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

[majestic_keiki]

Well, you don't have to worry about legions of memory-wiped child soldiers. We're not random kids recruited.

[She looked away, pausing for a long time.] We're clones created for space exploration and then reassigned to the military after the Wulgaru attacked. I don't think anybody other than the staff at the academy weren't.

[ugyuuya]

[Stella doesn't respond for a long moment and then she puts her arm around Kei's shoulder and speaks.]

Whatever crazy idea led to the project that birthed you and your team may be objectionable on the whole but you and your team are most certainly the best thing that could have possibly come out of it. Circumstances of a person's birth aren't a limiting factor and I think your team, Mizuki, and any number of others here have proved that.

As for the family part you were talking about earlier, it's not as limited as you make it sound either Kei. I wouldn't be nearly the busy body I am with you if I didn't care. So I don't know how it'd make you feel but you've at least got another sister here, and I think I'd make a bit more reliable to come to about some things than Tamaki would.

[majestic_keiki]

[Once hugged like that, Kei leaned her head against Stella's shoulder. She deflated notably, very clearly showing that she was just a teenage girl.]

Thanks. It's been a lot to deal with.

[ugyuuya]

You can talk with me any time you need to. Everyone's had a lot on their plate and every bit can help when it comes down to it.

[Stella's grin turns slightly mischievous.]

Of course any talk about boys might be a bit difficult. Anyone in your interest band will be too young for me to dish properly about and anyone in mine will be too old for you. Though I do have to say we both have a better field to play here than our original postings.

[majestic_keiki]

I don't think I need to talk about boys...I'm not sure, though, a lot of the ones my age here seem like they need counseling more than anything else.

[ugyuuya]

Well as true as that may be you never know how things might go. It was mostly meant to be a bit of harmless teasing to wheedle at you and diffuse some tension.

Of course when you get a pilot age band where Yuuya is more towards the middle and I'm on the older part of it emotions, hormones, and therapy become a much larger concern overall.

[majestic_keiki]

And when you have people like Sousuke or Leos around.

But...You're right, I've noticed that there are a lot of teens among the pilots.