A prisoner's action

[stupidhonor]

[1]
[Sielje's cell is littered with books. Books that she was reading - because she made a promise to. And in the middle of it all, the knight standing stoically while pondering her available moves, another book in hand.]

Trapped in enemy territory, sworn not to cause trouble to my own captors as is required of a honorable prisoner... what may I do?

Earth is even more dangerous and tumultuous as a place than Ankaia. The planet has been ravaged by wars and invaders, even invaders out of this world.

I... I wish to see. It is too much to ask of a prisoner, but I wish to see how the ordinary people of Earth manage to exist. I find it impossible to believe that they can eke out a living with a constant threat of demise over their heads.

[She closes the book. It's written in ancient Greek. As a matter of fact, the books around the cell are written in all kinds of languages, presently used or classical.]

[2]

Hmm.

Hmm...

[The vending machine outside Sielje's cell roused her curiosity for a while now. As soon as she had a chance, she went out to pick up a few items it had available - probably certainly with assistance of others who needed to explain how it worked.

And now it's time to further inspect her rewards.]



This is Earth food, is it not? How do you... open yourself! Aah!

[She rips a bag of chips open, scattering most of them on the floor to her own surprise. Sielje pretends not to be embarassed about it at all.]

Such difficulty...

[She mutters while picking up a canned drink, then immediately puts it back down. Too hard to open - and the knight does not seem too impressed with the chips' taste upon carefully eating one.

Lastly, here comes the chocolate bar. The wrapping is easy enough for even someone like Sielje to remove on a second try. As for the taste...]





...!



It is sweet! How is it possible? How did they make the flavor so sweet?

Comments

2

[majestic_keiki]

[A random passer-by sends her a rather subdued, but still somewhat puzzled look.]

It's not that sweet.

[stupidhonor]

It is the sweetest thing I have tasted for so long as I can remember!

[Sielje seems unusually excited about this.]]

[majestic_keiki]

I see...So you don't have sugar in space? [There's a brief flash of something faintly resembling horror.]

[stupidhonor]

In space?

[Sielje seems confused.]

Are you talking about my homeland? I know not of such a thing. This "sugar" is sweeter still?

[majestic_keiki]

Yes. Space is everything that isn't Earth. Maybe it's the same for you, everything not the planet you're from is space.

And sugar is what we use to make things sweet. It's in the chocolate you're eating and the soda you're not drinking.

1

[reactorhead_russians]

Two large, burly people in matching leather jackets and skull rings, walk up to the cell bars and give them an experimental tap.

"You could apply for parole." The woman says in a thick, sonorous accent.

[stupidhonor]

Parole? As in, to seek pardon?

[Sielje looks straight at the burly pair, as if trying to challenge them with her gaze.]

What would that entail?

[reactorhead_russians]

Alexis frowns. "In your case? Your signature on several documents, a tracking bracelet locked around your ankle, and volunteers willing to escort you around the city and evaluate your behavior."

Sasha pulls out a tablet, and reads something. "The UG's regulations don't mention such an arrangement...but the ESUN War Charter does provide precedent. Would you like us to talk you through the process?"

These two seem...surprisingly familiar with prison regulations.

[stupidhonor]

That is reasonable.

[Sielje does not seem surprised by this, though.]

I need to make a stance clear, however.

1

[a_monetized_mind]

Well...It'd depend on if you're deemed a flight risk or not, but if you got someone to be the co-signer on a bail bond you could go out for a while...maybe.

That's criminal law though, and I guess you're more of a prisoner of war, right now...

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje's confused expression betrays that she has no idea what you just said. Too many terms that mean nothing to the knight.]

[a_monetized_mind]

Um, someone pays a bit of money to a third party, then they sign an agreement that if you flee they'll have to pay even more money, and then you get to wander freely until there's a court date.

If you don't show up to the court date then the co-signer-the person who paid the first bit of money-has to pay all the money, and is the first person they go to when asking where you might be hiding.

So basically someone agrees to watch you for a while and make sure you don't run off, and then they get in a lot of trouble if you do.

[stupidhonor]

I already gave my word not to flee unless let go willingly.

Is that not enough?

2

[caressthedarkness]

[Well instead of explaining how it works, the person you're with just lifted and shook the machine for some of those contents instead. She puts the proper number of coins in it later, though.]

That is something I wonder about as well...

...Do you like it?

[stupidhonor]

Yes! It is very much to my taste.

[Sielje coughs.]


I suppose.

[caressthedarkness]

I am glad...

[And while Seta's at it, one of those chocolate bars that popped out disappears in a single chomp. She looks really happy with that.]

Although...there are sweeter things that exist...

[stupidhonor]

...

[Seeing Seta NOM a snack in one go makes Sielje experience a weird sensation.]

There are?

I find that hard to believe.

2

[abugslife]

You do not seem to be very proficient at operating sealed bags and cans. Make sure your hard-earned rewards do not escape from you.

[stupidhonor]

Ah! No, that was not as it seemed...

...

[After looking in Hetepheres' direction, Sielje suddenly falls silent. She just stares.]

[abugslife]

Hmm? Oh, yes. I believe you have never encountered a Gebian before, have you.

[One of Heph's subordinates comes in and starts to dust the scattered chips.]

[stupidhonor]

Gebian? Is this the kind of creature you are?

1)

[in_over_his_head]

It might take a while but if a few people in the Unity Group can vouch for your good behavior and you're willing to lend your sword arm to protect people, I'm pretty sure the commanders will be willing to let you out. On guard at first maybe, but that'll just be a precaution.

[Calvin seems to be carrying a large bag with him, struggling a little before sitting in front of the cell.]

How are you doing?

[stupidhonor]

Lend my sword arm? You expect much...

I am treated well. Better than I hoped for.

[in_over_his_head]

I guess I do... but when the world's getting torn at from all sides you tend to hope people would be willing to be ready to get to their feet and protect their fellow man against a common enemy.

[Calvin shrugs weakly and sighs.]

Then again I guess that's a little too optimistic isn't it.

... Just what kind of treatment did you expect from us anyway? Thumbscrews and hot irons?

[stupidhonor]

It is Earth, is it not? Chivalry and honor have no place here.

[Sielje hesitates before adding.]

But it means not that everyone on this planet is a cur. I remember the talk between you and me. I have read as well.

Tell me this - what could I, a single knight in a cell, do that you can not do already? You were the ones who defeated me after all.