(no subject)

[adastrea]

[So, the Republic of Albion. For whatever reason and whatever traumas that lead them here, word of god has decreed that Our Heroes are at the military academy there. That said, as with any other school full of teenagers, there's definitely a hierarchy among the students...and as it turns out, the pretty upperclassman who is responsible for the sudden, sharp uptick in the visitor curfew at the girls' dormitory being obeyed is dominating the practice rooms. We're not sure why she's spent the better part of the afternoon defeating students at swordplay, but she's run through both the fencing and kendo teams, and is standing there in the center of the room looking magnificently bored.]

...Is that really all? Is there no one who can provide me even a decent challenge?

[Clearly, an intervention, or failing that, a new challenger is required.]

Comments

[adastrea]

I suppose I could accept your earlier offer, but I'm not exactly trained for kendo...and I made a promise that would obstruct me from it, unfortunately.

So I suppose empty nooks it is.

[downbygravity]

Go join the fencing club. Or would your promise keep you from that as well? You should be part of some kind of afterschool activity, lest you waste those talents you showed.

[adastrea]

...Not my promise, no, but perhaps the fact I broke the captain's arm last week when he tried to climb in my window with a stereo.

[Rubbing at the back of her neck.] In my defense, I was, uh, startled, and I didn't think the shoe would send him back out the window.

[downbygravity]

The impact might not, but the shock would be more than enough. It was good instincts on your own part.

[He obviously is considering.]

What kind of promise keeps one from joining the kendo club but not the fencing club?

[adastrea]

...One I'm not discussing in a hallway for all who wander by to be aware of.

[Digging some hair ribbons out of her pocket to finally pull her hair up into twintails.]

I would suggest either someone more private, or somewhere busy enough eavesdropping is less feasible.

[downbygravity]

More private would mean a study room in the library, the roof, or one of our rooms, typically.

[Leo buddy you know what most people use those for, right? Right?!]

[adastrea]

[...She doesn't think he does.] Rooms would cause rumors I don't want to deal with, and the roof access is at the end of the hall. It seems like a clear answer.

[downbygravity]

Lead the way, then. I will follow you.

[He's totally oblivious to these sort of things, the worst kind of senpai.]

[adastrea]

[She's getting that impression, yes. But she'll lead him to the roof without much fuss, and stretches out.]

...Well, then. The short of it, is I promised to stay away from my little sister if it could be helped, and she is not only trained in kendo, but fiercely competitive.

[downbygravity]

Your little sister?

[He's the captain of the club, but he's not immediately remembering who she was talking about.]

[adastrea]

...[Siiigh.] Lilja Cassandre Riou.

[Well, that'd be one of the younger members, a tiny blond hellion with a terrible chip on her shoulder and incredibly strength for her size.

...also a cousin to the reigning princess, but more notably, isn't the Riou family the one that's recently mostly dead?]

[downbygravity]

Ah yes, the one the other members have taken to calling the Princess. I recall her now.

[He nods.]

So you promised not to compete with your sister. Given that both of you are in line for the throne, possibly, that could cause no small amount of problems, in the public eye.

[adastrea]

Technically, it's only a county, and my brother is ahead of either of us.

[She shrugs almost a little too nonchalantly, but we don't really expect Leo to pick up on these cues.] But you're half-right. Wouldn't do for the public to realize the survivors aren't all so united. And if I show up and start winning again, it will get...nasty.

So for the sake of her not murdering me in my sleep, Michel had me promise to stay as separated as possible.

[downbygravity]

There's something else about this you're not mentioning, though. If you promised to stay away from the activity and busted both clubs, then you've chosen to antagonize your sister for some reason. What else is going on?

[adastrea]

Can't it be as simple as I'm frustrated and angry on a day I know she's not around, Leo? The way you talk about it sounds like there's some deeper political meaning to it.

If she chases me down to challenge me, I'll just win again. And if she's finally learned to reign in her temper, I'll be less restricted.

[downbygravity]

That still sounds like an intentional provocation.

[How can someone be so dense about some social things, yet able to cut through BS in other ways?]

Regardless, it is your own family's affairs, not mine.

[adastrea]

...Leo, do you mind if I ask you a few seemingly unrelated questions?

[downbygravity]

By all means, ask me whatever you wish.

[He is an open book. If books were sometimes seemingly psychotic and capable of killing you with a stick.]

[adastrea]

[Shes pretty sure she's read that one.]

Why did you enroll at this school? For the officer program, I am assuming?

[downbygravity]

My aptitude scores were within the top eight percentile of people my age, so I was entitled to my pick of any school. It only seemed prudent to go for the one with the best reputation, didn't it?

[He'll lean back on the railing, looking toward her, elbows rested on the top of the rails.]

[adastrea]

Logically, yes, but what do you intend to do after? This school is renowned for it's officer program, and with your scores, I've no doubt they want you on the fast track.

[...Just where is she going with this?]

[downbygravity]

I am uncertain. Not too long ago, the answer would have been simple enough; but these days, I find myself wondering where this country is going, and what part I would want to play in that. Why?

[adastrea]

Because to put it bluntly, without meaning any offense, your people skills swing from incredibly sharp-eyed to absolutely abysmal.

[She walks over to the railing next to him, leaning over it to look out at the school.]

And for a normal soldier, that isn't really an issue...but if you've any aims for more than that, it's going to be a problem.

[downbygravity]

I have no doubts about my ability to be placed as an officer already, if I choose that path - but what would you propose that I do, then?

[adastrea]

What do I propose? Well, it's difficult to say. From what I can tell, what appears to be the problem isn't that you're missing cues, but when you string together information, you're lacking some of the context of human behavior. Easiest way to solve this is by observation and interaction. People will tell you quite a bit about their motivations if you simply speak to them. I've done so myself, today, haven't I?

[She turns to look at him and there's a long, somewhat strange moment, where it would almost seem like she's looking through him for something intangible.she doesn't entirely understand it herself.]

You've more than enough talent to make officer, that is true. But would you really be satisfied not striving to become better?