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Post by Ledaal Xao on Nov 6, 2015 10:52:18 GMT
The morning sun shone brightly upon the wide dark wood balcony as the morning air calmly stirred along the Northlands. A man none too tall but strong of form stood in his blue gi near the now opened window with bare upper body. Flames burned in the hearth as he stood with feet spread shoulder width apart. His right back foot traced a line slowly from back to front as his arms moved in unison the left out and down and the right out and up. Slowly with a practiced grace he moved from form to form position to position. The fire stirred in the hearth as people began to stir in their beds.
His movements became quicker as he changed positions his feet leaving the ground to kick and flip as if fighting an unseen enemy. His dance of battle continued as he drew on his essence and began to cause his anima to flare. Wind and lighting seemed to move about his person in a controlled spiral as he continued the morning kata until finally with a gust of wind and sparks of electric energy dancing over his person he assumed a resting stance and bowed to the unseen opponent. He had done this many times it was his way of keeping sharp and he would continue or else grow lazy. With a confident step he retrieved his blue shirt, tied his belt about his waist to keep the gi closed and walked to stand on the balcony for a moment to consider what he would do today. Perhaps, he'd start with tea?
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Post by Hafren Coriah on Nov 6, 2015 11:10:25 GMT
"You know, I like living in a house powered by the aspect of flames this far North." Came a flat voice as someone entered the room behind that balcony. Long robe, warm mug in hand. She hadn't yet put on her uniform, which included her nearly everpresent sunglasses - Xao was among the few who knew for fact that they weren't permenantly affixed to her head. "It's always nice and warm. Cozy, even. Which is nice, considering we live in a frozen wasteland." She added as she crossed the room in bare feet, taking a small sip from her mug. The political and economic climate of the Haslanti League was something she could get behind. The literal climate of the Haslanti League, for a woman who'd been born and raised on the comparatively TROPICAL Blessed Isle? Was entirely loathsome and hardly bearable.
Coriah reached the balcony doors and lay a delicate hand on the ancient wood - tempered oak, from the feel of it. Likely harvested from one of the many massive forests in the disgustingly massive forest that was 'The East'. Like most of the Flame-aspected manse, it carried entirely cosmetic burn marks. Delicate lines of black and brown that were too artful to be actual damage. "Of course, none of that applies if some jackwagon leaves everything open to the elements to do his exercises." The slender woman turned at the waist, and slammed the balcony doors shut with incredible force - enough to rattle the ancient wood framing and knock some dust loose from the corners of the room. She'd have a word with the help about that.
Some people needed to do things to wake them up. Coriah had coffee. Despite her scathing moment with her warrior husband, she strode away from the doors with a faint smile, now with a bit more bounce to her step. There'd be no hard feelings about the event unless Xao brought them, in which case she might apologize for slamming the door. He likely knew her well enough by now to know that if she was actually upset over the matter, she'd have pointedly ignored him, possibly while destroying the door (again) to save him the trouble of having to remember to close it in the future.
Coriah wasn't one to say good morning unless it was actually a good morning. This was her way of letting Xao know that she was awake and moving, and as per her routine, likely going to get ready for work any minute now.
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Post by Ledaal Xao on Nov 6, 2015 11:41:45 GMT
'Well, she's up.' He thought as he watched the brown haired woman walk away with a cup of coffee in hand, trailing the aroma of fresh Arabica beans as she went. Marriage was a blissful thing was it not? He was rather unaffected by the slamming door and took it in stride while he mentally calculated which Xao he should be today. Perhaps the calm silent warrior or the playboy would be best, he was adept at being who he needed to be for a given situation and with Coriah that situation changed depending on factors too numerable to count. He'd be the maidenly patient Xao...she'd like that one.
He walked quietly to a side table and poured some spiced tea and then moved along the hall to the breakfast chambers where he'd read his briefing for the day and prepare for training. Coriah would go to her office and do paper work at which her wonderful mind excelled and he would go out in the frigid cold stare at maps and plan maneuvers, ambush points, tactics and otherwise prepare for what ever may be coming from the barbaric neighbors that simply would not die as they should. Obviously they were not selective breeders.
