Feeling down

[majestic_keiki]

[As deaths, messed-up terrorists, close calls and incredibly embarrassing pilot suits piled up over the last few weeks Kei have been visibly appearing more and more stressed when not needed to seem strong to comfort those more personally affected. At a quiet moment somewhere without a huge crowd, she let out a comment on it after a long, awkward pause.]

This is what it means to be a soldier, isn't it? At least when a major war is going on.

Comments

[herodrawing]

Don't worry Kei, I bet the worst is behind us now.

[majestic_keiki]

Yeah, maybe you're right. These last few weeks have been a lot worse than back in spring. Perhaps we've just been unlucky.

[herodrawing]

A hero will face good times and bad times too, what matters is that we don't give up.

We can save the abducted person, and even if sad things happened, think about all the good you've done!

[feurig_gungnir]

I thought I was the one having a rough week.

[majestic_keiki]

True

I guess being told about what to expect isn't the same as actually being out in it.

[feurig_gungnir]

Given how crazy the world we live in is, I'd be surprised if it ever was.

[gold_four]

Could be worse. Least we were born in an era with decent transport, equipment, and medicine. You ever see some of the equipment they used to fight with? Imagine if they had that in our situation.

[majestic_keiki]

Yes, and we're not showed in at Stalingrad or running through the desert in metal armor. But we're still soldiers with all the risk it means and we didn't even choose it ourselves.

[gold_four]

Well, if that's how you feel, you could always leave. I mean, yeah there'd be a tonne of backlash, but considering the world knows about us, the military wouldn't exactly be able to do anything if you announced an early retirement.

[...He may only be half joking.]

[dolorous_sensei]

Have you regretted being a soldier yet?

[majestic_keiki]

You can't regret a choice that was made for you.

Besides, I could ask the same of you. You certainly sound like you have and you stay.

[dolorous_sensei]

I chose to stay because someone have to. You could say that one of the reason of my stay is so you don't have to stay. I'm sorry that it's not enough.

[keep_your_dignity]

SOMETIMES. IT'S NOT ALL SUNSHINE AND LOLLIPOPS. IT'S BETTER TO NOT GET TOO ATTACHED TO ANYONE IN PARTICULAR. IF YOU WANT TO CONTINUE IN THIS LINE OF JOB.

[Kagura is silent for a while as they continue walking. Having no face makes her thoughts as inscrutable as usual, though]

[majestic_keiki]

...And going around all lonely and without any emotional support is better?

[keep_your_dignity]

THAN THE ALTERNATIVE?

OFTEN, YES.

[Well, that's not grim or anything. But then, this is Kagura]

TELL ME SOMETHING, KUGIMIYA. I'M AWARE OF THE BASICS OF THE MAJESTIC PRINCE PROGRAM.

DO YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO BE HERE?

[way_of_vengeance]

Yeppers!

[majestic_keiki]

That's quite a cheerful answer.

[way_of_vengeance]

What can I say, I'm a cheerful person.

...Could it be...something is getting you down, Kugimiya?

[genericbiggerbrother]

"Being a soldier means a whole lot of things, miss." Yancy replies politely, flipping through a magazine on a bench. "If you don't mind me asking, what about being a soldier is making you gloomy?"

[majestic_keiki]

You've been hearing reports of the last several operations, right? I've been on most of them.

[caressthedarkness]

I am unsure of what it means to be a soldier...but I was told to expect situations like these before I was assigned to the UG.

...

It did not help much, at all.

[majestic_keiki]

Don't worry about it...I just meant that being a soldier means dealing with deaths and close calls frequently. And the stress that comes from doing so.

[caressthedarkness]

I believe...that it is more along the lines of 'those who choose to fight'.

[She looks a bit more serious here.]

I am not a soldier, and my teacher would punish me if I thought otherwise; however, I am not a complete stranger to these situations.

[ugyuuya]

It's a burden to bear but at least here you don't have to be quite as stoic in some regards as you have been.

[Stella comes around into Kei's line of sight.]

I'm sorry if I startled you but it seems like you've been dragging a bit lately which is entirely understandable. Anything in particular bothering you or just everything adding up?

[majestic_keiki]

It's everything adding up. Lots of missions have gone poorly lately, very close to each other and it seems like there isn't even a break.