A Late Birthday Party / MAY 26, 2063 Night

[therealbrianna]

[ After a short "vacation" at Tokyo, Brianna sends a text to her friends. It's a general invitation that stretches from her blade mates to her mentors, to well, the whole of Netsach (as long as she knows them. Also extends to some Zangyaku friends). Of course, she asks her parents for permission first. ]

SENT: 03:00 PM

Hello friend! It would make me very happy if you could make it to Haven this Saturday to celebrate my 520th birthday. Drinks on me. :)

- OOC note: Feel free to tag in whenever you like, whatever you like. 
- May 21, 2063: Date of text
- May 26, 2063: Date of party

Comments

I SHALL MAKE IT HAPPEN.

[takeitinstride]

You may. And thank you.

[This is interesting. They have not talked much before.]

She reminds me of one of the Partners here in my firm. The untalkable.

[atlas_shrugged]

Not a problem, Ma'am. [ He takes a swig of his nth Corona for the night. It's the first time he's ever interacted with Inquisitor Delacroix outside Netsach business. And it still feels like Netsach business for him, even at Brianna's birthday party. ]

I'm sorry if it seems I'm making small talk. [ With her, particularly ] It's just... well, I like to get to know the people who I work under. It's always been a thing of mine.

LMAO that nickname kind of fits her :))

[takeitinstride]

No need to apologize. You're curious, so...

[And lighting up a cigarette.]

Ask what you need to.

Talkey-talkey with the Untalkable!

[atlas_shrugged]

There's nothing in particular, really, Ma'am. Just friendly conversation. [ He lights up his own cigarette and smiles. ] But now that you mention it: would you know how Jessica Leitman is doing as an Initiate of the Arcanum? Your personal assessment?

[takeitinstride]

She's performing excellently, and it might be because she appears to be particularly driven towards a certain goal.

[Lia's expression says that she totally knows what that goal is, and may even be staring at it in the face right now.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brigade blinks before it registers. Then he let's out a sigh. ] She's so like her mother. She doesn't have to.

[takeitinstride]

A lot of people don't have to do a lot of things in this conspiracy. For example, you don't have to believe that she "doesn't have to do that".

[Just making a point.]

[atlas_shrugged]

But we do it anyway, cause we care. [ He says it softly but loudly enough for Liandrin to hear. He glances at her to see what she thinks. ]

[takeitinstride]

And there's the rub. Wouldn't you say so?

[Cool, serene as ever. She has her own thoughts on the matter, but it's almost like this is less about her and more about you, soldier.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He nods ] Yeah, there's the rub. [ He takes a swig of his beer and a long drag ] You'd think that now that they can have a relatively uneventful life, she'd try to take a break for a change. [ OOC: Look who's talking, Brig. Lelz ]

[takeitinstride]

Perhaps "break" isn't in her vocabulary. One does wonder where she got that from.

[Still watching you, man.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ He raises his glass to toast his boss in Netsach, hoping that she'll clink her drink to his ] I really do wonder, Ma'am. [ He says with friendly sarcasm and a resigned smile on his face. ]

[takeitinstride]

And does the source of Miss Leitman's terrible habits not wonder if he should assess his own performance?

[Saying that oh-so-casually as she's taking a drink.]

[atlas_shrugged]

I believe he assesses his performance everyday, Ma'am. [ He smiles at her ] Just that development on the assessment results has been slow. [ His smile slowly fades. He lights up a cigarette and takes a long, deep drag ]

The hardest habits to let go are those which were made to remedy something in the past. Good before, but bad once what they're remedying isn't there anymore. [ He's trying not to fall into contemplative Brig mode. Failing. Doesn't bother to fake a smile on his face. Liandrin likely wouldn't appreciate that anyway ]

[takeitinstride]

Ah.

[Leaning back, letting her fingers slide over the rim of her glass. Assessing herself now.]

Well, "hard" is nowhere near impossible. Practice makes perfect.

[Keep going or die trying, right?]

[atlas_shrugged]

Copy, Ma'am. He won't make the claim that he is. [ Brigade smiles a bit as he says that, swirling the beer in his beer bottle, his expression one that's thoughtful ] But he doesn't believe in impossible either.

[takeitinstride]

Good.

[She's satisfied with that.]

Can I give you a direct order as your Kaiser?

[atlas_shrugged]

That's not even a question, Ma'am. [ The way Brig carries himself is back to "on-duty". He's not super formal as he'd rather not attract awkward looks at him and the Malice Queen, but his shoulder are at attention and he's not leaning on the bar anymore ] Your orders?

[takeitinstride]

Watch over Brianna for me.

[It's a simple enough request, right?]

[atlas_shrugged]

I will, Ma'am. [ No wit. No snark. Just a promise. ] Always.

[takeitinstride]

Good.

[It's not that she doesn't care about the rest. It's more like, Brianna is her student.

She cares about her own, especially the ones who happen to be the nearest.]

[atlas_shrugged]

[ Brig smiles and takes a drink from his beer ] If you don't mind, Ma'am, I'll excuse myself when I finish this. I'll try to do the rounds. [ He goes back to leaning on the bar, smoking his cigarette and enjoying his beer. "Permission to be excused" would have probably sounded a bit too formal, given the venue. ]