Skald wasn’t really expecting the other hero to bolt to their feet like that so she’d just have to take a moment to blink slowly. Looking down at the flier and then back to the short blond woman she’d offer a small yet friendly smile.

”Well. You see I’m not exactly part of any agency and most ones that start up frequently contact me first to see if I’d be interested in joining them. Yours is the only one that hasn’t so I figured that I’d give yours a looksies.”

Skald would neatly fold the flier away; her smile and laid back but professional manner was obvious. Maybe from prior training or maybe from some other instance. She was hugely curious about the agency Rising Sun.

”Don’t worry about the drink, I just ate before coming here. Could you tell me a little bit more about your agency? Your goals with it long term?”

Skald tilted her head to one side and gave a little nod of her head; she was not bothered by the lack of drink though she had to wonder why the other may have thought it important. Skald did enough work to know that sometimes it was tight and sometimes it wasn’t.

”Could you show me around the agency too? If that’s not too much to ask.”

While Skald wasn’t the one to actively look into agencies or answer the various calls that she got from time to time from agencies that were looking to capitalize on her consistency, something about this one was putting up fliers, a billboard and posting ads? They hadn’t reached out to her at all; which already put them on a list of curiosities for the kitsune.

Announcing and broadcasting where your agency was could be considered a little too open; villains could attack it with ease but there was that idea of attacking an agency in the first place that would often push people away from even considering that prospect. If there was an influx of heroes the villains would want to stay away right? Smart. Kind of.

Given her patrols were going to be happening later the kitsune put on her hero uniform and decided to adjust it so that it would encompass where the flier said that the agency was. She was faster than most cars anyways so running there wasn’t a problem especially on hero business. Deigning to going across the rooftops it wasn’t long before she’d arrive across the street from where the agency was.

It was a nice building but smelled fresh to her; this entire situation smelled fresh. But she preferred that over a dingey building or one that was swarming with other heroes. She had issues working with others in the past even though she was workable. It was her views on rehabilitation that made this an issue.

Pondering for a moment before heading down the fire escape the kitsune trotted up to the younger hero, their blond hair was unmistakable and while she offhandedly didn’t know their personal name their hero name was plastered on those various recruitment drive papers…

”Deidran right? Name’s Maelstrom. Saw your flyers.”

The kitsune held up the one she had happened by before neatly folding it and putting it in one of her hero uniform pockets. She towered over most people and Deidran was no different. That and she was on a lawn chair so the difference was even greater. You couldn’t pick a different hero that was so physically opposite to Deidran either. They looked like a bright sun compared to skald’s chosen attire.

She didn’t really need answers to the first few mentions, it was something that she knew was probably a moot point and if her parents were any indication of stubbornness what was to say about someone who fancied themselves the king of the industry once upon a time? Hell he was still more or less the king of the industry even out of retirement.

The mention of her hero name coming from him felt… Right somehow. Like no, that was her and that was what she had been working with for quite some time. She figured that if he wanted to dig deeper to find out more about her he likely could. She’d tilt her head to one side as she noted that glint; though she didn’t mention it. Her hands took their natural placement on her side and she’d consider something.

”Thank you sir. And I suppose you’re right there. Makes it easy to keep things separate. Or try to at least.”

She had gone to such extents to protect her family to even having to push the name away from her. Covering up as much as she could but some people would be able to dig. There was a little bit of sadness there. Flicking her ears as he told her not to worry about the villain. That he wouldn’t change. There was a small part of her that knew he was right but…

”Saving people isn’t always about fighting though Sir-”

She didn’t know enough about the villain but that thought was cut off and she’d turn as the sound of traffic picked up. Great. It was the reporter tidal wave and news stations trying to get the next big story. She’d sigh a little bit and shake her head. Hearing that laugh she’d gaze at him and then manage a small nod.

”I can deal with them Sir; things here are sorted and I’m sure that you have better things to do than answer questions from reporters all day.”

