Carmina let out a long suffering sigh, “Alright, I’m done with this nonsense.” She slammed her journal on the table and bolted out of her seat to stretch about.

“We’ve finished jotting down our notes.” Joanna looked at Izirrary and grabbed her handwritten notes before handing Jose a small bundle of papers. Skimming through them, it seemed they’d written small reports for the volunteers they were interested in, clearly marking their potential role on the team and why they would be an asset.

“Okay, if everyones gone through the report, let’s go over it.” Jose pulled out a writing board in the Elder’s conference room and wrote out two sections, one for potential assets and another to outline what the current group's strengths were. He’d been thinking about their engagement in the final event since finishing it, about their approach to problems and current skill sets, and had come to the conclusion that the group would benefit greatly from a more offensive role.

“I think we should write down our strengths and weaknesses and move from there. Provide a full stretch of our abilities for the rest of the group.” This level of exposure made him slightly uncomfortable but there was no use in acting as a leader if he didn’t objectively assess his skill level to the rest of the group. “I’ll start: I’m somewhat trained as an Arcanist and have access to four spells, only three of which I can cast safely. It's taxing on my Soul to cast spells and leaves me increasingly drained each time. I’m Hollow, so I’m also limited in most Soul techniques. To that end, I expect to expand my utility by bringing in my toolbox of reclaimed magical items for the expedition.” He turned his sight away from the rest of the group and wrote down his strengths and weaknesses.

Was he holding his breath? Why weren’t they repondin-

“I’ll hit things real hard and I’ve got a grasp on Kinesis. If…if there’s anything out there that messes with the mind, I’ll likely be out of commission. Like Jose, I’ll be coming along with my own set of goodies so I can double up as a Sapper if need be.” Lysa stated to the rest of the group before coming up next to Jose to write down her piece on the board.

“Matteo and I are blessed with some skills I ain’t privy to go into detail with. Any Scout worth their salt can Shroud, and I’m worth twice that since I can Shroud my soul. Helps me get through enemy lines if they're sending for a soul in the vicinity or just looking with their eyes. Contrary to my apparent physique, I’m a delicate flower. Don’t expect me to jump into the fray unless I’ve got to.” Carmina announced, waiting her turn to write down her skill set on the board.

The rest of the group turned to Matteo and waited for him to say something, his eyes focused on pulling out what words he wanted to use. “It costs me something to swing my weapon. I’m tougher while wielding it.” He stated in clipped sentences before lumbering to the board.

Jose watched Joanna and Irizarry whisper to each other before Joanna composed herself. “I’m trained in offensive alchemy and it takes a while for me to mix my ingredients together for a potent concoction. I’ll have a magic item to aid in the process but disturbances will make my effects weaker.” She sauntered over to the board and wrote down her information.

“Charruh and I are linked. If he gets hurt while I’m melded into his senses, I’ll suffer similar effects, developing phantom pains and cuts on appropriate limbs. Otherwise, he’s an extended soul to manipulate techniques off of and a last minute scout if we need one.” Irizarry offered up to the group. He hadn’t expected her to be so forthcoming with her weakness but appreciated the display of vulnerability.

Looking over the board, it seemed clear to him that their group was saturated with utility. Between Irizarry, Joanna, Lysa, and himself, they had a wide range of alchemical potions and magical items at their disposal to confront a myriad of problems. Would they have something to aid the group in underwater traversal?

“Do we have a plan for dealing with the environment?” Lysa asked the rest of the group before looking at him. It felt good knowing they were on the same page.

“Matteo and I would prefer not to go in the water.” Carmina told the group. That raised a few eyebrows, Jose included, but prying wouldn’t do them any good. It was a non-issue if they were forced into the action by circumstance.

“Making any potions that affect your physiology will take time and a physical examination. I’m more than certain with Joanna’s aid, we can craft potions to adjust the eyes for the murky waters. Our Sapper handed over breathing devices in case of emergencies so I think Jose can cover our underwater exploration in that regard.” Irizarry revealed to the group. Jose wasn’t sure how comfortable he’d be for this examination and placed a pin on the idea because they did need to think about underwater traversal but he moved the conversation along.

