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 Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:07 pm
It had been Archer Wells this time who had requested an aptitude test be scheduled. His file, coded blue, was slim, although filled with more than most of the others. Wraith had retrieved it from the shelf in his office where he kept files of all the recruits that had come to LOTUS since its conception. That particular corner was private; hidden from view in case someone ever found that their curiosity should get the better of them.
He had completed that one mission in Russia; Wraith's eyes narrowed as he thought back to it. He was glad some recruits were gaining experience; that was but one of many situations where he wished the recruits he had been with had been better trained. It was, in hindsight, his fault in the first place for not preparing them properly. Well. He would remedy that.
His eyes were fixed blankly onto the wall of the small office in the training facility he had since decided to make slightly more permanent. That pale face would not leave his mind.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 7:43 pm
Archer entered the training facility hesitantly. He was struggling to maintain his composure like a proper gentleman should, and though he had requested the test, he was beginning to get jimmy legs. Was he ready for this? It was true he had grown, he was learning more every day. He made sure he did. But he was, in the end, a background character. He was no glamorous secret agent, just a rather proper British man who could be quietly efficient at things and rather thought he should do his bit to save the world.
But he was representing his country here. He wasn't Archer Wells, he was England, and he was bloody well going to make England proud. If that meant a struggle to be better than he was every day, if it meant possible humiliation and nervewracking tests, so be it. If he couldn't do his duty to his country, he didn't deserve to consider himself a gentleman. He gathered his courage and all the scraps of knowledge he had pieced together since he came and looked at Wraith Sian. "I'm here for my aptitude test, Sir." he said as steadily as he could.
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Posted: Tue Feb 17, 2009 10:22 pm
"Good. Then we can get started without delay."
Wraith nodded in Archer's general direction and vaguely motioned for the man to sit down.
"We'll start with diplomacy. I will give you a situation. After I have explained this situation, I would like you to explain to me what your thoughts on the situation are and how you would proceed. Please be as brief as you can and feel free to ask any questions you many have."
Wraith slid a sheet of paper in front of the chair he'd asked Archer to occupy and waited.
Diplomatic Case Study - Irish Independence
Irish republican revolutionaries, after bitter fighting with the English, received an offer from England to set up an independent state in three-quarters of the country, with the North being left under English rule. It should be noted that Ireland's history is intrinsically tied with that of England, but they have been a separate entity distinct from England. When the English took over Ireland, the Irish were treated as second-rate citizens. Another issue to consider is that of the religious divide between the Catholic Irish and the Protestant English that underlines much of the tensions between the two nations. The issue is whether to fight for total independence against a formidable enemy or to accept this partitioning of the country.
"Let's say that you're a much higher ranking member of LOTUS than you are now. Let's also say that you are advising the Irish revolutionaries with how to proceed in this situation. Janus, hearing of the turmoil, has decided to back England, the stronger and more influential nation in a bid to gain more widespread influence himself. As a high ranking member, you have considerable political influence, as well as the full support of LOTUS behind you. How would you prevent Janus from creating significant gains in the situation, as well as prevent the situation from escalating?"
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Posted: Wed Feb 18, 2009 3:16 pm
Archer looked thoughtful. "Well, I believe that the Irish would not be able to successfully fend off England. The country is powerful, after all. Therefore, the negotiations must aim to create terms of England's occupation of Northern Ireland that will arouse the least amount of anger possible. At the same time though, we must not act like we are weak. We must gain the respect of the English negotiators so Janus will not seem too powerful a threat." How could he do that? He hesitated. "I suppose I would request freedom of religion and stringent laws against religious persecution in the Northern part in exchange for British rule." he decided." He looked at the paper. "As I am English, I want the Irish to be able to say that they had their say to let them see that I will not advise the Irish in their favour merely because I am of English blood. Though I would advise against violence, I would not press the Irish too hard on details unless I had to. I would have to make it clear to them that the offer they received from the British would be the least painful route, but also I would have to make it clear that I believe they should request religious tolerance and suggest ways to make the transition more acceptable for both parties. As they have both been fighting and faced casualties, the solution is balance. The English must make some concessions as well as the Irish, and if negotiations are successful, the fact the English also made concessions will make Janus' influence seem less and though in a situation where passions are so high it is impossible to escape without some bitter emotion, I believe that the solution will leave both parties feeling equally satisfied."
