skyagain | catchall estelle

Why the science division...?

Because of the guy who runs it.

[ explain? no ]

... He's bad news, I take it.

Worse than that. His favorite subjects are the ones still alive and kicking.

You mean, human experimentation...?

Anything that's sentient. Everything's a big experiment to him.

That's horrible... Isn't there a way to stop him?

Not so long as he's got Shinra backing him up and footing the bill. They'll keep providing him whatever he wants so long as he gets the results they're looking for.

They're really that powerful...?

... No, I suppose I can't talk. There are people within the empire who seem to be completely above the law, too...

[ well, he nods at powerful, but; ]

The empire?

Yes, that's where I'm from. The emperor passed away last year without leaving an heir, which allowed opportunists within the Council and the Knights to seize power.

Members of the Council would commit atrocities, and because it's up to the Council to prosecute such crimes... You can probably imagine how that went.

... Yeah, that sounds about right for that kind. So they took over and are running it to the ground already?

[She looks guilty.]

... I'm sure it didn't all start so recently... It's just that the emperor's absence made the existing situation even worse.

... It was harder to notice before they let loose. Makes sense. Shinra wasn't built in a day, either.

[She nods.]

If those of us in the castle had been more aware of the things happening outside our walls, it might not have gotten so bad...

[ a beat as he remembers. something he read ]

That's right. You're the Vice-Emperor or something, right?

Yes... though it's a bit of an unofficial position. [There's a hopeful look, however.] I won't have to stay in the castle anymore, and I'll be able to directly advise the new emperor.

So I guess the council won't have it as easy now? [ but. hm. ] Why were you staying in the castle before that?

[She nods, and then hesitantly:]

I lived in the castle my whole life. I'd never actually left until recently.

... So you're royalty?

[ he's not judging there are. no monarchies in ff7 for him to judge ]

Yes... a princess.

Normally I wouldn't just go around telling people, but... I suppose it's not really a secret here. [The "Vice-Emperor" title is just out there, so.]

You keep it secret normally?

[ he's like. why. how is it a secret. ]

You'd think people would know their princess?

I didn't leave the castle for most of my life, so nobody knew my face. It was safer that way.

Someone out to get royalty where you're from?

You could say that...

It should be better now than it was before, but there are lots of reasons someone might target a member of the royal family. There aren't very many of us left, either...

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skyagain - 2022-06-16 21:21 (UTC) - Expand

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mustbepurged - 2022-06-16 22:51 (UTC) - Expand