Private Gears Under the Garland

[Aren D'Shade]

The shuttle touched down on Bastion with a muted thrum, the station's sleek surfaces reflecting the low, ambient glow of the outer corridors. Aren stepped off the ramp with deliberate precision, Omen following at her side, taking in the unfamiliar surroundings with quiet curiosity.

"Rellik said to meet him at the Life Day tech display," Aren murmured, scanning the corridor ahead. Her tone was calm and measured, with a faint lift in her voice: anticipation, the subtle thrill of being called to a project that mattered.

The atrium of the display area opened before them, wide and adorned with festive lights and the faint shimmer of ornamental projections. Aren's fingers itched to get to work, checking connections and scanning the consoles. "We'll need this powered, calibrated, and ready for demonstration," she said, more to herself than anyone else. "No room for shortcuts."

Omen lingered nearby, her gaze sweeping the atrium with quiet interest, letting Aren move freely while observing the scene.

From the far side of the display, a figure approached. Tall, deliberate, exuding an authority that made Aren straighten slightly, instinctively assessing the newcomer. She didn't speak, didn't move toward the figure, registered the presence, and let her hands hover near the consoles, ready to continue her work.

The hum of the station and the glow of the displays set the stage for what promised to be an unusual Life Day, and the approach of the figure suggested that this setup would not go entirely unnoticed.

Diarch Reign

 

[Diarch Reign]

​

Location: Bastion
Tags: Aren D'Shade
Gear: Amulet of the Warden's Eye, Bladefather

---

Life day, it was one of Reign's favorite holidays. Yet, as usual, he was busy. He had plans with his wife and daughters later in the evening but for now, duty called.

Diarch Rellik had asked him to double check the Life Day Display, which struck Reign as odd.. considering he was probably one of the least mechanically minded people on the planet. But, nevertheless, here he was. His brother had made some vague comment about meeting a tech here, but Reign had opted not to try and decipher Rellik's riddles today.

When he rounded the display, he saw who he assumed to be who he needed to meet. A slight young woman with shoulder length purple hair, her complexion reminded the Diarch of his wife, which brought a smile to his eyes, but not his mouth.

As he approached, he noticed the slight straightening of the woman which did actually make him chuckle.

"Hello there!"

 

[Aren D'Shade]

---

Aren looked up from the display, her purple hair brushing lightly against her shoulders as she met his greeting. Her expression was calm and precise, measured in both posture and tone.

"Good morning, Diarch Reign," she said evenly, voice low and controlled. "I've reviewed the briefing on the Life Day display, but I'll need a full walkthrough to verify everything is functioning correctly."

Her eyes flicked briefly over the array of lights and mechanisms, scanning with the practiced precision of someone accustomed to catching subtle anomalies. Fingers brushed over the nearest control panel, adjusting a few settings while reading the feedback streams on her datapad. "I'll want to cross-check the energy flows and synchronization with the holographic projectors," she added, her tone calm but efficient. "If there are any specifications or particular concerns, it would be best to mention them now so I can account for them in the calibration."

Stepping a little closer, she extended a hand, careful and deliberate. "I'm Aren," she said formally. "It's a pleasure to meet you."

Her gaze returned briefly to the display. "I've noticed a minor drift in the upper projector's alignment—it's subtle, but it could cause the holographic images to flicker slightly during the synchronized sequence. I can correct it quickly, but I'll need to run a full calibration once we start the walkthrough."

Even in a formal setting, her attention to detail was unwavering—everything had to be precise, especially for something as important as a Life Day display.

Diarch Reign