{{001}} video; action

[blastruler]

[ video ]

[ The lighting isn't great here, as if the person using the Warp Band is unused to it. They've got great posture, though. Are standing at attention military-style. ]

I am the new Chief of the Swords of the Savior West City Branch, Veronica. My transfer from Glacier has just been approved. I thank the people of Union for their hospitality and hereby pledge to defend you. Please do not hesitate--

[ Veronica's broadcast is interrupted by a burst of high-pitched laughter from offscreen and then a Noibat bobs into the picture, barely able to keep flapping to stay in the air. You're making the whole city hear your reporting for duty?! No wonder the place will remain safe. At this rate, they'll all be sleeping from boredom--- ] Noooooi~!! Noinoinoi!

[ Veronica's mouth sets, but she keeps staring right at the screen as if the interruption hadn't happened. ] --to contact us about possible cases. That is all.

[ And that is, indeed, all. End feed. ]

[ action 1 - evening, out and about ]

[ Recently equipped with Union civilian attire - they were selling some quite nice pieces at a shop near the entertainment district, billed as "inspired by the Union Divine Theater", whatever that means - Veronica is getting a feel for the city. She's nursing a wine on a terrace outside, attempting to accustom her body to the heat, but also watching the traffic flow carefully. Nemesis the Noibat is "sitting" across from her, sucking on the straw of a very fancy juice. In fact, there's more food in front of the bat than there is in front of the human.

It's a busy night, and she's drinking alone. Anybody care to try their luck? ]

[ action 2 - evening/night, streets of union ]

[ Just as everyone is returning to their homes from going out to dinner, shows, late work shifts, etc., a rogue Mankey has slipped into the crowds and snatched a middle-aged woman's wallet! "Thief!" the woman shouts, and - ]

Halt!

[ Did it suddenly drop like thirty degrees? Mankey jumps onto a lightpost, surprised. He is even more surprised when Weather Ball hits his hand, freezing him to it. ]

It's too nice an evening for this. Apologize and we won't have to take you in.

[ Veronica approaches Mankey slowly, very slowly. She's used to walking on the thin crust of ice that has now appeared on the pavement, the weather anomaly only affecting the area around her.

Anyone rushing to try and grab that Mankey themselves, however....might not be so lucky. Watch your step! ]

Comments

Sorry about that, my browser caught a case of heresy

[greyerrant]

Ah, a police force, like the Rock Legion.

[ He frowns. ]

Given the strange dreams we've all had recently, I'd imagine you have your work cut out for you. There is unrest, even if it muted and very much centered around fear rather than anger.

np np!

[blastruler]

[ Veronica frowns at her wine, as if to indicate her displeasure isn't at the man stating that unfortunate truth but the truth itself. ] We're investigating, I assure you.

[ Perhaps she should have gone to that "Ninetales Vale" place tonight instead of using her off time as, well, off time. Observing the locals has proven useful, though. It's given her a chance to see how many people remain antsy without standing out to them via her uniform.

Plus she needs a clear head, and that's not coming from sleep. ]

Re: np np!

[greyerrant]

Do you need assistance? I've been somewhat restive since I recovered my wounds, received in the final battle of... what I guess we can now call the Gigan war.

[ He sighs. ]

It's been a long time for Caldera without a siege.

[blastruler]

[ Considering the offer, Veronica wets her lips with her drink. She's not in a position to look a gift Calderan in the mouth - and she understands about soldiers who find themselves without a purpose.

Or anyone, really, who thought their duty to their city was one thing only for it to suddenly change. ] Keep an eye out. If a disturbance breaks out, don't interfere. Contact us immediately.

[ That will keep her from having to discipline him as well as the troublemakers - "keeping the peace" cuts both ways even when her personal sympathies lie on one side of the equation. Though she doesn't doubt, from the way this gentleman chooses to attire himself, he could handle said peacekeeping on his own. ] We appreciate your vigilance.

[greyerrant]

It would be my pleasure. I am sure that my companions will keep an eye out at well. [ The Oddish gives Garviel a tired look, and just mutters. ] Odd. [ Or maybe not. ]

The price of freedom is eternal vigilance. I read that in a book somewhere.

[blastruler]

Everyone should be so literate.

[ Nemesis puffs up her cheeks and makes a squeaky noise. Her taste in books is just fiiiiine, thank you. In fact, they better be headed to the bookstore after this, if it hasn't already closed! Union has sooooo many more books and magazines than Glacier! ] Noi.

[greyerrant]

Is your companion all right? I will admit I rarely can understand what Pokemon say, I tend to focus more on body language and attitude when trying to comprehend my own companions.

