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Author Topic: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]  (Read 744 times)

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Offline GoblinFae

Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« on: October 30, 2017, 12:37:58 pm »
The work day had been the same old, same old business as usual cuts and bruises and burns for Pilot Moon. Each were treated efficiently before the injured were sent on their way and the next person was escorted in. It was so routine these days it bordered on droll for the former combat medic. Too many days were left open for thinking instead of doing and that had always ended badly for her in the past.

She had moved to Amristah to be closer to home and family. Her parents's health had been failing for years and it was only a matter of time before she would be forced into addressing it fully. At least this way she could be close enough to do something about it while also far enough away to not have to see them every day. The downside was she absolutely hated it. Blu loathed how despite the obvious cold, this place was so much like Solarta. People were kinder here but there was always that sense of nosiness in the air and she hated it. She tried to console herself that it was all in her head and she was being paranoid and ridiculous. But, she never could quite shake how much she missed a sense of home now that she was here.

This evening though would be the first in so many to break the oppressive chains of routine. Blu had come home long before the sun would kiss the earth for the evening to shower and get cleaned up. Even her coworkers had noticed and commented how the textbook workaholic was constantly checking the time on her com and somehow managed to leave even before they had. She had brushed their comments aside claiming a housecall before slipping out through the front doors.

At home, Blu showered quickly before donning her flight suit. The real trouble came when she finally had to decide on what to wear to this informal interview she had set up. Somehow she doubted torn jeans and a ratty t-shirt would be what PR had in mind for her. She had been given the go ahead to start recruiting selectively for the new squad forming in Amristah. Blu was incredibly picky with her choices and she knew that Raphael Amoril was someone she wanted on her side. Convincing him though was half the battle and she had to come prepared in the right armor.

Staring listlessly into her closet was not helping to make the decision any easier though. Blu deemed her uniforms to be too much and her preferred comfy clothes to be too little for the meeting. That left her with two options, she either remained in her flight suit for the entire meeting or she packed the dreaded pantsuit. She knew she looked good in the heather grey ensemble with its crisp white shirt and trousers that accentuated her long legs. It was just the principal of the matter that made her hesitate.

"Have to grow up some time," she finally decisively growled to herself before ripping the fabric of the hangers and rolling it into her overnight bag. The Pilot was out the door moments later and mounted up to fly from Amristah to Havina. All along the way her dragon, Menrva, instructed her on how to properly present herself and the job to the other Pilot. It made Blu want to roll her eyes behind her visor but she knew how right the scaled creature was. She was an impulsive and crass individual on a good day. Tonight she had to be on her best behavior.

It was a relief when they finally touched down and Blu could at last escape the droning in her head. Menrva gave her one gentle swat with her tail and a word of warning before taking off to the aerie. Checking her com, Blu noted that she still had another twenty minutes or so to get changed and situated before he arrived. She briskly walked to her destination before ducking into the public bathroom to change. It was less than ideal but would do.

The flight-suit was quickly peeled off and replaced by the other outfit. Standing in front of the small sink mirror, Blu gave herself a long look. It had been awhile since she had really looked at herself in the mirror. Her eyes looked tired but alert. She was grateful though that her birthmarks were able to hide just how dark those circles under her eyes were. The suit looked good on her and had the added benefit of hiding most of her mottled skin from view. She would be less of a distraction then. Her vibrant hair was tousled until it was in some semblance of organized. There really was not much she could do with it when the bangs just wanted to lay flat and the hair  in the back stuck up. She decided it made her look edgy and she was just fine with that.

Blu exited the bathroom and ordered herself the largest, darkest cup of coffee they could make her. Another com check revealed she still had another five minutes before he was due to show, plenty of time to get herself sat down with her coffee in hand and her thoughts all organized. No need for her to rush whatsoever now. While she waited for her order, her eyes remained glued to her com as she flipped through several patient file updates and notifications to make sure everything was in order. The work never really was done at the end of the day.

