Reporting In

[Vicks]

Vicks was nervous, even though he had made sure that everything about him was squared away. He had a fresh hair cut, his clothes were clean, his teeth were pearly white, and he smelled good. He didn't know what to think about being attached to a member of SOLDIER. He didn't know if it was going to be exciting and fast paced or if he'd just be guarding whoever it was when he was asleep.

He sat in a lobby on one of the lower floors of the Shinra Building. At least nine or ten others were waiting too. He looked at his watch, it was half past noon. He had been here for nearly three hours waiting for his new boss to arive.

He didn't know anything about the SOLDIER, other than his name was Kienna DeRou. He thought it was kind of funny that some tough guy SOLDIER had such a girly first name. He figured that he would probably be a spoiled prick, as most members of SOLDIER were.

Finally the receptionist called his name. He walked up to her and she gave him a slip that had a room and floor number. He took it and got onto the elevator... He peered down on sector eight below as he went up several stories of the building. The streets were so vivid and full of light...

The elevator stopped and Vicks found himself on a floor riddled with hallways and doors. It was obviously temporary office space that was used for handling paperwork .

Vicks approached his room number, he took a deep breath and pushed the ringer on the door...

[Kiena DeRou]

Corporal Duncan Vicks.

Kiena made a face. Lovely. She wasn't exactly sure how she felt about taking someone into battle with her. In all honesty, she wasn't really sure what to do with him. She didn't plan to be a SOLIDER forever and attaching to a corporal seemed like a good way to get stuck in this position. Though she supposed, if she did a good enough job at whatever it is she didn't have planned, she might get a good line in her resume. "Excellent at training others," or "excellent leadership," or "didn't kill her attachment on accident." That was something that lingered, that latter that is, as Kiena was much better at working solo. She knew how she fought and didn't have to bother with others, something that often came up as a member of SOLIDER. That wasn't to say she was bad at teamwork, she just wasn't comfortable relying on others when she knew she was enough to get the job done.

None-the-less, she'd been picked to train or whatever with this Corporal Duncan Vicks. She might as well make the best of it. The last thing she wanted was to hang around with someone that she didn't care for or even the contrary. In fact, most of this second guessing was because she didn't know how to handle the lower recruits (was it lower?) without pissing them off. Kiena, in her determination, gave off a slight air of arrogance, mostly because she didn't enjoy idle chat. Regular conversation was fine, but questions like "how did you battle go" seemed rather trivial. She'd think her face would say it all.

She really was over thinking this, wasn't she?

Kiena set her agenda down. It probably wouldn't have been so bad if she would have remembered about this little tie up. But with all the piddly missions she'd been shoved into lately, it was easy to forget there were things on the side to attend to. She ran a hand threw her hair, tucking a few strands of the strangely colored locks behind her ear. Rolling her shoulders back, she tried to figure out how to approach this with enough finesse to not sound like an overbearing twat. However, being late didn't much help her in that aspect as the sound of the other's arrival cut through her thoughts like a knife. Like her companion on the other side, she took a deep breath as well, steadying herself. "It's open."

Sitting on the side of a makeshift desk, she'd be easily seen as soon as the door was opened. She wondered if she should stand, if she should have opened the door herself, but after taking another breath, she decided this was good and well. First impressions weren't her number one skill. She'd make due with what she had.

[Vicks]

"A receptionist?" Vicks thought to himself. This SOLDIER was more spoiled than he had thought, having a receptionist for a temporary office and all. He pushed the open button on the door and walked into the office

To his suprise their was no receptionist, and a woman was sitting at a desk with a label "DeRou" on a placard. He couldn't help but have a confused look on his face but quickly went back to a blank proffesional face after he put everything together... He had been assigned to a woman? He thought to himself, that maybe this was some sort of punishment for something he did.

He was angry, but he did not show it to who was apperantly his new leader. She was sitting at a makeshift desk, she had a very feminine frame but had a very odd hair color. He wasn't sure what to make of her, so he decided to put it to the side and do what he was supposed to be doing- introducing himself.

"Good afternoon mam, my name is Corporal Vicks. Here is my paper work, my stuff is already filled out..." Vicks said dryly to her. Usually he would try to make an enthusiastic first impression, but this time would be different. Although he showed no signs of disrespect, he was less than enthusiastic to be working under a SOLDIER, and a woman for that matter.

[Kiena DeRou]

Kiena noticed his dry tone but didn't attribute it to anything in particular. If she knew what he was thinking, his sexism apparent, she might have had something to say. But unfortunately unable to read minds, Kiena just assumed he was as thrilled about this attach as she was. She passed a glance over him. He was suited up in the regular uniform and he had a strong build. At least she wouldn't have to worry about teaching someone who didn't know how to fight yet. It eased some of her tension. His greeting pulled her eyes back to his face, staring at him evenly and blankly for a few seconds after he'd finished speaking before she slid off the side of the desk and turned her foot and torso toward him. She nodded her head slightly in acknowledgment before finding proper words to greet him as well.

