Magna City Shining Congress – Main Lobby

[Jackie Cat]

Angel laughed, less delicately this time – more like a tiny snerk. It was quite cute, coming from her small frame.

"No, sir, I'm no knight! Not even a little! There is little enough light in me that I'd be no stronger than any Bennie Bidoof, really. Besides, I'm perfectly content with my vocation, humble though it might be."

So, she was so distantly human that she had almost no special potential in battle. By implication, then, less-distant descendants had the real strength, and knights of that caliber were likely scarce.

As for her own calling, Angel wouldn't be so vain as to talk about it without being asked, but her bright smile said that she took great joy in it.

 

[MintyMimix]

"Aw, don't be so hard yourself, now; why, I find that the ones who impress the most are the ones who rise in spite of whatever life dealt 'em," Ghaspius replied with a proud smile. "It's not 'bout birth, but life — or afterlife, y'know." The sheer confidence in his voice told all: he spoke from experience.

"Surely, there's somethin' your job that makes an impact on folks' lives, every lil' day! What is it that ya do, if you don't mind me asking?"

 

[Shadow Serenity]

"Well, that's already a lot stranger that what I've got going on back home. Care to tell us more, or is it a... sore subject?"

"How dreadful! One would think you would need a summoned hero of your own if things are so dire there. Overrun with ferals, my word... Well, if it's not improper of me to ask, I have always been curious about the human world. Or, worlds, as it apparently may be?"

Kimiko shifted uncomfortably, fiddling with the... what even is this that she was holding? Some kind of... doughy roll? She eyed Andre and Angel briefly. "Let's just say... finding a solution has not been simple. Think of it like... inside a dungeon, but... it's not actually a dungeon, it's just how the world is." She shrugged. "My world, anyway. We do have... what you'd call heroes working against it."

'Knights' stood out from her speech. Was that what 'warrior' types were called in the Covenant?

"No, sir, I'm no knight! Not even a little! There is little enough light in me that I'd be no stronger than any Bennie Bidoof, really. Besides, I'm perfectly content with my vocation, humble though it might be."

The use of the word 'light' stuck out to her. So... knights were what they called Radiance-wielders? Better confirm that, to be safe. "What exactly constitutes being a knight? I've been called a few different things during my time here, but that's a new one for me."

She then listened as Ghaspius asked about the little bug's own profession, in a far more flattering manner than Kimiko would have done. The mismagius sure had a way with words. She tried to appear interested in the hopes of veering the discussion away from her ghost woes, putting on a smile and nodding along, and taking a cautious bite of her roll.

 

[Chibi Pika]

The use of the word 'light' stuck out to her. So... knights were what they called Radiance-wielders? Better confirm that, to be safe. "What exactly constitutes being a knight? I've been called a few different things during my time here, but that's a new one for me."

At this, the bespectacled Pignite from Teardrop Station—Otto—raised a cloven foreleg and piped up, "Oh, the knights are the heroes of the Covenant! It's their duty to go out into the world, using their power to help those in need and fight evil wherever it may be." He paused, looking a bit sheepish, like he hadn't meant to raise his voice so much. "Your group might not have the formal rank, but everyone still thinks of you as heroes, aha."

 

[Jackie Cat]

"My world, anyway. We do have... what you'd call heroes working against it."

Angel gave Kimiko a sympathetic, hopeful look. There was real kindness in the hoverfly's big, brown eyes; she wanted those heroes to succeed.

"Surely, there's somethin' your job that makes an impact on folks' lives, every lil' day! What is it that ya do, if you don't mind me asking?"

Angel bowed lightly, and smiled at Ghaspius.

"Oh, there really is, Ser Ghaspius! I'm an advocate for social causes. I do all sorts of things to raise awareness of societal ills and promote means of addressing them. I travel to cities and towns across the Commonweallth to speak up about poverty and sickness, for instance, or lack of education – the young need such help more than any, since they have little voice of their own. I host fundraisers, I lobby senators, and canvass for petitions... It means attending a lot of parties very like this, and being very, very polite to some very, very rich pokémon. And I can't honestly say that it's always fun. But on very, very good days, I get to cut a ribbon and open a children's hospital, or a community college, and it's worth all the palm-greasing stuff to see young pokémon feel real hope. I know that I'm blessed to have a life without any real hardship of my own, so that's why it's so important to work as hard as I can."

