Secret's of a Double Ranker

As he browses through the menu, he notices that the system has already registered his new location and some of the espers he had met. Looking through the System tabs he clicks on his quest log, his most recent quest 'Get Assigned to an S Class Group' was now grayed out and marked complete. there was a few sub quests active, small quests to meet or get to know each esper on the team. As he reads through the quests, a small smirk tugs on the corners of his lips. The sub quest to get to know Annalise looks like it'll be a challenge, but he's not one to back down.

He contemplates his next move quietly as time passes, after awhile a knock sounds at the door. Hadrian quickly swipes his hand across the screen, dismissing it. Standing up he calmly walks to the door and opens it. Mason stand on the other side on the door, a slightly amused expression on his face. "Settling in okay?" he asks, glancing past him into the room. "of course, just taking a few moments to myself," Hadrian says softly.

Mason nods, leaning against the doorframe again, "Good to hear. I hope you're finding everything to your liking. I know it can be a bit..... unsettling at first, being thrown into a new environment with a group of Espers." He pauses for a moment before continuing. "i know it's none of my business, but you said something earlier about dealing with difficult people. You seem to have a pretty relaxed demeanor despite your circumstances."

Hadrian looks over Mason calculatingly. After a moment he steps aside and motions toward the bed. "If you want to know more, since you're the leader, I understand you're obligated to be aware of what I've dealt with." Mason's eyes narrow slightly at the invitation, but he accepts it nonetheless. He steps into the room and takes a seat on the edge of the bed, crossing his arms. Hadrian steps in and closes the door behind him firmly.

Mason looks him over, "Alright, I'm listening. What exactly have you dealt with that had given you such..... unflappable composure?" Hadrian steps forward and sits next to him calmly before speaking. "You've heard of compatibility scores between guides and espers i assume?" Mason nods, his expression serious. "Yes, compatibility scores are a crucial factor in guiding relationships. it measures how well the guide and esper work together, and how easily they can support each other."

Hadrian gains a nervous looks, as his hands begin to fidget slightly. "Well the strange things with me, my compatibility is double sided. I'm almost a perfect score for just about everyone I get matched with..." Mason's eyes widen in surprise. "Double-sided compatibility? That's.... unheard of. Most guides have a certain range of scores they match well with, but for you to have such a high compatibility with everyone...." He leans forward, his interest piqued. "How did you discover this ability? How did it affect your experience as a guide?"

Hadrian averts his eyes, his body tensing as memories flash through his mind. "Well we found out after me being assigned to low rank espers that my compatibility was more so 'overpowering' and made my guiding addictive to espers. Instead of helping, they would go crazy demanding more guidance. I've been attacked numerous times, almost killed 20 times. We found out that I'm classified S-class guide, but anyone below S-class, I can no longer be paired with...."

Mason's expression turns grave as Hadrian explains his situation. He rubs his chin thoughtfully, processing the information. "So you were deemed too dangerous to be paired with anyone below S-class. That must have been difficult, knowing that your abilities were hurting the espers instead of helping them." Hadrian nods slightly, "yes, it's why I've been unassigned for the last few months, also to recuperate from the last attack. If it wasn't for your group needing aa guide, I likely would have been forced to retire, even though I'm only 24.."

Mason looks at him with a mix of sympathy and understanding. "I'm sorry you had to go through all that. It's a difficult situation, but I'm glad you're here now. Our group could use someone like you, especially with our S-class Espers." He pauses for a moment before asking, "Have you ever thought about trying to control your ability? Finding a way to mitigate the negative effects it has on other Espers?" Hadrian sighed softly and looked at his feet. "We've tried but nothings worked yet," he says softly. Quietly he thought to himself, wondering if his esper abilities were also a factor in what was happening, but he couldn't be sure. He knew his abilities and double classification shouldn't be spoken about.

Mason notices the contemplative look on his face, sensing that there's something more you're not saying. He decides not to press further, knowing that some things are best left unsaid. "I understand. Well, regardless of the challenges, we're glad to have you here. We'll do our best to support you and make sure you feel comfortable with the group." Hadrian holds back a blush as he feels a strange flutter in his chest, it was something he hadn't felt before. "Thank you, i appreciate it. I just hope that your Espers will not be overwhelmed with my guidance, this is my first time being assigned to S-class Espers. So I hope things work out..." He says softly with a light smile.

Mason returns his smile with a reassuring one of his own. "I have faith that things will work out. Our Espers are powerful and resilient, and they've had plenty of experience dealing with difficult situations. they'll adjust to your presence, I'm sure of it." "Hopefully," at that moment Hadrian's stomach growls slightly and cant help but blush and laugh, "So sorry I skipped lunch so I'd be on time today.." Mason chuckles at the sound of his stomach growling. "no need to apologize. It's understandable that you're hungry. How about we grab something to eat together?"

