♢ 11 ♢

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[In pops Marta, mid-walk. It's a slow walk, and her gaze is on the ground. She's sad again, and it shows in the way she's holding herself, how she's fussing with the ends of her hair with both hands, in her heavy sigh.

'The most important thing you can do right now is run...' well, may as well run to the Plane and get some thinking done, right? And what is there to think about? Well, nothing pretty. Altamira under attack, Regal and Sheena in danger, the Vanguard's twisted plans... And somehow, it all comes back to one central idea for her... ]

Is this my fault, for being so naive? ... What should I do...?

[She finds a quiet spot in the forest, beneath one of the trees near the edge. She sits on the ground, knees drawn up to her chest, and quietly lets her thoughts spin on themselves. Maybe she'll just sleep here, while she has the chance...]


((OoC: Canon bump!! Marta and Emil are now in Chapter 7! /confetti! For those keeping score at home: Magnar was defeated and the Vanguard's plans have been revealed - the group is now traveling to Mizuho.))

Comments

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

I'm doing fine.

[He doesn't sit down yet, but he does stand beside her.]

I feel like I should be asking you that question. How are you?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

I'm alright. [She tries not to frown!] I'm worried about what the Vanguard is doing right now

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[That's a topic he wants to know more about. He knows a little bit from what Emil explained to him. Hopefully the situation hadn't worsened too much. His smile fades.]

What are they doing?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

They're going to revive the Sylvaranti Dynasty. And to make sure it happens, they're... going to use the Mana Cannon.

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[GURL EXCUSE ME

Shock registers on Aster's face right away. Tensions are that bad? Not that he doubted it could get to that point, but he hoped for a better way. A peaceful ending to that conflict.

That kind of power would use up too much mana and has the potential to hurt or kill many people.]

How much time do you have to stop them?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She shakes her head, and her anxiety and guilt creep their way into her expression. She bites her lip, still trying to be strong.]

I don't know, but Aster, I don't know what to do either!

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[This is too much to put on a young girl. He watches her expression change and sighs quietly.]

Time stops while you're on the plane, correct? It should be fine for the time being.

[At the very least, the world won't get mana shot at it while she's here.]

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[Well, that's one way to save the world - don't let time pass...]

Yeah. I came here to think, since we can't afford to just waste time back home. But I can't stay here forever...

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[He said that mostly to comfort her. Being here would at least help her come up with a plan.]

I'm sure there's something...

What could they be thinking? Are tensions between Tetheallans and Slyvaranti truly that bad?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

They're bad. And it's the Vanguard's fault they've become so bad. But... there's no way to justify using the Mana Cannon, right?

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

No, absolutely not. That kind of weapon could hurt or kill many innocent people outside of that conflict.

[He taps his fingers against a nearby tree, trying to think of something>.]

Emil didn't divulge much information about the Vanguard. Could you tell me more?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She bites her lip, glances off to the side before she starts talking.]

Well... it started as a group of Sylvaranti who wanted the people of Tethe'alla to stop looking down on us. But then... things changed. They got worse. It's like their intentions weren't just liberation anymore. They wanted power. A lot of it. There was an attack on Palmacosta, supposedly by the Church of Martel. It wasn't. It was the Vanguard, meant to trick everyone into thinking it was the Church. Now, they're just acting like a liberation group. That's not what they are anymore.

[A pause, while she debates whether or not to add a few particularly damning crucial details...]

And their leader is Commander Brute. ... Daddy.

1/2

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[Daddy.

Daddy.]

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

Your father?

[There's a considerable pause on his end, his tapping against the tree halts the moment she says that.

Well that makes things a little more complicated, doesn't it? While he's concerned about the world as a whole, his sympathies lie with the people involved. People like Marta, Emil and Richter as well. She must have been with the Vanguard from the very beginning. Now it's starting to make sense
why they're looking for the cores. Those were a great source of power.

Hearing that, he decides to comment.]

The Vanguard was a good organization for Slyvaranti. I don't think it's impossible for them to return to their roots to help those in need.

[Gonna have to stop that mana canon first though.]

They're after the centurion cores, correct?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She nods, but she doesn't look up, afraid of what Aster might think of her now. She loves her daddy, but...]

It may not be impossible, but I don't know how it can happen, not with the way it's being run. Not with what they're doing.

[The cores...] Mm. Yes, they are. That's why we need to get them first. We have to.

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

[There's nothing Aster blames Marta for. Even if her own flesh and blood is behind the madness going on there, that doesn't mean it's her fault.]

You're correct. That will take time after all this is settled out. Right now the priority should be stopping them from using the mana canon.

[Though awhile ago he had advised Emil to be wary of collecting the cores to awaken Ratatosk, they will be safer in their hands over the Vanguard. Over her very own father.]

Are you going to be okay, Marta?

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[She nods her agreement, but then frowns just a shade at the question. Still, she looks up, and tries for another smile - one more sincere than she's managed so far in the conversation, but it's still a tiny one.]

I'll be okay. Thank you, Aster. You're sweet to ask about me.

[ainsophaured.livejournal.com]

It's only right to ask about you, Marta.

[He smiles back at her, if only to try to return the gesture. Aster has doubts about it. It's her father after all. There's no sense to making her upset by prying more about it though.]

Courage is the magic that turns dreams into reality. As long as you don't lose your courage, you'll be fine.

[formervanguard.livejournal.com]

[That phrase... She frowns at first, with all the memories and, well, re-realization it brings... but she shakes that away, and replaces it with a small, but honest smile.]

You're right. I'll do my best!