Leoniya took the words out of the Firbolg's mouth. She didn't have much to add on the fronts the rat had mentioned. A well dressed old man in this town? How odd. "If you don't mind a few questions, sir? My name is Katherine, would you share yours as well as your wife and daughter's?" Katherine asked. Perhaps if she had some names, if the ones that went ahead hadn't found the missing squad yet, she could keep her ears open. If the family lived here, well, there was already a good chance that they were... She pushed that though aside and continued with another question. "And how exactly did you arrive here?" She looked at his flawless outfit and then the hellscape around them. Her estimations.... He just appeared here. It didn't hurt to ask. "Like the Rat said, it's a bit odd at how you look so... Spotless."

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours

---

@Pyromania99

“Ahaha, when you’re as old as I am you learn some tricks to keep yourself spotless, as you say.” He’d respond with a chuckle. “Though, I fear the response I’ll give you to my name is less than satisfactory. You may call me Sir S, if you must have a name. I can give you no more than that, and as for my family…” He shook his head. “Its too late. I’ve already confirmed that myself.”

“...Hm. While I can not say I trust you, Sir…S,” Leoniya responded. “If that is true then you have my condolences. That said, may I request you accompany us to our airship for an interview.”

“That is a request, I will have to refuse for now. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must be off.” He briefly glanced over his shoulder, frowning slightly. “There’s little reason for me to stick around if the maids have this handled.”

---

@Click This@AzureKnight

“Eh, but I haven’t done any of that since-ah, momma said I can’t talk about that.” Lyssa coughed, blood splattering the front of her dress. Though she was injured, Lyssa wasn’t content to settle down and be treated like such. She couldn’t do much, but she could at least use her large gauntlets to deflect bits of smaller debris as the old theater slowly crumbled around them more and more - and just as the trio would burst from the front entrance, stumbling from the debris, demons nipping at their heels…the entire thing would thus, come down.

Burying the theater, the demons, and anything else that might have been inside.

“...nngh…thanks you two…” Lyssa would say, tone faltering as she was still being held up by the other maid. “Ugh…anyone have any food, I could use a pick me up…”

Farisian Maid

---

Somehow, they all made it out intact, and not missing any limbs, extremities, or other human body parts. Conveniently, the same could not be said of any of the demons that might have otherwise still been in pursuit of Polina and the other two maids. It certainly had been a close call, though, and even she had to let out a breath of relief as she stopped to catch her breath once they were a safe distance from the still collapsing theater. What a waste of a grand old building.

“You got lucky,” she shrugged. Really, the pink-haired maid should have bailed long before her rescuers showed up.

Polina produced yet another silk bag of macarons and passed it over to the injured maid after she checked to see how her young charge was doing. Had she never eaten her own bag of sweets? “Here. Don’t eat it all at once or you’ll get a stomach ache,” she advised.

Sir S? What a name. Katherine wondered a small bit about the secrecy and if it was really necessary. She merely shrugged at the thought as her continued to mention he already confirmed about them. She really wondered when he managed that. "Hmm, yes, sorry to hear." Katherine mentioned, giving her condolences in her own way. That said, everything about this man still felt off. The Firbolg wasn't really sure what she should say to the man, really. It was fairly obvious that he was no ordinary man if he could come here with nary a speck of dirt on his person. If they tried to detain him, Katherine wasn't sure exactly what he would do. "Very well then, Sir S. Do try to not get eaten yourself on your escape from this ruin. I would hate for us not have the chance to meet again."

Katherine looked to Leoniya and shrugged. "I doubt if we even managed to take him in somehow that he would tell us anything without being really cryptic anyway. And that is assuming, again, that we even manage it. You can just blame me when we do our report, if you want." The Firbolg said, shrugging towards the rat and shaking her head. "We'll have more pressing matters anyway. Like wondering when our other recruits show up."

Cogsfell Aftermath

---

Some girls were fans of everything falling down around them, Lucrecia wasn't one of them.

Carrying a girl who was wearing metal armor that was bigger than both of them, the recruit ran with Lyssa as fast as her legs would allow. The horrid sound of foundation crashing drowned out the sounds of any demons that may have been chasing them; part of her thought they weren't going to make it.

