesn't need to put in a leave request? Does that mean she'd be getting paid twice for the same work? That means she could send even more money home. That means she could save more money for paramedic certifications. That means she could even afford to sleep a few more regular hours! Maybe. Everything's really coming up her way this week. "I'll be teaching you how to work together to overcome a much stronger opponent." Despite being excited, however, she still can't get the lingering feeling of failure out of her head, so her excitement is still tamped down just a bit. "We'll need it for sure if there's... Nn. /When/ there's another incident like that." The EMT bites her lip, then shifts around in her seat a bit while bunching a bit of fabric around her leg up under a hand. She winces a moment later and slides her jacket under the other arm, giving it a little cushioning for the pain. It's still sensitive from that stunt against General Satsui, and keeping it even in a light brace still makes it uncomfortable to shuffle around.
Odette Raskins	"Wouldn't you rather feel the catharsis of overcoming that sort of enemy for once?" In the back of Odette's head, she knows she shouldn't actually care about that. For the most part, she's still more concerned about rescue and triage than fighting like that ever again, but ever since coming out and meeting everyone here? It takes a while for her to finally nod once, although she still looks like she's conflicted, maybe even a little ashamed about that. "one piece of personal issue equipment valued at three million ahn or less" "personal-issue armoured uniform, company standard weapon, and sidearm" Both statements get her looking right back up at Lilian in shock. Personalized gear? Weapons? She really does mean to have them all cross-trained and ready to fight at a moment's notice. Spending that much money (after doing a quick conversion on her phone) has her stiffening up again, almost like she's worried about that much being spent on weaponry for herself. "The following missions are restricted to Grade Seven and above." New jobs! They all sound tricky enough even with a whole team and plenty of time to rest, but Lilian wants people on more than one. That means Odette needs to be ready to go on any or all of them, if need be. She listens closely to the descriptions of each job, furrowing her brow slightly differently at each one. She doesn't shut out the possibility of working on any of them, though, but she does seem to be a little more steady in her expression and posture once Lilian opens the floor to discussion. Despite being ready to speak, Odette is still easily cowed by anyone else piping up first. She waits patiently for her turn, and once she can get the floor: "D-Dame Commander? Does...I guess we'll see it in the catalogue, but is that gear we'll be requesting all just for combat?" She asks, then closes her eyes as she lets her mind settle. She knows she can't avoid fighting forever, but- "Is there anything that can help us be... Faster, or stronger?" She's seen some of the stranger weapons in play around the City and all over by now, so she's got something to think about already. "Multi-purpose stuff, that we can use for fighting and for other jobs. Like for the Deyvat job to get around faster, but still be able to handle the monsters?" She's not sure the monster job will be a good match for her, but it's the only way to really prove herself at this point.
Angela	''Lilian provides the missions.'' Lenny brightens as she brings up the job that she's wanted done almost for as long as she's been a part of Trideag. She pumps her fist. Some part of her just cares for the G Corp refugees but the rest sees an opportunity to expand her knowledge and secure her place in the Association. Despite her motivations being mixed, the G Corp personell don't seem to mind it. Why would they? Her growing obsession is an opportunity for all of them. ''The Stray Dogs Gang'' "I would like to--Oh." Finn says, his dramatic proclamation that he would prove himself this time by defeating The Stray Dogs dying in his mouth due to Lilian preempting him. "Well of course I'll go. I need to make up for my messing up last time.. I can't handle the gang on my own, but I'm confident with all my training lately I can do my part!" ''Greta, District twenty-three.'' He doesn't