The arrival of the aquaphobe

"Thank you", the Ambassador's calm voice rang out, the large hall giving it an echoing undertone. "No resource was spared in the construction of these halls, and we are quite proud of them", he followed up as he moved closer to the new arrival, each step on the polished marble floor of the throne hall producing a characteristic sound. He had not failed to overhear the small word of praise as he had stood nearby, scanning the guild's job board. Whether that was out of interest or a rather simple sense of curiosity, he didn't quite know himself.

Johann's day had begun like any other one, awoken by soft rays of sunlight after a short night's rest. Not that he necessarily needed more. It was an advantageous circumstance, one of the few this vessel granted him, especially since it meant he had more time to attend to guild business, which arguably there seemed to be more and more of these days. The paperwork piled nearly to the ceiling, and despite his own as well as Sivvy's best efforts, there always seemed to be more. He was more than relieved, at least, to have his fellow Ambassador to assist him. The rose-haired girl was invaluable when it came to saving him from drowning in a flood of ink and sheets. Not to mention the Commander as well, of course. Whether Amalie realized it or not, her work had become part of the guild. Still, Johann couldn't help but feel bad for that poor James ... uh, Jasper. Jeffrey? That sounded right. As strict as she was, she had the guild's best interest at heart, and the more Johann thought about it, the more he knew it was quite necessary. Dies Irae was, of course, a guild where combat prowess was of utmost importance, considering the purpose of their existence. If recruits lacked that same prowess, well, that very possibly could spell their demise on the battlefield, something Johann, and undoubtedly everyone else would rather avoid if at all possible.

The Ambassador, clad in his usual black uniform, which was adorned with hues of gold and sanguine, gave the new arrival a symbolic bow, a not unwelcoming, but also not overbearing smile warming his expression. "I'm sorry, I have yet to introduce myself. If you allow me, I am Johann von Weiss, Ambassador of Dies Irae". He took a second to eye the newcomer. A strange girl, certainly, considering the long, animal-like ears protruding from her head. In any case, Johann wasn't one to interpret that. He had seen all kinds of strange things all over Earthland. Things akin to this were nothing new. "The journey to Amber Island is long, and not without dangers, so I, forgive my presumptuousness, reckon that you have a reason to seek out Dies Irae. Tell me, stranger, what might be your name, and what brings you to these halls?".

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Word Count: 487

Johann silently raised his eyebrows as he watched the display unfold, concluding that the newcomer was of the kind that was easily startled, although for a few passing moments the Ambassador had to resist the urge to look himself up and down to confirm or deny if there was something wrong with his appearance or the way he had presented himself. In his own view, Johann was anything but a threatening presence. In his view, it was quite the opposite, in fact. Though that was of little matter right now, he could contemplate these implications later. The smile had faded for those same few confused moments, however, it was now quick to return onto the silver-haired man's expression. "I see", he acknowledged the woman's answer to his question with a cheerful, warm tone, despite the fact that it was obvious she seemed to hide from him. At least, he thought, the bunny-eared newcomer made an effort to answer his questions.

Upon introducing himself, she, too, would respond in kind and offer up her name, introducing herself as Benny Ceostra, Johann acknowledging it with a nod. She continued swiftly, it would seem, inquiring about what Joh assumed would be the recruitment process while adding a bit of ... additional information, Johann already back to raising a single brow. She didn't look extraordinarily heavy or anything of that sort, the man wondering what exactly she had meant or intended with that statement. In the end, the man simply brushed it aside, deciding it was perhaps a weird quirk or something of the sort that bothered her, choosing to ignore it, though the woman would bring it up again, refusing to answer a question that had not been conceptualized by the Ambassador. "I would never presume, Miss Ceostra", he was swift to dismiss that particular notion. "I'm certain we'll figure out an adequate solution to your ... circumstance. In any case-", the God of Ishgar went on, trying to address Benny's other and arguably more important point, "-the recruitment process shouldn't take too long if you are interested in joining up. I just have some simple questions for you, which you don't necessarily have to answer, should you find them to be too intrusive. After that, I, as Ambassador of Dies Irae, the guild master, if you will, will administer the guild symbol that makes you an official member". Johann explained calmly and methodically. There was no official way to induct a new member, but Johann, personally, enjoyed talking to new people. Those who travelled to Amber Island often brought along their unique life experiences and perspectives, something the silver-haired man enjoyed indulging in when conversing with such individuals.

