(no subject)

[sapphirecontess]

Elysium Dormitories after the liberation, open to all

[Musse is nothing if not scrupulously attentive to her duties. As such, she is here to greet the new arrivals as they are brought to the dormitories. Although she is clearly a noble - her demeanor, bearing and method of speech make that obvious - she hopes that this can help to show that she, at least, is firmly on the side of the rebellion. She is here to greet them and to provide what assistance she can in feeding, assigning, and clothing the new residents, as well as helping assess their skills. If nothing else, she's been able to show her use by proving her knack for reading people's abilities and helping assign them to roles that would best suit them.]

Hail and well met. I am Musse Egret, and I'm here to ensure you are properly settled and cared for. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to ask.

Flotsam Waterlogged Row, open to all

[Somewhat surprisingly, Musse is something of a wallflower in this place but she enjoys coming anyway. The unbridled joy of Corsairs celebrating, swapping stories, and engaging in foolish challenges with each other is special to her. She'd never seen such a thing in her life as a noble, a genuine affection, even love for one's peers and comrades. She always make it a point to come here after a successful mission and soak in the atmosphere. Still, if anyone comes by, she'll make sure to call out. Any moments in this place she can claim for her own are special, after all]

Elysium, Musse's room - private to Maomao

It's been quite busy with the new arrivals. Tell me your thoughts.

Comments

[2mao]

[ Maomao is, naturally, there in Musse's room to perform the scant few duties not trusted to general cleaning staff. But, more often than not, it serves as cover for more clandestine conversation.

Honestly, Maomao still isn't entirely sure about Musse, in some regards. She's certain of some things, sure - that Musse was genuinely on the side of the Crimson Corsairs isn't in doubt, for instance. But questions like this make Maomao wonder.

Musse is certainly good at reading people herself. What's the point of asking for Maomao's opinion? Is it some sort of test, to see how much she was paying attention during the day, how astute she was being? Was she aiming for a second opinion? Or just checking to see if there were any people Maomao had met that she perhaps had not?

She considers herself decent at getting a read on people. As an apothecary, especially around Elysium, people simply lie when they speak about themselves. Learning how to read beyond their words is simply an occupational skill one had to develop if they want to accurately treat patients. Still, it's hard to get a reading on the recent rescues sometimes. Many are in a state of shock or confusion still, and many more are malnourished.

But it's what she has to work with, and she has a question to answer. ]

I noticed several that carried themselves like fighters. I'd wager they're better than your average Imperial soldier, if that's still noticeable after the kind of labor they're put through - or they will be once they're hale and healthy again. [ Which isn't terribly unusual, for outlanders, though to be frank most of the fighter-types wind up in Flotsam, not Elysium. ]

And there was one that carried himself like nobility. He'll probably be fitting right in here.

[sapphirecontess]

[Musse nods, considering]

You're speaking of the man with black hair, yes? I noticed as well. Adding a few fighters to our ranks is probably worthwhile to defend our staff if nothing else. And the one who is nobility at least might have the manners to make it work.

[She makes some notes on a stack of documents she has in front of her]

Do you feel any of them might be of use to you? I'm already hearing rumors of the next operations, and it seems your skills may be required.

[2mao]

[ Of use to Maomao? That's something she can't see. She doesn't have a need of fighters.

Well, she can't say she'll never need one. She can foresee future events where she might need a bodyguard. But for the next operation... using her skills.... hmm. ]

I suppose I might need somebody to gather rare materials. There are animals and monsters with parts that can be used for "medicine."

Other than that, it's too soon to say if any of them might have any other skills that can be of use to us.

[ There's a pause, though. Was this a test? ]

Did you have any further insight?

[sapphirecontess]

It's somewhat harder for one of my station to obtain genuine reactions. People are naturally on their guard around nobility like myself. You, however, can move far more freely. Your assessments are often accurate and will hold great weight in determining who might be trustworthy. Is it so surprising that I value your insight? I chose you for a reason.

[fish4science]

[ To Angelika, the Waterlogged row is a bit...much. Oh, she's agreed to try a drink or two with some fighters she helped patch up, and she helped them with the strange pub game that got them all a free drink. And it was fun-but it was also loud, and boisterous all the time, and it was kind of boyish. That was the problem right there, even if half the customers were women she still associated it with masculinity.

She stepped away from the bar for a bit, taking a sip from the tankard. Lime-heavy, watered down, but far from the worst grog in the sea. She takes up her station alongside another wall-flower and lets out a soft sigh as some internal strain ratchets down a notch. And then she spoke to herself, softly, but with a bit of wonder.]