He found the breakfast room and admired his stunning mares flanks when she wasn't looking then began eating his meal of imported fruit and oatmeal. It was a nice start to the day and as long as he didn't start getting the silent treatment he was likely not going to have to charm his adoring wife into forgiving him. He looked to his spouse over his report and back to the page with an attitude of calm patient reserve.
"How did you sleep my dear?" he said in that cool smooth tone he did so well.
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Post by Hafren Coriah on Nov 6, 2015 12:02:24 GMT
Endearments right out of the gate. Looked like he'd elected to be indirect this morning, in whatever he was doing. Perhaps staying out of her way?
Unlike her husband, Coriah didn't do her work over breakfast. Didn't touch it, didn't think about it. Those counted as billable hours, as far as she was concerned, and until she was in uniform and being paid, she was not on duty. It wasn't like this policy hurt her productivity at all - people who had to take their work home had nothing else going on in their lives, or were poor enough at their jobs that they needed to work the extra hours in Coriah's opinion. She was not one of those people. She was tactful enough to not openly share this opinion with Xao.
Coriah was quietly thankful that he enjoyed the imported goods as much as she did. It made the expense more justifiable. Not that she would have hesitated to spend a premium on the things she wanted regardless, but ordering for two was slightly more cost-effective. She glanced up and across the table at Xao, quietly slicing an apple into her oatmeal to flavor it, then let her head slowly tilt to one side. He was already working. How droll. "Like the dead." She replied in a conversational tone. Sometimes, she wondered if his 'stoic face' was his way of making fun of her. She didn't share this opinion with him, either.
Xao was nice enough company, even if they'd been politically married halfway across the world. To be fair, they could have parted ways anywhere between Cherak and here without losing a step, but here they were - a massive journey and a new career away from where they'd been, still married. Still with nothing in common, as far as she was concerned. Neither were rushing to split up, so Coriah assumed they were doing something right, right? Perhaps their marriage was the last solid shred of their pride as Dynasts in a strange land. Should she ask about his work? No. That'd violate the whole 'billable hours' thing, and she honestly wasn't terribly interested so long as his life wasn't actively in danger. What to talk about? They could just sit here in silence. They had before. Silence was comfortable. But if she was silent, he'd begin to think she was actually upset with him. And that was unacceptable - if anyone should understand her mood and temperament, it aught to be the man she'd been with for years.
"Will you be home for dinner, tonight?" She asked in a polite tone, leaning an elbow on the table. "I'll have something special prepared, if so. Feels like a good night for it."
Impromptu date night, Xao. Your move.
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Post by Ledaal Xao on Nov 6, 2015 12:49:24 GMT
He set down his report gently as she sliced her apple. It was a small comfort to read, it kept him abreast with what operatives did the day before and it helped to hide his expression. It was his secret that he actually had grown to enjoy her company beyond what was common in political unions. He could have killed her brother that fateful day and gone back to the Dynasty alone. No one would have faulted him. many would have lauded him as a hero, but he didn't and he had his reasons. She certainly didn't need his money nor his name out here she could have doubled her own without him easily. Why she stayed, he didn't fully grasp but he was glad, in his way, that she did.
He took an apple and sliced it, as she did, and let the slices settle into the creamy oats, then set his knife down in it's proper place and sipped his tea. Again she spoke and surprised him with the proposition of a diner together. 'keep cool' He thought as he set down his cup.
"Mmm, yes, without fail." he said with a change in voice to a more chipper engaged tone, "In fact for you I will be home anytime you like."
He took up his spoon and dipped it in the oatmeal and took a small careful bite. It was excellent, as usual, and he'd not keep it to himself.
"This is quite good." he said genuinely. He thought of asking about her work but he knew she liked to keep her work separate firmly at work. He didn't share that opinion but then he could get called on for an operation at a moments notice. He was paid whether he worked that day or not, it was the boon and curse of his occupation. However, he'd rather be with her without the thought of employment anyway so he mention nothing about her employment. "Is there anything I can bring home for you? Can I do anything before we go?"
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Post by Hafren Coriah on Nov 6, 2015 14:17:15 GMT
"I'll take care of everything." Coriah promised off-handedly. And she would - arranging things to occur at the times people needed them to be, and getting timing down to a fine art was essentially the core of her job. Estimating the amount of time that Xao would spend getting home and having things ready at the perfect moment was just a part of the challenge.