She’d smile cheerfully at the other; her words were genuine as was her smile. Padding towards the oncoming circus she’d glance back at the other hero.

”Thank you again sir. It’s nice actually have a team up that worked even if it was brief.”

Skald knew that it was a tough question; a tough shift from what the was doing. Knowing his purpose, knowing his goal. Knowing what he wanted to do was something much better than nothing. She’d eye him for a moment and consider what he had to say.

”A goal, a purpose that was just leading you down a path that you were forced on in some capacity or another. It might seem that way to you now but when you look back at this in a couple years you’ll find that it’s much better than the alternative.”

She’d take a moment and smile warmly at the hero student; she liked thinking of him like that rather than as a villain. He was barely older than her sibling and she couldn’t help but feel protective of him in some capacity.

”This isn’t just something ‘framed’ as a new opportunity. It is. I’m one of the only heroes that does rehabilitation work. None of them believe that they can help people like this. We can do more than just fight villainy by throwing people into prison. We can fight it by helping people that were forced, pushed or stumbled into it by identifying the reasons for it and showing them a way that they can make a difference.”

She’d set her hands on her knees, already done with the cone part of her icecream cone. She’d look down at the ground and frown after a few long moments.

”I had to fight really hard to get this program even started, the chief of police is fiercely against it, many older and newer heroes don’t believe in the stuff. They demonize the people that we’re meant to protect. If I was a villain, which wouldn’t have been difficult to have happen especially after having to retire from the police force I wouldn’t have the same opportunity to the same degree that I’m trying to give others.”

Skald looked to leo, reaching over to grip at one of his shoulders. Her icy blue eyes were full of positivity and passion.

”I’m going to make sure you don’t rot in a cage or feel like this is just another cage to you. I’m going to make sure this door swings wide open for you.”

Shopping malls generally were one of the few places that skald had a habit of avoiding on patrols from time to time. But this was not one of those times. She had discussed patrol routes with other heroes and there was a distinct lack of them here. Noting that there were several overlaps with others she deigned to put herself through the Kitashi ward’s shopping mall at request with the others. Many would be crowded or would have to deal with fans but skald thankfully knew for a fact that most people would have some form of courtesy to leave her be while she was in her hero uniform.

So when the sound of automatic gunfire caught her attention skald’s face lit up; was this because they thought that heroes wouldn’t be on the scene? That there wouldn’t be someone to protect the folks around here? She’d growl softly and take off like a bullet train towards the sounds of the gunfire.

She figured that she had some time to catch these people while also getting folks out of the way. Skidding to a halt just short of where she noted the shattered glass the kitsune had to consider her approach briefly. Go in and present herself immediately and likely get lit up or stay here and try to guess where the likely robbers were.

Problems problems problems…

Regardless of that conundrum she decided to start charging up the lightning across her arms. Biting her lip a little bit as she stepped a bit closer. This was a dumb idea… She was completely unaware of Miroru due to the use of their quirk and her focus on the active threat so it’d take either them doing something or approaching her in some capacity…

”Oh trust me it was a lot of flailing around and trying to get paperwork done…”

Skald chuckled a little bit, raising her glass before taking a sip. She was more into the fruity drinks so hers was definitely along the lines of some kind of wine. Which kind? Blackberry of course! Though hers had lower content due to her having to walk home later she figured.

”I didn’t realize that she was going to be a hero! That must be exciting for her…”

Skald’s brows shot up a bit as the other shared their concerns with her; taking another sip of her drink she’d consider what to say briefly before nodding her head. Honestly it wasn’t a surprise. The entire time she knew Fuyuko there were things she worried about, from one thing to the next! Though that could be said of skald, given her siblings…

”I think she’ll be okay, uni can be rough for some but I feel once she finds her groove she’ll be okay!”

Skald grinned and nudged her friend.

”Remember how closed off I was when I started out as an officer? She’ll be fiiiiiiiiiiine!”