PSL

[speakssoftly]

MAY CONTAIN (DEEPLY) OBJECTIONABLE MATERIAL, WE JUST DON'T KNOW!

Comments

[speakssoftly]

Someone you like, I hope.

[awakenerd]

Oh yeah. I doubt you'd know her, but she's a dear... Friend, I guess. A really impressive maid by the name of Sharon. You just... Kind of have that same mysterious but a little dangerous, friendly but scary aura.

[speakssoftly]

[kind of. pauses. for a split second. if it were anything less than comparing him to an ex-colleague of his the reaction would be far less obvious, but. that sure is what Rean just did.

Joshua catches himself and quirks a wry smile.]

She sounds terrifying. I'll consider myself in good company, then.

[awakenerd]

[Rean's oblivious about some things, mostly things to do with himself, but he's unfortunately very sharp about other people have feelings unrelated to him. He arches an eyebrow and finishes a bite of pasta.]

You've met her.

[It's less a question and more a surprised statement.]

[speakssoftly]

[Joshua takes another bite of his pasta, mulling over how to address this as he chews it.

Then leans back, squaring his shoulders.]

We were associates, once.

[awakenerd]

Oh.

[Oh. Well. Well then!]

I guess Bracers have all kinds of backgrounds, huh?

[Does that mean he knows Joshua was Ouroboros by the implication? Yes, but on the other hand it could be taken to mean he thinks Joshua was a butler or something, too.]

[speakssoftly]

[yeah joshua knows that rean knows exactly what he fucking means.]

It takes all sorts, or something like that.

[awakenerd]

It does make this line of work more exciting. Everyone has such an interesting life story. Whether or not they share it, it's nice knowing there's a lot of diverse perspectives.

[speakssoftly]

Everyone has a different reason for choosing this sort of profession. You're right, that the different perspectives make a difference in complicated times, too. Different skillsets, too. Being able to count on others to cover for your weaknesses when working together is an important part of being a Bracer. Though, of course, covering for yourself on solo missions is also important.

[what if he just immediately takes that out and turns this into a general bracer conversation,]

[awakenerd]

You're right. It's taking some getting used to, but not too much. I'm more used to moving with a team than solo, though, that's for sure.

[speakssoftly]

How large of a team?

[awakenerd]

I found six people good for most missions. Four for combat and two or so for backup. But more than that over all.

[speakssoftly]

Hmmm. Some Bracers work in groups of up to four on a daily basis, but generally most either work alone or with a partner. Anything larger than four usually means something pretty big is going on.

[awakenerd]

Yeah, I've gotten the feeling Bracer work relies a lot more on the ability to do things alone... I'm still adjusting to just having one partner, but I'll get the hang of it.

[speakssoftly]

One of the advantages of the Bracer Guild, compared to other organizations, is how quickly we can mobilize. Grouping up too much can prove cumbersome and slow our movement, as well as splitting our manpower ineffectively. However, recently, the addition of combat links has made it more effective to work in pairs at the very least, so your inexperience working entirely alone shouldn't present much of a problem, as long as you grow accustomed to working with only a partner.

[awakenerd]

That's true. It's hard to imagine going on any kind of serious task without someone to link with.

[speakssoftly]

Not too long ago, that was perfectly normal. But times move fast and dangerous.

[This might be part of why he took the desk job. Given... how he doesn't really want a partner, at this stage, but...]

[awakenerd]

Yeah. That's for sure. Technology keeps advancing too.

[speakssoftly]

And it's part of our job to keep adapting regardless.