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Post by DataNinja on Jan 15, 2017 19:13:36 GMT
Silas
After having been a... less than perfectly efficient practitioner of battlefield medicine, you resolve to find some way to practice on the sorts of wounds that might need immediate, quick, treatment, rather than those that you had minutes or more to give a treatment to. And, seeing as how there was a notable lack of nearby battlefields to practice with, you've headed for the nearest alternative... the gym.
The Technician gym is a rather large facility, with a large amount of equipment for training of all sorts, including various combat styles. Despite its size, there are few people in it right now, enough to count on one hand. A few of them you recognize in passing, but there's one that you do know. Doing what looks like some sort of martial art exercise in one of the training areas, is Emily.
Thoron
After being dismissed, and some false starts, you're eventually able to schedule some time in to see Cain, after he's finished with his other duties for the day. Or, what passes for a day in the eternal artificial light of subterranean Arcadia.
After arriving at Cain's office and entering, you see him seated casually at his desk, a small glass of vermillion liquid in front of him. "Thoron," he says, nodding, and gesturing to some chairs up against the wall. "Pull up a chair, and make yourself comfortable. Or stand, I suppose, if you'd rather. Regardless, what is it that you'd like to talk to me about?"
Soleil
Now that you aren't being held in between missions, you're able to get out of the confined spaces of the Technician quarters, and into the slightly-less-confined corridors of Arcadia. There's a lot of people out and about whenever you go out, and, for the most part they aren't anyone that you recognize. But, during one of these excursions, as you're swinging by the Shaft, you spot a figure leaning against the railing preventing people from falling into the Shaft, just staring into the abyss. It takes you a moment to recognize her, since she's in civilian clothes, but it's Rose.
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Post by Major on Jan 16, 2017 2:02:51 GMT
Glad to get a chance to explore, Soleil had decided it would be a good day to head out and take plenty of pictures of the nearby areas. As she had been traveling one day she saw a pretty lady near the shaft and snapped a picture before pausing and tilting her head surprised. Looking closer, the figure appeared familiar.
As she got closer and recognized Rose she waved. "Hi! Whacha doing?" She asked confused before looking down the shaft and taking a picture.
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jan 16, 2017 3:17:49 GMT
Thoron had been rather surprised that Cain would be able to see him today, at all. Given how much post-mission information there must be to sort, not to mention the... unique challenges they provided him this time, did that make him an exceptionally comptetent desk-worker, or was there really less than he anticipated? No matter, there were more important things to dwell on... Like the aforementioned problems they continued to plague him with.
Although, it would not do to start with that, considering how much of their debriefing it dominated. Best to save for later... In that case, he could discuss the structure of their own group? That, too, had some significant baggage, so instead, why not discuss logistics first? Without a preference, Thoron elects to pull up a chair. He sits about as stiffly as possible, but at least it should reflect a more casual atmosphere, or somesuch?
"Good evening, Captain. Thank you. I apologize for the short notice, but several concerns, most regarding this most recent mission, were brought to my attention. To start, due to the current structure for mission budgets, my team was unable to prepare rather valuable effects, and we have yet to even estimate the impact that spending what little time we did preparing cost the city... Economically, and in terms of lives lost. To that end, perhaps it would be prudent to allow us a standing budget, to minimize the time spent readying?"
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Post by Moriya on Jan 16, 2017 5:02:10 GMT
Silas is somewhat disappointed at the lack of activity in the gym. He'd been hoping to get started immediately and was ready to try out a few ideas for speedy treatment. Still, it looks like the time spent here won't be a complete waste. He'd been meaning to talk to Emily, and now is as good a time as any. Assuming, of course, that she won't be upset by an interruption in her training. Silas stalls for a minute or three by getting some water from the drinking fountain, using the bathroom in the locker room, and similar things, hoping that she'll hit a pause in her workout.
Eventually, Silas approaches her training area. With a smile and a wave, he greets his fellow Technician. "Hi Emily. Do you have a few minutes?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 16, 2017 5:23:52 GMT
Soleil
At the sudden approach, Rose briefly jumps, before looking at Soleil. "Oh, hello Soleil," she says, "What are you doing out here. Besides, uh, taking pictures?" She gestures to the camera. "I don't see what you see around here that you'd want to take a picture of, but, whatever tickles your fancy, I suppose."