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #1 on: October 30, 2017, 01:35:28 pm »
When Raphael had received a seemingly random message from Pilot Royal Blu Moon he'd initially had very mixed reactions. Part of him had briefly wondered if he was in trouble for something, but considering how by-the-books he was that was highly unlikely. Reading it had proved she had a proposition for him and if his eyebrows could raise any higher they might have climbed off his head and floated to the ceiling.

He'd met her once before, briefly, at a banquet. She'd made enough of an impression that when he read her name he remembered her face; colorful. She was quite interesting to look at, though at the time he hadn't been sure if it was an elaborate makeup choice or if that was her actual coloring, he supposed he'd find out today.

She'd been pretty vague (likely intentionally, he assumed) in her messages about what it was she was proposing to him, perhaps because she thought he would say no. The idea of something new however was enough to catch his attention, at the very least he wanted to hear her out. The days at DoSaM were interesting but largely uniform and boring, and though he'd been there for years he never could quite shake the thought that it wasn't where he was meant to be.

He'd been to Amristah once or twice; interesting place, if not a bit chilly. He did like sweater weather, though.

The day wasn't too out of the ordinary for him, checking up on his patients and working with most of them through physical therapy; he tended to work with bigger accident cases. Lost limbs, nerve damage, that kind of thing. Took a lot of patience, and that patience was something he seemed to be in endless supply of as he arrived at Manolin's a half an hour ahead of schedule in a slate gray, slender-lapeled leisure suit and white dress shirt, top two buttons undone.

He figured he might as well show up early and get them a table, seated in direct line of sight with the main door so it was one less thing for her to worry about.

She'd struck him as a worrying type--one of those who worked themselves to death and stressed over every little possible detail.

Not that he was that different, he just tried not to stress over things he had no direct control over. There was no point in that, and even now the few stray butterflies of nervousness fluttering in his gut were mildly irritating, making him furrow his brow as he took a sip of his warm tea. He honestly didn't know what to expect, and he'd have been lying if he said that it didn't bother him to an extent.

Thankfully, he wasn't left to stew in his thoughts for long; he recognized her instantly as she entered Manolin's wearing her flight suit. He noted that it looked good on her, and she had kind of an air about her that read 'don't fuck with me' that he appreciated--or as much as he could anyways because as soon as she entered she walked right past him and disappeared into the bathroom with a bag over her shoulder.

His eyebrows raised yet again and he snorted, chuckling to himself as he took another drink of tea, setting the cup down and resting his chin on the back of his hand, fiery amber eyes glancing to look out at the world on the other side of the window.

Raphael waited patiently and raised his eyebrows again when she finally exited the bathroom, checking her com as she ordered a coffee. Briefly he thought of going over to meet her, but that would negate the whole point of him coming early to get them a table. Might also give kind of a dickish impression and he certainly didn't want that.

Instead he messaged her on the comm, and then went back to looking out the window, casually glancing over at her to see her reaction.

Pilot Royal Moon--

Try looking behind you, by the windows.

--Pilot Noble Amoril

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #2 on: October 30, 2017, 02:05:44 pm »
Her com chimed softly in her hand as a small notification dropped down from the top of the screen. With a flick of her thumb she expanded and read it. Another flick and it was dismissed with a slight raise of her brow. Blu refrained from immediately whipping around and looking for him. It pleased her to know that he was taking this seriously and was early. She only wished that she had been the one to get situated first.

She accepted the coffee with a small thank you before finally turning around. Her eyes scanned the room before alighting on him, exactly where he said he would be. Blu nodded her head in his direction before carefully weaving her way between the tables and chairs towards him. Her boots thumped quietly with each step as she carried her bag loosely in her right hand and her coffee and com in her left.

The bag was gently dropped beside the table, freeing her hand so she could reach it out to him. "Pilot Amoril, it is a pleasure to see you again," she spoke in her soft and gentle manner. "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting. Thank you for meeting with me." Blu smiled politely as her cool eyes leveled upon his own fiery pair. She was glad she had worn the suit, at least their levels of dress matched for this private meeting.