The first question, the "Why?", had of course already been asked, the woman presenting an answer in a similar fashion than before. Her reasoning seemed to be simple enough, being, according to herself, versed in combat and interested in profit, Johann once more acknowledging with a nod. It was true that Dies Irae's primary goal was to rid the world of evil, that goal manifested in the form of its current bounty-hunting business, which, as the Ambassador had learned, attracted people that, unlike himself or some of his fellow members, were not quite as idealistic or even motivated by ideology. In the end, it didn't really matter to Johann which reason someone presented for joining the guild, as long as everyone was working towards the same ultimate goal, but the question and the answer usually gave him at least a little bit of insight into another's person. The end, still, very much justified the means. "If you're looking for monetary gains, Miss Ceostra, you are certainly on the right track". From what she said, she felt like she was confidently familiar with the ideas and goals of Dies Irae, certainly, although it didn't hurt to confirm this and perhaps expand on it, if he could offer assistance. "Very well. I take it that you are aware of Dies Irae's modus operandi, our goals, as well as our ... methods?", Johann asked with a slight pause. The liberties DI took when dealing with the darker elements within Fiore and Earthland were not accepted by everyone and frowned upon by most. Benny Ceostra, though, seemed perfectly fine with those methods, though.

"Food and drink are served around the clock in our Mess Hall, free of charge for guild members. You can find it down this hallway in the West Wing of the guild hall. It's hard to miss, really. Should that not be to your liking, the town at the base of the hill houses a plethora of interesting establishments that cater to different tastes. If you would like, we can discuss your admittance into the guild over a cup of tea and a meal?". It would be easier to have a back and forth of questions and answers over a hearty lunch, Johann noticing that he hadn't eaten in the past few hours at all, a problem that needed to be fixed, of course.

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Word Count: 839
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Total Thread Word Count: 1,965

@Benny Ceostra

Upon the woman's unusual inquiry, Johann would find himself looking about, his head turning, gaze wandering throughout the interior of the Throne Hall for a few passing moments. Indeed, apart from the occasional guild soldier passing by them or making their way to the job boards, where the guild's bounties were listed as well, the Ambassador noted that there was less hustle and bustle than normally. "I suppose a portion of our soldiers are out, pursuing contracts or otherwise involved in a form of guild work. Perhaps they are training at the Trial Grounds behind the guild hall as well. Do not worry-", Johann looked back the bunny-eared woman, a shifting tone of voice being the attempt at reassuring the other, "-I'm certain you will meet the majority of the guild at some point and will get acquainted, one way or the other".

When she mentioned the Throne Hall and began talking of Amber Island and the guild itself, Johann noted that Benny was certainly very talkative and liked to ask questions, which was, of course, more than understandable for a newcomer, the Ambassador gave her a simple nod before speaking up again, seeking to answer her curious interrogation. "'Rule' might be a bit overbearing, but Dies Irae has been entrusted with administrating these lands and acts as it's standing government, yes. As for the Throne Hall, well-", the man stopped and paused for a second before continuing, "-that particular architectural choice was made by the Magic Council, which funded the construction of the Guild Hall". The question about the cooking caused the Ambassador to think inwardly for a few seconds more, as well, before responding "Well, normally the kitchen staff are not recruited from within the ranks of the guild. They are, of course, members of the guild, but do not partake in the usual guild activities, naturally. I suppose, if you would like to be included in those kinds of duties, you would have to inquire with our head chef, Benvolio".

The Ambassador didn't really know what to make of the fact that the woman mentioned she couldn't swim, or that she'd not expected the guild to be located on Amber Island, but it was what it was. "It is indeed a somewhat remote location, but we worked with what we could. We are working on opening a branch office on the mainland of Ishgar, though. Hopefully, that would help to rid yourself of worry concerning this ... limitation". Johann didn't know what exactly the other was referring to, nor did he wish to presume, but if the water was an issue, he imagined that a separate instance of the guild would prove to be helpful.

It didn't take long for the two to arrive at the open entrance to the Mess Hall, the smells of fresh spices, meats, baked goods and other foods already reaching the Ambassador's sensitive nose. The man held off on answering the next question, instead beckoning Benny to enter the Mess Hall and see for herself, pointing over to a long row of tables at one side fo the large room. What Benny would see were rows after rows of all kinds of different foods, drinks, desserts, plates filled with anything someone's heart could possibly desire. In short: An extravagant Lunch Buffet. "I'm sure you will find something that will be to your liking, Miss Ceostra. Please, take your time. I will be waiting at one of the nearby tables. I'm sure we can discuss further then. That said, please, after you", he opened the buffet to her with a gesture, turning towards some ceramic that seemed to surround a solid iron kettle. He grabbed a cup, along with a teabag, and filled the container with steaming hot water, before making his way to one of the nearby empty tables, the sound of kitchen staff catering to the needs of the guild members, shouting orders to one another along with the ever-present sizzle of boiling, frying, steaming, searing drowning out the background.