Thoron
"No need to be so formal, Thoron. Relax." He gives a hint of a smile. "Would you care for a small drink? Not much, as I like thinking rationally, but it might help. Lum berry wine. A small luxury I afford myself." "Anyways, there is the potential that that could be arranged," Cain says, after waiting for a response. "In what sort of capacity are you thinking. Because, of course, there's a world of difference between having a few Pokéballs ready to go, and having special equipment just standing by for your own use."
Silas
At first it seems as if she doesn't hear you, as she continues with her exercises. But, just as hope seems lost on adknowledgement, she stops, and moves over to a bottle of water. Upon taking a long drink, she walks over, saying, "Yeah, I've got a moment. Possibly more, I suppose. What do you want, Silas?" Her tone seems to be neutral, not giving away any hint of what's going on in her head.
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jan 16, 2017 5:41:25 GMT
After weighing the penalties for declining Cain's offer (the use of such mind-altering substances was something he was personally averse to, on the whole), Thoron accepts. After all, if they could still think rationally, by Cain's own admission, there was no harm in it. That said, "relaxing" wasn't a skill he could lay claim to... Settling for a slight loosening of posture, and gentle recline as he sat in the chair, partaking in a small drink with his Captain would suffice, yes?
Getting back to the first topic of interest, Thoron answers, "Of particular mention is that neither Silas nor Leslie had enough time to fashion several personal effects they employed on our first mission. Having witnessed their effectiveness firsthand, it strikes me as inefficient presently, to rely on the standard stock. To say nothing of diverting resources from Teams who cannot themselves create such resources. If, for example, we were allotted enough credits to cover requesting several kits, and the raw supplies to use them properly, we could respond to any emergencies with considerable alacrity." His first request presented, Thoron waits to gauge Cain's reaction. If this went particularly poorly, their request for more resources, it might be best to omit the request for an expanded roster entirely... Even if it meant frequent reliance on other teams for manpower.
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Post by Major on Jan 16, 2017 22:51:42 GMT
"Nope! I asked you first!" Soleil said moving away from the ledge and looking down at camera and sorting out her pictures she had taken. "Oh you look cute in this one!" She said turning to show it off. "And there is plenty to take pictures of. I like seeing different outside places and mixing things up instead of being cooped up all the time. It's a whole big city and I like marking all the places I've gone."
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Post by Moriya on Jan 17, 2017 1:34:16 GMT
Silas is slightly concerned by Emily's controlled reaction, as he'd hoped for a more animated reaction as something to work with. It seems that Emily isn't in the mood for pleasantries, so he decides to get straight to business.
As he starts speaking, Silas's smile shrinks a bit. "I was hoping we could talk about our teams, how we're adjusting after training. I don't know about you all, but the expectation I had for my team and reality have turned out quite different." He leaves the problem of cross-team relations unsaid; that should be left for after less hostile conversation.
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 17, 2017 2:58:46 GMT
Thoron
"Again, it depends on both how much money you're talking about," Cain says, while grabbing a small glass from under his desk, pouring a little liquid into it, and sliding it over, "and, also, how much space. Space is at a premium in Arcadia, especially around here. While you might find more and more abandoned things as you go lower, either before the 10-year Reclamation Limit, or just in seller's purgatory... around here, almost every inch is being used for something or other. We can't just have a dozen gewgaws and doodads lying around in between missions. We might be able to arrange something, but it might not be as much as you think."
Soleil
"I've just been staring over the edge here, thinking," Rose says, turning back to the Shaft. "It reminds me of no matter how much I do, there's still a huge city out there, with untold numbers of people all going about their daily lives. Each of them unique, but from here it just all looks the same. It just makes you think."
"Wait," she says, looking back to Soleil. "You took photos of me?"
