[Guild Leaders] This Is It, Boys, This Is War

[firecracker_hopping]

Who: Ezra, Gabe, Jordan, Lera, Rhys
When: Friday
Where: Mianeh
Before/After: After Lera and Ezra talk.
Warnings: N/A

QUICK NOTE: feel free to do side threads before/after the briefing!

[So the announcements were all sent out: it was time to discuss war plans and the plans are getting moved up. A location in Mianeh was secured, thanks to French contacts; they have a conference room in a hotel and the Saftan embassy sent over a few guards to keep an eye on things and one of the Earth ones swept it for bugs.]

[Lera is standing at the front of the room. She isn't obviously the Mazda; she has regular Saftan civilian clothing on to give her a surprise. The exception, of course, are those sharp golden eyes.]

[There are also some chocolate chip cookies, soft drinks on ice, and shrimp with cocktail sauce. She's waiting for everyone to arrive -- and is here early, like she always is -- before they start the spiel. Besides, they all need to get to know each other first. Of course, Ezra and Gabe probably came with her.]

Comments

[coolmonsoon]

[ ezra is, in fact, already there, sitting closer to the front, one leg crossed over the other so that his foot bounces in the air, the only indication of his nervous energy. he is more obviously the spenta- his clothes indicate as much, the dark navy and silver accents on the cuffs and collar of the military-esque coat and slacks, very much like a dress uniform.

he's quiet, and intends to be quiet, though he has no idea what will come of this. the only thing he looks forward to is seeing rhys, and any joy in that will have to wait until they're done.

his stomach's gone queasy on him. another good reason to stay quiet. ]

[nosweethome]

[ when she and rhys reach mianeh, she has him go ahead and trails him from a respectable distance. she's far more proficient at blending into her surroundings now, though admittedly it is both easier and harder to do so in as populated a place as mianew york. she is wearing a tunic and jeans, and simple leather. her class, if she has one at all, is not obvious.

and her mask. she has it on her, but not her face. everyone she needs to worry about knows the mano wears a mask, so she goes without.

when she sees him enter the lobby of the hotel, she loiters outside for a few minutes, looking around her surroundings for anything suspicious. about as satisfied as she can ever feel in this situation, she then joins rhys in the lobby. they go through whatever checks required and then are directed to the conference room the other guild leaders are waiting in.

so. no mask.

there's ezra and there's the mazda. maybe. jordan recognizes the red hair from the photo in the online article and, of course, those golden eyes. ]

Hello. Ahura and Mano, present.

[ SMILING MAKES GOOD FIRST IMPRESSIONS........... ]

[brokencrescendo]

[thank you mano for the introduction. he genuinely appreciates that.

he's trying to blend in, but he's got to cover his scars despite coming from Pakerion's heat. the result is loose sleeves and a white hooded mantle to keep the sun off. the only armor he wears is a pair of leather gloves to protect his knuckles in case of a fight. if someone were forced to choose, they'd probably pick a humble caster instead of a berserker.

seeing everyone in the room at once... it may not be for the best reasons, but it's uplifting. despite what they've each been through, they're here.

there's still some uneasiness for what this meeting will mean, but not so much he can't offer a small smile and a shallow dip of a bow in greeting.]

[turnsteptwirl]

[Gabe did, in fact, arrive with Lera, though he was sending a text to Beatrice in a darker corner of the room. As Jordan and Rhys come in, though, he puts the phone away and stands, feeling a little ridiculous in the mage robes and wishing he had thought to change before the meeting. Oh well. He's hoping the outfit will make him feel more Asha-like.

Rhys, however, gets the biggest smile ever, and he immediately darts over to join the group. He'd give him a hug, but now is definitely not the time when he's supposed to be a guild leader and professional.]

It's good to see you both. I was worried when I found out about the petrification.

[Better to see Rhys, but that's because Rhys is still his friend and he still adores him. He's just not going to mention that part. >>

He gestures to himself for the Mano's benefit.]

I'm the Asha. That's the Mazda [gesturing to Lera] and you both should know the Spenta, I hope. [Buuuut he gestures over to Ezra anyway. Man, Harriet was right about it being a small world for the guild leaders, wasn't she?]

[firecracker_hopping]

[Lera takes a few steps forward when the Mano and Ahura show up. Both get long looks; thanks to Virelai, she knows that Rhys can't speak, which is really something to be grateful for. That could have lead to an awkward moment. The Mano she sort of recognizes. After Gabe finishes the introductions, her face screws up for a moment while she looks at Jordan.]

