MERC XIX: Toss a Coin to your Goblin

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

Solenoid taps one of the sniper rifles on her back.

"Well, you see, I'm a sniper. I like missions where I can set up shop and wait for my target to take a step into my sightline so I can shoot then in the cranium."

"In terms of special abilities, I can bless her with flight, invisibility, a flash-bang, lasers, holograms, even illusions!"

"Together, we can dispose of targets at any range."

[Ironsmith]

[Lobby]

Siana wrings her hands nervously as she and Jaahlyn step into the base, glancing around the lobby on the off chance one of her superiors was already there to meet them. Even with the intent to come in and confess, anticipation of the eventual encounter (and its aftermath) still fills her with dread. She can't imagine the look on mister Razortooth's face when she delivers the news. She's never been in a situation like this before, where she's had to answer for a mistake that big. And the anticipation is made all the worse by the quiet-but-persistent voice reminding her that he was already taking a chance on her. What would he say in light of that?

Siana takes a seat in one of the lobby chairs and presses her hands under her arms, shaking as though it were freezing in here, despite being relatively bundled up. Part of her hopes they're not left waiting long, she can't stand the idea of anticipating this meeting for hours.

[Shadowcaller]

[Lobby]

Jaahlyn is confident in comparison but also has this air of grimness about her as she makes her way towards Dipsnig's office where two out of three bosses were waiting for them.

As they enter they can see that Dena isn't actually there in person but joins them over a skype channel.
But despite her lack of physical presence her expression tells enough of a tale since she frowns the moment the two enter the room.

"So let's see... you said you had unintentionally caused the death of sixteen people in the middle of a city?" She remarks as if to remind Dipsnig what was at stake her.

Jaahlyn nods solemnly. "That's correct." She looks to Siana, trying to gauge if she wanted to explain the details or if she was leaving that to the satyr. Jaahlyn would normally be all over laying out even this tragic tale but as Siana was ultimately the one who had caused it, it simply seemed more fitting to let her start.

[Morty]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

"Impressive." Dipsnig does not appear awed, however. He sees many people with varied gear and powers in his job. "What about non-violent and non-combat assignments? Diplomacy, stealth, subterfuge, the like?"

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig is... unhappy. Not that he's ever a very cheerful man, but right now his expression could curdle milk. Siana has definitely never seen him this annoyed - Jaahlyn might have. His ears are pointing almost backwards and when he speaks, his lips curl back slightly more than normal, exposing his sharp teeth.

"I have many questions, but one I'm going to get out of the way is how? Did you get your hands on military-grade explosives somehow? Explain."

[Gullara]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Kirk is likewise present. Apparently this matter is serious to get the whole upper hierarchy involved. He sits leaning back in a chair for now, looking more relaxed than the other two for the moment. His eyes fix on Siana as she enters with Jaahlyn, though.

[Ironsmith]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Siana doesn't hold Dipsnig's gaze for long. Under something that potent, even she couldn't claim immunity. Her eyes flick up just long enough to acknowledge that he'd addressed her and she would be talking to him in turn, before they fall back to the floor, as though weighed down with lead.

"...No, sir." She says quietly. "That was... I did that, sir. It was a simple technique my uncle taught me. In case I ever ended up fighting something bigger than I am. Sir."

...That's not enough. It almost sounds like she's blaming her uncle for what happened.

"...Grossly misapplied, sir." She appends, after a moment's hesitation.

[Gullara]

[Dena's Office]

"Oh! Oh, I've got that covered! You guys gotta watch this," Fettina exclaims. She steps back from Kirk, getting as much open space as possible. She spreads her wings and thrusts out her hands in front of herself, grasping something that isn't there. As if holding a staff or a barbell.

It's a little stuttery at first. Threads of light seem to sparkle like golden spiderwebs between Tina's hands. Then there is a burst of eldritch fire that erupts in a rolling wave, traveling along the invisible pole held before the angel. The flame takes on a solid shape, resolving itself into the haft of a weapon before finally blooming as the tip of a broad winged spear. Cold, shaped flame ripples along the blade in a steady undulating current.

