ORIENTATION ♔ And knowing how hard it hurts when we fall

[luthir]

♬ Reasons Why - Nickel Creek

WHO || Luthir, Rose, open if people want to bang into them, just threadjack wherever.
WHAT || Luthir meets with his new squire
WHERE || Knight's HQ, Rose's room
WHEN || Thurs morning, March 7th
HOW || Actionspam

[ Less than a week after settling in post-squiring, Rose gets a visitor at an early hour. The familiar elf raps gently on her door, waiting a respectful distance across the hall for her to appear. ]]

Comments

[luthir]

I don't mind the fresh air.

[littledhampir]

Well okay then. [The tiniest hint of a you asked for it in her tone as she closed her door behind her and fell into step with the Elf.]

I figured you'd come looking for me eventually. Here to give me all the rules?

[luthir]

Something like that. [ they head in the direction of the lobby at a measured pace ] First, what questions do you have for me regarding our operations here?

[littledhampir]

You mean other than, when do we get to the good stuff? [She didn't do idle well.] I don't know... I figure I have to do whatever you say but what about the rest of the Knights? Is it all - they say jump and I'm supposed to be all, how high or whatever?

[Not the use of the words, supposed to.]

[luthir]

As a squire, it's certainly advisable for you to take heed of the orders given to you on missions from full Knights. Section Heads rank at the top of the Knighthood, and orders from Dragon's Claws supersede even those. Generally, in your briefing, Wynn will make it clear to you who is acting operational leader for the mission.

However, in terms of outside the parameters of missions, I would say you are not obligated to follow the orders of any other Knights. Merely to afford them the respect they are due, particularly if they've been with this organization for some time.

[littledhampir]

Makes sense. [She of few words on that matter but this wasn't a new concept for Rose. She'd been drilled with the importance of following orders from the time she was a small child.]

So I don't have to play servant just because somebody ranks above me? Cause I can respect people, ya know provided they earn it and all but I don't do pointless errands just cause somebody has a bug up their ass.

[luthir]

[ wow her phrasing, elves aren't used to this ok ] If someone attempts to do so, they are most likely looking to take advantage of your novice status, and you're fully within your rights to report them to their section head. [ a beat, as he pushes open the front castle door ] ... Or take matters into your hands to solve their behavior.

[littledhampir]

[Rose grins at that answer, wondering for a moment if Luthir knew she wasn't the reporting type.]

Alright, that works for me.

[The moment they move outside there is a change in Rose, the brunette pausing to drink in the sun as it bathed her skin. It was perhaps an unusual reaction to have but being on a day schedule was unusual for Rose.]

So are there like trials? Ya know tests and stuff to make sure I'm not a dud?

OMG I LOST THIS FOREVER AGO and happened upon it now, take my very late tag??? ;__;

[luthir]

Nothing so prescriptive. Your tests come in the form of completing field work with other Knights, who will observe and report on your performance.

Always <333

[littledhampir]

Nothing I haven't been through before. [Though this sounded far more interesting than her field experience had been. Real situations not fake Strigoi attacks.]

So how bad would I have to screw up to get booted then? [A beat.] Not that I'm looking for that to happen just... curious.

[Because it's Rose so let's just accept the fact that screwing up is a thing that will occur at some point.]

:D

[luthir]

It isn't so much a question as mistakes as attitude. Are you willing to be an effective member of a team, to place yourself in harm's way to protect the innocent, to make difficult decisions with compassion and discretion?

Wynn doesn't expect perfection, but he does expect all Knights to be willing to expend an effort to grow in their capacity to do good works here. If a squire should appear unable to do this, it may be that he or she would simply not thrive in the Knighthood, and Wynn would likely suggest to them that this isn't the place they belong.

[littledhampir]

[A wry grin touches the corner of Rose's mouth, so much of what Luthir was saying reminding her of a life she could scarcely remember. The faces might be blurry, the names may escape her but the sense of giving your life in service of others? That was something Rose knew all about.]

I don't think that's going to be a problem.

[Just a little cocky.]

So what about you? What do you expect from me? I mean I get that Wynn is like, the big boss but I figure you're the one I work with more. Do you have rules or anything? [And if so... are they negotiable?]

[luthir]

Are you the sort who requires rules?

[littledhampir]

[She considers that for a moment.]

Not really?

[Silently adding that even if he had them, there was every chance she'd break them... Well. For the right reasons.]

