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Post by purplepinay on Sept 4, 2023 22:05:57 GMT
The school year brought some relief to the bear den as a whole but it was a double edged sword. Many of their older children were in school but it also meant that, during the day they were out of some eager helpers for the littlest ones in their care. It also meant they were out on their teenaged volunteers however they still had their adult volunteers and heroic interns.
The middle of the day presented them with a down time, when the little ones were down for their naps and the older kids had yet to return. It was just a few hours but it made all the difference, allowing Black Bear to catch up on whatever paperwork she needed to catch up on.
More importantly, it allowed her to check in on her interns now and then, it was important to have direct quality time whenever she could and it couldn't be more true for her newest member.
She had called Serena directly from her line, away from the prying ears of the others in her employ as she looked over at her file before her while waiting for her arrival
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Post by cmd1095 on Sept 7, 2023 15:09:40 GMT
Things had been interesting for Serena recently, to say the least. After leaving the Dusk Agency due to her conflict with Nocturne she hadn't been sure where she wanted to go, but several classmates had spoken highly of Momma Bear and the Bear Den. Serena's feelings towards this hero were complicated and layered with even more skepticism after Nocturne's incident... but then she'd heard something that convinced her to set aside her personal bitterness and skepticism.
A new branch in her hometown of Hosu. Whatever she felt about her past and the fact nobody like Momma Bear had been around to save her from it, those were things she could work out later on her own. Right now there was a fight to establish a presence in the very city she'd suffered in so much. An orphanage that could take in girls like her and spare them the pain and suffering she'd gone through. But she also knew better than anyone here just how hard a fight it was going to be to really attack this city's problems. She'd signed up with the Bear Den within the day, with a request to be stationed primarily at the Hosu branch under Black Bear.
She did still go to the main branch for their more robust training facilities and to generally help out, but here in Hosu was where she belonged doing her work study. This was her fight, and she dedicated herself to it fully. She was so hard-working it raised some doubts as to how she was going to balance her school work, health, and social life... and in truth for the past weeks she'd been here one of those things had definitely been suffering if the shadows under her eyes were anything to go by. But the quality of her work hadn't slipped, so she wasn't sure why she suddenly received a summons from Black Bear
Excusing herself from the room she'd been working in, Serena reported to the office, knocking on the door, then entering
"You wanted to see me Black Bear?" Serena asked, standing at attention
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Post by purplepinay on Oct 30, 2023 19:12:27 GMT
Soon enough, the newest protege of the den would arrive. after she knocked, a voice on the other side would respond, urging her to come in. She would put down the files she had in her hand at the moment, and close the laptop she had upon her desk so that Serena would have her full, undivided attention. The hero before her had great posture and, even sitting down, one could tell how tall the female she was. Her demeanor was simultaneously soft and firm. Gentle, yet serious and within her eyes, was a certain type of compassion but one could definitely tell that this specific hero wasn't a gentle, overbearing pushover by any means. still, she cared for those that were under her care and she wouldn't have another person push themself as her mother does, if she could help it
"Please, have a seat."
she noted, after nodding in affirmation to Serenas question. She would take a deep breath, and wait as the student before her would sit down, letting her get situated in the chair before continuing.
"I wanted to apologize first, with how busy it's been and how you've had jumped into aiding care for the children before proper integration, or introductions"
she would start off with. there was an intensity to her, like her eyes would gaze right into serenas soul as she spoke. Her tone was even, succinct. holding no trace of any weakness and each word was clearly spoken, perfectly enunciated.
"I am impressed, as well with how your work ethics have been since joining us, It is an ethic that will get you quite far in this field of work. As your mentor, it is also my duty to guide you when I can, and answer any questions that you may have had, but have not had the chance to yet express."
she had deliberated. Her tone was even, almost completely devoid of any kind of emotion if one didn't know how to properly detect it.
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Post by cmd1095 on Nov 30, 2023 18:35:46 GMT
"No apologies needed, I actually am quite enjoying helping with the kids... they all come from such tough backgrounds and being able to help them is..." Serena started, then trailed off and shook her head "well it's been nice. And I knew I'd be busy when I signed on."
Serena's own posture was quite a bit different than Black Bear, she too portrayed no weakness and had a firmness to her, but it was less rigid, not perfect posture. Serena was more like a coiled spring, in total control of her own body, primed to dart in any direction in a split second, every fibre of her being always ready to act. She was a spring ready to unleash all that energy in an instant, and even while her posture was more relaxed, there was an underlying tension there that never fully went away. She gave the impression that she could be attacked in her sleep and be fully alert and ready to fight or flee before the first attack even landed.