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #3 on: October 31, 2017, 01:33:31 am »
Raphael watched out of the corner of his eye, mildly amused though he managed to keep it hidden from his features. He watched her check her comm, coy and collected and not at all in the hurry she'd stormed into the bathroom with moments prior.

Finally she turned around, maintaining composure and nodding at him when she saw him; he had to admit, he was a little surprised she had recognized him and remembered what he looked like. He hadn't thought he'd made that much of an impression.

As she came over he stood up, the two of them only an inch shy of being the same height as he reached out and took her hand with a gentle yet firm grip and gave it a shake, his smile relaxed. "Don't worry about it, I wasn't waiting long. Thanks for the invitation, I'm curious to hear what you have propositioned." And he wasn't lying or just saying that to be professional, he really was curious. He'd admittedly been incredibly intrigued by her the first time they met, but it'd been so brief he really hadn't had any time to chat with her. Maybe that was about to change--she seemed like an interesting person.

He took his seat after she did--had it been a more formal setting he'd have pushed her chair in for her, but this was a coffee shop--and folded his hands loosely on the table, leaning forward on his forearms.

"So, what is it exactly that brings you all the way here from Amristah?"

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #4 on: October 31, 2017, 01:41:45 pm »
Of all the faces she had seen, Blu had to say that Raphael had some of the most memorable eyes she had ever encountered. She was hard-pressed to forget their first introduction, however brief it was. He was the kind of man with eyes that felt like they could see right through you and into the deepest reaches of your soul. It had made her slam up her mental walls instinctively back then, though even now she was sure she had nothing to fear from him. His hair might have been different and his face a bit more aged but she would recognize those eyes anywhere.

She found herself caught in their depths as he hand, warm and strong, shook her own before they took their seats. His question caused her to smirk and click her tongue lightly as she opened her mouth to speak. "You, it would seem." Her eyes danced with mirth at her statement, knowing that was far from the answer he was looking for in his questioning. Blu took a sip of her coffee, her eyes shuttering for a moment as she reveled in the bitterness being burned onto her tongue.

"Tell me," Blu began as she leaned back comfortably in her seat, "what makes you qualified for this position?" That smirk was still there and challenging him even, to meet her with a satisfactory answer. "What do you bring to the table that would set you apart from the many professionals in our field?" She knew what she was doing, that she was tossing him to the waves knowing full well he had no idea what she was after. But, that was part of the challenge. Could he handle the pressure, or would he crumple? If Blu was going to hire him then she needed to know what he was made of, what better way to do that than to attempt to throw him off-kilter?

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #5 on: October 31, 2017, 01:55:14 pm »
Plague studied her with that intense gaze of his, watching every movement and twitch in her facial features for anything that would give something away--all he got was how coy she was being, purposefully hiding everything from him he needed to know, all behind that smirk on her lips.

She was every bit as stunning as he remembered, and now that he got a chance to truly look at her up close he could see the splotches of purple adorning her skin seemed to be her true coloring, which only made her all the more fascinating.

His only reaction to her answer was to quirk a brow, just slightly, though he kept the rest of his composure as he took a sip of his tea and glanced away, noticing a few of the other patrons eyeing them with curiosity.

He looked back at her as she posed a question of her own, and gave no outward reaction. He wasn't surprised in the least, considering the cunning look in her eyes as she said it he knew she was trying to set him up for failure on purpose. He also knew she had obviously read his files and obviously knew what he was capable of, she'd alluded to it in their messages, and the fact that she'd reached out to him at all told him everything he knew.

And yet he entertained her anyways.

"I'm sure I don't need to tell you how rare it is to find psychics in our field with the ability to manipulate cell structure, let alone one who has survived using said abilities on the battlefield these days." He sat back a bit in his chair, relaxed yet his back was straight as he pulled a thick black pen from the breast pocket of his shirt, rolling and flipping it between the fingers of his left hand with nimble and quick movements. It was hard to tell if he was lef or right-handed, or both, because he held his tea with his right hand when he took a drink, the movement of the pen never faltering.