[ And as for his literacy... ]

Books are a pleasure for me, and though war is my vocation, books are how I can give meaning to the struggles we face. Without history and philosophy to place everything into context, our actions have little meaning.

[blastruler]

Don't mind her. [ There may be a slight archness, a slight tiredness, in Veronica's tone, but it's not directed at Garviel. Nemesis knows when she's been put in her place and giggles.

Veronica exhales. ] I'll rely on your discretion, then.

[greyerrant]

I shall endeavour to be worthy of your trust, mamzel.

[ He finishes his wine, and sighs a bit. ]

I will admit, I'm more used to Calderan vintages. The union's slopes produce less acidic grape than i am accustomed to.

[ What with his wine coming from being grown near a volcano, and all> ]

[blastruler]

It seems many things in Union are softer.

[ Veronica keeps judgment out of her voice. ]

[greyerrant]

You are from a land of ice, and I am from a land of fire and steel. The harshness of it has shaped the ways of our people that the gentler world that the Union people have seen has not. But that is not a flaw. They bring hope, we have a sort of realism that they lack, at times.

[blastruler]

Maybe so. [ Veronica drinks her "soft" Union wine. She has to say, she does actually prefer this to the mead back home.

Nemesis knows this, and is chuckling as her human puts down the glass. ] What are your plans here?

[greyerrant]

I had planned to recuperate and return to Caldera to rejoin the Battalion. As it stands now, I'll stay here and help the Union deal with the present problems. I owe them a great deal for saving my life after the war with Gigas.

[blastruler]

[ A debt of honor. That makes sense. Veronica crosses her legs in the other direction. ] I'm sure that will be appreciated.

[greyerrant]

So why did you choose to be a peace officer, then? A more general question, I know...

[ He pours himself another glass of wine, despite it being a bit different from what he normally drinks. The beauty of being rather large is the capacity to imbibe a lot. ]

But one that always intrigues me. Why do people do what they do? Do they choose it? Or does your work choose you?

[blastruler]

Can't it be both?

[ Veronica had tried to keep her tone light, but when she notices an edge in her voice, she forces herself to mellow. Her past is best off in the past, but it had been an innocently-meant question. ] I was raised as a lighthouse-keeper. That path ended up blocked for me, so I went the next place my talents would be useful.

[greyerrant]

I see. Well, I am sure you have done well, given the rank you spoke of in your introduction. I am a humble line soldier, no more, no less.

[ Promotion has escaped him for whatever reason. Perhaps amongst the steel battalion he is simply average, perhaps his nature lends itself to being on the front lines and would be marred by the burdens of command. He doesn't know. ]

Was that an important task within Glacier? I... was raised as a criminal, more or less.

[ He seems ashamed of the admission ]

[blastruler]

We're a seafaring people.

[ Veronica debates theatrics, decides they're worth it, and snaps her fingers. A tongue of flame leaps up from the space between her thumb and index fingers, then snuffs itself. ] And one can imagine how rare this might be up North.

[ Nemesis chuckles. A rare showoff moment! Tonight is priceless! ] Noi.

[greyerrant]

[ Unfortunately, she has met the world's most deadpan man. ]

Ah, interesting. I take it you are fire-aligned then? I hope that didn't affect you adversely... socially.

[ He looks at Nemesis and raises and eyebrow. ]

[blastruler]

[ Veronica's voice grows crisp. Not rude, exactly - the man would have no way of knowing she prefer he not pry - but still, the implication is she'd rather not talk about herself. ] It's been interesting.

[greyerrant]

Ah.

[ he picks up on the deflection, and is quiet for a moment, as if wondering what else to talk about. His eyes alight on her Noibat. ]

So tell me about her, if you would. I am sure she would enjoy the telling of the story.

[ Garviel gives a rather amused grin to Nemesis. ]

[blastruler]

Noi nooooiii. [ Just for that, Nemesis pretends she doesn't care. That it's a drag, in fact! Her nose, such as it is, sticks in the air.

Veronica manages not to smile. ] A souvenir from the Archipelago. One of my last ventures with the military.

[ Nemesis flicks an ear, then scratches it. She doesn't care. She doesn't caaaaare.

She's listening intently. ]

[greyerrant]

You were military then? INteresting. What rank were you?

[ As a humble line warrior himself, he only has ever dreamed of rank. He is brave enough, and perhaps wise enough, but the opportunity just hasn't been there, despite his service against Gigas. Perhaps his lowly beginnins are held against him. He doesn't know. ]