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Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2009 12:29 pm
Wraith, head bent down so that little could be seen of it but messy black locks of hair, was writing again. These notes were short; to the point. Archer was starting off with compromise, which was good. He had been slightly worried when he had chosen this particular case for Archer; at the same time, it was a good test. He had learned, his features scrunching with disgust, that loyalty was a thing to be earned by a nation from its people; blind faith had disastrous consequences.
His weighing of power was an interesting solution. Diminish Janus's relative power... he made a quick note about that. He had also noted his conflict of interest. Another note. Although Wraith felt Archer was being a little optimistic in hoping both parties would leave satisfied, the points he had made were reasonable and thought out.
"Alright. Now-- I wish to ask you two more questions, and I expect you to answer truthfully. Why did you join LOTUS? What do you hope to gain by joining LOTUS?"
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Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 8:22 pm
Archer paused. Honestly?
"I don't know." he told Wraith bluntly. "I rather thought it was the proper thing to do and all, one must do one's bit for the world, after all. If I could do anything to fix time I thought it would all be jolly good. I thought Janus was a bit of a dastard, too, therefore he had to be stopped. We must be noble and help each other through times of trouble." It was the reason he told himself every time he was faced with the question, but secretly...
Secretly he knew there was another reason. "Also, I, ah..." Honesty, man! For England! "I cannot remember any of my past. I had no purpose before I came here." He gave Wraith a measured look. The Englishman needed a purpose like fish needed water. His meticulous mind wasn't made for freewheeling, he would flop uselessly. "I hope to gain nothing but something to drive me until I regain my memories." he stated baldly. "Restoring the order of the world was something that needed to be done, so I volunteered to help do it. It seemed the most efficient course of action."
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 5:44 pm
As he was sitting there, across from Archer, Wraith wanted to smirk at the answer he got. It was so idealistic... but he found he couldn't. It sounded almost like... he found he wasn't looking at Archer anymore. Another young man, eyes twinkling, every fluid line of his face filled with optimism and fire sat in his place. Wraith swallowed thickly, and shook his head, attempting to rid himself of that face that wouldn't ever leave him.
"... no purpose before I came here." Neither did I, Wraith thought bitterly. Son of a rich man, useless and lazy.
He sighed heavily. "So it seems we all do. Be careful... about the pursuit of memories. There are some things better left forgotten."
Standing up, he looked warily at Archer.
"One last thing then. What would you say about your proficiency in combat?"
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:13 pm
Archer blinked at the comment, not sure how to respond. As the epitome of the stereotypical British man that he had trained himself to be, missing his past left like missing a leg. British social structure was heavily past oriented, forget who you were and you'd suddenly be a nobody.
Bad memories. His head hurt all of a sudden and he barely caught Wraith's next question. "In-Indeed." he said, resisting rubbing his temples in front of his betters. "I am well versed in fencing, fisticuffs, and..." sharp pain, sharp pain, his mind was shouting at him. "...submission wrestling." Desperate to stop the confusion, Archer floundered towards more proper waters. "Of course, occassionally one must simply 'wing it' in a crisis, though I really prefer not to. It's quite unsportsmanlike. I make sure I exercise frequently. One's body is a temple after all."
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Posted: Tue Mar 24, 2009 6:50 pm
"That's an extensive list. Hold on, I'll get you a foil." He left the door of the office open for Archer as he walked briskly to the opposite end of the large, empty space just outside the office to another door. Disappearing behind it, be reappeared momentarily, carrying two foils in one hand. With the other hand, he reached to his side just under his coat and pushed the tiny button beside Sebastien's name on the pager he kept fastened there. "Sebastien will be here momentarily."
