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

[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.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Th-that's not fair, Sora! I-I didn't know! How was I supposed to know?! I was only at the park for not even a day before I got dragged into everything! Then, I'm told to join the Chalice after basically being tossed into the Desu Tsubomi...!

[She turned away from both girls, trying not to cry in front of them.]

Are you two done-desu? Even I had my reservations about Hana, but--

No... no, they're right... [And she goes to remove her glasses to dry her eyes.]

[minorbeat]

(Seiren is right next to the door. She only slightly turns to look at Hana.)

You realize that you have made a mistake. Good, that is the first step. Now I would like a full and detailed report on every operation that you have been on. And don't even think of trying to lie to me about your performance. I will find out and if I find out that you did I will put you through the "intense" training. I want these reports ASAP. Also you will send a report to Professor Himesaki once every month...She worries about you greatly. Do I make myself clear, Himesaki?

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[And, as Hana replaces her glasses, she sinks again.]

...y-yes, ma'am...

[sunshine_maiden]

[After Seiren says her piece, Sora turns back to Hana as best she can with the still-unconscious Kamille on her lap.]

...I'm sorry, Hana, I was a little out of line. I probably shouldn't have said all that. I know you've been trying hard. I'm not going to tell you you've been completely in the right, but you're going in the right direction. I'm willing to help you as much as I can. And no matter what Seiren wants to be to us... I'll be whatever you need me to be. We girls need to stick together, right?

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Anything... you need me to be?

[Hana turns her head around to look at Sora. The urge is there to take it and run with it, but as bad as Hana's feeling, she isn't sure.]

I... y-yeah... yeah... we do.

[She turns her head back around, looking downcast.]

I... I guess I should start writing...

...Hey, Sora? What's this "intense" training Seiren's mentioned-desu?

[sunshine_maiden]

[A reassuring smile when Sora turns.] I'll help, if you like? I need to start working on my next report to the Professor, anyway. It's easier to write reports if you take notes over the course of the reporting period.

[To CHYPrE's question, Sora actually shivers, almost dropping Kamille in the process.] That's... I really don't feel like talking about it. [Her answer is surprisingly terse.] Just know that you don't want to do it. Ever. No matter the cost. If you have a way to get out of it, do it.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

Y-Yes... yes, that would be nice. [she tries to smile back as she faces Sora, only to have it falter as she turns back around.]

EHHH?! That bad?! Ohhh...! [CHYPrE looks back at the despondent Hana. At this rate, she might be heading for it either way!]

[sunshine_maiden]

...Help me carry Kamille down to the infirmary, please? I can't do it myself. I'll help you after that. [There's an apologetic look.]

Six times, CHYPrE. Six times, I incurred that "training". All six times, I found myself in my bed sometime the next day, with scattered memories of... something. Between them I think I've pieced together what that "training" is, and I don't like to think about it. I'm... not going to relate what I do know to Hana. She doesn't need to know about that, if I have anything to say about it.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

O-Of course... [She tries to smile once more at Sora as she goes to help carry Kamille.] ...I'm sorry if I disappointed you, though, Sora. I promise, when we rescue Eri, I won't be that way anymore...! [That... don't sound too good.]

Th-that may be for the best-desu. Hana's bad enough as it is. I think she might quit if she has to go through that!

[sunshine_maiden]

[Sora lets out a grunt as the girls manage Kamille's weight between them, with a frown; she doesn't like that answer so much.] We'll talk about my expectations later. For now, let's just get this poor guy somewhere.

[To CHYPrE, Sora shakes her head.] I'm not going to let that happen. I won't let Seiren take her away. I swear that much.

[wimpy-cure-ever.livejournal.com]

[Hana had, thankfully, ignored a lot of the conversation between CHYPrE and Sora. However, hearing Sora mention that she wouldn't let Seiren take her away caused her to lift her head slightly.]

Won't... let me be taken away...?

[sunshine_maiden]

[She heard that, huh?] If Seiren gets her teeth into you and decides you're not ready, she's liable to try and send you back to Fairy Park, regardless of what we want. I'm not going to let that happen.