Jill carefully considered all of Oh-One’s capabilities as Auri listed them off, comparing them to what she knew about what she could do, what SHINING could do… [color=LightSeaGreen][i]Never heard of these factories, but I suppose if they’re an issue it’ll be quite the scuffle…[/i][/color] Come to think of it, she’d never bothered to look too closely into what Auri or Justin could do either… [quote]"And what the hell can we do about that?" "We can steal the Power Stone first."[/quote] The sheer audacity sent Jill swerving right off her train of thought. She did indeed look at Auri with a good degree of shock. Even if it was a joke, she could hardly tell what that lady was thinking sometimes. She laughed half-heartedly before going back to trying to size up the situation. If it was really a 30% chance of success, they were pretty outmatched… [color=LightSeaGreen][i]Unless![/i][/color] Yeah, that was it! She idly ran her thumb over the EX-System sitting in her pocket. The form she used in the last match was only a small fraction of what it was really capable of, and not even Auri knew what it could do… Well, Jill didn’t either, but if it had so many safety locks on it, it was probably worth the hype. She looked back up to the pair, finally confident in her plan. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Well, I think if I-”[/color] [quote]”JUSTY!!!!!”[/quote] [color=cornflowerblue]"... Please don’t call me that,”[/color] Justin groaned. [color=cyan]”I think it’s cute…”[/color] Auri giggled with her hand on her lips. [color=cyan]”... [i]Justy.[/i]”[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"... See what you started?”[/color] [color=cyan]”Auri Auclair, former assistant to the genius Gerard Delacroix,“[/color] She introduced herself with a little flair. Florian’s entrance prompted only an instant’s shocked pause from Jill, the urge to groan having been trained out of her years ago. Any awkwardness in an awkward smile was long gone. She tipped her hat in response to his bow, and politely sat through his little spiel while having to try extra hard to suppress the grimace the moment he mentioned his superior genetics. She never really got used to that. She managed to shake it off, and leaned over to the bar. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Hey, can ya just get me a glass of water? Thanks!”[/color] Jill was a determined teetotaler, and wasn’t going to leave an inch of room to start drinking in this particular moment. She decided that Florian was about as out of his depth in this crisis as a deep sea anglerfish on a commercial airliner… best to leave him out of the loop for now. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Well as I was saying,”[/color] Jill smiled. [color=LightSeaGreen]“I’ve got a new form that the world ain’t seen yet, do ya think I should see if I can use it in [i]the next match?[/i] Or should I hold off on it?”[/color] Jill winked at Auri and Justin. Auri smiled, [color=cyan]“Could your [i]new form[/i] help you win your [i]next match?[/i] If not, I recommend saving it for later.”[/color] She said. Florian's eyes darted back and forth, as though watching some sort of table tennis match rather than a conversation. He chuckled good naturedly at Auri's suggestion. [Colour=palegreen]"You simply [b]must[/b] utilize all your tools if you are to continue, Jillian!"[/colour] He said, chuckling again and shaking his head. [Colour=palegreen]"No matter what form your [i]next match[/i] may take, it's imperative to give it your all!"[/colour] He added extra emphasis to the words "next match" as though it were merely a custom he'd just learned instead of a system deliberately designed to keep him out of the loop. Even lightly nudging Justy in the arm (and getting a somber look in return), as he'd seen friends do on many situational comedies shown on television. Jill nodded thoughtfully. It was, surprisingly, good advice. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Well, everything I’ve done with the EX-System so far is only a fraction of what it can really do,”[/color] She frowned, still turning everything over in her head. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Judging by how much I’ve gotten out of it so far, if I can handle it at full capacity, well… I’d say the [i]next match[/i] would be a piece of cake!”[/color] Auri paused for a second, before she replied, [color=cyan]“... And if you cannot?”[/color] Jill’s gaze turned sideways. [color=LightSeaGreen]“I’m not sure…”[/color] She said. It wasn’t hard to tell that she thought it certainly wasn’t anything good. To which Auri put her hand on top of Jill’s and said, [color=cyan]“Then I wouldn’t risk it, regardless of the stakes,”[/color] She started, [color=cyan]”... If we put our hearts and minds together, we can win this.”[/color] Florian gave a little nod. [colour=palegreen]”Ms. Auclair.”[/colour] He started. [colour=palegreen]”How thought provoking.”[/colour] He meant it too, though with how his ilk tended to socialize it would’ve been easy to read it as backhanded. [colour=palegreen]”Pray tell, how is the EX system treating you, Ms. Breicen?”