[IC] Swords Beneath the Starlight

Mazelina, Airitech:



"...Aye. He was my little brother. You members of his little mercenary band? Well... look n' see. This is the village yer bold captain was born and raised in... old, stupid, stupid bastard..." She sighs, half choking back a sob. "When he turned a man, he left t'find fame an' fortune. Sent letters with fanciful stories about all the adventures he was havin', but... I never really believed 'im. Used to feel guilty for it. But. Suppose I was right not to. Look where it ended 'im."

--

Barnabas:

The young woman smiles up at you, teeth peeking out nervously between her lips. Everything about her seems utterly precarious - as if she's suspended in an eternal state between doing and not, hesitating with every move, acting, retreating, and then continuing the action; a schroedinger's box of a person.



"Thank you," Philomel replies. "I-- I'm not particularly blessed in my craft, but... if I can remain a conduit for the Goddess's will, then I'm. More than-- ah-- happy, to... to serve. I've never seen a man with... ears...? like yours? Before? They're nice. Where are they from?"

--

The Rest:



Lien nods at Casey, eyes averted. "That's... that's correct, yes, sir. I was never particularly privvy to the worst parts of city life, but... my father made a point of teaching me that there was a much broader world than the one I lived in. People whose lives I could never truly understand - people who I should try to help whenever I could. I suppose that's the true purpose behind my journey, to answer your question correctly, ma'am." She nods to Baylee. "Because I think I can make things better. Fix this, even. If only I can reach the Renault Knights..." Her gaze is distant, now, far off.

"But. That's all... maybe a bit too high-minded and in-the-clouds. A futile hope of a silly girl. You'll have to excuse me, I-- I have a tendency to dream out loud."

There's a pause. Her eyes close.

"Just... if you could, for me: hang on to hope for a little while longer. Because maybe I'm right, and if I am, I want you to live to see it. All of you."