Lavinia had a lot to digest after leaving Mlynar had fallen asleep, very aware that he probably wouldn't be waking up any time soon. The simple but poignant statements he made about Kazimierzian knights however weighed on her. He had a look about when he spoke about them that looked the same to a particular person that stirred up complicated memories. Bernardo Bellone, the man who stood above most of the other mafiosos but held them all in such contempt.
There were startling similarities between the two she's come to realize. Especially if their age was ignored, Lavinia was somewhat startled to learn that the eldest Nearl was in his forties. There was also the fact that as prickly as Mlynar was, compared to the affable late Bernardo, they were both actually very easy to talk to. Both were good listeners, and both held a deep resentment about a system that they came from.
She had been thinking of Siracusa a lot more as of late. Of her last memories of the place before they had left to learn more on Rhode Island. The heavy rains, although almost cataclysmic in their intensity compared to Siracusa, the constant water drops on the metal roofs and windows eliciting more memories for many of the Siracusan operators, Lavinia included. It was brought on the melancholic feelings that seemed to slug every action they made, and made Pennace in particular more introspective.
Lavinia also began to think about the Kazimierzian knights. She knew of them of course, stories of the Knight fights and records of such reached even Siracusa's almost rustic nomadic cities. She had also began to learn more about them upon coming to Rhode Island from the Kazimierzian operators. Zofia spoke of them easily, Maria, a usually training partner for her after Lavinia had a made a passing note of being tutored in combat by Mlynar, had joyfully recounted several stories of knights and had been the one who recommended the book, "The Last Knight", to her. Then there was Margaret, who seemed to embody every bit the idea of knighthood that Zofia and Maria gushed over. Noble, brave, strong, and stalwart in the face of adversity. She seemed the total opposite of her Uncle, the man that seemed to detest the very idea of knights.
Lavinia intended on spending the remainder of her day in her room, perhaps a little bit of wine and starting the Last Knight. It felt too inappropriate to read the book in Mlynar's presence after all. As much as she trusted Mlynar's advice, she needed to see for herself how and why such a book would launch generations upon generations of young Kazimierzians into the ideas of knighthood. The book had also been a gift from Maria herself, so she felt obliged to read it to fruition as well.
Well, that had been her plan at least when she reached the door. Opening it up, Lavinia was greeted with the chaos that had come to occupy her and Deszcz once quiet dorm room.
As of the recent pipe issues, many dorms began to double up as several dorms had been found to have a danger of being at a risk, rather than having the operators wake up to a deluge of water filling up their abode, the Doctor and Closure made the decision to try and temporarily house those with at risk rooms with those from newer areas of the ship as Closure and her team of engineers did inspections and retrofits to the piping in those areas.
Deszcz and Lavinia had been in one of those rooms, where they now boasted three new roommates. One of which Lavinia knew previously as it was Fiametta, the other two however were people she only knew in passing.
"Hey Suff–,"
"Continue that name and I WILL shove this cannoli up your-"
Previously, Lavinia had only known three Sankta by name: Ezel, Agenir, and Exusiai. Ezel had been every bit as kind as a Sankta seemed like. A warm optimistic disposition especially when it came to taking care of Cecilia. Agenir was as every bit as enigmatic as what most thought a Sankta was, speaking with a mystery in his words that made someone think more about what he spoke than how little he did. Then there was Exusiai and her sunny disposition that seemed infectious. Sankta were odd in a number of ways, and having met her, Mostima seemed the oddest of all. Ever teasing, Fiametta mostly, and seemingly always had the last word. Lavinia had seen the horned Sankta leave Fiametta and the always chatty Exusiai tongue-tied on more than a few occasions the latter wanted to drop by. Having her as a roommate was certainly interesting, as she tended to always ask about Siracusa, notably of the food.
"Oh welcome back Lavinia, would you like a cannoli?"
"I'd like another one."
Provence was the nicest Lupo Lavinia had ever met. The Catastrophe messenger had a smile that eased any tensions and troubles a person would have. As a roommate, if Lavinia ever worked through her lunch or even the dinner call, she could expect Provence to have cooked up or left something warm for anyone to take. Or in this case, could have personally made. Unconsciously, Lavinia felt her mouth water, she hadn't had a cannoli in a long time now.
