Collab Post Between Letter Bee, Aisede, and Landaus Five-One - [@Letter Bee] [@Aisede]
[hider=Outside of the Sison Auditorium (Meeting) - Part 1 of 2]
Ayahime was staring at the Sison Auditorium building, which was converted by the Philippines Military into a Military Barracks. She was still deep in thought, but sooner rather than later, which was inevitable would have to meet with one of the Philippines' Military commanders. The War Correspondent training had mentioned who should be running the Lingayen Contingent portion of the Philippines Military Operations. She sighed and meeting the person in charge would be pertinent. 

Ayahime doesn't know where said person would be since the only thing given was their rank, Second Lieutenant of the Philippines Military. [color=#8B4513] "Second Lieutenant, sometimes, people could be more helpful in providing directions. I am supposed to be a War Correspondent from the United States, but I don't know who it is." [/color] Ayahime said. She always wondered why the War Correspondents previously didn't give exacting instructions or ideas on who Ayahime was looking for as the Second Lieutenant. Ayahime shrugged and sighed at it, but the other War Correspondents from America underestimated the Second Lieutenant for a significant reason, probably his age. [i][color=#8B4513] 'I suppose everyone has different ideas about judging books by their covers,' [/color][/i] Ayahime thought to herself.

Ayahime would be escorted to Noel's office, but not before the troops serving as her escorts would mutter about how Noel was overworking himself since his promotion to [i]First[/i] Lieutenant; nevertheless, the young man, just arrived from his date with Regil (well, 'date') would rise up from his chair to greet Ayahime, saying in near-perfect English, "War Correspondent... Ayahime, right? What do you need?"

Ayahime was grateful that the escorts stayed out of her personal space but heard that the [i]Second Lieutenant[/i] was a First Lieutenant. She felt her War Correspondent training was somewhat dated since much can happen in a war. As she entered Noel's Office, he would rise from his chair and speak in near-perfect English. Ayahime smiled kindly towards the First Lieutenant. [color=#8B4513] "Yes, I am Ayahime Rain Walters. I need to have my duties as a War Correspondent: take pictures of the battlefield and keep the truth going instead of altering it in a propaganda aspect to lie and save face." [/color] Ayahime said, with strong convictions against lying. She smiled and looked at Noel. [color=#8B4513] "Congrats on your promotion to First Lieutenant, Noel," [/color] Ayahime added.

Noel smiled and said, "Be careful. Being too open with your goals can get you some dirty looks; it wasn't too long ago the former President got elected through social media manipulations and smearing dirt on 'normal' journalists like you. But thank you for your congratulations. Now, I presume you came in here for more than just introductions?"

Ayahime sighed at Noel's words, specifically about the smear campaign against journalists, but her work in the states helped rid corruption. She couldn't stop counting how many times politicians had smeared her by being a freelance journalist that hunted the truth. [color=#8B4513] "Some politicians in my country are still trying to silence the truth in the United States. No problem, Noel. Yes, you would be correct on that presumption. Could I ask some basic interview questions? I don't want to pry too much on your private life, but it'll be better to get to know the Lingayen Muniplicaty First Lieutenant. How did the battle go against the Chinese before I got here? How many are Noble Arm Masters in your army group, volunteer or otherwise? The last question, what's your full name, Noel?" [/color] Ayahime asked the basic interview questions primarily given to her by the training she received. She didn't have her camcorder with her since taking a live feed interview might be impolite.

"Noel Luna Alonso," Noel said, "As for the battle... We won at great cost; killed one of their A-Ranks and defeated another. As for Arms Masters, we have more than ten, but some may have left since then."

Ayahime heard the answer to her basic interview questions, starting with Noel's name, next was the battle, and finally, the Arms Masters. She smiled gratefully at the questions answered. [color=#8B4513] "Thank you for answering the questions, Noel. A victory to give those Chinese a bloody nose is better than not fighting. Hmm, that's an understandable number." [/color] Ayahime said smiling. She was grateful those basic questions were easy to ask and get answers to from Noel Luna Alonso. [color=#8B4513] "Do you have any questions for me? I can answer them to the best of my abilities since you've responded to my questions." [/color] Ayahime added.

Noel nodded and said, "Are you an unregistered Arms Master? You're probably not one, but fair warning; it's a slap in the face to have Arms Masters close by but not actually fighting..."

Ayahime froze when Noal asked the question about being an unregistered Arms Master. Her facial features went slightly white, and she was honestly not smiling as her mood changed. She always got smeared by that singular fact about being a coward by those politicians that were corrupt specifically. [color=#8B4513] "I'm sorry, Noel, but I am one. I don't want to [i]use[/i] my Noble Arms because it frightens me." [/color] Ayahime said truthfully but reluctant about her noble arms. She was an unregistered noble arms user because Ayahime chose to be a Freelance Reporter over training to use Xorxin's Wrath. [color=#8B4513] "How did you know I was an Unregistered Arms Master? Was it my last name that gave it away or something?" [/color] Ayahime asked. The Walters Family is one of those highly decorated military families in the United States that have Arm Masters in it.