Silas
"Well, you're right, there," she says, nodding. "I suppose I was expecting a more formal structure, with more concrete objectives. We're given a lot of free reign on these missions, and that makes it sometimes hard to go about things efficiently. I'd like to think I've managed, though." She gives an almost imperceptible hint of a smile. "I've found the trick to not going completely mad is to treat it more like a family than some sort of military-type unit." The smile drops again. "It's not a perfect system, but it's a damn better one than my actual family."
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Post by Major on Jan 17, 2017 3:09:34 GMT
"Yep!" Soleil says turning to show off her picture. "Look how adorable you look just hanging out with the background!" She said excitedly and clearly proud of her picture even though the 'background' didn't see that special in Arcadia. "I actually didn't recognize you at first till I looked at the picture."
She looked back down the shaft at the comment about all the people. "Hmm...I guess, but I mean most of them are probably pretty boring and you'll never see them so what's to think about?" She asked confused. If you were never going to see someone why care to think about them?
"But if you really care about all those people for some reason just be super famous and the second best technician ever and they can know you! Or dump your weirdos and hang with us so that when I'm famous I can be like 'This is Rose! She's cool too!' Or something."
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Post by Moriya on Jan 17, 2017 5:52:30 GMT
Silas nods slightly at Emily's last sentence but decides not to pursue it. This isn't the time to ask that sort of question, so he decides to focus on something else. "A family, huh? I can see it. For good or ill, we'll be with them for a while. Still, there has to be some sort of middle ground. We've made very few plans, and the few that we made fell apart on contact with the enemy. After that, our coordination has been... not so good." Silas gives Emily a wry smile. "I was hoping you all had found a better way."
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jan 17, 2017 15:03:43 GMT
Really, Thoron should have realized space would be their biggest issue, there. And while Cain's compromise was... acceptable on paper, if their eventual storeroom was too far-removed from their central location, it would be counter to the purpose of having one at all. Perhaps he would try again after securing a promising space? After taking a minuscule sip of the offered beverage, Thoron says, "I understand, Captain. Setting that aside for a moment, we do have other concerns, namely with, shall we say, our team's 'fighting potential'?"
"In both of our previous missions, the enemy severely outmatched us in terms of armaments. If S- If Technician Jensen had not successfully captured the newly-evolved Gyarados Requiem created, then whether it was through drowning or mauling, I have a strong suspicion you would have lost a team. More recently, it was only because Bartolli's team provided reinforcement that we could defeat the Smeargle and its army... Why this reliance is unwise, especially for the recent future, does not bear mentioning. With all this in mind, sir, I believe it is in their best interest for Headquarters to provide us with more Pokémon, ideally before our next assignment...", he continues, explaining his request. After a brief pause, he concludes, "Would you happen to know the best channels by which I may arrange that, sir?"
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 17, 2017 18:09:00 GMT
Soleil "Please get rid of it, Soleil," Rose says calmly. "I'd prefer to not be photographed, if I can help it."
"Even if you may consider others lives boring, they still go through the trials and tribulations of life. I'm sure there is not a single one in the city whose life is what could truly be called boring. You just need to look long enough." She stiffens at Soleil's comment about being 'super famous', though. "No. If I can go my entire life without having to touch theirs, I will be all the happier."
She falls silent for a few moments, before taking a breath and continuing. "And, I'm trying to say this in the kindest way, Soleil," there's a brief pause, "But I can't see any circumstance under which I would want to serve in your team. None whatsoever."
Silas
"Establishing some sort of chain of command is a must," Emily says. "Even if it's a fairly informal one. But I can see we've got it easier than any of you. Skylar may complain, but at least he does what he's told. Maybe dragging his feet, but at least he doesn't go running off. As for plans..." She gives it some thought. "I guess the biggest thing is to have some idea of who's going to do what in an emergency situation. And know who makes the call of what to do. It's served us well so far. But the job's still young."
Thoron
"I understand that there have been some... unusual developments recently," Cain says, seemingly choosing his words carefully. "And, in light of that, there is the likelihood that advancement will be accelerated. However, that does not mean that we will not go through the reviews, and deem whether or not you have shown responsibility. There is the possibility of it being shortly, but that will be up to the review panel."
"Was there anything else you wished to discuss?"
