The Great Huntress Inn [Pirate-Hunter's Plot][Open]

Kasumi smirked slightly, It seems like everyone still thinks I'm too young for work like this. She thought. Although that sounded a bit forced, maybe she just tells everyone that. She nodded her agreement, "That all sounds good to me." She said as she sat down on the chair provided for her.

~~Kasumi~~
"Okay, well, since you already gave me your name, all I need now is your motivation for joining out little task force here. In as much detail as possible, please, this is the most important part of the whole process here." Yuuka said, beginning to read Kasumi's file on her tablet as she did.

((Post-Timeskip))

Ami's feet dropped under the table, followed by xir body, only to pop up on the other side, poking Yuuka's ribs. "Yes, I could tell." Poke poke. "Eating better now, I hope?" Poke. "Yes, looks like it." Poke poke poke poke. "Don't worry, I wont tell anyone that you didn't have a captain, and you were in a pinup calendar, and what your three sizes are, and you're recruiting crazy civillians to throw them at the pirates so our sailors can stay home and get drunk, and that you're wearing pink panties - I saw them when I was under the table, and you're blushing like a schoolgirl and have completely lost your composure in the face of the terror that is..."

Ami backed up, putting xir hands on xir hips and posing dramatically.

"CAPTAIN Amittai Wormwood... PIRATE HUNTER!!"

It was in looking at the hands on those hips that Yuuka would be able to see that Ami snatched her tablet, if it hadn't become obvious when Ami hopped up and sat on the table, opening it and scrolling through pages to find the ship information, keeping it out of Yuuka's reach if she grabbed for it.

Yvaine walks in to the very same inn her new employee had only a little bit earlier, glancing around at all the people inside.

Not too many recruits yet... but we'll see. Time to test that Kasumi girl a little bit.. hah.

Taking a seat at the bar, she orders a Vesper, and takes a sip before relaxing slightly, wishing she could find someone to infiltrate the pirates.

"Alright," Kasumi said, crossing her legs as she did so, "Well, to be frank, I need a job. I've been out on the streets for too long at this point and I'm running low on cash. Anything that puts a roof over my head and food in my stomach. I was trained to fight but I left my home before I was put to work for my father, scum that he is." She scowled as she thought about her father before she brought herself back to the interview. "I was thinking that fighting against pirates is a pretty noble thing to do as well." She finished. She clasped her hands a little too tightly as she couldn't quite shake the anger brought up by the memory of her father.

Zangretor made his way back to the entrance of the bar. "Ughhh... great. We've got the job but we still don't have any money right now! FRAG! Taabrea, why didn't we ask for some money up front?" Zangretor held his hands up to his face. "I'm already getting hungry again. And where the hell are we supposed to sleep? We can't just break in and kill everyone like we used to, especially not since you had to get all noble and make those promises for us." Taabrea took control as Zangretor finished his ranting. "Well, if you are so undisciplined then perhaps you should get a job working at a local food store. You swine, have you really given in to such mortal cravings as food. We were trained years ago to survive without such sustenance for weeks on end. How can you seriously be this... this... idiotic!?" Zangretor regained control, heading out the door. "Fine, fine. We'll go meditate somewhere until this pirate hunting thing starts. I just like the taste of food is all. But man, it'd be so much easier to just rob a few people, this new life crap is gonna be hard. We haven't even met any worthy opponents yet!"

~~Ami~~
Yuuka had been about to muster up her courage and professionally scold Ami. She even had a speech all thought up and everything. She was going to go on about how personal things shouldn't be important in a professional situation like this, and about how most of the problems the woman had stated were the fault of the Vale Government, not her, but her mind was completely dispersed again as the merciless woman continued her assault, this time punctuating it with regular pokes to Yuuka's chest.

"I-I-I-I-I-I..." She stuttered, reduced to a point where she was incapable of even forming words, her face completely red. When she saw Ami had taken her Scroll, she merely slumped, not even bothering to try and retrieve it.

"...My pincode is 1234.... But there's nothing on there that you'll find interesting anyways, it's just stuff the Navy gave me to help with screening the recruits..." She muttered after a while, sounding defeated.