She smiled bravely at the Wayfarers, dipping down and up again in the air. From the way she rubbed her hands together, she felt intensely self-conscious saying all this, but even so, she was so proud of what she did. It practically blazed out of her tiny frame.

 

[canisaries]

"Oh, there really is, Ser Ghaspius! I'm an advocate for social causes. I do all sorts of things to raise awareness of societal ills and promote means of addressing them. I travel to cities and towns across the Commonweallth to speak up about poverty and sickness, for instance, or lack of education – the young need such help more than any, since they have little voice of their own. I host fundraisers, I lobby senators, and canvass for petitions... It means attending a lot of parties very like this, and being very, very polite to some very, very rich pokémon. And I can't honestly say that it's always fun. But on very, very good days, I get to cut a ribbon and open a children's hospital, or a community college, and it's worth all the palm-greasing stuff to see young pokémon feel real hope. I know that I'm blessed to have a life without any real hardship of my own, so that's why it's so important to work as hard as I can."

Oh, dear. That brought the guilt back.

Why aren't you like that back home? Why aren't you using your wealth and social status for good? Why is the extent of your 'giving back' throwing some money at charities and funding your own little vigilante operation? How much good have you actually managed to accomplish doing that? Does it counteract the money you provide to the city's underbelly? You know they probably do human trafficking. You are causing more abuse than you are preventing.

Andre fought back against the thoughts. No. Now wasn't the time. He needed to focus on gathering information, making connections. He could hate himself on his own time.

"That sounds like a very noble cause," he said to Angel, covering up whatever unease might have crept on his face. It was a very noble cause - but one had to wonder if that education they provided was from a very pro-human perspective. Still, Andre doubted it was all propaganda all the time, and was genuinely glad to hear that less fortunate mon had been provided with more opportunities. "What are you working on right now?"

 

[Shadow Serenity]

At this, the bespectacled Pignite from Teardrop Station—Otto—raised a cloven foreleg and piped up, "Oh, the knights are the heroes of the Covenant! It's their duty to go out into the world, using their power to help those in need and fight evil wherever it may be." He paused, looking a bit sheepish, like he hadn't meant to raise his voice so much. "Your group might not have the formal rank, but everyone still thinks of you as heroes, aha."

As the pignite answered her question, Kimiko kept her expression friendly but neutral. She wasn't sure what to feel about being compared to anyone in the Covenant, or the fact that anyone among them considered the Wayfarers heroes... then again, Angel, at least, seemed genuine. And Otto here looked as though perhaps he might have been a bit over-excited to provide an answer, given the way he shrunk ever so slightly and lowered his voice. She grinned at him. "I suppose that does sound a lot like what we do," she conceded. "And frankly, it's the least extravagant title we've been given so far, so I'm rather more inclined to accept it."

I do all sorts of things to raise awareness of societal ills and promote means of addressing them.

"Wow, good for you!" she added, now towards the ribombee. "You know, where most of us have been living, one of those grand titles people have taken to calling us is angels. But I'd say you live up to that name more than we do. It may be a different kind of work than what knights do, but heroes come in all kinds, and it sounds to me like you fit the bill."

There, that was nice and flattering, wasn't it?

In fact. Now that she'd thought about it... "Actually - and forgive me if this is crossing a boundary - Angel's a rather unusual name, given the connotations. Although maybe it doesn't mean the same thing in this part of the world... Is that your given name?" The ribombee sounded rather young, but there was no chance she was named after the Wayfarers arrived... but then, they weren't the first to be associated with the label, were they.

 

[MintyMimix]

The Mismagius's gems lit up one by one as a wave of genuine respect brushed over his features. He adjusted his scarf and grinned. Maybe this wasn't such a downer place after all.

