[center]
[h1][color=f7941d]Dakota Brookes[/color][/h1]
[sub]Interacting with: [color=lightblue]Lilie[/color] [@Hero], [color=598527]Salem[/color] [@Trainerblue192], and [color=cbba2e]Aaron[/color] [@Obscene Symphony][/sub]
[/center]


Dakota hadn’t meant to step on any toes when making an entrance. What should have been a pat on the back and a confidence booster somehow ended up lessening the confidence of someone else. Almost immediately after speaking, Dakota could feel a sense of dejection emanating from the dark haired mage who had been speaking to the group before Dakota had barged in. Before he had a moment to speak, however, the mage who had the light show before returned to the group to address Dakota’s comment.

“[color=cbba2e]Looks like you’ll get your wish,[/color]” He said with a pat of his hand on the sword at his side.

“[color=cbba2e]Lilie and I are sparring later today. We’ve both had ten years of training, so I think it’s going to be a good show.[/color]” Dakota flashed an impressed smile, nodding their head in agreement with the statement.

“[color=f7941d]Certainly sounds like it. I’m looking forward to sitting in.[/color]” They laughed a little, eyes turning back to the other male in the gathering as he spoke up.

“[color=598527]I… umm, I don’t have any combat training. Not in the sense you all speak of at least. I can’t wield weapons, nor throw a punch, or roundhouse kick or anything… I’m just a medic…[/color]” The mage’s voice trailed off as he spoke, eyes falling to the ground to inspect something unseen to the rest of the group.

“[color=598527]But I’ve had many mages work with me at my clinic, so I’ve learned of ways to utilize other magics both for medical purposes as well as some combative strategies… from uh… the stories they’ve told me. All of my patients are humans and a few are brought to me by mages who have had to combat a feral or two away from the slums…[/color]” Dakota couldn’t help but feel impressed the more the other guy spoke about his previous experience with magic. If they were being honest, Dakota had never put much thought into what other mage’s lives would be like outside of school. To hear that this particular mage was not already familiar with their affinity, but able to use it for an actual job… That was something to be proud of.

Stuffing their hands into their pockets, Dakota sat back and listened with great interest as the other mage, whose name they still had not picked up on, praised Lilie’s affinity. Assumedly, the affinities had been mentioned earlier in the conversation before Dakota had arrived, so the newcomer had to work extra hard to pick up on the context clues. All they could discern was the woman in question had some sort of versatile affinity capable of quite a many things depending on training and application. While it sounded like a great opportunity, Dakota was unsure as to whether that was something they hoped for or not. Having a unique specialty was always a dream, but it also could limit in the long run… 

“[color=598527]It wouldn’t happen to be Lunch yet would it?[/color]” The darker haired one asked, the question punctuated with a suspiciously timed bell.

“[color=cbba2e]Looks like it,[/color]” The swordsman’s voice betrayed the same amusement Dakota felt, presumably, about the ringing bell.

“[color=cbba2e]Shall we?[/color]” Dakota nodded their head, skipping quickly over to the booth to snag a sign up sheet before returning to the group. The goal was to fill it out and submit it later, after all, this group was too good a learning opportunity to pass up. Upon their return from the table, Dakota could hear the swordsman addressing the dark haired mage about his self-inflicted disappointment. The young mage couldn’t help but to agree, despite having zero experience with magic themselves. It was like any skill, everyone was good at something… even if it wasn’t the same something.

“[color=f7941d]Blondie’s right y’know. I grew up in a non-magic community so all of this stuff is new to me. I don’t even have an affinity![/color]” Dakota let loose a hearty laugh, a mostly genuine sound to cover the slight disappointment they felt about their own situation.

“[color=f7941d]You couldn’t call what I do combat… scrappy maybe, but not combat. I know just enough to get myself out of trouble when I need to. You, on the other hand, sound like you have a pretty solid sense of not only your own abilities but other people’s as well. That’s gotta count for something, don’t you think?[/color]”