Looking In A Mirror

Sif Asgaut

The day had been long with unfavorable discussion that seemed to only prattle on and on into the late afternoon, leaving the young captain more tired than facing any form of physical training regimen. Each word felt like a hammer on her eardrums but at least it was over for now. She stepped away from the guild commission with a respectful dip of her head, careful to do nothing that might offend one or another as she exited their sights. She had finally been cleared to return to duty tomorrow, not that she really left, unable to keep herself away from routine as she came every couple days and made sure her subordinates were keeping to what was expected of them for she could not allow them rest just because the war was over. The citizens and denizens alike of Rionnach were restless, tensions too high to think any of it was over for good, especially as the grand ball was not far away at all; a perfect place for chaos to ensue if guards fell down.

Once she was out in the courtyard, she let out a prolonged sigh of relief as her muscles relaxed under her golden and coal plates, looking up to see the sun hanging low in the sky, the warm dim light passing through the trees in stripes upon the soldiers training. A small smile nearly touched her lips as she watched a young boy’s head smack the ground puffing up snow after being tripped in a spar, instead she’d gently shake her head to stop a small laugh from bubbling. Most had already left the barracks training grounds, either patrolling or returning home for the night but it wasn’t quite empty by any stretch of the imagination. Soon new recruits should be enlisting and it would hopefully be filled to the brim with new young hopefuls to serve.

Such a thought only led her mind to her own child who was nearly old enough to join a guild now, time having never stopped as the girl had gotten so big since she was just a blue blob trying to nurse. Her break had been filled with attempts at comforting her delicate daughter but she felt a bit hopeless in ever getting the girl to smile again. A real smile, not one of her modest formalities.

What would she choose? She can’t imagine the army was going to be Aurora’s first choice anymore.

Maybe it was best she spend the rest of the day with her pup before her days would be hectic with a heavy routine once again, something that was both relieving to go back to yet put a small hole in her heart. Taking a breath in, she’d start to head toward the guarded entrance of the barrack, her tail calmly twitching in content as she thought of what the rest of her afternoon might hold. Preferably peaceful. She slowed a little as she heard steps coming from out of her view before she could even make it near the exit but she’d continue, assuming it was just someone passing by for now as there was no familiar scent of someone she knew, though it left her vigilant due to the fact it wasn’t the scent of someone familiar.

Surely no one had snuck into the barracks so easily, nor were stupid enough to try.

@Baelfire

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It was time to report to his new commander and he was honestly excited. He could not wait to meet the man who'd help him through his training. A small part of him was still resentful it could not be his father, but there was no going back now. He had to keep moving forward and keep moving up, for his betterment and that of his kin and country. As he walked through the barracks he spotted a small and slender woman. He couldn't say he expected to see someone like her here but he also knew that women could fight just as well. It was just... she was so small. He dismissed the thought and approached her, deciding to ask her to point her in the right direction if she could. When he saw her face, he nearly gasped. It was like looking at his reflection, for she was missing an eye just like him. He blinked, then cleared his throat, knowing that he didn't like it when others stared so she probably wouldn't either. “Excuse me, miss. I'm looking for uh, Mr. Asgaut? Sif?” Nobody had bothered to tell him that Sif was a woman, the one he was speaking to now in fact, and perhaps the joke was on him for assuming he was looking for a man. “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY

Sif Asgaut

The young woman would slow to a stop as the other continued to approach, invading the space she had to make it known he was very much there but not so close that it might be considered rude. Her head would swivel up to look at him, seeing a sea of white and not much else, vacant of any color. It wasn’t an uncommon sight but it always brought a bit of surprise when there weren't any features that could make someone stand out, not intricate patterns or unique shades that made someone not someone else. That was until she looked up just a little bit more to meet the gaze of the other, her ears curving just a little as she readjusted her stance so she was properly facing him, taking in that he had a singular eye opposite her own but face to face it almost seemed on the same side. Her gaze did not linger there, holding onto his emerald hue that seemed a bit more interested in hers missing placement. She didn’t recognize him in the slightest, though he resembled many wolves in the army. The fact he was unescorted meant he was a soldier at the very least or he got away from someone that was.

She went to speak but it seemed he was quicker to the trigger, causing her to retighten her jaw as she was both relaxed yet standing at attention, shoulders even and head up. Was he nervous? The clearing of the throat, the way he redirected his gaze, she was waiting for him to stand up straight and puff out his chest while he was at it with his tail high in the sky to seem like he owned the world if only to feel more confident. It was not long till she spoke, however, what he had to say or rather ask mentally put a brick in her head for a moment but it didn’t stop her from speaking without hesitation.

