orientation ♔ la lune trop blême pose un diadème sur tes cheveux roux

[sirstickuphisass]

♬ Complainte du la Butte - Rufus Wainwright

WHO || Eric Carpenter, Fyrel Lear, open if people want to bang into them, just threadjack wherever.
WHAT || Eric meets with his squire
WHERE || Knight's HQ, front steps
WHEN || Sunday evening [backdated]
HOW || Actionspam

[With the impending mission announcement, apparently Eric doesn't see the need to waste any time, and contacted Lear over the phone to meet him out front of the castle around eight o'clock. He actually comes jogging up the marble steps, puffs of frosty air expelling from his mouth as he slows to a halt. It takes him a second to get his wind back - he's obviously been out doing this in the cold for some time, from the color in his cheeks. He holds up a hand as he catches his breath, to signify that he just needs a moment, before taking the last few steps and holding out a hand, saying between huffs:] 

Eric Carpenter. 

Comments

[sirstickuphisass]

I got the memo, yeah. [He gives her hand just one firm squeeze back, his tone wry.]

So, I don't want to waste any of your time. You're a grown woman, obviously. You don't need a babysitter.

My role is to answer any questions you have about what we do here. The detail stuff.

[lear]

Oh, brilliant.

[ Lear nods, half a dozen questions flashing into her mind. ]

All right, let's start with missions. Supposedly we've got one coming up. Squire protocol? Am I expected to sit by and look interested?

[sirstickuphisass]

Actually, you'll be expected to treat it just like the rest of us do. That means full investment, at all times. You go to briefings with us, head into the thick, fight the good fight.

We're big on on-the-job training around here.

[lear]

Oh, goodie.

[ It's difficult to tell whether or not she's being sarcastic, although that is generally true of her chipper tone anyway. She slips her arm into his. ]

Let's walk and talk. That's the official stuff covered, what else am I allowed to do? What's the protocol if I'd like to go fight the good fight out in the big bad world?

[sirstickuphisass]

[His eyes rivet in surprise to her arm in his, and he stiffens, but then tightens up his posture and nods.] We don't usually go out there hunting our own leads outside the confines of missions. Not squires, at least, and not most of the Knights either. That's the Dragon Claws' job.

Though if you run across something else going on while you're in the middle of a mission, you can do whatever you need to do to address both situations.

[lear]

[ WE'RE GOING TO BE BUDDIES, ERIC, AND YOU'RE GOING TO LIKE IT. She doesn't seem too perturbed by the fact that it's sanctioned PI work only, perhaps because she doesn't intend to obey that rule in the slightest. ]

Jolly good. So when we're not out in the wider world, how do we spend our time?

[ She glances over, answers her own question. ]

Training, I suppose?

[sirstickuphisass]

... However you want, really. Some people are happy to just have a few hobbies and pour most of their time into work and training. And some people try to live entire lives of their own outside of this place. Wynn really doesn't care, as long as you're still pulling your weight around here.

As for people who live in the castle, there are some recreational areas too, I guess. [Though he doesn't sound entirely enthused about them...] Anything on the premises is open, except for Wynn's chambers and the section heads offices. And the Dragon Claw's offices, too.

[lear]

And which of the two are you?

[ There's a light tease to the way she asks, as though she's guessed already. ]

Just so I know when I may bother you with my boundless silly questions.

[sirstickuphisass]

It's my job to answer your questions, no matter how many of them you have. [It's not an answer, but the crisp nature of his reply makes it pretty clear anyways]

[lear]

Oh, that's exciting. What's the budget for the credit cards?

[sirstickuphisass]

There's no exact limit - you just have to be able to account for all your purposes if you get audited.

[lear]

Oh, brill. All right. What's the squiring period?

[sirstickuphisass]

[He seems uncertain of how to take the question] What is it, or how long does it last?

[lear]

How long does it last? I'm fairly certain I have a handle on just what we're supposed to do together.

[sirstickuphisass]

That depends on how long you take to convince me you're ready. Though usually it's a few months.

[lear]

And is it based on arbitrary observation, an examination, or is there a skills checklist? What's my marking criteria, Mr Carpenter.

[ Blame television. ]

[sirstickuphisass]

Observation only. It isn't an exact science. There's usually a moment when it's clear whether you're going to want to be here or not - and whether you're cut out for the life.

[lear]

Of course I want to be here.

Oh, I've got another question. All that stuff in my bedroom. Is it mine?

[sirstickuphisass]

You can't take the bed with you when you leave, if that's what you meant.

But if someone left personal effects, they obviously didn't want them. Or they're dead and they didn't choose to leave them to anyone.

[lear]

Oh, goodie!

[ Free stuff! And, mildly curious: ]

Do people die a lot in this line of work?

[sirstickuphisass]

I wouldn't say 'a lot'. It's an obvious peril of the job, but it's mostly the fighters who wind up casualties. It's their job to take the heat for the rest of the team, when they can.

Plus, there's a good chunk of those who pass on who we can resurrect.

[lear]

Resurrect! Meaning, bring back to life! You can bring people back to life!

[ Somehow she didn't already know this. ]

[sirstickuphisass]

[He turns to look at her with mild disbelief] ... We do have clerics.

[lear]

Right! Clerics! Of course!

[ Unsure... ]

[sirstickuphisass]

A resurrection spell won't work on everybody. But if it's what someone wanted us to try, we make sure to bring their body back. As long as it's feasible.