object to the questioning look and even smiles at Rita when she volunteers to help. "You're really signing up for a lot, huh?" Knifty is more concerned about Greta. "She'd be coming here..." Knifty murmurs. "I'll... I'll back you up, Queen Rita....!" She pumps her tiny little fists. Solace gives Rita a look to indicate she intends to also keep herself available if at all necessary. ''Sweepers...'' "We can't have amateurs on a Sweeper protection job. For everyone's sake. I'll go along on that one. I'll bring the Rook Office guys along becaue they specialize in this sort of thing." Ceri adds. ''G-Corp...'' Yeah that team is already set. Arachnae seems to grin through her mandibles like she's excited. The other G Corp folk are decidedly more anxious but Lenny says, "Thank you, Director... I--we won't dissapoint!" ''Catherine...'' This is a little slow to get volunteers. Pete siighs eventually and says, "Yeah I'll go to this one. Catherine doesn't feel like she looks down on folks like us and I've been in Hindley's shoes before Maybe I can talk him into a better life." ''Liu Association.'' "I'll have to go to that too--can't insult the Director by only sending rank and file. Might do to give an appearance yourself," She adds to Lilian. "Even if it's just to speak to the Director." ''Delivery Job!'' The local agents don't have many people who are Deyvat fast. But... "If Queen Rita's going," Oh no Arachnae is doing it now too. "I've got some mobility augs and I know this area well. I guess I'll see if I can keep up with Deyvat." Solace gives Lilian one more nod at her confirmation that she'll be participating in the drills. "There's never enough time." She says, like a koan. To her credit, she doesn't look surprised that Lilian wasn't ALWAYS the kind of person who could beat the Red Mist in a fight.
Angela	Mang-Chi seems to still be thinking about what jobs he wants to take--he's the only one who hasn't overtly volunteered or been volunteered but he gives a glance to Rita and gives her a nod. Okay so he has decided, but since Rita picked several jobs there's no telling which one he'll be jumping in on. Kale offers to deal with Sweepers as well which Ceri doesn't seem to have an issue with. It's decidedly on paper the most dangerous job and Ceri is not surprised that Kale volunteered himself for it. "Yeah, might be tough to handle all of them quickly but that's Association work for you." Pete says. "And I guess that's why we're splitting up into smaller groups. Don't worry, I won't be too far behind you, Grade 7..." He grins, good-naturedly, despite the taunt. Lenny considers Sarracenia's words for a moment and then frowns into her hands. The Rats naturally have complicated feelings about someone taking out the kind of people who preyed on them before the Association. Pete glances to Finn for a moment and vice versa. Knifty is soothed by Rita, but she is an inherently anxious person so these frequent reassurances keep her nice and calm and happy. Even if she's not a Fixer, it'll work out. Knifty reminds herself of this over and over again. It's easier to do when Rita's here. Finn frowns thoughtfully. "Not even Rare, huh...how about fish?" Those teeth DO look sharp, Finn notices. IS she a Blood Fiend? "Oh! crab! Yeah I can do that! I know just the dish...!" His mood improves now that he can prepare a meal for Rita. Perhaps... ''Actually, I think I forgot to ask what she's sick with.'' "I'm not sure I would use the term ''sick'' but she'll be a lot happier that's for sure--maybe someday you can meet her. I sometimes worry she doesn't get out enough but she's the strongest coolest sister a guy could have." Finn smiles happily thinking about it. He didn't say what the operation was about--maybe he thinks it's a little private to say in a place like this--or without her permission. ''And I'm fascinated by thoe devices that the Warp Corporation people are using.'' "Good luck prying that out of W Corp's hands." Bombini says. "That stuff's proprietary. But..." He seems about to suggest something but cuts himself off, biting at his lip. Lenny leans in to murmur to Pete. "You know that Catherine job is Grade 7 or higher right?" "I mean... Achh... You're right. I'll ask the Diretor later." Nobody seems in a rush to deal with Merelisa again. Except for Solace. But she's listened to orders so far.