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jan 18, 2017 3:22:12 GMT
"Understood. Returning to our previous topic, provided we were able to obtain a proper storage space, would 4000 credits taken in advance be feasible? This would allow us enough resources to have sufficient supplies prepared, without being a severe drain on our total budget," Thoron answered. He was continuing to nurse his beverage, but only out of an obligation to not waste it. "At least, 4000 credits until such a time as we can prove it more or less effective than the traditional method..."
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Post by Major on Jan 18, 2017 3:45:00 GMT
Soleil looks confused at the request to delete it. "Huh? But its a great picture." Soleil said simply as she kept up the friendly smile. She didn't get why Rose was being weird with the delete thing. "And its on my camera! Besides, its not like I snapped it in your face." Soleil hugged her camera tightly. She never deleted a picture. "My pictures are my mine." She said sounding very strangely possessive over something so simple as a picture. But to her, it was more than a picture. It was a memory, a moment, a combination of a person and place she hadn't experienced before. It was a moment of freedom and being able to experience a world she had missed when trapped away as a kid.
She thought for a moment about the remark about people's lives and trials and tribulations before shrugging. She didn't really care to look long enough except at her pictures. She could snap any person she saw and look at them whenever so why focus in a single moment when she could make a collection. Still, if that was Rose's thing, then she could enjoy it. "Well sometimes if you touch people's lives you can fix things and save them. Being exciting isn't always good." She said. "If Technicians got more involved and investigated more, maybe they'd find some lives that would want boring."
It was the final remark that caused the biggest amount of confusion though. "Huh?" She asked confused a she tilted her head. "I don't get it. Why not? Silas and Thoron aren't that bad. I mean, they're guys and weird and Silas is like super cranky at times and Thoron is like super thinks he is a smarty pants. But I mean, its not all bad. They can be useful at times and its not like anything has been too bad. They're better than most guys and they don't yell or get in your face or anything. They've never tried to hit anyone and I don't even know if they could. So I mean, I don't think they are that big a problem? And Leslie is just...Leslie. So I mean, that's not too bad? Why don't you like them?" She asked confused and trying to stick up for her team. "Oh! I should list good things too! Uhhh, Leslie makes stink bombs! And Thoron like plans and stuff! And he can like make good little pointer things to help people get slightly better and stuff! Silas is...ok yeah he's kinda weird. But he has these gas bombs and he gases people to put them to sleep! Err wait, that came out wrong. He like, he puts people to sleep who don't want to sleep a---" Soleil paused and frowned. "Ok, he's not creepy! Much! Like...healthy creepy? Ugh... he ties up girls really wel---" Soleil muttered a curse under her breath. "OH! Wait! Wait! He heals people! That's useful! See! Not bad at all!"
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Post by Moriya on Jan 18, 2017 5:07:00 GMT
Silas nods at Emily's words. Having a emergency policies would be a great help when they just don't have time to discuss. "Yeah, that's a good idea. Even an emergency chain of command would be dicey for us, but even a standing policy of 'get civilians out first' could be useful." Silas sighs a little after his proposed standing order. "I wish I could take that for granted, but we seem to have... other priorities."
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Post by DataNinja on Jan 18, 2017 5:35:58 GMT
Thoron
"I'll see what I can do," Cain says, "However, depending on how soon your next mission is, you might not know until afterwards. Hopefully the red tape won't be too severe on it. It's not a high importance matter, so I can't cut through it. Such are the hazards of bureaucracy."
"I have a question for you, though," he says, shifting topics. "I've looked over the crude sketch that Silas did, and was wondering if you would come and see if a certain creature matches, more or less? We'll have to go... elsewhere. A meeting room, probably. I'd rather not have to spend the time needed to re-organize my office afterwards if I show you in here."
Soleil
"Your pictures are yours, yes, but who I am is mine," Rose says. "And I don't want who I am to be recorded. When I die, I just want to be forgotten. So will you respect that?"
