strictdiscipline | FUTURO

[ it's not deflecting if it's true!! ]

I've never ridden a horse either, only a bicycle.

[ i'm not having this fight with u again ]

Oh? What's a bicycle?

Lieutenant! It is I, Sieglinde Sullivan. I would have it known that I am now twelve.

[... yeah that is. the message.]]

Are you unharmed? I haven't been able to contact you due to our circumstances. [Thanks for nothing ALASTAIR.]

Please respond to me as soon as possible, thank you.

[He sounds so worried.]

[The voice that replies almost immediately - because if anyone deserves a prompt response, it's Julius - is tired, worn down by a week of what's now been revealed to be mere 'training exercises'.]

I'm fine, sir. Tired but that's nothing a few days of rest won't solve.

[Assuming ALASTAIR will actually make good on their promise and give them a few days off...]

And yourself? You weren't harmed either?

[Look, birthdays are important, she understands this. Especially when one is turning such an important age as twelve. Thus—]

Is that so? Happy birthday then, Sieglinde! Are you planning any sort of celebration?

[ Oh good, Riza's doing well. Julius wouldn't know what to do if something terrible happened to her. He breathes a small sigh of relief once he hears Riza's voice.]

No, I'm fine. Thank you for responding, Lieutenant. I was worried.

[ He always worries too much even though he knows that he probably shouldn't.]

[One day someone's gonna call him out on that!! Not Riza though, that'd be terribly hypocritical. Besides, she finds his concern touching, and it elicits a small smile from her.]

We have been through a lot, sir. [Between the showdown in Chantes and then that small adventure in not-real Oska.] I hope you've taken some time to rest up after all of it.

I'm trying my best although I have found it difficult to rest on occasion.

[Sometimes the stress gets to him and it's really hard to relax. It's normal as far as he's concerned.]

Do you have any trouble sleeping at night Lieutenant?

[Hopefully she's resting well too...!]

I am indeed! I hope I shall see you in attendance at the banquet! What it is you enjoy for your meals?

[The kitchens here were Amazing.]

[Difficult to rest....? Whatever relief she might've felt upon hearing his voice transforms into concern.]

Because of Chantes? Or something else?

[She'll punt his own question to the side for the time being.]

[Ah good, she definitely deserves a celebration of some sort. The thought's enough to make Riza smile.]

I'll do my best to be there. Are you trying to cater the food options to everyone attending?

[She'll answer the real question in a sec...]

Something else. I wonder about the state of our worlds.

Haven't we been here for a while? It's been five months.

[He always wonders what's happening back home or if they'll ever return. ]

[It's a thought that's lingered in the back of her mind for the past five months, one she worries over as well. She'd tried to bury it as best as she can, devoting all her attention to her work here with ALASTAIR in hopes that better performance would earn her a ticket home sooner than later, but clearly their performance hadn't quite been up to par.]

Almost half a year. [It's whispered, more a reminder to herself than confirmation for Julius. Louder:] Could you ask them for a report of how things have progressed back home? Surely they can tell us that much, now that we've completed

Only those who I deem important enough.

[Way to be honest...]

It may be worth asking, yes. I'm sure you must have your own worries as well.

You're always welcome to speak to me if something's troubling you.

[ He's wiling to lend a ear to a good friend. ]

[The offer's met with a small hum, an expression of thought fluttering across her face before she speaks up again.]

I spoke to one of the ALASTAIR recruits that had graded us earlier. Uruz. [Nothing new in and of itself. The large majority of their ranks had replied in one way or another.] She said that she'd been with ALASTAIR most of her life, that she was happy with her role here.

Do you think you'll ever decide to stay here of your own free will?

[At least she knows what she likes and is willing to state that opinion out loud...]

I'm used to fairly simple food - stews and sandwiches - but I'll be satisfied if you are. I don't mind trying new things, if there's a particular favorite from your hometown you enjoy.

[ So someone was able to find happiness during all of this. Actually, it's not that difficult for him to believe. Despite their hardships they were given many opportunities in exchange. It's a chance for them to grow and experience things they never experienced before. Julius thinks about Riza's question for a bit. It's a serious topic after all.]

It might be possible. I believe that anything's possible here even if we think otherwise.

[ Best to think outside of the box.]

[They're words she's heard many times over before, from various different sources, but it's still surprising to hear them from Julius in this particular context, enough so that she pauses, brows drawing down and lips parting slightly.

If given the choice, she'd opt to go home without hesitation. There are plenty of recruits here to serve ALASTAIR's needs but only one of her, with her own particular knowledge of homunculus and the military corruption back home. There's no doubt where she'd be of most use, especially when her own personal mission is far from complete. Then again, from what she knows of Julius, perhaps he has less to anchor him to his home. He's found a suitable replacement after all and handed off his responsibility to a more than qualified applicant. He's useful here. Has friends here.

All these thoughts fly through her head in the span of a few seconds. She mentions none of them, opts for a different set of words instead.]

I hope you can at least ask for a pay raise if you decide to stay here then.

[Oska's budget was a little slim, tbh.]

That would be nice although I'd hate to prolong my stay here. There's a lot of work waiting for me back at home.

[ Even though it'd be nice to stay here he'd feel irresponsible leaving his military duties behind. Finishing his work at home would always be his first priority. Julius can't honestly say that everything's been terrible here. He was able to make a friend like Riza.]

Wouldn't that be the same case for you?

[ She's a lieutenant! ]

Of course.

[Her answer's easy, quick. There's no doubt in her mind (yet) of the choice she'd make, if given.]

There are people relying on me still, and orders I haven't yet obeyed. [She gives a wan smile, invisible through the voice-only function employed right now.] With that said, I wouldn't leave until we'd finished whatever mission we've been assigned to. We have a duty to the people here as well, after all.

[Aren't all people equally deserving of protection and a chance to live out their life?]

Yes, we do. We can no longer say that it doesn't concern us.

[ And hopefully accomplish it without any weird hitches involved? ALASTAIR seems to be fond of doing crazy things for no good reason. IT'S honestly irritating, but Julius isn't going to turn a blind eye to those who need help. ]

Let's finish what we started.

[She graces that answer with a quiet nod before speaking up again.]

You'll have my support whenever you need it.

Thank you Lieutenant.

I didn't have many friends while I was working in the military. Working with you has been a positive experience.

[It's a little embarrassing to admit but that's how he felt all this time.]

FUTURO | IC INBOX

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video | un; sieglindesullivan

HI VAL I SAID ID BE HERE... video

whoa!!!! you made good on your promise

pretend i'm not like three weeks late to this, ahem

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<3

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omg val arent you on hiatus still....?

i'm still (back)tagging things! just not tagging into anything new

ohh okok ganbatte val...!

tyyyyy

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