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WHO: Gregor Vorbarra, Van Fanel, Edward Elric, mmmaybe Aral is making an appearance??
WHERE: Dendarii offices in De Chima
WHEN: Mid-October, midweek, morning
WHAT: Job interview + combat assessment!
WARNINGS: None!

[ Gregor is, if anything, more comfortable in this context than he is in any casual social one. Not that he's had to do job interviews prior to coming here, but this is his third for the Dendarii and he's starting to get the hang of it. Inviting the applicant to an actual office rather than their dining room in their house helps considerably. He often reflects on how necessary context and environment is for anyone to believe he knows what he's doing...

So, he's there when Van arrives-- there's no receptionist-- a tall, lanky form in plain black slacks and a gray sweater. He offers his hand to shake when he comes in by rote now. Living here has really gotten to him. ]

Thank you for coming.

[ He just can't help taking refuge in his familiar, formal lines of communication. ]

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[If Van should feel nervous about his interview or the assessment that will follow, someone failed to deliver the memo. As promised, he's quite prepared when he arrives, armed with his sword at his hip and a stern expression, one much older than his fifteen years and larger than his average height. Of course, all his austerity doesn't keep him from shaking Gregor's hand when it's offered, and the older man may notice his grip is firm but kind within the leather of his glove.]

I should be thanking you. This is just the opportunity I'd hoped for.

[Assembling toys helped to make ends meet in the beginning, but Van isn't satisfied letting his skills go to waste. This may not be his world or even the Earth he'd visited briefly before, but it's his home at present and he'd like to do what he can to make it as safe a place as possible for everyone.]

[ Van is a little long by (modern) Barrayaran standards to be a combatant, but Gregor's been here long enough-- and hired younger, albeit with qualms-- that he isn't about to comment on it. There's never any way of knowing what someone's home world is like. Certainly his serious demeanor does him credit, and makes a pair out of them, Gregor habitually grave and even dour-looking as his resting neutral.

After the handshake, he gestures vaguely for him to follow back from the small waiting area (not often used) to Miles and Gregor's shared office. In practicality it's mostly Gregor's, and is allover sleek and modern, the predominant colors black and shined metal. Someone else had decorated, and Gregor just hadn't complained. At least they're Vorbarra colors. ]

It's not too surprising someone else had a similar thought, [ he allows. ] Miles runs something similar at home [ of mercenaries, ha ha ] so it was his first instinct when we showed up here. If you sign on, there'll be a company meeting-- more of a social occasion, honestly-- later this month and you'll have the chance to meet everyone.

[As they make their way from the waiting room to the office, Van expertly divides his attention between his prospective employer and his surroundings, careful not to miss a detail or a beat in their conversation.]

I was a part of something not unlike this back home. You could call it a resistance, although...

[He offers a nonchalant shrug of his shoulders as if that explains the rest, but the way that he speaks the word resistance and trails off shortly after suggests he's not completely satisfied with that description.

And why should he be? The Knights of Caeli might have looked like brigands, but they were a prestigious group of fighters loyal to their country and her people, the leader among them and Van's good friend the most noble of them all. The only people they truly opposed by working together was Zaibach, an empire spearheaded by a twisted figure the world knew too little about...]

If you decide after the interview and assessment that you'd like me to sign on, meeting everyone is something I'll look forward to. [Socializing is far from Van's favorite thing to do, but he recognizes the necessity of meeting his peers, particularly if they'll ever need to work closely together in the future.] But right now...is it alright if I ask a question?

[ God, but would that ping every Barrayaran bit of him if he knew the full story. The Vor have a long and proud, extremely bloody, history of resisting invasion by any means possible. Resistance was a label they'd claim, but right after loyal. Even hearing a small piece of it gives him that instinct, the cultural memory so strong of fighting off the Cetagandans.

Gregor waves toward a chair and takes the other, not behind the desk but out in front, so they're in matching chairs. He has to distance himself from those he speaks to so often at home, he prefers to do away with it as much as he can here. ]

Yes, of course. [ With some curiosity, wondering what it is. ] An interview is meant to go both ways, so ask as many as you like.