~~Kasumi~~
Yuuka didn't like how this girl didn't seem to understand the danger of the situation. Not only was she younger than the other people who had applied, she also seemed to have a pretty impulsive reason for joining. Because she thought fighting pirates seemed noble and she wanted money? Risking your life to fight pirates seems like a little much to do simply for food and to be noble.

"Why not do something like join the Town Guard then? You can get money, shelter and you get to do noble acts. Or maybe apply to a fighting school like Signal or Beacon, that would provide you with food, shelter and a noble cause as well. Why specifically do you want to fight deadly pirates?" She said, hoping that the girl would do something safer. She didn't want to see someone so young die on an impulsive decision.

Aurelia propped herself at a corner table so she could observe the rest of the bar. She took a sip of her rum. Lots of interesting people around here, and then there is her. What's Yvaine doing here? She shrugged and took another gulp of rum. Well, I was at the Scurvy recently and she caused me no trouble...besides killing Bill. I guess I'll just leave her alone for now. See what she's up to.

Tsk Tsk, there it is. Kasumi thought, It seems nobody has any faith in my fighting abilities. "I guess," She said, "That's another reason why I want to do this. To prove myself, to give myself that experience and get people to start seeing me as a capable fighter. As for the schools? Please. They don't get anything done. I'm not looking to defend all of mankind but people who abuse and take advantage of those who have less than themselves?" She shook her head and looked the woman hard in the eye, "Those people are the scum of the world. I know that this is dangerous, don't get me wrong, but I am much more capable than you may think." She said, her golden eyes blazing with fierce determination.

((Post-Timeskip))

"I figured." Ami scrolled through, swinging xir head back and forth as xe navigated to the ship information page... and realized Yuuka's font was too small. So xe closed the scroll and casually tossed it back to Yuuka.

Glancing back, Ami's eyes narrowed.

"So what's your role in all this, if you're not taking charge of the ship, and our government liaison has just been roped into that job?"

Ami took a deep, sharp breath.

"Oh my god it all makes sense now." Xe turned fully to Yuuka. "... You've got a sailor uniform fetish. It's okay. I knew a commissary clerk who joined up for that. But, like you, disappointment was in his future. But he was thinking of a different sailor uniform. And this not being the proper Navy, people are unlikely to be in uniform a whole lot anyway. BUT HEY, at least you didn't enlist just to have your dreams shattered and get stuck behind a desk notarizing supply chits all day." Ami began slapping Yuuka on the shoulder. "Also, pin up calenders are good for morale, so don't be ashamed, for a month you probably brightened the day of a lot of lonely sailors. And construction workers. And plumbers. And mechanics. And teenage boys. And dirty old men. And curious teenage girls. And not-so old men. And college students. And college professors. Oh, and some dumpster diving hobos after the year was over and the calenders got chucked in the bin."

Ami gave a wistful sigh, the one a person might give when contemplating the autumn leaves, or remembering their graduation. Situations other than the one Ami was currently wistfully sighing to.

"So!" Ami said, hopping off the table and resuming xir seat across from Yuuka. "What kind of paperwork do we need to do? I ask you, because I can't read a damn thing on your Scroll. Why do you make the font so damn tiny!?" Ami crossed xir arms. "That's racist. You're racist against Bat Fauna. OH ALSO CHECK THIS OUT!" Ami leaned forward, and xir wings emerged from xir coat. Xe gave a few little flaps. "... But yeah. Your history in softcore pornography, fetish for sailor uniforms, and painfully obvious bigotry aside, what will you be getting paid to do? While I fill out paperwork that I CAN'T READ because someone's RACIST..."

~~Maverick~~
Melissa listened to the newcomer with a smile that had been practised many times already that day, feigning interest as she prepared herself to execute the speech again, "Of course! Well, take a seat! First, I would like to make sure you know what you're getting into. You'll have to be in the airship often, risking your life almost constantly to stop pirate raids and hunt down pirates, and the times you aren't on the ship you'll be on hold in the nearby area. The job is very dangerous, and the pirates wont hesitate to kill you to save themselves. The pay and living conditions are good, however, and I will make do my utmost to ensure you don't die. Still interested?" She said, her voice almost going into a monotone as she repeated the speech.

