Battletech: Planet's Fall

"Princess" Rains, who would desperately love for everyone to stop calling her Princess even though she knew it was a fair description, sat at one of the cafeteria tables with a large cup of coffee, glaring at its contents.

"You know, back home coffee tasted a lot better," she says to the cup with a sneer. After shaking her head at her own foolishness - though notably still looking grumpy about things - Princess glances around the large room.

"Come on, Gianna," she quietly mutters to herself, anxious but working hard not to show that to anyone. Princess knows she's probably the least tough person in the whole organization - even Anna is probably tougher than me, she thinks with a pout - but she takes a steadying breath. Fake it 'til you make it, Baby Blair.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:23 am

Snip

A shadow falls over the young Mechwarrior as someone approaches from behind them.
"Mechwarrior Blair."
The tone is completely neutral, like reading a shopping list for concrete mixes.
"I wanted to talk to you about your simulator results."

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:30 am

A shadow falls over the young Mechwarrior as someone approaches from behind them.
"Mechwarrior Blair."
The tone is completely neutral, like reading a shopping list for concrete mixes.
"I wanted to talk to you about your simulator results."

Princess's eyes widen in terror and she gulps, closing her eyes a moment before turning her head to greet the intimidating woman.

"Uh, hi, Lieutenant Ha... Lt. Hakam... Er, Lt. Yori," she finishes with more energy, trying to show she's not completely terrified of the mechwarrior officer. She quickly salutes, though without rising or really turning her body it's an awkward-looking thing. "Um. Simulator results?" She asks, obviously failing to hide nervousness in this situation.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:57 am

Princess's eyes widen in terror and she gulps, closing her eyes a moment before turning her head to greet the intimidating woman.

"Uh, hi, Lieutenant Ha... Lt. Hakam... Er, Lt. Yori," she finishes with more energy, trying to show she's not completely terrified of the mechwarrior officer. She quickly salutes, though without rising or really turning her body it's an awkward-looking thing. "Um. Simulator results?" She asks, obviously failing to hide nervousness in this situation.

Unblinkingly
"2nd Lieutenant Yori Hakamda."

Yori plonks herself calmly down next to the other pilot and begins neatly unpacking a small folder, arranging all the printouts within into precise stacks.

"I was analyzing company simulator performance. It is one of the methods I relax by after a long day. And I noted you were consistently below average in most categories."
Turning to Princess and staring Directly.Into.Her.Soul
"Has Lieutenant Rains raised this with you?"

Unlikely as it seemed, Princess's eyes can go wider, and do. She's. Sitting. Next to...

"Thanks? Um, Lt. Hakamada? It, um... I-I-I, I'm sure that, uh Gia--ahhh, Lt. Rains, is planning to. Uh, actually, she's supposed to... Be here. Be meeting me. Here. Anytime now," she says, dragging the words out as she looks around the room again.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 3:35 am

Unlikely as it seemed, Princess's eyes can go wider, and do. She's. Sitting. Next to...

"Thanks? Um, Lt. Hakamada? It, um... I-I-I, I'm sure that, uh Gia--ahhh, Lt. Rains, is planning to. Uh, actually, she's supposed to... Be here. Be meeting me. Here. Anytime now," she says, dragging the words out as she looks around the room again.

"That is convenient. I was concerned that due to your familial ties she might feel it is more difficult to provide you accurate performance assessments."
Continuing to stare
"That is not a problem for me."

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 3:37 am

"That is convenient. I was concerned that due to your familial ties she might feel it is more difficult to provide you accurate performance assessments."
Continuing to stare
"That is not a problem for me."

Princess's forehead creases and her mouth crinkles in worry under the stare.

"She um... She'd want me to be successful," the terrified blonde girl says, a modicum of confidence trying unsuccessfully to cover a lot of nervousness.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:01 am

Princess's forehead creases and her mouth crinkles in worry under the stare.