However, through perhaps a divine stroke of luck, the maids along with civilian in tow narrowly made it out of the theatre. Hopefully any pursuers were flatten along with the building. Her strength failing her, she let down Lyssa with labored breathing. "Merda!!" she uttered.

Despite her advice toward Lyssa earlier, she didn't have the energy to protest. Since they survived, quite frankly, a hopeless situation, why not let the little lady enjoy a sugary snack or two. Actually? Ah, what the hell.

"Polina, I think I'll take some of those myself, if you don't mind."

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours

---

@Click This@AzureKnight

“Ahaha, luck didn’t have anything to do with it.” Lyssa replied with a giggle, with a somewhat dopey, happy smile as she detached herself from Lucrecia, managing to stand mostly on her own and didn’t seem too bothered by what was likely a few broken bones now. “They just couldn’t handle my cuteness-ah, Macarons~!”

She’d gratefully take the treat, smile never fading as she’d proceed to completely ignore Polina’s instruction about not eating them all at once, stuffing one in her mouth and nearly eating the whole thing in a single bite.

“Eheh, oh, I almost didn’t see the cute little girl.” Lyssa said, walking around Polina to look at the girl clinging to her back. “Oh, I think I saw her earlier…she was running with her family. Hey hey, little girl, its okay you’re all safe now.” The girl was none too enthused, burying her head in Polina’s back and ignoring the pink haired maid.

She otherwise seemed fine, aside from trauma she’d likely need to work through after this.

“Eeeh….I think I’m scaring her.” Though Lyssa seemed to do nothing but laugh about that, nibbling on another Macaron as she’d walk up to Lucrecia and proceed to present her with a few out of her own bag. If Lucrecia would let her, Lyssa would proceed to feed the other maid the sweet.

Regardless though, it was likely a good idea for the trio to make it back to camp sooner rather than later. They had the only survivor of the forward operating unit and the rest of the maids would likely be sent in to help with cleanup, along with certain members of the church.

---

@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

“I’m of the same opinion, Katherine.” Leoniya replied to the fellow maid, earning a chuckle from Sir S.

“Well, then with your permission I shall be off.” He’d bow, a deep, formal bow. “We shall likely run into each other again at some point, do stay safe until then.” And with that, he’d walk away from the pair, off into the distance before disappearing behind some rubble not to far away. Thankfully Leoniya and Katherine would not have to wait too long for the others to show up. Now that the main demonic threats had been taken care of, there was nothing left to do except make sure the LZ was secure and wait for extraction.

Lyssa would spend the time tending to her wounds and eating the rest of the macarons. Leoniya repaired her tank, and the little girl mostly kept to herself, though seemed to avoid Lyssa and cling close to Polina. After an hour or so of getting the radios back up and working from Bernadette, the maids would find themselves receiving extraction orders as another squad would be soon arriving to secure the area now that the place had been mostly taken care of.

The Clemantis would land just on the outskirts of town, just on the eastern end near the evac zone. Lyssa wasted no time in running ahead of the others, seemingly totally fine now from her injuries as she’d bound up the gangplank, quickly arriving on the deck of the airship.

“Mom~!” A certain foul tempered maid was there to greet them - and was giving all of them a glare as they arrived, but her stern visage was soon shattered by the sight of her daughter it seemed who proceeded to just…tackle her, burying her face in Myrilla’s chest and wrapping her in a tight hug.

“Bweh-lyssa!” Myrilla coughed, her cigarette falling to the ships deck. “Not while on duty!” She’d hiss, though she couldn't help but to sigh and soften her voice a little. “I was worried sick, you know. Are you hurt?”

“Nope. A demon smacked me around a bit but its all dead now and I’ve had worse during training.” She’d giggle in response, pulling away from the hug.

“Good, good…” Her stern visage returned, looking at the other maids that had returned. Leoniya, Polina, Lucrecia and Katherine. “...I’m assuming there were no other survivors from the squad?” Lyssa walked back over to Polina, giving her a somewhat expectant look. “...actually, before that. Just who in their right minds,” Myrilla interjected before either could answer. “Thought it was a tactically sound decision, to draw every single demon in the vicinity to the Landing Zone!? Do you have any idea how foolish and stupid that was? You’re lucky you didn’t end up as that High Demons plaything for eternity!” She’d snarl.

“Got any more? Please? I’ll give you hugs…or something else!” Lyssa whispered to Polina, a somewhat sly smile painted on her lips.