[Outwardly, Van gives no indication that he approves of Gregor choosing to share the same side of the desk as him, but his appreciation runs deep, Van having always likened himself to a man of his people as much as he is a king presiding over them. It is, in his mind, an important fact for anyone in power to bear in mind, for without support, the mighty are doomed to fall.

Of course, appreciative as he is, Van doesn't relax even when he takes the seat he's been offered, not for worry about how this meeting will go, but because he faces most important tasks and undertakings with the same sort of focused intensity.]

Thank you. [Albeit probably a question best reserved for closer to the end, Van has always been somewhat blunt and unafraid of speaking his mind.] I appreciate that your company doesn't discriminate against its clients and I doubt the need will arise, but I want to make sure there's still room to to refuse jobs we're uncomfortable with. Is there?

[ Gregor couldn't give one whit about following interview format, and nods readily at the question. ]

There is. We aren't the military -- this is strictly volunteer-only. We've made accommodations for employees before [ namely Nicolas and his vampire racism ] and I don't anticipate us having difficulty in doing so again.

I'm glad to hear that.

[Truly, he's glad, but based so far on his impression of Gregor, Van's also not surprised. The man doesn't seem the type to promote mindless violence or, for that matter, to engage in any rash decision making. He could be wrong, of course. He has been before. But he trusts his instincts all the same, and nothing about Gregor or the company so far has made him uneasy.]

Like I said, I doubt it'll be cause for concern, but I had to be sure. So far, though, that's the only question I have.

[Which isn't to say there won't be more once they begin to talk more openly about each other and what the job entails, but it does give Gregor the opportunity to ask anything now that might also be on his mind.]

[ It's true, Gregor is an extremely deliberate, careful person, someone who is kind at heart and grew up with near-absolute power. He's used to watching his words and thinking of ramifications long before taking any action. As relaxed and casual as he is in this dimension, that aspect of him will never really leave. ]

It's understandable to ask, [ he assures him. ] As for me, I would be interested to know about your background-- whatever you're comfortable sharing.

[There may not be a receptionist in the office, but there is another teen tucked into the corner of the waiting room near the door. Maybe another applicant...? It isn't immediately clear what reason he has to be there, honestly. He doesn't even look up to acknowledge either Van or Gregor, instead continuing to pore over a textbook he's brought with him.

He's still sitting there once Van has finished with the interview portion of the meeting. Now he glances up over the top of the book, giving him a quick, assessing look over.]

Are you done with the boring part now?

Edited 2016-10-07 13:28 (UTC)

[Little escapes Van's notice when he first arrives. From the modest modern furnishings to the young man in the waiting room seemingly caught up in his reading, he takes note of as much as he can with a studious sweeping glance before he's guided by Gregor into the office. And, a short while after when he reemerges, he finds himself scrutinizing the waiting room again only to discover the same young man sitting in the corner.

Immediately he connects the dots, assuming the other teen will be the one to oversee his combat assessment, and when Edward speaks up, he's not disappointed.]

It looks like it. [Not that he hadn't enjoyed the preliminary interview. Where battle would test his capacity as a fighter, being able to prove himself a mentally sound and shrewd thinker was equally important to Van.] I'm sorry if we kept you waiting.

It's fine. I brought the book to keep busy. [He gestures with the now closed book as he stands up, stretching out muscles sore from sitting so long.]

Come on. We're going down to the parking garage now.

[With a nod, Van falls into step behind Ed, one hand relaxed at his side, the other on the hilt of his sword as per usual.]

Is that the only space large enough here to accommodate this kind of exercise?

[Ed, meanwhile, tucks his hands behind his head in a lazy pose, only breaking form long enough to summon the elevator.]

That, and it's the place that'll be hardest to do any real damage to.

I see.

[Unaccustomed as he is to using them, Van hesitates briefly before finally stepping into the elevator alongside Edward.]

Do these assessments usually get so intense?

[He considers the question a moment, then shrugs.]

Dunno. This is the first time I've helped out with one.

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