Come As You Are // Open Post

[therealbrianna]

P.Y.T. [ Pretty Young Thing ]

(Taken during THAT mission that we do not speak of.)

Comments

[takeitinstride]

Taskforce Valkyrie is the American government's licensed army of Hunters. They have been around since the Second World War, and have always operated on a simple policy: creatures of the World of Darkness are all open targets the moment they become threats to the safety of their nation.

[Time for a cigarette.]

Of course, the definition of 'threat' is always up for debate with them.

[therealbrianna]

[ Ayup, that does sound like TFV, at least from the few things she knows. ]

But they take people. [ She says that silently, remembering Josh's family. ]

[takeitinstride]

We know.

[Quiet, serious.]

Now it's just a matter of making the world see that. Making sure that they cannot run, and cannot hide.

[therealbrianna]

[ She's liking this. She's not used to participating in anything revenge-related if it doesn't hit her directly, but she's learning to be more empathetic. Plus Josh and Brig are good to her. ]

I'd like to see that. I really would.

[takeitinstride]

From the looks of it, you will.

[Takes a drag, smiles.]

Wiseman Tagabigay did mention having your blade join his operation.

[therealbrianna]

[ She's sitting up in excitement now. ]

Oh, you don't say? Do the others already know?

[takeitinstride]

Brigade does. I believe that Elias asked him personally to be his second-in-command, as an insider.

[therealbrianna]

[ Excellent. But now she feels bad because she feels that she really needs to step up now, with Brig doing that, Josh doing Rhiannon things, Kaz doing Brotherhood of Violence and Yulia and Taning being in Zangyaku. ]

Do you have any advice for me though? I mean, where could I go from here?

[ OOC note: Hikaru has already talked to Brianna about doing things for Maenad and Cerberus, and she's looking into Zangyaku. She wants another person's advice though, and yeah, she respects Lia, so... ]

[takeitinstride]

Hm.

[She leans back, looking thoughtful.]

A lot of that depends on where you want to go, really. Do you have an idea at the moment? Even something small will do.



[ ooc: Oooh, got it. o3o]

[therealbrianna]

[ And that's where she realizes that she's really kinda lost. ]

Well, that's the thing. [ She hesitates for a brief moment. ]

I don't really know where to go. Daddy's given me some suggestions but...I don't know.

[ She leans back and fiddles with her fingers, a nervous smile on her face. ]

Usually when I want something, I set my mind to it and go for it but this time, I'm just really not sure of what I'm looking at.

[takeitinstride]

That's understandable. A lot of things have happened to you within a very short amount of time.

[Still. For Brianna to ask her means that she really IS looking for guidance. Telling her to sit back and wait it out would be doing the girl a disservice.]

Changeling operatives work best if they gain the favor of a Court. It would also be good to look beyond Netsach, and see if you find any of the other compacts or conspiracies interesting. In a business like ours, it's good to have a wide area of jurisdiction.

[therealbrianna]

[ She brightens up at that point. ]

Court? Gain their favor? I can do that! [ She's smiling at Lia in a tell me more! way. ]

[takeitinstride]

You know what entitlements are, right? Gaining the favor of a Court is an entitlement that is specific to Changeling Keepers of the Vigil. They have certain prerequisites, but once you have fulfilled those and passed their initiation, they will welcome you into their ranks.

[Taking another drag now.]

From there, it's simply a matter of playing the politics.

[therealbrianna]

[ She nods. ]

I've heard of Maria Makiling and Lady Utsusemi, but nothing else beyond that.

[ Curious now, and also this is relevant information. ]

What goes on during Court initiations? Are they anything like... Netsach's?

[takeitinstride]

Not quite. The initiation differs per Court.

[Utsusemi. Interesting.]

So you're considering Zangyaku?

[therealbrianna]

[ Aaand noted. ]

Well, yeah. I don't want to be biased just cos Daddy's the boss. I really want to end up where it's a good fit for me, and where I can do more things. Of course I'd want to end up in a Court that will enable my good parts.

[ Sudden brilliant thought, in Brianna standards. ]

Have any Changelings gone for both? Is it unheard of or is it... normal?

[takeitinstride]

I see.

[Nodding, as if she understands. Hikaru did mention something about Brianna being his new daughter...]

It's rather normal for Changeling Hunters. It isn't normal for civilian Lost or unaligned fairies. I suppose they enjoy comparing notes on who had the worst durance.

[A little snide there, because Lia honestly thinks that it's pointless to do that.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Narrowing her eyes at that. ]

Who would even like reliving something like that? I had to take like a hundred baths immediately afterwards.

[ Small shudder. A hundred baths is exaggerating but... for funnies. ]

[takeitinstride]

It's less about reliving, I believe, and more about finding ways of coping with it. When you feel as though everything that you have and everything that you are has been taken from you, don't you feel the need to make something for yourself even if all you have is loss and pain?

[therealbrianna]

[ Wew, she didn't expect Lia to have a concrete grasp on that, but by now, she's accepted the fact that Lia is Lia, and she will know a lot more than Brianna expects her to. Besides, it doesn't just apply to Changelings. She's learned that by now. ]

That makes sense. That's actually quite... spot on. Guess we just have different ways of dealing with it.

[takeitinstride]

[Nods.]

I imagine that it such experiences are incredibly isolating. It helps to have friends, and - barring that - people to bitch at. Misery loves company, after all.

[therealbrianna]

[ She laughs modestly at that. ]

That is also true.

[ At this point, she's taking the time to look around the fancy restaurant. It looks exactly like it did when Lia first brought her there in the Dreamscape, but it's lovelier to be there, to see it in its actuality. ]

Thanks again for bringing me here.

[takeitinstride]

I only bring people who matter to me here.

[This place means a lot to her.

...Okay, trying not to reminisce now. Probably failing at keeping it from showing on her face.]

[therealbrianna]

[ Innocently asking, because she has no clue. ]

Ooh? Like who? With a place this amazing, I'd also only bring a select few here.

[ But she's smiling, pleased, happy and grateful that Lia considers Brianna as someone that matters to her. ]

[takeitinstride]

I've brought 108 here, along with Aria and Tala. The Malice Kings have also come here with me too.

[A beat.]

Hikaru was actually the one who showed me this place. He was the first one, although... well, he brought me, so.