First Feather ✪ [Video]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[ When the warp band flickers to life, the image is held steady, revealing a rather serious-looking young woman with silvery hair and dark blue eyes. Though her shoulders are bare, the rest of her body is clad in plate mail, with feathers shaped to form wings on either side of her face. A bright blue swablu is perched on her left shoulder, still puffy with the fluff of the recently hatched.

Her lips press into a thin line, before she takes a breath to address her viewers. ]

I am Gwendolyn of the Ragnanival Tribe. I have been sent here to represent them in Union on behalf of the Citadel, and offer our strength in battle if Union would have use of it. It is the least we can offer, after the aid your people gave us.

[she shifts very slightly, looking momentarily uncomfortable] I have also brought a gift on behalf of my tribe, some arms and armor that may be of interest to those among you who are warriors. Our craftsmen are noted for the fine quality of their blades.

I am also told there are other Valkyrie present within the city. I would be grateful if I could be directed to them.

...Thank you for your time.

[with that, there's a polite bow of her head, and the feed ends]

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[wishingalone]

Oh, certainly not. The land isn't meant for it. Even their farming occurs in that tower.

[Mami smiles -- and then her smile widens, but it softens too. She forgets, sometimes, what it's like to talk to an old friend. She has more friends than she expected here. More than she did in the Valkyries, really; she had more subordinates and acquaintances, but few true friends. Gwendolyn and her sister are among them.]

I've made a fair number of friends here. Some quite good--ah, it surprised me. I expected life to be lonely.

Do you remember Junes, from Citadel, too? The store?

[Even Citadel had capitalism.]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

I suppose you make do with the amount of space you have. And they were cooped up here for a very long time, weren't they?

[it's hard to imagine. Even with the great tree to house call the tribes in a time of need, being unable to roam freely seemed unnatural.]

[Gwendolyn has always struggled with friendships, so those few she has are precious. Mami travelling so far has been good for the other girl, that much is clear, but the silver haired girl is happy that they're able to talk like this once more.]

They live so very different lives. I cannot blame you for expecting to be lonely here. But I am glad you've been able to make friends here, such ties are important when we are forging this alliance. [where one generation may fail...not that she would ever say THAT aloud!]

Yee-ees. [her head tilts quizzically] I remember them. Fa--the former Elder-Regent did not have the most flattering opinion, as I recall.

[wishingalone]

They were. I've made due, but the apartment I purchased here is smaller than my quarters in Citadel. Ah, but it's interesting. Very vertical.

[But... that's not really what Gwendolyn asked before. She tilts her head to the side, then she nods; and tilts her head to the side. She's thought the same about previous generations.]

[She remembers what the Matriarch told her about Union.]

...Mm, yes. Junes has a branch here, now. The owner's son runs it. He, ah... [She coughs, then looks embarrassed.] ...We became involved.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

At least THAT we are used to. [Thanks to the Great Tree. but still, her nose wrinkles] Do you think it will be difficult for my wing and I to find somewhere to be stationed together? Perhaps we might pay tithe to have further use of these barracks.. [at least until they could get their own built]

[ But there's plenty of time to worry about that later. little do they know ]

Someone mentioned that someone of that family was here. You-- [a hand covers her mouth a moment, brows rising] --oh. That's. Um.

[wishingalone]

I'm certain we can arrange it. There are places in the city. We'll simply need a large enough apartment or a couple close by.

[World's gonna explode. Awkwardness!]

...It is something, isn't it? He's quite nice. [...usually.] I'll introduce you sometime. There's also Yukiko and Fuuka, too.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Would a single apartment really work..? [she doesn't really like the idea of being separated from her wing, but, if that IS what's best while in Union..] ..Well, I don't need to decide just yet, anyway.

[Gwendolyn doesn't know what to say for a moment. Perhaps because, unlike Mami, such social freedoms haven't exactly been free for her. But in spite of her blushes, Mami looks..]

And you're happy? [more softly] It's your choice, yes?

Oh? Who are they?

[wishingalone]

Some of the larger ones have three or four bedrooms. Of course, they cost more... [Sometimes, Mami forgets she's rich. But never for long. It's an inheritance, and she gained her wealth at quite a price.]

It's my choice, yes. I don't know that it's a popular one. [He is, after all, "just" a shopkeeper.]

Ah, two people from Union, who I met. They're good friends. Fuuka's a bit more sheltered. They're both Windblessed.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Such things usually do. We will worry about such things later.