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Word Count: 669
Total Word Count: 1,995
Total Thread Word Count: 2,941

@Benny Ceostra

It seemed that the new arrival had made her culinary choices, returning to the table where the Ambassador silently sipped his cup of Earl Grey, a serene smirk on the face that was hidden down to his eyes by strands of silver hair and the hat that complimented his uniform. It seemed, however, that for some reason she seemed particularly concerned and nervous with her surroundings, Johann being unable to place the sudden spike of increased unease on any particular thing. Perhaps she was simply nervous to have arrived on Amber Island and the guild hall still? It was, of course, a somewhat grand undertaking. Joining a guild was never an easy task that was easily done, as Johann had come to know over the course of his career as not just a Vice President for the West Fiore Trading Company, but also the Ambassador of Dies Irae.

Regardless, there, of course, were still some questions that had yet to be asked and answered, Johann, watching the bunny-eared woman that began eating with increasing intensity, with a curious eye, though maintaining the same friendly smile. "Everything before you here is real, though I'm glad you seem to appreciate what the guild has to offer, Miss Ceostra", the Ambassador chuckled lightly, pausing for a second to think about his next words and the questions he would ask. It didn't appear like he would get that far, however. With a metallic squeal of stressed material, the woman's seat would vanish beneath her as she sunk to the ground suddenly and rapidly. Johann remained seated, though leaned forward, looking down on the newcomer who was had hit the solid stone below them with an unexpectedly heavy impact. Johann raised an eyebrow, nodding slowly, understanding the particular predicament the woman seemed to have alluded to earlier. "I see", he commented in a rather straightforward fashion before waving his hand. Beside the woman would appear a solid cube of metal, steel, to be more specific, right before the table. It probably wouldn't be the most comfortable seating option, certainly, though it would easily hold her weight, which was the Ambassador's primary concern. "No need to worry about that, Miss Ceostra. We'll fix that later, I suppose, but I understand what you mean now. For consistency's sake, let us ignore that so that you can continue your meal and I may finish my tea".

With that, the Ambassador gestured for her to take a seat once more before leaning back in his own chair, bringing the tea to his lips and taking a sip of the bitter liquid. "That's a peculiar trait you possess there, Miss Ceostra. If you don't mind me asking, does this stem from your particular use of magic?", the man inquired with interested tone. Of course, Johann did not know much about the newcomer at all, but was eager to learn more. Naturally, it was more than understandable that the Ambassador would want to know as much as possible about the Soldiers that worked under his command, and the newcomer was no exception.

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Word Count: 511
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@Benny Ceostra

Continuing to take small sips from his tea, truly a delight, one might add, Johann was somewhat unaware that his question had caused such a level of distress. While the man was certainly perceptive, everyone that was familiar with the Ambassador knew that reading people and emotions was not exactly what one would refer to as one of his strong suits. As such, the God of Ishgar resorted to simply nodding in acknowledgment of her explanation that she didn't quite know why her body seemed to behave in this strange way, or the lack of memory seemingly imposed on her. "Peculiar, indeed", he would echo the sentiment that had occurred to him earlier.

"Well, if it answers you are searching for then, by all means, I'm certain Dies Irae will be able to assist you in some capacity or another. We shall see", he responded simply, nodding when the woman implied that, apparently, the guild's admittedly quite particular ideology didn't seem to bother her too much, a reassurance that Johann did appreciate. Given the fact that some people saw their line of work as extreme, morbid, or a combination of both, that would be the basis required for a Neophyte, certainly. "I agree", he spoke with an affirmative twist, now beginning to finish the last few sips of his still hot cup of tea.

However, when Benny moved on to elaborate some of the details of her magic, Johann once again found himself listening intently and with a contemplative interest that was entirely focussed inward. The mention of electricity captured his curiosity, in a sense. The Ambassador, of course, knew the odd thing or two about wielding the element and the properties associated with it through its continued use in battle, but apparently, so did Benny when she inquired about a more hands-on approach, a smirk lifting the corner of Joh's mouth in response. "Oh, indeed. If it is a physical demonstration you seek that certainly can be arranged, Miss Ceostra". The man stood up, gesturing to the door of the Mess Hall. "Please, follow me".

Determined steps would lead the man out and back into the hallway, and by extension, the Throne Hall they had been in not too long ago, this time, however, taking a turn towards a large set of doors on the back end of the guildhall, leading out onto a cobbled granite pathway that led to a massive, circular building, which was encircled largely by the guildhall itself. Leading the woman through an archway and into the colosseum, the two would find themselves in the middle of a large open space, if she had followed, of course. The ground was covered in sand, visible runic patterns, scripture, and circles occasionally breaking through the material. "Welcome to the guild's Trial Grounds, Miss Ceostra. This is where members of the guild can strive to perfect their martial abilities. Allow me to demonstrate".

