First Note | The Ace Appears

[minorbeat]

[1]
(You here a mecha landing in the hangar and decide to investigate. You soon see a new mecha, specifically a new Desu unit in the hangar. However this Desu unit is quite different from the Claimer class units. The cockpit opens to reveal a woman in her late 20s. She jumps down with unusual grace and ease before turning to see you.)

My name is Seiren Kurokawa, pilot of the Desu Ellen. I would like to speak to the one in charge.

[2]
(Seiren is walking around the Chalice. She isn't looking for anything in particular, she is just trying to get familiar with the lay out of the Chalice. Bother?)

Comments

[minorbeat]

(Seiren is left speechless for a second by Hana hugging her. Suddenly Seiren pushes Hana away but she can feel almost no strength in it. Seiren grabs her head as if in pain.)

NO IT WON'T!! It will NEVER be okay! I will always be alone!

(Seiren curls into the fettle position and starts mumbling.)

Always alone...Always alone...

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana blinks as Seiren pushes her away, watching her just curl up in a fetal position. Her heart just sinks seeing the poor girl so hurt.]

Seiren... no, you're not alone. Not anymore.

[Despite being pushed away, Hana approaches her, a smile on her face.]

You know why? Because you have all of us here. And soon, we'll have Eri and everyone else that got captured. I know it is to be alone, I know how it is to think that no one will be with you.

And I know that it's never true. You do have someone here with you. Seiren, everyone... there's no need to worry anymore.

[Despite the pain and suffering everyone's going through, Hana's just being an outpouring of love and support.]

...and Seiren? I do want to be like you. And I want to be like Sora and Eri. When we get Eri back, I want that to be a reality...

[sunshine_maiden]

[Sora's flabbergasted. Of all the people to comfort a broken Seiren - something else she didn't think was possible - Hana wasn't even on the list. And yet, here she was.]

Seiren... you're not alone. [Sora approaches.] We're with you. No matter what happens, we'll be with you. We're teammates... we can be friends. I'd... like that. [She sounds a little awkward, but... surely there's a good reason for that.]

Hana, I'm not sure you want to be me, either... I've had a hard road to get here. But... thank you. It means a lot to hear you have that much faith in me. [A wide smile.]

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

[A weak chuckle is had from Kamille as he stumbles over from the Zeta Gundam.] "hehe... I guess I'd be crazy to think you wouldn't have your own skeletons in the closet." [He's still crying, but he's powering through as he puts one foot in front of the other, his face obscured as he keeps walking towards the PreDesus rather... clumsily?] "You were more right than I ever would have guessed, Sora: This ship IS an emotional deathtrap, but that doesn't mean we have to keep it that way." [stops in front of Seiren, offers his hand to her.] "The first step to recovery is to open up to others, so that you can support each other. The next step then, is to let other people inside to help the healing process." [Seiren's got the best angle of Kamille's face right now, and he's smiling at her, despite the cut above his forehead letting blood down his face, the crimson liquid mixing with his tears.]

1/2

[minorbeat]

(Seiren starts to cry harder.)

No! I can't do this I will just end up hurting you all!

(HUMMY looks sadly at Seiren and tries to comfort her.)

[minorbeat]

(Seiren gets up, pushes Kamille away, and suddenly grabs Hana by her collar, tears still flowing. Hana is now staring Seiren directly in the eyes.)

As for you! You can't ever be me and you know why?!

(Seiren's eyes slightly change color and her pupils turn into slits. Her teeth also sharpen and become fangs.)

You are still human, that is why!...Treasure that fact.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana gasps as she's grabbed by her collar, watching Seiren change...]

Seiren... [Her hands reach up to lay on the other girl's, worry in her eyes.]

Does it really matter if what you are determines who you are? I'm not going to turn away and leave you here just because you can do something like that.

I don't treasure the fact that I'm a human - I treasure the fact that I'm alive and that's what counts.

[zetahatsudo.livejournal.com]

[Kamille's knocked down, and though he tries to get up, he can't do it completely.] Nothing worth having in this world is without its price. [settles for staring directly at Seiren.] Becoming close to anyone here runs the risk of suffering heartache, Kurokawa, but I do it anyway. Because even if I suffer from standing by your side, you'll be in even more pain staying by yourself! That's why... [Oh boy, bloodloss is clocking in...] even when all is said and done... [Keep at it, man, you can do it!] I'll still welcome Cheng back with open arms... [vision is swimming-FOCUS] despite the fact he tried to shoot me down... [this is getting worse...] and when Char comes back from Axis... [wooh boy, nausea's setting in.] I'll punch him in the face... then hall him off to Sayla... and we'll laugh about it by the end of the day...! [And that's it for Kamille, he's out like a light.]

1/2

[sunshine_maiden]

Kamille...? Hey, Kamille! [Sora runs over to him... yep, out cold. With a sigh, she sits down and rests his head on her leg.] Of course he overworked himself trying to make things right. But anyway...

2/2

[sunshine_maiden]

I'm not human either. Humanoid, sure, and I don't have the shifting ability you do, but still not human. And Kamille's got a point. We're pilots. We get hurt all the time, our personalities clash... it's not easy to be close to anyone on this ship. I think he, and probably Hana, know that pretty well by now.

But... we can be a family. We can all talk to each other, about the good things, and the bad things. Don't go it alone. Even ignoring everything else... the three of us and Eri, we're all pilots together. You and I trained together for months. Isn't that worth anything...?

