[center][color=007fff][b][u]Azura[/u][/b][/color]
Level 1
Day 3
Location: 26th Floor of Tetris Castle, the Reception Hall
[b]Experience: [color=black]||||||||||[/color] (0/10)[/b][/center]

One after another, the other attendees voiced their questions to Vault Boy.  They posed him inquiries about Markarth -the beleaguered city to which they would be deployed in the near future-, about lethality, and a handful of other topics, but none ended up concerning Azura more than her own.  To her diminutive host's reply she gave a grateful nod of acknowledgment, saying, [color=007fff]“49th floor, understood.  I will pay them a visit before we depart.”[/color].  His usage of the word 'suit', evocative of heavy protective wear, did not thrill her, but she could ill afford to turn down necessary gear that appeared to be free of charge.  A gracious guest did not refuse a gift, and even if she happened to dislike the style of clothing offered, the thought of braving an alpine landscape in dancer's garb struck her as singularly idiotic.

By the time that the other questions were dealt with in the same sequential manner as asked, the meeting had grown the air of being over with.  Preparing to leave, Azura stood, only to be momentary distracted by another embarrassing exchange from the man on the other side of the enchanted image.  [i]How ghastly for that poor woman.  I couldn't imagine working with such a flippant combination of immaturity and ego.[/i]  She remained standing behind her chair as Vault Boy addressed everyone once again, this time with a definite note of finality.  As luck would have it, a pertinent tidbit of information came in that package: her solution to Skyrim's cold climate could be found in the same area of the castle as the departure point for the mission.  Furthermore, all those involved were to receive a vaccine.  Azura sported some familiarity with the word, having heard it in medicinal circles in reference to an altered version of a pathogen that would grant someone injected with it heightened resistance to that pathogen, but Vault Boy mentioned it so casually that she suspected it to be more advanced than the medicines of her world.  After all, in her realm remedies for disease and injury often came in the form of magic, and words like 'vaccine' seldom left theoretical circles.  Nevertheless, she imagined that this would be necessary.  If this Mugen virus posed as much of a threat as she'd been led to believe, Azura needed an immunization to stand half a chance.

[center]-=-=-[/center]

“Well, miss?  What do you think?”

Azura looked herself over, each movement making her aware of the weight of the cloth.  The dress whipped up by the inventors of Floor 49 could just as easily have been a robe or coat, as it combined elements from all three.  Simply but effective, with layers engineered to withstand the bite of wind and to deny the entry of snow, it fit very well over her ordinary clothes.  Even in the details she could have not asked for better; it worked perfectly with her veil, leaving only her upper face exposed, and the hood sported a slit in the back for her long hair to fall through so as to not bunch up inside.  Despite herself, Azura smiled.  [color=007fff]“It is comfortable.  And very warm.”[/color]  The inventor looked pleased to hear it.  Her eagerness almost made the princess bashful.  [color=007fff]“But isn't it a bit...stark?”[/color]

She gestured at the cloth, which appeared white as snow itself.  It made her stand out, which in turn made her more uncomfortable than the average person would realize.  The inventor, however, shook her head.  “The outermost layer is reversible.  Inside, it's a light purplish-gray.  Perfect for blending into rock, or the dark.  While right now it's amazing for disappearing into a snowscape!”  She put her hands on her hips, laughing.  “I hope I didn't presume too much, but you struck me as someone who doesn't like being the center of attention.

Azura replied with a laugh of her own, albeit a nervous one.  [i]Is it that obvious?[/i]  Closing her eyes, she bowed her head.  [color=007fff]“Thank you.  I know you said that payment isn't required earlier, but for such a nice and warm dress, custom-made so quickly...if there's anything I can do to help you, please don't hesitate to call on me.”[/color]

Further words, however, would have to wait.  While not egregious, the delay had placed her well behind the rest in terms of mobilization.  With as much speed as she could muster without breaking her composure, Azura hastened to the 49th Floor's transport room.  There, she hefted her Blessed Lance and strode through the portal to the land of Skyrim, her vaccination performed while she had been waiting.

She arrived just in time to her the President stop speaking.  For a brief moment her face gave uncharacteristically full voice to her disbelief, though she reverted to an impartial expression the next instant.  [i]Him!?[/i]  Even now his words dripped with self-absorption and cavalier offhandedness.  [i]How are we supposed to get anything done with this buffoon at the helm?[/i]  She took a deep breath.  No matter—she'd suffered through far worse.  As much as the thought of singing for him offended her, Azura had a duty to fulfill here.  She rested the butt of her lance on the stone, and in a voice colder than the surrounding air, replied, [color=007fff]“As you wish, Boss.”[/color]