Post-Collaboration

[not_a_prize]

[Well a great many things happened. NUNE was gone, the stragglers that had cut a deal with Phannuhel that didn't run off had surrendered, Phannuhel himself had lost his Regalis unit (But kept the horse somehow) and fled, Kliiment too ran off with his guards after the plan botched, Xun was dead from a case of being stabbed in the back. As for the Haremettes and Cennetig...]

So... you're all staying here?



"Well, we've got some things to make up for with the part we played in that mess. Besides... we can't exactly risk trying to return home just yet with those two lurking around. Not to mention all the craziness around this planet too. If you need an extra hand on the battlefield I can get into the the Arma Volnus to help out."



"...I... ah... I want to help too but... I don't want to fight... I don't think I can. I..."

[Monika anxiously flounders on her words.]

Don't worry about it. If you don't want to fight then you don't have to, there's a lot of ways you could help here than just knocking heads.

[The princess offers the fretting young woman an easygoing smile, which is returned with some relief.]

What about you Cennetig?



"I will not be staying with the Unity Group per se. But I will remain on the planet. It is a place a warrior of honor can truly test his mettle... and... it is an interesting place to be sure. I will remain here a little longer before I take my leave. But it was a privilege to fight alongside you and your tr-...  your comrades."

Cennetig, you can use the words here... I mean you did on the battlefield.

"That is different, in the heat of battle its easier to fall into one's instincts and the familiar quiaff-..."

[He pauses, then coughs lightly.]

"That being said I wish you well if I do not have a chance to say farewell to you later on."

I didn't think I'd say this, but it was an honor to have you around.

[With this Peola and Cennetig shake hands.]

[1]
[Despite the damage it took, Regalis Filia seems a lot better than it has been in a long while. Despite currently being deactivated for repairs, the faint echoes of ki still flow across its frame, leaving the 'tron lines' across its body and its scarf to shimmer with an ethereal glow. Peola was close by, looking at it with a small smile before glancing over to you and waving.]

I was wondering when you'd show up... its been a busy day hasn't it?

[2]
[Elsewhere on the base Monika and Salwah are trying to get their bearings and finding out how they could help the Unity Group. Admittedly while the latter was a little anxious, she seemed to adapt quite well to things not involving combat and unlike Peola, did not completely devastate a kitchen trying to make a meal. Salwah took a little more time, with Earth tech tending to startle and surprise... the less said about the toaster incident the better to say the least.]

[Cennetig simply tends to hang around on building rooftops, looking out at the surrounding area like a majestic falcon with the eyes of a cunning raven or request honorable spars in person or battles in the training simulator while he remains around for the next few days he remains with us. Eventually he leaves with little ceremony.]

[Which among the three do you interact with?]

[3]
[As for Ourania... when she was escorted out from the Regalis Atrox she seemed to be extremely out of it. She didn't take Phannuhel casting her aside very well and seemed to have withdrawn into herself. Admittedly she would have been confined to the brig at first, but Peola suggested vehemently against putting her sister within the same distance as their mother. Given some of the comments Serak had made, it would put Ourania in an even worse place. The blonde princess simply sits quietly in a room provided to her under 'house arrest' with a rotated watch kept on her by security - her sister taking double duty whenever she could in an attempt to try connect.]



"..."

[She says nothing when you drop in, simply giving you an unnerving look.]

Comments

1

[a_monetized_mind]

Yeah, you can say that...

[Jen's look of annoyance fades quickly, noticing Peola's smile. Whatever's troubling her, she doesn't mention.]

...You doing alright?

[not_a_prize]

I guess I am. Sort of. Those two idiots are still out there and might cause trouble so I'm still a little troubled. Not to mention the damage they did and the people they hurt.

But we taught them a lesson and I'm pretty sure after this people might not want to work with them too much. So things can be fixed...

[She shrugs helplessly before something occurred to the Princess. Like a lightbulb flicking to life in her head.]

There was one thing I needed to do.

[Peola steps closer to Jen before getting to her tip toes to give her a little more height. Strong hands gently rest on the courier's shoulders and soft and warm lips meet her forehead with a gentle kiss. The bluenette takes a step back with a small and somewhat embarassed smile.]

Its... don't get the wrong idea... its traditional for a member of the royal family to bestow their favor and thanks like this.

[She shuffles a little. This was probably the first time she ever did this. Though if she was serious she had a few more people to thank as well.]

1/2

[a_monetized_mind]

Huh? What is it?

[Jen gets real quiet as Peola puts her hands on Jen's shoulders. And then, the kiss.]



...

2/2

[a_monetized_mind]

Well...It's not like I can just say no to your thanks...Even though I didn't do that much...If you say that's how it is, that's how it is...

[A simple 'thanks', or 'sorry for being so rude when I was wasted' would have worked...She has to know this is messing with me. If it was just a handshake, or a hug, that'd be fine, but a forehead kiss while blushing is a bit....Was there really no other way? Is it an even more obscure kind of secret flirting? But who would disguise flirting with 'it's not flirting' and shut me down before I even ask about romance? I don't get it. I don't get it at all! I should devise some kind of test. See if she's just messing with me or not. If an old bearded king thanks all his advisors like that, there's nothing to worry about. If she does it with everyone, then it's nothing special. Yes. Yes, that's a good plan. Certainty is good, so I should be certain it's just my fevered imagination.]