[minorbeat]

I cannot be your friend or your family. I am your superior and your teacher and as such I must keep some distance for the sake of doing what needs to be done...This doesn't mean that you two aren't going to be close students of mine...If that works for you.

Myoudouin, let me ask you a question...Did you choose to be the way you are? Did you consciously choose to not be human?

[sunshine_maiden]

I can work with being a close student, I guess. [That's not what I want, but I'll take it over nothing.]

I... did I choose? No, I was born like this. I've had to blend in as a human, though. It... wasn't always easy. [Pause.] Wait... are you saying...? [Sora doesn't want to speculate, but she has an idea where this is going.]

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

...I can't. [Hana can't help but sigh.] Why is it that Eri can be my girlfriend and yet, you don't want to have anything big with us? That's... that's not right. [True, she isn't sure where she's standing with Sora, but Eri's a good measuring stick with these sorts of things.]

[However, she's a little surprised over two things:]

Wait... you chose to have that happen, Seiren? And Sora, what do you mean by blending in?

1/2

[minorbeat]

(Seiren is no longer crying and now looking at Hana with a stone face.)

Let me tell you why Himesaki. Kurumu is your partner she is supposed to be close to you. I however am your teacher. If I am too close to you I might hold back and baby you the way through instead of doing my job right. Is that what you want?

2/2

[minorbeat]

To aswer both of you, yes. I chose to be this way. I was once human like you. Now I am this.

(Seiren is covered in light and her shape changes. Soon Hana and Sora have to look down as they see a cat in front of them. It then begins to talk.)

I went through a genetic experiment in the hopes of obtaining strength. It is the one of the biggest mistakes I have made in my life. Gave me an all aroud physical power boost and even gave me the agility to be able to pull off the fast movement and attack skills I use. It also gave me this form. However, soon after the experiment I realized I lost something. My humanity. I saw enemies as prey now, not as people. I could kill an enemy in cold blood and not feel a thing. It gave me power but power comes at a price.

(Seiren looks hard at Hana.)

And that is why you can never be like me...and why you should treasure that fact.

1/2

[sunshine_maiden]

[Hana first...] I'm... not quite human, but I'm close. You learned about the Irgelion invasion in 4 AI, right? People from another system just came in and tried to take over? I'm here from back then - we were offered a chance to stay here and help rebuild rather than return in shame, and my parents took it. I came with them. We've been running the dojo ever since, and trying to blend in. There's... some bad blood between us and the people of the Earth Sphere, understandably. So I try not to appear too different around people I don't know. It... might not be good for me if someone else found out. I think you're all right, though. I trust you. [Sora gives Hana a warm smile.]

2/2

[sunshine_maiden]

Seiren... this was your price for power? Becoming the cold person I've known for the last few months? You're right. I... I couldn't do that. There's nothing I would want to do so badly that I'd trade away so much. I could never pay that price. [She falls silent. What else can you say to that?]

Re: 2/2

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Wait a second... Irgelion? You mean, like Julia?! Why did you say so, Sora?!

[Suddenly, why Sora didn't join them earlier made SENSE - if Julia was having trouble trying to pilot something like the Corona, then Sora trying to pilot the Desu Itsuki would be just as hard!]

[sunshine_maiden]

It... didn't seem important at the time? That, and I didn't realize who Julia was until just a little while ago. [There's a high, rich-girl-sounding laugh running through her head... Sora suppresses a grimace.] Remember, Irgelions are looked down upon in parts of the Earth Sphere. Julia's position made her the exception, rather than setting the rule.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Oh... I see...

[And now, she feels bad. She really hadn't realized all of that until just now...]

[minorbeat]

(Seiren is looking at Sora.)

My point exactly Myoudouin. You are human compared to me. I am...a monster. I have killed people...good people...and have felt nothing.

(Turns to Hana.)

Do you still wish to be me? Will you trade your own humanity to become strong like me?

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

No, I... I wouldn't.

Not like that...

[Oh, and she's back in the dumps again. GG, guys.]

[minorbeat]

(Light surrounds Seiren once more and she changes back to normal.)

It seems you can make some good decisions. Let's go HUMMY. We need to prepare.

Coming Seiren~!

(Seiren and HUMMY move to leave.)

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana sinks a little bit lower as Seiren gets in that other dig]

Hey, that's not fair-desu!

[Oh, look, there's an AI in your face, Seiren.]

Hana was willing to accept you with open arms and all you did was push her aside and won't lay off of her one mistake-desu! Yeah, Hana hid when Adventus came, but do you know what she didn't hide from? She didn't hide from that beast that attacked Fairy Park. She didn't hide when it came back. She face two other Adventus generals head on without Eri by her side and took on the Granzon when it appeared!

Where were you when it all happened, Seiren-desu?! You weren't here! She did it by herself!

You may be her teacher, but don't dig in on that one mistake when you don't know the whole story-desu!

[sunshine_maiden]

Hey, even I only know about all those things because you've told me. Seiren hasn't even been here a day yet, she can't have heard about everything you and Eri have done in the last few months.

[A slight frown; Sora can't move with Kamille there.] ...You know, Hana, you could have avoided this by sending reports back every so often. We got worried, your grandmother and I, not knowing what happened to you two. Well, she worried about you, at least; I hadn't met you yet.