" Grazie ," Lavinia thanked before grabbing the treat. Biting into it, the baked exterior still warm and cut the cold filling nicely that made the air on Lavinia's tail stand on end. She saw Mostima try and grab another, only for Fiametta to smack her hand. Mostima pouted before smiling delivishly and stealing the fruit on top of Fiametta cake causing a small tussle to occur, Deszcz was laughing off to the side and instigating it more by perhaps taking a few cuts of Fiametta's cake.
Deszcz' and Lavinia's dorm was not as large Mlynar's and Czerny's, but the space was enough for a small couch, a low table, and even a small television system. Previously it had begun to be used by Deszcz and Lavinia to play discs of a Columbian television show called "Rule and Structures". When Provence first arrived, she had immediately busied herself about making the room more "homely". Granted Deszcz and Lavinia were very bare bones about decorations and interior design, but once Provence was finished, the two couldn't help but notice how nicer the room felt with a rug, throw pillows, and knick nacks. Then once Mostima and Fiametta had been sent to them, the common room became quite the living area.
Lavinia spent less of her time holed up in her own personal room for one, and opted to "hang out" as Leontuzzo called it, with the other women in the main room. Talking to Fiametta was easy, there were not many barriers left to break after bathing in a public bath house in Sargon, but Provence was easy to talk to, especially upon learning the Lupo had also been from Siracusa, but not from the main cities. Talking to Mostima was… interesting. It was like talking to Padre Agenir, cryptic words and seemingly half statements made by the woman, but Mostima was an amiable person to be around. She was at least always listening and had something to say.
"Oh, now that Lavinia is here, we can finally ask her about it!"
"Ask me?" Lavinia had finished the cannoli and had already begun to remove her outer shirt Eyes confused as the others also stood up. "Ask me about what?" There was a giddy look in Deszcz's eyes as looked at Lavinia with excitement.
"About the resupply trip. With the water damage and supplies shortage, the Doctor and Closure said that they'll need to have Rhode Island stop at a mobile city to recuperate supplies and repair the ship," Fiametta waved. She sat on the couch, feet over the armrest and a bowl of popcorn in her arms. The television was going through one of her movies playing quietly, but every so often her eyes would flash to the screen. "Would've thought Mlynar told you since was in talks with the mobile city's governor… You know before the water took him out. How is he by the way?"
"Grumpy."
"Ha, so he's alright then." Then she turned back to the television intent on watching the movie. Lavinia caught it as some avant-garde Victorian film, but then Provence put another cannoli on her plate.
"Hmm, I don't know Mlynar much, but do you think he'd like a home cooked meal?" Provence asked. She had wrapped up the rest of the cannolis, after finally having given Mostima another one, and looked to contemplate something. "He's helped coordinate a lot of Catastrophe messengers. I think everyone deserves a home cooked meal every now and then." There was a silent agreement amongst the women about the deliciousness of Provence's cooking.
"So what's the mobile city we're heading to? Anyone know?" Mostima asked. This time she was successful in stealing Fiametta's popcorn, and the Liberi threw her slipper at her in revenge.
"I think its a big city, some place called New Orange or something," Deszcz said as she pulled her hand terminal out to search for some things on the local net. "Oh wow, it looks like its one of the biggest nomadic cities in Columbia. Oooh, there's so much stuff to do! How long are we staying here?"
"To. Be. Determined." Mostima replied as she avoided the things that Fiametta threw at her, laughing all the way. "The Doctor said since the repairs are gonna be more extensive than expected, we'll be docked at the city for a while."
"Where are we all gonna stay?" Lavinia asked.
"I think there's a few places that the Doctor was able to organize for us to stay. Hotels, motels, even some homesteads in the nomadic city's countryside if need be."
"Wait, what about the patients?" Provence asked. Mostima was about to respond, but got silenced when Fiametta was able to hit her head with a laundry basket, knocking her down.
"Rhode Island has a clinical partner in the city that has some space to take all of Rhodes' more dire patients alongside the specialized clinic that Rhode Island has there." Fiametta finished with a smirk as Mostima sent her a dirty glare. "So we shouldn't have any issues for rooms."
"I hope we all stay together, I like having you guys around!" Deszcz said as she wrapped her arms around Lavinia and Provence. Provence hugged her back while Lavinia just smiled awkwardly. "But I can't wait to explore this city!"
