As soon as Jean said he didn't have to keep her in check, the farm boy gave off a look and a smile like 'You're sure?'. But if Jean didn't want him to and she was actually their senior, then there was really no problem. However, in no way was Isaac gonna believe that...ummm...what was her name again? Baines? He didn't think there was much in the way of strict about [i]her[/i]. In fact, the young man was thinking [color=f7941d][i]'I think the were you're looking for about her is 'loose', Jean'.[/i][/color], though he wasn't about to say that one out-loud. He also didn't want to say that the crazyness was starting to remind him of the crazy candy girl, Mila. They didn't even get to know anything about her beyond that. Well, not him, anyway. Back on topic, though, Jean was talking about a particular spot on the southern front and... [color=f7941d]"Jean, I don't pay attention to the news. My dad reads the paper, but the rest of us would have other things to worry about, work to be done. I wouldn't be able to tell a war hero from just another guy in uniform. I just got dragged into this mess is all."[/color] These people were just people to him, not fancy titles or radio personalities. Chances are, Baines wasn't a [i]hero[/i], just a decent person, and that's all that mattered. Operation: Break-Whatever was just a title for a place where people were fighting again, as per usual. But anyway, Jean was all for getting some diversions - certainly literary ones and whatnot - so that part was going to work out in the end. And then...he told Isaac something that surprised him for a moment: Lucia was going through other people's mail. Jean himself had found out a few things, including that Britta was writing some sort of song. He didn't think that it was horribly wrong. Maybe just a [i]bit[/i] wrong, when you consider what Baines did with Jean there with that poem. Oh, but Isaac got such a smirk on his face as he thought of something he could do. Jean must've noticed because before he left to go talk with the [i]real[/i] recruits, he asked him not to mention anything about the poem to [s]Kalisa[/s] whoever. [color=f7941d]"I would [i]never[/i] do that to someone who didn't deserve it, Jean. I was raised better than that. You go have fun now. I've got work to do."[/color] He didn't. He really didn't. But it was going to [i]seem[/i] like work, the way he played it off. First off, he needed a pad of paper and a pencil. No problem there. Because there wasn't much to do, a dozen of these had been circulated all over. And now, he just began to write, at length, with a serious look on his face. He looked like he was doing work, like writing an official report. This was a cunning lie. No, he was composing something altogether different, which would certainly perk things up a little, around here. Sometimes, you need to invent your [i]own[/i] fun. And so, Isaac was idly moving along, making sure not to hit anyone. He was actually nearby Jean as he was addressing people, but his mind was largely on his own work, since Jean was handling things. However, that's when Luke walked up and, after talking with the new short guy, started asking things. He caught Isaac mid-thought, so he was paying attention now. Almost done, though... Jean was still talking to the others. Alright, let's field this one, then. [color=f7941d]"I've never had to call anyone that before. Bit of a mouthful. How 'bout 'Luke'? Works for me, at least."[/color] He decided to handle this in a friendly manner. God only knows they'll need all the friends they can get. [color=f7941d]"I'm sorry to report, though, that you are [i]exactly[/i] where you're suppose to be. The 15th [i]is[/i] hunkered down here and I'm even an NCO, to boot."[/color] He quickly finished up what he was writing, folded it up, shoved it in an envelope, and then offered his hand. [color=f7941d]"Isaac Black. That's Jean, right there. I don't know where Daniel is. Anyway, we're the Corporals around here. Anyone above that iis presumably busy doing something or other. Any questions, though, no problem answering. Otherwise, find yourself somewhere to take a load off, get some food, and hope for the best when we get to Amone."[/color] It was about then that he noticed that Britta was walking by and he called her over with the envelope held over his head. [b][color=ed1c24]"Swamped already, I see."[/color][/b] [color=f7941d]"Never enough time in a day. Could you take this over to where they're stashing all the other letters for me? I don't see any other Gunners, so no one to coordinate with yet."[/color] He only saw rifles and such on people's backs as they had come in here, so they wouldn't have to determine new and more efficient ways of covering a group like he had with her. Britta nodded at his request and he handed the letter over to her. [color=ed1c24][b]"I'll guard it with my life."[/b][/color] [color=f7941d]"No need for [i]that[/i]. It's just personal mail."[/color] Sort of. So, while Isaac was busy talking with Luke and potentially others, the dark-haired Gunner lady headed towards the mail room and asked for whoever was really authorized to go in it at all times to just deposit this one with the rest. And what was that letter, you might ask? Oh, it was actually a cunning little prank Isaac had just thought up, one that he couldn't resist playing. What's that, you say? You wanna read it? By all means... [hider=My Hider] [color=f7941d][i]Dear Mom, Dad, Alex, Emeri, I won't say that there's much of anything positive to say about this war, but there IS something to say about the people you meet. We're all pretty much a load of raw recruits being flung at the wall, trying to survive intact, and that means we do what we can to stay human. Not just alive, but living, if you follow my meaning. We have to remain ourselves. The fact is that there's someone here in the 15th that I find myself thinking of alot. There's a bunch of nice girls in our group (provided Jean hasn't stolen them all), but this one is a real breath of fresh air. A raw recruit, doing what she can to deal with what she's got, brightening the room with her smile. Wonderful silver-haired girl with a lovely voice, Lucia Farris. I was really worried about her when we were all meeting each other for the first time. Had a rough start. But she's all heart and soul, a real inner-strength in that girl. And funny, too. You'd like her, dad. She has real personality. I never thought I'd meet someone that I feel so strongly for out on a battlefield, but there it is. We all welcome her, of course, make her feel like she's one of us. I just feel that I want to get to know her better, help her when she's down, and whatever else. She is truly wonderful. The only thing is that she has developed a habit of going through people's personal mail, seeing their inner-most thoughts. Lucia, could you stop doing that, please? It isn't very nice. Love, Isaac PS: You can keep this one if you want.[/i][/color] [/hider]