"Changing appearance, healing wounds, reducing physical trauma, inducing sickness and mutation, I can do just about anything you might have in mind for me."

He gave her the slightest smile, though it was more of a smirk, the tone of his voice formal as it was confident and unshaken by her antics.

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #6 on: October 31, 2017, 02:40:24 pm »
"Is that all?" she chuckled, a true smile breaking out upon her face as she teased him. Her eyes had easily tracked the pen's movements, finding it almost hypnotizing the way it threaded about his fingers. She recognized his display of quiet dexterity for what it was. There were more than words being spoken here. To top it, she had not scared him off. He still appeared interested and for that, Blu was grateful.

The female Pilot observed him quietly for a few moments before nodding her head ever so slightly. "You served just as I did. Your medical record is indeed exemplary and I already understand you to be a man that can take orders without challenge. The question I want to know is," she began, allowing herself to slouch against one of the chair's armrests and look at him very seriously, "can you challenge your superior's decisions in the heat of the moment? Are you someone who will take the lead and defy protocol to get the job done, to save a life regardless of the consequences?"

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #7 on: October 31, 2017, 09:34:37 pm »
It was clear to Raphael as she smiled that he had apparently passed the first part of her inspection, though he sincerely doubted that that would be the end of it. He said nothing of her remark, knowing full well the question was meant in jest.

The pen continued to dance along and through his fingertips as he took another sip of tea as she mentioned some of what she already knew, which he was fully aware of. She posed another question to him though, and that one caught him a bit by surprise--it wasn't a standard question for an interview. Not a 'What is your previous experience?' or a 'Tell me one time where you made a difference that impacted your company as a whole.'

The words had barely left her lips before he immediately said "Absolutely. I already have. I would gladly do so again."

The pen froze in his fingers, his gaze hardening as he watched her even more closely, remembering soldiers he'd dodged raining bullets for to dart out onto the field and drag them back when he was young, he still had the scars on his back and front to prove it, scars he wore with pride, even if he never spoke of them. If there was anyone who could afford the dangers and risks of going against orders and doing what had to be done, it was someone like him--someone who could regenerate, someone who didn't care if he lost a limb or an eye. Hell, he didn't even care if he died, death had never been something he was afraid of.

He was here for the purpose of doing a job and doing it well, and his job was to save lives. End of discussion.

"You certainly have an interesting choice in questions for your interviews." He said, the movement of the pen starting up again as it ran in time with his thoughts.

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #8 on: November 01, 2017, 05:20:03 am »
Her face was hard and stoic as she gave nothing away of her feelings while he spoke. Instead, she too remembered the lives she had put her own on the line to save as well as all those she had lost. Blu was lucky that her injuries and scars were so few when so many other people had not been so fortunate. She had been reckless back in those days, she was not sure she was much better now though. Given the chance Blu would run out onto the battlefield I drag out every last soldier until they were all saved. It seemed she was not alone in that sentiment.

As he commented on her choice of questions, Blu drank her coffee in contemplative silence. Her eyes stared into the dark, oily depths of her chosen brew as important decisions were being made. Finally? The coffee was returned to the table and her arms crossed over her chest. "The job is yours if you want it," she told him with a very serious amount of finality. This was no joke, Blu wanted him and he had proven himself enough to her. She knew all she needed to know from his records. Those two questions were the only testing he needed in her mind.

"Amristah is forming up a new squad," she continued quietly, her voice kept low is eavesdroppers would not catch on. The knowledge she was going to share with him had not been made public yet and PR would have her head if she stole their thunder so to speak. "I want you as my second in command. I need someone who's been there and seen what war is like and why people like us are needed. I don't know about you but I'm tired of thinking about all those men and women I lost. Hospital doctors and surgeons are not trained for the battlefield and not every squadron has a combat medic or enough of them to do what I want us to do. We lost too many good soldiers standing on the sidelines waiting for clearance to go in and even more to medivacing them out to die en route. I'm forming a team that will hopefully change that and I want you on it.