"I too am quite interested in visiting another mobile city, especially a Columbian one," Lavinia admitted. Provence let out a nervous laugh.
"I'll probably be happy to stick to their biological lands. Cities and I don't do well together. Smaller towns and neighborhoods are cute though," she sighed. "Columbian cities are really modern too."
"Columbian cities got a mix of people though," Mostima mused as she laid on top of the legs of a protesting Fiametta. She opened her mouth awaiting and the Fiametta considered her options before sighing and tossing a popcorn in her mouth before turning back to the tv screen, more on intent on the movie that the conversation. "With a mix of people, means a mix of personalities, which means a mix of foods, and cultures." She sent a sidelong glance to Lavinia. "And philosophies. A mix of chances too."
"Oh cryptic Mostima of the plate, share thee your wisdom!" Deszcz gushed as she kneeled below the couch and the giggling Mostima. Fiametta chucked a unpopped kernel at the fallen Sankta's head.
"I require refreshment!" Mostima declared. There was a knock on their door. Provence had moved to open it to reveal a pocky chewing Texas and a smiling Exusiai. Exusiai already had a bottle of grape soda in her hand and it was tossed to Mostima, who caught it almost expectantly.
"Oi, Mostima, you got your refreshment, let's go," Texas droned before the black horned Sankta swung her legs off of Fiametta who just tossed another going away popcorn at her.
"Hi Fia!" Exusiai waved, to her credit, the Liberi gave the other redhead a smile and a wave before turning back to the movie.
"Sorry, but we're grabbing you two as well," Texas said, gesturing to Deszcz and Lavinia. "Doctor says we'll be needing your law expertise for a little issue that's been alerted to us about our resupply docking."
"Eh?" Deszcz stood up and grabbed a coat. "What could the Doctor want with us?"
"Hopefully nothing is wrong," Lavinia muttered before the two walked out the room with Mostima in tow. This left Fiametta and Provence in the room.
"Want to watch?" Fiametta asked. "It's a Gaulish directed movie about a waitress helping people."
"Ooh, that sounds wonderful!"
-L&L-
"To preface this meeting, I want to sincerely apologize to all of you," the Doctor began. They were sitting in their desk, fingers interlaced in front of their masked face. Beside them was Closure, who looked increasinly more tired as she tried to remain awake on her feet. Warfarin was on their otherside, she did her best to keep Closure from collapsing. Lee stood behind the Doctor, juggling a handful dice and coins absentmindedly. From the Doctor's glass screen, the operators could see a complicated expression on their leader's face. It had only been four hours since the announcement of Rhode Island stopping at New Orange for resupply, and so many were still whispering amongst themselves about the prospect of exploring the city. When the Doctor apologized, there was an immediate cessation of such.
"While normally, there would a sort of leave associated with resupply trips, except for the egineering and some of the logistics department, I'm afraid those in front of me will be involved in a rather… delicate situation." The Doctor stood up now before bringing up a clicker. "What I'm sharing in this room is by no means sensitive information, it is however quite problematic if non-personal were to learn of such notably due to the heinous nature of accusations leveled."
"What do ya mean baws?" Croissant asked. She had occupied a chair, sitting it so the back propped her body up and was lightly spinning in it. Instead of replying, the Doctor clicked the clicker and the lights dimmed. A projection screen showed on a wall before relaying some static images. News articles.
"As we got closer to New Orange, Rhode Island's intraband connection was able to hop onto the peripheral broadband of New Orange, allowing us to get some semblance of intel before we dock," the Doctor explained as the projection zoomed in on several articles. "Some information that I, Lee, and Savage found was… increasingly more alarming."
"Princeton Hospital under fire for illegal experiments? Ain't that our partner hospital?" Ethan questioned. "We partnered with some fucked up people?"
"No, well, hopefully not," the Doctor reassured. "I was able to get in contact with the head of the Dean of Medicine, and he's affirmed that the statements made were false. Libelous even." Lavinia and Deszcz eye brows both raised at the Doctor's choice of words. "However, we also need to find the origin of WHY Princeton has been given a disastrous reputation IF the promises are false." The Doctor's voice took on a tired tone that matched Closure's.
