[hr][hr][center]WITH [color=lightsteelblue]PERCY[/color] & [color=teal]AGATHA[/color][h1][color=0076a3]STEIN[/color][/h1][b]HANGARS, NEW ANCHORAGE [sub]AFTERNOON[/sub][/b][/center] [hr][hr] For the first time since she arrived at New Anchorage, Stein felt herself a little impressed. Though Agatha’s insistence that she could do it until she could do so with one hand behind her back was an amusing one for Stein personally and while the former Volkov Corporation pilot was more than happy to continue a few more runs on climbing the old NC she had not exactly intended to do such an activity until nightfall. There were a variety of things to show the older NC pilot that extended to functions around the base and while she was sure Agatha could familiarize herself with the maps sent to her datatool, there was also the whole precedent of the fact that she had [i]asked[/i] Stein if she could show her the “ropes” and Stein didn’t exactly say no to the request. However, that was until a phrase flew out of Agatha’s mouth that caused Stein’s train of thought to drop and the blonde-haired girl’s confident smirk to become even more apparent. While Stein hadn’t been one to “telegraph” her emotions in most of her adult life, the feel of actual competition combined with the thrill of competition brought out the bite of her codename on the battlefield in tandem. [color=teal] "Unless you are giving up for the day after just one climb?"[/color] [color=0076a3]“Heh.”[/color] As the two female pilots dismounted the NC and made their way back to its feet, Stein could feel some adrenaline come over her. [color=0076a3]“I would assume you are the one who would tire sooner due to your accelerated age. I thought you wanted me to show you the “ropes” but if you desire to be beaten by my time consistently I suppose I can offer you that pleasure.”[/color] [color=teal] "Oh we got a month to go over the ropes, and plenty of time tomorrow, but right now wouldn't it be good to set the bar for everyone else? I'm actually offended Graham thought this even qualified as a test!"[/color] Stein remained silent as she looked at Agatha, as if not understanding what the phrase meant; though she did quite understand it, she just didn't [i]believe[/i] it. While she understood fully about meeting standards, Stein never quite understood inspiring others in the context of standards when in her experience standards were the same for her comrades so she shouldn’t need to raise them up when it was expected of them to meet standards on their own merits. [color=0076a3][i]Set the bar? Why?[/i][/color] Agatha blinked in mild surprise. [color=teal]"Mean's setting a standard to strive to surpass, like a higher rung on a ladder that you strive to climb. If we just settled on our first time and called it good enough, we wouldn't get any better than we are now." [/color] [color=0076a3]“I know what the phrase infers. It isn’t my job to inspire people, it is my job to meet expectations.”[/color] [color=teal]"It isn't in your job to help me out or even climb this NC right now, but you did. Frankly, it's in everyone's interest to bolster each other's standards. Why trust the artillery at the rear not to frag you if you didn't have faith in their skill? Or that the Sniper is going to be watching your back? It's very rare to wind up on sortie alone, so if we don't push our comrades to a higher standard then we do everyone here a disservice." [/color] Stein wasn’t sure if she agreed with the sentiment Agatha was stating, but she was right— she did do it without need to at the very moment. But it was more about her making sure she had not fallen so far off the wagon to be unable to perform. Despite there not being a test at this moment with Graham watching her expecting achievement or failure there was someone else looking over her shoulder, someone far more important than Graham or Agatha— Stein’s personal standards and expectations. [color=0076a3]“Trust is not a word I prescribe to. Everybody should be working at maximum efficiency; they should aspire to live up to the expectations ordered and not have to be handholded. The weak suffer in the shadow and need abstract fantasies of “hope”, the strong know what is required and do it. That’s a fact.”[/color] [color=teal] "Does everyone just know how to be strong? I don't remember turning ten and thinking I can climb a NC and shoot the wings off a fly from 500ft away. The weak, as it were, may still have the potential to be [i]strong[/i], but it needs something or someone to bring it out. At some point you had to have trained or been through something that motivated you. A mentor, a conflict, something." [/color] [color=0076a3]“Your exaggeration is a logical fallacy.”[/color] Stein took a light breath as she shook her head, [color=0076a3]“When I was ten I was required to do a lot of things— climbing a NC was one of them. But you are correct in that I had to be trained, but those who are pilots should know of the requirements of our station. NC's are not toys and piloting them is not a game. I do not understand independents who think otherwise.”