...Though...perhaps, you should thank everyone else more...earth-like. So there's no confusion, especially with Rodger...of course, the decision is yours...

[not_a_prize]

Maybe... Its just... its like I want to show just how much what everyone did out there really... wanted to repay something like that with something that I knew was meant for it.

[Is she fidgeting now? Yes. Yes she is.]

2

[stupidhonor]

Earth is a spacious and varied place. Many on it think nothing of honor.

[Sielje approaches the quiet warrior on the rooftop.]

I wish you good luck.

[not_a_prize]

Indeed it is. And even if there are those without honor, then it would be a true journey to bring it wherever I go... and the prize to battle those who are in fair combat.

[Cennetig turns to regard Sielje, inclining his head in a warrior's bow.]

Though we of the Brotherhood believe in making our own, I accept your well wishing and goodwill.

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje nods. And... that is that.

But she is happy to meet someone who thinks similarly to her.]

1

[actuallyselfish]

"Peola!"

A wild Dido sprints towards you and slides to a stop. "I heard what happened, and I'm so sorry I wasn't there to help! Are you–

Her voice trails off as she takes a gander at the glowing glory of the the Regalis Filia. "Whoah," she breathes. "Is that...a good sign?"

[not_a_prize]

Yes. Yes it is.

[Peola walked closer and gently lay a hand on the machina. The glow it had gained a little more strength as if reacting to its pilot's very touch.]

This was how Filia was. How she's supposed to be.

[Her smile turns a little sheepish as she looks at the shattered remains of her sword not too far away.]

Kind of lost something too though.

[actuallyselfish]

"Yeah," Dido says, wincing at the broken shards of metal. "But still, I saw that combat footage! You were all like–whoosh! Whoosh-whoosh-whoosh!"

Dido jabs at the air. "That was hella sweet! What kind of martial art did you use there?"

[not_a_prize]

Its the traditional Magnolys fighting style... the name translates roughly into 'Sun Soul Fist'. Essentially its putting your all into every blow in different ways. Most of the basic forms rely on a solid stance, but the best techniques need momentum to build up... either with every punch you throw or you literally having to charge full speed at your opponent.

[Peola has a small grin on her face as she moves aside before throwing a few punches for effect. Dido would notice the rapid left-right jab she through was the very same she used on Phannuhel right before-]

YAH!

[-She let loose with a thunderous third. You could swear the very air burst from the force of that last one. She couldn't help but grin a little as she bounced on the balls of her feet.]

Its the basis of every fighting style on Magnolys. Been refined by masters ever since the days of the First Monarch! We can't risk using our legs for it because we need them for a strong foundation and to give our strikes a little more force. Doesn't mean people can't improvise though.

[actuallyselfish]

Dido gives some encouraging claps. "Sweet!" She says. "Was it your brother Harunn that taught you that?"

3

[reactorhead_russians]

Sasha and Alexis wind up taking a shift guarding the creepy princess, and stare back at her patiently for an hour or two. Finally, Sasha walks up to the princess, crouches over her, and taps her nose with her finger.

"Boop," she says.

[not_a_prize]

[Ourania doesn't even blink, simply looking up at Sasha.]

"Don't touch me..."

[reactorhead_russians]

"Does being poked annoy you, or psychologically disturb you?" Sasha asks?

[not_a_prize]

"... People don't like being close to me. It feels weird when you poke me."

[Ourania's answer is answered with some annoyance as she tries to shuffle back.]

3

[tiger_ken]

[Ken came down briefly to give Peola some company, if she were around, but instead finds her sister.]

...Hate to say I told you so...

[not_a_prize]

"...Did you come here to laugh at me?"

[Ourania looked up at Ken, even if she remained impassive she was clearly pretty bad off inside.]

"...Did you save me just so you could say you were right?"

[tiger_ken]

Actually it was because if you died whilst here on Earth, then it might have given Phannuhel the excuse he needed for an actual invasion of the planet.

[Ken finds himself a seat, and then well, sits.]

Have you been thinking about what you did?

[not_a_prize]

"Of course that's why you would have saved me..."

[She simply regards the ground unhappily.]

"About killing Xun? Helping Phannuhel? Or about leading them to Peola?"

2

[a_monetized_mind]

Ah...Hey.

[Approaching Salwah and Monika during lunchtime, it's that woman who called them worthless pieces of shit.]

Um...sorry for yelling at you so much, earlier.

[not_a_prize]

"Its... fine really... ah..."

[Monika shuffles a bit to the side. Yes she remembered Jen's little rant. Yes she felt bad but nearly getting carved up by those wires made her more than a bit nervous.]



"Apology accepted. But do you mind moving back a little."

[a_monetized_mind]

Oh, sure.

[Jen takes a few steps back.]

What is it?

[not_a_prize]

"... Well..."



"You make her nervous with how you roughed her up out there."

[This earned a yelp from her friend and a shocked look at being outed.]



"Salwah!"