Week 1, Sunday Evening; Barnham

[alcobrawlic]

[ There's been a lot to mull over, with the Sheriff's arrival and those two girls now in jail, a lot of information to take in. Which, for a bracer and an instructor, isn't impossible for Sara, but there was a difference between learning a curriculum or the details of a mission or job request and...

This.

A game where they were being encouraged to kill each other. It's a sick game, definitely, but she's a little more concerned about how the younger ones are handling it-- and just how many of their number have killed before.

For now, she just sighs into her beer mug-- her third, but there's really no point in stopping now. Her mind is still, unfortunately, clear enough.

The saloon's fairly quiet for now, and that's all she needs. ]

Comments

[moraled]

...Ms. Valestein.

I have no intentions of drinking on this night. Perhaps another, when the situation is not quite so dire. For now, I would prefer to keep my wits about me.

[alcobrawlic]

Uuugh, fine. [ Well, she can't force him to drink, but there's still a disappointed sigh into her mug. ] But I'll hold you to that.

[ Perhaps didn't mean "never"! ]

[moraled]

[He shakes his head, simply.]

Believe what you will. If the situation grows less dire, I will happily grant you a toast.

[alcobrawlic]

I guess that all depends on how many people are willing to kill someone else to get back home.

[ ... She doesn't have a whole lot of faith that people won't start dying. She's seen what people are capable of under pressure. ]

[moraled]

[... Yeah. He won't argue that.]

I do not doubt that in the future, we will face trials. We must keep our wits about us for that very moment.

[alcobrawlic]

That's fine. I might miss sleeping in, but I'm not about to let something like this stop me from shutting their game down.

[moraled]

Needless to say, I am also prepared for this inevitability. I will see justice done, regardless of what it may take.

And there is no justice in this situation, and in forcing innocents to kill others for your own sick enjoyment.

[alcobrawlic]

You might be a killjoy, but that's something we can both completely agree on. Besides, we'd both be setting pretty poor examples if we caved or let ourselves get killed.

[ Neither sounds like a good option. ]

[moraled]

Poor examples?

[He blinks, nonplussed.]

...Ah, you mean for the children here. I see.

[He didn't really think about it... miss teacher]

That is correct, I suppose.

[alcobrawlic]

What can I say... actually teaching them's sort of stuck with me.

[ Even if she's a bit unorthodox at times. ]

[moraled]

Perhaps I should be referring to you as Lady Instructor, in actuality. It seems a task that suits you.

[alcobrawlic]

Funny, you'd be one of the few to say that.

... But seriously, remember what I said about the formality? You can just call me Sara??

[ BARNHAM?? ]

[moraled]

[Um.

No.]

...That would not only be inappropriate, but far too intimate for our current acquaintanceship.

[alcobrawlic]

... Oh, Aidios.

You're the type who doesn't hold hands before marriage, aren't you?

[moraled]

[......]

I do not believe my stance on public displays of affection before marriage are any of your concern.

As a knight, it is necessary that I am properly formal to those around me.

[alcobrawlic]

Even if those around you don't actually give a damn if you are?

[ Except she says it with the quirked eyebrow of someone who knows she just asked a completely rhetorical question.

Also, he didn't say no!! ]

[moraled]

It is a matter of knightly pride and honor.

[Sara.....]

I shall not renege on that, regardless of the circumstances.

[alcobrawlic]

That's about what I expected... [ With a long, drawn-out sigh. ]

I know someone back home who'd absolutely love you.

[ Platonically. ]

[moraled]

[For a moment, he looks hesitant.

Seriously, the last thing he needs is more people "loving" him.

Too much of that is happening already.]

I...see.

[A sigh, and he shakes his head.]

Regardless. While I am here, we may as well have a discussion of something less grim than our current circumstances. Tell me more of this military academy of yours.

[alcobrawlic]

[ ... Well, let's not mention the fact that it was taken over by the Noble Faction and that a lot of the students had been in danger, because that's not any less grim.

So Sara starts off with something lighter, after a few minutes of thought. ]

Thors was founded by Emperor Dreichels, as a place to train the younger generation into becoming the foundation of the world. A lot of military leaders and officers, and of course the Emperor are alumni there, so obviously it's got its history. Classes are typically split between commoners and nobles, but--

[ A pause, and her eyes soften. ]

The one I was put in charge of, Class VII, was your basic motley crew of nobles and commoners-- the only class of its kind. They started off pretty awkwardly at first, but those kids have really come into their own.

[moraled]

It sounds to be an esteemed academy.

[With a long, formal history.

How is Sara an instructor there again...]

How long have you been instructing these children?

[alcobrawlic]

[ It's Olivert's fault. It's always Olivert's fault. ]

Mm... almost a year? A lot's happened.

[ UNDERSTATEMENT. ]

[moraled]

So it would sound.

[He knows like...nothing, but he does know that worldweary tone.]

... Were you an Instructor of another class before this one?

[alcobrawlic]

Yeah, I was in charge of... kind of like the prototype class? The test group to see if Class VII would maaaaaybe work out.

And, you know, I taught combat to the rest of the students, so it wasn't like I got much of a breather there either.

[moraled]

Hm.

It is strange to me to hear that you have been an instructor for only a year. It seems to be a career choice that has agreed with you immensely.