"Amen to that, Angel," Ghaspius agreed with a wink at his stealth pun, "As a 'mon of medicine, it always gets to me just how much out there could be so easily treated. So much that could be so easily prevented." For a moment, his gaze wandered up towards the opulent architecture in the room.

He looked back towards the Ribombee. "S'why it's important all of us that can do somethin', well, do somethin'. 'Cause when the chips are down and dire straits come, the only things that matter are love and life, and folks that share that will receive in turn. It's just better for everyone!" He practically spun in place. "So kudos to y'all, Angel; keep fightin' the good fight; 'cause that's a battle that even knights can't win on their own!"

He nodded towards Andre's question, curious as to what she up to now. "Curious, though, love — ya find any folks in particular difficult to work with?" He added.

 

[Jackie Cat]

"Wow, good for you!" she added, now towards the ribombee. "You know, where most of us have been living, one of those grand titles people have taken to calling us is angels. But I'd say you live up to that name more than we do. It may be a different kind of work than what knights do, but heroes come in all kinds, and it sounds to me like you fit the bill."

"Amen to that, Angel," Ghaspius agreed with a wink at his stealth pun, "As a 'mon of medicine, it always gets to me just how much out there could be so easily treated. So much that could be so easily prevented." For a moment, his gaze wandered up towards the opulent architecture in the room.

He looked back towards the Ribombee. "S'why it's important all of us that can do somethin', well, do somethin'. 'Cause when the chips are down and dire straits come, the only things that matter are love and life, and folks that share that will receive in turn. It's just better for everyone!" He practically spun in place. "So kudos to y'all, Angel; keep fightin' the good fight; 'cause that's a battle that even knights can't win on their own!"

The Ribombee laughed at Ghaspius' antics, one hand to her mouth. "I see you're full of joie de vivre, Ser! Thank you both for your kind words. Believe me, I am proud of what I do – I really do want to help make a better world. Isn't that what we're all here for?"

Her eyes followed Ghaspius' gaze towards the Congress' architecture, but if the Mismagius was implying anything about the opulence of the building, she didn't seem to catch on. She smiled, obviously comfortable in this environment.

That sounds like a very noble cause. What are you working on right now?"

He nodded towards Andre's question, curious as to what she up to now. "Curious, though, love — ya find any folks in particular difficult to work with?" He added.

Angel's smile grew coy. "Oh, are you a gossip, Ser? All politics is gossip, to tell you the truth. Politicians are always a challenge, but I try not to resent anybody. It's one thing to be miserly or generous with one's own money, and another when it's public funds you're responsible for. Nobody wants to put taxpayer dollars towards a 'war on poverty' social project that turns out to be a white wailord..."

She frowned, suddenly looking far more mature for it – and professional.

"My day-to-day work lately has mostly been to do with keeping the CWL Sanitary Commission alive. There are plenty of older 'mon with independent wealth who want to be remembered for supporting medical efforts like that. And believe me, that's great. Those 'mon in the SC do very, very good work! But my big project right now is to see to it that a public library is founded in every town in the Commonwealth. I believe that the long-term good from that could be something incredible! I'm trying to secure a warchest of private donations first, then I'll take the project to the Senate to get that matched with government funds. It would be the project of my life."

Angel tittered and looked about for a champagne flute.

"Not that my name would go on it or anything."

"Actually - and forgive me if this is crossing a boundary - Angel's a rather unusual name, given the connotations. Although maybe it doesn't mean the same thing in this part of the world... Is that your given name?"

The beefly girl giggled, and took a sip of her wine. "That's right, Ser! I'm named after my late mother. I never knew her – please, don't bother with sympathies, I had a wonderful step-momma – but my daddy tells me she was just perfect, 'like a real angel'. The connotation is the point, I think...?"

Angel pursed her mouth as she thought about this a little harder.

