Did the Reading [locked to New Hires except Kokichi and Mac]

[runes_brand]

[An hour or two after Brand vanished from his first post by flinging his comm across the room, a follow up appears. He appears to be much calmer and to have moved to the bunks.]

This is good work, Lonestar.

My name is Brand and my specialties are security and combat. Having gotten a run-down on Planker from someone whose skill level I'm familiar with 1) fuck that asshole, and 2) I'm willing to offer extra-curricular training: stamina, situational awareness, hand-to-hand, knives, guns, and explosives, plus a few other things. Don't fucking ask me to keep you motivated, because I will.

Other than that, I do what Rune does, but without magic. [He sighs a most put-upon sigh.] Count this as my AMA, but no fucking guarantees on getting answers to everything you ask.

A few specific messages:

Armstrong: You still doing assessments for combat instruction? Let me know when there's a hole in your schedule. Not a question: your stuff is two doors down and across the hall. I've got fucking dibs on Rune as a roommate.

Bunny: I'd be obliged if you stuck with darker chocolate for Rune, otherwise he eats it all in one go and I have to deal with the fallout.

[He's got a few other things to say, but he's going to reach out privately for those.]

Comments

[video]

[bringinghopewithme]

Couple things. The dark stuff has a higher caffeine and sugar content, so you're not sparing yourself anything. Also, I got a limited supply to begin with, so if a grown man isn't making his gifts last he's not getting more of anything before the kids do. What are you, his keeper?

[video]

[runes_brand]

[Either Brand isn't weirded out by a bipedal talking rabbit or he got over it at some point during his the last couple hours, because he isn't even looking at Bunny particularly oddly.]

I did a read through of the previous posts and noticed you were asking about candy preferences. I'm chiming in because I'm one of the two people it usually takes to keep him from trying to live off of snack cakes and cigarettes.

[He sounds exasperated by this, but also deeply fond.]

Speaking of, Rune's told me that you're the one I have to thank for being in as good of shape as he is, food-wise. So thank you.

[bringinghopewithme]

It is literally the least I can do.

[Of all his supernatural abilities he could have kept here, growing plants is at least the most communally useful power, but he's still salty about not keeping the rest.]

Since you're here now too, what's your favorite fruit?

[He might as well have a complete list.]

[runes_brand]

[He's not going to argue with the giant talking rabbit. He's said his thanks and they can move on.]

Avocados, apples, or blueberries. But I'm not picky either.

[hot_dad]

[From right beside Brand, close enough that it might get picked up by Brand's comm:]

What fallout?

[He was doing such a good job of presenting himself as a competent, functional adult here, and now Brand's got him immediately sounding like an offended teen. Thanks, buddy.]

[runes_brand]

[Any time, buddy.

Brand glances in the direction of the protest with a smirk.]

You want me to elaborate? Now?

[He wiggles the comm in his hands. He's doing an introduction Rune. This is all being recorded.]

[hot_dad]

[Rune opens his mouth as if to challenge that, sees the comm, and then falters. His eyebrows knit together suspiciously – he doesn't know what that elaboration would entail, but he does trust Brand to embarrass him in front of friends as much as possible.

So instead he just jabs Brand in the side. Lovingly.]

[runes_brand]

[Brand almost fumbles his comm, but manages to keep hold of it. He swears and shoves Rune back, holding the comm out of reach in case he takes it into his hand to try and grab it.]

[tarnishedavenger]

Bold of you to move my things without permission.

[runes_brand]

Yeah, part of my so-called charm. Didn't disturb any of the folding, so anything you hid is still hidden.

[tarnishedavenger]

Any particular reason you didn't see a need to simply move Rune's things?

[runes_brand]

Rune's already tossed this one, packing up your stuff was less work.

text

[pathkin]

I appreciate the compliment even though I'm not doing this for praise.

I hope you'll show more discretion and respect for privacy with the encryptions than you did when moving someone else's property without their permission.

video

[hot_dad]

[Dryly:]

He won't.

video / locked text

[runes_brand]

I'll try to play nice with the other kids.

[Then he switches to text, locking the message to Lonestar.]

Suppose that means you'd prefer I send you my assessments directly instead of assuming you'll take them off my comm.

Video

[greyerrant]

What do you mean by security? [ A rather largish man looks quizzically at his comm ]

Video

[runes_brand]

[Loken gets a considering sort of look: Brand is clearly trying to size him up over the comms. It's not hostile, just assessing.]

The kind of shit you'd need to know as a bodyguard, which in my case also includes locating and destroying listening devices, making sure no one else is tracking Rune's phone, and siegecraft.

[greyerrant]

[ From the scars to what can be seen of Loken's physique, the dude looks like a shaved gorilla. Or a killing machine. Both of these are to some degree accurate. ]
I would imagine these skills will come into play given our present situation. Good to know you. I'm Loken. I fight.

[runes_brand]

You want to spar sometime?

[Brand looks nothing but human -- well-trained sure, but within normal expectations. No visible scarring. Loken looking like a shaved gorilla or a killing machine doesn't put him off at all. In fact, it'll be good to get some practice on something that size that isn't trying to kill him. Loken's presumably flesh and bone rather than magic and whatever the magic picks up, but that's fine.]

[greyerrant]

That might be useful.
[ Flesh, bone, black carapace and perhaps a bit of ceramite but close enough. ]

[runes_brand]

[Still more flesh-and-blood than giant spiders made of magic and rebar.]

I'm not much for late nights, but let me know if you've got any other holes in your schedule.

[greyerrant]

Anytime that isn't a meal time I'm free, unless our masters send us out on some sort of undertaking.

[runes_brand]

I'll reach out once I've settled in to the rhythm of things here. Unless we run into each other in the training room before then.

[greyerrant]

I'm generally there. There or in the garden. It feels nice to make something beautiful. Or at least orderly.

[runes_brand]

If I don't spot you in the training room, I'll give you a call. Last time I tried to take care of a plant, I accidentally drowned it.

[Stupid cactus.]

[greyerrant]

I can explain how not to do that, if you would like.

[runes_brand]

"Step one: find out how much fucking water a cactus needs" seems pretty straight forward after the fact.

[greyerrant]

Well, yes, I suppose it is. [ Loken laughs a little. ]

At any rate, I look forward to seeing you again soon. I would imagine the circumstances will be pleasant. And have a good day.

[runes_brand]

Same to you.

[See, he's capable of holding whole conversations, including pleasantries.]