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Despite the fact that Aria preferred to keep to herself, the Death Division always cheered her up. No matter what has transpired so far, she could always comfort herself with the fact that (at the very least) she wasn't like Caelius. It wasn't surprising to hear that he had lashed out, and so long as the victim wasn't a member of her Mists? Aria would usually turn a blind eye to it.

This time, though. This time, things would be a little different. She didn't know much about who his latest victim was to the point where she resorted to digging up dirt. And even with that Aria felt under prepared.

The division leader lingered outside the common room, berating herself for her cowardice. With a shake of her head Aria entered the common room, approaching Otto without preamble. "Hey. Word on the street is that you survived Caelius. Congratulations."

Aria shrugged. "Take your victories where you can. Caelius has killed more hunters out of spite than I'd care to count. Personally? I'm surprised you made it this far without crossing him sooner." She gestured towards him, indicating his arm. "Deathies tend to end up in worse condition sooner rather than later."

Aria simply gave a non-committal nod to his observation. "We were trainees together. But that is besides the point," she hurried on just in case he wanted to know more. To her, the past was better left buried.

She seemed to fidget as she looked around, her confidence as to why she was there in the first place starting to fail her. Get out more, she chided herself, Try to meet other trainees and expand your horizons a bit.

her weapon pointed out dryly.

"Look," Aria cut in suddenly. "I'm not good at this, but I'd take what you went through as a warning. If you need to talk back, share it with your weapon. Hell, if you need to get your smarm out then take it out on Halloween." The division leader shrugged, continuing. "It's my business to know other people's business. Has it occurred to you that you can take note of Halloween students not suited to becoming a weapon? Push their buttons. See who cracks, see who doesn't. Become a conspiracy theorist and make them start doubting themselves and each other. You might push someone there enough to become a potential candidate, if not sniffed out by you then someone else." A pause. "Likely someone else, if your record is anything to go by."

Bittiface

"Nobody said you couldn't," Aria replied pointedly. "Look at it this way. What do you think would happen if someone else pissed one of them off, then you approach them later with the same thing? They're already suspicious and chances are they aren't going to react kindly. They might lash out. And boom goes the cover. Who would take the fall?"

The division leader crossed her arms, shifting her weight from one foot to the next. "Look at it this way. If you lot pulled your information together and marked who you've spoken to... Well, let's just say we'll have less injured on our side, and we'd be less likely to have our cover blown over a... misunderstanding, shall we say?"

Aria gestured towards him. "You've gotten yourself in Caelius' sights. If I were you, I'd start making plans and at least give the impression that you're working on something, y'know? Just be sure to make your findings available for the rest of us. Death isn't the only Division with an interest in Halloween's citizens."

"Oh no, collaboration. What a horrible little thing," Aria replied sarcastically as she rolled her eyes. "No wonder you survived this long, you did what I did. Look, you can't avoid others forever. Trust me." Aria shook her head, adding, "If it's that much of a problem, set up some sort of database that people can add to, like a wiki or something. Might score you some breathing room from Caelius once he sees that you're doing something."

His question brought a surprised stare from Aria. "You... don't know? You don't know." She shook her head and sighed. "Somehow you made it to a hunter and you don't know the in's and out's of your own division. I just... you know what?" Aria grinned at him. It wasn't a nice grin; it was the sort of smug grin that a superior bestows on a subordinate when they're about to give them a task they know that they won't like. "Rather than me telling you, I think this will give you a good excuse to - brace yourself - make social contact with others in your division. Surely you can handle something as teeny as that." That wasn't a question.

"Good," Aria replied. "I'd hate to hear about what would happen to you if Caelius demands a status report and hears that you haven't done anything, you know? You could use a golem to go to Halloween even without being able to use your arm. Lance does it."

The division leader paused, adding, "Lance is my assistant. You know, the hunter permanently stuck in a wheelchair? If you find you can't move your arm after going into a golem, I suggest you talk to him and find out how he can walk in a golem despite being paralyzed."

"Any other questions or do you think you're good?"