~~Kasumi~~
Yuuka thought carefully. It seemed this girl knew what she was doing in joining, and wasn't just joining on an impulse, but how good were her combat skills, really?

"Well... Since you don't have any records of combat experience, or any time spent in Beacon or Signal, I'm finding it hard to make sure you're up to the job. Is there any way you could prove your skill at fighting? And I don't mean with a demonstration." She asked.

~~Ami~~
Yuuka pushed a special contract she had prepared with big words, just in case someone decided their glasses or something, in front of Ami, hardly even caring at this point as the woman peppered her with horrible assumptions. No point fighting it, that woman wouldn't even listen, or might just go off on a completely different point.

"...I'm the overseer of the force, tasked with making sure they stay on the mission, keeping everyone together and doing the paperwork... As a group separate from the Government, although supported by it, I suppose they wanted someone responsible making sure nothing goes wrong..." She said, her blush starting to fade.

((Simultaneous with Kasumi's interview))

Finishing up the last sip of her Vesper, Yvaine orders another one.

These are some of the best drinks I've had in a while... might need to stop be here.

Looking around the bar, she spots another one of the people that was just at the Potato. One of the regulars too, if she was remembering correctly. Probably one of the ones who actually liked the damn bartender.

As her second drink arrives, she considers going over and having a talk with the woman, but holds it off for now.

Not bored or drunk enough to start a potential fight yet... Besides, I want to see how Kasumi handles seeing me in a public location.

Kasumi nodded, seeing the woman's need to get some sort of verification. She was, at that point, merely a name. She thought quickly and found her answer, Hopefully she will understand, she thought. "If it's alright with you, I can call someone for you to talk to who can vouch for me." She said as she reached in her pocket for her cell phone.

~~Kasumi~~
Yuuka shrugged, seeing no problem with it, "Of course, go ahead." She said.

Kasumi pulled out her phone and found her employer's contact information. She pressed call and thought, This could go one of two ways, alright, or horribly wrong. She thought, If I need to, I can always blow down that wall to get out of here. She pondered her situation as the tone sounded in her ear.

Feeling one of her phones vibrate in her pockets, she attempts to find it - letting it ring for about 15 seconds. Upon pulling it out and seeing the person calling, she frowns and waits another few seconds before picking it up.

I thought I told her not to be the one to call me... but maybe it's really important. Whatever, I'll have fun with it.

Picking up the phone, she starts talking rather loudly... not quite loud enough to reach the room Kasumi is in, however..

"Hey doll. I didn't think you'd be missing me so soon... what's up?"

Kasumi started at the volume and the way she greeted her. "Hi. Uhh, I'm here in an interview for the pirate hunters and they need some proof of my ability as a fighter." She explained, painfully aware of her interviewer being right next to her, "Would you mind having a little chat with her?" She asked. Oh goodness. She thought, Here we go.

"Aww... so you don't miss me? I'm hurt. But, I will help with the interview. But only because you asked nicely." Yvaine says sweetly, glancing around the room as she talks.

Hmm... this could be really interesting.

Grabbing her drink, she gets up from the bar and heads over to the room where she knows the interviews are taking place, lowering her voice as she continues speaking.

"It just so happens that I happen to be at the Inn, and I just so happen to be outside the door where your interview is taking place."

Kasumi's already pale pallor made it seem as if she was a ghost. This is probably the part where it goes badly. She thought. She said into the phone, "Fantastic, I'll see you in a bit." Making sure to keep her voice steady. She ended the call and looked up at her interviewer, "Funnily enough, she was having a drink at the bar out there." She let out a small laugh, "I guess she'll be in here in a moment." She managed to put on a smile that was much more confident then she felt. I'm screwed.

Placing the phone back in one of her pockets as Kasumi hangs up, Yvaine knocks on the door twice before letting herself in.

Appraising the woman in the interviewers chair, she notes that she's only a few years older, but looks just as mature as anyone else she's met.

So... she's probably had something extremely traumatic happen in her past well. I remember when I first met Viola, she had the same look about her... and now that I know what happened there, it's a little easier finding people with a similar past. It's really too bad she's on the wrong side, she would make a good employee as well.

Taking a sip of her drink, she stands there for a few seconds before saying anything.