Weren't we in home room together in ninth grade?

[She just blurts that out. Then she reddens and smiles awkwardly, lifting a hand to the back of her head.]

I -- ah, I mean, um -- my name is Lera Savinkov. The Mazda. It's a pleasure to have faces to go with the text.

ezra/jo

[nosweethome]

[ now that the business is taken care of she can do one thing

and that is eat cocktail shrimp.

making herself a plate of this delicious, rare goodness. ]

[coolmonsoon]

Pretty good, right? Funny to think shrimp can look like normal food.

[ arms folded still, but more slouchy, he sets up next to her, leaning on the table and facing the room with his body, though he's looking at her while she stocks up ]

Maybe it's 'cause I got so many experience points off of the seafood on the coastlines here...

[nosweethome]

And you didn't eat them after? What a waste.

[ she pops one into her mouth, then turns to face him, fingers pinching its tail. ]

[coolmonsoon]

... not me personally, like, I mean, on Nadir...

[ is he hungry? he can't really tell, but she makes it look like eating is the most awesome thing in the world right now. ]

Though maybe someone else ate them? Who knows.

lera/jo

[nosweethome]

[ GIRLTALK. ]

I read an article about you becoming Mazda but I didn't... From the picture, you know. Recognize you.

[firecracker_hopping]

[Lera is beaming over a plastic cup full of Diet Coke.]

I do look pretty different in the full Mazda get-up, I admit. [sip] I think we're going to win the award for the weirdest high school reunion ever, though.

[nosweethome]

I can't even ask what you've been up to...

[ running an army obviously.

as the former player of one who jailed a friend's son, jordan can't say she feels very strongly about her. it's not like she's got anything higher to stand on. ]

How's the transition?

[firecracker_hopping]

Yeah... [An awkward laugh, but then it's a little serious again.]

Well enough. On the one hand, we had a lot of Earth integration from the Parisians being there, and the previous Mazda has been invaluable in explaining the job.

[She frowns.]

But the timing feels like some sort of cosmic joke. What about yours? Was it--ah, did they accept you readily? I was very lucky to have the Vice-Admiral there for that.

Lera/Rhys

[firecracker_hopping]

[It's meet and greet time. Probably for the best. Of course, Lera has talked to Rhys before, but only electronically. And with a certain distance. Thankfully, she remembers what Vivi said: mute.]

Hey there. [She waves sheepishly when she approaches.] Great hairstyle.

[Their hairstyle is nearly identical.]

[brokencrescendo]

[Yeah okay so the Ahura got into the cookies. He knows everyone here well enough to feel safe in the unberserkery indulgence, except perhaps the new Mazda. But she provided them.

Speaking of... Rhys looks up when he's addressed and smiles in greeting, his wave less sheepish. There's a pride in his hair that's survived Zenderael, and there's no reason to be humble when he's seeing it mirrored.

He uses his phone to speak, setting it down between them for her to read.]

Thanks for putting this together.

[firecracker_hopping]

[Lera smiles back and looks down at the phone. It takes her a second to get used to talking like this; she's never had to hold a conversation like this, but it proves easy enough to adjust to after a moment.]

I'm sorry it wasn't sooner. It's good to know we can bring it to a close. [Confidence, Lera!!] Will bring it to a close.

[brokencrescendo]

[Sorry Lera. He'd use sign, but that tends to be less successful.

His smile weakens, forced as he deletes the message for another. It's a notepad app he uses instead of blank texts. There's more room that way.]

I'm sorry it was at all.
We'll keep Safta from suffering the same.

ezra/rhys

[coolmonsoon]

[ he's still standing there, looking at the outline of their battle plans, arms folded but a little slouchier, now that they aren't in Official Business mode. it still doesn't feel sorted, but there's a lot riding on this. he shouldn't feel comfortable with it. there's a lot that can go wrong and he's just not good at thinking this way. he's too straightforward with too few tricks up his sleeve.

just get bastan back and clear everea of aerveas' influence. everything else feels less than important. but that's not a good way to think, either. is it? once everything is sorted, they'll all be dealing with their own problems post-war, and he'll be in the least position to help anyone else that needs it.

but it feels shortsighted to just focus on the now, too. he'll go crazy if he does, knowing there's more to consider lurking in the wings.

ugh. he can't think on it but he can't not think on it. ]

[brokencrescendo]

[once it's over, of course he needs to see ezra, but rhys watches a moment before he approaches. ezra is worried. tense. there's a lot that's happened and a lot's been lost, but he doesn't think any of them feel it as much as the spenta has.

but it's going to be okay. they'll get bastan back. the undertow. the hunters' base. they'll show zenderael that they can protect it. they'll not alone, either. in some ways rhys wishes he was. no one else would be at risk to be hurt. but he needs them. he has to admit that.

he finally steps up beside him, hand on ezra's shoulder with an affectionate squeeze as he smiles in greeting.]