“You are speaking to… him,” the words were calmer than she expected from herself but still firm, eying him. She had never thought her name would be mistaken for a man's before or perhaps it was a practical joke she wasn't quite catching onto. “Captain Asgaut is fine.” Perhaps it was his formality that kept her temper from flaring, the fact he wasn’t being a boisterous idiot making a scene or perhaps she was just in a good mood due to more personal reasons that didn’t involve work at all. He looked old enough to potentially have a high rank but the way he acted gave her little faith. Unless, no, couldn’t be. “I don’t recall ever seeing you in the barracks before nor on the warfront. What business do you have with me?” she asked, deciding to just cut the chase and get straight to the point of this man’s purpose.

@Baelfire

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Baelfire had never been so completely embarrassed. He felt like his skin was on fire as he stared at the small woman in disbelief; the hint of a shameful apology gleaming silently in his green eye. “I...” he stammered a moment, then he cleared his throat and attempted to brush past his mistake just as easily as she had. He had not been expecting this at all. “Yes, Captain Asgaut.” he said, dipping his head respectfully. He drew a breath and look at her, attempting his best not to appear as though he were looking down upon her. It was rather hard, seeing as she was so petite... “Ah, I'm reporting for duty. I'm a new recruit and you... you are my new commander, or so I've been told.” He wondered about this woman the more he looked at her. He'd never seen her, nor heard her name and to him it was a wonder someone so small was a part of the army; much less someone who was now in charge of him, more or less. Was this a... joke? He couldn't be sure, but he supposed he shouldn't make judgements. She could be the best fighter he'd ever seen in his life (though a part of him seriously doubted that). He attempted a polite smile, but all that really shone through was confusion. “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY

Sif Asgaut

She watched him curiously, seeing that shift of emotion pour over him as realization and what she could only describe as shocked puzzlement took form, followed swiftly by the blaring of apology in his gaze. It was refreshing in a way, seeing someone with so much emotion but it wouldn’t get them all that far in the army, many would consider it a weakness. The small woman had mixed views on such things, finding someone comfortable in being themselves a power within itself but it could also be easily taken advantage of. Her brow quarked as he started to speak, waiting for that apology that seemed to be lingering there only for him to once again pounce elsewhere, confidence definitely not one of this boy’s strong suits. It was kind of funny watching a male flounder so much in a matter of seconds, so uncertain yet trying so hard not to make a bad impression. It was a little late for that though. “Hmmm,” she acknowledged him finally getting some hold of himself, not rejecting his gesture as she gave a favored nod.

She could tell she wasn't quite what he was looking for.

Her head lifted just a little as he didn’t break his gaze away from her, not thinking too much about his larger form or that he loomed over her, she was used to being one of the smallest in the room. It was nothing new. What he had to say next though, did get her attention far more than anything else he had said thus far, the slightest bit of surprise shining in her single light. The higher ups had mentioned a small influx in new bodies within the army since the war but none had mentioned sending one of them her way, unless they had and she was just too distracted by everything else it lapsed her mind. “I’d think they’d give new hands to platoons that lost more soldiers....” she muttered under her breath, knowing she had some of the least casualties, plenty of spry foot soldiers remained under her thumb perfectly trained to be exactly what she wanted. He. He seemed far from what she expected out of a subordinate, the type to run onto a battlefield and get himself killed from making a stupid decision instead of listening to orders.

Any humor that might have existed were dead as she looked at him, an already broken toy tossed her way as a burning ember bore into his soul. This was a sick joke if it ended up being untrue. If not; she might take it as a potentially good omen if he worked out for the better, thinking she could handle a greenhorn that was likely far more set in his ways than an enthusiastic yearling.

“Stand up straight, head high, cadet,” she commanded abruptly, slowly walking around him and looking him up and down as she went. “Do enlighten me: what made you decide to join? What are your aspirations within our forces?” she asked after a moment of studying him physically, wishing to take in a mental evaluation as well. Was he here for revenge? Was he trying to be a hero? Or did he wish to serve the crown? The list went on and on but could tell so much more about a character.

@Baelfire

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The embarrassment was slowl fading, but he couldn't help but curse his foolishness inwardly. Thankfully his commander didn't seem to take it too personally. As she looked him over, she muttered that perhaps he should have gone to a different platoon, and his heart began to sink thinking that he really had just screwed things up for himself on his first day. But then she barked a command and began to circle him,studying him no doubt. He straightend up, ears erect atop his head and tail straight at the backs of his legs. He'd seen his father do this stance a million times and he tried his best to mimic it perfectly; even as a child he'd done it and it seemed so second nature to him though he hoped he had been doing it fairly right all this time. He looked straight ahead as she circled him, ears not even twitching when she questioned him. “I joined to honor my father and help my people, Captain.” he relayed. He wanted to help his country through these trying times mand beyond and he thought the best way to do that was to uphold the law while serving and protecting his people. He didn't waiver and didn't move to look at her, he remained silent then and waited to be addressed again. “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY

Sif Asgaut

Her circling was short lived, taking her time but not so much so that it felt like she was about to pounce on him and break his neck as if he were just a prey item. Though to her, at this moment in time, he kind of was under her scrutiny. Despite seeming like quite the greenhorn in his approach, he was quick to take the proper stance and it appeared his physique was nothing to scoff at. Muscular and built like a truck when focusing on the way his skin and fur clung to his body, further making it all the more clear this wasn’t just some child coming in. There was a moment in her head that made her question yet again if he was really a new recruit, feeling he at least had to be a soldier but the fact he was so quick to answer to cadet and what he had already stated, she had no reason to believe otherwise beyond his appearance causing her to take in a long breath before she’d find her place back in front of him.