"As for questions, nothing comes to mind that needs to be brought up here. I've noticed a few security details here and there that could be touched up. I'm a local to Hosu so I know some of the tricks someone might use, but I already talked to some of the other heroes and filed the reports" Serena said "usually whenever I have a question I figure it out myself faster than it would take to set up a meeting like this. Never been a fan of beurocracy anyhow
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Post by purplepinay on Dec 27, 2023 0:31:35 GMT
Izara allowed a smile. This girl was something else, took initiative. She liked that. She read her file, knew of her background and she could read her body language too. She needed to broach the subject, and she was always a fan of the honest approach but she was also no fool, she knew it had to be handled gently but how gently was the question.
"I'm glad to see you taking initiative, a hero like that will go the long mile but please take care to not burn out.... Follow the words of myself and my mother and not our actions "
She stated with a twinkle in her eye. Serena was proving to be an asset to the agency already despite having just arrived
"I'm glad to see you're enjoying the transition so far, and it hasn't been a burden on you however "
She paused for, reading Serena's reaction as she broached the sensitive subject
"as the head of the facility I have your file. Considering what happened recently, I do need to be sure you're ok and that the actions of another hero doesn't always necessarily reflect on who you are as a person, nor does your past"
She stated. She in no way condoned what Nocturne did but she understood and she could only hope that Serena herself didn't hold herself responsible for being associated with him or held him to a too harsh of an expectation herself and that serena wasn't trying to compensate for her rough upbringing.
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Post by cmd1095 on Jan 12, 2024 3:23:41 GMT
Serena was unperturbed by the bits about burnout. Izara was not the first person to caution her on that, nor would she be the last. Serena knew her workload was unreasonable... but this is just what she had to do. She had too much to atone for and she needed to dedicate herself to that... besides compared to her work as a slave this was nothing. She was physically healthy and got a reasonable amount of sleep now after all. No poisons coursing through her veins causing untold agony, no physical abuse, no chains digging into her wrists... her current workload was easy mode.
If Serena had a consistent therapist, they might point out that "less strenuous workload than literal slave labor" was perhaps not the bar to be shooting for, but hey when the bar was set that low...
but then Izara brought up something that DID put her on edge
"the actions of another hero doesn't always necessarily reflect on who you are as a person, nor does your past"
Her past, how much did they dig up? How much did they know? Just that she was a street urchin? Her crimes? Even further back to her time in chains? Serena went from fully calm to fight or flight mode instantaneously, mind already racing with escape plans for every exit from the room. Fight wasn't an option, even if she could beat Izara what was she going to do? Kill her? She didn't need more blood on her hands and it wouldn't even help. No she needed to talk her way out of this or run away... if they were planning to arrest her for all her thievery and crimes as a kid they'd be surrounding her now... maybe smash through the ceiling, get to the roof. They might be thrown off by that. Get up high, jump to the next building over, use her quirk to make a clean getaway... yeah that would work... but maybe she didn't have to run yet... maybe there was nothing to fear...
The Serena from a year ago would've been out the door by now... but Serena forced herself to restrain the urge to flee for the moment... she could talk this out. Plenty of people had learned of her past and accepted her so far, it might be fine now too... but the first sign of this being a trap and she was gone.
"And what, exactly, are you referring to." Serena asked slowly with a forced calm and even tone
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Post by purplepinay on Sept 11, 2024 6:22:04 GMT
Izara let out a breath, softening her stance towards the younger female, even offering her a sympathetic smile as she paused as she deliberated on what she was going to say next to the young woman before her.
"I'm aware of the fact that you once called the streets of Hosu home, which makes me glad that you have found your way here."
She started, as she smoothed out some wrinkles in her clothes
"we believe in second chances at bear den, and here especially, it is a haven to all who have fallen victim to the streets."
Izara had especially emphasized the word "all" as she paused for moment, letting the implications sink in for Serena
"I believe that you are familiar with the fact that not all heroes have a stellar reputation before actually becoming heros. We all have done things we aren't explicitly proud of even if to just survive. What matters is what we're doing about it in the present"
She noted, seeming like she was speaking from experience herself. What those experiences might be was up in the air, but ultimately it meant that Black Bear understood to some extent, what Serena was going through. Of course, it would also hopefully segue into her experiences with the last agency she was with which was far from being a secret
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Post by cmd1095 on Sept 14, 2024 4:09:54 GMT
Serena took a few moments to let Izara's words sink in, but her adrenaline faded and she... well she rarely relaxed, but she stopped freaking out and returned to a more neutral state. She wasn't exactly happy that this conversation topic was happening, but she was glad that her past being dug up wasn't the end of the world for her. That was something that had been hanging over her head for a while now... even if people in her personal life accepted her, past and all... the hero world had been uncertain territory there.
"Good then... here in Hosu especially you're going to find a lot of people like that..." Serena said "Lots of them, us... don't get a choice about the things we do to survive. I'm hoping the Den might change that... no one should have to live like I did... no one"
Serena took a deep breath, then exhaled, regaining most of her composure "So if you're not calling me in here about that, then what ARE you after? I'm sure you didn't want to have a chat over lunch about the horrors of the Hosu slums, it's not exactly what you'd call a fun conversation topic. And I don't especially like to reminisce about it."
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