Noel face-palmed and said, "I ask every reporter this at random, hoping to spook them. I did not [i]expect[/i] you to actually [i]be[/i] one."

He frowned and said, "You do realize that it is the mark of a bad reporter to reveal the truth so easily? How can you get information if you just keep on being too open about what you want to potentially hostile folk?"

Taking a bottle of Coca-Cola, opening it, then pouring its contents into his mouth, the sixteen-year old was inwardly thinking, [i]Worst. Reporter. Ever.[/i]

Ayahime watched Noel face-palm at her for telling the truth, and she nervously sighed. She went white a bit because the previous war correspondents mentioned a test from Noel. It caused her to become incredibly nervous, even more so than usual.[color=#8B4513] "What will happen to me for telling you the truth about what I am?" [/color] Ayahime asked, deeply regretful for telling it like it was. She deeply sighed for even mentioning it, but Ayahime didn't work for News Corporations and only worked for herself.

Ayahime looked at Noel as he frowned at her and asked her two specific questions about a mark of being a bad reporter and being too open to potentially hostile folk. She moved slightly in her chair and nervously looked toward Noel. [color=#8B4513] "You are right. I am a mark of being a bad reporter because of being too open about my circumstances. However, in the United States, most people know of my circumstances, including those politicians that smear me," [/color] Ayahime said. She does her work of seeking the truth while being smeared by politicians calling her a coward and everything.

Ayahime looked around Noel's office and noticed he got coca cola to drink, but she looked up to the ceiling. [color=#8B4513][i]' I failed by a military commander. I know my flaws, but my Noble Arm makes it hard to get close to people.' [/i][/color] Ayahime thought with a frown on her face.

Before Ayahime could receive the relief of a response detailing the dire consequences of their actions, a new arrival made herself known.

It started with a knock and, after receiving a 'come on in' from the voice of a 16-year-old child, the door opened.

She was feeling fidgety, and fidgety usually meant [I]you're going to fuck up and make a critical mistake and everybody is going to hate you now [/I], so she only opened the door slowly at first- but then she began to worry that might be imporper, so she opened it the rest of the way.

[I]Too jerky. Calm down, Kaitlyn.[/I]

"U-um, First Lieutenant Noel Alonso, have you seen Nil- Uh..."

She blinked, trailing off as she quickly identified another party in the room. Non-hostile, obviously. Civilian clothing. 

"E-excuse me..."

Noel sighed and said, "Private Pierce, I haven't seen Nil since earlier today. That said, I need your help for something - This is Ayahime Walters, freelance journalist and [i]unregistered Arms Master[/i]. I'm going to cover for her, but I will ask you to teach her how to act like a normal person so that she can learn how to lie and [i]actually do her job[/i]. Is that okay?"

He then followed up with another attempt at spooking people, saying to Kaitlyn with a slight frown, "You [i]are[/i] a normal person, right?"

She frowned at this, a little offended.

"I like to think of myself as one, sir. If a little... Anxious."

Noel chuckled, "Sorry about that. I shouldn't have tried to spook or prank you. That said, you can help Ayahime, right?"

[I]Um...[/I]

"Y-yes sir..."

This said, she turns her attention to 'Ayahime' proper. For some reason, her name sounds like it came right out of an anime.

Which it probably did. Or anime has used it. Kinda sounds like Orihime.

For a cartoon about violence, she kinda misses Bleach...

The soldier slightly spooked Ayahime to walk in by slowly opening the door, and then a conversation between the private and Noel happened. Ayahime sighed somewhat as the conversation went a bit fast, but it would be a good idea to learn how to lie so she could be a War Correspondent for the Philippines Front of the war. She was grateful that the Private was an American, but Ayahime smiled at Private Price. [color=#8B4513] "Hopefully, you will help me act more normal than what I have done throughout my life as a Freelance Reporter in the States, Private Price," [/color] Ayahime said kindly and respectfully. She was always told by her mother to be respectable to others.

Ayahime sighed slightly and looked toward Noel. [color=#8B4513] "You are very kind, First Lieutenant Noel Luna Alonso. I feel like this kindness is only for a single time. If I fuck up again, you won't be as kind next time." [/color] Ayahime said. She felt that covering for her only once was the proper thing that Noel could do, and it would be her responsibility to ensure that it didn't happen again. It didn't take long for her to look back at the Private. [color=#8B4513] "Alright, I am in your care, Private Price," [/color] Ayahime said.

"So," said the First Lieutenant, "Anything more need to be discussed?"

Kaitlyn wasn't sure if she was the one being addressed, but just incase, she responded anyway.

"N-no sir."

