Aquilas Clanhouse

[Lykaios]

Within the Clanhouses sturdy walls lies a maze. Aquilas wasn't designed in the most user-friendly of manner's. Probably to keep the unwanteds from really entertaining themselves with what was on offer within. It was more of a dissuasive tactic than anything else, but it worked well enough.

Aquilas' entry-hall was quite large, despite the exterior appearance. The reception desk at the front was large enough to house three receptionists easily, with plenty of working space for each. The receptionists were all female, wearing GDS standard issue Clanhouse uniforms; black full length stockings, knee-length sapphire blue skirts, with silver trim and a white blouse with the Clan's individual insignia on a shoulder pad. Of the three receptionists, however, one's insignia housing shoulder pad also bore two vertical gold lines with two gold stars. Her military background had proven her essential in the clan. She was the only receptionist with authorisation to take Hunters and Guardians alike to the weapons and armour stores on the premises.

Each clanhouse holds a small assortment of weapons caches that are subject only to that certain clan. Aquilas is no different to the rest, except for the fact that it is the largest Clanhouse in the Western Australian region of Pangaea.

Now, the first receptionist, the one on the far left has short brown hair, tied back in a short ponytail. Her green eyes constantly darting from her sheets and leaflets to the entryway, when the doors open. Her name is Stephanie, and is a bit flustery when a male Hunter or Guardian steps up to the counter. Next to her is the ex-military receptionist; stern and infallible, Alice's long blond hair sits in a military braid, hung over her shoulder. Her stony brown eyes tell no tales of flirtation. To the far right is Natalia, the European blonde hair, and blue eyed receptionist. As the youngest, she does what she can to avoid being named as the baby, keeping her maturity at length and not casually flirting with the Hunters, keeping her professional and personal separate. Her slight accent keeps her occupied when she explains to her customers, the services.

Each corridor is sanctioned by one of the three receptionists, and Alice's remains off-limits until any Hunter or Guardian comes back with the suitable Ident card, confirming the sanctioning from higher ups that they be allowed passage.

Stephanie covers the corridor towards the living quarters, whilst Natalia directs the traveller's towards the training facilities and gymnasium, among those, are tools to sharpen a sword, repair damaged armour and other essential activities for someone in such a position.

A fourth corridor leads to the common area, for Hunters and Guardians to mingle, perhaps even form partnerships within and create teams for combat.

And a fifth and final corridor takes the user to the Clanhouse's head: Dante, son of Sparda. Passage to Dante's office is rarely granted, if ever. So keep that in mind, travellers. If you catch Dante's attention, he will request a meeting, until otherwise stated by higher authorities than himself.

[Tifa Lockhart]

It was a fairly uneventful day in the office so to speak, little traffic, and those that had passed through had made their transit quick and painless, something the others complained about, but it didn't bother Alice in the slightest, this was what every day was like for her. No one ever got past her. She flipped the paperwork she was reading over to the next page, brown eyes scanning each line with precision.
The sound of echoing footsteps lured her attention from the page however.

The woman that approached was not remarkably tall, though the wicked heels of her laced boots added a good inch or so to her stature. Despite her average build there was very little that was remarkable to behold about this woman. She dressed like a woman trained to kill, and carried herself with an air of bored and well-earned self-confidence. By male standards, she was quite pretty, buxom and white-blond, making no effort to conceal her sensual figure, except perhaps with the long black trench-coat that floated lightly behind her as she walked briskly over to Alice's desk.

"I'm here to see the Head of House." She declared in a rather uninterested voice, soft in sound but bearing a note of intimidating authority to which many a person may have fallen victim, Alice simply blinked up at her with a skeptical expression.
"I highly doubt you have the clearance for that." She replied, her own voice as dull and unyielding as the newcomer.
The woman gave the smallest of smirks and raised a hand to remove her purple-tinted glasses, slipping the lithely framed spectacles into the pocket of her coat. She fixed Alice with her eerie pink-red eyes as she withdrew from the same pocket a crisply sealed envelope, letters emblazoned on the front read the name of the sender. The back bore a large gold-gilt wax insignia. "I believe this covers that." She said, offering the envelope to the receptionist, her smile suggesting she felt rather good about herself.

Alice didn't need to open the letter, the seal was good enough for her.
"Name?" She said briskly, lips pursing as she handed the envelope back to the strange woman.
"Hunter Rewin." She replied, brushing a lock of her long white-blonde hair with a casual finger. Her nails were painted black and perfectly shaped, a hard-leather gauntlet was strapped to her hand, two spring loaded blades set at the sides.
"Follow me." Alice sniffed, standing and turning down her closely guarded hallway, the hunter-woman following her closely as their footsteps echoed down the corridor.

Alice soon stopped before a large door, knocking loudly to attract the attention of the one inside.
"Hunter Rewin for you Sir." She called, gesturing for her companion to wait until she was called, before turning to return to her post.

[Lykaios]

His day was bleak, at best. It was never interesting enough for him anymore, now that he was practically forced to solitude and paper-work by his...unyieldingly bleak co-worker, Alice. She was pretty. And pretty tough to crack, but he wouldn't give up on his attempts, as he had nothing else to really occupy his time with.