The little girl was clinging to Polina’s legs now, trying to hide from the others. Leoniya was directing some other maids onto the ground.

As suspicious as this Sir S was, there was little reason to try and keep him down. He didn't ostensibly seem like a demon or anything of the sort. It seemed that, despite causing quite the ruckus on landing, Polina managed to get two girls attached to her. She looked between the small girl she found and the maid she and the other rescued. Well, whatever worked. For the moment, she just stood on deck ready for a debrief more than what they got. "Looks like mommy has her daughter to hug again~" She teased a small bit, trying not to be thrown overboard this time.

Then she asked about drawing the entirety of the demons to the Landing Zone? "As if it were me. I already had my hands full with bringing myself to the ground safely without being squished on the streets below. I am glad Leoniya came as support or I think my "squad" and I would have been ripped apart like some fluffy cake." Katherine shrugged with a sigh. "We did take care of it in the end, however."

Meanwhile, off to the side, the dolls were looking at each other and studying the damage done to each individual. One of them had managed to put on a hat that seemed like it'd belong on a combat medic of sorts and seemed to help bandage the others up. One an eyepatch and another a splint.

Cogsfell Aftermath

---

The streets echoed with the small sounds of tumbling debris, the theatre now reduced to a mountain of rubble. Breathing heavily, Lucrecia didn't do much when Lyssa clumsily let herself down from her embrace. Lucrecia was sure that the girl had at most some facture bones, and at worst punctured organs and internal bleeding. However, the if either were the case she certainly didn't seem to be affected by any of it. She happily started stuffing her face full of macaroons. Lucrecia would've normally lectured her about proper etiquette, but at this point she just didn't have the energy. Munching on one herself, she decided to use what little energy she had left to walk with her comrades back to the rendezvous point.

Upon reuniting with Katherine and Leoniya, Lucrecia would take note of the scars left by the past skirmish. Leoniya seemed to have been busy repairing the tank, whilst Katherine and her dolls were patrolling the area. Looking around, the high demon they were fighting was no where to be found. No corpse or a body-shaped cinder to be found. That could mean a few things. The demon could've retreated, which was unlikely. The other scenario...

"Salute, Katherine and Madonna." She greeted her comrade and senior maid. It looks like you were able to take care of things here. Did you...capture the high demon we were all fighting earlier?" She inquired. She also made note of a peculiar man, dressed to impress, walking down the way. He didn't seem to mind that this place was literally the site of a bloodbath...

After some time, Lucrecia along with the others saw the Clemantis finally touch its way down for extraction. It seemed that today, for the most part, the mission was a success. Boarding the ship, the sight of Lyssa tackling her mother in a heartfelt embrace painted the picture of a warm reunion in Lucrecia's eyes. She made a small giggle as the scene brought a warm smile on her face. "Here you are Madonna, your pride and joy has been brought back to you safe and sound, as promised." Said the recruit. The pleasantries were abruptly cut, however, as Myrilla instantly drew the attention of all the present recruits with a snarl.

She wasn't happy with some of the finer details of how the operation went down. Not even bothering to thank them for saving her flesh and blood, she wanted the one who drew all of the demons to their vicinity to step forward. Lucrecia wasn't the type to throw anyone under bus, but she had to admit, that was a risky move.

"No, Madonna, I'm afraid that we weren't able to find any other survivors from Lyssa's squad. We were lucky to find her when we did. They only other survivor we managed to find was this young girl here." She answered, motioning toward the little girl from earlier, who was now clinging to Polina like an adhesive.

"As for the details as to how all of the demons got attracted to our location. I, uh, can't say that I really remember. Ehehe..." She smiled nervous as a small blush took over her face.

Farisian Maid

---

Polina ignored Lyssa’s flouting of her instructions, knowing that they would go unheeded. Instead, she checked on her young charge once more as she cuddled into her, clearly afraid of the pink-haired battle maniac maid. The Farisian maid mentally shrugged. She’d gotten through [most of her own wartime mental trauma just fine, so she was sure the little girl would be able to as well, eventually.

She gave her a pat on the head and proceeded to head back to camp with the others.