[/color] Agatha sighed, not looking offended at the jab at her past. [color=teal] "Respect and standards have to be instilled. I understand your concern, and there have been many times i wished the world was such, but it is impractical to expect every pilot to have the same standards expected of them without a military background. As I'm sure you noticed in the cafeteria and your own life, some pilots start as children. Do you really think Moore would expect Ana, if she is compatible, to perform as well as you or I? If it was just up to him, she would be a soon-to-be-dead pilot. At Graham's standards she'd be decent. What would she be like held to [i] your[/i] standards?" [/color] [color=0076a3]“That ignores the fact that she is untrained. She would have to be trained and conditioned before being expected to [i]any[/i] standards. I do not presume she will be decent, bad, or good.”[/color] Stein's eyes moved to her left as she crossed her arms, catching a glance at Percy as his own voice became apparent as he entered the conversation, which even to Stein was not too surprising consider the two pilots were talking about [i]his[/i] daughter. An unnerving feeling grew over Stein as he did so. [color=lightsteelblue]"My child isn't going to be a pilot,"[/color] Percy said, [color=lightsteelblue]"It's not happening. I'd kill Graham before I let that hap—"[/color] [color=0076a3]“—No, you wouldn’t. You’re a coward. If you were going to stand up to Graham like he [i]wanted[/i] you to, it would have been in the Mess Hall.”[/color] Stein interjected, brows narrowed. [color=lightsteelblue]"I wasn't about to do it in front of my kid."[/color] Percy wasn't exactly [i]lying[/i] when he said that, but he was definitely afraid he'd get his ass handed to him, too. He wasn't exactly as big as Graham was. [color=teal]"Huh, I wasn't the only one who got that impression? Moore, if you wanted your daughter out of this life, you would have gotten out first. But no, you'd rather cower here than carve out a new life. Say if you did try and assault Graham? You wind up dead, the commander maybe as well, and Ana is left behind with nothing but a desperate New Anchorage and your empty NC." [/color] Agatha spat, her disdain for Percy clear. [color=teal] "Whether you admit it or not, all you've left that girl is a life built around NCs, even if she can't pilot she is still going to be drawn to 'em because it will be the only legacy you leave her." [/color] [color=lightsteelblue]"She's not going to be drawn to it!"[/color] Percy raised his voice - this has got to be the most he's ever risen it in one day. [color=lightsteelblue]"She [i]knows[/i] it's dangerous! I've told her over and over again that it's not going to happen for as long as I [i]live![/i] She's not doing it!"[/color] Agatha's face grew taught as it flashed with anger. [color=teal]"You told her you wouldnt let Graham test her. Your word is already shit to us, and it will be to her soon enough."[/color] [color=lightsteelblue][b]"SHE'S [i]NOT[/i] DOING IT."[/b][/color] Percy didn't mean to get so angry, but god damn it these two were driving him over the edge. He had his fists clenched like he wanted to just let out all the stress in his mind on their damned faces, but he stayed standing there, shaking. He had more he wanted to say, but his brain was a hazy mess full of insults, objections, panic. [color=teal]"Moore, I thought you were a poor father before, but I can say you are a wretched human as well." [/color] The redhead pilot didn't say anything in response. Any urge to get violent immediately disappeared. He just stood there, not sure how he could even reply to that. He's always feared he was a bad father. He thought he was bad the first time he had screamed at Ana when she was a baby to [i]just shut up[/i] because he couldn't get her to stop crying. He thought he was awful when he had given her just a little bit of alcohol to help her sleep. But she was alive, so he thought he did alright. She's happy. He could feel his throat tense the way it did when he was about to start sobbing, but he kept his calm. Mostly. The aged lioness stood expecting a punch, a kick, or even just more toothless threats. His lack of response left her snorting in barely restrained fury. [color=teal] "This, Moore, is why you are a damned coward. If this was your best, then it was pathetic. I would deck you for ruining that child of yours if not for the evident [b]fact[/b] that she has clearly taken after her mother!" [/color] [color=lightsteelblue]"And I'm glad she did."[/color] Stein shook her head, [color=0076a3]“If you two are done bickering, I would like to get something fundamentally useful done instead of wasting my time with this conversation. But I will end my interest here with one thing, Moore, you need to straighten up before something worse than a harmless neurological exam happens. The likelihood that your daughter can pilot a NC is less than fifty percent. Cheers.”[/color] As Stein began walking away she could see that Agatha did the same as she broke away from Percy, her eyes turning towards the NC as she let her own anger bleed away. Percy Moore wasn't worth the effort if he couldn't defend himself. With a final, monstrous exhale she turned back to Stein.[color=teal] "I think I can appreciate your view more, Stein. Can you show me around now? I need to bleed myself dry doing something worthwhile."[/color] [color=0076a3]“Of course. I'm due for another run, anyway.”[/color]