Let's Try To Person [Assignment/Squad1]

[Blake Oleander]

"It depends on how vital our primary objective is and the nature of our situation. A recon mission is far more reasonable to go back for you than an assassination mission."

Was she mirroring him? Because now she was folding her arms. Yeah, nice try.

"What's the point of trying to be my friend? Not like it's gonna make a difference."

[Bailey Oleander]

Direct, but capable of thinking a situation through. That was good. Bailey could work with that. Maybe the best place to start was with the job, then. With as xenophobic as his home was, he probably didn't even want to be talking to her.

"Why not? It's not going to hurt, either."

[Blake Oleander]

"It could. You could decide to compromise the mission because of your personal feelings and worries about my well being. Something that wouldn't be a risk if you had no personal attachment to me."

He didn't trust her to stay objective. She wasn't like him or his people, she was soft, weak. He knew that much already from their limited interactions.

[Bailey Oleander]

He brought out the knight while she was still moving pawns.

"Or I could not know you, have to make an assumption, and be wrong because all I have is your name and that you're good with a sword." And combat in general, probably. He seemed most content when they were focused on training or he was going through his own routines than when she would try to talk to him.

"Besides, it could make time here more pleasant. Even if you just try to talk with them. And what happens when you complete a mission, but the damages on the way set you back? Besides moving forward? It could be easier to have two people instead of one." She was already expecting him to leave her behind if it was a worse-case scenario. The was a lack of surprise, but also a bit of sadness at the idea.

[Blake Oleander]

"What makes you think it is supposed to be pleasant here? This isn't a vacation. This is training. We are here to learn to use these.... things we can do. They train soldiers here."

She was treating this like a vacation.

"And what would you suggest other than moving forward? Moving backward is a waste of time."

[Bailey Oleander]

"They also help those who need to control their abilities, especially if they need it." Eric's words came back to her, how there were people who were more than just soldiers here. People who didn't fight.

"Besides, there's more to life than being a soldier." One arm came unfolded as she gestured to the area around them. "What if it's quicker to backtrack around a path than keep going forward against an obstacle?"

[Blake Oleander]

"Are you meaning literally or figuratively?"

[Bailey Oleander]

"Both?" Because why not.

[Blake Oleander]

"They help people that can't control their abilities because they are a danger without that control. That's a safety concern. Figuratively if it's quicker to go back than forward then I don't know what's going on. That sounds like letting yourself be caught in the comfort of routine. It sounds lazy and weak."

He sighed gruffly.

"As for literally, if backtracking to move around an obstacle is the most efficient path to complete the objective or rendezvous to extraction then obviously that's the correct call. That would make the mission more efficient."

[Bailey Oleander]

"But you just pointed out that going backward is a waste of time." One finger pointed off to the side, s though singling out a different point. "Though, to be fair, you also admitted that it depends on the situation for what's best. But in that case, even if they're weak, going back for someone could be more efficient in the long run and to preserve the core of the mission."

[Blake Oleander]

"You are that worried that I will leave you to die?"

The point of their training was so such a situation did not occur. It's why he was putting in all of this effort with her.

[Bailey Oleander]

"Not necessarily?" Her pit rose with the statement, wavering with concern. The mental sweat was increasing to the point that Bailey forced herself to take a deep breath before adding, "Not unless you had to." He'd just pointed out that emotional bonds could get in the way, that you may have to leave someone behind for the sake of the mission. Well, what if it's not me? What then?" She was assuming they would get left behind if it was more efficient to keep moing forward. She was making a lot of assumptions, actually, but that was part of the reason she wanted ot talk to him. To understand who her partner was, to get an idea of what to expect from him.

[Blake Oleander]

"I suspect you would do the same if you had to."

At least he hoped so.

[Bailey Oleander]

"I'd rather not." He avoided her question again. Or not, considering the current conversation.

"I just want to understand you more, Blake. That's all. Where I come from, you have a purpose and you do it. If you're needed for something else, you do that too. But if you're running a tight ship and don't have enough people, someone can get left behind. Some do. So I need to know what to expect if I can from you." She raised a hand to start ticking off her fingers.

"Like from this? I know you're a direct person - you'll take something head on and go forward. You're focused. You care enough to shore up any weaknesses instead of leaving them to risk or assume someone else will. You know how to think things through, and you're not afraid to speak your mind. I also know you're closed off and that you like to whittle, but that you probably haven't done it since you've been here."

[Blake Oleander]

She was right about that. He hadn't carved anything since he'd been here. He'd been focused on what he was and what he was doing. Maybe it was something he should do again, get his mind off of all the crap that had been bugging him. Like the lack of replies from home.

"We are a small territory. Everyone has a purpose and we do our best to fulfill it. For people like me, that means we are disposable and we know it. We try to make it back but we all know that we are disposable. One life is little when it is the difference between securing a water or food supply for our people from our rivals. There isn't enough of either for my people and those of the nearby territories. Every day is a battle where we win or starve. And it's the same for our rivals."

He lowered his arms before taking a deep breath, puffing out his chest.

"I am an arrow loosed from my Master's bow. The arrow worries not whether it will return to the quiver, only that it hit its mark."