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To have one final chance to speak to your parents, only to see them fade away in front of your eyes - how painful must it feel? Very so, and yet so many would wish for it regardless...
[Sielje speaks solemnly, mulling in front of her Knight's Arm. The unit is slouched forward and damaged after a fierce fight, but it stands peacefully - using its shield to rest its hands. The shield that bears the hastily painted insignia.]
The Ebon King - I understand, you and the plight of your daughter. I understand and sympathize... but I cannot promise to move blame for all her crimes and heinous deeds on you. This is not my call to make, I will swear a vow only if I can keep it.
...
[Sielje's gaze slowly turns to the pile of scrap metal under the Arm's feet.]
I may need another pike.
[Sielje speaks solemnly, mulling in front of her Knight's Arm. The unit is slouched forward and damaged after a fierce fight, but it stands peacefully - using its shield to rest its hands. The shield that bears the hastily painted insignia.]
The Ebon King - I understand, you and the plight of your daughter. I understand and sympathize... but I cannot promise to move blame for all her crimes and heinous deeds on you. This is not my call to make, I will swear a vow only if I can keep it.
...
[Sielje's gaze slowly turns to the pile of scrap metal under the Arm's feet.]
I may need another pike.
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Her eyes narrow. "But there's something I want from you in exchange, Sieljie."
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But I need to hear your terms, first.
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[Emotional support, apparently.]
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[Sielje turns her gaze away.]
But it does not make them right.
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[She gets off, rubbing her neck. This probably would have been more comfortable if Sielje wasn't wearing armor.]
...Um...You know, I never did hear about your parents before.
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It was not my intention to hide the truth of my parents from you. It just... never came up before.
[Sielje almost seems to have shrunk a little, acting like she just disappointed someone.]
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[Calvin is sitting close by, his Genoace battered and mauled after the fight. He tries to keep a sense of neutrality but looks exhausted and conflicted.]
There's no way any court is going to take that request at any value. At most there's a chance that whatever assistance she and her friend did could lighten any sentence placed but good intentions and goals as well as a dying request can't outweigh every wrong.
[He lets out a frustrated sigh as he buries his face in his hands.]
Christ... I don't know how to feel about this or what to do for this dame.
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Regardless... you do not have choice now, do you?
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[She rubs at her neck again. How to keep the moe knight from being depressed?]
...And I'm not upset about your parents or anything, just...surprised. I kinda assumed they'd be knights or guards, not machinists.
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[Sielje will always be there as an object to rest on. An object that stays silent for a bit, gathering her thoughts before finally responding.]
Nobody from my village was famous. It was only a small settlement... Sansone and Faolan were responsible for its machines, they were very skilled and of some renown among other machinists. But that is not the way towards fame and glory on Ankaia.
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But I admired them. I know it was a simple life without chase for glory or great deeds, all of Ankaia would look down on such lack of ambition. But we were happy together.
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She pulls out a paper scroll and unrolls it into a sheet of engineer's parchment. "You've done well by us, Sieljie. And us humble mechanics should do right by each other's kin!"
She sketches the outline of a pike similar to your busted one. "Beyond engineering, do you want the same polearm length and explosive charge?"
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What would your people have done in a situation like this?
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Persuade the courts, make them see things as they really are. Tell them all you can - but only the truth.
This is what I would have done.
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I appreciate it, but you realize - the weapon will be good for only one use regardless, yes? One strike and the head is gone.
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["were", huh. Maybe best not to touch on that.]
...We're gonna have to fight more monsters like that guy, aren't we.
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She chews the tip of her drafting pencil. "Do see yourself sticking to thrusting with this pike, or swinging with it like a glaive?"
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Yet this is most likely what will happen no matter what, with my wishes or against them.
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A good polearm can be used to do both. It is more versatile than you would think. But, the head tries to rush forward when I activate it. That makes it best suited for thrusting.
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[Calvin's expression goes from a small smile to a very serious look.]
Calling it difficult is an understatement... but with a lot of things we've gone through... well... it'll be easier in comparison.
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[Sielje mentions offhandedly, as her mind seems to focus on a difficult matter.]
No one will blame you for not managing to reach a full pardon. I am not sure I would welcome this type of news myself.
It is the effort that counts.
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...There is something I'd like to ask you, before one of us gets hurt. And...If it's too hard a question, you don't have to answer right away.
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I am listening.
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But what if the second rocket goes off by mistake? I would rather avoid it... or putting too much mechanical help on my weapons in the first place...
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Well...The way you felt about Ynya...Do you feel the same way about me?
I ask, because...You seem like you might keep that to yourself. And...While you said no back at the mall that time, I wasn't interested then.
I am now.
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Ah.
I see...
...
[Awkward, un-knightlike fidgeting commences. Sielje opens her mouth, but closes it without saying anything. This needs further thought given into it.]
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Ynya and Kimhone chose each other, and then became husband and wife. I felt... hurt. You know this already. But also, I...
[Sielje gulps. Why does this hurt to admit so much?]
I wanted to distance myself from it all. I thought, neither Ynya nor Kimhone love me because I was weak. They are strong and more fitting for each other. So... I did not deserve it. Or maybe, by casting away this kind of thing, I would better focus on my own path, growing stronger but alone.
They are going to have a child soon. I thought, to see two great warriors focus on family instead of fighting is wasteful, is it not? But I see how stupid my thought was. It was a thought that hurts and disrespects, both my friends, and my fathers.
I was trying to run away. Run away and hurt everyone, even myself. Back then, when I told you that, it was the same. I hurt you too, did I not?
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No, you didn't. I mean...I was a little upset, but you did apologize and feel bad. So, no, I wasn't hurt.
...Sielje, where are you going with this? If you're worried if you deserve nice things...
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This is so complicated. I made it - made it complicated for myself.
I am afraid it may not work out. It is still me we are talking about.
[More fidgeting continues.]
Jen, are you certain? I may still end up hurting you in the end.
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Um...
"Keep it Simple Stupid," Dido clarifies. "How about this? I'll crank out a refined version of your main design, then a prototype of this modification. Test both of them out, see which works better for you. How about that?"
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I will try out whatever you make, it is not my intent to sound ungrateful. But is it fine with you, to do so much for one fighter?
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...I was certain before I asked.
I was certain that-if you did have those sorts of feelings for me-I wouldn't want them to go unsanswered. Even if things don't work out, I'd like to try.
[She puts a hand on Sielje's shoulder, trying to be comforting.]
Besides, I think you're selling yourself short. You're a better person than you realize.
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[Sielje's own hand moves to her shoulder, resting on top of Jen's.]
I make no promises. But... but at least we should try, no? Try the "dating" thing we spoke about so long ago.
I would like that. Is that fine?
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Dido shrugs. "How could I not put my all into this?"
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Yes.
I will expect good results, then.
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She starts sketching more on the Engineer's foolscap. "Actually, she mutters under her breath, "why not just attach warheads to a single polearm with bayonet sockets! That would simplify everything, and we could include multiple socket points..."