Just A Small Town Girl (Open)

[Brianna Valdyr]

So this was it. After a midnight train ride and dropping her stuff in her dorm, Briannaa had all the time in the world to explore Cabal's academy. The brunette was wide-eyed as she took it all in, connecting stories to places that she could finally see for herself, and in the end, there was only one conclusion.

"I can't believe I'm here° the words were almost whispered, but the squee that came with it less so. To think of the names of those that walked these halls and those that still did,

Time to romp the grounds and aee who or what she found first!

[Pride]

Pride was in the courtyard gesturing toward a tree as if he was having an argument, though there was no one there.

"No, you are taking that completely out of context. Yes, I killed them, but that doesn't mean I'm a monster. Well, okay. Technically yes, a monster is a good term for it. But I'm not a jerk. And I kind of resent the implication. Seriously, I feel like you should apologize."

He folded his arms over his chest.

"Yes, I'm serious. I didn't do anything wrong and you are the one being a jerk right now."

[Brianna Valdyr]

Well that was new. She might have walked on by if the guy talking to...a tree?...seemed pretty adamant about it. Brianna glanced around, but there didn't seem to be anyone else for him to talk to.

"Who's being a jerk?"

[Pride]

"You know what, that's fine. I can wait, I got nothing but time."

He said with a bit of a huff. Shaking his head as the girl approached.

"Myself. Kind of. It's a bit of a long story, and he is normally pretty cool. But now and then he gets in a mood and starts trying to judge me like he wasn't part of it too. ISN'T THAT RIGHT JACKASS?"

Still no one else there. He wasn't even facing the tree this time.

"Anyways, if he isn't gonna apologize, then I'm just gonna ignore him. I'm Pride, what's up?"

[Brianna Valdyr]

Should she be worried about this guy? Brianna was close to asking if the guy had hit his head when he turned to explain...and yell at his imaginary friend some more.

"Right. Well, good luck with your your friend then." It felt safer to leave it at that for now.

"Name's Brianna. Nice to meet you." She held out her hand with the introduction. No point in pointing it out if he was trying to act like it was nothing. "I just got here, so I'm exploring right now. It's way bigger than I thought it would be. Know any cool places?"

[Pride]

He just looked at her hand with a raised brow.

"Uh, he's not imaginary. He lives inside of me."

"No I'm not going to show her, not until you apologize. I'm not going to reward you by letting you out. Oh yeah, you can try and come out, but we know how that's going to end. So let's just not. Okay?"

He was getting a little frustrated.

"I'm sorry, he's being a jackass right now. It's nice to meet you too. What do you mean by cool? There are some nice shaded areas away from the sun if that's what you mean."

[Brianna Valdyr]

Riiiiiiiiight.

Brianna blinked at the shift in the argument with himself (was that what it was?), but if he was running around without warning bells then it was probably fine.

"Okay well, we can meet some other time then. Nice to meet you, Pride." She offered a grin at the question and waved at the buildings around them.

"Nah, I mean some place cool. Interesting! Unusual. This place is full of history and there's way more to do than back home." She was getting excited just thinking about it again.

[Pride]

"I mean, isn't the whole thing unusual? It's a bunch of giant buildings with hundreds of people living in them where there is a seemingly unending amount of food and water. Not only that, but people are not trying to kill each other to take what they need, and even if you tried this place tries to stop you. Like, the air itself tries to stop you."

It seemed pretty weird to him.

[Brianna Valdyr]

"Well yeah, most places aren't this big, but people who made history live here too, y'know? And it's a place we can do all kinds of things beyond basic training." She had to stop at the realization that Pride was talking about things like food, water. Basic survival at a high cost.

"I don't think you're supposed to kill people on the same side as you? That would be a problem. Can't get stronger if you're dead."

[Pride]

"But that's the thing, we aren't on the same side. I've seen people sneaking around, trying to steal papers for information. Areas blocked off and locked away, hidden. People here are liars. Every one of them, lying to each other, lying to themselves. I'm not sure if they, or you even know who they themselves are."

He shrugged and rubbed the back of his head, his features softening.

"Guess it's a good thing I toughened up before I came here. They'll have a hard time getting the dagger in my back. Besides, he might be a big jerk sometimes, but I know I always got someone watching my back no matter where I go, or what viper nest I gotta walk in."

[Brianna Valdyr]

They did what? Brianna's eyes widened in shock, unable to believe all this would happen and it just nonchalantly be accepted. She didn't appreciate the implication she didn't know herself, shaking her head at the suggestion.

"I know exactly who I am, but thanks." Looking him over, she cocked her head ot the side. "So you think you're not lying to yourself? About anything?" He was here, too.

[Pride]

"Do you though? If you have never been pushed you don't know what you really are. What you are really capable of."

He'd say with a smirk.

"Couldn't if I wanted too. Keeps me honest as well as watches my back."

[Brianna Valdyr]

"I know what I believe in and how far I'm willing to go."

Back to the friend in his head though. Much easier topic now.

"So does he have a name, too? He sounds like a good partner." Or like a sibling. It kind of reminded her of that.

...Or was she jut making this worse?

[Pride]

"What you believe and what you know are two very different things. Who knows, you might surprise yourself one day."

If she was pushed.

"Nekronaro."

He said after a moment.

"Most people don't ask his name. He's smug that you are acknowledging him. Just so you know."

[Brianna Valdyr]

"Maybe." She planted her hands on her hips at the challenge, ready to push back further when instead she got a name! Which, sinc eshe was mostly rolling with it at this point, she was not expecting. Her lips quirked into a smirk instead.

"Well, hopefully he doesn't annoy you too much over it." Was she making this worse.

"So! Where're you from, Pride? 'Cuz it definitely doesn't sound like anywhere near here." Not unless SOMEONE WAS SLACKING.