01 | New Phone Who This

[frost_and_shinies]

Looking at this a bit, it seems like introducing oneself is normal here, so. Greetings, Crimson Corsairs.

I'm Kaitlyn, a Chosen of Winter. Skipping the details you can ask about over drinks or something if you're really curious, I'm a 'skirmisher'. Sneak around enemies and hit them where they don't expect to be hit from with light-fire ice abilities. Or complete a goal without hitting them at all because they never saw me in the first place. (I love it when I get loot that way honestly.)

I'm not new to working in a team, I'm not new to adventure and combat... But uh I am new to both at once, so. Help adjusting to the combination might be good.

Looking forward to meeting people and doing stuff, and, uh. Not sure what else to say?

So. Hi.

Comments

[theriflespiral]

There's a moment where her brow knots, where she pauses and tries to think that through, and then she says, like she hadn't realized someone could have a happy memento of their past, "Oh! Then... If we can't preserve it and still analyze it, I'd say keep it."

"But let's see if we can't find a way to charge it, at least. There might be something we can arrange with a small lightning-Ether Stone system."

[frost_and_shinies]

"Actually have a solar panel for that. It takes its sweet time doing the job, but it does the job for now."

Kaitlyn smiles a bit. "Thanks for understanding that part. I get the potential of higher tech, but..."

[theriflespiral]

There was another thoughtful moment, and she shook her head. "Let me apologize for first thinking of the strategic implications rather than your sentiment."

She doesn't say anything further on that directly, until she opens a drawer and produces a bit of sail-cloth, torn and holed, and a piece of flotsam wood. "These are pieces of the Mad Archer and the Hand to Mouth. They are too small to be used in repairs, so I took them."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Ships that were damaged in the fight, or lost entirely?", Kaitlyn asks.

[theriflespiral]

"Ships I served on, before coming to Elysium. The Mad Archer, so far as I know, can still sail. The Hand to Mouth was a slaver ship we took, and I was made part of her prize crew. I do not know her final fate once she arrived to her final destination, but I know there are many who emerged from it no longer Servants."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Servants? I feel like there's more to this tale," Kaitlyn specified.

The fact that it was a pirate crew didn't seem to faze Kaitlyn as much as the emphasis on the word 'Servants'.

[theriflespiral]

Natalia pulls down the high collar of her coat to reveal a fading scar on her neck and a bandage at the shoulder. burns, man. not even once. "Most Outlanders get put in suppression collars. We're called Servants and made to do the worst work. Powers and physical abilities are suppressed. Shocks can be applied any time."

She pulls the collar back up. "Even they, however, are not to be sold like chattel."

And then, there is ice.

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Heard about that. Didn't know the term."

Kaitlyn does look angry. "I'm... Lucky I escaped. The fact that there are those treated even worse than that... Well. We wreck the shit of those doing it. Chunk by chunk."

[theriflespiral]

"And that's what happened. We fell on their flotilla, took ships as prize, and removed the people to Flotsam. While I do not, as a rule, consider my occupation a good one..." She paused, and touched the wood of the Hand to Mouth. "Removing such people as would do this from a good ship was something... Satisfying."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... I can get that. Look forward to making it happen more often. Bad things to the worst people, good things to those who deserve better, am I right?"

Kaitlyn doesn't sound like she has superb conviction on this, if we're honest... But she does seem to believe it's worth acting on.

[theriflespiral]

"Then I hope to be with you when it is our turn on the chopping block," Natalia says. "No more like me, but I know what I am."

She pauses. "I should get a stove. This is the sort of talk that deserves coffee."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... You think we will become like our foe? Or simply that this quest will end with our deaths?", Kaitlyn couldn't help but ask.

"... Getting away's always been my method, really. Cowardly, perhaps. But it kept working."

[theriflespiral]

"I mean that I am aware I am not a kind or moral person," Natalia replied, pulling her hand at last into her lap. "That... me and that girl we faced, we are more alike than we are different."

Now she hums, a hint of brightness, a flower in the ice. "Though. If getting away is your pleasure, we certainly don't lack for it in Elysium. Name an amenity and let us go together."

1/3

[frost_and_shinies]

2/3

[frost_and_shinies]

3/3

[frost_and_shinies]

The shift in tone. The moral acknowledgment. The use of 'getting away' as a double-entendre of sorts.

Right, this is Elysium, the entire thing they do is-

"Erm."

Congratulations, Natalia, you have now added a different color to Kaitlyn's face.

Re: 3/3

[theriflespiral]

Why had she said that. Why had she said that!?

"Purely as a measure to get you acclimated to the city," Natalia adds, rapid-fire. Surely that will put Kaitlyn at ease?

[frost_and_shinies]

Kaitlyn pauses.

"I mean. Doesn't have to be just that? I-if you're, erm. Interested?"

She's not exactly had a steady relationship before, but adventurers are adventurers so she's had a few experiences within the Dungeon realm, but this might be different or maybe not and wait what about Natalia's condition oh hell what did she just do-

She doesn't manage to say anything further before Natalia has a chance to respond.

[theriflespiral]

Natalia has no idea. She pauses. "I would not mind spending more time with you outside of strictly necessary contexts."

Her eye twitches with expected pain, and then she breathes with relief when it does not, in fact, result in her hands starting to shake, her teeth chattering.

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Your body handled that okay. G-good. Sorry. I wasn't thinking."

Natalia managed to clamp down enough? Or are certain emotions okay? Or...

"... I gotta admit, I'm curious what even caused that condition for you. It's obviously way different than what I've got going on..."

[theriflespiral]

"I am not certain either. Regardless of its nature, it did not start expressing itself before I--" Before she won the most dangerous game, and joined the Corsairs.

In short, before she took off her suppression collar. "-- the collar must have kept it under control."

She is not putting that thing back on.

[frost_and_shinies]

"... We'll just have to work on better solutions, then," Kaitlyn offered. "Because not a chance that thing goes back on. Ever."

[theriflespiral]

"Honestly it is more remarkable that the collar was suppressing something, because it sure was not my physical or mental capabilities." There's a brief pause. "Well. Considering my performance, maybe the mental ones."

we done for today, boss? "Ah-- yes. Let me hand over the pay for today and you can go, now your route's finished."

A quick transaction later, slips recorded carefully, Natalia stood up from the chair and buttoned her coat and put on her glove.

[frost_and_shinies]

"Let's not assume that barring evidence," Kaitlyn couldn't help but say with a slightly odd tone.

Kaitlyn, by now, had her glove back on.

"... So. Any idea where next?"

[theriflespiral]

"As you say," she nods.

"As for where to go-- No shortage of coffee houses and ale houses near the docks; no shortage of thirsty sailors after carting their masters about, after all." She slowly locks up, and hangs up a sign that tells both customers and delivery folk she is OUT FETCHING LUNCH. "Warm meal isn't hard, either. Most places shouldn't need too much time to get to."