He sat comfortably in his wing-backed chair, the blade of his father, Sparda, hanging behind him. Dante, as aptly named, he was; simply rested his feet in his well-worn boots on his desk, one over the other. A slice of pizza in his left hand, and Ebony in the right. There was no reason to it, just that he was feeling bored. His silver, ear-length hair blowing across his face due to the fan on his right-hand side. Perth was quite hot today, and he was in his regular red trench-coat and blood-darkened leathers.

"Hunter Rewin for you Sir," came that all-too familiar voice outside his door. He smirked as he fired his handgun, the bullet ricochetting from the wall, and snapping the lock on his door, to the 'unlocked' position.

"Proceed." he called, the dullness of the day, clear in his voice.

"We may enter," she said to her companion, opening the door, completely undeterred by the gunshot. "Sir, we may not always be willing to buy you new door-handles, one day. Please consider that."

Her carefully presented statement came as a minimalist attempt at mocking him. He had had her stationed by him from the moment his existence had become well-known. She was his closest friend, in a sense.

"Don't worry your pretty little head, Alice. All in good spirit."
"Right you are, Sir."
"Alright, so...I assume you are miss Rewin?" he posed the question, but without waiting for an answer; continued.

"Professor Tiding presented me with your folio, and the task he approved you for, so there's no need for too much delay. You are to be escorted by Captain Mac, to the Research Facility where the "Keyblade Testing" is being held. You are, thereby ordered to bear witness to one of these tests, and later, to escort a newly...unregistered, but will soon be, Hunter into the field. You will be something of his...guide. He's unfamiliar with the world, but I have heard he strikes hard. So don't get too flirty, understand?" he grinned his cheeky grin and continued.

"From then on, you and he shall work as a two person team, until such times as you gain allies, and/or, any other alterations in your job...such as death. Or, you may be sent new orders. Are you content with this?" this time, he stopped and waited for her to speak.

[Tifa Lockhart]

The Head of House was not the imposing figure she'd imagined him to be. With a reputation such as his Rewin had understandably expected someone a little more....

stuffy?

It wasn't an unpleasant surprise however to find he was not some tight-assed military prig with no more personality than a hunk of cheese. His enthusiasm was somewhat... refreshing. It made Rewin smile... just a little. She didn't even get the chance to present the letter she'd been given, though the sender had suggested she may not need too. Apparently this Dante lived up to his reputation in that regard. She listened in dead silence, her red eyes set in an expression of intense comprehension. She rather liked how he skipped over needless details and got straight to the heart of her assignment. She tired of words very quickly.
"Perfectly, sir." She replied when her input was finally required, offering no reaction to his 'flirting' comment, that sort of behaviour had long been discarded for a life of murderous aggression, even if she had now turned her skills to a more... constructive use. She rested the palm of one hand on her hip, leaning her weight onto that one leg.

The orders didn't sound so difficult, go to this secret facility, watch some new weapons demo and then escort the rookie. In fact, it sounded like something they could have been giving to someone much less... seasoned. She didn't voice any objections however, well aware from her past employment that the tasks that sounded too simple, were always the ones she'd come to enjoy the most.
The challenges.

[Lykaios]

She replied curtly. Obviously not much of a talker, herself. Seemed to him, by this early point that Alice and her could be related. But, without pointing toward this possibility, he continued. Not that there was really all too much to add to this conversation, but what he had, might just assist her.

"Well, that's all good then. However, I ask you to prepare yourself now. Your past aside, this new line of work, is tougher than it looks. I speak from many years of experience, and my daughter is out there, herself a Hunter. But the most important part, I need you to know, came direct from he whom you shall be meeting with at this facility. Marsall Ross, wishes that I urge whoever is sent to keep in mind more than just your 'partner's' unfamiliarity to this world, but his instability as well. I was informed he doesn't know the extent of his own powers, nor does he have full mental stability in the first place. He may be prone to...anything, really. And he's strong, so beware. Understood?"

After her response, he turned and returned to his desk; opening the top drawer and extracting a sphere, small and blue.

"I don't know how this will help you, if at all, but I was requested to give you access to some second stage weaponry and armaments, as well, as something substantial. It's up to you if you'll collect on the offer, but the deal's there. Normally, one at your beginning rank is exempt from second stage items, of any kind...but you received special permissions, something I'm not going to deviate from. I got too much paper-work as is." he suggested, pointing over his shoulder at the five piles stacked high, almost to the ceiling.

"Well, all that's done. You may go."

[Tifa Lockhart]

Though her ego protested his warning, the more sensible side of Rewin's mind absorbed his caution thoroughly and filed it away where the knowledge could be re-accessed promptly when required, not that she had anything feeling that trouble might come her way. She was well used to running with crowds who had varying states of mental stability.
"I acknowledge the danger and welcome the challenge, sir." She replied, running the tip of one finger gently across her temple, an idle gesture it seemed, bearing no real significance.
Her eyes roamed to the orb he removed from the desk, settling there for nary a moment before fixing themselves back upon his face.
"Special treatment? I'm almost flattered." She said, a glint in her eye as she spoke, her voice bearing perhaps the faintest traces of mocking flirtation as she dipped into a gesture of respect and backed towards the door. "I'll leave you to your paper-work." She said, the smallest of smirks cracking her lips before she turned and departed to see what sort of equipment she was now entitled too.