"You can ask me anything you want if it will help you make your decision easier. You can take as much time as you need to make your decision as it doesn't have to be tonight. I will tell you though, I knew I wanted you before I even sat down at this table. I know very well what you're capable of and saw some of your handiwork out there a few times. I just needed to know if you're really the man I think you are. For what it's worth, I believe you are and I'd be proud to serve with you."

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #9 on: November 07, 2017, 12:18:52 pm »
Plague was in no rush as he watched her take her time, likely considering her options, his responses. The fact that she had the confidence to do so also spoke immensely to him about exactly what kind of a woman she was. Neither of them were nervous here, both of them were seasoned soldiers who'd been through hell and back and something like this interview would be the last thing to shake either of them.

"The job is yours if you want it."

He raised his eyebrows just a titch, and he sat up and back a little bit better in his chair as he let her continue, let her finally explain to him just what this was all about and it became instantly clear to him that the position she was offering him was one of a kind.

Raphael had never really given much thought to the squads of the Aedolian cities; he was a doctor, not a performer, not a specialized combat agent, though he very well could have been if he'd wanted to. It had never been something that interested him, not that he couldn't do teamwork, obviously he'd performed well with others countless times. And the fact that she was trying to form a squad made him hesitate just a bit. Not because he disliked the idea, but because it was a new one--one he'd certainly never considered before. She should certainly be commended for her originality and creative idea.

A squad of medics to storm the battlefield to protect and save the wounded.

Now that was something he'd have jumped at instantly when he was younger.

She admitted that she'd already had him in mind for the position, wanted him to have it, and he gave the pen a spin on his index fingertip, watching her thoughtfully. Was he really interested in giving up everything he had here in Haviah--his home, his friends, coworkers, job--for something that might not even work out if PR deemed it unworthy? That depended on if he thought it was a worthy cause.

He couldn't fight back the smirk on his face any longer, stopping the pen abruptly with one hand as he leaned forward, leaning that arm on the table as something glimmered in his eyes that hadn't been there in quite some time--interest, passion, the excitement of rising to a challenge.

"The way you talk makes it sound like I would ever possibly decline. When do we start?"

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #10 on: November 07, 2017, 05:40:38 pm »
Blu had watched him guardedly, waiting almost anxiously for the slew of questions or even ridicule she had expected. She was well aware what she was proposing broke the mold for the fine lines Pilots had been painted into. You were this or that or another thing. Rarely did roles bleed into each other though the original training had been the same for them all. Once you became what they made you it was near impossible to change for them. Blu had seen plenty a soldier forced into a desk job after the war and seen the fires die in their eyes for submitting to such a compliant existence. She was determined that that would not be her life, not while she still had fire in her soul demanding that she do something.

The pen at last came to a halt and his words were like a bullet to her heart. As if in slow motion, the Pilot felt that cold numbness wash over her as she found herself lost in his unrelenting eyes. A heartbeat, maybe two later she saw it there, the hammer cocked slammed down and set off the spark there. Then, suddenly the world caught up to her as his words seared through her core. The decision as made and the bullet fired, he had agreed.

She laughed faintly to herself as her arms uncrossed and her palms came to rest flat against the lacquered table. Blu smiled in disbelief and relief, leaning forward for a moment before letting her head fall back slightly. She had hardly expected him to agree so quickly if at all. The woman had been fully prepared for the rejection and all but forgotten that acceptance might be a viable option. The tension completely left her form as her own eyes lit up with her mirth and she looked at him again.

