smashacademy

[ here, have a video post! For once, Manah's office isn't decorated for the holiday. Instead behind her it's just a plain old bulletin board with nothing truly of interest posted on it.

as a note: things in monospace font are her babbling the crazy stuff she's not aware of. Be warned, there are layers of crazy she drifts through. ]

I'm glad to see Valentine's Day is over. A holiday that has - the Watchers - flying babies as their symbol puts me on edge. Not to mention it's a holiday with excessive amounts of love and affection.
- No one ever loved me. Only the Watchers -
[ she looks in another direction, her expression a bit worried ]
--- but I'm a good girl. Why won't you love me? ---
[ a pause as she seems to stare at something behind the monitor before snapping back to reality. ]
Whatever the case, I'm glad it's over. It's a pity that the theme of the holiday didn't quite flow into the city. It's still a dangerous place. If you must go to the city, I would advise you take with you someone skilled at fighting and protection. If you don't know someone, I would be happy to go with you. I'm quite skilled at staff fighting and magics.

On another note, what holiday comes next? This place seems to celebrate one at least once a month.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[He's watching her very closely. How inevitable is it that Manah will lose her cool? Caim's prepared for it, minus a sword, and he expects it to happen eventually.]

Do attempt to avoid putting yourself in less than favourable situations.

[And as much as it seems he may be saying such for her benefit, he's more concerned about how everyone else will handle her insanity.]

[ Since Manah isn't aware of exactly what Caim is talking about - the crazy slips out subconsciously - she can only assume he means about defending people in the city.

Unfortunately, since this is Caim, the words don't come out as well as she would like. A pause before she answers. ]

I can hold my own in battle.

[He doesn't want to spell this out. He really, really doesn't. She is testing him and begrudgingly, he holds onto his tolerance.]

You could be a vulnerability to defences.

[ Testing? No. But she wasn't the weak child she once was.... except around Caim.... ]

A vulnerability? I don't see how that's possible.

Have you forgotten the past?

[ why does he keep bringing this up? All she wants to do is forget again. ]

I haven't forgotten.

[He'd probably explain this if he had a voice to do it with.]

Then you should already know the answer to that, Manah.

[He's pretty sure he's never referred to her by name. He must be serious.]

If you are careless, then you will repeat the actions of the past and I will be forced to cut you down. Despite how I feel about you, I expect you to grow as a person and not to become a liability in the event that you are needed for a greater purpose than serving as a guidance counselor.

[No, really. Why does he actually have to tell her this? She's a grown woman, for gods sake.]

[ was he.... lecturing her? ]

That won't be happening.

[Yes. It's very parental of him.]

And what makes you so certain of that? How does anyone here know you are not going to fall to pieces? You cannot possibly be blind to your outbreaks.

[ Outbreaks? He made it sound almost as though she were diseased. Granted, the influence of the gods was like a disease but she'd broken free of them. Caim had ruffled her feathers quite a bit but that didn't mean she was losing grip of reality. ]

I am quite certain.

That is all I needed to know. If you are confident, I have no other choice than to take you at your word. However, if you are proven wrong, you will understand that I will defend who I must.

[At least he's not saying it maliciously.]

[ It always throws her off when he seems more human. ]

Very well.

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