Not the best of starts...
>> Vriska & Kanaya
>> Some years in the past
>> A first meeting
Kanaya: Kanaya had not been expecting much when she had been told where 'headquarters' was. This was the slums, after all but this decrepit little ramshackle building was a bit of a disappointment, even by what she had been expecting. One story, one cramped room full of tables and chairs--it posed as a bar and there was a secret basement which is where she was located now but that was about it. More chairs, an old tv and radio, and nothing more could be said for it. At the very least it was kept clean--unusually so but the decor left much to be desired. She was currently setting out some first aid kit and other medicines she had brought, but she had been left to her own devices for now as she awaited the arrival of Karkat and the others.
Vriska: As Kanaya came into the room Vriska had been crouching behind the bar in search for a wine bottle that wasn't yet empty. At some point she'd have to go out in search for more liquor- even if most of their crew was underage she found the comfort of alcohol overrode that small rule.
Finding a bottle that was half full she stood back up, scooting up onto the bar stool and setting it on the counter. Her eyes went to the new girl in the corner, coughed it up to one of John or Karkat's friends and left it at that.
Kanaya: Kanaya paused when she caught sight of the other. A girl from the looks of it, and a young one at that if her size was any indication which caused her to be slightly alarmed that she seemed to be consuming some alcohol. Already she could feel a protest threatening to escape her lips but she held it back just in time. She figured, she should at least catch her name before she went lecturing her.
"Greetings. Would I be correct in my assumption that you are one of Karkat's companions?"
Vriska: She was already pouring herself the wine in a chipped mug, not bothering to find a more cleaner, more appropriate wine glass. Hearing her be addressed she looked back at the other girl with half-lidded eyes.
"Yeah. Did he bring you here?"
Kanaya: She couldn't help the look of surprise that passed over her--perhaps she was a little older than she had first anticipated? Now Kanaya was not certain, and needless to say very glad she had not said anything that might have come off as condescending.
"He did not bring me here, but he did inform me of this place," She gave the place another cursory look, "he means to formally introduce me to the group, but given his current absence, and your presence, I suppose I can manage on my own." She smiled now, trying to push aside her embarrassment.
"My name is Kanaya Maryam. Pleased to meet you."
Vriska: Already she was taking a drink. "Vriska Serket." She licked her lips and looked back her, this time giving her a good look. "So, what's your area of expertise, Kanayaaaaaaaa?"
Kanaya: Her area of expertise? That wasn't really something she and Karkat had discussed at length, at least not yet. She shook her head, walking towards Vriska and setting her supplies down on a table. She took up a seat next to her, folding her skirt down.
"If you mean to ask the purpose that I will be serving, it will mostly be in the field of keeping you all properly equipped, and providing what information I can scry from the Middle Plates. Unfortunately I do not have many talents that could be put to use on the field."
Vriska: "I thought you looked rich. What are you doing down here in this dump?" She continued to sip at her cup, staring at Kanaya over the top of her glass.
Kanaya: Kanaya couldn't help but be a bit put off by being labeled as such, but she supposed she couldn't really deny it either. She and her mother were well off, especially when in comparison to the people down here. "I have provided what I could for the community since young, and Karkat is my moirail. I have many dear to me down here."
Vriska: "I see." A charity worker. Vriska had met her handful of them and they never lasted long, especially around here and in their line of work. She only found it a shame that this one was so young and so willing to throw out her life so soon.
Already she was starting to pour herself more wine, long blue nails tapping against the chipped glass. "How long do you plan to stay?"
Kanaya: "It is not my intent to leave anytime soon. As long as there are people that I can aid down here, I shall continue my work. I do not see that ending anytime soon."
Then there was of course Karkat to consider who she always worried for. How he had gotten himself caught up in this organization was anyone's guess--well, no, she knew. He was an angry person, but he was also someone with a strong sense of right. He acted--not wallowed, and she knew he felt he had a lot to protect.
"And of you? What role do you play amongst this group?"
Vriska: Her answer made her smirk, setting down the glass. She leaned back in her chair and looked at Kanaya fully this time. This girl had no idea what pile of shit she was stepping into. This wasn't handing out soup to the local hobos.
"I guess you could say I'm the weapons manager. My specialty is sharpshooting."
Kanaya: Weapons Manager? Did they really have so many, or fight so much that they needed one? Kanaya knew what her moirail got up to was dangerous and that they were needed for defending onself but...