They returned to their landing site to find the vicinity cleansed of demons, though not cleaned of the telltale signs of the dirty work. After making sure the girl was sufficiently alright, Polina settled in to sort her knives and blades into order before the radios were operational again. Although she was an expert at manipulating and summoning them from the folds of her dress, putting them back tended to be trickier, and she had to do the bulk of that manually.

Before long, though, they had reestablished communications with their ship, and she the others met the craft at the edge of the city, with girl in tow. Polina didn’t quite know what she would do with her yet, but she suspected she might make a good maid-in-training, if she wasn’t overly traumatized…

Of course, with the airship came Myrilla, and quite the tongue-lashing for some perceived tactical deficiency. Apparently, the woman was not a fan of her brand of force escalation. She spoke up, but not before slipping the head maid’s daughter yet another small bag of macarons, giving her a short glance to bring the two of them to an unspoken understanding that favors would be owed… namely keeping her mother in check after Polina opened her mouth.

“Permission to speak freely?” she asked, ever the strict adherent of… surface level formality, before continuing on once given the approval. “From my perspective, it was a critically successful reconnaissance in force, with significant threat elements quickly identified and swiftly dispatched, ensuring a greater evacuation and recovery rate for the city’s inhabitants,” she helpfully clarified. She was serious, even if it was bullshit. She could spin the world’s biggest pile of bull with the straightest, most serious voice without missing a beat. But she wasn’t wrong, either!

“More importantly, all mission goals were met, and ahead of time.”

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours
@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

---

Being handed a bag of macaron, Lyssa gave a fist pump and a chuckle as she’d snatch it eagerly. The rookie maid would proceed to well, start quickly stuffing her face with the pastries, listening to the exchange between Myrilla and Polina. The pink haired instructor, in turn, merely took a long drag on her cigarette, listening to Polina make her case.

“I should have expected the maid that didn’t know her place was the one I’d have to beat more training into.” She responded gruffly. “You think this was a ‘critical success’? You not only put the whole mission in jeopardy fighting a high demon when you’re mere rookies that could barely fight these common animals.” She’d snarl. “Not only that, you didn’t even manage to save a single member of the recon team aside from Lyssa. And did you even see if you could find anything that happened? No, you just went in shot every demon you saw and didn’t use your bloody brain to figure out-”

“Moooom we get it you were worried about them!”

“Bwehf!?” A quite uncharacteristic choking noise came from Myrilla as she’d cough up cigarette smoke. “L-lyssa?!”

“Ehehe,” Lyssa bounced over, giving Polina a playful wink and a smirk as she hugged her mom, nuzzling the top of her head against the older womans arm. “C’mon, stop being so grouchy. I’m fine! Not a scratch on me! I got some good field time, too! And now I’m just hungry…fighting makes me really hungry, ugh…”

“A-ahem, w-well,” Myrilla, cleared her throat, turning on her heels and walking away from the group. “Lyssa, go have Viatrix give you a checkup. The rest of you…well, you have free time until we return to the Maison. Dismissed!”

Aboard the Clemantis

---

Lucrecia made a small sigh as she prepared to be chewed out by their combat instructor. However, much to her surprise, Myrilla's entire rough-and-tough persona disappeared when her daughter chimed in. Citing her anger that at first seemed to be stemming from a show of insubordination, was actually from a show of concern for their fellow maids. Realizing that, it put the instructor in a different light in Lucrecia's eyes, and made her feel a little worse that they unfortunately couldn't save them. Although, seeing the instructor's heart melting so easily when faced with Lyssa made her chuckle a bit. With that, they were all dismissed and had some free time before they arrived back at the Maison. With a bow to Myrilla, Lucrecia excused herself from their instructor. "Gracie Madonna." She said.

She walked over to Polina for a moment. Thinking it'd be nice to build a bit of rapport with her, since they worked together for a large part of the mission. "Seems the mission worked out rather nicely, all things considered." She started. In my opinion, I don't necessarily feel that the action you took was wrong. Sure, it got more than a little hectic dealing with a sudden swarm of demons. But, being lessers means they're easier to take out, and with most of them coming out of hiding it meant less chance of ambush for us. It certainly made it easier to find Lyssa and this little one." Lucrecia said, looking at the little girl clinching to Polina's leg with a warm smile. If the little one would let her, she'd attempt to rub the top of her head as a means of comforting her.