Fettina sets this weapon down with an oddly solid clunk. "Look what I can do now!"

[Dena's Office]

Behind her sunglasses Dena blinks as Tina conjures a spear of light. How and when had she figured out to do that?
"...well, that's impressive. But how does it work exactly? Can you just conjure any weapon out of thin air or is it that specific spear?" She was pretty sure Tina couldn't just conjure anything out of thing air as in that case she would have done so plenty already.

[Dena's Office]

Kirk arches his eyebrows. Well that's surprising. "A spear is a good weapon. Simple, but effective." He adds simply. It's certainly something they can work with as a starting point. Especially considering what he expects Fettina's focus to be like.

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

"Yeah, I'm pretty skilled at stealth. Have to be, to find the best rat spots without getting caught. So, I can turn invisible and create holographic decoys, as mentioned before, and I'm also pretty light on my feet. Oh, and if we're talking diplomacy, I'm known to be very charismatic and easy to talk to. Wouldn't you agree, Sir?"

With this, Solenoid smiles playfully and tilts her head slightly.

[Shadowcaller]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig is... unhappy. Not that he's ever a very cheerful man, but right now his expression could curdle milk. Siana has definitely never seen him this annoyed - Jaahlyn might have. His ears are pointing almost backwards and when he speaks, his lips curl back slightly more than normal, exposing his sharp teeth.

"I have many questions, but one I'm going to get out of the way is how? Did you get your hands on military-grade explosives somehow? Explain."

[Dipsnig's Office]

Kirk is likewise present. Apparently this matter is serious to get the whole upper hierarchy involved. He sits leaning back in a chair for now, looking more relaxed than the other two for the moment. His eyes fix on Siana as she enters with Jaahlyn, though.

[Dipsnig's Office]

Siana doesn't hold Dipsnig's gaze for long. Under something that potent, even she couldn't claim immunity. Her eyes flick up just long enough to acknowledge that he'd addressed her and she would be talking to him in turn, before they fall back to the floor, as though weighed down with lead.

"...No, sir." She says quietly. "That was... I did that, sir. It was a simple technique my uncle taught me. In case I ever ended up fighting something bigger than I am. Sir."

...That's not enough. It almost sounds like she's blaming her uncle for what happened.

"...Grossly misapplied, sir." She appends, after a moment's hesitation.

[Dipsnig's Office]

"There was a horde of yokai, spirit creatures, sir. They were overwhelming us and Siana took actions she deemed necessary. To her credit, she asked if the building was empty first and if I could evacuate it but that simply wasn't plausible. It also appeared abandoned, just like the rest of the flats in that area. Indeed, it was supposed to be. But... neither of us could be absolutely sure of that."

Now Dena speaks up. "I'm confused why Siana was even there in the first place. Since I distinctively remember giving Jaahlyn here permission to hunt down these creatures." Her eyes lock on to Siana but her actual stare is thankfully hidden behind her sunglasses as that was one gaze they would rather not meet directly. "Last time I checked, you were supposed to help out in the kitchen and not take field assignments. Has that changed without my knowledge, Siana? Or perhaps there are other circumstances that we ought to know surrounding this disaster?"

[Morty]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

If Dipsnig agrees, he's not showing it. Instead, his eyebrow quirks up and his corresponding ear does the same.

"Have you solved any notable conflicts with diplomacy?"

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig's next question is pre-empted by Dena. He lowers his raised hand and fumes for a moment.

"I was about to ask the same. How did you end up in a situation where you had to do that in the first place? You are not cleared for field assignments."

[Gullara]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Kirk gives Siana a perturbed look and leans forward in his chair, resting his hands on his knees. "'Grossly misapplied' is certainly one description. You've already terrorized our members, and now you're terrorizing our charges." The drow's lip curls in open contempt.

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

"Ehheh. Well..."

Solenoid's expression seems more embarrassed now. If she had blood, she would be blushing.

"Admittedly no, nothing major. Usually, my diplomacy just extends to convincing people from worse parts of town not to immediately turn me to scrap for the crime of being a robot. I have developed quite a skill at that."