"I think there's maybe half a dozen 'Angels' in the society, actually? There was a boy in Outreach I had kindof a crush on until I learned we had the same name, and that was such a turn-off, ugh! It's not an uncommon name in Alexandria, but it's pretty popular in the Covenant? I guess it's like calling your kid a virtue name like 'Grace', 'Hope' or 'Justice'... or a name like 'Duke' or 'Regina'? I don't mind it, I think it's pretty, but I guess it probably seems a little odd when I'm talking to a whole bunch of real angels like you guys!"

She tittered again, flushing slightly, and drank a little more sparkling, golden wine. She might start getting pretty loose-lipped now she was comfortable, and tipsy... It must not take much to get a tiny Ribombee pretty buzzed.

 

[canisaries]

Andre chuckled, mostly to appear to be in good spirits. He wasn't quite so, not with this whole jerking off of humans. "I think Angel is a fine name. My own name simply means 'man', as in, male human." Typically, anyway - sometimes it was extended to sapient mon. "At least it's from a language that my home nation or the nation I moved to doesn't speak too much, so people aren't just calling me 'guy'."

He tapped the floor with a hoof. "I do wonder, however, what you think of 'angels' that aren't such... angels."

 

[MintyMimix]

Ghaspius bellied out a laugh. "Well, what's gossip but life with the dull bits cut out?" He remarked, "But I can imagine when folks aren't bein' forward, it ain't easy to do much. If y'all do end up following on that 'war on poverty' though, I'll volunteer for the 'front lines'!" He winked.

"My own name just means, 'gasp, here he is'!" It was hard to tell whether he was being playful or genuine. "And on your other project, maybe y'all ought to send some letters to the big library over by Scriven. I'm sure they'd have some old stuff to donate."

He hummed in thought at Andre's remark before adding, "Y'all ever think a non-human could be an 'angel'?" His tone posed it as though it were hypothetical, despite being an example.

In the midst of his monologue, Ghaspius's scarf loosened and fell to the floor with a soft thud.

A strange series of soft clangs, chimes, and a bit of rustling rang close by as an out-of-place Pokémon floated nearby: a Klefki, clad in neither fancy suit nor opulent dress, but a simple apron tied loosely around their tiny body. In place of any actual keys, however, were various bracelets, trinkets, and even a bit of jewelry. On the very bottom of the ring hung a trash bag, carefully tied to be expanded and contracted as needed, alongside a recently wet mop and bucket.

They wordlessly floated nearby, giving the floors a nice brush to keep them as crystalline as possible. On the occasion that they found a loose article that someone dropped, they would stop, pick it up, sling it on their ring along with their other collected items, and continue.

As they closed in, they gave a glance to the Wayfarers, looked down, plucked the scarf, and said, "You dropped this," in an echo of a voice filtered through metal. "You all the guests of honour?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

If y'all do end up following on that 'war on poverty' though, I'll volunteer for the 'front lines'!" He winked.

Angel grinned warmly at him. "I don't think poverty is something a knight can slay, my good Ser. But if you'd care to make a donation of your own, I'd be ever so grateful – even a small one! There's nothing like a clipboard full of signatures to make a 'mon feel like they just gotta join in, eheheh."

Optional Objective: help Angel fund a public library foundation.

She hiccuped, and covered her mouth bashfully.

"I'm only joking. Unless you would, and then I'm so serious!"

Oh yes. She was definitely buzzed.

"Y'all ever think a non-human could be an 'angel'?"

"Oh, sure," babbled Angel, all smiles. "You know, if they were the right person for the job, right? Who's to say? The light chooses, after all, and we don't have the first idea how all that, you know, numinous stuff works! So why not? Maybe it's already happened, in Tsainan or somewhere!"

"I do wonder, however, what you think of 'angels' that aren't such... angels."

Angel rolled her eyes and groaned theatrically. "Ugh, I know just who you mean, sweetheart. Ain't it just the worst thing when someone, like, lets the team down like that?"

Okay, this was promising. Albeit nonspecific. She could just mean 'low-class' fallers, for instance...

Seeing Andre's facial reaction, she continued, her eyes conspiratorially half-lidded.