It had been scarcely five minutes when Sebastien appeared in the training facility, smiling languidly at Archer. "Ah, so you are just ready to become a ranked member?" He took one of the foils from Wraith, inspecting its thin blade carefully. "Are you good at fencing then? Will we have to wear the protective clothing?"
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Posted: Sun Apr 05, 2009 7:04 pm
Archer nodded. "I would rather we wear the protective clothes, Mr. Sebastien." he admitted stiffly. "It would be a pity if either of us were wounded because of my desire to advance ranks instead of in the field of duty." The Englishman walked over to Wraith and took the other foil. "I presume this will be a traditional duel with traditional rules?" he queried before preparing to begin.
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 1:45 pm
Sebastien gave Archer a mock pout before he was knocked over as Wraith threw a fencing mask at his head, the darker man's aim proven accurate. Wraith, displaying uncharacteristic concern, quickly swept to Sebastien's side, thundering over him as he helped the other man up. "You were supposed to catch it, not make faces at Archer. Are you alright?"
Sebastien shook his head, his fine blond hair suspended in movement as he laughed lightly. "I am alright. You need not be so worried, Wraith." Wraith sighed, and dumped a pile of pristine white clothing in front of Sebastien before speaking to the Frenchman. "Then you should start getting ready. And there was no choice not to wear protective clothing, so don't pretend there was."
"Here Archer." Wraith was decidedly more civil to the Englishman as he presented the folded clothing to the man on his arms, waiting for Archer to take it.
Sebastien had pulled on the breeches and jacket, and was adjusting his gloves as he spoke. "Yes, except for a few points. We will play with the Épée rules, as is befitting a classical duel-- all touches to all parts of the body are allowed and either fencer can score a point at any given time. We will play only one bout of three minutes. Agreeable, Monsieur Archer?" He had put on the mask, the mesh obscuring his entire face, save for the odd flash of blue eyes.
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:20 pm
Archer's fists clenched, but other than that, he made no sign of hearing the Frenchman's jibes. Sebastien was a superior, and thus must not be questioned or made return faces at, and anyway Archer supposed with the indifferent disdain of all Englishmen that all Frenchmen had no real sense of manners anyway. French women (And his mind flashed briefly and pleasantly to Eponine) were a matter yet to be thoroughly investigated, but so far seemed promisingly charming.
Taking the clothing without causing himself injury, he nodded his thanks to Wraith, preparing for the duel and nodding at the elite's question. "Most agreeable." he replied evenly, heading to his own on guard line and waiting for Sebastien to go to his before saluting. He might be an easy target for the Frenchman to taunt, but he was not going to make himself an easy target for the Frenchman's foil.
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Posted: Fri Jun 05, 2009 2:45 pm
Sebastien nodded to Archer and made his way to the guard line opposite the Englishman. He raised the guard of his foil up to his chin, waiting for Archer to do the same so that they could begin the bout. Wraith stood back, between the two fencers, ready to act as referee.
"Whenever you're ready." Wraith's voice reverberated through the room. "After you both salute, you may begin and I will start counting down."
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Posted: Sun Jun 14, 2009 6:36 pm
Archer raised his own foil to his chin, eyes darting to both Sebastien and Wraith. He had never fenced against a real opponent, his time in the makeshift police force that had given him most of his fighting experience in London had thrown him against few of the sort of people who would be even vaguely likely to carry a foil and respect the rules of a duel. On the streets the closest thing he'd come to it was a desperate struggle against a thief with a broken bottle, and the small, faint scars on the Englishman's back suggested that though the thief had got his, he had given some too.
The Brit tightened his grip on the foil. Time to put all his practice and reading to the test, he supposed, and bugger him if he wasn't going to give it his all.
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