Sarracenia	'If you don't like it, then you can always quit. Though, then you'd be Trideag's first ever washout . . . ' "I will not quit for anything so simple as that. I am already doing perhaps the most distasteful thing I can think of to be here." Sarra responds. "Besides, I was serious. Coordination is important in group combat. And it allows for proper team combo moves." 'At bare minimum while patrolling the City. Firearms are an extreme luxury here, so consider it a status symbol.' "Oh...I have to have them visible, hm?" Sarra considers this, then shrugs lightly. "Well, it is fine. Another stylish accessory is always nice." Sarra is wearing branding (of a kind) as well. "And the uniform options are quite nice as well." Others pick a mission or two, and Sarra starts to look a bit self-conscious. "Ah...if I had to pick a few, I could assist Pete with Lady Catherine if allowed. Of course, fighting monsters on the outskirts would be good as well. Even though I am -not- a blunt instrument to be aimed at something. But, I will assist wherever I am needed."
Kale Hearthward	> Weapons, modifications, specialty munitions, quick getaways, entry tools, armoured weave clothing, shielding, augmentation tattoos, prosthetics . . . Kale's got some catalog reading to do, clearly. > "Don't worry, I won't be too far behind you, Grade 7..." "Yeah - by the time you catch up, I'll be grade 5," claims Kale.
Rita Ma	Smugged at, Rita slumps forward and burbles her dying breath into her folded arms. "I'll set her straight," she says about Greta, unconvincingly. Equipment... I might as well spend the money. Bulletproof clothes might be nice, but real clothes are a pain to camouflage. I can do without weapons. I've never really needed an 'entry tool'. Who knows if augmentation tattoos would work on me. That leaves, maybe... Rita cranes her neck over at Finn, beside her. "Finn? Can you recommend anything for 'extraction tools', or things to protect teammates? And... some kind of respirator with filters, if you know good styles for those." To keep out the smell of human blood. She's going to be getting a lot of that. (Come to think of it, whenever she takes a sip from that beverage, her eyes dilate.) Knifty perks her back up from her slouch, if only to object. "I keep telling you, I'm not-- well, I'm not your 'Queen', so--" Her defensively-held-up palms are turned on Arachne a second later, wiggling in a wide-eyed panic. "No!! Not y-- I mean, not ever! Come onnnnn..." Star of the City, bullied and betrayed. At least Finn is on her side. "Raw fish is fine! And so you are trying to cook for me," she says warmly, spinning-down. "I'll enjoy it even if it isn't real 'human food'... but it's nice if it's something I can share with others. You know?" I'm not sure I would use the term ''sick'' but she'll be a lot happier that's for sure..." "Huh?" A moment of noncomprehension. Then something clicks. "Oh!! I get it. I'd love to meet her someday!" So Finn's sister is just like Ms. Rook . . .
Rita Ma	She takes a little while to relax as other people talk, leaning on Knifty's shoulder. In the meantime, her own thoughts percolate. She looks to Lilian, donning that warmly-professional mien again. "Thank you, Ms. Rook. If I'm able to secure any monster allies during the Outskirts mission, we should talk about their acceptable deployment, and whether they can be used inside the City at this stage. That simple statement menaces in at least three different ways.
