[DP2, EA, cafeteria, expecting] Digesting the briefing

[Gianna Rains]

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

That comment chills Gianna pretty quickly.

"Um, ok... But you're a professional, Yori. I've seen you. Why would I worry about being 'responsible' for you?" Gianna seems a touch worried, but mostly genuinely confused.

[Yori Hakamada]

That comment chills Gianna pretty quickly.

"Um, ok... But you're a professional, Yori. I've seen you. Why would I worry about being 'responsible' for you?" Gianna seems a touch worried, but mostly genuinely confused.

"That is correct. But you should be aware that I have unintentionally caused trouble for previous commanders. They did not take responsibility for my actions. I am interested if you will should a similar problem occur."
Yori bends down and slurps loudly on her drink, maintaining eye contact.

[Gianna Rains]

"That is correct. But you should be aware that I have unintentionally caused trouble for previous commanders. They did not take responsibility for my actions. I am interested if you will should a similar problem occur."
Yori bends down and slurps loudly on her drink, maintaining eye contact.

"You're asking..." Gianna looks over at Princess for confirmation this is really happening. The younger sister has recovered enough and gotten engrossed in the conversation, giving an unhelpful but honest shrug of uncertainty.

"Yori," Gianna begins seriously. "If you're acting in the line of duty and make an honest mistake, of course we'll take responsibility for that. I mean, we trust you with a 70-ton death machine. If we weren't willing to take on some risk..." Gianna looks at the other woman curiously, then speaks a little softer: "Or are you asking more personally if I've got your back?"

[Yori Hakamada]

"You're asking..." Gianna looks over at Princess for confirmation this is really happening. The younger sister has recovered enough and gotten engrossed in the conversation, giving an unhelpful but honest shrug of uncertainty.

"Yori," Gianna begins seriously. "If you're acting in the line of duty and make an honest mistake, of course we'll take responsibility for that. I mean, we trust you with a 70-ton death machine. If we weren't willing to take on some risk..." Gianna looks at the other woman curiously, then speaks a little softer: "Or are you asking more personally if I've got your back?"

...Blink, sip.

"I am interested to the answers to both questions. Allow me to present a hypothetical. We are assigned to a combat zone, we develop a strategy, it is likely to be my strategy because my strategies are 58.5% more effective than the average. We execute the strategy, it is successful but there is collateral damage. Extensive collateral damage."

Yori does not immediately sip again, clearly this is a big deal to her.
"How would you assign credit and blame?"

[Gianna Rains]

...Blink, sip.

"I am interested to the answers to both questions. Allow me to present a hypothetical. We are assigned to a combat zone, we develop a strategy, it is likely to be my strategy because my strategies are 58.5% more effective than the average. We execute the strategy, it is successful but there is collateral damage. Extensive collateral damage."

Yori does not immediately sip again, clearly this is a big deal to her.
"How would you assign credit and blame?"

Gianna's eyes narrow, and she takes her glasses off for emphasis.

"Yori," she says, very methodically. "If I'm in command, then whatever blame there is will be on me. Successful missions are the result of teamwork - everyone doing their part - and failed missions are the result of failed leadership - the commander not getting everyone to do their part. So I get the blame from outside, from on high, whatever it is. But," she says, leaning forward, violet eyes looking as dangerous as they can. "You can be gods-damned sure that after I suck up all that blame, I'm going to remember who made it possible. Ok? Canopians are tolerant people - but that doesn't mean we forget people who screw us, hm?"

With a grim smile, Gianna leans back, takes a long drink of her coffee, and waits for the reaction.

[Yori Hakamada]

Gianna's eyes narrow, and she takes her glasses off for emphasis.

"Yori," she says, very methodically. "If I'm in command, then whatever blame there is will be on me. Successful missions are the result of teamwork - everyone doing their part - and failed missions are the result of failed leadership - the commander not getting everyone to do their part. So I get the blame from outside, from on high, whatever it is. But," she says, leaning forward, violet eyes looking as dangerous as they can. "You can be gods-damned sure that after I suck up all that blame, I'm going to remember who made it possible. Ok? Canopians are tolerant people - but that doesn't mean we forget people who screw us, hm?"