And they do this every night?

[sapphirecontess]

[Musse smiles a bit at the girl's confusion]

With varying degrees of enthusiasm, depending on the occasion.

[fish4science]

Varying degrees of enthusiasm, huh?

[ She pauses for another sip of her drink, watching the crowd. She remembers the strange trivia game, the shouting and the back-pounding and the cheers. And she has a wry smile back as she looks at the other girl. ]

Would you say that today is high spirits or low?

[2mao]

[ In other words, Musse chose Maomao... based on her own intuition and judge of character.

Well, that and possibly the murders Maomao helped solve. There's always murders to solve. ]

As you say.

In terms of trustworthiness, I'd need to spend more time with them to say for sure. I can arrange to do some checkups later, perhaps take them out to gather herbs.

[lightnovelexperiences]

Am well. Thanks.

[The foxkin woman frowns - clearly struggling with the language. She looks at her hands, flexing them experimentally.]

You lead Crimson Corsairs? Part of Crimson Corsairs. Need... Clerks? Medics?

[sapphirecontess]

Most certainly high. There are, after all, reasons to celebrate.

[fish4science]

Imagine if this was a low ebb in the celebration around here. It's an interesting hypothetical.

[sapphirecontess]

I'd say even the Corsairs would have difficult maintaining that degree of fervor.

[sapphirecontess]

[Ah, an Outlander. Musse considered her words carefully.]

I am a member, not leader. We do need clerks and medics both, are you one?

[lightnovelexperiences]

Can heal with hands and… (oh she struggles thinking of this one.) Breath.

Can fight with hands and Breath too. No swords. Hidden.

[fish4science]

I'm having trouble dealing with just this. It's a bit much!

[sapphirecontess]

An excellent idea. What if we were to assign them as your guards for your next gathering. With some experienced fighters, you might be able to visit places that are normally too dangerous, correct?

[sapphirecontess]

It should settle after a few days if that is more to your taste.

[sapphirecontess]

Do you want to fight or heal? We have need for both.

[2mao]

I wouldn't mind being able to venture further out. [ Ironically, though, the last time she did that she was ambushed by people, not monsters. And kidnapped. Which started the chain of falling blocks that led to Maomao being here with Musse now.

Still, guards would prevent that from happening again as well, she hoped. ]

It sounds like a good plan. And even if one isn't as trustworthy as we'd hope, there would be others there.

[sapphirecontess]

I'm not keen on potentially endangering you with an entirely unknown detail. If we proceed with this, I want to assign guards to your detail who we know are trustworthy. Does anybody come to mind?

[lightnovelexperiences]

[She doesn't even have to think about it.]

Healing is more important. More people can fight.

Dormitories

[chosenkingoflucis]

[Noctis wasn't in the Empire's custody long enough to become malnourished and skinny, but he was there long enough to gain a healthy hatred of them based on their treatment of him. It probably helps that his own enemy back home happens to be the Niflheim Empire, just exchange one for the other he guesses. He approaches the woman, and crosses his arms over his chest, piercing blue eyes studying her. She reminds him a little of Luna with the way she carries herself and her manner of speech, which is like a stab through the heart right then, but he hides it well.]

I have a question. How long until I can go home?

[He's got a lot to do, and he said he wasn't going to stop.]

Flotsam Waterlogged Row

[newmemorywhodis]

Unlike most others here, Link doesn't come for the drink. No, it's the food he's after. Even if he loves to cook, there's still something to appreciate about someone else's cooking.

So after collecting his meal, he claims a spot in the corner of the tavern. Right next to where Musse is, in fact. As he notices her looking in his direction, he blinks, and gives her a little wave.

And then starts to enthusiastically eat his dinner.

[fish4science]

[ Angelika leans forward a bit, looking down into her drink, momentarily looking a bit more worried. ]

I don't know if it's a matter of taste or just not being used to it. This is the first party I can remember that was this intense. Not that I've been to many parties.

Re: Dormitories

[sapphirecontess]

[Musse sizes the man up. Despite his gruff demeanor, Musse can see he's quite princely and handsome to boot. She'll have to enjoy that later, but for now, there is work to be done. She gives him a sad smile]

Much as I wish it were different, but until the Empire falls outlanders are more or less stuck here. The Empire holds the gate, and we don't know what technology they've used to pull you here. Until we are able to bring the fight to the Emperor himself and claim his palace, we have no way to send Outlanders home.