"Do you often confront the people of Shinra directly?" The idea made her uneasy, but if anything it just made her all the more determined to do her part. The group seemed rag tag at this point and while she knew there was little difference she would make, it was still something.
Vriska: "Sometimes." A casual shrug as she reached for the glass again. "What else do you do down here when you aren't giving us bandaids? Hand out bread crusts to the homeless?" It was both sincere and mocking at the same time.
Kanaya: Kanaya did not miss that, but she did not take the bait. At least not verbally but there was a definite look of mild irritation in her expression now.
"Clothing, more than food. My mother and I are seamstresses from the Middle plate. I am friends with the materia seller nearby, however, so I often do business with him. I'm rather adept at scrying out the use for them, if unknown, so I sometimes give him my services in return for keeping some."
Vriska: She couldn't stop smiling. "Will you make us uniforms then? That's the one thing we're missing for our team here."
Kanaya: "Uniforms?" That was certainly not something she had been expecting out of the girl--so far the impression she had given was someone while a bit condescending, efficient and not caring much for things like that.
Kanaya, of course, couldn't help but be intrigued by the idea and already the gears in her head were turning. She reached into her satchel to pull out a weathered old sketchbook, flipping past several designs to reach a blank page.
"Uniforms, yes, I could do that." Whether Vriska had been joking or not, the idea was now put in her head.
Vriska: She almost choked on her sip of wine when Kanaya pulled out her sketchbook and agreed to her stupid proposal. But it was't like she could back out now. She she continued to wolf down her drink.
"Yeah, Vantas reeeeeeeeally wanted matching uniforms for everyone but me. It's not my thing."
Kanaya: A small, knowing smile spread across her lips.
"Nonsense. A uniform is meant to be worn by all, you are part of the team, are you not?" she now slid off her chair and stepped in front of Vriska, surveying her. From the back she had seemed so young thanks to her height, but up close Kanaya could see that she might actually be her age. She was...dashing in a way. The hard-edged look that living down here had given her seemed to lend to her attractiveness rather than take away from it like it did so many people. It wouldn't be hard to make something that looked good and was suitable for her.
"Do not worry. I will put practicality in front of everything."
Vriska: Her eyes followed the younger girl as she moved around, suddenly conscious of just how much taller she was, even when she was in the chair, than her. It made her uneasy and whether it was noticeable or not she tensed slightly.
It didn't deter her smirk. "Just give me a headband and I'll wear that. I have my own style to uphold after all."
Kanaya: "Very well." Kanaya was of course going to make much more than just a headband, but Vriska did not need to know that just yet. For now she was just sketching a possibility, considering something simple, not too obvious, but that anyone who knew where to look could see that she was part of the tea
Maybe a symbol. Something they could all share, but what? She let her hands move on their own. "How long have you been part of this group? It hasn't been around for terribly long, has it?"
Vriska: "I've only been around for a few years, not that long. I'm a friend of John's." She picked up the wine bottle and swirled around the remaining alcohol inside absently. She had come in with Gamzee on a whim and she was still here.
"Most everyone here is young, me being the oldest, so yeah it's still pretty new. "
Kanaya: "You are the oldest?" And at last came the question she had tried to avoid, but this seemed like a good lead in. "How old are you?"
Vriska: She raised an eyebrow at her as she raised the cup to her lips and smiled. "21."
Kanaya: Kanaya made a small choking noise. She had been expecting something around her age, *maybe* but definitely not 21! "You...you look good for your age."
Vriska: She continued to give her a cocky, caustic stare. "Don't try and flatter me. I know how tall I am and everyone always seems to believe I can't be older than 15. You aren't the first and you won't be the last, Miss Maryam."
Kanaya: She blushed a bit, now keeping her face distinctly hidden behind her sketchbook. "Well at least you can be assured you will always look young, even when you are much older."
Vriska: "Really? Wow, you've open up an entirely new world to me! I never thought about it like that." The last of the alcohol in the cup went down and she put away the wine bottle back under the bar. For another day, she told herself. Maybe she'll drink to this girl if she manages to stay alive down here longer than two weeks.
"So I think you should go find Vantas because I'm finished drinking as well as finished with this conversation." A pause before pointing to one of the doors. "You can find him by going through there."
Kanaya: She paused in her sketching, flush growing stronger but this time out of indignation. As before, however, she says no word and merely rips the sketch she had been drawing out of her notebook, flicking it's Vriska's way before getting up and going through the door Vriska had directed.