Ayahime looked at First Lieutenant Noel for a moment and sighed. She felt like they were both being addressed by the Lieutenant. [color=#8B4513] "No, First Lieutenant Noel," [/color] Ayahime said. She slowly got up from her seat in front of Noel's Desk. However, as she stood up, Ayahime gave the eastern bow since her mother taught her to bow to show others respect by using her Japanese Heritage over her father's. Ayahime smiled slightly toward First Lieutenant Noel and decidedly walked to give herself enough personal space by exiting his office, specifically not to cross too closely to Private Price. She was outside Noel's office and waited for Private Price to escort her somewhere else in the barracks.

Kaitlyn watched the girl leave, a worried frown on her face.

She thumbed the needle in her air, and wasn't entirely certain if she should bring that up or not.

"T-thank you, sir."

Quickly excusing herself before she said or did something that would make him doubt her "normalness" even more, she followed Ayahime out into the hall.

[I]So, a journalist.[/I]

Looking her over, the first thing she noticed were the earrings.

[I]Western faith. So a fellow American. That'll make this easier.

I wonder if she enjoys anime...?[/I]

Raven hair...

[I]God damn, look at those eyes![/I]

She had never met a human being alive with purple eyes. She knew- from obscure and random Internet searches- that purple was possible, but exceedingly rare.

... She should probably stop staring.

"Um... So... You can't lie?"

Despite herself, her eyes continued to trace a line down the lady's body, only barely registering the cobweb t-shirt.

... No way was she blushing.

Ayahime waited a bit as she was outside of Noel's office, wondering where Private Price was. It didn't take too long until Private Price walked out of the Lieutenant's office. She slightly blinked as Ayahime felt she was being looked at by Private Price. It made her a bit nervous as Ayahime looked at Private Price specifically. Ayahime didn't say anything as Private Price stared at her but looked slightly embarrassed when Private Price asked her a question. [color=#8B4513] "Why are you staring at me? Also, yes, it's hard for me to lie." [/color] Ayahime said, asking Private Price a question while also answering hers.

Ayahime noticed that Private Price was blushing, and it caused her to blush slightly. She tries to keep out of the spotlight, but Ayahime is incredibly beautiful, and it's hard to keep people from getting hurt. [color=#8B4513] "Um... Private Price, what's your name? And also, why are you blushing precisely?" [/color] Ayahime asked. She felt she knew why Private Price was blushing but wanted to ensure nothing was wrong.

"No reason," she said with far more confidence than she felt.

[I]Lying lesson number one: just pretend what you're saying is actually the truth. Which it is. 

There is absolutely no reason I'm blushing right now.[/I]

For some reason, Miss Lei came to mind too.

"... The name's Kaitlyn Price. I'm from Ohio. You?"

After a moment, the shock that was... Absolutely nothing at all... Began to wear down, and she thought about the situation more critically.

The First Lieutenant wants her to teach this girl how to lie, and thus fulfil her duties as a reporter. How does someone get a job like that when they can't lie?

Ayahime looked at Private Price momentarily and sighed when she said the two words. [color=#8B4513] "Hm, okay," [/color] Ayahime said, believing Private Price. She noticed that the Private was becoming less nervous and more confident. It seemed as if Private Price was thinking about something but didn't pry into it anymore. Private Price answered her question by giving her name as Kaitlyn Price, and she is from Ohio. [color=#8B4513] "I was born in Oklahoma. Also, I wish some things were different in my life, but only being twenty-one is tough on me somewhat." [/color] Ayahime said with a slight tone of depression toward the lack of anything good in her life. She has only been able to inform others of certain things about how corrupt they are because they have a long paper trail of how dishonest they are.

Kaitlyn nodded.

"Yeah, I feel you. So are you new to journalism or... ?"

She gestured towards the girl, struggling to find the words.

"I mean, it's kind of your job to weed information out of people using whatever means neccesary, right? You can't do that if you're constantly showing them all your cards."

Ayahime saw Kaitlyn nod and then asked her a question. She isn't new to journalism, but Ayahime is new to lying through her teeth with a silvered tongue as a Journalist has. [color=#8B4513] "I am not new to journalism. I ousted some corrupt politicians with my credentials as a freelance journalist." [/color] Ayahime said with a confused look on her face. Her confusion was only because of the context of the question, in specificness. She noticed that Kaitlyn gestured towards her, and Ayahime listened to what Kaitlyn had to say next, and she gasped slightly. [color=#8B4513] "Err, yeah, I never thought of it that way. I suppose I was working on showing my beliefs too much while I was ousting corrupt politicians. Oh god, that's why many politicians sent people after me. After the cops sent them to jail, with my Freelance Journalism." [/color] Ayahime said with a look of dread on her face. She went pale because of the realization that her beliefs kept almost getting her killed, but if it weren't for her being an Arms Master, Ayahime would have died.
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