Your heart's racing, beating in your chest so fast you're afraid it might explode, and you're tensed up like a spring. You sit frozen in place, unable to breathe, and you realize you're not ready to face her, not like this.
So you focus on calming down; take deep breaths, relax your muscles, will your heart to slow. Your surroundings fade slightly, and soon enough you've almost managed to forget what it was you were so concerned about in the first place.
"Hey, you okay there?" You jump a bit, startled, and look up to see one of the women you haven't met yet is leaning over the table across from you. She's got light green hair in a shade not far off from Elaine's, and bright yellow eyes that make you think of a cat, paired with her strange expression of half-concern, half-mischief. She's wearing a long black jacket over a white pinstriped dress shirt, and a pleated skirt over thighhighs in the same colors, but despite the professional look it should be giving off, it somehow just feels untidy, even though you can't find anything directly amiss. She's a strange one, you can tell.
"Huh? Sorry, I kind of... spaced out there," you say, glancing fruitlessly back at the doorway. You missed this chance, but maybe that's for the best; hopefully you'll get the opportunity to try again soon. For now, you decide, you'll focus on the immediate situation. "So... what's up?"
The woman grins, taking a seat and offering a hand to shake. "Well, you looked a bit shy or something, so I thought I'd come say hello. What's your name?"
"Ah, Alexandra. Alexandra Polinski. And you?"
She nods at this. "That's a pretty name. And you can call me Leslie Severin. It's a pleasure to meet you! I'm a Third-rank; not quite on top, but been around long enough to tell what's what." She nods again, biting her lip, and adds "Here's the big tips: Don't bother Beatrice when she's holed herself up for a few days, don't get between Nasira and Victoria when they're fighting, and whatever you do, do not eve-"
"Ah, Leslie. Corrupting young minds again, I see." She's abruptly interrupted as another woman sits down beside her, smacking her lightly across the back of the head. "Bad Leslie, stay down." Despite the jocular tone, she's got the greenette fixed with a strangely intense gaze, making you wonder if it was as much a joke as it seemed at first.
"I didn't even say anything!" Leslie pouts, crossing her arms and looking away. "We literally just introduced ourselves."
"I somehow doubt that." The newcomer says coldly, before turning to you. "Chayka Lorelei, Third-rank. An additional tip to living well here: Don't trust a word this one says." Leslie huffs at this, expression half-irritated, half-resigned - she seems genuinely upset at the accusation, but says nothing to dispute it.
Chayka's expression softens a bit. "So you're Polinski? Always nice to have someone from the south. From what I understand you're a hard worker, so I look forward to seeing what you can do." Chayka is more... relaxing to look at, for lack of a better word. Her soft seafoam hair rests in a gracefully messy mop with long twin braids down her back, and she wears a very long, wispy white cardigan with aqua wave patterns stitched along the bottom, over a simple velvety grey dress and long boots. She's got her fingers steepled, and looks at you over them with a slight head tilt. "No need to be shy; if you have any questions, feel free to ask."
What To Say? (Can choose multiple)
> Ask about the people
-> Everyone in general
-> Someone in particular (Specify)
> Ask about the war
> Ask about the base
-> The ranks
-> The schedule
> Other/Write-In
Spent a day or two just agonizing over the choices here, but wound up not changing much. Hopefully this isn't too horrible, but it still felt too limiting somehow...
Also, added Leslie and Chayka to the character sheet. I'll be honest, there are a few others I've been looking forward to introducing almost as much as Anastasia, and these two are among them.
) 18 years old girl. My inner girl told me "We are not ready!" Being a 20 years old guy, who has no idea about how girls think whatsoever, I've of course listened to someone more experienced.