She stood far enough back so she didn’t have to bend her neck up to look at him as drastically, her observations still not entirely over, watching his every movement and breath like a hawk. Not a single twitch, impressive, he had self control to keep himself at attention without a single correction. His answer is a clear indication as to why, she could only assume as she regarded him. “Good answer,” she stated justly, half expecting him to say he was avenging someone due to the time of which he joined. “Selfishness goes unrewarded. Civilians and the Parliament come first and foremost. That said, I don’t want to see you playing the hero either, if it has the chance of endangering more than helping or it directly breaks an order,” Maybe this man wouldn’t be the worst thing to exist in the ranks after all and maybe also not too bad a fit within her own platoon should he prove to not be just brawn.

Calmly, she'd glance away before focusing on him again, debating on releasing him from his hold but deciding to see how long he could hold it for before an itch might make him twitchy or impatience became a new virtue. “Who was your father? My own mother was a Colonel, so I can empathize with wishing to uphold a legacy left behind,” she asked vaguely softer but still stern, wondering if she ever heard of this boy's father. Come to think of it, he hadn’t given his own name yet, an oddity. Then again this was not a freshly turned yearling trying to make a name for themselves with aims to ingrain their names into their superior’s head in hopes for favor.

@Baelfire

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Baelfire nodded his head curlty at her words, though he wasn't sure how well he would do following such an order when the time came down to it. He often struggled between putting himself in danger to help others and judging when the situation was too far gone. There was always something he could do, in his eyes. But, he said nothing. He would do his best to follow her direction and keep as many others safe as he possibly could. A few moments passed and then she asked about his father. It was then that his head tilted slightly, single green eye searching for her face momentarily before he switch back to his previous position. "My father's name was Adair. Our family has no surname. He looked just like me except he had blue eyes... I outgrew him a little. He died when I was younger, before the rebellion started." he explained. His father wasn't just gone, he was dead. But he had not died in vain, he'd died a hero... to him at least, and he would do his best to make sure that remained true till his own dying days. “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY

Sif Asgaut

That curt little head nod wasn’t met with anything, her gaze never quite falling off of him as her singular lens cut into him like a dagger. There was something about him that made her doubt his sincerity but physical responses often gave less heart than that of verbal ones, for an motion in her opinion was easier to fake. That said, she had not demanded his voice in that moment, so his recognition was good enough for now and only time would bring to light whether or not he would hold to it.

It seemed every word this boy had to utter brought back sour memories as her own parents had perished when she was but a child barely able to travel even a territory's distance before her energy would be spent. As for the man’s description, that could have been a plethora of different wolves and without a name she could not say she had heard of him, though it isn't surprising. Her own mother was rarely whispered in the halls of the barracks even though she had been of high rank. “Well then you will have to do your best to make his resting spirit proud.”

After a brief moment in time, she glanced up at the position of the sun before looking back to him. “Your training will start tomorrow morning, be here before the sun has a chance to wake. I won’t be going easy on you, do not disappoint me,” she said firmly. “You are dismissed.” So long as he did not linger, she would turn to head home herself. Tomorrow would be the first day in a long while she had gotten fully back to work.

-exit unless stopped-

@Baelfire

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Baelfire hoped to make his parents proud, wherever they were. He wasn't sure he believed in a place after death but that didn't mean he couldn't honor their memories all the same. It might not matter but it mattered to him. “Yes, Captain.” he replied as she ordered him to report for duty tomorrow before sunrise. He would be there, eager and ready to learn. It reminded him of the times his father had roused he and his brother out of bed before the sun to train. Adair had trained them a little when they were younger, just so that they'd have a better chance defending themselves. He wasn't sure how much his brother had picked up, or even been interested in, but Baelfire had put everything he had into it and had learned many things already. He wasn't some fresh apprentice, but he had yet to learn the ways of the army as a whole. He looked forward to it. Once dismissed, he slacked slightly and turned his head to watch Sif walk away. Before long he turned and retired into the barracks himself to meet some of the wolves he'd be working with through his time of training. exit “my sin, my soul.”

MANIP & TABLE ➤TWISTY