"She um... She'd want me to be successful," the terrified blonde girl says, a modicum of confidence trying unsuccessfully to cover a lot of nervousness.

"I see"
Tapping the simulator results with her index finger.
"Are you aware that roughly half of all mechwarriors die in their first year of active service?"

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:03 am

"I see"
Tapping the simulator results with her index finger.
"Are you aware that roughly half of all mechwarriors die in their first year of active service?"

"Um.... Um... Ummm..." Princess's noises of uncertainty become progressively closer to whimpers, and her eyes start to sparkle as tears begin collecting in the corners of each eye.

"Ummm... Giannaaaaaa!" The distressed girl finally yells, this conversation involving several aspects of her worst nightmare without any of the catharsis of being able to run away in terror.

Fortunately for her, and the eardrums of everyone in the cafeteria, Gianna Rains was already close by and hurries over. Seeing Yori's pink hair, Gianna already has an idea of the trouble before anyone says anything. She takes a deep breath, full positivity and kindness girding her for entering this conversation.

"Ah, Yori, so good to see you!" she says, projecting confidence like she's the Magestrix herself. "Thanks for keeping my sister company!"

With a quieter, more focused voice, she tries to soothe her sister. "Blair, honey, you need some water," she says as she pushes a bottle of water right in front of Princess's face. Silent, eyes squeezed shut, but compliant, the younger girl open the water and starts to drink, focused carefully on not sniffling in front of Yori.

Assured her sister is following instructions, Gianna turns back to Yori with a brilliant smile.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:22 am

Snip

Yori pushes back her chair and snaps a crisp salute the second Gianna appears.
"Lieutenant Rains. Good afternoon. I was providing Mechwarrior Blair with feedback on her simulator work. I understand you mean to speak with her about it as well."
Dully
"That is good. I apologise, I had not realised she was dehydrated."
Turning back to the younger sister.
"It is important you remain hydrated."

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:28 am

Yori pushes back her chair and snaps a crisp salute the second Gianna appears.
"Lieutenant Rains. Good afternoon. I was providing Mechwarrior Blair with feedback on her simulator work. I understand you mean to speak with her about it as well."
Dully
"That is good. I apologise, I had not realised she was dehydrated."
Turning back to the younger sister.
"It is important you remain hydrated."

As Princess groans and whimpers faintly at Yori's "concern," Gianna shakes her head to ward off rolling her eyes at the former Draconis mechwarrior.

"Yori," she says to draw the woman's attention back to her, then rewards the response with a proper salute. "Really, please, call me Gianna. It's... I only technically outrank you now, and it really shouldn't be a... thing, you know?"

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:41 am

As Princess groans and whimpers faintly at Yori's "concern," Gianna shakes her head to ward off rolling her eyes at the former Draconis mechwarrior.

"Yori," she says to draw the woman's attention back to her, then rewards the response with a proper salute. "Really, please, call me Gianna. It's... I only technically outrank you now, and it really shouldn't be a... thing, you know?"

“Of course, Lieutenant Gianna Rains.”
She nods to herself firmly

“I understand you prefer to command more as a comrade than as a superior. I am unclear what the thing is, but I shall endeavour to not create it inadvertently.”

Now staring at Gianna
“I understand that with your promotion some things might change.”

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 4:54 am

“Of course, Lieutenant Gianna Rains.”
She nods to herself firmly

“I understand you prefer to command more as a comrade than as a superior. I am unclear what the thing is, but I shall endeavour to not create it inadvertently.”

Now staring at Gianna
“I understand that with your promotion some things might change.”

Gianna blocks a sigh by taking a deep breath.

"Well, hopefully very little. We've each got our lances to look after still..." The Canopian blinks several times under the intense stare, but she's gotten used to Yori in the last two years. "I, ah, will be working with Princess a fair amount... Managed to get the battalion's Wyvern assigned to her so she's more in line with the capabilities of the rest of our lance." It's Gianna's turn to speak neutrally as she carefully avoids sounding like she had more motives than overall lance cohesion.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 6:09 am

Gianna blocks a sigh by taking a deep breath.