"You know, I hope making sure you always have enough ingredients to make more macaroons doesn't become too difficult in the coming days. I feel the young Madonna...may become a frequent patron due to them." She warned the farisian maid. She glanced at Lyssa, who was still stuffing her face full of pastries. "Does she always down sweets like that, I wonder? How does she stay so small?"

Noticing Kat and her dolls, she looked with curious eyes as they scurried about. Some of them were repairing each other, sewing limbs back on or stitching cuts back up. "Well Kat, it seems you and Leoniya were able to subdue that high demon. Nothing we seemed to threw at it." She said to her Firbolg comrade. "Although, I didn't see a body or even a cinder outlining one. What exactly did you do? I can't imagine that it ran away.."

Farisian Maid

---

Quite frankly, Polina thought going in and shooting every demon she saw was a viable and effective strategy, and it clearly was already demonstrated to work perfectly! She wasn’t going to go ahead and intentionally dig her grave further –she’d already intentionally done that, after all—but why bother when she would be saved by bribery any moment now? Ah, there it was. Polina quickly noted that she would have to have a large selection of sweets ready at a moment’s notice –not that she didn’t already—to bribe Lyssa with to keep her mother away, because the Farisian maid was sure that the older women would likely have more problems with her in the future.

Having stoically met Myrilla’s snarling up until now, she couldn’t help but to derive amusement from her interaction with her daughter even as she kept her outer façade stone-faced. Polina did have to agree with Lyssa, though. She was getting pretty hungry.

“It did,” she nodded, once Lucrecia approached her. “Less time spent being overly cautious meant there was more time to exterminate the threat. The young lady here was saved because of that.”

What Polina didn’t know what to do with, though, was the young girl that was still clinging to the frills of her dress. Considering that she’d just narrowly avoided more than a tongue-lashing from her superior, she didn’t try to reengage the woman. Instead, she turned to the girl, kneeling down and giving her a pat on the head as well. “Would you like some food? You must be hungry after all this while.”

With free time now, Katherine took a quick look at her dolls and made sure they were being taken care of properly. Medic Doll seemed to be taking care of them all fairly well so Katherine moved over with the large spherical capsule containing the high demon to where the other maids were gathered. Lucrecia had asked what happened to the high demon. "Ahh, yes, that high demon. Well, I can tell you that there were some casualties on our end but we managed to subdue it between Leoniya's superior firepower and my volleys." She held up the capsule containing the demon. "I'll give you three guesses on where she is now, though the first two don't count." The Firbolg giggled before a doll that had been finished getting treatment came over, offering to hold the orb as she talked. "Thank you, dear." The puppeteer said as she handed the orb to the doll and it stood there with an eyepatch over it's right eye and a bandaged up midsection.

"Anyhow, Leoniya managed to pin her and I ran over with this before landing a decisive blow... On her head. Anyhow, she's neutralized for the moment." The firbolg said before looking at Lyssa and then peering up and down. While the maid was busy with Polina, the Firbolg walked around her and gave her a firm slap on the ass. "Come now, you should get yourself looked at by the nurse. Of course, if you're feeling brave, Medic Doll here can give you a check-up. Can't promise results though." The firbolg mentioned with a wink. She was two for two, mother and daughter, now. She's been thrown off the ship once, what could be worse this time. "That said, who's the girl? Think you should get her checked up too?"

Location:
Cogsfell
12.000 hours
@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

---

Lyssa jumped, body going stiff and giving a little squeal as she’d feel Katherine’s hand smack her butt.

“Nyep-Hey save that kinda stuff for the bedroom.” She’d giggle a bit, a coy smile given towards Katherine. “Oooor bribe me with something sweet and cold if you wanna do that sorta thing in public.” She’d rub her butt just a bit where she was smacked before turning towards her would be assailant. “So kitty cat, what’s your name and are we gonna get a room oooor are you just gonna leave me hanging?”

The small girl in the red dress responded with a frown, glancing warily towards Lyssa and Katherine before looking up at Polina and Lucrecia.

“...I-I…uhm…y-yes…” She’d quietly reply. “A-akantha…my name. Akantha…”

“My my, aren’t you all quite rowdy this evening.” A voice, familiar to the maids would interrupt their conversation as the resident nurse and long range fighter would make herself available, stepping out of the ships lower deck and onto the main deck. “Hmm…oh, it seems we have a new guest, too.” The white haired maid offered Akantha a smile. “Lyssa, I believe your mother requested a checkup by me before anything else, yes?”