"I mean, all the actual angels I've met have been very, very charming, sure, but you'd think everyone in the society would try to match that example, don't you think? But no, no, I guess we g-gotta have our share of grifters and bullies and creeps, just the same as anyone, huh..."

She sniffed, and swilled a little wine in the bottom of her glass.

"It's beneath a descendant to be so... s-so self-interested," she muttered, acidly.

So, that was how she conceived of humanity in Forlas. They were special, in that they were meant to serve. And to aspire to more than meanness and vice. And she clearly held herself to that standard, too... This tangent genuinely bothered her.

 

[canisaries]

Angel grinned warmly at him. "I don't think poverty is something a knight can slay, my good Ser. But if you'd care to make a donation of your own, I'd be ever so grateful – even a small one! There's nothing like a clipboard full of signatures to make a 'mon feel like they just gotta join in, eheheh."

Andre nodded. He didn't like the Covenant, but he did want to encourage literacy and the accessibility of information. He had some money of his own - perhaps not as much as he had back home, but still. He could chip in a bit, surely.

"Oh, sure," babbled Angel, all smiles. "You know, if they were the right person for the job, right? Who's to say? The light chooses, after all, and we don't have the first idea how all that, you know, numinous stuff works! So why not? Maybe it's already happened, in Tsainan or somewhere!"

Andre suppressed an eye roll, or maybe a sarcastic huff. Ghaspius could tell her if he wanted to, but Andre wasn't about to out him.

Angel rolled her eyes and groaned theatrically. "Ugh, I know just who you mean, sweetheart. Ain't it just the worst thing when someone, like, lets the team down like that?"

Okay, this was promising. Albeit nonspecific. She could just mean 'low-class' fallers, for instance...

Seeing Andre's facial reaction, she continued, her eyes conspiratorially half-lidded.

"I mean, all the actual angels I've met have been very, very charming, sure, but you'd think everyone in the society would try to match that example, don't you think? But no, no, I guess we g-gotta have our share of grifters and bullies and creeps, just the same as anyone, huh..."

She sniffed, and swilled a little wine in the bottom of her glass.

"It's beneath a descendant to be so... s-so self-interested," she muttered, acidly.

So, that was how she conceived of humanity in Forlas. They were special, in that they were meant to serve. And to aspire to more than meanness and vice. And she clearly held herself to that standard, too... This tangent genuinely bothered her.

'Actual angels.' 'No true Crunsman', huh?

"I agree," Andre said. "Those with power should help others, not exploit them." He didn't disagree with that. It was just this whole 'divine right' and 'we know better than the commoners' thing of the Covenant that rubbed him the wrong way.

He then smiled. "Grifters, bullies and creeps, huh? We'd hate to run into those... would you say there are any signs that we should watch out for in order to avoid them? Red flags? We are, still, not native to this world, and we won't know all of its ins and outs." It was less aggressive than 'give us some names', but with any luck, she'd give them some anyway.

 

[MintyMimix]

Angel grinned warmly at him. "I don't think poverty is something a knight can slay, my good Ser. But if you'd care to make a donation of your own, I'd be ever so grateful – even a small one! There's nothing like a clipboard full of signatures to make a 'mon feel like they just gotta join in, eheheh."

"Well, I'll see what I can do," Ghaspius replied with a wink. "And perhaps you may be right! Guess it shouldn't be much of a surprise then if one does turn up somewhere, hm?"

As they closed in, they gave a glance to the Wayfarers, looked down, plucked the scarf, and said, "You dropped this," in a dry echo of a voice filtered through metal. "You all the guests of honour?"

Ghaspius turned around with let out a noise of approval. "Oh, thank ya kindly, uh..."

"Abrina," the Klefki replied with a hint of joy in her voice, wiping the hook of her key ring with a cloth before tossing it in the bag. "Don't mind me too much; just trying to keep the place spotless."

The Mismagius couldn't help but let out a hum as he tied the scarf around his neck once more. "So are y'all part of the Covenant too?"