>> Some years in the past
>> A first meeting
Kanaya: Kanaya had not been expecting much when she had been told where 'headquarters' was. This was the slums, after all but this decrepit little ramshackle building was a bit of a disappointment, even by what she had been expecting. One story, one cramped room full of tables and chairs--it posed as a bar and there was a secret basement which is where she was located now but that was about it. More chairs, an old tv and radio, and nothing more could be said for it. At the very least it was kept clean--unusually so but the decor left much to be desired. She was currently setting out some first aid kit and other medicines she had brought, but she had been left to her own devices for now as she awaited the arrival of Karkat and the others.
Vriska: As Kanaya came into the room Vriska had been crouching behind the bar in search for a wine bottle that wasn't yet empty. At some point she'd have to go out in search for more liquor- even if most of their crew was underage she found the comfort of alcohol overrode that small rule.
Finding a bottle that was half full she stood back up, scooting up onto the bar stool and setting it on the counter. Her eyes went to the new girl in the corner, coughed it up to one of John or Karkat's friends and left it at that.
Kanaya: Kanaya paused when she caught sight of the other. A girl from the looks of it, and a young one at that if her size was any indication which caused her to be slightly alarmed that she seemed to be consuming some alcohol. Already she could feel a protest threatening to escape her lips but she held it back just in time. She figured, she should at least catch her name before she went lecturing her.
"Greetings. Would I be correct in my assumption that you are one of Karkat's companions?"
Vriska: She was already pouring herself the wine in a chipped mug, not bothering to find a more cleaner, more appropriate wine glass. Hearing her be addressed she looked back at the other girl with half-lidded eyes.
"Yeah. Did he bring you here?"
Kanaya: She couldn't help the look of surprise that passed over her--perhaps she was a little older than she had first anticipated? Now Kanaya was not certain, and needless to say very glad she had not said anything that might have come off as condescending.
"He did not bring me here, but he did inform me of this place," She gave the place another cursory look, "he means to formally introduce me to the group, but given his current absence, and your presence, I suppose I can manage on my own." She smiled now, trying to push aside her embarrassment.
"My name is Kanaya Maryam. Pleased to meet you."
Vriska: Already she was taking a drink. "Vriska Serket." She licked her lips and looked back her, this time giving her a good look. "So, what's your area of expertise, Kanayaaaaaaaa?"
Kanaya: Her area of expertise? That wasn't really something she and Karkat had discussed at length, at least not yet. She shook her head, walking towards Vriska and setting her supplies down on a table. She took up a seat next to her, folding her skirt down.
"If you mean to ask the purpose that I will be serving, it will mostly be in the field of keeping you all properly equipped, and providing what information I can scry from the Middle Plates. Unfortunately I do not have many talents that could be put to use on the field."
Vriska: "I thought you looked rich. What are you doing down here in this dump?" She continued to sip at her cup, staring at Kanaya over the top of her glass.
Kanaya: Kanaya couldn't help but be a bit put off by being labeled as such, but she supposed she couldn't really deny it either. She and her mother were well off, especially when in comparison to the people down here. "I have provided what I could for the community since young, and Karkat is my moirail. I have many dear to me down here."
Vriska: "I see." A charity worker. Vriska had met her handful of them and they never lasted long, especially around here and in their line of work. She only found it a shame that this one was so young and so willing to throw out her life so soon.
Already she was starting to pour herself more wine, long blue nails tapping against the chipped glass. "How long do you plan to stay?"
Kanaya: "It is not my intent to leave anytime soon. As long as there are people that I can aid down here, I shall continue my work. I do not see that ending anytime soon."
Then there was of course Karkat to consider who she always worried for. How he had gotten himself caught up in this organization was anyone's guess--well, no, she knew. He was an angry person, but he was also someone with a strong sense of right. He acted--not wallowed, and she knew he felt he had a lot to protect.
"And of you? What role do you play amongst this group?"
Vriska: Her answer made her smirk, setting down the glass. She leaned back in her chair and looked at Kanaya fully this time. This girl had no idea what pile of shit she was stepping into. This wasn't handing out soup to the local hobos.
"I guess you could say I'm the weapons manager. My specialty is sharpshooting."
Kanaya: Weapons Manager? Did they really have so many, or fight so much that they needed one? Kanaya knew what her moirail got up to was dangerous and that they were needed for defending onself but...