“Aww, but I wanna do other things.” She’d pout.

“Not until I check you for injuries.” Viatrix grabbed the pink haired maid by the wrist. “Is the little one in need of some medical attention as well?” She’d ask Polina and Lucrecia.

Farisian Maid

---

“That should mean I get a free pass with the number of sweets I’ve been feeding you,” Polina idly commented, her lips curling slightly upwards before giving a more appreciative look for her intervention earlier. “Thanks for that.”

Turning back to the young girl, she nodded at her response, although she still didn’t quite know how to care for the unexpected guest for the moment. She could play bodyguard very well, but Polina had never taken care of children or interacted with them very much, even in her childhood. War had a habit of interfering with such things. “Very well, Akantha… let’s get you a good meal and some proper rest for you.”

Turning, they nearly ran into the maids’ resident nurse. She’d made a very timely appearance, though it would seem that Akantha’s well-deserved rest and recuperation would be slightly delayed. “She needs rest and a proper meal and time to process what has happened today, but otherwise she appears unharmed,” Polina explained. “But giving her a checkup would be a good idea either way. What do you think, Lucrecia?”

Aboard the Clemantis

---

Upon hearing that familiar sound of slapping, Lucrecia turned and gave Kat a mean squint. As if the mother wasn't enough, she felt the need to mark Lyssa's backside as well! "Kathrine, cara, it's a wonder how you haven't gotten a charge yet for your antics..." She scolding the Firbolg. What surprised her more was the fact that Lyssa seemed not only bothered by it, but requited her sauciness. Lucrecia could only dismiss it with a head shake; she was in the business long enough to know that you'll see that every place has its eccentrics. Her attention quickly turned to Viatrix, the maid in charge of nursing, coming up from the lower deck.

"Buon pomeriggio, Viatrix. I do indeed agree that Lyssa could stand some time spent in the infirmary." Lucrecia said, giving a gentle but solemn look at the pink-haired recruit. She then looked over at the little one. "In addition to any possible physical injures, little Akantha has been through quite the emotional and mental ordeal. I don't see why a quick check up wouldn't be the correct course of action. Food and rest will come afterward, of course."

She looked at Akantha, gently rubbing her cheek to comfort her. "Akantha, my dear, please go with Ms. Viatrix. She is nothing less of a saint, and wants to make sure you're not hurt. We promise it'll only be for a little while, and Polina and I will be right here when you get back. Then, will get some good food in you."

Katherine looked to Lyssa with a sly smile. "Well, what a shame I don't have something cold and sweet to give you." Her brows furrowed though, at being called a kitty cat. "I am not one such 'kitty cat' and it's shameful of you to call me as such." Katherine mentioned as if it were common knowledge that one should not call a firbolg a cat. She was about to add something else before the little girl, named Akantha, introduced herself and then Viatrix cam up on deck where everyone else seemed insistant that Akantha and Lyssa get a check-up with the nurse.

"Yes, I agree with the sentiment. Both of you should get an immediate check-up. That said I probably should probably make a visit some time after we return." Katherine mentioned before turning toward the accented girl that tried to scold her. "Now, dear Lucrecia, it's all about being discerning about who you do things to. Though being tossed overboard was a miscalculation on my part, truthfully. Or do you try to warn me because you're jealous I've not done anything to you?" The catgirl maid teased as her dolls in the back were managing to finish up whatever first aid they needed to do.

Location:
Clemantis
13.000 hours
@Pyromania99@Click This@AzureKnight

---

“Oh goodness, a saint? I do believe you’re exaggerating, you flatterer.” Viatrix responded with a light giggle. “Come along you two, now. I won’t have Myrilla shouting at me if you have a little hair on your head singed off.” Viatrix knelt down, putting her arms around Akantha and holding her. “And you, little one, will be just fine.”

“...Uhm…yes, I’ll be fine…” The girl responded quietly, glancing towards Lucrecia and Polina, seeming a bit uncertain but would ultimately allow herself to be carried off. Lyssa offered everyone present a slightly impish smile and a wave bye before heading off after Viatrix.

