Blue Meeting:

[callmegladio]

Who: Gladio + Blue Team and Friends.
Where: Dining carriage. (Change of venue, larger space)
When: Grasshopper 15th after lunch.
What: The first Blue Team meeting with the new Leadership in place.
Warnings: Unknown. Possible cuteness. Snack induced jealousy. Will update if something comes up!

To say that Gladio was nervous would be an understatement. He hadn't been able to get much sleep the night before worrying if this would work out the way he had planned. Would people be receptive to what he asked? Would people even come to this meeting? He had been assured by several people there would be at least some (who could resist lovingly prepared snacks?) but it remained to be seen.

Gladio sat at a table, there was a notepad and a pencil in his hand. He would be taking notes of things he deemed important.

Once people started filtering in, Gladio began to feel somewhat better. Calmer. He watched them milling about with a smile. It was only when he thought there was enough that he rose and gave a call to get people's attention.

"First, I just wanna thank everyone for coming. I know it was short notice, but between the mission and platform day coming up, my hands were tied.

In future I'm going to do my best to have a meeting like this before every big mission, once we get the info. I don't think a little organisation can hurt. And... with that in mind. The reason I wanted to get you all here. I want everyone to get to know each other. And I want to learn more about you all. I'd like, if you're all willing, to assign simple roles within the team to each person for missions. If you don't want to be part of that, just let me know. That's your choice." He smiled wider. "If you do... I'll get to you. If you've any questions, I'm open to them. Piccolo and WangJi are also here to answer your questions and concerns. Not just here and not just for missions, but any you have. We're here for you."

With that his smile became a grin. "Now... I know two of our number have been working hard to make delicious snacks, so do me a favour? Make them happy and dig in! Enjoy them and... chat. Mingle. Get to know your fellow blue. We're a small team, lets make us the best team!"

Comments

[spikelet]

"Where does the food come from?" she argued, made braver by his laugh. "What if... what if we stop, next time, and we don't get any more? I'd be able to go on for longer. I'm used to it."

Maybe he was from somewhere that never had to worry about food? That seemed most likely. But she wouldn't hold it against him; her persistence was from a genuine worry that had been bugging her.

[callmegladio]

"Then if that's the case..." His tone gentled. "I'll be relying on you. I'm not used to that kind of thing, and it sounds like a rough thing to have had to deal with at such a young age. But I admire your strength. I hope your worry is wrong and we never have to deal with something like that." Because with the amount of people that were on board the train that relied on food, there would be some very sick, or very dead people, in very short order.

[spikelet]

She considered a moment longer, evaluating for insincerity, and not finding it. A nod, jerky, but she was reassured.

"We could buy our own rice," was her offering in return. No one could say she just pointed out problems! "And peanuts, and plant more vegetables. That way, we won't be taken by surprise."

[callmegladio]

Gladio echoed her nod and smiled wider. "Those are all good ideas... Are you any good at growing those kinds of things? I'm just learning, myself. I know a couple who are good at growing though. But if it was something you think you could help with...?"

[spikelet]

She opened her mouth to refuse, but then bit her lip instead. It wasn't that she didn't think she could do it... she'd watched farmers, and she'd stolen from family plots before, when she was desperate. She knew how they were set out. If they could do it, surely she could?

"I could, maybe..." And it would mean she had a say in it. That would be reassuring. Something she could own. "Someone would have to show me what to do, at first."

[callmegladio]

"I'm sure there's someone who'd be willing to help show you how to do things." Gladio grinned and leaned back, thinking about it. "Glorfindel might be the best bet. Just give me a list of things you think you'd like to grow, and I'll see about getting hold of them." He didn't mind spending the points if it meant getting something renewable like this. Much like his berries, he would be happy if they had a source of food that wasn't tied to the train.

[spikelet]

A list. Glorfindel. She could do that. She nodded again, looking, if not optimistic, then at least a bit more determined. Invested, maybe.

"One of the movies had something called a, um, 'comms specialist'," she ventured, "What if, on a mission, I stayed on the SCA, and everyone could tell me how they were doing, and what they needed? And then... I tell you?"

[callmegladio]

"Oh..." Gladio laughed and tapped his pencil upon his notebook. "I'd already put that down... It was one of the first things you said when you sat down." He looked down at his notes and nodded, before adding a few more about foot, Glory and things he might need to get.

"'Comms specialist' sounds like a good title for you. You think you're up to the task?" He had to ask, but he felt he already knew the answer, and was smiling as he spoke. He liked this kid.

fade to black?

[spikelet]

"Oh," she did vaguely recall that, in the initial buzz of nerves. "Well, good."

He was taking notes? She hadn't realised that was what he was writing. Huh. She nodded a third time, and kept her eyes fixed instead of trying to read what he'd written - probably wasn't some of the few words she knew, anyway. Unbidden, a smile crossed her face, at the question.

"Yes! A-Qing won't let you down."

Sounds good!

[callmegladio]

Another quick note and a laugh. "Then that's what you'll be, kiddo. I trust you'll keep on the comms during missions and let everyone know what's happening, and keep me and the other leads in the loop." He was sure she would, Gladio trusted her in that regard. Her smile and enthusiasm was enough to set his mind at ease that it was the right choice for her.