[B]Mindaro Mondays - END[/b]

"[color=66cd00]If there's any shit that you can't deal with, I'll come back an-[/color]"

Her father's hearty laugh cut Gratia's spiel off, and a warm hand tapped her on the head, ruffling her dark brown hair in a kindly and comforting manner. She tried not to let it distract her from her objective - ensuring with utmost certainty that her family would not be troubled in any way while she was in Vale - but it was proving to be an incredible struggle to do so when they were smiling so warmly at her.

"[color=ADFF2F]Ça ira, Grat,[/color]" said Valentinian Mindaro, his firm, fatherly features glowing with a smile as he placed his hands down on her shoulders comfortingly. "[color=ADFF2F]Just worry about school. Make new pals. Become la chasseresse meilleure that I know you're gonna be.[/color]"

"[color=66cd00]But -[/color]"

"[color=ADFF2F]Your papa's got this.[/color]" He nodded, brows furrowing in seriousness. "[color=ADFF2F]You're already helping out enough by sending cash back, and even if some enculé shitbag tries to fuck with us, he'll be getting sodomised by une tronçonneuse![/color]"

There was a disapproving cough from slightly behind him. "[color=9ACD32]Val, darling,[/color]" said Severa Mindaro with a shake of her head, holding a palm out, "[color=9ACD32]please refrain from competing with Gratia in seeing which of you can fill the swear jar first.[/color]"

"[color=ADFF2F]Well if it gets us gros sous ...[/color]" trailed off the Mindaro patriarch as he handed some of his lien to his wife, steely eyes flickering towards Gratia for a moment as an easy grin returned to his chiseled face.

The aforementioned girl refused to flush. She crossed her arms against her chest, defiantly staring back at her parents, who she could immediately tell were fucking trying not to giggle as they recalled the memories.

"[color=66cd00]That was years ago,[/color]" the ponytailed Huntress declared, onyx eyes refusing to budge from theirs as she tried to push the conversation in another direction. "[color=66cd00]It shouldn't even be goddamn relevant now.[/color]"

"[color=9ACD32]But you were simply too adorable, Gratia![/color]" her mother couldn't help but exclaim, the middle-aged woman trying to hide a giggle behind her hand. "[color=9acd32]I think your friends would be quite in- [/color]"

"[color=DFFF00]The airship's here,[/color]" announced Galla in her emotionless monotone, interrupting Severa and saving her sister from having embarrassing childhood stories being revealed in public. "[color=DFFF00]You're running out of time to say goodbye to big sister.[/color]"

The ornithopter, the mechanical marvel that would be the Mindaro family's path home to Mistral, was already descending, gusts of air forming as it made its landing and prepared to receive the crowds that would make its way into its innards. Galla turned to watch it for a moment, before returning to face her big sister alongside her parents, expression still unchanged.

"[color=9ACD32]Well,[/color]" continued Severa, flustered by the sudden realisation that their time was growing shorter and shorter. "[color=9ACD32]I thought it would be - oh well ... Gratia?[/color]"

Her tone had sobered, but there was still a nurturing warmth in her words.

"[color=66cd00]Yes, mama?[/color]"

Severa placed her forehead against her daughter's, face quirked up in a quiet smile.

"[color=9ACD32]Remember to stay safe, okay?[/color]" she whispered, before pulling back and giving Gratia a kiss on the forehead. "[color=9ACD32]We love you.[/color]"

It was a reluctant parting, but unfortunately, it was one that had to come to pass. Gratia Mindaro nodded as her mother leaned in to embrace her one last time. Soon, they would once again be an ocean away. On a completely different continent to the one she was currently residing on.

"[color=66cd00]I'll see you later, then.[/color]"

And soon, they were gone. Taken by the airship and heading back to Mistral.

Gratia turned back towards the towering buildings of Beacon.

It was time to get back to work.
[hr]
[@Eklispe][@LokiLeo789]

[b]Gratia Mindaro - Armoury[/b]

The amount of work Gratia had put into her Frankensteinesque contraption had been immense, but the scope of what she was attempting to do with the ugly mess of polymers and wires meant that despite the time she had spent on constructing the helmet, it was still yet to be complete. The previous Armoury session had allowed her to obtain the necessary parts for the device, but putting them all together would be a challenge. Transforming the chaotic mess of materials into a working prototype was difficult, but she wouldn't fail.

She would definitely succeed.

The Mistralese girl, clad in the black uniform of Haven Academy, had taken a seat next to where Geni and Krysanthe were seated, but she barely acknowledged their presence, even if the former was now her new team member. Her onyx eyes were instead staring down at the tools and parts she had gathered, now assembled on the desk before her, and her pale hands were reached behind her head in order to tie her flowing, dark brown hair back into a ponytail. A white hairtie hung loosely from her mouth, held there temporarily until she was in need of it.

As she dropped the hairtie into a hand, moving it to the back of her head, she continued to observe what she had already gathered: a laser rangefinder, binoculars, LEDs, a thermographic camera, image intensifier, a large number of wires, a circuit board, several rolls of copper and solder, et cetera. Some of them had already been put together in a manner that was tested to work, but there was still more engineering to do.

Her ponytail finally came into place, yet despite its new form, her long hair nearly slapped Geni in the face as she moved her head to her satchel, grabbing out a soldering iron and a pair of safety glasses.

The glasses went on, and Gratia tapped the tip of the iron against some paper. The scent of something burning rose into the air.

It was time to get back to work.