"Afternoon." She closed the distance between them, reaching out to take the papers he'd mentioned. Unconsciously, her lip curled slightly as she looked over the stack without really reading any of it. She set it on the desk dismissively, her enjoyment in reading the no doubt bloated resume of the corporal at negative proportions. Kiena looked him over for a moment again, struggling to find a way to break the silence without blurting the first thing that came to mind. "My name is Kiena DeRou; Kiena is fine." She didn't enjoy titles, mostly because she hadn't gotten the one she wanted yet. The difference between "I'm a SOLIDER" and "I'm a Turk" were more than substantial. She tucked another strand of hair behind her ear to steady her hand. What the hell did she do with him?

Licking her lips, she glanced over him again, noting the gun strapped to his uniform. A gunner. Kiena wasn't sure how she felt about that. She'd had more than enough calls of nearly being shot by her own allies. "What are you good at, Corporal Vicks?" It was a simple enough question, her tone something akin to an interview. Maybe he could answer for her what he was going to do for her. -- if she knew. -- if she cared. This whole process would be much easier if they'd just been shoved into battle together so they could find a system. The thought struck a chord. Despite the dangers of that, it sounded like a fairly good idea. She might come out with a few bullet holes and he might come out with a sword through his head but at least the problem would be worked out. Kiena's lip twitched slightly, a ghost of a smile touching her lips. She didn't notice, waiting for her companion to answer.

[Vicks]

Vicks reached up with is left hand, slightly adjusting his helmet as he spoke. It seemed like she knew just as much about him as he knew about her. He could tell she probably hadn't done this before, because she seemed to have to stop and think a lot. Vicks didn't really mind, the sooner this was over the sooner he could start traveling around the world. Thats what SOLDIER's did right?

A sudden thought off all the places he could go hit him. They sent these people all over the world- maybe he would get to see Costa Del Sol again, that'd be a nice place to go. He stood their thinking of all the neat bars he could experiance...

Then he relized he had not said anything back to her, and it had been at least fifteen secounds. He paused for a few more secounds, thinking about her question.


"Well, I am a pretty good shot with a rifle. I've also been trained to operate and repair just about every shinra ground vehicle currently in use. Other than that I went to Commando's course a few years back, learned how to use a knife and be stealthy..." Vicks replied, listing off things he could do. He could probably bring up more, but he figured that would be the most important things to mention.

"Basically I am here to serve your basic needs... You need driven somewhere, I get a vehicle for us and we go. You need someone to gaurd a door, i'm your man. I can request helicopter support, reinforcements, and I can listen in on the radio for you so you don't have to talk to Shinra as much." Vicks remarked, seeing that she was unsure of why she would want such a 'lowly grunt' as himself. He shifted his head to the left, not wanting to look her in the eyes, he knew what SOLDIER's thought about the infantrymen.

"Anything else is up to you... I am a little more experianced than a kid strait out of basic training though..." Vicks finished.

[Kiena DeRou]

Kiena made a mental checklist as he rattled off the things he was skilled in. Marksmanship: hopefully that meant his eyes were good enough to see her movements and maybe even predict them. Getting shot in the back was not her idea of fun. Mechanics: that was probably a good thing as Kiena new only the bare minimum about vehicles. Walking was her cup of tea, but she couldn't get away with that forever. She didn't particularly enjoy driving either but making him a chauffeur would be pushing it. Knife play: Kiena had to admit that intrigued her for no reason. Personally, she was more comfortable wielding around Acheron, the great monster of a sword, but she'd learned to handle things that big through the use of daggers and knives. Being able to handle guns and knives was a pretty good asset. Kiena could manage with a gun, but she usually fired more than she hit and the backfire wasn't something she particularly enjoyed.

Her analysis was cut slightly short as he gave her a layman's explanation of what he was doing here. While she didn't particularly enjoy being talked down to, the definition was necessary and Kiena felt more at ease now with him. This really wasn't any different than working on a team. She wasn't going to boss him around - well, unless he pissed her off - and if he could handle everything he'd listed, he wouldn't really tie her down. Unless he did shoot her in the back. The idea wasn't so much a phobia as it was just pure dislike. She had been shot by another SOLIDER before and had countless "close calls."

Kiena managed a smile, nodding. Just like Vicks stereotyped SOLIDERs into disliking Infantrymen, Kiena stereotyped Infantrymen as disliking SOLIDERs. However, she was conscious of the difference. Kiena didn't care either way. They were all fighting for the same cause, it seemed pointless to fight in between each other. She wouldn't say she cared for all Infantrymen, but she could say the same for SOLIDERs. There were men in both factions that gave their team a bad name. Kiena hoped Vicks wasn't one of them. "I imagine, from your skill set, you're more of a partner than a tool." She shrugged her shoulder slightly. At ease now, her tone took its regular wisp of determination and confidence. She crossed her arms over her chest, not as a barrier, but because she was more comfortable that way. "I have no interest in degrading you. ShinRa is our common ally and employer."

