Colleagues By Any Other Name (Alastair, Kokuto)

The Vandenreich had been steadily gaining personnel ever since Alastair had joined, more so since the end of the fourth World War, and the Sternritter was no exception to this recruitment drive. He could hardly be called a veteran, especially compared to many members of the division, but even a few years in the role had put him a rung or two higher on the ladder than most of the new faces. Therein lay the obligation to set a good example, to be a role model for the younger Quincy and even the other races that were now making their homes in the Vandenreich. He didn't quite understand the reasons for some of these oddities to join what still remained a predominantly Quincy organisation but, if they were willing to fight at his side to see the Grandmaster's will done, he had no problem with calling them comrades. Alastair had thusly taken to making a show of keeping himself available should any of his peers have need of his time, it was not like he exactly had a lively social calendar anyway.

This evening was no exception, as he lingered at the Sternritter barracks for a while after the day's training had finished, working on some reports at his desk and busying himself on paperwork. He didn't have his own office, just a small place in the corner of a larger sea of desks to call his own, but that did not stop the generally cold Quincy from trying to make himself as approachable as he could. There was a second chair that sat vacant, an open invitation, and he would make infrequent trips to stand at the window and watch the goings-on of the city below under the guise of taking a break.

He had been nursing a coffee for the better part of an hour, though it was still warm thanks to a trick that he had been practicing ever since Sophie had shown it to him. A technique to hone his reishi manipulation using a little known trait that they both possessed for one reason or another, as heat slowly exuded from his hands and enveloped the base of the mug.

So, steaming coffee in hand, Alastair sat at his desk and waited to see if anyone had any business for him today.

Adjusting to the Vandenreich was a bit of an oddity for Kokuto, after he had been on his own for so long. It was a pleasant change, but there were still some problems that occurred. Namely, the evil glares that he seemed to get constantly. He couldn't blame them -- but it was still a bit annoying. Nevertheless, he just went about his work without commenting on it. He needed to show that he wasn't a monster, and if it took him a thousand years, he'd wait every minute of it.

But, after the day's practice and work, Kokuto gathered what little he usually brought, tucking away some of it within his Chasm Point, sighing softly as he checked the pack of cigarettes in his pocket, seeing little under half of the pack remaining. Usually he smoked to destress and keep the persisting seeds of madness at bay from the Makhai.

Making his way through the sea of desks as he slid his jacket on, tucking the cigarettes away, he noticed someone moving to look out the window, a coworker, Alastair. He stopped for a moment, his eyes moving between the distant door and the open seat at Alastair's desk. After a brief period of internal deliberation, Kokuto quietly walked up to the desk as Alastair sat back down, offering his hand.

Should he accept it, he'd find it warm, like a fire on a camping trip. His voice was deep, raspy, yet level as he spoke, albeit briefly.

"Hey. I'm Kokuto. You're Alastair, right?"

He smiled, sitting down and setting his arms in his lap, leaning forward slightly.

"Still kinda new here, so, figured I'd introduce myself. Can't do everything on your own, after all."