[Ironsmith]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Siana opens her mouth to reply to Dena and Dipsnig, but doesn't actually say anything until Kirk's finished his own assessment of the situation.

At which point her jaw clenches hard enough to send a few loose teeth clattering across the desk.

That isn't a fair characterization of her actions at all. She didn't "terrorize" anybody. She's not out to scare or hurt people. What happened was an accident. This jerk had better-

No.

No, today's about what she did wrong.

Siana takes a steadying breath and closes her eyes. "...I was in Riverside on medical leave." She explains quietly. "I ran into miss Hesperos while I was there. I... it was never intended to be official. I just wanted to help..."

She's certain at this point that the others are going to ask what she was on medical leave for, and pre-empts that point by doing what she can to drop Jaahlyn's glamour... so all three of her superiors will be able to see the skin-shedding, teeth-eschewing, joint-stiffening body underneath. It should be clear from that alone why she wasn't currently working in the kitchen.

[Shadowcaller]

[Dipsnig's Office]

"She just wanted to help and I wanted to give her a chance to do so." Jaahlyn replies, her voice still as calm, and grave, as death. "I wasn't aware that you had expressively forbidden from entering the field."

Then there's a longer pause before she speaks again. "May I have permission to speak freely?"

Dena wasn't the highest ranking member in the room but to her the satyr seemed to assume this was far more formal than intended so she saw no harm in granting it. "Sure? That's why you're here for. If you want to say anything regarding this, then say it."

Jaahlyn nods.
"Thank you miss. Then I'd like to first point out that Siana, however skilled she might be other tasks, is a warrior at heart. I've learned this much from this disaster. Thus, I assumed that was the kind of job she was doing for MERC. In fact, with all due respect here, why were you keeping her around doing tasks she clearly wasn't interested in?" She looks between the three MERC bosses.

"Since if she didn't meet your standards for the job she came here to do you should have either helped her meet them or recommended her to go elsewhere. Since the moment I laid on Siana I knew that she wanted to fight and neither of you, with all your experience, can have missed that." Jaahlyn gestures at the girl as it should be obvious just looking at her.

At this point Dena tries to speak up but Jaahlyn interrupts her again. "She has boundless energy, have trained her entire life to be a knight and wanted to fight for what's right, yet you ignored all that and denied her what she came here for. Of course she would try to take the opportunity to prove herself to be worthy. Just what were you hoping to achieve by giving her kitchen duty? Since it looks to me that you considered her to be a bother and gave her a job out of pity which is far crueler than just letting her go."

Jaahlyn looks specifically to Dipsnig now as he had apparently though Siana had used explosives. "None of you seems to even have been aware of what she was truly capable of which means you didn't bother finding out. This could have been prevented if you had actually bothered given her a proper evaluation. Yet it seems like she was dismissed out of hand. So while Siana did make a horrible mistake, and will probably take all the consequences for it, you can't call yourself blameless in this."

Well, that was certainly speaking freely.

"...are you quite done?" Dena inquires softly once Jaahlyn seems to have finished.

She nods in response and steps back. "Yes, miss."

"Alright, well, Siana's short time here has been plagued with controversy even before this incident. There simply haven't been enough time to do any proper evaluation, especially considering her assignment to the kitchen. Though perhaps you are correct in the notion that we shouldn't have hired her in the first place." Dena looks to Kirk and Dipsnig for them to elaborate on that if they wished.

Siana will if she puts her hands in her pocket feel what feels to be a nearly perfectly smooth stone inside it. Something she's never noticed before.

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig hides his face in his hands. One Below, a self-righteous tirade is just what this mess was missing.

"There are few things more dangerous than someone who thinks they've got something to prove. Especially when you've got knighthood mixed up in it," he remarks. He doesn't seem to think much of the concept. "Siana did undergo evaluation. This caused the member evaluating her to pass out. That, admittedly, wasn't her fault. But the same can't be said for threatening our occult specialist with a sword for racist reasons. And leaving a binding circle she'd been instructed not to leave." He looks up and pauses as he takes in Siana's appearance. He has no idea what it means and it's not currently relevant. "She was free to refuse our offer, but she didn't. Though maybe it is true that we shouldn't have given that offer to begin with."