“Beyond the environment, it’s pretty clear that we’re lacking a direct offensive member. Lysa would be good for the role but she took the adjacent front line position with Matteo because the rest of us can’t be counted on to hold the line.” Jose stated plainly. It meant that they were looking for some front line members, either a defensive person that could alleviate Lysa’s position and allow her to be the Lancer she’d trained to be during our practice sessions or find someone that could be offensive enough that Lysa was allowed to focus all of her energy on defending the other members.

“We should recruit Vallejo.” Matteo said. Carmina widened her eyes and opened her mouth to speak before Matteo grabbed her head with an arm lock. “He’s a former adventurer. He repelled a Scourge’s advancement with his Caravan among others back in the day. He’s also big.” Matteo stopped talking. Jose heard Lysa whistle at that piece of information and Jose struggled not to join in. He couldn’t trust that the man wasn’t exaggerating his claim but having someone who’s gone up against a Scourge would be an asset for the experience alone.

“I’d actually recommend the Bulwark I enlisted onto my team, Nemesio. He was pleasant to be around and was versatile,” Irizarry pulled back and looked at Lysa, “Not to say that you aren’t versatile, Lysa. His style of defense was more about terrain manipulation, creating chokepoints and walls to alleviate pressure off himself and the Lancer.” Jose knew Vallejo’s affiliations but was Nemesio also safe to recruit? He jotted down both of their names for later inspection.

“I don’t mind taking over as defense if we recruit Delores.” Lysa suggested. He looked back at the report and sifted through the notes he had on that group. Oh right, the Valkyr.

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“I second that sentiment. Either Cienmiedos would be an invaluable addition to our team although I’d prefer the older one if we can enlist her.” Jose added. He held back that their affiliations were plainly towards Elder Nero so they were safe additions.

“Our team will be quite eclectic to consider one of their lot in our group.” The disdain for adding either of them to the team was apparent on Joanna’s face.

“What’s a Val-ker?” Carmina struggled to ask, half her mouth still covered up by Matteo’s meat slab of an arm. Izirrary looked at Jose and raised an eyebrow at him.

“I’m sure our leader knows of her lineage if he’s so adamant to add her onto the group.” Irizarry said in a playful tone.

He paid it no mind and read his notes aloud, “A Valkyr or Einjar can be considered an enchanter of sorts. Instead of acquiring magical ores and operating with a Vessels forge, they temper the souls of fallen creatures into any object of their choosing. Their history has often been misconstrued as a link towards true magical item creation or some variant of necromantic magic.” Depending on how long they’ve been operating and what sort of relics were in their reliquary, they could be as versatile and potent on the battlefield as the rest of them put together. Especially considering the report outlined how Delores used the examination as a damn training exercise for her pupil.

"Looking at the report, it seems that the elder Cienmiedos is a capable fighter. If she doesn't accept our invitation, I doubt she'd give up the opportunity to have her pupil participate on her behalf." Izirrary said. It also meant he'd have less tools at his disposal but fanciful stories of their kind protecting lone villages from roving Infected hordes tickled Jose's brain in all the right ways.

"We'll need another dedicated Scout," Jose looked for pushback from Carmina and found none, "Even with-" He bit his tongue.

If he revealed that he'd also decoded a limited map of the Vessel, might lose leverage on the boat if someone unsavory did sneak in.

"Even with?" Lysa waved her arm around for him to get on with the sentence.

"Even with the skills of our current Scout, I expect us to be dealing with forked hallways and might need to lean on one of them if the other is out of commission. We felt Carmina's loss in that last stretch of the event and I'd like to avoid that situation if possible." Jose transitioned into his statement smoothly, feigning a wayward thought. “If there’s anyone you’re willing to recommend for the task, Carmina, let us know.” The group waited for Carmina to ruminate on the matter, referring back to the report for a refresh.