She listens silently to Soleil's spiel on her teammates, before calmly saying, though there's a hint of steel in her voice, "I'm not going to sugar-coat things, Soleil. I don't have any particular problem with Leslie or Silas... the latter's, uh, apparent questionable hobbies aside. But Thoron is arrogant, rude, and frankly just treats us as inferiors. And you're no better. In fact, you're worse. You follow your own set of morals, that seem tangential to everyone else's. You ran off during the planning discussion, acted without respect, were frankly condescending, and, throughout it all, you have shown not one whit of remorse. While you may be at least marginally civil to me, I have seen how you have treated my team, dismissing them straight to their - and my - faces. I'm neither blind nor deaf, Soleil. And I can't imagine for even an instant wanting to join an environment where someone like you thrives."
Silas
"Other priorities?" She asks, then continues, with a slightly sardonic tone, "Like shooting first, running away during planning, and throwing Pokéballs at my face? I can see where those would be a problem."
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Post by ThRevanchist on Jan 18, 2017 5:54:07 GMT
Rather glad to set aside these matters, Thoron answers, "That is fine, sir. I had expected any success to tempered with a delay, as a matter of course. Ah, this is embarrassing to admit, but I neglected to study the creatures we encountered in their entirety. I was... more distracted by their unusual properties than anticipated. Making a proper record would be... difficult... I should be able to confirm it, nonetheless..."
Looking back a moment, he really wasn't glad to leave it behind. This felt like an admission of weakness... At least it had been a rather distinctive Pokemon.
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Post by Major on Jan 18, 2017 6:14:30 GMT
When Rose explained why she wanted the picture deleted, Soleil's smile suddenly faded and was replaced with a very prominent frown. "No." She said shaking her head. "No, no, no, no, no!" She exclaimed. "I refuse!" She looked down at her camera and then back at Rose. "It isn't about respect! Nobody should be forgotten like that! Rose is Rose and I don't want to forget Rose! Your picture is there so I always remember Rose!" She said, "I made myself try to forget a lot of things, I refuse to forget anything since the moment I got the camera and Rose came after!" She tried to explain. "When you die people will be sad and people won't just forget. Even if I deleted this picture I would still remember Rose and wouldn't want to forget. Even if you try to go entire life without touching people or being remembered people will remember you and you'll touch someone somehow." She said flustered and not sure the best way to describe things. She didn't know how to interact with people that well, but she didn't want to forget Rose and didn't want Rose to die. Rose was someone Soleil knew and losing people she knew was not acceptable. Not even the annoying Emily girl...though I guess maybe she could get slightly hurt, but not killed!
She frowned for a moment longer before lifting her camera and trying to snap another picture. "Nobody will forget Rose! And Rose shouldn't die. Ever!" She said trying to make a point, though probably still in an awful way.
At the final remark, Soleil tilted her head and listened as Rose talked. "Well, I mean that's why I'm offering you a spot on the team so you don't have to be inferior team?" She said confused. What was the problem with Thoron treating the other team as inferior. "I don't get it? I was chasing Requiem who was the mission target. Discussion was secondary priority to the mission?" She said genuinely confused why chasing Requiem was bad. She paused for a minute her face scrunched up as she seriously tried to think. This was another person lecturing her and chewing her out for actions that seemed like the right choice. "Why does it matter how people talk if we complete the mission?" She asked confused. "The mission was stop the source and the source was escaping. Dismissing a distraction seemed the right thing to do? Besides, everyone arrived and nobody was hurt. Mission complete right?" She said thinking a bit more.
"Is this about the pokeball thing? I told the boss it wouldn't happen again. I was upset cause I was trying really hard to be the best technician and be useful and valuable and she was saying I did wrong! I didn't even throw it that hard? I don't get why everyone thought that was a big deal. You can throw a pokeball at me I guess if it was really bad. But I don't get it... it seemed just simple. Its nothing like a knife or a club or a burning iron or something bad?"
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Post by Moriya on Jan 19, 2017 1:12:54 GMT
Silas sighs, as that is exactly what he was referring to. "Yeah. It's like she doesn't care about desires or perspectives other that her own. We haven't really managed to change her mind on anything, just pointed her in a better direction or give a majority overrule." Silas looks down and shakes his head, then he looks up at Emily. "The girl's got issues, and I have to work with them."
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