001. a room of her own // open post.

[takeitinstride]

Take a prompt, take some time, drop in whenever you like.

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[larue]

[ Okay, breathe. Nice save, LaRue. ]

It's an honor, ma'am.

[ It really is. He respects you very much and admires the way you run Netsach and look out for your own. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Smiling a little more at that, then moving towards the passenger seat.

She's going to mention this to Hikaru when she has an opportunity to. He really chose well when he decided to fall in love with you. ]

Have you managed to get a gift for your mentor?

[larue]

[ And he's nodding in response as he rounds over to the other side. ]

I did. I found it last night. [ He hesitates just a little bit because he feels a bit shy over the fact. ] Hikaru helped me pick it out.

[ And 'it' happens to be a gorgeous antique fountain pen from one of the shops at the Fort.

He'd taken one look at it and even if he'd insisted on checking out other things, he knew it would be perfect for Gabriel. ]

[takeitinstride]

I'm not too surprised to hear that. Hikaru's rather thoughtful.

[ Understatement of the century, that, and she knows it. Which might be why she phrased it that way.

Handing the keys over to you once you're both settled. Mmm, it is nice to just sink into a car seat and have no expectations whatsoever... ]

[larue]

Yeah, [ that's coming out softly. ] He is.

[ Taking those keys now because it helps him keep from lifting his hand to rub at his eyebrow -- a nervous tic, that.

( Okay, LaRue. It would be nice if you stopped being awkward right about now. )

He does all the usual checks, makes all the necessary adjustments to the side and rear view mirrors before he starts the engine and maneuvers that car out of park. Focusing on the car settles him back into his own skin; this is something within his range of control, something that isn't quite as natural as breathing -- but he'll get there. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Watching you just enough to observe you without making you feel like you're under scrutiny. You're such a good kid, you make her feel a old - but in a good way. ]

So how have you been lately? Really.

[ Might as well take the opportunity out to check on you personally. Her own operatives rarely come around to see her unless it's for official business. ]

[larue]

[ To his credit, he didn't jump out of his skin when you spoke. Thank you, you lovely car, for giving him something to focus on. ]

I'm okay. [ There's a small smile when he says that. And because 'okay' is generic in that 'could be better' sense, he elaborates a bit. ]

Things have been a bit crazy, but keeping my head in the game.

[ Pardon the turn of phrase, Kaiser. Jessiah Vice teases him enough about being a jock, it's part of who he is.

He doesn't want to think too hard on Brianna. It's both too fresh and oddly... removed, from his thoughts. He acknowledges that she's left, but it's going to take a while to really sink in. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Tilting her head at that, elbow resting against the edge of the car window, cheek balanced on her knuckles. ]

And you've been diverting yourself towards healthier pursuits together with your duties, I hope? A lot of things have happened to your blade as of late.

[larue]

[ He manages a smile -- it's small, but it's there. ]

A bit. [ It's been less than 72 hours since they found out. ] I think the most we've managed is Kitty's birthday. [ The others -- Yulia, Stan -- went to participate in Nyx. Kaz did his own thing and so did Brig. ]

I went to the office. [ He's easing the car out onto the highway and turning their direction around to head back to Falner. ] Haven't been as visible as I should be so I wanted to make up for that.

[ And then of course, last night's dinner with Hikaru, gift-shopping, and catch-up. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Making a thoughtful noise. ]

Yes, I suppose it would be important for you to be seen at Rhiannon as much as possible, given your position.

[ Another small smile. ]

I am rather amazed at how you, in particular, manage.

[ She's of the opinion that you're the busiest of the War Hounds. ]

[larue]

[ It's the little things that betray the fact that he's not quite sure how to take that: the unconscious swallow as his lips press together, the slight shift in the way he's holding the steering wheel.

It's all sheepishness, really. You're the Kaiser, the leader of the conspiracy that took him in months ago.

And of course, there's that nervous tic of his, the way he worries a little on his bottom lip before he comes up with this reply: ] I try?

[ He really does. It's not easy; but he does his best. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ As expected. ]

You're not used to taking compliments, are you?

[ You certainly don't seem like the type who could. ]

[larue]

[ That's a soft, swallowed laugh and the tiniest shake of his head, Ma'am Delacroix.

It's not that he's never been paid them before, it just always seemed strange to him -- validation for things that he does because he was raised to give anything he believed in a hundred percent.

