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

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Yeah. I've seen enough 'exceptional' people to recognize that," Kaitlyn responded, before taking a few more bites herself.

"The Dungeon didn't really allow for breaking other people. Not like the Empire favors from what I've seen, at least. It's... Never mind. Should try to take some happiness here, not think about that side of things."

[theriflespiral]

"Mm. Yes, let us not dwell on this." Spoken like a woman who at least appears to be a staunch supporter of the Empire (she swears), but unwilling to start an argument with a new friend... albeit with a wink to Kaitlyn.

"Well, that circles back around to-- is there anything in particular you enjoy doing?"

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Used to be big on theatre, but not much of that where I was," she admits, catching on enough to return to operational security. Right. Stealth of words, not just of form.

"Fighting. Partying. Wondering where I got some of the clothes in my collection from."

[theriflespiral]

"I used to fancy myself a star of grand melee," Natalia says. Maybe 'gamenlic geflit' is a bit of a key thing, because someone nearby calls, Boast! and soon enough the call runs round the benches.

Natalia sighs, facepalming. She holds up one finger, then stands, putting her strong leg on the bench and leaning against it as she shouts to all assembled. "So! You wish to hear the boast of Nathalie, the Frozen!? Very well! Truly shall I tell you this: eight years I fought in those melees, in the hue and cry! Many men your size and more were fought! When the hues and cries were done, i stood uncarved by man and beast, strong of arm, hale of body! Best that if you can!"

As they laughed-- and set to topping that story again and again, mostly with tales of the sea and sky-- Natalia returned to her seat. "Popular sport, it seems. But I would not mind testing my melee skills with you."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... I could be up for this at some point," Kaitlyn says. "Not that I've got a boast on that tier. Best I've got is 'escaped some shit that statistically no one escapes from'. Hydras may hate fire, but freezing still works."

[theriflespiral]

She leans over, conspiratorial. "they don't either, and even i'm stretching the truth a little. It's why they laughed."

She hummed, impressed. "That said, a hydra? I'm impressed. Don't think I could beat a hydra."

[frost_and_shinies]

"Didn't beat them, just dealt enough damage and annoyance to slow them down enough I could get away. Which, still not nothing by any reasonable measure given those things are a serious threat to actual organized parties in my home place, but..."

[theriflespiral]

"Objective achieved? You won." At least they're not paying attention right now. "Sometimes, survival is victory. ... A lot of times. More times than I care to admit."

[frost_and_shinies]

"You're not wrong there," Kaitlyn responds. "Get away with the artifact, et cetera."

[theriflespiral]

"Get to the Cathedral or the local base, let the reinforcements handle it, you know how it goes," she agrees, again, with a slight wink. She's quite happy to cover for Kaitlyn.

"Big world out there. I'll be glad to have you with me, then."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Yeah. I hope so."

She sighs a bit. "... So much to do and learn."

[theriflespiral]

"Don't fuss too much over it; it took me plenty of time once I was mustered out-- a little over a year of hard work to even get where I am." ... It has been just over a year, hasn't it, since she arrived.

Fuck.

She didn't want to think about that.

[frost_and_shinies]

"... All this has gone a while, huh."

Another few spoonfuls of soup. "... It's about how long I've been experiencing before the experience changed, I guess."

[theriflespiral]

"Yes. It... May take a while yet, too. I hope it doesn't, but it may."

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Yeah."

Another bit of soup. "And I've got a lot to learn in the meanwhile."

[theriflespiral]

"How are you on currency?" Having learned this is an occasional sticking point--

[frost_and_shinies]

"Easy enough."

Three tiers, base ten, and, this is important, only one type - you don't have to track who knows how many different types each used for specific things.

... Wow, her last place was weird.

"Let's talk about more elsewhere, though."

[theriflespiral]

"Agreed, we should free up bench space to be polite, and collect my order." She stands.

For some reason, it continues to burn, the frustration at not being who she can be.

She offers half the packages to Kaitlyn, but can handle this much, at least, on her own. She gets a faint smile. "Tell me. How many employees on shift at Penguin right now?"

She knows, and wants to see if Kaitlyn can glean a good guess just based on Natalia's 'usual order'.

[frost_and_shinies]

"... Enough," Kaitlyn responds. "I'll get everything there as quick as I can." There's a confidence to her smile... Even as she realizes she doesn't actually. Know the area.

She can figure it out easily enough. Meet more people. Keep moving. And maybe do some good.

[theriflespiral]

In truth, including Natalia, and now Kaitlyn, there were no more than ten, between cashiers, a hansom team, several runners, and management and supply (entirely on Natalia).

Runners she's hoping to train, but for now, feeding them well and keeping them fit was the priority, while she looked for a venue.

Still, Natalia keeps that hint of a smile-- the satisfaction of a puzzle slowly coming together.

By the time she gets back to Penguin, a good portion are waiting, and they break for lunch largely as she did.

[frost_and_shinies]

"Rounds complete," Kaitlyn observes.

And she calmly steps in. "Guess it's formal now, then. I'm working for you now."

[theriflespiral]

"Welcome to the team. Pay is good, benefits are nice, I promise safety more than speed in delivery-- yours as well as the package's, ideally."

She's pretty sure she's bad at smiling. But she's making an attempt.

[frost_and_shinies]

"Makes sense. I can handle that pretty nicely, I think."