MeiAnne decided to wear very simple clothes today. Some plain tan slacks and a white button down. She hated that her room didn't have a mirror, but she was headed to the washroom anyway.
She headed out of her room, thankful this time she didn't have to navigate the halls with her bag, to see how well she remembered Gen's tour from the day before. After getting some sleep she was more thankful for his help than she let herself be while actually receiving his help.
She did a good job remembering as she made it to the washroom without any wrong turns or confusion. It was refreshing running cold water over her face, cleaning off the residue of her emotions. When she lifted her head to look in the mirror she noticed her eyes were still puffy and she looked tired. She wiped the skin under her eyes a few times as if it would help and tied her light brown hair back.
Her fitting was before breakfast and her time buffer had run thin. More people were leaving their rooms to do just as MeiAnne had as she left the washroom. She noticed the hallways were wide enough to not get crowded as people moved around, but they still felt full. Despite this she made her way to her uniform fitting.
When MeiAnne arrived she found herself looking at a room divided into two parts. The front with two workstations littered with measuring tools and papers, and the back with assorted uniform parts. The man that appeared to work there quickly guided her over to one of the workstations.
He worked fast collecting all her measurements, pressing and wrapping the tape around various parts of MeiAnne's body. Jotting down his measurements he told her to come back in two days for her fitted clothes. Some general sized training uniform parts were thrust in her arms as she was sent on her way.
The whole thing left MeiAnne feeling rushed as she looked around the hallway. Just as she found herself realizing she had no idea where she could go to eat breakfast she felt a familiar voice behind her.
"I see you've met Stitches." Gen patted the back of her shoulder as he drew close. "You don't happen to know what Flight you'll be attached to after your training is done do you?"
MeiAnne had no idea. She shook her head, unsure if he forgot that new enlistees only know their training unit or if he was just trying to make conversation.
"Come eat with my flight then. Get to know some folks here." Once again Gen didn't give MeiAnne time to answer. Although today she was okay with it, it saved the embarrassment of having to ask where the mess hall was.
It turned out to be in the middle building with the domed roof. On their way in they passed rooms for training and classes, or at least that's what MeiAnne assumed. Gen led her through the tables to where they could collect a tray of food and back to a table where a few others were seated.
She was one of only two women sitting at the table. The other, a blonde, hadn't noticed or acknowledged her yet. Besides her there was Gen, to her left, a dark haired man who hadn't turned to face her yet, and a blonde man that was talking to the woman. She then saw someone sit down beside her.
"Gen, are you treating her like a pet or a friend?" It was Raba that sat down next to MeiAnne. He looked down towards her. "I didn't hear Gen ask your name yesterday. Have you introduced yourself yet?"
"I'm MeiAnne."
"That sounds like a woodsman daughter or something." Piped up the blonde woman. "What brings you up here? Tired of only knowing hermits?"
"Yama, do you have to be rude already?" Raba looked disappointed. It was clear to MeiAnne that Yama didn't like that Raba told her off.
"How new are you, dear?" The dark haired man turned towards her finally. He seemed older than the others at this table. Not by too much but he had some greys she didn't spot until he turned.
"I just arrived yesterday."
"Welcome then." He nodded towards her before turning to his tray of food, fixating once again.
"Eat. Go ahead and eat. You have no idea if you will make the next meal for a week or so with training." Gen urged.
"Don't scare her." Raba added.
MeiAnne looked down to her food. It looked luke warm, and overcooked. The eggs almost didn't look real compared to the home cooked meals she was used to. She slowly picked up her utensil and took a bite. She shuddered at the taste. Somehow, the food was more bland than anything she had ever known.
"Get used to it." Yama muttered as she ate her own breakfast.
"Dinner is better." Raba whispered down to her, leaning closer to make sure he would be heard. This man is confusing. How can a General be so gentle? Why would a man who rode an amazing white dragon let his second take her in like this? He baffled MeiAnne, but she was welcome to it.
She finished what she could stomach, which was only half. Gen led her to the training room where she would meet her training unit. The older man waved his goodbye and Raba watched them leave, but that was all she got from them.
"Good luck. If they give you a hard time for being new and kinda short," He snickered at his jibe. "Just send them my way."
Once again MeiAnne said her goodbyes with Gen, this time in a much better mood. She walked into the room, seeing a dressing room off to the side. She used this as her chance to change into her temporary uniform and find a desk before others came in. While she still had a lot ahead of her, this morning made her think maybe it won't be that bad at all.