With a grim smile, Gianna leans back, takes a long drink of her coffee, and waits for the reaction.

Yori continues to stare for a few more moments before taking a sweet out of her pocket and unwrapping it with a deafeningly loud series of crinkles, popping it into her mouth and starting to crunch loudly...then she continues until the sweet is finished. The eye contact remains.

"That is an acceptable answer, I can work under that arrangement."
Bowing her head slightly
"I apologise if I have given you the impression Canopians are incapable of remembering those they have had intercourse with. That was not my intent and I am sure you remember all of those people."

[Gianna Rains]

Yori continues to stare for a few more moments before taking a sweet out of her pocket and unwrapping it with a deafeningly loud series of crinkles, popping it into her mouth and starting to crunch loudly...then she continues until the sweet is finished. The eye contact remains.

"That is an acceptable answer, I can work under that arrangement."
Bowing her head slightly
"I apologise if I have given you the impression Canopians are incapable of remembering those they have had intercourse with. That was not my intent and I am sure you remember all of those people."

Gianna closes her eyes and grits her teeth for a moment.

"I'm glad that works for you. Also, ahem. Screwing can also mean those who fu... Those who... Um." Gianna has to think quickly for phrasing that doesn't just circle back to the same problem. "Screwing can mean wronging someone, like by lying or cheating in some way that hurts them. It's used metaphorically to mean, like, taking advantage of someone. So if someone is taking advantage of my sense of responsibility, that's a kind of screwing. Get it?"

Gianna's face suggests in this moment that she doesn't really care whether Yori gets this or not, but she's trying hard to be helpful.

[Yori Hakamada]

Gianna closes her eyes and grits her teeth for a moment.

"I'm glad that works for you. Also, ahem. Screwing can also mean those who fu... Those who... Um." Gianna has to think quickly for phrasing that doesn't just circle back to the same problem. "Screwing can mean wronging someone, like by lying or cheating in some way that hurts them. It's used metaphorically to mean, like, taking advantage of someone. So if someone is taking advantage of my sense of responsibility, that's a kind of screwing. Get it?"

Gianna's face suggests in this moment that she doesn't really care whether Yori gets this or not, but she's trying hard to be helpful.

"I understand. I am the same way, if someone wrongs me I never forget it. I will do my best not to screw you."
After a few moments
"I appreciate that you are honest with me. Or at least you are able to lie well enough I cannot tell."

[Gianna Rains]

"I understand. I am the same way, if someone wrongs me I never forget it. I will do my best not to screw you."
After a few moments
"I appreciate that you are honest with me. Or at least you are able to lie well enough I cannot tell."

Gianna snorts a laugh at that.

"Yori, I don't waste time lying to comrades. People can't keep secrets in a mercenary company anyway, and it hurts everything a unit is trying to do when the lies are revealed: in combat, back at home..." She trails off and looks wistful for a moment before beginning to stare intently at her coffee. "So, um, no. You don't need to worry about me lying to you," she finishes rather quietly, still staring at the cup.

Princess, noticing the change, looks back and forth between her sister and Yori, but she hesitates to actually say anything. Her gaze settles on Yori, trying to communicate Somehow you broke her, now you need to fix her.

[Yori Hakamada]

Gianna snorts a laugh at that.

"Yori, I don't waste time lying to comrades. People can't keep secrets in a mercenary company anyway, and it hurts everything a unit is trying to do when the lies are revealed: in combat, back at home..." She trails off and looks wistful for a moment before beginning to stare intently at her coffee. "So, um, no. You don't need to worry about me lying to you," she finishes rather quietly, still staring at the cup.

Princess, noticing the change, looks back and forth between her sister and Yori, but she hesitates to actually say anything. Her gaze settles on Yori, trying to communicate Somehow you broke her, now you need to fix her.

Yori stares back, trying to interpret the look.

‘I am about to inflict violence on you?’ No. Her teeth were not bared.

‘I am flirting with you?’ Possible, but her commander has been very clear she was discussing betrayal.

‘You have made a mistake’ yes, that seemed most likely.

This all takes some time until finally, although still with a completely flat tone:

“Gianna.”
She frowns slightly, cursing her over-familiarity.
“I believe you are a more honest commander than those I have served under.”

