video;

[sylphid]

Who: Fie Claussell & Anyone
Broadcast: Yes, fleetwide
Action: On the Wonderduck
When: July 11, early afternoon

[The camera's turned on and moved around until it's facing Fie, though the the top of her head is cut off by the cropping. Sure, why not. She's currently in the lounge of the Wonderduck, sitting snugly in one the armchairs with a small plate of fudge in her lap.]

Sounds like my coma thing was well timed. People seeing into my life like that without being invited? No thanks. [Fie stops to take a bite, licking some off her fingers at the same time.]

Still, I hope some of you were able to make friends and deepen bonds. [She swallows.] I mean, if that's your thing.

[Now, sitting back, the rest of her head comes into view. Like the ball a few weeks back, she's wearing a familiar hat in sharp contrast to her normal ensemble.]

But I want to know, what were some things you got from your world? Useless or not. I'll be here all afternoon.

[Meaning over the network... or on the ship. Come visit her.]

Comments

[padadin]

Decorations? [That's a new one. He shakes his head.] It's konpeito - sugar candy. There also are some gummies. It's fudge what you got?

[sylphid]

Y'know, like the stuff rich people put in glass bowls in the middle of dining tables.

[Fie... please.] Everyone got fudge... except me. It's from a friend.

[padadin]

I'll take your word for that, but I promise you, these are candy. Want to try them?

[Wait, what?] You didn't get a basket? Ah-- because you were asleep?

[sylphid]

If you don't mind sharing, sure. Thanks.

[Fie nods.] I think so. I mean, I got one, but it was a half assed basket. Expired candy and... weird stuff.

[padadin]

Not at all.

[A little frown. Wow, how unfair.] There's some stuff I can share but-- Fie, how old are you?

[sylphid]

I'm sixteen, and I'm not expecting alcohol, don't worry. I think underage people got, what, sparkling cider?

They gave me apple cider vinegar. [And then she gave it to someone else.]

[padadin]

[Ah. Saw right through him, didn't she? But she's responsible, and that's great. A nod of approval and then--- a wince. Wow, Atroma. Just wow.]

I guess they thought you skipping calibrations already was rewarding enough.

[sylphid]

It might very well be. But either way, I'd say no to alcohol. I've seen what it can do to people-- it's embarrassing for them.

[Her teacher. And Chuuya. ... and everyone else she's seen drunk.]

[padadin]

[Ok, that? That makes him chuckle. She's right, really, and it's a good thing she isn't some teenager eager to get drunk. But he doesn't want her to have any misconceptions either.]

I'm glad you understand the matter of your age. But later on, if you want to try just one glass, that won't do anything, unless it's the really strong stuff. It doesn't have to be embarrassing.

[sylphid]

Huh? [Fie blinks at him, a little confused before she gets it.] Oh, I've tried loads before. You get it practically handed to you when you grow up with jaegers. ... mercenaries, I guess. It never got too out of hand-- Boss saw to that-- but it was better to get used to it sooner. Didn't know when a job might call for socializing like that. Had to know which was which so I could figure out how long it'd take them to get drunk.

[It's all very matter of fact for her. If she wanted a special coming of age thing, it'd be something more exciting.]

[padadin]

[...so much for responsibility. Growing up with mercenaries. Isn't there going to be a month when Shiro doesn't meet another child soldier? Man. At least the boss sounds... caring enough? Is that even the right word for this?

Protecting her from alcohol suddenly sounds so silly when it sounds like... like she's killed before.]

A job. Is that what you did in your world? Mercenary?

[sylphid]

They're called jaegers, but pretty much, yeah. Until about a year and a half ago I guess. Things happened, I went to school, made friends, met a talking cat, tried to stop a civil war... you know how it goes.

[Fie, no. That's not normal.]

Not anymore, though. It's kinda complicated. You can ask if you wanna know more, I don't mind sharing.

[Honestly, she does sort of want to talk about it with someone more.]

[padadin]

[Frowny Shiro is frowny. His beloved team is the only hope in the universe, so it was an emergency, but Fie... gosh. Actually yeah, he kinda knows how it goes. He can't think of her story weird considering his own.]

At least you got to experience school and making friends. [A pause - he isn't sure if he should be asking, especially since she's been lucky enough to avoid calibrations. But if she says it's ok...] Did you enjoy that part of a normal life?

[sylphid]

I don't know how normal you'd consider it. Thors is a military academy, so we learned a lot about those types of things. Cooking class was annoying, but I liked the gardening club... [She stops, not really considering the question as she already knows her answer, but moreso to remember things, a small smile forming.]

Yeah, I did. They became my second family.

But only one of us stayed there after the first year. The rest graduated early because we had things we needed to do.

[padadin]

The academy where I was trained to be a pilot was also military. Cooking class and gardening club sound normal though, like my old high school.

[He nods in understanding and approval, a little smile on his lips. Found families are the best, he would know.]

It's good to hear you made more friends, a second family. Graduation doesn't have to be the end, you know. You can keep in contact with them after.

[sylphid]

It's for students around that age, so I guess they wanted to do both. [Fie shrugs, not interested in the differences.] There were different clubs, and some were more military related than others. But not everyone joined the military after graduating.

[She nods.] I know, but it's still difficult. Erebonia's a huge country, and technology like this isn't that widespread or readily available. It'd been a few months back home since I'd seen anyone.

[padadin]

Did you want to join the military after graduating?

[He can't help being curious of her choices. From mercenary to high school, military influence or not, is quite a change in life. It was the other way around for him but he still understands the sudden shaking. Did it affect her in any way?

Eyes and voice are filled with sympathy when he hears the rest. He also knows that feeling, even if their contexts are different.]

I'm sorry, Fie. I hope you get to see everyone again soon.