[Tempering her intensity is... not a skill that comes easily to Hayame. Neither, usually, is realizing how she's coming off to others who do not respond well to it. In Gray's defense, even the most casual of conversations can come off overbearing when they are accompanied by the jinba mare's unwavering stare and cold manner of speaking...]
Do you have a map?
[Hayame holds out a hand in what is actually intended to be an offer to assist, but...]
I primarily dealt with hunting parties, but the experience may be better than nothing.
[ Gray perks up and hurries to dig her map out of her pack. Hayame has only been patient with Gray (in a Hayame kind of way) so there isn't real reason to think that she'd suddenly snap at Gray now, but Gray also doesn't want to test that patience. The fresh memory of Hayame verbally flogging those recruits might have a little to do with it.
Gray hands over the map in swift order. It's well-loved, with sections of it neatly marked with notes and interrogatives. It's clear that Gray is a methodical note-taker, which in turn makes it clear where she has or hasn't been; the unexplored areas are free and clear on the map, ready to be filled with future notes. ]
Anything you can share will be helpful.
[ After a second of thought, she offers a pencil in case Hayame needs it. Gray hasn't forgotten that Hayame doesn't get along with the written word, but maybe she'll want to mark a few places. ]
[For a moment, Hayame is silent as she examines the map. The notes are... nothing to her, really. She only knew a few of the most basic characters (the cardinal directions, a few numbers, her name) that were useful in case a master had to send a message in battle, but there are a lot of them. That much is clear. Still, she doesn't say much at first, slowly orienting herself on the paper and turning it over until it was northwards up.
The pencil she takes. Not to write, but to lightly trace lines on either side of the rivers and along the borders of the lakes, marking distance.]
You will not want a base to be farther than this from a source of fresh water- preferably not a river or stream that can be dammed. Also, you will want to be close but not so close that you risk unsteady footing or damp bedrolls.
[She uses the pencil to point at an area of the map with a higher elevation than the rest.]
Having the high ground is useful, even if it is not a mountain.
[ Gray comes up on her tip-toes so that she can peek at the map as Hayame explains. ]
Oh... that makes sense. It sounds simple when you put it that way.
[ She hadn't thought about the possibility of people (or animals) trying to dam the rivers. Once Gray has the map back, she'll jot down those points on the back of the parchment. But first, the smell of heartily roasted corn wafts over, and she startles like a poked rabbit when she remembers that she left food cooking by the fire. Leaving Hayame with the map for a moment, she hops to retrieving the sticks of corn. After ensuring that they haven't crossed the line from toasty to burnt, she trots back with a couple in hand. Whenever Hayame feels satisfied with the map, Gray will offer to trade it for some corn. ]
Is it better to have a few big, strong bases? Or a lot of smaller ones to cover territory?
[ Gray probably won't have any say in that decision in the end, but she can still be curious. And it can't hurt to have a little more perspective while she works. ]
[Corn for the map is a decent enough trade... Hayame will accept. Handling it carefully so as not to burn her fingers, she takes the corn and sets quickly to blowing on it slightly, while also considering the question.]
That depends.
[Sharp canines make quick work of the corn, tearing in to rip them off the cob.]
In Alenroux's case I would go with less bases but more scout outposts, but it will be best for General Zaman to make that call. Which she will be able to do better with proper survey details.
[ Who knew corn could look so victimized... Gray lets her own cool a bit longer while she glances over the map again. Hayame is right that everything will be up to the General, so there's no point in overthinking things. Leaving the hard stuff to the experts suits Gray just fine.
With that happy conclusion, Gray sets the map aside and begins to nibble at her corn. She feels a little bad about the trainees working while she and Hayame relax, but she knows better than to mention that aloud. ]
[Hayame is a slaughterer of vegetables as well as meats... As much as she preferred the latter for the protein. Or rice for familiarity. You could feed an army as long as you had rice.
But.]
... I do not think of things that way. Whether I "like" them or not.
[- She sure was doing it, though? Ever since the loss of the first Oracle to Zenith...]
At least this way my skills are put to use in a practical way. Meridian needs to come out victorious if there is any hope of returning to our worlds.
[ And here she thought it was a simple yes or no question. She really never knows what she might get out of Hayame. ]
So... there isn't anything you'd say you particularly enjoy?
[ If so, that seems like a depressing existence. Even in the pit of her depression, Gray still managed to find enjoyment in little things like detective stories. She isn't sure how she would've managed without them. ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
<3
Do you have a map?
[Hayame holds out a hand in what is actually intended to be an offer to assist, but...]
I primarily dealt with hunting parties, but the experience may be better than nothing.
[For helping...]
now i'm the sinner
Gray hands over the map in swift order. It's well-loved, with sections of it neatly marked with notes and interrogatives. It's clear that Gray is a methodical note-taker, which in turn makes it clear where she has or hasn't been; the unexplored areas are free and clear on the map, ready to be filled with future notes. ]
Anything you can share will be helpful.
[ After a second of thought, she offers a pencil in case Hayame needs it. Gray hasn't forgotten that Hayame doesn't get along with the written word, but maybe she'll want to mark a few places. ]
shame shame shame
The pencil she takes. Not to write, but to lightly trace lines on either side of the rivers and along the borders of the lakes, marking distance.]
You will not want a base to be farther than this from a source of fresh water- preferably not a river or stream that can be dammed. Also, you will want to be close but not so close that you risk unsteady footing or damp bedrolls.
[She uses the pencil to point at an area of the map with a higher elevation than the rest.]
Having the high ground is useful, even if it is not a mountain.
no subject
Oh... that makes sense. It sounds simple when you put it that way.
[ She hadn't thought about the possibility of people (or animals) trying to dam the rivers. Once Gray has the map back, she'll jot down those points on the back of the parchment. But first, the smell of heartily roasted corn wafts over, and she startles like a poked rabbit when she remembers that she left food cooking by the fire. Leaving Hayame with the map for a moment, she hops to retrieving the sticks of corn. After ensuring that they haven't crossed the line from toasty to burnt, she trots back with a couple in hand. Whenever Hayame feels satisfied with the map, Gray will offer to trade it for some corn. ]
Is it better to have a few big, strong bases? Or a lot of smaller ones to cover territory?
[ Gray probably won't have any say in that decision in the end, but she can still be curious. And it can't hurt to have a little more perspective while she works. ]
no subject
That depends.
[Sharp canines make quick work of the corn, tearing in to rip them off the cob.]
In Alenroux's case I would go with less bases but more scout outposts, but it will be best for General Zaman to make that call. Which she will be able to do better with proper survey details.
no subject
With that happy conclusion, Gray sets the map aside and begins to nibble at her corn. She feels a little bad about the trainees working while she and Hayame relax, but she knows better than to mention that aloud. ]
Have you liked training the soldiers?
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But.]
... I do not think of things that way. Whether I "like" them or not.
[- She sure was doing it, though? Ever since the loss of the first Oracle to Zenith...]
At least this way my skills are put to use in a practical way. Meridian needs to come out victorious if there is any hope of returning to our worlds.
no subject
So... there isn't anything you'd say you particularly enjoy?
[ If so, that seems like a depressing existence. Even in the pit of her depression, Gray still managed to find enjoyment in little things like detective stories. She isn't sure how she would've managed without them. ]
!!!
PLEASE FORGIVE ME AND GIVE ME MORE GRAY SOON SO I CAN MAKE IT UP TO YOU]
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