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

"Thank you. That's enough." Dipsnig nods, then thinks for a moment. "You're eligible for full membership, but you'll need to be accompanied by another full member on your first mission. Just in case."

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

After gearing this, Solenoid's smile goes from embarrassment back to confidence, though now with a hint of excitement.

"That's fantastic to hear, Sir. You've made the right choice. And I appreciate the opportunity to get to know one of my new co-workers, too."

The light purple-blue robot extends her arm for a final handshake, to seal the deal.

"Sir, if I may ask, who exactly did you have in mind for me? It really helps to know what to expect."

[Morty]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

Dipsnig reaches out and shakes Solenoid's hand.

"I don't have anyone specific in mind. Whoever is available and willing to go with you on the mission you choose. Either way, welcome to MERC."

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

Solenoid nods appreciatively.

"Thank you, sir. So, where exactly would I go to choose a mission?"

[Murkus]

[Dena's Office]

"Yeah, it's a pole with a pointy bit on the end. Beats pretty much everything else as old stuff goes, right? I mean, I think I would rather have had a celestial gun, but beggars can't be choosers." She waves it around and holds it out before her in a rather poor imitation of a pikeman's stance. It makes a low, wailing hum as the edge slices the air. "I love the weight of it. I don't know if I'm exactly eager to stick anybody with it, but it sure is cool."

"It seems to be just this. I think it's... like a part of me. Or... I don't know. I can kind of just reach for it and it comes. Maybe it's like another kind of angel that doesn't speak?" She brings it closer to her, peering. "Anybody in there, buddy?"

[Gullara]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Kirk gives Siana a somewhat perturbed look at her fresh reveal. What the hell is going on now.

"Everyone's now echoing what I said from the start. No we absolutely should not have hired her for any job." He says flatly. And then looking at Siana directly. "In fact I'd highly recommend we sever that relationship and we both go our separate ways quietly. I think you have quite enough on your plate as it is now without having a job you're not suited to. Focus on that." There's not a lot of sincerity in his final recommendation, but it's the closest thing he can muster right now. Apparently a child plagued with some sort of strange ailment is not enough to soften his outlook.

[Shadowcaller]

[Dena's Office]

"Perhaps it can now be considered a part of your ever growing harem of boys and girls?" Dena jokes as Tina attempts to communicate with the spear. "Since they do say that people you marry are supposed to be like a part of you."

[Ironsmith]

[Dipsnig's Office]

If they'd had this conversation before Siana met Jaahlyn, this is the part where Siana would object strenuously, pointing out that she didn't have anywhere else to go and she needed this job if she wanted to stay off the streets, possibly implicating MERC in the events that made it impossible for her to go home.

But Jaahlyn already gave her another option to look forward to. She was right; it is easier to face the prospect of being fired, given that information. To the point where she finds herself nodding in agreement with Kirk.

Before she actually answers, she pulls the glamour back up. That point's been made and there isn't any reason to subject her superiors to that. It clearly disturbed at least one of them.

"Yes, sir. Ma'am. Sir." Siana replies quietly, nodding to Dipsnig, Dena, and Kirk respectively. "...But for what it's worth, I don't think taking me on in the first place was 'cruel'. I'm... I'm grateful for the opportunity you afforded me that way, and I'm certainly going to miss chef Bacon." She runs her arm over her cheeks, flakes of skin breaking away in the process. "If I'd been wiser, I probably could have enjoyed a career in the kitchen. As it stands..."

sniff

Siana hangs her head again, not entirely certain how to finish that thought, and lacking much vocal coherence to communicate it with regardless.

Steady, girl. You can get through this.

"...If you think letting me go is the best response to this situation, so be it. All I can say is 'thank you for having me'." She glances up at Dipsnig. "...But what about the damage itself, in Riverside? What do you intend to do about that?"

