(2024-06-14) Kyris' Interview

Details

Author:	Luridel
Summary:	Kyris interviews for Cobalt Company.
Rating:	T for Teen

Chain: Cobalt Company Interviews

[Jocoza]: Paluuva! Glad you could make it. We're interviewing our translator's brother today.

[Paluuva]: Marvelous! I wonder…does he share his sister's interest in languages?

[Jocoza]: I believe he's more of a front-line fighter type? But who knows? We can certainly ask.

Kyris descends the stairs.

[Jocoza]: Hello! You must be Kyris Lysander?

Kyris nods, but his attention is drawn quickly by the little nether ray. "I am. What is that, is it docile?"

Paluuva smiles. "Quite. That is Oona. She is a nether ray, from Outland."

[Jocoza]: Please, come in, have a seat. Do you want an apple?

Jocoza hops up into her own chair.

[Kyris]: Ah. I see. No, thank you.

[Jocoza]: So, you're interested in joining Cobalt Company, I hear. Can I ask what has prompted this interest?

[Kyris]: I assume you are Captain Jocoza Sparkwire? I'm afraid I do not know who you are, ma'am.

Kyris looks at Paluuva.

[Paluuva]: I am Paluuva, a lieutenant of Cobalt Company.

[Jocoza]: Oh, yes, sorry, introductions. I am indeed Captain Jocoza Sparkwire, and she is Paluuva, as she's said.

Kyris nods. "To answer your question, Captain… Lucy…"

Jocoza's cheerful manner flickers a little, a little lance of pain going through her expression. She nods, glancing at his sword, his armor. "You were friends?"

[Kyris]: We… were. I would like to believe so.

[Jocoza]: Your sister informed us that she was planning to make an introduction, if only… *Jo bites her lip and shakes her head* Lucy convinced you of the value of our operation?

[Kyris]: Lucy… planned to introduce me to you, after Icecrown Citadel. She thought… the ranking structure of Cobalt Company might suit me better than the army did.

[Paluuva]: Did you have difficulty in the army?

[Jocoza]: We are considerably less formal than a military. We do have a captain, and three lieutenants, but beyond temporary assignments to particular squads, the rest of the company is not very hierarchical.

Kyris takes a moment. It seems like speaking this frankly is difficult for him, and he has to force the words out. "I was… pushed into leadership roles that I was not particularly suited for, in the army."

[Jocoza]: Because of your family name? *Jo looks entirely curious, not judgmental*

Kyris eventually just says, "Yes."

[Paluuva]: Would you prefer to avoid leadership altogether?

[Jocoza]: Leadership roles are not a requirement in Cobalt Company, I should add, and people are considered as individuals, in the gnomish way.

Kyris takes a deep breath. He has the air of a generally proud person struggling to swallow his pride. He nods.

[Kyris]: I feel I am most effective as a member of a smaller group.

Paluuva offers a gentle smile. "It sounds as if Lucy understood you well."

Jocoza glances at Paluuva. "I think that falls into line with our usual approach. We typically don't field groups larger than maybe a dozen."

Kyris looks a little pained at the mention of Lucy. "She was… good. She had a way of finding good in people."

[Jocoza]: She did. *Jo says, looking down for a moment. Then she turns back to Kyris* I understand you're a sword fighter?

[Kyris]: Yes.

[Jocoza]: Have you ever… *Jo shakes her head* Never mind, it's not important. We usually do have a place for people who fight in melee. Paluuva, do you have any questions for him?

Paluuva considers Kyris for a moment.

[Paluuva]: Forgive me if this is too forward, but you seem uncomfortable. I understand these interviews can be intimidating to some. Is there anything we can do to put you at ease?

Kyris looks a little taken aback by the question. "Ah."

Kyris's discomfort is a little more obvious now that Paluva has called him out on it. He shifts in his seat. "It's no matter. Don't worry about it."

[Paluuva]: If you insist. Just know that it matters to me. We look after our people here.

Jocoza smiles.

Kyris nods. He still looks tense.

[Jocoza]: Then also, there are a few questions we always ask. Is there any kind of work you will not do? I have noted the tendency to prefer small groups and not take leadership positions, but if there's anything else.

[Jocoza]: And whether there are sorts of people you would not work with, that is another important thing to know.

[Kyris]: I will not work against the interests of the Alliance. I am… not skilled at deception or undercover work.

[Jocoza]: We are an Alliance mercenary company, explicitly, so I don't think you'll need to worry about the first point. The second is noted.

[Kyris]: I have fought alongside the Horde when commanded to, for the sake of a temporary truce against a larger foe, but I will never trust them.

Kyris does not sound pleased about having been commanded to do so in the past.

[Paluuva]: What about members of the Alliance that you might find discomforting? We often ask this about warlocks, for instance.

[Jocoza]: And we have none on our roster as of yet, but I might ask your opinion on worgen.

[Kyris]: The Alliance has many warlocks in its service and I have fought with them before. Worgen, I…

Kyris hesitates. "I am uneducated in the details of how they can possibly be a part of civilized society."

[Jocoza]: As for warlocks, we mostly just have the one in active duty, and she's in an established team. Still, I appreciate your assurance that you could work with them. As for worgen… we are still collecting information.

[Kyris]: If they are more than ravening monsters, if they do not lose anything of themselves to the beast within when they fight, I would be glad to hear it.

[Jocoza]: We will see. *Jo nods* But you have my assurance that no worgen would be hired unless we believed them to be safe.

[Kyris]: That's fine, then.

[Paluuva]: We have a team current working with a worgen. It's something of a trial run. So far there has been no incident.

[Jocoza]: Thus far it's just been the one outing, but so far so good.

[Jocoza]: Anyway… this is more just my curiosity, but are you into languages like Alaisa?

[Kyris]: No.

[Jocoza]: Okay. *Jo blinks* And have you any questions for us, about the Company?

[Kyris]: What can be expensed to the company in terms of gear, enchantments, potions, etcetera?

[Paluuva]: We provide a stipend to cover such things, and we keep a stockpile to support our people.

Kyris nods.

Jocoza nods. "We have in-house crafters for many purposes."

[Jocoza]: I can give you a list, if that will help.

[Paluuva]: We also provide a fund to cover armor repairs. Those costs can add up.

Kyris nods. "Yes. I would appreciate the list."

[Jocoza]: I think that's pretty much my list of questions, then… Paluuva, what do you think?

[Paluuva]: I have no further questions.

[Kyris]: When can I expect a decision to be made on my application?

[Jocoza]: I am prepared to make a decision now. Paluuva?

Paluuva nods sagely. "I am in favor."

[Jocoza]: I am as well. Our usual policy requires two votes, so I am happy to welcome you to Cobalt Company, Kyris Lysander.

[Kyris]: Just like that? Well.

[Paluuva]: Just like that.

Paluuva smiles.

Kyris seems surprised, but it clearly works out in his favor, so he's not complaining.

[Kyris]: Thank you.

[Jocoza]: Yes, just like that. You came highly recommended, and I found nothing in our interview to give me pause. *Jo smiles*

[Jocoza]: Please let us know if you find any further questions, or if anything is unclear.

[Kyris]: I will do so.

Jocoza rises and holds out her four-fingered hand for a shake.

Kyris stands, then drops to one knee to shake Jo's hand.

Jocoza smiles at the consideration, shaking his hand.

Kyris gives her a very faint, subtle smile in return, then stands and offers his hand to Paluuva as well to shake.

Paluuva inclines her head and takes his hand. "Welcome."

Kyris shakes her hand firmly. "Thank you."