[Semi-Closed] Welcome to the Shadows

[shinra_dog]

Who: Reno, Ira, Kenichi, Bonnie, Noctis, Prompto -- and anyone the young Assassin recruits bring with them, intentionally or otherwise
When: mid-June
Where: library near the Curti Center
What: The members of the new Vaikuntha Assassins Bureau are called together for the first official meeting
Warnings/Notes: none yet


They would have all received the same letter.

To work in the dark to serve the light
First learn by going to the seat of knowledge.
They research us as we research them.

Below was a date and a time.

As members arrived at the research library, Reno would be waiting for them.

Comments

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie nodded diligently, "Don't worry, I won't let any of this go to waste, kupo." As if a moogle would leave a kupo nut anything but picked clean. She turned her attention back to her project and frowned, "Can you get me a couple of those paper clamps, kupo?"

[shinra_dog]

"... Sure..." Reno drags the word out as he looks at her... project. Handing her what she asked for, he had to know, "What exactly are you making?"

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie nodded as the bits of tension readied office supplies were handed over, "Ah. I'm working on making my own hidden blade, kupo. I never got one from Mary but I want to be ready if I need it, kupo."

This...might not be the smartest plan.

[shinra_dog]

"I see..." Yikes. Still, Reno did hand over another clip as asked.

"You know, not every Assassin got a hidden blade," he added diplomatically, though, hoping to convince her to change her mind by herself.

[kuposcreed]

"Kupo? I thought it was a rite of passage or something, kupo. Besides, how will I do my duties without one?"

She keeps on fiddling and it's starting to take shape, though that unwound paper clip is unlikely to do much Assassinating. Though it might put out an eye if one isn't careful.

[shinra_dog]

Reno nodded. "That's right. I didn't even get one 'til Mary was gonna leave Crystallis, remember? No one had one except the masters and then I-- Takeshi."

Using that name instead of Ira was going to take some practice.

"I wasn't going to pass one on yet, but if I was... well, you are one of the more senior members now," he said slowly. "But I'd want you to have something a bit... well, nicer than that."

He gestured at the collection of office supplies.

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie was still getting used to the new name too. Her memory of the time living with Saori and her family was still a bit muddled and the timeline was all shuffled about in her head. But as far as she was concerned, Ira, Takeshi, whatever name he was using he was family. And she'd do her best for him.

"Ah. Thankupo! That means a lot!" Her eyes were shining now, though this would reverse a bit later when she was scolded and taken aside for her more naughty behavior. She'd still want one, but she'd be in less of a rush to get there afterwards.

And besides, maybe some lessons in the less combat oriented aspects of Assassinhood and spycraft would do her some good.

[shinra_dog]

"That said... As much as I'd love to, I'm not sure you're really ready yet," he finished, looking disappointed. "I actually wanted to talk to you, privately, about some stuff. I've been hearing some rumors about assassins and things, and I wanted to ask everyone -- have you said anything, to anybody, about us?"

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie's face fell at the turn there. Her ears drooped and her pom sagged. This wasn't going to be easy for any of them. "I...um...I may have...mentioned things to a few people, kupo." She dabbed her paws together self consciously. The more she thought on it and looked back the more blatant it all was than she realized.

"But I was just...I mean...Mary is so cool and...um...kupo..."

i'm so sorry this took forever

[shinra_dog]

"She really was." Reno smiled at the memory. "But we didn't know about it for a long time -- about her, for a long time, y'know? She was cool, but she was also cool-headed, y'know?"

Reno put a hand on Bonnie's fuzzy head. "The love you have for Mary is obvious, yo. I get it. But... I wanna see you be more like her. Not about power or daggers or makin' weapons out of office supplies."

Please. Leave the paper clips alone.

"I wanna see people be more like how she planned, how she was smart, an' collected, how she studied other people. That's how I wanna see Mary in this world -- not spread around in stories. Because that sets up obstacles to what she wanted an' what she worked for, quietly. You understand?" He watched Bonnie carefully.

Re: i'm so sorry this took forever

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie nodded, slow and uncertain but as she thought things over they began to fit together in her mind. It wasn't enough to just talk about fighting in a cool way or be able to strike swift and true. There really was a philosophy that Bonnie had to be better about following. If she wanted to be a good Assassin then she had to do it right.

Just like how if she wanted people to have a good impression of her and Crystallis then she needed to represent them right too. She couldn't just count on one of the others to come rescue her anymore. She had to be able to stand for herself!

"I understand. I'll do my best, kupo. I'll make sure you both will be proud of me~ The others too~"

np!

[shinra_dog]

Reno smiled. With Mary and Saori gone, he felt responsible for Bonnie. She was still young and learning about the darker sides of things. Reno didn't want to ruin her innocence, but...

Well, they were Assassins. And bad things were not only likely, they were guaranteed. He wanted her prepared.

"Good. In fact, I was thinking there was something you can do that no one else can."

[kuposcreed]

And just like that, the cloud of worry and concern and deep thought is swept away from her in an instant wave of interest and hope.

"Kupo? What do you need me to do? I'm ready to help, kupo!"

[shinra_dog]

"Remember how Saori joined the police force to have an ear on the inside for Mary?"

Reno held up a finger slyly. "Yer a moogle. An' I know you've been eyeing the mail service. Yer perfect for passing messages for us, messages that can't be hacked through the digital MogNet, an' you can see who else is sending letters to people, too. It's the perfect way to keep an eye on our neighbors. And no one'll suspect a thing since you'll blend right in!"

[kuposcreed]

Bonnie nodded, happy but also with a more serious look on her face. "I agree, kupo. The iMog slates are very interesting, but I trust paper mail a bit more, kupo. Plus I think it's more personal, kupo. Ah, that's not to say I don't think people should be using the slates, but Mognet is more than just a way to communicate. It's a promise of quality, kupo!"

And the slates certainly were quality, but the symbol of her mail bag and postmoogle hats means something.

"Oh, but um, yes, I'll be sure to be diligent but stealthy, kupo!"