Clearing her throat
“And your home is far away. That is hard. If it were in my power I would move it closer. Then being some kind of deity I would move on to more pressing matters, but you would be on the list.”

[Gianna Rains]

Yori stares back, trying to interpret the look.

‘I am about to inflict violence on you?’ No. Her teeth were not bared.

‘I am flirting with you?’ Possible, but her commander has been very clear she was discussing betrayal.

‘You have made a mistake’ yes, that seemed most likely.

This all takes some time until finally, although still with a completely flat tone:

“Gianna.”
She frowns slightly, cursing her over-familiarity.
“I believe you are a more honest commander than those I have served under.”

Clearing her throat
“And your home is far away. That is hard. If it were in my power I would move it closer. Then being some kind of deity I would move on to more pressing matters, but you would be on the list.”

Princess looks on incredulously, but Gianna knows Yori enough to understand what all that meant.

"Thank you, Yori, really," she says, voice low and a little ragged as she looks up from the coffee cup. "I know that was hard, but it was nice hearing you say my name." She takes a deep breath, biting back what might have become a sniffle.

"It, um..." She hesitates, looks over at Princess, then back to Yori. "Home's here now," she says, with a mix of unhappiness and certainty. "The Angels are the family we have, and, um... I'm glad you're part of that family," she says, voice uneven but eyes steady with affection. After holding that look briefly, she looks back to the coffee cup.

"You, um, have any advice for Princess, going into her first combat zone?" Princess looks appalled at the attention shifting back to her, but even she can see that Gianna needs a few moments.

[Yori Hakamada]

“Family is what you make of it. I am sure if you find a partner it will increase inside.”

Yori swivels back to Princess
“Yes, I have a 64 point plan for new pilots. I will summarise some points now. It would benefit you to take notes.”

Clearing her throat
“You will likely freeze under sudden pressure. I would advise you to practice getting to cover as quickly as you are able once the shock wears off. Many pilots respond by firing all their weapons into the sky. That is not effective.”

Cocking her head
“Never stop moving unless expressly ordered to. A stationary mech is a stationary target. The kind up strike with roughly a 62% efficiency according to your notes.”

Now Peering at her intently
“You might also have to take lives. I suggest you prepare for that emotional trauma ahead of time.”

[Gianna Rains]

“Family is what you make of it. I am sure if you find a partner it will increase inside.”

Yori swivels back to Princess
“Yes, I have a 64 point plan for new pilots. I will summarise some points now. It would benefit you to take notes.”

Clearing her throat
“You will likely freeze under sudden pressure. I would advise you to practice getting to cover as quickly as you are able once the shock wears off. Many pilots respond by firing all their weapons into the sky. That is not effective.”

Cocking her head
“Never stop moving unless expressly ordered to. A stationary mech is a stationary target. The kind up strike with roughly a 62% efficiency according to your notes.”

Now Peering at her intently
“You might also have to take lives. I suggest you prepare for that emotional trauma ahead of time.”

Princess, never having been a great student, gets the wide, terrified eyes at the suggestion of taking notes. But Yori's personality is pretty persuasive, and seeing that Gianna is stuck in her own thoughts, Princess grudgingly pulls out her vid phone to furiously type a few notes.

As Yori's initial volley of suggestions winds down, the pretty blonde asks innocently, "But, um, if I keep moving, it makes my shooting less accurate. Am I still, uh, helping the team? Concentrating on, uh maneuver," she says the tactical concept as though she doesn't entirely believe the word exists, "like that?"

[Yori Hakamada]

Princess, never having been a great student, gets the wide, terrified eyes at the suggestion of taking notes. But Yori's personality is pretty persuasive, and seeing that Gianna is stuck in her own thoughts, Princess grudgingly pulls out her vid phone to furiously type a few notes.

As Yori's initial volley of suggestions winds down, the pretty blonde asks innocently, "But, um, if I keep moving, it makes my shooting less accurate. Am I still, uh, helping the team? Concentrating on, uh maneuver," she says the tactical concept as though she doesn't entirely believe the word exists, "like that?"

"It is more helpful to the team than dying, or distracting them by being in extreme danger. Combat is often a series of tradeoffs. Your mech has reasonable range. Moving quickly into a forest and firing a difficult to hit shot is an efficient exchange if it makes a larger vehicle fire impossible shots at you."