Lilian Rook	'I just need to arrange for coverage at...' "You're receiving off-site training. That's increasing your value as a corporate asset." says Lilian. "Fill that out and get some sleep for a change. I won't be letting you rest until I'm satisfied." As if she could read her mind . . . 'D-Dame Commander? Does...I guess we'll see it in the catalogue, but is that gear we'll be requesting all just for combat?' "Fixers are requested for combat jobs three out of four times, so I recommend it. Nevertheless, it doesn't have to be a weapon. K Corp invests plenty in advanced medical triage and dispensary systems for their security agents, for instance." 'Is there anything that can help us be... Faster, or stronger?' Lilian frowns, just slightly. "There's no shortage of it. In fact, the City may very well be the promised land for those who want to exceed the limitations they were born with. Nowhere else is money, quite so literally, power." 'I'm confident with all my training lately I can do my part!' "I'll look forward to seeing it." Lilian says, with the tiiiiiiny smile from before. Then she double takes at Knifty. "Queen? Beg pardon?" 'I'll go along on that one. I'll bring the Rook Office guys along becaue they specialize in this sort of thing.' "I'm pleased to hear it." says Lilian. "Frankly, I felt uneasy with not restricting it to Grade Seven and up, but the number of factions cooperating against the common enemy felt like a suitable place for as many Fixers as possible to gain experience. I'd be greatly relieved if you were able to direct them, as veterans." 'Yeah I'll go to this one. Catherine doesn't feel like she looks down on folks like us and I've been in Hindley's shoes before' "Thank you very much." Lilian says, a little wryly. "Needless to say, this is a job that I'll need to make a personal appearance at. I'll appreciate your expertise in . . ." She makes a few meaningless gestures with her free hand, then sighs out, "Talking to men." 'I'll have to go to that too--can't insult the Director by only sending rank and file. Might do to give an appearance yourself' "I intend to. And not only for appearance's sake." Lilian side-eyes Ceri. "I intend to measure their strength for myself. If they don't measure up to their reputation, I'll have to focus on my efforts to wrap three or so Colours around my finger." She says it like it isn't a joke. ". . . Wait, Queen again? Did I miss something?" Lilian stares at Arachne. 'There's never enough time.' "Not the first time, or the second time, or again after that. But as long as you stay alive, you'll get there." says Lilian, grimly. "On that, the Red Mist and I agree." Eyeing Mang-Chi, Lilian interjects into his quiet contemplation, "For now, I'd like you to take on jobs that Lenny and Pete will be present for. I don't doubt your dedication, but being so familiar with each other is a strong asset you shouldn't be eager to let go of just yet. I'll also be expecting you to begin looking after Shoda, Koffee, and Tee, once you've gained more experience." 'That stuff's proprietary. But...' "Continue." Lilian says. She doesn't say it's an order, but . . . "I'm not personally set on corporate espionage, but the secrets of the City will reveal themselves to me eventually; one way or another."
Lilian Rook	'I will not quit for anything so simple as that. I am already doing perhaps the most distasteful thing I can think of to be here.' "We all make sacrifices for the greater good." Lilian sighs, theatrically. "Of course, as a Grade Six Fixer, you're suitable for Catherine's request. However, I will take immediate action should you respond to . . . hypothetical 'poor manners' from her brother, in your 'usual fashion'." 'And... some kind of respirator with filters, if you know good styles for those.' Lilian glances at Rita from the corner of her eye; a hint of surprise, tinged with approving intrigue. Then she narrows her eyes at Rita and huffs through her nose. At absolutely nothing in particular. 'Thank you, Ms. Rook. If I'm able to secure any monster allies during the Outskirts mission, we should talk about their acceptable deployment, and whether they can be used inside the City at this stage.' "We'll cross that bridge when we come to it." says Lilian, just a little snippy about it. "You are a 'Star of the City', after all. You exist outside the definition of all sorts of rules. For good and ill."
Kale Hearthward	Kale spends a few minutes looking through the catalog, then a few more minutes actually finishing his ridiculous drink, and then tries to lock back in to the conversation. "On the topic of training, I'm planning on leading an exercise in the near future," he says. "Trying to model some other common multiversal threat patterns. Especially for the locals, who aren't going to be as familiar with the Hiromis and Eggmans and Griers of the multiverse, and their typical tactics." Should he add Petra on there too? He was tempted to add Rita Ma. ... Hell, honestly, he's wondering if he should add Lilian Rook to the list, after her ongoing performance in the simulation. > "D-Dame Commander? Does...I guess we'll see it in the catalogue, but is that gear we'll be requesting all just for combat?" "Reminds me - we need to get together in the near future, Odette. We still need to coordinate medical efforts and figure out where our specialities overlap and complement each other." Oh, see, Odette, medic training stuff, that shouldn't be so bad- "Also I need to make sure you can fight properly."