[luthir]

Then I think we can manage without them.

[littledhampir]

Cool. So, is this the part where you get to ask me questions now?

[luthir]

Wynn tells me you came from a world not dissimilar to ours.

[littledhampir]

Ahhh... yeah. Kinda. [A shrug.] I mean no knights or anything but -

[She'd be less inclined to speak about this if it were anyone else. The fact that Rose had seen Luthir in action in Chicago? It had gone a long way towards earning her respect.]

I was a Guardian. Kind of like, half Knight half bodyguard so - all this? [Waving a hand around.] It's a lot more familiar than how I was living when we met.

[luthir]

May I ask how you chose that line of work?

[littledhampir]

Because, that's just what you do.

[But that wasn't entirely true and the slight grimace said as much. She's not even going to bluff check, a little honesty wouldn't hurt.]

If it was between doing nothing and protecting the innocent from the walking, talking embodiment of evil... Which one would you choose?

[luthir]

I may know what I would choose, but I cannot speak for everyone. There are plenty who would not risk their own lives for that of a stranger.

[littledhampir]

Even when it's the right thing to do?

[But that question didn't require an answer, Rose shrugging instead.]

Probably not. Guess I'm just not one of the plenty, huh.

[A hint of a smile touching her lips.]

[luthir]

Thankfully, no. [ it's something of a foggy london day out, leaving it brisk and very march-like ] Or I imagine we wouldn't have found you doing what you were doing in Chicago.

[littledhampir]

Had to get your attention somehow didn't I? [Grinning.

And right back to being a smartass. Well, she was sincere for a moment there at least.]

All part of my master plan to get a fancy canopy bed.

[Not even going to roll for bluff because that's the most obvious lie ever told.]

[luthir]

I'm somewhat curious how you fell into that line of work so readily. You seemed to have developed a small cadre of like minded individuals.

[littledhampir]

Accidentally. [Straight-faced.] They were playing at vampire killers before I came along. They gave me somewhere to crash, I helped them not get dead. Win - Win.

[Until, they ended up dead that is. Dead or worse, the Dhampir stiffening at the direction the conversation had taken.]

[luthir]

Does it still trouble you - what happened?

[littledhampir]

They had no business doing what they were doing. [Her voice flat, Rose silent for several drawn out heartbeats after that.]

It's done now. Not like I can change what happened.

[luthir]

You still sound angry. [ just sayin ]

[littledhampir]

Well you'd be angry too if people died because you didn't do your job properly.

[Which, certainly came out with more bite than she'd intended, brow furrowing as her fingers flexed and curled.]

[luthir]

[ he simply watches her out of the corner of his eye carefully ] You're right.

I would be.

[littledhampir]

[Rose's forehead remained creased for another few moments before she could let some of the tension go.]

Like I said. Can't change it... But I can make sure it doesn't happen again.

[luthir]

And how do you intend to do that?

[littledhampir]

Be better. [Cryptic in its own way but there was just a hint of a smile playing across her lips as she glanced back at Luthir.]

[luthir]

I see. [ he gives her the tiniest smile as well, as they head along the driveway circling the pond in front of the castle ]

Have you made yourself comfortable with what facilities we offer for training - combat or otherwise?

[littledhampir]

Oh yeah. [Quietly grateful for the subject change.] Beats the hell outta what I had in Chicago. I haven't checked out the shooting range yet but - guns really aren't my thing.

[luthir]

I never use them myself...but I did avail myself of the opportunity to learn how. You never know what you're going to encounter in the field.

[littledhampir]

Technically I know how to use them... I've just always thought of it as cheating. Give me hand to hand any day of the week.

[luthir]

What about your experience with melee weaponry?

[littledhampir]

You mean like, for stabbing?

[Pay attention in class... she did not.]

I trained to use a bunch of stuff but mostly this;

[Because normal people go for a morning jog with a sharpened silver stake strapped to their side, Rose pulling it from its sheath and twirling it for show.]

[luthir]

Specialized weaponry for dealing with vampires, I imagine.

[littledhampir]

Yeah, at least it worked back home. [Here she was learning it all depended on what kind of Vampire she was dealing with.] But I find most things can't survive being stabbed in the heart.

[luthir]

I've seen plenty of creatures in this world who require a little more thorough treatment.

[littledhampir]

That's why I've got you then right? [Grinning.] To teach me all that.

[luthir]

If you so desire, then yes.