[Day 5 LE] Dropship Personnel Quarters - Getting a Read on things (expecting)

[Yori Hakamada]

Snip

Yori's eyes go very wide at the sight of the FISH pendant and she spends a few moments looking from it to Richard and then back again.
"Did you-"
Her tone very confused
"-Did you purchase this for me?"

[Richard Winter]

....

"I,.. uhh made it myself" He said a bit embarrassed "Your fish inspired me and it seems like you care alot about them, so.. " he took a sip of tea.

[Yori Hakamada]

"I,.. uhh made it myself" He said a bit embarrassed "Your fish inspired me and it seems like you care alot about them, so.. " he took a sip of tea.

"That is...unexpectedly nice. I am not often given gifts. It is 78% rarer for them to be as well chosen as this."
Very carefully Yori takes the necklace and holds it up to the light, turning it slightly this way and that.
"Would you help me put it on? I keep my hair short to allow easy access for occasions such as this."

[Richard Winter]

....

"Sure thing." he took the necklace in his hand and put it around Yori's neck. Carefully he closed it and looked at his work. "Looks good," he said, happily.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Sure thing." he took the necklace in his hand and put it around Yori's neck. Carefully he closed it and looked at his work. "Looks good," he said, happily.

"Yes, I believe it does."
She reaches up a hand and gently traces the design.
"I do not believe in good luck totems, but maybe the positive emotions I am feeling will improve my performance."

Yori seems to be thinking something over before she reaches into her pocket and retrieves a carefully folded square of papers which she offers to Richard.
"Can you please take this, but only examine the contents after I leave?"

[Richard Winter]

....

"Let's hope so! Maybe they will equip your Crusader with a Gauss cannon after the mission? I don't understand why the majority decided to do that, but well, the tyranny of the masses..."

Richard carefully picked up the folded piece of paper and said, "Sure thing" and brought it over to his nightstand before sitting back down on the sofa.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Let's hope so! Maybe they will equip your Crusader with a Gauss cannon after the mission? I don't understand why the majority decided to do that, but well, the tyranny of the masses..."

Richard carefully picked up the folded piece of paper and said, "Sure thing" and brought it over to his nightstand before sitting back down on the sofa.

Yori stares at him as she spends some time trying to work out if it's a joke or not.
"A Gauss Rifle would be interesting" She finally allows.

Sitting herself straight back on the other end of the sofa.
"I...do not fully understand myself. But it is an area I am less familiar with. It might be there is a motivation I am missing. Salvage appears to be an extremely important part of mercenary operations. I hope our employers understand."

[Richard Winter]

....

"Salvage is the lifeblood for most mercenary companies after all. It is needed to repair damaged mechs, acquire new ones or simply sell it to increase the profit of a mission. In contrast to a military unit, which usually is financed by a central government, we mercenaries need that little bit of extra money." he said as if quoting from a textbook.

"But people who have a military background usually have a different mindset. I understand the value we can capture at Budai, but I don't know if that will satisfy our client. On the other hand, I don't quite understand why our client wasn't too thrilled when we cut off the target's communications, which is actually a good move."

[Yori Hakamada]

Snip

"Perhaps it is more the fault of the militia? They did not respond as predicted to the loss of their communications. Our opponents may not yet understand how dire the situation is."
Looking over at Richard neutrally

"I appreciate you vocalising all this, I have had similar concerns. It is nice to talk about such things openly.

[Richard Winter]

...

"Well they're going to regret ignoring us sooner or later, I guess."

"Well, it doesn't seem like many Angels are ex-military. Except for the Boss and Klaus von Zinzer, I can't think of any others off the top of my head that would be good to talk to on that level either."

[Yori Hakamada]

Snip

"I had not considered that before."
Yori goes still as she pauses to mentally catalogue the angels members and their backgrounds.
"Perhaps that explains the differing points of view? Salvage was always important in the DCMS, but it was hardly honourable to highlight and the expectation was always that sacrifice might be necessary for victory. But if you are a born mercenary or gladiator then that is quite different."

The slightest of frowns
"It is a different understanding of honour."

[Richard Winter]

....

Richard nodded and took another sip of tea.
"The AFFC hadn't reviled salvage either, but with their focus on heavies and super-heavy mechs, the use of salvage was mostly,.... low. It was more like ,... well like now you sold what you could to mercenaries or minor noble houses. The philosophy behind this is that you make the most of what you have won."

[Yori Hakamada]

Richard nodded and took another sip of tea.
"The AFFC hadn't reviled salvage either, but with their focus on heavies and super-heavy mechs, the use of salvage was mostly,.... low. It was more like ,... well like now you sold what you could to mercenaries or minor noble houses. The philosophy behind this is that you make the most of what you have won."

"Sensible. Very sensible. You have a superior industrial base compared to us...compared to the Combine I mean. I am sure Capellan units feel differently by necessity."
Drinking her own tea somewhat mechanically.

"It is hard to begrudge mercenaries acting like mercenaries."

[Richard Winter]

....

He nodded. "Especially when you are one yourself"

He put his cup down again.

"But we've really drifted away from what you came here to do, do you still want to talk about the manga?

[Yori Hakamada]

He nodded. "Especially when you are one yourself"

He put his cup down again.

"But we've really drifted away from what you came here to do, do you still want to talk about the manga?

"Oh...my thoughts are out of order now. I fear I would not provide you with the quality literary analysis you are owed. Perhaps I can simply borrow the next volumes and leave you to your evening? I know it is late already."

[Richard Winter]

...

"Understandable, tomorrow will also be a hard day, from there an early rest would be quite appropriate."

He went to his collection of boxes, crouched down and searched for the one with the next volumes. A short search later he had them and brought them to the table.

[Yori Hakamada]

"Understandable, tomorrow will also be a hard day, from there an early rest would be quite appropriate."

He went to his collection of boxes, crouched down and searched for the one with the next volumes. A short search later he had them and brought them to the table.

Yori bows her head and hands back the old volumes carefully, apparently having treated them rather reverently.
"It has been very enjoyable, having a story to follow and the being able to discuss it. If I survive tomorrow I look forward to seeing where the narrative is going, and perhaps talking it over."

[Richard Winter]

...

"I also enjoy discussing things with you, I also hope you survive tomorrow." he said with a warm smile.

[Yori Hakamada]

"I also enjoy discussing things with you, I also hope you survive tomorrow." he said with a warm smile.

"Thank you Richard, I am 85% confident you mean that."
In a rare display of emotion Yori even rubs her necklace for a moment before standing.
"And you are correct about the early night, I will function more efficiently with sleep."

[Richard Winter]

....

Richard took the box in his hand and accompanied you to the door. "Today I have to leave it to you" he looked over his shoulder at the piles of documents, the cups and the rest that were still lying around "I have a little tidying up to do".