"Well, hopefully very little. We've each got our lances to look after still..." The Canopian blinks several times under the intense stare, but she's gotten used to Yori in the last two years. "I, ah, will be working with Princess a fair amount... Managed to get the battalion's Wyvern assigned to her so she's more in line with the capabilities of the rest of our lance." It's Gianna's turn to speak neutrally as she carefully avoids sounding like she had more motives than overall lance cohesion.

“That sounds reasonable. The wyvern is tough enough to survive direct hits. It has doubtless increased her chances of survival for the coming campaign.”

Neutrally
“Tsgue pilots a locust. I believe that directly increases the risk to him. But it will have to be managed.”

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 6:17 am

“That sounds reasonable. The wyvern is tough enough to survive direct hits. It has doubtless increased her chances of survival for the coming campaign.”

Neutrally
“Tsgue pilots a locust. I believe that directly increases the risk to him. But it will have to be managed.”

Gianna grimaces a little, in spite of her efforts to look neutral.

"That is... Definitely not something that can stand in a battle line beside a Crusader," the blue-haired woman says unhappily. "Hopefully we'll be picking up salvage quickly enough that we can sell or use that we won't keep using lights outside Scout Company."

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 6:52 am

Gianna grimaces a little, in spite of her efforts to look neutral.

"That is... Definitely not something that can stand in a battle line beside a Crusader," the blue-haired woman says unhappily. "Hopefully we'll be picking up salvage quickly enough that we can sell or use that we won't keep using lights outside Scout Company."

"I hope so too. He is a close friend and I would be saddened by his death."
Yori stands in silence for a few moments before asking her usual dreaded query.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 12:26 pm

"I hope so too. He is a close friend and I would be saddened by his death."
Yori stands in silence for a few moments before asking her usual dreaded query.

"Do you mind if I ask you a personal question?"

Gianna looks slightly surprised at that level of emotion from Yori. She manages to keep a little smile of satisfaction off of her face as she thinks, I knew it! She's just awkward. She cares about people like everyone else.

"Um, no, I'm happy to answer a personal question." Gianna glances at Princess, who seems to be sulking but otherwise fine, then gives the pink-haired woman an encouraging smile. "Go ahead."

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 2:31 pm

Gianna looks slightly surprised at that level of emotion from Yori. She manages to keep a little smile of satisfaction off of her face as she thinks, I knew it! She's just awkward. She cares about people like everyone else.

"Um, no, I'm happy to answer a personal question." Gianna glances at Princess, who seems to be sulking but otherwise fine, then gives the pink-haired woman an encouraging smile. "Go ahead."

"Thank you."
Pause
"Do you believe you are doing a good job as 1st Lieutenant?"

Yori Hakamada wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 10:39 pm

"Thank you."
Pause
"Do you believe you are doing a good job as 1st Lieutenant?"

The Canopian pauses, mouth slightly open.

"Um. That's... That's a good question? I think it's, uh, a little early to know..." Gianna is clearly trying to think of a good answer while she keeps speaking. "I suppose, uh... Well, it's not much different than being a second lieutenant, right? I'm just... One step closer to more problems, right?" She smirks as she jokes, not having come up with much of anything useful to say.

Gianna Rains wrote: ↑

Wed Dec 29, 2021 11:47 pm

The Canopian pauses, mouth slightly open.

"Um. That's... That's a good question? I think it's, uh, a little early to know..." Gianna is clearly trying to think of a good answer while she keeps speaking. "I suppose, uh... Well, it's not much different than being a second lieutenant, right? I'm just... One step closer to more problems, right?" She smirks as she jokes, not having come up with much of anything useful to say.

Yori listens quietly and far too intently
"Yes, you are. For instance, now you are responsible for my actions."
Yori does not smile.