[b][center][h3][color=6ecff6] Adalia [/color][/h3][/center][/b] [hr] [b][color=6ecff6]Location:[/color][/b] Entrance of the Tower [b][color=6ecff6]Interactions:[/color][/b] [hr] [b][i]Brrrnnng.[/i][/b] Adalia was quite fond of blankets. She had quite the collection of them back in her studio in the 4th pillar, ranging for all sorts of weathers and materials, all of them self-cleaning and lined with heating mats for the perfect temperature control. The ones she had around her weren't quite as fancy, being the simple, standard linen ones that was provided for her from the research outpost, but Adalia had long since gotten used to the plastic, synthetic feel and found it comforting nonetheless. It was adequate enough for its current usage, wrapped tightly around her in a blanket burrito and giving Adalia' head and tail just enough room to poke out and groggily look around, ears twitching at the alarm clock's shrill beeping noise. [b] [i]Brrrnnng.[/i][/b] No wait, it wasn't an alarm clock at all. Adalia's stomach churned. No, an alarm would be far more preferable, as it would be a reminder that all was going according to a schedule, and all Adalia had to do was switch it off and drift back off to her unharried slumber. But alas, it was the alarm clock's close cousin the phone reminder bell, and [i]that[/i] was the herald of something far more sinister. Adalia squirmed back into the safety of the blanket wrapping and squeezed down her ears, hoping that it was a mere delusion. [b][i]BRRNNNG.[/i][/b] It was nothing. She just imagined it. [b] [i]BRRNNNG.[/i][/b] Maybe she accidentally set the alarm clock sound all weird and it just coincidentally - [b][i]BRRNNNG.[/i] [i]BRRNNNG.[/i] [i]BRRNNNG.[/i][/b] Oh no. Adalia let out a muffled squeak. It was happening. It was today, and today she had to go out to face the reality outside the burrito. An Agent. Adalia tossed the word around in her mind as she went about her daily routine (or rather, letting the dresser's automated arm take care of everything for her), each time feeling the word burn slightly harder against her thoughts. An [i]Agent.[/i] What was she thinking when she had applied for it? That it would be some sort of new adventure? Like a sort of picnic? Like tea and crumpets while getting boulders or explosives or bullets or fire thrown at her? Adalia would have cursed her past self had it not been for the fact that she had already resigned herself to her fate last night, over mocktails and online tutorials on how to make a good first impression at a new work place. Not that she thought had the mind to put any of that into practice. Instead, she had to satisfy herself by nearly dropping her breakfast sandwich and coming dangerously close to simply running back into the blanket fortress. [color=6ecff6][i]I-it's okay, Adalia. Calm down. You've got this. You're good with everything, you're qualified for this position. You're confident, you're cool, you can do this.[/i][/color] Adalia thought to herself, wrapping fresh bandages around her arms just, well, just so she could do something. Adalia pressed down on her hair, trying to get rid of the stray strand that insisted on its outward position. [color=6ecff6][i]Maybe.[/i][/color] [color=0076a3]"Lady Rosenthal."[/color] An elderly man dressed in a sharp blue suit and silver-blue hair exquisitely brushed bowed toward her as Adalia stumbled out of her studio, a slick black sedan whirring gently behind him. Adalia nearly jumped out of her own skin, completely shocked at the sight of the butler despite having known him ever since the day she ever remembered. Adalia couldn't quite manage to restore her composure, tail still tucked firmly between her legs, but she still managed a shaky smile. [color=6ecff6]"Senath! Y-you're here! And uh, yeah!"[/color] [color=0076a3] "You are far more eloquent than usual, miss."[/color] Senath said wryly, before opening the sedan door up for her. [color=0076a3]"The Kazmiertz Residence sends their regards."[/color] Adalia sniffed, barely keeping a straight face against a fresh swirl of dread surging within her. [color=6ecff6]"Thank you. Senath. I'll try."[/color] Adalia said hoarsely, and squeezed herself into the car. The ride was uneventful, at least for the 2nd Pillar. Adalia had spent nary a month in the residence in the upscale side of the 2nd Pillar, and still she quickly got used to the constant buzzing of people of all shapes and race flitting across the streets, the insistence of the holo-signs that occasionally swooped down against the windows and the cat-calls of food-stalls. It wasn't so obnoxious near the Civitas, at least, and Senath expertly navigated through the chaos of the inner city traffic to land her at - Adalia took a big breath from her puffer to make sure she was still breathing - the IX Tower. Or was it just called the Tower? D-did she get the wrong address? Adalia knocked herself out of her train of thoughts. Focus. It was literally the only 'Tower' there was in the whole district. She just had to walk up and show her identifications, and off she'd go. A real Agent. Adalia did not go in, not until Senath gently tapped her on the shoulder and handed her handbag. [color=0076a3]"You'll do more than fine, Adalia."[/color] Senath said with a warm gaze. Adalia only nodded, watching her last means of turning back drive off and disappear between the traffic. Adalia turned to stare at the entrance, dread crystalizing into numbness. Just go in, right? She was meant to be here, right?