[Gwendolyn studies her friend for a long moment, before pale fingers reach over and pat her hand in gentle reassurance] Probably not. But as long as the choice is yours, then your happiness is what is most important.

[Which, quite honestly, is not an opinion many others back home will share - a weakness in Gwendolyn that was never quite stamped out]

Windblessed beyond the Tree.. This world gets stranger and stranger, doesn't it?

[wishingalone]

Mm, quite so. And today's unpopular decision can seem wiser tomorrow.

[She smiles at the handpat, before she nods. She doesn't think it's a weakness -- even if it's something that she has trouble with.]

It is. There's many kinds of them. Earthkin and Enlightened--ah, and more in Refuge, and I should think Glacier, too. The Holy Tree's roots must go further than we ever thought.

[...but. They are from Citadel. Hence:] You should spar with them. It's enlightening!

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[ Gwendolyn can't help but smile a little more shyly. Mami at least can get away with saying things like that, but the younger girl is certain she speaks true.

And while she may be uncertain of these other places, and other people, one thing certainly makes her eyes light up. ]

That I should! I sincerely hope to have the opportunity. I even spoke with someone who stated they were part of the Swords of the Savior - yet he chooses not to use a weapon. How strange is that? [in a fascinating way, of course. Perhaps he's a fist fighter like some Calerans?]

[wishingalone]

Ah! It happens. There's a few trained in unarmed combat. I heard there is a... dojo? [Is that the right term?] That teaches unarmed combat. I don't know if it still operates.

[She shakes her head.]

I prefer weapons, though, myself. [To indicate, she makes a rifle appear behind her. It floats, then winks away again.] Far more predictable that way.

[And she can shoot things.]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

That's a very old art. I suppose a place like Union would be the sort to learn it, wouldn't they? [she props an elbow on the table before them, resting her chin on upturned palm, looking far more her 17 years in a girlishly youthful fashion than a deadly Valkyrie wingleader.]

You would prefer newer technology. [it's an age old tease, really. There are plenty of fine archers amongst the Valkyrie as well, but Gwendolyn's preference really is an old clan classic] I will stick to my spear, if it's all the same to you.

[wishingalone]

Mm-hmm. I suppose it matches their sensibilities, too. Easier to restrain someone with unarmed fighting.

[She cracks a smile at the comment about newer technology. (Really, she makes her guns with Windblessed powers, but that was because she took them apart to learn how to quickly make facsimiles. It's the same thing.) It's true.]

I suppose I can forgive you. But never mistake the power of a good rifle butt's impact.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Particularly when they are heedless of the danger to themselves when fighting back.

[ That gets a small laugh ]

The butt of a spear works equally well! Have you had to use yours on anyone, then? [man or pokémon, when aimed precisely, the results are fairly similar]

[wishingalone]

Oh, well--once or twice. When they get close enough, and past my shots and my ribbons.

[And there's that confident wink.]

Which is infrequent, of course.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

So when you are bored, then. Or they need teaching a good lesson.

[wishingalone]

Quite.

[A beat.] A few have gotten lucky. There are some surprisingly fast people out there.

[Or gods.]

[sleepingvalkyrie]

I should be interested to meet them, then. [nope, you prrrrrobably don't want to meet a god, Gwendolyn] And hope that we Valkyrie might be of use here. I do not think we would suit work with their Swords..

[wishingalone]

Mm, I agree. I think we'll prove useful. We can go further afield. They have some who can fly... but every Valkyrie can. It's not a rare skill for us.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

[a finger lightly taps against her lips] There are already valkyrie patrols along Citadel borders. Perhaps we might do the same for here. With the warp bands, news can travel so quickly, after all.

[she's really quite fascinated by the one she was given. not the sort of tech you'd find back home]

[wishingalone]

It's a fine idea. Union's never been attacked before, but it might make people feel better. [...things she'll regret in coming days] Best to be prepared, isn't it?

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Indeed. Who do you think would be best to propose that to?

[wishingalone]

I think the Rangers. They patrol, some, already. We could -- we should -- coordinate with them.

[sleepingvalkyrie]

Then once we are settled, that will be our first task. [Gwendolyn likes having a plan of action. Likes it even more that Mami could provide imput] Have you worked with them before? Or do you do other things here?

[wishingalone]

Not very much. Because it was only me here, I didn't see a need to reach out. I spent most of my time doing independent patrols and expanding our knowledge of regions further from Citadel.

[Everything to the south, especially.]