hybrid

Variks leans his weight forward on his staff, peering closer at this… human. Awoken? “If I may ask…” He blinks. “What are you?”

            “Other than that, I’m a Guardian, but I guess you knew that part already.”

When her feet hit the ground again, she kept her momentum going and headed straight for the door, faintly snickering into the comms.

It wasn’t that River doubted the Vanguard. If they said it was a simple clear-out mission that needed to be handled then she trusted them implicitly. But even with some experience under her belt now, she couldn’t help but worry just a little. Oh well. She’d tagged along on this. Now it was time to enjoy herself a bit. This was the Hive up close. Sure, she’d seen them before but the thrill of fieldwork still hadn’t faded just yet.

“Oh, he likes it alright. I know he does; you start to catch little things the longer you spend in there…he likes the power, even if he never gets to use it much. It goes to your head sometimes, havin’ little Guardians come in and look at you with that sparkle in their eyes, and you just know they’re thinkin’ ‘ I wanna be like you someday ’. It’s gonna be great.”

            “Sounds like Cayde. As long as he’s not really as miserable as he makes himself out to be... I mean, the Vanguard are people too. We spend all this time looking up to them but I wonder how many of us remember to ask them if they’re okay. Sure, they’re behind a table but they’re running everything so... I know she’s not my Vanguard but sometimes I try to check in on Ikora especially; I like her but she really should take a break once in awhile.”

“Only reason I feel bad for him is ‘cause ‘a how he got in. The Vanguard…they don’t really like to talk about it, but somebody died. Aaaand…ah okay, I feel bad for him sometimes because ‘Kora and Zavala can be a little hard on him. Gotta have a Hunter in there though, otherwise its not fair. And who would train the new Hunters anyway, you feel?”

            “Well, you have a point. Guess they keep him trapped for a reason. And, y’know, I do think he likes it a little more than he lets on. Even if how he got the job was terrible, don’t you think you’d be a little proud to have a bunch of new Guardians looking up to you? At least, he pretends that’s not the case but I really think he cares.”

     You’re staring, Guardian.

            “Sorry, was I really staring?”

    “You have…        …peculiar skin markings.”

            “And you’re not like any other Eliksni I’ve ever come across.”

“As if Cayde’s job could get any harder! But listen, I have to stand around and hear them talk all day. I see it all. He makes his own job hard by antagonizing the other two. Don’t mean I don’t feel for him though - I like to bug Zavala sometimes when he’s being annoying. You wanna make good with Cayde, you gotta stir up somethin’ every now and then. S’fun anyhow.”

            “I’ve always felt a little bad for him. Being stuck behind that table all day? I mean, I wasn’t too enthusiastic about getting out there and fighting again the Fallen and Hive and whatever else we can find out there but now I can see why he hates it. Never thought I’d hear myself say that honestly.”

“Heh, I’m thirteen and I hit harder than most Titans I know. I can take Zavala on good days! I know the feeling of bein’ stared at though. Sometimes new Guardians or staff will look surprised or sad when they see me, but to hell with that, man. I’ve got some asses to kick, and no time for a pity-party.”

            “Poor Zavala. Cayde must be lucky then—I didn’t even want to be a Guardian at first. I think he was a bit disappointed at first but I kept out of trouble and didn’t make his job harder so it all worked out in the end.”

“In it to win it, of course. Rep’s got nothin’ on me though, I don’t need to be an Iron Lady or whatever to get ranking. Like you said, shock of a kid…at first I was surprised how quick it turns ‘to fear, then respect, and soon enough, they all know your name. Or at least, your face. Fun as hell, too.”

            “And I thought I was the youngest one wandering around the Tower. Not too many kid Guardians. I still turn heads once in awhile but I’ve gotten used to it. Doesn’t happen in the Crucible though; better when they don’t even see me coming.”

“Well hey, River. Not your first Banner I guess? Raring to go either way; that’s what we like to see. Just in it to terrorize some newbies, or d’y’got your eye on some ‘a Saladin’s gear?”

            “Would it be mean to say that it’s just to terrorize the newbies? Nah, I need the practice and I don’t mind the challenge. A new set of gauntlets from Saladin would just be a bonus. What about you? Gear or the look of shock in someone’s eyes when they see a kid runnin’ at them?”

“Sounds like you’ve got a handful with ‘em, then. Thankfully I’ve never had that trouble. You want backup though, I’m your gal. Nothin’ better to do that stand around the table all day, all night…m’name’s Gyiana Renn.”

            “They’re... interesting. I mean, they’re good friends, they’re just... y’know. Never mind them though; I’m River.”