Heart to Heart(Closed/Social)

Kasumi would look down on herself as well, feeling the gaze concentrating on her tone frame. She then raised her eyebrow in return before taking a stool near them. The Ivory she remembered back during the party didn't hold back when it comes to ogling her...that much she had expected. But fit?

"Were you expecting a swimsuit? Sorry to disappoint you Chief."Kasumi said with a smirk as she take her seat. It may seems strange to others perhaps, that she could develop immunity to being embarassed when wearing clothes which show more skin. But to her, she would be more comfortable wearing these clothes...as it was also her first choice when it comes to beating the summer heat.

"I'm still working on them. And thank you...though I'm afraid I am not able to give you a good match just yet."she replied humbly even as she wiped the water from her skin. Her eyes would study the pajamas she's wearing...wondering why she would be here and dressed in such a manner this early in the morning.

"How about you Chief? How are you doing?"

Though she have yet to mention it out loud, she felt it was quite strange that Ivory didn't seem to be...well, happy to have returned from the job with none of them unharmed. She wondered if perhaps she could coax it out of her...or if she fail to do so, change into a topic that she would be more comfortable talking about.

Ivory Volkov

"That's quite a high praise."came her reply after after being told that she was reminded of the godfather herself. She haven't actually seen her fight yet but even she could tell the magical energy that the godfather emanate from her that she was in a league of her own. After she had heard Ivory's comment about herself, she wondered if she should push the topic further before stopping herself. If she had kept it vague, it must have been a sore subject.

"Well, if you need someone to vent to..."she let the word hung in the air but she was sure Ivory can fill the dots that she was referring to herself. Now that she thought about it, Kasumi also had some topic she needed to talk to her and the girl did not seem occupied with anything.

"That said...are you free? I would like to talk with you about yesterday but...if you wish to go to sleep, I won't stop you Chief."she said, looking at her nightwear. Her little display of tossing the apple core earned a chuckle from her...before repeating the same feat with her empty water bottle, though hers landed straight into the trash can.

Ivory Volkov

Having been given permission to proceed, Kasumi would adjust her seating on the stool so that she would turn directly towards her. She would straighten up her posture and think about the words that she said yesterday. Perhaps it was a good thing that the underboss told her to wait for today, she would have been less tactful with her words otherwise.

"I understand that Odin's Spear had a...hands-on approach when it comes to mission. Not quite what I'm used to but I can adapt to that."she began, her hands reaching out for the rubix cube she kept in her pocket. Her hand began fiddling with it as she thought about her next few words.

"However...have I been...inadequate in some manner Ma'am? I'm afraid that's the only explanation I can come up with after hearing your orders."It made perfect sense for her in that case. She then realized how vague she sounded before she attempted to explain herself further.

"The order that you'd stay behind for instance...would it not be more appropriate for you to ask me to do it in your stead?"

Ivory Volkov

A slight exhale of relief escaped from her lips after hearing it wasn't her inadequacy that had necessitate that. It would have meant that she was a burden, in other words, being shameful to her own group. As Ivory continue with her explanation, her own brows furrowed slightly in response and she shifted uncomfortably in her seat.

"I understand that any commander wished to suffer as little lost as possible in battles they participate. However at the same time you should also consider the risks involved. The difference between us may just be ranks...but in a battlefield, that's even moreso important than any others. Yesterday was fine but what if I was subjected to misinformation and we faced threats that we are ill equipped against?"

She take a pause for a bit, her own eyebrows furrowed slightly.

"With all due respect Ma'am....Hierachy existed for a reason. Someone who is ranked lower is more expendable than the ones at the top. If someone like me die tomorrow, you can simply find another recruit to replace me and still have this organization work perfectly. But if you fall...there's no way we can recover from that. You're her right hand...the one that she can rely on the most. None of us can fill that gap like you could."

Ivory Volkov

There was something comforting to be called part of the family. It reminded one of home, of joyous laughter between siblings, of caring mother and a doting father. So when Ivory said as much she had to admit she was touched, a soft expression on her face which otherwise betray as much emotion as a stone wall.

"And I appreciate that...I really do. But you have to understand my position Ma'am...I'm not asking you to simply send your men into the meat grinder until we get results. That would be counterproductive as well. All I ask is for you to exercise greater caution when it comes to future mission. Please do not mistake bravery with recklessness and prudence with cowardice. It's what claimed the lives of many good people and I would hate for you to be included in that list."

Now that she was sufficiently dry from the water she was drenched in, she made a move towards the unoccupied couch.

"I agree that you shouldn't let a loss happen if it can be avoided with your participation. Of that we are of the same mind. However...sometimes you have to consider the greater good of the family Ma'am. Trying to save or protect everyone in family is ideal...and I applaud you for wanting to achieve that. But one day you may be forced to make a tough call. To make a choice when it's clear you can't save everyone."

She would then raise her hand to her own chest.

"I would sincerely hope that would never come to past...but I want you to know that trying to save it all...can mean losing it all. None of us would like that to happen. But you still do not wish to see the others that way...we can settle on a compromise then. Let me be fill that role so you won't ever have to consider others. I won't begrudge you...in fact I would be honored to fulfill that duty."

Ivory Volkov

Kasumi blinked as her nose was tapped on, her cheek blushing. It was frustrating to see Ivory wouldn't give an inch to her side of the argument yet at the same time, she could not be angry with her. She exhaled slightly as she mull over things once more.

"That would only work if we knew everything about the enemy in first place. Their strength, their skills and such...in such cases, yes you're right that my death would have no point. But circumstances in real life is not always as ideal or neat as one put in papers. Maybe the enemy purposely let you know about my predicament. A trap that is meant to be sprung once you rush in so you would get caught in it as well. Now that would put the both of us in danger when it could have been just me. In such cases, your participation would not only be unnecessary but in fact put the guild in greater danger than it was before when the losses could have been limited to just me."

She clenched her fists slightly for the first time, anger flashed in her eyes.

"That naive way of thinking that you could save everyone because you were strong or smart enough to take on anything without sacrificing anyone could be your undoing someday. There are circumstances that you cannot account for and sometimes those circumstances dictate us to sacrifice things to turn tide to your favor. Because if you keep on going like this path someday you'll regret it."

Ivory Volkov