[Gullara]

[Dena's Office]

Kirk frowns at Dena, evidently not keen on being put on the level of an object. "It sounds as though the weight is good for you, which is a typical concern." He replies, not having much to say about the apparently magical properties of the weapon. "I've received basic training in the use of a spear, though I wouldn't claim it's not rusty. But I could give you the basics."

[Shadowcaller]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dena musters a nod to Siana just as she was being addressed. It looked like that she had accepted that they were letting her go so there was no need to make the situation worse than it really was. She hoped Kirk would come to the same conclusion as she knew just how thick he could lay on his displeasure with people.
She had hoped they would avoid making a scene and despite Siana almost starting to cry there it seems like they were managing it as well as could be expected. She had almost forgotten who they were dealing with considering that she was capable of cutting down buildings (apparently).

The nexus sure had some bizarre kids around.

Jaahlyn puts her hand on Siana's shoulder and gives it a reassuring squeeze as she starts to sniffle but stays silent for now. She might have gone a wee bit overboard earlier so she wasn't going to speak up again. Siana should be in focus here.
Then she suddenly brings up what should be done to the apartment building and the victims, which was a very good question.

Dena looks to Dipsnig. "We should discuss this in private, boss."

[Morty]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

"There's a job board here in the lobby." Dipsnig points towards it. "You're of course free to search for your own contracts. As long as you properly notify us of any work you undertake."

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig drums his fingers on his desk. He turns the matter over in his head, but there aren't that many options in front of them.

"Yes, we'll need to let Siana go. No way around it." At least she seems to have accepted it. "Jaahlyn, please keep an eye on Siana and help her gather her belongings. We do need to discuss this between the three of us. And I shouldn't need to say that you are not to tell anyone about what happened in Riverside."

[Gold Leaf]

[MERC Base (Lobby)]

Solenoid looks over to where Dipsnig is pointing.

"Ah, I see. I'll be sure to do that."

The robot then proceeds to walk over to the job board, briefly stopping only to give Olvisin and Dipsnig a final thank-you nod. She will then examine the board to see what jobs are available.

[Gullara]

[Dipsnig's Office]

"It'll be a sensitive matter, and Merc business." Kirk replies pointedly. "I suggest you keep your head down and not concern yourself about it anymore. It's out of your hands."

[Ironsmith]

[Dipsnig's Office]

"...Understood." Siana replies to her bosses with a nod. They really couldn't be much clearer about their intent without telling her point-blank that she's dismissed, for the last time.

"...I guess that means this is goodbye, doesn't it?" She manages a weak smile and sets her cane against the desk for a moment. "I mean, I'll be here a little bit longer while I go get my other two outfits from the laundry, but... that's it."

...Even knowing it was coming, those words have a kind of weight to them.

She steps forward, awkwardly balancing herself on one leg and the edge of the desk, slowly shuffling toward Dipsnig. If she's leaving now, or imminently, she's not going to get another chance at this.

The strigoi makes the final jump (of sorts) forward and attempts to wrap her arms around the goblin. "...I'm going to miss you."

Then, succeed or fail, she'll grab her cane and make her way out the door.

[Morty]

[Dipsnig's Office]

Dipsnig is hugged, simply because he did not see it coming. He freezes, deeply unsure what to do. Siana is making it awkward by being affectionate after he fired her. That's not how it should go.

"Right. Um. Goodbye."

Once Siana and Jaahlyn are gone, he gets down to business, his tone conveying what his words won't: this is not to be spoken of ever again.

"We need to comb the disaster site and come up with another plausible reason why this might have happened. If the collapse is traced back to us, it'll be a PR catastrophe."

[Murkus]

[Dena's Office]

"Dena, c'mon, don't be gross. I don't have a harem," Fettina tsks, shaking her head. "Unless you two are volunteering."

"Well, maybe we can do that, and... you can show me what you're good at. Your knives, or whatever else. That would be perfect," Fettina responds to Kirk. "I mean, I actually used to carry a knife around in my purse, and I understand the basic principle of 'put the pointy end in the man', but that's about it..."