"Wouldn't be working here if I wasn't," Abrina said, placing her tools back into place and carefully sorting them around as she spoke. Strangely, the gaze she gave her supplies was one not of fatigue or rote procedural apathy, but of genuine interest. "Pops—excuse me, my father's side is human." And yet, she did custodial work — and seemed proud of her job!

He then smiled. "Grifters, bullies and creeps, huh? We'd hate to run into those... would you say there are any signs that we should watch out for in order to avoid them? Red flags? We are, still, not native to this world, and we won't know all of its ins and outs." It was less aggressive than 'give us some names', but with any luck, she'd give them some anyway.

"If you don't mind me chiming in," the Klefki replied as she floated in, "The reality is everybody makes messes. When you eat, when you talk, when you enter into a room. Sometimes those messes involve saying making the wrong decisions or saying the wrong things." Mistakes, in other words.

"But the ones that try to clean it up instead of cover it up are the honest ones." For a brief moment, she leaned in the direction of Angel. "That's how you know you can trust this one. Helped sweep up the vase she knocked over when she had just a teensy bit too much to drink the other day."

 

[Shadow Serenity]

"I don't mind it, I think it's pretty, but I guess it probably seems a little odd when I'm talking to a whole bunch of real angels like you guys!"

"Not at all," she continued. Angel's explanation made sense, although Kimiko took note that apparently it was a common name in the Covenant. That, too, made sense, but it probably wouldn't be wise to mention why in front of the little bug. "I was simply curious about the connection, if there was any. More importantly, it is very pretty!"

Truthfully, she had no idea what her own name meant, and decided to stay silent on that subject. Something more interesting had popped up, anyway...

She hiccuped, and covered her mouth bashfully.

"I'm only joking. Unless you would, and then I'm so serious!"

"Oh, absolutely! Count me in, a library sounds like a wonderful idea," Kimiko piped up with a wide grin. She'd made a fair bit of money from all that extra work at Sun Stone during her downtime. She had no idea how much it would help - this sounded like a huge undertaking and surely her weekly pay wouldn't amount to a whole lot in the grand scheme of things - but it felt good to be doing something. This, at the very least, would ensure that the time she spent not helping her allies in the fight would still have been for something worthwhile. She'd never been a big reader herself, but Alex would approve; just another reason it felt right.

Then she and Andre went off about her thoughts on humans. She had nothing to add, so let her teammate do most of the talking. "You got a good head on your shoulders," she added with a grin. A little ego boosting never hurt, and she genuinely meant it.

"You all the guests of honour?"

At this, Kimiko shrugged sheepishly. "I suppose we are," she admitted. "That's some solid advice, thank you. I do think there's something to be said for how or why one goes about cleaning up their messes, too; just because someone's doing damage control doesn't mean they're not just covering their tracks, y'know?" She thought back to the library donation, the comparison not lost on her.

 

[Jackie Cat]

Angel smiled with pure joy, her eyes lighting up with sparkles, as the Wayfarers agreed to help her.

"Oh, oh my! Thank you all so much. I know you may not be 'mon of means, but even just the signatures are such a help."

She took another small drink and fumbled in a purse at her hip for some kind of petition.

"I agree," Andre said. "Those with power should help others, not exploit them."

"Yes! Of course! That's the duty of anyone who has power. There's nothing worse than someone using their power wrongly. Unfortunately I have to meet an awful lot of old 'mon like that, but at least they're just selfish or thoughtless instead of malicious, under heavens..."

"Grifters, bullies and creeps, huh? We'd hate to run into those... would you say there are any signs that we should watch out for in order to avoid them? Red flags? We are, still, not native to this world, and we won't know all of its ins and outs."

"Oh, well you guys sh-should be pretty good at spotting nasty sorts by now, right? Gosh, um. Red flags... Well, there's this thing some people do where they talk about helping people but really they're only talking about looking good, right? There's a few knights like that, always showing off and treating things like a game, or, um, a sport. And there's a couple of agents and a lot of pen-pushers who are very very polite, and soooo want to help you, except they're not helping you at all and they make you feel small and stupid! Um. I'm, I'm, I am quite small, actually. B-but I'm not stupid!"