"Then there's the fact that Princeton is also currently facing a strong influx of infected cases, in fact there has been a noticeable uptick in Infections amongst certain populations of New Orange that's occurred. Civil unrest is high, and frankly speaking, our involvement in the city's affairs will be direct rather than indirect." There was a small ripple amongst those in attendance. Rhode Island usually avoided being directly injected in troubles unless said issues originated from their previous entanglements. The Victorian incidents were still quite fresh amongst those that took part. "This is repayment for favors given to us by both the Dead of Princeton, who was always willing to act as a pseudo-Rhodes branch in New Orange, and a government official who's also given us plenty of aid in regards to navigating Columbia's myriad of legal codes and business quagmires."
"I'm a little lost Doctor, but what exactly are you asking us to do?" the large Feline, Mountain, asked. His rumbling voice was enough to show the wide array of people the Doctor called.
"I'm glad you asked Anthony," the Doctor smiled now. "We will need to run several operations simultaneously in order to both help our troubled allies, and also to help stabilize the situation in New Orange in order to keep the city from self- destructing, but also in order to help Rhode Island in resupply. After all, we can't exactly repair the landship if the repair depot is currently on fire. Although maybe our recent watery troubles would cancel it out." That little joke got a laugh from the crowd. "In any event, we have four major objectives, with three minor objectives that may or may not be expanded upon depending on the future situations."
"The first objective will be the transportation of key materials from New Orange depots to Rhode Island's engineering corps, the Logistics department, I'll have you headed by Closure, Bison, can I count on you to help Closure in maintaining the logistical divisions efficiency?"
"Eh? Me?" the young Forte looked shocked as he pointed to himself. The Doctor gave the boy a thumbs up as the rest of Penguin Logistics ruffled and jostled him. "Are you sure? I just got used to being AN operator."
"I have full trust in ya kid," the Doctor smiled. There was a genuineness in the Doctor's words that had Bison stand straighter.
"I won't let you down," he said with robustness.
"I know you won't. The other two objectives will be to aid in Princeton's legal troubles. Deszcz, Lavinia, I will put your new legal department to the test in this excursion, you will have Rhode Island's full support in matters in regards to law," the Doctor said. Lavinia felt a familiar feeling on her back, legal bulwark. She sent a glance at Deszcz who sent her an equally eager look, fighting on the field was something they still required practice in, but legal battles.
"You can count on us Doctor!" Deszcz cheerily replied. The Doctor nodded.
"Feel free to ask other operators not assigned to objectives to help out, I know a fair bit of avid readers who would be willing to help you go through files."
"Capisce , Doctor." Lavinia nodded.
"Third and fourth objectives will be in treating the Infection rates that's been running rampant in New Orange. It's been notably affecting disparate communities, which is nothing new, except it seems to be targeted towards specific Genus, as there has been a disproportionate amount of Fortes, Kurantas, and Cautus. Silence, I want you, Warfarin, really every non-assigned medical personal to help the Infected. Many are seeing Infection rates at a near unprecedented spread." Silence nodded solemnly. A look of trouble on her features.
"In going with that objective will also be intelligence gathering. Both on the civilian matters, as well as underground," the Doctor began. "Whatever unrest is occurring in New Orange, the common man, the police, and the criminal element are all at play here. We'll need information coming from all major avenues in order to move forward in actually helping the people AND the city. Anthony, Ethan, Kefka, ask your contacts about what's been making waves or what's not been talking. Vigil, Mostima, Jackie, you who have more public roots, I'll need you to ask your contacts as well."
"Everyone, I like to believe that many of these issues are NOT gonna be directly affecting Rhodes Island, but our mission has always been to help. ' May I enjoy my life and practice my art. Respected by all men and in all times' is our motto, and while we may be able to sit upon our own resources, many of you joined to help make a difference and we can make one here," the Doctor took a deep breath. "But despite this heavy burden I am handing to you, I also want you to explore and enjoy your time in New Orange. It is a wonderful city that is the heart of Columbia's freedom. Many of you will be seeing it for the first time, and though you may be swamped with work, I do not require you to fully devote your entire time to these issues. None of these are meant to be completed in an hour, much less a single day. Our extended stay in New Orange entails so." The Doctor finished their speech before meeting the eyes of everyone in attendance. "I will always be available should any issues arise, but I can trust you all."