Angela	''Queen? Beg pardon?'' Knifty makes a faint 'eep noise and she says, "I..I um, i mean, ahhh, you know, she's so strong and n-noble you know...Like a...you know..." she was so worried about not being a strong Fixer that she forgot to moderate her language (she often does). Arachnae for her part only gives a hapless shrug. "I look up to her." Knifty looks back to Odette and gives her two thumbsup, though for what is unclear. Maybe because she ate the animal crackers... Just that...?? ''By the time you catch up, I'll be grade .'' "Yeah yeah, you started a Grade higher just so you know, just cause you're from the Outside! I wouldn't let it get to your head!" Pete warns Kale before pausing. "Well your airship's cool." Pete grudgingly admits that one. ''Oh!! I get it. I'd love to meet her someday!'' It's time for Finn to be noncomprhending before something 'clicks' for him! 'Oh, Rita's just like my sister...!' Finn smiles. "Thanks for understanding! Yeah once she's recovered I'll definitely get a day pass so we can pay her a visit!" He tells Rita. He's not sure how it resulted in strange dietary requirements but he figures offworld science can be a little strange sometimes. Knifty sighs happily as Rita leans on her. She tries to be both soft (easy) and still (hard) so she can be an adequate perch. ''I'd be greatly relieved...'' "Fighting Sweepers isn't my expertise--I was a duelist--but I know the drill. It's best if you can prevent them from swarming but it's easier said than done." ''Talking to men.'' Pete nods solemnly. "You wouldn't believe how often ..." He notices something. "Huh... Are Kale and Aidan the only guys helping from offworld?" Unstated is 'And they're both animal people?? "I'll uh. I'll dress nice, but not too nice." This isn't the kind of mission that wearing a uniform is neccessarily the best, particularly when you're wearing a uniform of a rising star as opposed to someone digging himself deeper in the ditch. ''I intend to. And not only for appearance's sake. ... I'll have to focus on my efforts to wrap three or so Colours around my finger.'' "They do seem drawn to you, ma'am. I don't know whether to apologize or congratulate you for that." As one of the higher Grades in the office, Ceri has a keener understanding of how far even a Grade 1 is from a Color. As Solace nods once more to Lilian. She can't die. She has people she has to look after. Mang-Chi is startled from being quiet and he laughs awkwardly, "Oh uh. Nah I'll go with Pete for sure. And Lenny." Like he got caught without an answer prepared and is hastily making it up. "I guess you noticed I'm a bit of a loner too, haha... but I'll think about how to clock more jobs." ''Continue.'' "...Well," Bombini says. "It's against the law for Colors to go on the same trains as everyone else for a reason, I bet. You're not a Color yet--but you're as skilled as one. Only reason I can imagine them keeping Colors off those trains is because there's something they wanna keep secret there."
Angela	''Various questions from Rita to Finn.'' "Oh yeah I know a lot about Fixer tools. Most Fixsers just get augments and respirators but, well, you know I don't use augs. You seem real strong, you might be able to make use of a shield real good. Zwei doesn't treat their shields as proprietary cause they want people to sign up, but there's a few styles. As for respirators, don't worry none I'll run you through all the options. And--#-1 FUNCTION (ANSNI) NOT FOUND He smiles. "I think I can make some good crab dishes. I just... well, I guess I'm missing cooking for my sister, so I appreciate you playing along, Miss Rita."
Sarracenia	'However, I will take immediate action should you respond to . . . hypothetical 'poor manners' from her brother, in your 'usual fashion'.' Sarra lets out a soft huff and crosses her arms. "You will not have to worry about that." she says, looking off to the side. "I will exercise the utmost self-restraint. After all, the task is to bring him back with minimal damage." 'Queen? Beg pardon?' Sarra giggles a bit and the smirk on her face indicates she is about to say something snarky, but then she remembers where she is and the whole 'that is that' thing, and she ends up holding her mouth open for a moment before closing it again. Instead, she looks to Rita. "Odd. I thought you were some sort of queen now after the battle for your world, Miss Rita? Is it not simply respectful for one to call a Queen by her title?" Is she serious or just gently teasing Rita? It is hard to tell for sure, but a slight smile on Sarra's face might give it away. Sarra finishes her lemonade, then stands and fluffs out her dress. "Is that all? I should really get home if so. Mother and father get worried quite easily after I came home burnt to a crisp. The heroism of it seems lost on them, unfortunately."