[/colour] There was genuine curiosity in his tone, not just the kind he always added out of politeness to make his conversational sparring partner feel seen and heard. He knew a little of how the EX system functioned as his Basilisk system employed similar technology and capabilities, but the EX-System was practically a MINERVA black project with how tight lipped the higher ups had been. [colour=palegreen]”Having seen it in action, it’s difficult to fathom that we’ve still yet to see it at its full capability. Are you concerned about damaging the machinery?”[/colour] His head tilted. [colour=palegreen]”If so, please do not worry, I’d be happy to do everything in my power to expedite repairs and get it returned to you in tip top condition before the event has concluded! I would hate to see you or anyone forced to compete with a handicapped performance!”[/colour] Again, sincere, and again, anyone who didn’t know Florian intimately well could very easily see it as a thinly veiled dig. Jill frowned, but she was pretty distracted by now. She stared at the glass of water now sat in front of her. [color=cyan]“... It looks very appetizing, doesn’t it?”[/color] Auri said with a smile. [color=cyan]“I think it wants you to, you know, [i]drink it.[/i]”[/color] [color=LightSeaGreen]“Well, can’t say I’m worried about breaking it…”[/color] She said, before drifting back to Florian’s first question. [color=LightSeaGreen]“The thing’s exhilaratin’, to be honest. When it’s on, I feel so full of life that I could burst, but once it’s off I feel pretty out of it. Hits like a truck if you’ve been goin’ too wild with it. Izzy said I should be careful with it, but I’ve been gettin’ better with it the more I used it… Back when I started, I couldn’t even keep up the form I used against Aaron just now.”[/color] She sat in silence for a few moments, then downed her glass and set it back down on the bar. [color=LightSeaGreen]“Weird as it is,”[/color] Jill started up again, her usual confidence starting to swell back up again. [color=LightSeaGreen]“I agree with Florian. I didn’t sign up for this line of work to be a coward.”[/color] She looked to her new cyborg friend with a smile. [color=LightSeaGreen]“What do you think, ‘Justy?’”[/color] [color=cornflowerblue]"... I’m hoping no one else picks up on that nickname,”[/color] “Justy” groaned with a roll of his eyes. Then he shrugged and responded to Jill, [color=cornflowerblue]"I’m just listening… just do whatever it takes to win the next match - and remember, there’s always the [i]next tournament[/i] if this doesn’t go well, so don’t shoot your bolt too early.”[/color] Florian nodded. [colour=palegreen]”Well said, my friend.”[/colour] He added, not picking up on Justin’s barely disguised contempt. [colour=palegreen]”Nevertheless, keep at it, Ms. Breicen. I have no doubt you’ll have complete mastery over the system very soon!”[/colour] He said, turning back towards Jill. In truth, he wasn’t entirely sure that’d be the case. Jill’s system was similar in technology and theory but very different in execution. Florian’s Basilisk System could, in laymen’s terms, alter reality. Allowing him to form and use constructs from thin air, but the EX-System… It almost appeared to alter the “self”. The Star of MINERVA shook his head, he was getting too serious and introspective in front of his compatriots and that was simply rude. [colour=palegreen]”As said however, my friend Justy is accurate, there will always be the next tournament to try again!”[/colour] A brilliant Wessington smile and thumbs up towards the three, a light drizzling of sparkles falling from his grin. [colour=palegreen]”I will, gladly, let you all inspect the power stone should you really wish it of course! Provided you submit the appropriate forms and documentation to the MINERVA head office!”[/colour] He bowed slightly, once for Jill, once for Auri and once for his best friend. [colour=palegreen]”It was a genuine pleasure to reconvene with you Ms. Breicen and Justin, my friend. As well as making your acquaintance, Ms. Auclair. But, sadly, I must cut my time with you all short, I have a very regimented training schedule that I must adhere to before the following matches. That said:”[/colour] He reached into his jacket pocket and produced three crisp business cards, deftly placing one each in the hands of his very dear friends. [colour=palegreen]”Please. Do get in contact if my wealth of experience or vast array of connections can be of use to you. Day or night, I rarely sleep.”[/colour] Another bow, another smile. Though a smaller and slightly more open one than normal. Despite not being entirely sure what the hell the conversation was about, he enjoyed a rare moment of affability that he rarely received from those, supposedly, of the same social class as himself. [colour=palegreen]“Adieu.”[/colour] Florian turned and sauntered off. The bartender returned over to the groups corner of the bar, holding three “electrolyte heavy” drinks and a single glass of water. “Is that guy still taking his drink?” he asked in a practically soul dead tone of voice. When Florian left, Justin was quiet for a second before he spoke to Jill and Oh-Seven, [color=cornflowerblue]"Great call, l don’t think he’s friends with tincan, but I don't see him keeping his mouth shut.[/color] [color=LightSeaGreen]“Yeah,”[/color] Jill nodded. [color=LightSeaGreen]“He was makin’ a lot more sense than he usually does, at least. Nice meetin’ you, Justin. I think I’ll link back up with izzy and-”[/color] Massive speakers suddenly sprang to life as if determined to cut her off. [h1]”.... ARRRE YOU READY FIIIIIIGHTERS? THE NEXT ROUND BEGINS NOW!”[/h1]