The guards at the gate to the Mansion quickly verified that Veronica was indeed supposed to be there. No one was very thrilled that Iscariot was sending members to join Hellsing, and Veronica happened to be one of the first to arrive. There were more scheduled to join throughout the month, but things would be tested out with this new nun that served God. Waving her past the gate, the guards allowed her to pass and resumed taking their stance.<br/><br/>Once Veronica reached the Mansion, she would be escorted by a butler of sorts up to the third floor and to Hope's office. After a swift knock and a voice speaking from within, Veronica was shown inside and left alone with Hope. The new director of Hellsing was at her desk, the sun's rays touching her pale skin as she worked on straightening piles of paperwork. Her eyes didn't even go up to Veronica immediately, instead they remained cast on the paper. Hope's fair locks of hair were pulled back into a tight French braid, all except her bangs and some strips of hair along the sides of her face. She was dressed in a white blouse covered with frills, and a matching skirt with pleats in it. The overall attire made her look even more like a doll, something fragile that could be broken easily.<br/><br/>Eventually, Hope's pink eyes lifted from her paperwork and she stood from her desk. Walking briskly toward the woman from Iscariot, Hope bowed her head in greeting before standing before the new woman. It was now visible that she had a pistol strapped to her hip, apparently Hope was feeling on the defensive this day. Glancing over the nun quickly with her paled eyes, Hope folded her hands before her hips and spoke briskly with her English laced tongue. "Welcome to Hellsing, Miss Lancaster. Your arrangements were made known to us prior to your arrival, and a room has been set aside for you on the Fourth Floor." Hope paused for a moment, her face calm and collected, as if what she was saying was natural to her.<br/><br/>"Breakfast will be served promptly at 9am, followed by afternoon tea at 1pm, and dinner at 6pm. Kitchen is open for use between the meal hours if you dislike what we serve. The cooks do take suggestions if you ever get home sick for something you've grown fond of." She paused for a few moments before continuing. "The chapel services are at 8am and 5pm daily, but the chapel is always open." Her eyes narrowed on the Iscariot woman for a few more moments as she spoke. "Even though our beliefs differ, it is still a House of God. Please feel free to worship within it whenever the need arises. A woman of your faith must keep up with her devotions I assume." Hope's voice was almost mocking the woman before her, but not in a bad way.<br/><br/>Hope had considered joining Hellsing her devotion to fight for God. She could never imagine a life of abstinence and prayer as her life's mission. Even though she was Integra's heiress, Hope did plan on having children at some point in her life, quite possibly training such children to take over Hellsing when the time came. Integra's family had kept it for generations, and Hope may do the same. She had been tempted many times, after all, to change her title to Hellsing after she would be knighted by the King. Clearing her mind of her thoughts, Hope slowly circled the new woman, her boots adding height to her frame to have an edge over the woman before her as she took in her features once more.<br/><br/>Then, without a care for personal space, Hope poked Veronica's side to measure how much meat was on her frame before retracting her finger. "Unlike a monastery, we are firm believers in meat to be added with our meals. You will adjust to this because I will not<em>tolerate</em>malnourished soldiers in my militia, understood?" Her voice was firm as she spoke, but it was apparent in Hope's eyes that she was serious as she gazed into Veronica's eyes. Things could not be squandered, and when they were constantly fighting the men had to keep their bodies in shape. Even Hope could be found shooting in the gun range or fighting hand to hand combat with the men to keep her own strength up.<br/><br/>Once her circling was over, Hope returned to her chair and motioned for Veronica to sit down across from her at the desk, her whole persona and mood shifting as she held up a pot of fresh tea. "Thirsty?" It was her way of offering a gesture of peace. Even through her English pride, Hope understood how delicate this alliance was, and needed to show the Iscariot woman across from her that she wasn't made of ice.