Rita Ma	Leaning back against Knifty, Rita sighs pleasantly. Chatting up Finn is just really nice. He reminds her of people back home, before they had to grow up a little more. "I'm not 'playing along', Finn. I think you're really sweet. And anything you do for me, I'll try to repay it. I'd love to meet your sister! Maybe we could take her to visit my family, too...?" "You are a 'Star of the City', after all. You exist outside the definition of all sorts of rules." If Lilian (or Kale) is at all keeping a finger on Rita's mental state, the gears ticking behind that businesslike smile are clear. Rita is a smart girl. She's asked this twice, and twice gotten the same answer. She knows exactly what Lilian meant by that; or maybe knows more than she meant. 'The rules can't stop you' is a non-answer. On the surface, there's no reason to say it. Lilian has a hundred ways to incentivize or discourage Rita's behavior. So when Lilian says that, Rita's mind drifts back to a time she raided the Phantom Circle to abolish an underclass's debt, and they both knew 'thank you' went unspoken. She translates it to 'I trust you'. To 'I'm taking my hands off the steering wheel'. To 'give me time to object, but don't make me admit I'd keyturn if I had to'. "I understand, Ms. Rook," Rita says, with a head-bow and a pleasantly vacant edge. It's a tone normally reserved for exercises of her royal power. Speaking of-- "Queen? Beg pardon?" Jolted back to this horseshit, Rita nearly knocks over her glass of 'devil's blood' and has to super-reflex catch it by the stem. "I haven't done anything weird!!" she almost plead-yells, eyes squarely on Lilian. Then to Sarra: "Well, I'm- sort of, but- not of them!!" She pivots back to Arachne and Knifty, carefully setting down the glass. "You'd know if I were! I'm not- I'm not turning any Trideag members into my thralls or anything! Honest!" Whether or not she could do that to the G-Corpers, she's unsure. The genuine compliments from Arachne dig deeper than the 'queen' title does, though; she colors a deeper pink and slumps, muttering in her bitter defeat.
Odette Raskins	"That's increasing your value as a corporate asset." "Fill that out and get some sleep for a change." "Right, right... They love that kind of stuff, anyway, and I only tell them what's in the news reports, anyway." Odette lets out a satisfied little noise as Lilian helps her sort through her own thoughts on the matter, then chuckles lightly with an awkward little smile. "Yeah, I should.. Y-yeah. Er. Is it that obvious?" It takes Odette a minute to start wondering if she actually said anything out loud about work or sleep earlier. She doesn't quite remember doing it, but... No, she probably did. Besides, even if she didn't, Lilian's pretty observant about these things, and eye bags are pretty easy to see. She also takes a mental note to buy some makeup and learn how to cover all that up the next time she goes home. ". . . I recommend it. Nevertheless, it doesn't have to be a weapon." "In fact, the City may very well be the promised land for those who want to exceed the limitations they were born with. " "Doesn't have to be, but..." It really should. Again, Odette's thoughts turn towards what she could be doing with whatever fancy things in the catalogue she has yet to even see. "Something to help with triage or evacuating people sure would be great, too, but I've got bags and harnesses for those already. It sounds like... Yes, a weapon would be the better pick, j-just because of all the combat jobs. I can't really save anyone if I can't get them away from whoever hurt them in the first place, right?" The mention of triage and dispensary systems is too directly related to her main focus to ignore, though, and Odette rubs the shoulder of her injured arm idly. "I might have to take a look at what they've made already for.. Er. Extra ideas, then. And if I know how much their more expensive stuff is, then if I ever-" She inhales deeply, then slaps her hands against her cheeks. A second later, Odette's lower lip quivers and her eyes tear up as she remembers that her arm is still messed up and she just moved it kind of fast. "Mhgh.... Wh-when I become a higher grade, I'll kn... Know what else I can qualify for." Odette lowers her arm back to her bundled up jacket carefully, then pops a few painkillers in the hopes that'll help within the next hour or so. "Say... Er. Dame Commander? Aside from the standard weapon and sidearm, do you have any recommendations on what I should... Could get?"
