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Aria turned and stared as Cass spoke, returning her frown with one of her own. "How am I supposed to know," she began slowly, "That you were asking for help if you don't talk to me in the first place? Goddamnit Cass, you know my number, you know where my office is, you know where to find me. What made you think that I wouldn't listen? I build this division from scratch, Cass. I could have easily petitioned to move into another division but I worked my a** off to turn the Mists into what they are."

"As for Lance..." Aria trailed off, hands clenched into fists. "There's nothing we can do. Did you know that he faced the dragon made out of Insanity on his own? That his Insanity levels are higher than we've ever come across?" She pressed, gesturing wildly. "How do you think I feel knowing that that I was the one who indirectly sent him out there? I wasn't informed of his condition until after he was secured in the Life labs. On top of that I never said that you weren't going to help."

Aria crossed her arms. "Your actions earlier make you unfit for fieldwork. I suppose at this point and time we could agree that we do not trust each other enough." She lowered her eyes to Cass' extended arms. "...Which hand held your weapon as you beat her?" She asked quietly.

Aria stared at Cass. "Is this what it's about? Jealousy? Let me clue you in: I don't approach anyone. Ever. Since when have I openly "deferred" to Candace? She actually comes and talks to me. I don't approach her. I don't approach anyone. Do you want to know why? I'll show you."

The division leader removed her own coat and shirt, gesturing. It wasn't uncommon to see scars on a hunter. In fact, it was the norm. Aria pointed at one. "Slashed with a cutlass-based weapon named Tremble. Sixteen stitches." Another. "Chain-and-sickle based weapon. Blade managed to get hooked onto a ribcage and its wielder jerked it free. Twenty-seven stitches, comatose, and an extended Infirmary stay. And here; exit wounds from Zieleen, a former monster turned rifle. And right here," she traced a line down her chest, "Somewhere in here I was impaled through the back with a spear. There were more, however those are the ones that took the longest to heal." Aria grabbed her shirt and slid it on, taking her time. "About thirteen years ago, a majority of the hunters were... wiped out. There were more of us then. I was the only survivor. Those that knew the other Mists took offense to the fact that I survived and didn't try to save any others." Aria looked away, her hand tightening on the hilt of the dagger at her side -- her weapon, Symphony in its totem form. "That is why I shun the other divisions. That is why I stay away from people. I guess deep down I'm afraid it'll happen again."

The division leader straightened her jacket, fussing with it before looking up. "I'm sorry you feel... undervalued," she managed. "I honestly don't know what to do or to say with any of you. The only thing I know about you is that your name is Cassandra Norris and that your weapon, Nicodemus is a gun-and-blade combination. You're a fair shot. Aside from that... I don't know. I'm not the type that snoops in files unless something comes up that makes it my business. I leave my division to their own ends because that is how I learned. I don't know your strengths, I don't know your weaknesses. Hell, I don't even know your favorite color or birthday or anything. The fact that you're still standing here means you're doing something right, else something would have killed you by now."

The division leader took a deep breath, adding, "And you're damn lucky that you didn't kill, either. This is... for our own betterment." Aria approached Cass, taking her other hand. Another bracelet was placed on her hand, one that lit up with runes. There was a brief feeling of emptiness as Nicodemus was suppressed yet again, a feeling that lifted when Aria removed the bracelet on her other hand. "Know that I take no pleasure in doing this."

That was the only warning Cassandra received before there was a sudden, sharp crack that originated from the lower part of Cass' arm. With a swiftness only experience could provide Aria straightened and wrapped it with a bandage, binding it to a splint. "An eye for an eye. When your arm is healed you will be authorized to use runic weapons again," Aria explained as she tied it off before constructing a rough sling out of bandages to hold the splint in place. "By attacking another hunter you've made yourself a target. By doing this... They will at least think twice. You now have no way to defend yourself, and you are injured. Not to the extent that she is, however it may be enough to prevent them from extracting vengeance, at least for a time."

Aria stepped back, eying the handiwork she did before returning to the desk. She picked up the bundle and shook it out, draping it around Cass' shoulders. It was a coat. A white coat with the gold edgings to separate it as a hunter's coat, however it bore no additional color, no golden emblem on the back. There was, however, a brown armband around the left sleeve with the golden Mist emblem embroidered onto it. "This will be your coat until further notice. You will be escorted to the infirmary to receive a more permanent splint like it or not. Tomorrow you will report to me at eight A.M. to begin your duties. You are dismissed."

Aria shooked her head as she turned away, moving to stare back the window. The other hunter in the room opened the door, waiting until Cass left before trailing after her.

Nearly ten minutes passed before Aria moved, taking a seat at her desk. She stared at the paperwork in front of her before lighting another cigarette. A brief, worrying glance was given to it. There weren't many left. She was going through them too quickly. "So much for kicking the habit," she mused, rising again to open the window before sitting down again. With her heels now up on her desk she continued to smoke, staring off into space and waiting for her hands to finally stop shaking.