If Andre wanted to pry into possible members of Matthias' sinister faction, he'd need to press a little harder, and with more specificity. Fortunately, Angel seemed inebriated enough to be responsive to just about anything, now.

"But the ones that try to clean it up instead of cover it up are the honest ones." For a brief moment, she leaned in the direction of Angel. "That's how you know you can trust this one. Helped sweep up the vase she knocked over when she had just a teensy bit too much to drink the other day."

Angel cringed desperately, her embarrassment plain on her face.

"I don't have a problem, I j-just don't have any tolerance," she protested, meekly. "I've only had one drink—! It was the least I could do, y-you know?"

 

[Shadow Serenity]

Unfortunately I have to meet an awful lot of old 'mon like that, but at least they're just selfish or thoughtless instead of malicious, under heavens..."

There's a few knights like that, always showing off and treating things like a game, or, um, a sport.

And there's a couple of agents and a lot of pen-pushers who are very very polite, and soooo want to help you, except they're not helping you at all and they make you feel small and stupid!

"And I thought Lillia had a low tolerance..." Kimiko muttered under her breath, eyeing Angel with mild concern. Indeed, as Angel had confirmed, she'd only had one drink, and already was beginning to slosh and slur her words together. If they wanted to get any real information out of her, now was the time, loathe as Kimiko might be to take advantage of the poor fairy.

But the word 'knights' again caught her attention - Angel herself admitting to some Covenant members not quite acting as though they have the Covenant's best interests at heart. Given the bug appeared to quickly becoming drunk, she deemed it worth the risk to be a bit more open.

"You say some knights are like that?" she asked, infusing an air of shock into her voice and putting a vine to her chest. "Might you be able give us examples of who these might be? Anyone here today, for example?" She paused, putting on a more serious face. She was quite aware that most of the important-looking members had wandered off to other rooms, but if she could just steal a couple names... "If we're going to be joining you, we should be aware of the ones who might try to steer us in the wrong direction, yeah?" In other words, higher-ups...

 

[canisaries]

"Oh, well you guys sh-should be pretty good at spotting nasty sorts by now, right?"

Andre remembered Alexander as a zweilous, and how he was completely oblivious as to what kind of person he really was. Yeah, he certainly hoped he'd be better at spotting them now.

He listened to the rest of Angel's response, then Kimiko's question, and added his own in the mix. "Does the existence of these kinds of members cause a lot of discord in the Covenant? If so, how do the ones in higher positions respond to it? Is straying from the ideals of the Covenant met with sanctions, or... are the knights too valuable to reprimand?"

 

[Jackie Cat]

Angel nursed the little champagne left in her flute. "Can't h-help that I'm small," she mumbled. Of course, she was drinking the equivalent to multiple glasses even with the smallest flute available.

As for knights...

"Well, of course the Order are only human, there's bound to be, um, the occasional misadventure," the Ribombee hedged, making a mollifying gesture. As much as she was a gossip, she did respect the knights of the lantern. "But yes, my goodness, there sometimes are actual blackguards in the ranks..."

"Blackguard" (pronounced "blaggard"): noun. One who behaves in a dishonourable or contemptible way. A dated pejorative for a scoundrel.

"...there's, um, obviously a code of conduct. They swear an oath and everything. They're not supposed to take gifts, because it's basically a bribe, right? And they vow celibacy during service, so they don't have any distractions from their duties. But still, you do hear of, you know, improper behaviour – finer clothes than a knight's salary can buy, slipping out at night for illicit rendezvous... I suppose you're not really asking about that, though, are you?"

Angel bit her lip, and hushed her voice further.

"I've heard a rumour that there's a lance of knights... They're deployed in Frigatespur, that is, um, on the border with the Protectorate? And they make raids for some reason or other, and search caravans that cross the border, and nobody knows exactly what their authority for this is, or what their purpose is, but it's, um. It's uncomfortable, you know? I'm sure there's a noble purpose to it all, but I, well. I've never liked all that 'means worth the ends' business. It looks bad, doesn't it? If you're, um, ever down south, maybe you could pay them some mind? Tell them that the society is thinking of them, and expects them to keep an honourable bearing...?"