“Da, that mission could have gone much worse, I think.” As Viatrix left, Leoniya would walk up to the trio. “Good work you three, especially you two.” She’d say, giving Polina a friendly, somewhat rough pat on her back. “...its a shame about the forward team, but not much we can do aside from cleanup and move on. Anyone want a drink? I was planning on helping out in the kitchen for some food on the way back to the Maison.”

“Mhm…Leoniya. You three.” The sleepy voice of Bernadette was next to make herself known. “Comms units are fixed-”

“Ah, Bernadette! Perfect timing!” Leoniya immediately grabbed the small girl by the shoulders. Bernadette’s expression was unimpressed, to say the least. “We’re just about to all head to the galley to celebrate! I’m going to make my signature Stroganoff!”

“...drowning it in alcohol is not cooking.”

“Nonsense. Everyone loves it!” Leoniya was now dragging Bernadette off. She looked at the other three, a somewhat pleading if sleepy expression.

Well, they had a few hours before they arrived back at the Maison later tonight. Maybe they could join Leoniya or save Bernadette from a fate she did not seem interested in. Viatrix would probably have Lyssa and Akantha both out of the infirmary soon enough to join them in whatever it was they wanted to do on their way back.

Aboard the Clemantis

---

"No grazie, Senora." Replied Lucrecia to Kat "Though quite flattered, I'm against workplace romances. Too problematic for my tastes." Viatrix the responded to Lucrecia's earlier comment, feeling that the maid gave her a little too much credit. She carefully took Akantha into her arms as she prepared to go off with her and Lyssa to the infirmary. The child glancing at her and Polina, Lucrecia returned the glance with a reassuring smile before the three went off.

Leoniya then walked up to the three recruits, congratulating them on a job well done. "Ah, t'was nothing Madonna." She replied with a humble bow. "It was a matter of, how you say, "Teamwork makes the dream work." I believe that's the way the saying goes?" Bernadette was the next to make her presence known, confirming that she was able to reestablish communications. However, before she could finish she was snatched up by the Krysan maid, who declared she was going to cook up her apparent "signature" Stroganoff.

"Truthfully, I am no stranger to cooking dishes using wine and ale. You'd be surprised how popular it is among certain affluent socialites." Replied Lucrecia to Leoniya and Bernadette "If I'm not overstepping my bounds, I'd be more than happy to- Gruhh!" She cut herself off making a sudden pained grunt, holding her back. It seemed the back wound she received during the mission hadn't fully healed at this point. Wincing a bit, she decided that it may be in her best interests to reunite with Akantha a bit early and pay the medical officer a visit.

"Perdonami, Madonna, but I think I'll see Viatrix for a moment." She wasn't as familiar with demons as some of her other companions, but she imagined untreated wounds inflicted by them spell particular trouble down the line. She went in the direction the other three went and arrived at the entrance to the infirmary, seeing Viatrix beginning to attend to the other two.

"Ciao Madonna!" Lucrecia said. "I hope you don't mind the sudden intrusion, but hopefully you're equipped to tend to a third person. I have a nagging back pain, from a demon wound no less..."

She looked over at Akantha, waving a greeting at her. "Hello dearie, looks like we both could use a bit of a check up." She then looked over at Viatrix, her expression becoming more serious. "You haven't found any issues with her, have you?"

Farisian Maid

---

Polina give the little Akantha a nod of encouragement. “Go on. Viatrix will take care of you,” she said, giving her and the pink-haired maid a wave as they departed, leaving her with Lucrecia, Kat and Leoniya, who walked up and patted her back. Losing the rest of Lyssa’s team was indeed a shame. She didn’t know them very well, Polina was a recent ‘transfer’ after all, but there were only so many maids.

“I’ll join you in the kitchen once I’ve freshened up,” she acknowledged positively, just as Bernadette reappeared from the bowels of the airship. Then, Lucrecia had to bow out from the injury she had received earlier.

“Have that checked,” she agreed.

It would be a shame, though, if she missed Leoniya’s signature Stroganoff. Polina had perked up at the mention of it. “I am looking forward to it,” she nodded, overruling Bernadette in approving of the dish. She left the poor maid to her fate. She was more than willing to help her prepare the meal as a way to wind down from the high intensity fight in the city, but she would join them in galley a little bit later. A shower was in order after that fight, and she needed to repack all of her weapons into their proper folds.

But she would be helping with making that Stroganoff.