"Hi Kasumi sweetie! I honestly wasn't expecting to see you so soon. Now, what kind of help did you say you needed?"

~~Kasumi~~
Yuuka looked curiously at the newcomer, but decided to say nothing and simply see what would happen next. Perhaps she was the girls trainer or something. Well who she is is irrelevant - the important part is the girl bringing up some sort of actual proof that she could fight, and not just bragging.

"You could've waited for me to say come in..." She muttered under her breath, also she was mostly just trying to make herself feel better with all the interruptions today, frowning slightly. She might not have problem with the girls friend entering to help her out, but just barging in? Had simple courtesy disappeared from Vale while she was gone?

Oh good...she's drunk. Kasumi thought nervously. She put on the confident smile again as she said, "Hi. Seeing as I don't have any background as being a capable fighter, I was hoping that you could vouch for me with this lovely woman here." She explained. She kept the nervousness out of her voice well, making it seem like she actually was confident of what she was saying. Please, just say yes and leave. She silently pleaded.

Shinobu looked over the contract. Then looked Yuuka up and down and gave a faint smile.

While signing the contract,

"So, will you be joining in, yourself? Or are you only the recruiter?", handing her back the contract.

"Of course I can! But you'll have to do something for me later."

Taking a seat on the edge of the desk, Yvaine turns to the woman conducting the interviews and smiles before taking yet another sip of her drink.

"So... what kind of proof do I need to provide? If you search my name on that tablet of yours, you would get a different result depending on which name I gave you. One saying I disappeared at age 17, and another saying I've been in the city for a year, but neither one will show anything about previous dealings with the law.

Standing up, she finishes off her drink extremely quickly before going over to Kasumi and whispering something in her ear.

"You really owe me for this. Acting nice is actually kind of difficult for me, if you weren't able to tell."

Turning back to face the interviewer, she wonders just what kind of proof she wants.

"If this is what she wants, then I want it for her as well. She may be young, but she does know what she's doing. Her motives may not be the most noble, but I know she will do whatever it takes to help your organization. And so will I, though in a different way... which I won't bother revealing right now."

~~Maverick~~
"Alright then, fair enough..." Yuuka said rather absent-mindedly, not really having expected much else. Everyone seemed to be deadset on joining, despite the danger and major commitments required. Were people truly this good, wanting to help stop the bloodthirsty pirates everywhere? Or were they this desperate, wanting riches and to be heroes even if it cost them their lives?

"I'll need your full name, and your motivation for joining this task force in as much detail as possible." She continued, losing focus somewhat, getting tired after a long day of paperwork.

~~Shinobu~~
"I'll be a part of the crew, yes, but as the overseer. Essentially I'll be the one making sure none of you get up to anything bad and stick to your job, along with handling all the bureaucratic nonsense that comes along with doing anything with any government," Yuuka said, smiling, happy that someone seemed to care about her, and not just as a way of getting into the force for money or whatever they wanted.

She accepted the contract, and filed it away with the others. As she brushed past one though she suddenly realised something.

"Uh oh... Okay, could you go out and find someone? I believe hus name was Zangretor, and hopefully they're still here. Tell him that we'll be meeting back here in a week at 8pm." She rubbed her temples in embarrassment, "I can't believe I forgot to tell him... I'm really not very good at this..."

Noticing she was still in front of someone, Yuuka almost jumped, but quickly managed to gather herself, "Umm, right! That applies to you to, so enjoy your last free days for a while!"

~~Kasumi~~
Yuuka didn't think that this new woman was very trustworthy - she certainly seemed like the kind that had multiple layers of deception set up, but it didn't matter. Though what she said was curious, about helping her group. Curious, but there was really nothing to get from it, so Yuuka filed away the words for later.

"Well... That's good enough for me I guess. No need to tell me your name, that's irrelevant unless you're joining yourself." She left out the fact that all she was looking for was proof that this girl wasn't just some overconfident kid who thought they were the best fighter in the world. Pulling out another contract, she handed it over to Kasumi, along with a pen, "Think things through one more time and then sign here when you're read, and after you've read the whole thing. Rest assured though, I guarantee you there's nothing hidden in fine print!"