Breakfast was finished in short order, and so it was time to go make sure her department was already thrumming like the efficient machine it aught to be. Coriah stood from the table, slipped on her shades, and set her beret at a rakish angle atop her carefully-groomed hair. Heeled boots, rank inisgnias displayed properly - the letter of her uniform code followed exactly, and her flair displayed within acceptable means where the code was ambiguous. Time to take on the world. The final touch was her fine, stylish black scarf - necessary for the cold, necessary for the way it tied her outfit together.
Presumably, Xao was ready to go by the time this ritual was finished. If he wasn't, he was getting left behind - Coriah had a schedule to keep, after all, and let none doubt that she took her itinerary anything but deadly serious. It was only a short walk to the office, in any case, and one she didn't mind taking alone. Already, she could see the ships of the Air fleet circling the town, waiting for landing approval or directions from flight control as the patrol shifts changed out. Some were just docking for maintenance, some for refueling. It was all a delicate dance of orders and procedure, and it was wholly beautiful when it ran smoothly. Provided her husband was waiting for her by the door, or outside of it, Coriah rewarded his punctuality with a swift smack on the behind and a smirk as she strode into town, her leather boots smoothly parting the snow that'd accumulated overnight.
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Post by Ledaal Xao on Nov 6, 2015 14:58:16 GMT
Breakfast was a done on time as usual. Had he been slow she would no doubt taken his bowl on time anyway, however, there had been no need. He rose swiftly with that same measured grace and control he always did, then made his way to his closet. His uniform was different than his lovely wife's but he took no less care in it's arrangement.
He doffed his gi quickly and cleaned himself with military speed and efficiency. His face was shaved, his hair tied back appropriately, and he turned to the pressed crisp uniform. He donned the trousers quickly, belted them on and bloused his black boots. He slipped his shirt off it's hanger and stabbed his hands through the sleeves before buttoning it. His rank insignia rested on his collar it's dull black metal designed to keep the reflection down and the soldier alive. His weapons were added to his belt under the buff jacket.
All that and he was still at the door in time to wait a full 15 seconds for his dear Coriah to arrive. The firm smack on the backside made him grin which he didn't bother to hide until he stepped into the street and slid on his cover and went from husband to exalted soldier of Halsanti. His purpose today was training. The foot soldiers were to receive guerilla training and he was one of the instructors for the day. Recon/scouts/and aerial insertion teams would be facing various exercises and he was well known to make his trainees repeat every step until they could do it while sleeping. He was hard on his students but if he wasn't they'd be dead, but he still looked forward to whatever Coriah had cooked up and he wouldn't miss it.
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Post by Hafren Coriah on Nov 8, 2015 5:22:00 GMT
Coriah, for her part, had a wonderful day ahead of her for all she could tell. The moment she set her heels into the office, she noted with approval that her staff was hard at work - busy little bees, working up a frothing storm of paperwork and reports. Jun - as much her right hand as Coriah had need of one - handed her CO a codified and neat summary of what has happened the night before, which she quickly browsed over with a flat expression. Her other five members of staff rose and gave small salutes, greetings and the like before returning to their work. The machine was running smoothly.
"Jun, see to it that Lieutenant Vears is handed a reminder that failure to keep a legible flight log will see him grounded and replaced with a more dutiful flight staff." Coriah instructed, sinking smoothly into her desk. Quill in hand, signing off on the Notification/Reprimand she'd just described. "On your way there, a gentle reminder to Lieutenant Yensol that his steel couplers ARE still on order and should be in his office by tonight, if you would. We're still expecting his finalized requisition forms. If you see General Alda, ask her if she has any intention of delivering a reasonable budget report for her squad this year, please."
Jun gave a small bow and saw herself out. She was always more perky when given intra-office work.
A shuffling of paperwork, and Coriah began working on a list of things she'd need tonight. She continued talking. "Neif, Uriah, I need you to head down to flight control today and lend a hand. I believe they're understaffed again." She explained, without even bothering to glance up. "Be sure to note departmental aide on your weekly report. I'll handle the remainder your duties, today." The two she'd been speaking to rose and gave sharp salutes, the work they had lined up for the day already in neat piles near Coriah's desk.
