"Indeed, all members will receive their own private quarters", Johann replied quickly and in a persistently formal voice. He'd explained this to new recruits more than just a few times, of course, and the entire procedure of questions and answers had, naturally, become somewhat of a routine at this point. "It is indeed, as you said, free. The guild will cover the costs for your accommodations and, obviously, catering, which is separate from your regular pay and the rewards you receive from contracts. If you would rather prefer to seek your own quarters on Amber Island or somewhere else entirely, that is acceptable, too, though you will, of course, be expected to adhere to your duties as a mage of the guild, regardless of where you live". He hoped that this explanation would extinguish any misconceptions the other held, if any, and make the process of becoming a mage of the guild a little more transparent.
Johann wouldn't miss the girl's failure to address him properly yet again, his eyes growing dull ever-so-slightly with disappointment. He knew that Amalie had already administered a disciplinary measure for failing to refer to her as "Commander West", something that the Ambassador objectively found harsh, but deemed necessary, if for nothing else than the integrity of their command structure. Of course, Johann was quite a lot more lenient than the Commander in this regard, leaving it at a defeated sigh and a curt correction. "Ambassador", Illya seemingly changing her tone rather quickly upon realizing her mistake. At least she seemed to be willing to learn and correct her mistakes, a fact that gave the silver-haired man back quite a bit of hope in Illya's mannerisms ... right before she began to go off into another speech, the Ambassador's lips pressing against each other, forcing himself to swallow any harsh words that immediately came to mind.
That wasn't the last of her antics, of course, when her, well, Johann didn't quite know how to denote it and chose to stick with "companion" over "pet", would make quite the grand entrance, in a way that was more literal than anticipated, the familiar voice of the bird-like being ringing out in his head. The Ambassador listened to what the creature had to say, noting that it was starkly different to Illya's way of expression, perhaps even more pleasant, polite, even, though the Ambassador, nonetheless, closed his eyes, taking a deep breath before opening his mouth once more. "Yemaya, right?", he began, speaking aloud, his tone neutral and without animosity, rather seeking to correct than scold. "Your faith in Illya might dwindle, but my faith in my Soldier will not. Miss Pegasus, Illya, has all tools she needs to become her best possible self and an excellent Officer of Dies Irae, that I am certain of. She just needs time and patience to learn how to use them. Now-", his head turned to the girl that was now moping on the floor, his words shifting from encouragement to stern orders, "-cease your pitiful display at once, Soldier. Stand up and show the dignity and self-respect appropriate for a member of Dies Irae!". Whether or not the girl would listen was, of course, up to her, but if that was the best she could do, changing the world for the better would be a goal lost on her. Unexpectedly, though, the Ambassador would once again turn to the newcomer, this time, bowing deeply before him. "It is I who must apologize for my subordinate's behavior, Valentine", taking the burden upon himself as the representative of this organization.
He didn't necessarily desire dwelling on this topic for longer than necessary, straightening his back once again and returning to his previous height and stern look paired with a friendly smirk. It seemed the young man was of a similar mindset, quickly seeking to answer the Ambassador's previous question to the best of his abilities. At least, so it would seem. There was no "correct" answer to the question Johann had asked, of course, something that he wouldn't exactly seek to convey. The Ambassador simply wanted to know more about what motivated the young man, his background, and what he could bring to the table, so to speak. He gave Valentine a nod. "Dutifulness, thoroughness, and loyalty, hm?". Johann's smirk seemed to widen ever-so-slightly. Not the worst attributes to possess, even if they were presented to the Ambassador in a roundabout and banterous way. "As long as you adhere to the guild's code, to our rules, and follow the path we have set for ourselves and our members, Valentine, there is no specific thing we are looking for. The guild will help you accomplish your goals if you will help it accomplish its goals. It's quite simple: Be a force of good in this world. If you wish to become a member, then you must acknowledge and agree to this. Now that that's done ...", the Ambassador would relax both tone and stance just a little, his eyes following the nervous back and forth of the new arrival. "... are there any questions you would like to raise? Regardless of whether you present me with such, I have one last question for you: Do wish to become a member of Dies Irae?".
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Personal Word Count Total: 2,013
Thread Word Count Total: 5,677