Odette Raskins	"We still need to coordinate medical efforts and figure out where our specialities overlap and complement each other." "Also I need to make sure you can fight properly." Looking over at Kale, Odette nods quickly and nudges her trusty duffel bag with her foot. "Oh! S-sure thing. That'll help us divide up work if we have to go into full triage mode, too.. We might not have as much coverage as a regular medbay-" Wait. This isn't a space station. "Hospital, but getting people stabilized before then should definitely be.. Um. Good to practice!" Odette's confidence in medical matters easily overshadows her confidence in combat ability, though, and she laughs awkwardly before rubbing her neck. "R.. Right. Er. That's... Well, it's a good Dame Commander Rook is going to have start on this training, right?" Knifty's thumb-raises confuses Odette, but the medic takes it in stride. Besides, she can't be too worried about what that means after eating some tasty sugar crackers. "I haven't done anything weird!!" Rita's outburst gets the most confused look Odette's had in recent memory. "M.. Miss Rita? Is everything okay...?" She asks, sounding genuinely concerned and even more confused when Rita starts talking about thralls. Her eyes go to the drink she's holding, her mind wanders back to hearing someone call her a queen, and then Odette's eyes light up again. "I... I see! I think I get it." Nodding firmly in the way that only someone that definitely doesn't get it would, Odette shuffles her bag around until she can slip her good arm through, then fishes out a small pill bottle and approaches Rita. "Take a few of these before you go to bed. They'll help when you wake up!" It's hangover medication.
Lilian Rook	'Trying to model some other common multiversal threat patterns.' "That'd be easily one of the most useful things you've done in a while." Lilian says to Kale. "If I may be so bold, I doubt there's anyone around with more experience than you in getting folded in half by the Multiverse's 'cut above' threats." Ow. "And that's hardly to mock you or anything." Didn't feel like it. "Most Elites call it quits after one or two, or simply learn to avoid them. And there's really no reason that your streak should be continuing. I'd like to see you on the winning side one day, for all of your persistence." ". . . And before you get ahead of yourself." Lilian pushes herself to sit upright, then languidly slumps forward into resting her chin on her palm, supported atop her crossed knee. "Keep it to examples that are possible to beat. No one that has already won in everyone's hearts. If you're already convinced before the first steel is drawn, no amount of training will let you defeat an enemy that no one expects to beat." 'I look up to her.' Well, it's bullying Rita a little bit, so, "I'll let it pass." 'Fighting Sweepers isn't my expertise--I was a duelist--but I know the drill.' "Since the job will largely involve defending civilians in their homes, familiarity with mass combat won't strictly be a priority." 'Huh... Are Kale and Aidan the only guys helping from offworld?' "I have some contacts who didn't choose to join the Association." Lilian says, evasively. "For some utterly incomprehensible reason, men seem to find me intimidating to be around." 'They do seem drawn to you, ma'am. I don't know whether to apologize or congratulate you for that.' Lilian presses her lips into a thin line, on this surely totally unrelated topic. "It's only natural. I was drawn to the Red Mist on first sight; before I knew anything about her. People with the 'spark' can't help but naturally gravitate to one another." 'Only reason I can imagine them keeping Colors off those trains is because there's something they wanna keep secret there.' That makes Lilian both sit up and forward. "Interesting." she says, pokerfacing only for effect. "That may be the most interesting thing I've heard in a while." 'I will exercise the utmost self-restraint.' "I'll be holding you to that." 'I understand, Ms. Rook' "I knew you would." 'Yeah, I should.. Y-yeah. Er. Is it that obvious?' "I have a sense for these things." Lilian shrugs, answering half-truthfully. "You'd be shocked how little about your state slips by me. What you're feeling and thinking comes out in a million little ways."