"How soon can you can you get yourself packed up and transferred? PR already gave me the green light to proceed on recruitment if I promised to be discreet in whom I spoke to. Honestly I doubt they really cared what our squad would be in charge of just as long as we gave the city a chance at the games. I have two others in mind to join us but I wanted to speak with you first. I wasn't convinced you would say yes. I'm...pleased that you have. Very pleased," she chuckled again, taking up her coffee again and finally allowing herself to enjoy the cooling drink.

"Are there any other questions that I can try and answer for you?"

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Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #11 on: November 21, 2017, 11:49:33 am »
Raphael leaned back slowly in his chair as he watched her reaction, thick eyebrows raising with slight amusement. She showed visible relief, and he realized she must've been expecting him to say no. He supposed he couldn't blame her--what she was asking was indeed quite strange. It wasn't often new squads were made, it was yet another sign of the constantly changing times. And a squad like the one she proposed had never been done before, at least not within the past few centuries' worth of history that Plague could recall off the top of his head. But then again, he had never been a history buff.

He smiled as she verbally confirmed that she hadn't expected him to say yes, and he pondered her comment for a moment. How quickly could he get packed up? Well, he had a lot of delicate items that would require a lot of care and planning when he packed, so...

"I could easily be out there by the end of the week. Gives enough time to pack, for paperwork to go through, all that fun stuff." He waved it off as if shooing a fly, nodding at her as she took her drink. "I'm curious who else you have in mind to recruit; a few people already come to mind for me that I might offer as suggestions if you're open to them." He said with a smile as he spun the pen on his fingers and resumed playing with it, it was just a habit that whenever the gears were turning in his head, the pen was turning in his fingertips.

"And unless if you have other plans for after this, as I'm sure you're a very busy woman, I wouldn't mind spending a little more time chatting. Since we'll be working closely together from this point on, I suppose." He paused, gaze flicking to the window and the people outside on the street. "There's a park not too far from here that's rather nice to take a walk around if you'd be interested." He smiled at her, though for him it seemed his natural smile tended to lean more towards the side of devious smirk quite unintentionally.

Offline GoblinFae

Re: Best Impressions [Cheesigator]
« Reply #12 on: November 21, 2017, 03:01:27 pm »
She nodded at his timeline, approving of it fully and pleased to hear his eagerness. It was indeed a welcome relief to finally have something to look forward to in her droll routine. Those thoughts were quickly brushed aside though, there was no use dwelling on the stagnation she had been beginning to feel set in over the past few years. Right now was cause for celebration and she damn well was going to enjoy the moment instead of wasting it. If war taught you one thing, it was to be thankful for those few seconds of joy amidst the chaos.

Her coffee was placed back down as she clicked away quickly on her com before handing it over to him, the files open for his perusal. "I have already been in contact with Pilot Echo Sidney Dawson. We're scheduled to meet this weekend actually. She's young but has shown some promise as a hemokinetic. I would gladly welcome that ability if she proves herself to be cut from the same cloth as us.

"As for the other," Blu paused, clearing her throat slightly and pursing her lips. "Pilot Noble Grayson Hunt is stationed in Amristah already. I have yet to contact him but I have observed him and his work about the hospital. He certainly has an artform all of his own as a dermokinetic." She sighed softly, her elbows on the table and her hands lacing together in front of her mouth. Hunt was brusque and impatient, qualities that gave her pause in recommending him. However, his work was impeccable and Blu still believed there was not only a good man in there but the potential for him to grow under her wing.

"I would gladly welcome any of your recommendations to be taken into consideration. You are paperwork notwithstanding, my second in command now. I have no intention of making all these decisions entirely by myself. I need a strong team I can trust. I need people that can be trained to handle battlefield trauma as easily as they do in a hospital, better even. If you know anyone like that, I'm all ears."

Her own smile answered his gently, the corners of her eyes crinkling ever so slightly from laughter and age though the twinkle in her eyes was dim. "A wander sounds quite agreeable. Perhaps we can discuss this further outside? I find the rest of my evening free." She chuckled softly, wrapping her hand around her drink and sitting up straight in preparation to stand. "I expected to take much longer to convince you."

 

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