His personal principles are straightforward and simple: he went into football and was good at it, so he was dedicated to being the best player his team and his coaches could ever ask for; he got a baby sister and he decided when he'd peered over the rail of her crib that he would strive to be the best big brother and protector Cindy could ever ask for.

Now, he's a Keeper. He's just applying the way he's always moved. The field has changed, but his attitude hasn't.

If he was a little bit braver in your presence, he might tell you all of that. Six -- seven years ago, he might have. A lot's changed since. If he's honest, the compliments put quiet anxieties at ease in equal measure to the way they make him uncomfortable.

He shouldn't need validation. But lately, it helps. This year has been full of him getting in over his head with things that matter a great deal. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ While she is not probing through your thoughts, she can guess at your reasons. No need to talk about it, though. ]

Keep all of this up, and expect to receive a lot more of them in the future.

[ And from sources, she feels, that are sparing with their praise. She counts herself as part of that group. ]

[larue]

It's... [ Is he shrinking just a little bit? You bet. ] It's really not necessary, ma'am.

[ That sheepish smile is also apparently plastering itself on his mouth. ]

I do my part and I want to make sure I do it well. [ A beat. ] The Vigil deserves no less.

[takeitinstride]

To be perfectly blunt, the Vigil only deserves the people who choose to Keep it. We can all just hope that the ones that do have principles.

[ It isn't a popular opinion, but Liandrin has never been one to be idealistic. ]

That is precisely why it's good to have operatives like yourself on board, and it is only proper to recognize your efforts.

[larue]

[ He glances over when you say that and he won't bother hiding how your pragmatism is something that he appreciates.

Nodding now as he turns his eyes back to the road, slowing down when the light turns red at the stop.

He's quiet at first... then: ] Thank you, Kaiser.

[ He looks back up just long enough to meet your eyes before he's ducking his gaze again. ]

[takeitinstride]

[ Smiling back at that, then turning her own gaze towards the road.

It is always odd and refreshing at equal terms for her to have personal encounters with her own operatives. Her position often places her well above the daily concerns and the human faces of Netsach in ways that not even her powers as a Mastigos Mage can compensate for. Perhaps, as well, she is not entirely used to it, even after all of this time.

That's one benefit of not being constantly at war with the rest of the world. Being able to enjoy the moments in between all of the work. ]

On lighter and simpler concerns... how is Ateneo treating you? My class included, of course.

[larue]

[ He's keeping that stoplight on his periphery even as he turns back to you. ]

Pretty well, ma'am. On all fronts. [ He isn't aware that he looks much younger than he actually is when he's talking to you like this, hand coming up so that his fingers drift through his hair. ] I think... I mentioned before that I never got to finish. [ Looking back up now, teeth catching again on his lower lip before his eyes angle away. ] So it... it feels good.

To be back in school. [ A breath. ] To finish what I never got to.

[takeitinstride]

[ Yes, you did. She had also been aware of that fact because of your dossier. ]

Because it provides you with closure, yes?

[ Saying that like she understands, because she does. Special cases like yourself always have unfinished business. ]

[larue]

[ He shouldn't be surprised that you'd put it that way, because it is, in part, that.

The light's turned green again, so he's turning his attention to getting the car back on the move. A little after it's picked up momentum again though: ] On one hand, yeah. It does.

On the other, [ A beat. ] I don't know if this makes sense but... it feels like an opportunity to pick up where I thought it'd be the end of things.

[ The school year had barely started when his illness had taken over. He had only been back a little over two months when his heart had given out and he'd Awakened as one of the Bound. ]

[takeitinstride]

It does make sense.

[ A beat, then after an amused chuckle: ]

Rilea and I jumped at the opportunity to attend a proper university.

[larue]

[ Here's a look of surprise from your operative, ma'am.

Bear with him, you and Miss Rilea look really young for women who are centuries old -- he kind of... forgets. Sometimes. ]

Wh... when was that?

[ Decades upon decades ago, he can imagine. He doesn't mean for the question to sound really dumb. ]

[takeitinstride]

The 1900s, when it was still not quite fashionable for upstanding women of society to have an education.

[ All the sarcasm.

All of it. ]

Suffice to say, the Kings did have something to do with the beginnings of feminist movements within Europe.

[larue]

[ His major used to be history, and while he'd been largely focused on his country's own, it doesn't take much for him to take an interest in things like this.

He is going to resist the urge to say how cool that is because the last thing he wants is to look like a total derp in front of the woman who is essentially his boss. ]

What was it like? Back then, I mean.