[ Brig looks at the ones who stepped forward flatly.
No condescension. No irritation.
He starts at one end of the line and makes his way to the other. As he does so, he stands before each one, as if examining something. He spends at least a good ten seconds on each; looking up at those taller than him, towering over those shorter, staring those about his height straight in the eye. No showing of being impressed, and yet no tension in his shoulders that may give the impression of arrogance.
As he goes along, he adjusts their armor (slightly firmly), he dusts dirt or lint they may have missed on their shoulders with calculated sweeps, adjusts guns and knives at their belts (minutely for some, a bit more noticeably for others not as disciplined as their batchmates) into optimal positioning for drawing, closing clasps of gun/knife holsters left unlocked. Once or twice he's drawn a loose blade or gun and examined their weight and balance, as well as how they're maintained, before putting them deftly back into their sheathes.
He's making sure they know he's sizing them up.
He steps away when he's done and unholsters Gintoki from his back, holding him on one end in a firm but relaxed grip. He lowers him to the ground and walks around them, dragging him as he goes along. ]
I have been briefed about all of you. [ A measured beat ] I have browsed through your dossiers. [ He taps a cigarette out of his pack nimbly, pulls it out with his mouth, puts away the pack and lights up with his other free hand ] You are the creme de la creme [ There is emphasis, ever so slightly ] of your Hunter schools. [ Gintoki still dragging along as he makes his way around and behind them ] Top 1% who have opted to gun for a spot in Zangyaku. [ Emphasis made on the name of the Conspiracy ]
You are good. But to be perfectly honest with you and without splitting hairs, [ Another measured beat ] you have not impressed the Magistrate, [ He stops at the point where he began dragging Gintoki. ] for one reason or another.
[ And now, if they look, they will see it. Brigade has drawn a circle 20 yards in circumference around them all, courteous, wary and hotshot alike. ]
I am not the Magistrate and I have only met you now. [ He taps the ash from his cigarette as he looks back at all of them pointedly ] Aside from that, it is in my nature to give the benefit of the doubt and see only the good in people. [ A slow drag as he taps the dirt from Gintoki on his thigh, with a respectful pat on the face of the shield ]
We in Zangyaku [ A pause ] respect strength. But not only of force of arms [ A longer pause as he looks each of the hotshots in the eye ] but also that of character.
[ He takes a long, relaxed drag of his cigarette, enjoying it thoroughly with eyes closed as he puffs the smoke out. When he looks at them again, his features are relaxed as always, but his eyes are dead serious. ]
As of this moment, none of you [ Addressing them all ] are Zangyaku. You do not enjoy the presumption in favor of a Brother or Sister's strength which is theirs by right of their personal mettle.
[ A pause ] You are lucky that I'm assigned to train you, and not any of my stricter Siblings. Because, as I said earlier, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
[ That circle is cut in deep in the ground. Cleanly. It may have seemed that Brig was just dragging Gintoki, but he was in fact working with his partner the former Searing Wind Dragon Lord to draw that circle geometrically perfect. Force was applied in proper measure. He cut that dirt up at least 5 inches deep. ]
Just paint the picture for any individuals you may want to detail.:) I shall respond accordingly.
No condescension. No irritation.
He starts at one end of the line and makes his way to the other. As he does so, he stands before each one, as if examining something. He spends at least a good ten seconds on each; looking up at those taller than him, towering over those shorter, staring those about his height straight in the eye. No showing of being impressed, and yet no tension in his shoulders that may give the impression of arrogance.
As he goes along, he adjusts their armor (slightly firmly), he dusts dirt or lint they may have missed on their shoulders with calculated sweeps, adjusts guns and knives at their belts (minutely for some, a bit more noticeably for others not as disciplined as their batchmates) into optimal positioning for drawing, closing clasps of gun/knife holsters left unlocked. Once or twice he's drawn a loose blade or gun and examined their weight and balance, as well as how they're maintained, before putting them deftly back into their sheathes.
He's making sure they know he's sizing them up.
He steps away when he's done and unholsters Gintoki from his back, holding him on one end in a firm but relaxed grip. He lowers him to the ground and walks around them, dragging him as he goes along. ]
I have been briefed about all of you. [ A measured beat ] I have browsed through your dossiers. [ He taps a cigarette out of his pack nimbly, pulls it out with his mouth, puts away the pack and lights up with his other free hand ] You are the creme de la creme [ There is emphasis, ever so slightly ] of your Hunter schools. [ Gintoki still dragging along as he makes his way around and behind them ] Top 1% who have opted to gun for a spot in Zangyaku. [ Emphasis made on the name of the Conspiracy ]
You are good. But to be perfectly honest with you and without splitting hairs, [ Another measured beat ] you have not impressed the Magistrate, [ He stops at the point where he began dragging Gintoki. ] for one reason or another.
[ And now, if they look, they will see it. Brigade has drawn a circle 20 yards in circumference around them all, courteous, wary and hotshot alike. ]
I am not the Magistrate and I have only met you now. [ He taps the ash from his cigarette as he looks back at all of them pointedly ] Aside from that, it is in my nature to give the benefit of the doubt and see only the good in people. [ A slow drag as he taps the dirt from Gintoki on his thigh, with a respectful pat on the face of the shield ]
We in Zangyaku [ A pause ] respect strength. But not only of force of arms [ A longer pause as he looks each of the hotshots in the eye ] but also that of character.
[ He takes a long, relaxed drag of his cigarette, enjoying it thoroughly with eyes closed as he puffs the smoke out. When he looks at them again, his features are relaxed as always, but his eyes are dead serious. ]
As of this moment, none of you [ Addressing them all ] are Zangyaku. You do not enjoy the presumption in favor of a Brother or Sister's strength which is theirs by right of their personal mettle.
[ A pause ] You are lucky that I'm assigned to train you, and not any of my stricter Siblings. Because, as I said earlier, I will give you the benefit of the doubt.
[ That circle is cut in deep in the ground. Cleanly. It may have seemed that Brig was just dragging Gintoki, but he was in fact working with his partner the former Searing Wind Dragon Lord to draw that circle geometrically perfect. Force was applied in proper measure. He cut that dirt up at least 5 inches deep. ]