Yori pauses for a moment expressionless before continuing.
"Where did you receive your pilot training?"

[Gianna Rains]

"It is more helpful to the team than dying, or distracting them by being in extreme danger. Combat is often a series of tradeoffs. Your mech has reasonable range. Moving quickly into a forest and firing a difficult to hit shot is an efficient exchange if it makes a larger vehicle fire impossible shots at you."

Yori pauses for a moment expressionless before continuing.
"Where did you receive your pilot training?"

Princess nods thoughtfully, understanding the tactical point Yori makes. When asked the question, though, she freezes a bit.

"I, uh... f-f-f-from h-h-her," she says, pointing briefly to Gianna. Mostly calmed now, the older sister adds, "She's had no formal training, Yori. Simulator time since Kelenfold. She's pretty green."

[Yori Hakamada]

Yori slowly looks between the two sisters.

“…Unideal.”

[Gianna Rains]

Yori slowly looks between the two sisters.

“…Unideal.”

Gianna sighs.

"Quite so. There are... A number of less than ideal things that have happened recently," she says, voice hard. "We are... making the best of a tough situation." She looks straight into Yori's eyes with intensity. "We could share details if you wish." To the side, Princess is trying with little subtlety to wave Gianna away from doing that.

[Yori Hakamada]

Gianna sighs.

"Quite so. There are... A number of less than ideal things that have happened recently," she says, voice hard. "We are... making the best of a tough situation." She looks straight into Yori's eyes with intensity. "We could share details if you wish." To the side, Princess is trying with little subtlety to wave Gianna away from doing that.

Yori looks on.
"That could be beneficial. I have also had some less than ideal things happen to me."
Lengthy Pause
"There was no more casserole when I went to get dinner yesterday, it was less than ideal."
Nodding to herself, satisfied she's provided a good example from her side.
"What happened to you?"

[Gianna Rains]

Yori looks on.
"That could be beneficial. I have also had some less than ideal things happen to me."
Lengthy Pause
"There was no more casserole when I went to get dinner yesterday, it was less than ideal."
Nodding to herself, satisfied she's provided a good example from her side.
"What happened to you?"

As Gianna takes a slightly exasperated breath before responding, Princess blurts, "Yes! That's--Us too!" She says, waving animatedly to suggest they have a thing in common. "Yeah, it was... just super distressing," she adds, nodding gravely. "Right, Gianna?" Princess's voice is earnest, her eyes pleading.

The elder Rains closes her eyes a moment, then shakes her head. "Blair," she says flatly. "Secrets don't survive in a mercenary company. Too many people, too close together. Yori's going to find out anyway." Princess just hangs her head.

"The reason the Angels are home is because there's nothing left for us on Canopus. Princess got enough C-Bills to get out and get here, but everything else the family had is gone. And that's a hard thing to process after a long time of thinking your home life is pretty amazing." Gianna takes a heavy drink from her coffee and then just keeps looking at the cup, seeming suddenly much more tired.

[Yori Hakamada]

As Gianna takes a slightly exasperated breath before responding, Princess blurts, "Yes! That's--Us too!" She says, waving animatedly to suggest they have a thing in common. "Yeah, it was... just super distressing," she adds, nodding gravely. "Right, Gianna?" Princess's voice is earnest, her eyes pleading.

The elder Rains closes her eyes a moment, then shakes her head. "Blair," she says flatly. "Secrets don't survive in a mercenary company. Too many people, too close together. Yori's going to find out anyway." Princess just hangs her head.

"The reason the Angels are home is because there's nothing left for us on Canopus. Princess got enough C-Bills to get out and get here, but everything else the family had is gone. And that's a hard thing to process after a long time of thinking your home life is pretty amazing." Gianna takes a heavy drink from her coffee and then just keeps looking at the cup, seeming suddenly much more tired.

Yori takes a moment to recalibrate her brain from casserole.

"Oh, that is at least 300% more unideal than the casserole absence."
Maybe it would take some time.

"That is difficult, I am told the Magistrocracy, as well as being degenerate is a comparatively pleasant place to live. Will you be able to return if you earn enough money?"