[color=gray][CENTER][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1070792705547980842/1103779297828802630/Katja2.png[/img][/CENTER][indent][sub][COLOR=SILVER][B]Location:[/B][/COLOR] [I]Team Swap Ceremony - P.R.C.U. Campus[/I][/sub][sup][right][COLOR=SILVER][b]First Class #2.69[/b][/COLOR] [I]Touch Too Much[/I][/right][/sup][/indent][sub][hr][/sub][INDENT][sub][color=SILVER][B]Interaction(s):[/B][/COLOR] [I]Team Blackjack[/I][/sub][SUP][RIGHT][COLOR=SILVER][b]Previously: [/b][/COLOR] [I]No More Solitude[/I][/right][/SUP]
[INDENT]Katja realized that she might have come off a little bit too strong at the end. What was meant to be an invitation for dialogue at a later date might have come off to some as a threat. But she thought most would see it the way she intended it to be, considering she had just reached out with an olive branch to the people who were preparing to leave Blackjack for whatever reason. She figured that the offer of a clean slate would at least calm down the mood of everyone, giving people the chance to rethink or affirm their choice without any bad blood between them.

As it turned out, this was incredibly naive.

Iñigo made his objections heard, and the more he spoke the more frustrated Katja became. She hadn’t tried to shame any of them for instance and she had no idea how he got to that. The frustration turned into anger when Iñigo turned his attention towards Haleigh. She had just tried to apologize to all of them for her zealousness earlier in the day, and here Iñigo threw it back into her face. Not only that, he ended his preaching with an unmistakable threat.

And almost immediately after that the second whistle sounded and all efforts of repairing the broken bond were rendered in vain. Instead, it seems that more bridges were burned because of it.

Katja could barely control her anger at this point. Had she not stepped back in line earlier she’d likely have gone for his throat to make sure he’d never be able to speak like that to Haleigh, or anyone else for that matter, ever again. But as she got ready to storm at Iñigo someone else cut in front of her.

Out of all the people there it was Calliope who first stepped up for Blackjack. Her intervention came as a shock to Katja, who hadn’t expected Calliope to really care for them. Though in hindsight she figured that the signs had been there for a while. She realized that she’d have to adjust her earlier preconceptions about Calliope, preconceptions which Katja still had because of Calliope’s father.

Haleigh quickly followed up on it, giving Iñigo a piece of her mind as well. Both these girls’ interjections had the added effect of calming Katja down. There wasn’t any need for her to say anything that hadn’t already been said. The only thing she did was look Iñigo up and down for a final time before scoffing at the notion that he’d be able to make his threat a reality towards any of Blackjack.

Katja let her gaze linger on Trace for a moment, as while the pain of seeing them leave had been overwhelmed by the rage towards Iñigo, it didn’t mean it didn’t hurt at all. She bit her lip to prevent her from getting too emotional before looking away to the new Blackjack inductees. Rory seemed to be on the case of welcoming them and everyone looked to be more preoccupied with getting to their new Houses than to really make any small talk.

The Houses! With all of the commotion happening around the teamswap Katja had completely forgotten about the Houses! Opening her envelope she quickly read through all of the invitations. She honestly hadn’t thought of which House she’d wanted to join, but as she read through her options it was one invite in particular that caught her eyes.

[table=bordered][row][/row][row][cell=active][indent][b]Greetings and Salutations Katja,[/b]

We are pleased to announce that after review, we have found you to possess great gentleness, a trait that we truly hold dear and revere in House Alces.

We hope that you'll make ours your House of choice upon receiving your offers.

Sincerely,
	[i]Anthony Strum[/i][/indent]
[center][img]https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1047910123206627378/1070136016721170442/House_Alces.png[/img][/center][/cell][/row][/table]

“Gentleness.”

It made her pause for a moment as she kept re-reading that word for what must have been ten times. Katja had never considered herself gentle, most others hadn’t as their first impression either, and she couldn’t blame them. But here was one of the house leaders who did.

Looking up at the different Houses, it seemed like Alces was one of the less popular ones. From what she remembered it was them that had the least House Laurels, i.e. none, and they seemed to be considered as one of the passive Houses around. Not really a house where you’d go if you want to compete in a bunch of things. The corner of Katja’s lip curled into a smirk. That is of course, unless you see that as part of the challenge.

Approaching the House representative of House Alces with that smirk still plastered on her face, Katja extended her invitation to him. [color=#FF7514]”Katja Kruger reporting for duty! So euhm, you need me to bend through my knees or do you want me to put the cloak on myself”[/color] she said with a playful wink.



[hr]

[/INDENT][/INDENT]
[/color]