"Sounds nice thank you," Hadrian agrees and stands up. Mason stands up as well, leading the way out of the room. They both walk through the halls of the guild, Mason glances at him. "Any preferences for food? I know a few good spots nearby that offer a wide variety of options." "I usually cook at home or would be forced to make homemade meals for my espers. It was the cheaper option for them."

Mason nods understandingly, his expression softening. 'I see. So you've always been the one cooking for others, huh? Must have been quite the responsibility." "Yes, I don't mind usually, I like cooking when it's not actually expected or demanded," Hadrian explains with a smile. Mason smiles back, sensing a genuine passion for cooking from him. "Well, it's good to know that you enjoy it. Maybe you could show me some of your culinary skills sometime." He leads Hadrian out of the guild and onto the streets, heading toward a nearby restaurant.

Hadrian follows along quietly, the hustle and bustle of the city surrounds him. The air is filled with the scent of food from nearby restaurants and cafes, the sounds of cars and chatter mixing together. Eventually Mason leads him to a small, cozy restaurant. The warm lighting and pleasant atmosphere inside immediately making it feel welcoming. The aroma of different dishes wafts through the air, making his stomach rumble again. Mason notices the reaction and chuckles. "Looks like someone's excited about the food," he teases lightly, leading him to a table.

A waitress approaches the table, her eyes widening slightly as she recognizes Mason. She quickly recovers, though, and smiles warmly. "Hello, Mr. Harris! Lovely to see you again. and who's your guest?" Hadrian looks the waitress over slowly with a soft, warm smile on his face. Glancing between the two, it was obvious that Mason had to be a regular here. Mason returns the waitress's smile, his eyes flicking over to Hadrian. "Ah this is Hadrian. He's the new S-class guide we hired."

The waitress's eyes widen slightly as she looks at him, taking in Hadrian's appearance. From his silky crimson hair to his calculating golden eyes, he was possibly the prettiest guy she had ever seen. "A new guide, huh? It's a pleasure to meet you, Hadrian," She says softly trying to hold back a blush. She gives a friendly nod before turning back to Mason. "i see you found your usual table, Mr. Harris. Would you like to order now or wait a bit?"

Hadrian glances about the restaurant, noticing how full it was but that all the customers appeared to be enjoying themselves. The waitress notices his gaze and follows it around the restaurant. "Busy day today," she comments with a smile, "Lots of hungry customers wanting a good meal." Mason nods in agreement, glancing around as well. "It seems like the food is popular. I'm glad we came here today." The waitress takes out her notepad and pen. "So, what can I get you two to drink? We have a great selection of wines and beers, as well as non-alcoholic options."

Hadrian thinks to himself before speaking up softly, "So you have any mixed alcoholic drinks?" The waitress grins, clearly enjoying the opportunity to show off the restaurant's drink menu. "Oh we do indeed! We have a wide selection of mixed drinks that are sure to satisfy your taste buds. Anything in particular you had in mind?" Hadrian smiles softly as he glances over the list. "I prefer sweet but strong drinks, but hate the taste of straight alcohol. Do you have any suggestions?"

The waitress nods and scans the menu. "Of course! We have a few options that are both sweet and strong, but not overly bitter. How about a mojito or a strawberry daiquiri? They're both fruity and delicious." "The daiquiri sounds interesting. I'll try that," He says with a soft smile before turning to Mason. Mason smiles back at him, "I'll have the same, but with a twist. I'd like mine with some extra mint leaves." 

The waitress jots down the orders and nods. "Excellent choices, gentleman. I'll get those drinks for you right away." With that, she walks away to place your orders, leaving him and Mason alone at the table. "She seems like a sweetheart," Hadrian says as he glances around again before focusing on Mason. Mason nods in agreement, "She is. Been working here for years, and she's always been friendly to everyone. The restaurant would be lost without her." He leans back in his chair, looking Hadrian over again. "So, Hadrian, how are you feeling about your new job so far? Must be a big adjustment, working with S-class Espers."

"It's okay so far. I haven't had to do anything yet so I'll let ya know in a few days. Can you tell me more about the team members? I have their files of course but I don't really know who's who or what their like." Mason nods and leans forward, folding his hands on the table. "Sure thing. I can tell you a bit about each of them." He pauses for a moment, gathering his thoughts, "First off, there's Nyx LaRue. She's our Healer and has a calming presence. She's always the one to keep the team grounded during tough situations."

Hadrian nods, there was usually at least one healer in every group. Thinking back to the group he saw in the guild hall, he tries to match the name to a face. There had been two other girls besides Annalise so he wasn't sure who was who. "Which one was she in the room?" he asks softly. Mason thinks for a moment before replying, "She's the tall and elegant one with dark hair. She was the one who greeted you when you first arrived." "Ah, okay, So Raven haired girl was Nyx, she sounds nice," Hadrian says softly, remembering the gentle look she had given him. She had seemed pretty approachable.