The Wayfarers had no plans to visit Frigatespur any time soon, but this certainly painted a picture. A small group of knights posted far away from the Covenant's small centre of operations, perhaps as a response to border tensions between the two great powers of Luctemar, acting without much supervision. Maybe they weren't doing anything wrong. Maybe they were. And civilians in the society gossiped about it disapprovingly, but were ultimately in the dark... After all, communication was slow and limited – this world didn't have widespread telegraphs, much less the internet.

"Does the existence of these kinds of members cause a lot of discord in the Covenant? If so, how do the ones in higher positions respond to it? Is straying from the ideals of the Covenant met with sanctions, or... are the knights too valuable to reprimand?"

Angel sniffed, and swallowed uncomfortably. "Well, there truly aren't enough knights. They're supposed to be demoted or sent on penitent quests or given labours to humble them, but that hardly ever happens – one can hope that's because nobody ever messes up that bad. It would be so awful to be dishonoured like that, after all. I've heard Ser Aster get chewed out by the Grandmaster before, and I'm pretty sure she's had her salary docked and stuff like that, but that's just for being so late and disrespectful all the time. Ser Aster's kind of feral— don't tell anyone I said that, gosh. I suppose if the lance in Frigatespur are up to no good, and it was reported to the Grandmaster, then they might get sanctioned? B-But that's just a rumour, anyway. I admit that the worst I've seen personally from knights is that attitude a few of them have. Like that one Scizor girl – so vain, and, um, ugh, you know! Prideful? Condescending. That's the word. Like she's better than other people." Angel tittered nervously. "I bet a lot of people feel that way sometimes. It'd be hard not to, right? I bet even you guys feel like you, like, know better, right?"

Knowledge, education, being chosen for a sacred mission, having good intentions, and the strength to do what you thought needed to be done. It certainly was a recipe for self-belief, at least...

 

[MintyMimix]

"I don't have a problem, I j-just don't have any tolerance," she protested, meekly. "I've only had one drink—! It was the least I could do, y-you know?"

"Take it in sips and try a shot glass next time," Abrina remarked with the shake of her head. "Do you think you'll need a lift back to your room later?"

"It looks bad, doesn't it? If you're, um, ever down south, maybe you could pay them some mind? Tell them that the society is thinking of them, and expects them to keep an honourable bearing...?"

"Where there's smoke, there's fire," Ghaspius hummed in intrigue. "If we end up 'round those parts, we'll give 'em a knock. Whether that's on the door or on their noggins, dependin' on if they've just got a bad look or if they're real miscreants."

The Mismagius couldn't help but eye the glass and the Ribombee, as though trying to break down some sort of formula in his head. "I wonder if y'all could infuse carbon dioxide with a bit of water then add a tiny bit of the wine or somethin' that looks like it; all the flavor and social but none of the headaches," he said mainly to himself, though his thoughts were often loud. Was he trying to invent seltzer water mixes?

...Ser Aster's kind of feral— don't tell anyone I said that, gosh... Like that one Scizor girl – so vain, and, um, ugh, you know! Prideful? Condescending. That's the word. Like she's better than other people."

He settled on shelving his thoughts for later. "A Scizor? Do y'all have a name?" He asked, trying to sort the various Covenant members in his head. "I got a clear picture of the Scizor, but just what about the other one — Ser Aster — what makes them so notorious? Like they go out and start pickin' fights with random civvies or somethin'?"

Angel tittered nervously. "I bet a lot of people feel that way sometimes. It'd be hard not to, right? I bet even you guys feel like you, like, know better, right?"

"I only know what I know," the Mismagius noncommittally responded with as he bounced his head from side-to-side. "Sometimes we got more info 'cause of who we talk to, sometimes y'all got more info cause of who you talk to. We're all just tryin' to make a better life for everybody, right? Why do we gotta make it a contest?"

The Klefki next to him let out a pleased ring at that sentiment. Something personal to her, perhaps?