[coolmonsoon]

Eh? Oh! Hey. [ he starts at the touch- it's a reflex, he can't help it- but once he recognizes who it is he relaxes automatically, his smile turning a little on the dopey side, albeit still a little nervous. of course he worries what rhys thinks of him, thinks of this, of course it's hard to watch him get on with old friends, but he's still so stupidly happy to see him that his angst over it is almost all but forgotten in that moment.

How are you?

he signs it without even thinking about it. but it's not just a simple question, not with the look on his face that accompanies it. he's concerned, there's regret- he couldn't do anything and no amount of munchkin cat pictures will fix that. petrification might, in a sense, save his people, make his situation better after the war is over, but this isn't a matter of 'better'. he knows what it's like to be helpless in such an amazingly overwhelming situation.

so, how is rhys doing? ]

[brokencrescendo]

[his smile softens, warmer, when he sees ezra smile back. it's dopey and it's ezra and just for a second, the worry's nearly gone. there's no better thing to see right now.

he brightens at the signing, but that fades as he reads it with ezra's expression. it's not asked as a formality. none of what they do ever is. rhys appreciates that, but it means he can't sign back that he's fine.

They took it out on me, but most apologized. We can still fight. We'll get it back.

and he believes that.]

Gabe/Rhys

[brokencrescendo]

[These aren't exactly the circumstances he'd hoped to see Gabe in again. when they'd last talked, rhys felt like the war was still something that would stay out of Safta. It was a protected area for the rest of them. Not anymore.

He can tell Gabe is trying his best to be prepared for this-- as prepared as any of them can be-- but seeing Gabe rain destruction down on the battlefield isn't something Rhys is sure he's ready for. He wants to ask if Gabe is sure, or if Gabe is ready, or to say he's sorry or all these things he knows don't matter now. Gabe is the Asha, and no amount of fear changes that.

When a moment both of them are free opens up, he steps beside Gabe and slides him his phone to see.

How has it been going in that library of yours?]

[turnsteptwirl]

[Gabe has been trying so hard to be prepared for all of this, but there had been a part of him that was hopeful Safta would be able to stay out of it. Of course, that was wishful thinking, and he knows that, but it still would have been nice.

He's retreated to a corner with a soda, however. Not the sort of thing he'd normally drink, but he figures he's allowed. Better than getting drunk or something. That'd be embarrassing, the Asha getting drunk...

Rhys' arrival makes him smile, however, and he stares at the phone in amusement.]

Getting better. Still haven't taken down those curtains yet. I think the old Asha nailed them down or something.

[He pauses then, and glances over at him.]

Did you lose your slate? Or is it still in the Undertow? [In which case, it definitely wouldn't be practical to go get it, what with it being petrified and all...]

[brokencrescendo]

[Rhys rubs the back of his neck with a wince as he typed with one hand.

He didn't make a habit of taking it into battle. It was cumbersome to carry around with him, in no small part because he was often irrationally annoyed with it. If enough of Earth was here, maybe he could find a white board. Less drying.

Yeah, it's a rock now. Maybe I should find another one.
Hey, when this is over, maybe I can tear down the curtains for you.

See what a berserker's strength could do against what the Asha had used for adhesive. Unless it was kelpie skin. Then those curtains were never coming down. ... Rhys picked up his phone again.

Have you tried soaking them with water?]

[turnsteptwirl]

Ah, yes, the Mighty Ahura, Destroyer of Curtains. I'm sure that will go over well with the other berserkers.

[He's still grinning, though. He just won't admit that that's mostly due to the thought of even Rhys not being able to tear down those things. He's really not sure where the Asha before him even got them or what they're made from. Whatever they were, they're ridiculously thick things.

He stares at the phone as Rhys passes it back to him, and he shakes his head.]

No. [Should he? Maybe he'd ask Beatrice to do it while he's gone.] I've thought about setting them on fire, though. The only thing that's stopping me is that I might set the rest of my workroom on fire, too, and I don't want to deal with the paperwork.