Johann cleared his throat before turning, raising his voice that would soon echo throughout the mostly empty stadium. "Training Scenario Alpha, 3 Dummies, line pattern, 5 meters apart". The runic magic that covered the entire stadium reacted in an instant, some circles and scripture beginning to flash blue, 3 seemingly unspectacular and for all intents and purposes, regular training dummies appearing from nowhere before the Ambassador and the newcomer. "Now then, Miss Ceostra, I hope this scenario is adequate for your purposes. Please, the stage is all yours". With that, the silver-haired God of Ishgar stepped aside, leaving her to show him what the bunny girl had referred to when she had called for a demonstration.

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@Benny Ceostra

With curiosity, Johann watched the woman's preparations, the noticable, familiar hum of magical power resonating through the air around her as she readied herself for her demonstration. With a dash forward and the detectable discharge of electrical energy, Benny struck the first of her targets before engaging the next, and the next after, without hesitation, thought, or reservation. "Interesting ...", he whispered to himself under his breath, a small, somewhat satisfied smile curling up the corner of his mouth.

The bunny girl certainly possessed martial skills that were not negligible, especially, it appeared, in close-quarters in particular. Regardless, the man raised his hands, the slow clapping sound echoing through the epmty stadium. "Good. Very good", the silver-haired man spoke aloud, stopping the clap for the training scenario to vanish with a brief shimmer of magic, leaving behind the empty Trial Grounds covered in sand and gravel as if the demonstration had never occurred.

"I think that's quite enough, Miss Ceostra. Your skillset certainly seems sufficient for a soldier of Dies Irae, don't you think?". Of course, it was true that the basics were given, though the woman had much to learn still. Of course, the guild especially focussed on assisting members in that process. And Johann had decided that a member of the guild she would indeed become. Turning away a fighter who knew what they were doing would be an unwise decision, naturally, the Ambassador thus reaching into one of the pockets of his coat before pulling out a vial of red liquid. "Given my position as the Guild Master of Dies Irae, I welcome you into the guild as a Neophyte, Benny Ceostra", his tone was professional, some would say cold, but direct and straightforward. "Now then, where do you wish for your guild mark to be placed?"

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Word Count: 300
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@Benny Ceostra

When the recruit pointed at the location she desired to place her guild mark at, Johann simply stared at her for a few moments, admittedly somewhat dumbfounded by the girl's request, his mouth slightly ajar as if to speak up, though no words left his mouth. Finally, the Ambassador closed his eyes, sighing deeply, pinching the bridge of his nose with his index finger and thumb in what could only be interpreted as, well, surprise. That, and a good streak of disappointment. "My apologies, Miss Ceostra. I did not realize", he spoke, his tone carrying the same notes as his initial reaction. His mind, more instinctively than anything else, contemplated the implications of having one's guild mark placed in a part of the body that was, by most people, seen as inherently explicit. Shouldn't the guild mark be located somewhere where it could be easily seen, and perhaps further something that was leaps and bounds more important, where it could be presented without risking what would arguably be taken by most others as shame, embarrassment, or ... intent where none was present? It was beyond the silver-haired man, but he did not want to inquire. Nothing was further from him at this moment. It wasn't his decision, after all.

Johann simply turned around, uncorking the vial with the red liquid and letting the magical ink do the work for him. After all, he did not want to cause discomfort for the girl, and admittedly, himself. Instead, the ink simply rose from its container, suspended in the air for a brief moment before floating over to Benny, slowly but surely shifting to the location of desire before making contact with her skin, seeping into it in an instant before shifting into the shape of the cross that signified membership of Dies Irae at once, and, of course, changing color to the hue of her desire, as well. As for the Ambassador, he'd had quite enough of being embarrassed by his members, though of course, he would entirely keep that to himself. When the girl asked him the question, he did not turn around, instead simply saying. "Handle yourself with confidence, grace, respect, and in a professional manner as a member of the guild. Be kind when the situation allows, and be unfalteringly strong when necessary. As for interacting with your guild members ...", Johann paused briefly, raising his hand in a small gesture, throwing the woman a set of keys, "... simply be yourself and I'm sure you will all get along just fine. As for those-", he kept saying without turning still, "-you will find a number on the keys themselves matching a room in the East Wing where the living quarters are located. Welcome to Dies Irae".

The man audibly cleared his throat.

"Now, if you'll excuse me, Miss Ceostra, if that's it, I'll be in my office if you need anything else".

With those words, the Ambassador simply began walking off, not thinking about the fact he was effectively leaving the girl behind on the training grounds. He had resigned himself to his fate, his only desire, at current, to catch a break from this whole business.

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@Benny Ceostra