“Well fuck,” She slapped the report in her hand, “The only one competent in this lot is Paulina from Team 4. Having someone like the Scout from Team 5 would be great for the ethereal tethers alone but being incapable of using a Shroud would be a death sentence in a nest. Only other standout is in Vallejo’s group and I fucking hate his guts.” Carmina leaned back on her chair, fidgeting when Matteo approached with a comforting hand.

“Would you be willing to train the Scout from Team 5 in this Shroud technique if given the time to do so?” Joanna asked.

“It’s neither somethin’ I’m willing or capable of teaching. I only learned the name of the technique from some of the vets I deliver packages to down in the Bay.” Carmina responded. It meant that they’d have to use Paulina if they wanted a Scout of credible use, but their proximity to a known Isabella operative is risky.

“We’re in agreement then in inviting this Paulina to our expedition team?” Izirrary asked. With no clear dissent, their name was added onto the list of potential members.

“Let’s take a break? I just need a moment.” Lysa suddenly bolted up and walked out of the room with her announcement, her eyes unfocused and horrified.

“Give me a sec.” Jose got up from his seat and followed after her. The lights outside of the meeting chamber were adjusting to the ebbing light on the horizon, tinging the hallway with varied shades of violet and orange. He saw Lysa not much further in the hall, huddled on the ground with her face buried in her knees. He walked over to her and sat down on the cold floor.

“I’m sorry for causing a scene.” Lysa said in a deliberate, if muffled, way.

“I doubt the others care, Lysa,” Jose felt the weight of her head and upper body lean onto his shoulder, “We’re alone if you want to talk.”

The two sat there in a shared, nostalgic, silence.

“The match that I had with the fucking girl messed with my head. Just pulled all of my ugly thoughts to the forefront and forced me to feel them.” Jose said nothing. His chest tightened with faded recollections of his time on the hill with her. “I just have these fears that I’m dragging everyone else down with me. That I’m obnoxious and people groan when they see me lumbering into view. Like an ugly, abrasive beast…” Lysa’s voice was choked up, words trickling under suppressed whimpers. He could see her knuckles white with how tight she was balling her fists.

“Lysa, do you remember the day before school ended?” Jose asked softly. She lifted her head up, eyes red and wet, with a puzzled look on her face. “We were a year off from finishing school outright and I was still dealing with the aftermath of my mother all those years later. The fact you and Emma could stand a grouch like me was difficult to wrap my head around but I’m getting sidetracked.”

Lysa chuckled, “You didn’t make it easy on either of us but we needed someone to help us out in our foreign language course and you were the only one willing to help us out.”

“That’s besides the point.” Jose fumbled. “The point is we were close to finishing school that year and I was on the mend by that point. I only got that far because you were out there, day in and day out, yelling at people whispering shit behind my back. And by that point, I’d started doing the same when I’d hear people say stuff about you.”

She stared off into the distance and started connecting two and two together, “The fight.”

“Yeah.” Jose was brought back to that aftermath, skin raw from tossing around in the grass, wounds stinging with each breeze. “We were a team then and we’re a team now. Beast or no beast, obnoxious or not, you will always look to your side and see me there to lift you up.” Because she’s done the same for me and never complained about it.

Lysa wiped her face and smiled, “I’m such a baby getting worked up over nightmares.”

“Nightmares or not, they’re still worries you should talk through. Sit Nora down and air out your issues with her.” Jose reassured her and lifted himself up from the ground. “Let’s get back in there and finalize our expedition.” Jose stretched his hand out to Lysa and she clasped onto it, pulling herself up from the ground to join him on their walk back to the meeting chamber.

The group was animated on their return, arguing about the effectiveness of one Sapper over another and why they should join the expedition. The two took this in stride, listening to the opinions before jumping in with their own recommendations and assessments.

Jose had kept his promise to the team, finalizing invitations a little after the dining bell had rung in town. Their list was larger than the allotted slots on the boat so they’d agreed to interview those on the list before sending their full roster to the Elders. He took in a deep breath of cool sunset air as he traced the path back to his home, the window lit with the silhouette of his partner moving around inside.

As much as he wanted to revel in good times with her, she needed to know about the plot.