Mason chuckles. "Yeah, she's definitely the one you'd want on your side in a fight. Nyx is skilled and knowledgeable, and she's always there to lend a hand. Just be careful not to get on her bad side." Mason grins and continues, "Next up is Athena Gardner. She's our speedster and has a mischievous streak. She loves pulling pranks on the rest of the team, but she's fiercely loyal and will protect her comrades without hesitation." Hadrian thinks back to the guild hall again, "Was she the short haired red head then?" 

Mason nods, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "yep, that's her. The red hair and quick movements give her away. And don't be fooled by her playful attitude. Athena's more powerful than she lets on." "Understandable, I know not to judge someone's strength just from their appearance," Hadrian explained, wincing as he fubbed his arm, the muscles aching from a a memory. Mason notices the wince and raises an eyebrow, "Everything okay? Did something happen to your arm?" He looks at him with concern, his expression turning serious.

"Before, One of the espers that went crazy, was a small young kid, but he ended up doing some serious damage to my arms. That's why i don't judge on appearances anymore..." Hadrian says with a distant look in his eyes. Mason's eyes widen slightly at the words, "You got injured by a young esper? That's not something to take lightly. I'm sorry to hear that." He studies Hadrian's arms, finally noticing very faint scars scattered across the pale skin, "Did you receive proper treatment for your injuries?" 

"Yes, I was always hospitalized and given the best care. Despite a few scars, i healed perfectly every time," Hadrian says reassuringly, the scars rarely hurt anymore but the memories would always reminded him of the pain he went through. Mason nods, relieved to hear that he had received proper treatment. "That's good to know. It's important to take care of injuries properly, especially if they're inflicted by a powerful Esper." He leans back in his chair, studying Hadrian for a moment longer. "You must have a strong will to keep going after enduring such injuries."

"Yeah, I know that it wasn't always the Espers fault so i don't hold any grudges. I've just grown more wary of doing emergency guiding for random Espers," Hadrian says softly, he gives a reassuring smile as he relaxes again. Mason smiles approvingly at his words. "That's a mature way of thinking about it. It's understandable that you'd be wary after going through such experiences. But I have faith that you'll be able to handle any situation with our team." 

At that moment, the waitress returns with their drinks, setting them down with a smile, "Here you go gentleman. Two strawberry daiquiris." "Thank you Ma'am," Hadrian says gently before taking a small sip of his drink. he lets out a soft appreciative hum as the fruity sweetness melts on his tongue. The waitress smiles at his reaction," You're welcome. Let me know when you are ready to order," she wanders off. Mason watches him savor the drink before taking a sip of his own, "Not bad, right? I knew you'd like it."

Mason sets his glass down and continues the conversation. "Anyway, back to the team. Next up if our powerhouse, Artemis Sheffield." Hadrian refocuses and thinks back to early again, he remembered there being a few guys in the group, "Artemis? Which one are they?" Mason chuckles at his confusion, "Don't worry, I'll describe them for you. Artemis is a tall, muscular guy with short, dark hair. He's the powerhouse of the team, with incredible strength and durability. he's always eager to get into a fight and take on any opponent."

"Ah okay, He's the team main Esper tank. He did look like he fit that position." Hadrian smirks slightly remembering how he had reacted when Hadrian had greeted them. Mason grins at his observation," You're not wrong. Artemis takes his role as the team's tank seriously. He's always the first one to jump into battle and protect his teammates. But he's not just muscle. He's also a strategic thinker and can devise plans on the fly." "He sounds like a good well rounded player," Hadrian compliments, taking another sip of his daiquiri.

Mason nods in agreement," He definitely is. Artemis has a no-nonsense attitude and if fiercely loyal to the team. He'll go to great lengths to protect his comrades, even if it means putting himself in harm's way." Mason takes another sip of his drink before continuing, "And last but not least, we have Leo Harten. He's our mage, a master of illusions and manipulation." "He was the blond guy i assume then, ruling out your bitchy fifth member, Annalise," Hadrian jokes lightly, despite her attitude he hoped she would calm down a bit.

Mason laughs at the joke, his eyes twinkling in amusement. "You're sharp. Yes, that's Leo. The blond guy with the mischievous smile. He's the wild card of the team, always finding new ways to surprise and manipulate his opponents." "Ah, so basically the Playa, as they say. Well thay all sound very interesting," Hadrian says, thinking about the group, wondering which one would approach him first.

Mason grins at his description of Leo. "you could say that. He's definitely the life of the party, and he's always up for some fun, but don't underestimate him. He's just as skilled as the rest of the team, and he has how own unique set of abilities." Mason pauses for a moment, observing his expression, "They all have their own personalities and ways of interacting with new people. It'll be interesting to see how you fit into the team."