It was going to be a busy day. Coriah couldn't wait.
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Post by Ledaal Xao on Nov 8, 2015 10:17:34 GMT
Xao had his buff jacket hanging on a weapons rack as he walked along a line of Recon troops. They alternated punching eachother in the stomach as Xao watched.
"Every body has nerve clusters." he said as he walked, "If you deaden many of these clusters your enemy can't use them against you."
Xao walked up to a pair of trainees and stopped.
"What are you two doing?" Xao asked surprised at the two had been taking it easy on eachother. "What is this a romantic moment or training to Not damn die?"
Xao called another trainee over and patted his own abdomen inviting a punch.
thud thud
The pair of punches hit and didn't faze the air aspect warrior.
"See that?" Xao said loudly, "positions!" the two slackers took their positions before Xao walked up and punched them both in the abdomen dropping them to the ground.
"If you can't take a punch from me how will you survive Icewalkers, cannibals, undead, wyld beast and your homely mother's cooking?" he said returning to his pacing the line, "resume!"
Xao moved on to thinking of a night at home with his wife before an assistant officer ran up to have the Intel requisition signed for logistics department. Xao looked it over briefly and handed it to the officer.
"I'll sign off but if you want to survive you'll lower the airship training to 3 days instead of 5. Logistics will remove your gender if you take their gear for longer than necessary." he told the junior officer, Hel Heldersven, as he handed it back signed, "ALRIGHT GET READY FOR A SIX MILE RUN WITH PACKS!" a few groans followed, "Then get back to headquarters to get your gear in order for tomorrow morning."
With that he grabbed his gear and broke into a hasty jog.
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Post by Hafren Coriah on Nov 15, 2015 15:47:48 GMT
What a wonderfully busy day.
Whomever said that Bureaucracy didn't invite creativity had never masterfully juggled the assignments and orders of a fleet of Airship Captains who each believed themselves to be some measure of dashing rogue, master of the skies, or technically-subordinate anarchist. Each was a challenge to master, men and women with a litany of beliefs and taboos and complications; one who would not go to a certain town, another who would not dock at the same time as a rival, another who's religious beliefs prohibited cargo. Each of them had their own issues, laundry lists of problems and mishaps from abroad. None of them liked filling out their paperwork in a timely manner, which would make managing them so much simpler.
But that was half the fun. Having all the cards in one's hand would make for an easy game, but a boring one. Where information might have allowed her to guide the fleet with a gentle hand, fate had ensured that brute force was one of Coriah's most used tools. At least as far as one could apply brute force to shipping manifests and flight order approvals. Even with Jun and most of her crew beside her, Coriah hardly had a moment to look up from her work all day - and people wondered why she refused to work outside her designated hours? Those same people would hurry to be early for a break, and come back late from the same. Those same people would take countless moments during the day to stare out the window or chatter with the desk beside them. Of course they needed the extra time. Coriah did not.
She was almost too busy to make arrangements for dinner. _Almost._ Orders went out - a shopping list to one attendant, instructions to the cook, requests of the maid, a letter to the grocer and another to the butcher, all in written format, each the only personal distraction from her busy day. Each of them had only a single piece of the overall puzzle, which would come together smoothly if they each followed the schedule to the letter. They knew better than to deviate at this point. Coriah was a hassle to work for, of that there was no doubt, but she wasn't stingy when it came to compensation.
When the Earth Aspect walked in the door, she was pleased to find things progressing just as they should. Roast in the oven, vegetables steaming properly, wine being chilled. A busy house, a lovely house, and with Xao due in the door in less than twenty minutes gave her time to start getting ready. Checking her treasured timepiece, Coriah strode through her manse like a general on base inspection, pausing only long enough to instruct the cook to include more pepper in whatever he was cooking before retiring to her chambers. A bath had already been drawn and was quietly steaming, her clothes were freshly laundered and hung carefully. Smirking at the efficiency of her own home, Coriah settled into her bath with a book and a cup of coffee, as was her custom - her pocketwatch left open on a stool beside the bath, as a constant reminder of the time.
Perfectly on schedule.
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