"Do you often confront the people of Shinra directly?" The idea made her uneasy, but if anything it just made her all the more determined to do her part. The group seemed rag tag at this point and while she knew there was little difference she would make, it was still something.
Vriska: "Sometimes." A casual shrug as she reached for the glass again. "What else do you do down here when you aren't giving us bandaids? Hand out bread crusts to the homeless?" It was both sincere and mocking at the same time.
Kanaya: Kanaya did not miss that, but she did not take the bait. At least not verbally but there was a definite look of mild irritation in her expression now.
"Clothing, more than food. My mother and I are seamstresses from the Middle plate. I am friends with the materia seller nearby, however, so I often do business with him. I'm rather adept at scrying out the use for them, if unknown, so I sometimes give him my services in return for keeping some."
Vriska: She couldn't stop smiling. "Will you make us uniforms then? That's the one thing we're missing for our team here."
Kanaya: "Uniforms?" That was certainly not something she had been expecting out of the girl--so far the impression she had given was someone while a bit condescending, efficient and not caring much for things like that.
Kanaya, of course, couldn't help but be intrigued by the idea and already the gears in her head were turning. She reached into her satchel to pull out a weathered old sketchbook, flipping past several designs to reach a blank page.
"Uniforms, yes, I could do that." Whether Vriska had been joking or not, the idea was now put in her head.
Vriska: She almost choked on her sip of wine when Kanaya pulled out her sketchbook and agreed to her stupid proposal. But it was't like she could back out now. She she continued to wolf down her drink.
"Yeah, Vantas reeeeeeeeally wanted matching uniforms for everyone but me. It's not my thing."
Kanaya: A small, knowing smile spread across her lips.
"Nonsense. A uniform is meant to be worn by all, you are part of the team, are you not?" she now slid off her chair and stepped in front of Vriska, surveying her. From the back she had seemed so young thanks to her height, but up close Kanaya could see that she might actually be her age. She was...dashing in a way. The hard-edged look that living down here had given her seemed to lend to her attractiveness rather than take away from it like it did so many people. It wouldn't be hard to make something that looked good and was suitable for her.
"Do not worry. I will put practicality in front of everything."
Vriska: Her eyes followed the younger girl as she moved around, suddenly conscious of just how much taller she was, even when she was in the chair, than her. It made her uneasy and whether it was noticeable or not she tensed slightly.
It didn't deter her smirk. "Just give me a headband and I'll wear that. I have my own style to uphold after all."
Kanaya: "Very well." Kanaya was of course going to make much more than just a headband, but Vriska did not need to know that just yet. For now she was just sketching a possibility, considering something simple, not too obvious, but that anyone who knew where to look could see that she was part of the tea
Maybe a symbol. Something they could all share, but what? She let her hands move on their own. "How long have you been part of this group? It hasn't been around for terribly long, has it?"
Vriska: "I've only been around for a few years, not that long. I'm a friend of John's." She picked up the wine bottle and swirled around the remaining alcohol inside absently. She had come in with Gamzee on a whim and she was still here.
"Most everyone here is young, me being the oldest, so yeah it's still pretty new. "
Kanaya: "You are the oldest?" And at last came the question she had tried to avoid, but this seemed like a good lead in. "How old are you?"
Vriska: She raised an eyebrow at her as she raised the cup to her lips and smiled. "21."
Kanaya: Kanaya made a small choking noise. She had been expecting something around her age, *maybe* but definitely not 21! "You...you look good for your age."
Vriska: She continued to give her a cocky, caustic stare. "Don't try and flatter me. I know how tall I am and everyone always seems to believe I can't be older than 15. You aren't the first and you won't be the last, Miss Maryam."
Kanaya: She blushed a bit, now keeping her face distinctly hidden behind her sketchbook. "Well at least you can be assured you will always look young, even when you are much older."
Vriska: "Really? Wow, you've open up an entirely new world to me! I never thought about it like that." The last of the alcohol in the cup went down and she put away the wine bottle back under the bar. For another day, she told herself. Maybe she'll drink to this girl if she manages to stay alive down here longer than two weeks.
"So I think you should go find Vantas because I'm finished drinking as well as finished with this conversation." A pause before pointing to one of the doors. "You can find him by going through there."
Kanaya: She paused in her sketching, flush growing stronger but this time out of indignation. As before, however, she says no word and merely rips the sketch she had been drawing out of her notebook, flicking it's Vriska's way before getting up and going through the door Vriska had directed.