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[It's a fine afternoon out in the populated section of Sakihama City. Today, Seta is wandering the town to get away from the usual atmosphere of the bases - even she needs a break once in a while. However, as she walks along the side of one street, the sound of a roaring engine and screeching tires are heard.]
"...?"
[A black car with red trims on its wheels and body weaves dangerously through traffic at high speed...ignoring physics, and on the wrong side of the road. As it approaches Seta, who has paused out of curiosity, it suddenly power-slides, stopping itself perfectly along the sidewalk - also in a no-parking zone.
When the vehicle's door opens, a silver-haired woman in a lavish black dress steps out - accompanied by a stereotypical noblewoman's (ojou) laugh and hair flick that causes the bystanders to stare wordlessly. Seta is suddenly glad that she wasn't in there herself.]
"...There you are, my foolish student."
"...Madame...? What are you-"
[Before she can say any more, Seta is seized by the wrist and dragged into the car, much to her dismay.]
"I had planned on visiting the base that is supposed to be nearby, but this spares me the annoyance and trouble of going through with that. All the better - I wanted nothing to do with the trash to begin with."
"Ah...! ...Please, not so much force on the pedal-!"
[The plea is ignored, and the vehicle accelerates at an unnatural pace.
Its destination? A small but fancy riverside cafe not too far away.
Seeing as she was practically kidnapped, Seta decides to speak first as soon as they are both seated at a table. Once she recovers from swirly eyes, that is.]
"...Madame, you are here to tell me something...?"
"Perceptive, for once. I was on a mission in a neighboring region and decided to deliver this news to you in person. It is regarding Kellin: your report has been analyzed...and we have decided to offer her one more chance to explain herself, but only one."
"...With how difficult she is to locate, that might not be-"
"It is more than enough. I will have you know that I had to fight my way through the objections of the other higher members, who were less than pleased by my suggestion. Make no mistake: this is not an opportunity to be complacent; prepare yourself for the possibility that she is no longer working on our behalf."
"...I understand...but...I could never bring myself to confront Astara if it came to that. And, we do not know if she really is..."
"...That is true. But in the end, it was her own decision to keep us in the dark. I do not need to remind you that she is the only Kijin who has been allowed to work from outside of the Foundation, in her own facility - a controversial matter, even today, for someone who has not contributed as much to our battles.
"For the time being, she cannot be trusted. And as I thought, her departure from our usual code of conduct back then should have been the prompt for some form of action. The others were simply far too slow to realize it.
"Whether she is somehow involved or not, what is certain is that she has been going against the rules. That being said, some form of punishment awaits her."
"..."
[Seta suddenly looks very close to crying. She knew there was a possibility that her best friend was now, at the very least, up to shady business, but it was difficult to accept nonetheless.
And then, seeing this expression, her teacher sighs, averting her eyes from her student.]
"...Buy what you want to."
"...Um?"
"You eat more when troubled. I said: buy what you want to. Here. Now. I will handle the costs...do it before I change my mind."
"Madame..."
[The older Kijin folds her arms across her chest.]
"Hmph...do not misunderstand. Dealing with your whining and crying is worse than fighting a million enemies. With our current situation, I simply don't have the patience for it."
"...Yes..."
---
(OOC: Last post for the arc, and semi-open to those who can find the location. No responses are really required for this one, though.)
"...?"
[A black car with red trims on its wheels and body weaves dangerously through traffic at high speed...ignoring physics, and on the wrong side of the road. As it approaches Seta, who has paused out of curiosity, it suddenly power-slides, stopping itself perfectly along the sidewalk - also in a no-parking zone.
When the vehicle's door opens, a silver-haired woman in a lavish black dress steps out - accompanied by a stereotypical noblewoman's (ojou) laugh and hair flick that causes the bystanders to stare wordlessly. Seta is suddenly glad that she wasn't in there herself.]
"...There you are, my foolish student."
"...Madame...? What are you-"
[Before she can say any more, Seta is seized by the wrist and dragged into the car, much to her dismay.]
"I had planned on visiting the base that is supposed to be nearby, but this spares me the annoyance and trouble of going through with that. All the better - I wanted nothing to do with the trash to begin with."
"Ah...! ...Please, not so much force on the pedal-!"
[The plea is ignored, and the vehicle accelerates at an unnatural pace.
Its destination? A small but fancy riverside cafe not too far away.
Seeing as she was practically kidnapped, Seta decides to speak first as soon as they are both seated at a table. Once she recovers from swirly eyes, that is.]
"...Madame, you are here to tell me something...?"
"Perceptive, for once. I was on a mission in a neighboring region and decided to deliver this news to you in person. It is regarding Kellin: your report has been analyzed...and we have decided to offer her one more chance to explain herself, but only one."
"...With how difficult she is to locate, that might not be-"
"It is more than enough. I will have you know that I had to fight my way through the objections of the other higher members, who were less than pleased by my suggestion. Make no mistake: this is not an opportunity to be complacent; prepare yourself for the possibility that she is no longer working on our behalf."
"...I understand...but...I could never bring myself to confront Astara if it came to that. And, we do not know if she really is..."
"...That is true. But in the end, it was her own decision to keep us in the dark. I do not need to remind you that she is the only Kijin who has been allowed to work from outside of the Foundation, in her own facility - a controversial matter, even today, for someone who has not contributed as much to our battles.
"For the time being, she cannot be trusted. And as I thought, her departure from our usual code of conduct back then should have been the prompt for some form of action. The others were simply far too slow to realize it.
"Whether she is somehow involved or not, what is certain is that she has been going against the rules. That being said, some form of punishment awaits her."
"..."
[Seta suddenly looks very close to crying. She knew there was a possibility that her best friend was now, at the very least, up to shady business, but it was difficult to accept nonetheless.
And then, seeing this expression, her teacher sighs, averting her eyes from her student.]
"...Buy what you want to."
"...Um?"
"You eat more when troubled. I said: buy what you want to. Here. Now. I will handle the costs...do it before I change my mind."
"Madame..."
[The older Kijin folds her arms across her chest.]
"Hmph...do not misunderstand. Dealing with your whining and crying is worse than fighting a million enemies. With our current situation, I simply don't have the patience for it."
"...Yes..."
---
(OOC: Last post for the arc, and semi-open to those who can find the location. No responses are really required for this one, though.)
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