The youngest DeRou studied his face for a moment, concious of how he was making an effort not to look at her. "I also have no interest in titles. You have skills I do not and I assume the same can be said to the contrary. This is an alliance, an attachment, not a master-slave position. Please discard your preconceived notions of SOLIDERs." Kiena would give him respect if he deserved it. It was something earned, not handed out, and she was sure he could agree to the statement. If they were stuck together, they might as well make the best of it. Most men didn't enjoy being belittled by a woman. The shock that had flicked in his eyes upon finding she was not a male had not slipped past her. She was his superior but she didn't plan to rub it in his face. Hopefully this would run smoothly now.

[Vicks]

Vicks closed his eyes as she began talking about putting titles behind. Luckily his eyes were concealed by the targeting system on his helmet or he might have appeared rude. Ranks and titles were core to the Shinra Army, but in SOLDIER they didn't seem to use them very often. He opened his eyes again, looking her over again. Her whole body was covered in a light red light, because his targeting system inside his helmet was always on. It blipped over her, creating small red circles near her vitals. A small sign blipped on and off, reading "Warning! Friendly". Vicks remembered how many times they had to ignore that label when they were ordered to shoot suspected terror cells. It got to the point where he was getting distracted so he chose to remove it from his head.

He held his helmet with his right arm and looked at Kiena. He had to discipline his eyes now, not let them wander away from her or roll them. He saw that her eyes were blue, which was strange to him because he thought all SOLDIER's eyes were a bright green color. He ignored it and gathered his words.

"I've worked with others quite a lot, I spent this last year in a terrorism response unit. So i've gotten to shed a little bit of blood... Anyways, I am here to do whatever you need to do Kiena..." Vicks said, feeling awkward for calling her by her first name. But if that was what she wanted, then thats what she'd get. He was being sincere though, at least she didn't seem rude for now...

[Kiena DeRou]

A little blood.

Kiena's eyes dropped slightly at the sudden thought. She'd shed much more than a little blood. In all honesty, she didn't mind much of it. After what AVALANCHE had done to her brother, any threat she could wipe out gave her satisfaction. But occasionally, the targets she was sent after would leave her with nausea instead. Killing parents and leaving the children to weep or even, in one case, being required to kill the children as well. She knew it was right for ShinRa. Stopping threats before they could mature and be a problem. But killing children wasn't something she could accept in her morals. It wasn't only children. Young men and women that begged for their lives, that swore up and down they'd never commit their offense again. Kiena killed them quicker, half because she thought they should reserve their pride, half because her resolve weakened with every tear and sobbing plea. Kiena wasn't proud of everything she'd done. No. But she did her best to forget the things she wasn't. Every SOLIDER, every infantrymen killed when they didn't want to. It was part of their job.

Kiena realized her eyes were more at level with Vick's chest then his face. She lifted them somewhat sheepishly, hoping they hadn't been turned downward for too long. Kiena smiled, hearing the sincerity in his tone. "I will try not to abuse your offer." Kiena had a habit of doing so, expecting people she worked with to have as much stamina and determination as she did, often finding out the hard way that they didn't. She figured it would be best to be more conscious of how much he could handle. Overloading him might make their partnership an undesirable one for the both of them. But Kiena didn't give orders to hear herself talk. She gave orders because it was what needed to be done. Hopefully he understood that, even despite her being a SOLIDER. His seeming compliance with her request to lay titles aside was a bit flaky, especially offering himself like that. Kiena held back a side. Hopefully when they saw some action, it would be easier.

Speaking of action.

She almost grimaced. She'd been so worried about this meeting, this attach, she'd done all her tasks for the day earlier than she needed to. She had no missions to carry out and unless she got a call, it'd be like this for some time. ShinRa seemed to have the upper hand lately, their biggest threats laying in their own scientists, who couldn't resist pulling stupid stunts in hopes to make stronger tools for war. "How much action have you seen. Vicks?" She asked, mostly out of curiosity. She could always used the training system. It would probably be safer to find out his skill level there before they went into something with irrevocable consequences.

[Vicks]

"Well their havn't been any wars to fight, but i've found things to kill here and there. Monsters in the fields of Junon, a terrorist or two... nothing to exciting, honestly." Vicks admited, he hadn't gotten to do half of the things he had hoped he'd be able to do.

"Lately things have been quiet, we upped the security in the city and the terrorists have not been active. I've been training against some of the robots here, although they aren't very realistic since they won't kill you." Vicks said to her as she looked up at him. He made breif eye contact with her but soon moved his eyes to the wall behind her, stareing through her in a proffesional manner.

He wondered if they had anything to do at all? He somehow doubted it. Maybe this attachment would be easy and he could spend all his time in the bar. He hated Wall Street, the whores there had largely shaped his negative opinion on woman. He preffered drinking in sector seven, although he never went in uniform. His thoughts wandered to drinking, that was probably what he would be doing as soon as he was released.