[001E - Audio/Video] - Arrival

[heartofarapier]

[It is admittedly, the strangest situation Eirika has found herself in. And she has been in a few strange situations. She was intent on going along her way, but greater powers had other plans for her. It was how she found herself at the door to what was being referred to as a 'dormitory' and shortly after, shown inside and offered a key.

It's audio feed first by the one who's helped her in and shown her about. Video feed afterward, leaving Eirika on her own. Her expression paints her transparent. She's... confused, disoriented, and unsure exactly how this even managed to happen. She's just gone from a world of an unnecessary war to a...

They called it a school.

Rapier still in hand, she moves to sheathe it and shows her back to the camera momentarily as she turns to investigate her shared room.]

I should have liked for them to be more hospitable, rather than rushed. Whoever this Miss Lyra may be, I hope she won't find this too much of an unpleasant surprise...

Comments

[heartofarapier]

That isn't what I meant. You're very clearly Prince Innes. You look like him, sound like him... Gods, your every facial expression of utter disdain is unmistakable.

In spite of that, however, you seem to know things I don't. You claim what I experienced a day prior, and a fortnight prior - undoubtedly - are all things that occurred... 'months' ago.

[Or she's just losing it.]

Who are you, really? Is this a ploy? [But she's heard nothing like that since her arrival...]

[superior_archer]

I would do nothing to fool you. We are allies; friends. I would never even think of it.

[ a pause. ]

How could you be in the past and I in the future? This makes even less sense than this place does. Then that would mean...

Damn. You wouldn't remember that either, because it technically never happened.

[heartofarapier]

[It's true. Frelia and Renais are long time allies. Innes would never do anything against her or her kingdom. And Eirika knows this.

But knowing he knows more than she does... makes her feel steps behind.]

I... only remember up to our beginning to Jehanna. I'm sorry. I would know more undoubtedly, but... It would seem I'm here instead. You said Ephraim and I were able to restore Renais?

[superior_archer]

That far back... [ well that was awhile ago and not exactly the most pleasant of memories. The siege, the death of the queen, the loss of the stone. Not so great. ]

In the process, yes, but this doesn't make sense. I never left your side. How is possible that you're here and not there?

[heartofarapier]

You didn't come with me when I left camp. I don't know what you were doing. Provisions, perhaps. Making sure we were prepared to carry onward the day after.

[He's probably tearing the camp up in a storm with her absence now.]

[superior_archer]

[ Great, failing at his duty, even though he didn't know he did.

He leans forward on his desk, drawing a hand to his face in frustration. ]

..... How could I not know you were missing..... Why do I not remember this?

[ no doubt. ]

[heartofarapier]

No, no... I mean.

[She cringes a little.] I didn't tell anyone I was going. I had thought it would only be a few moments to clear my head. I didn't anticipate...

[The sand trap. Never mind that it was a desert.]

It wasn't your fault, Prince Innes. I should have said something.

[superior_archer]

[ there was a lot wrong with that desert... ]

Well, now that we're both here, my promise still stands. I'll protect you no matter what.

[heartofarapier]

You don't need to do that. You're not my--

[Except Seth's not there. And neither is Franz. Or Forde. Or Kyle.]

--retainer. [Although oddly enough Eirika remembers rather clearly when he approached her to say he had decided to protect her. Without even giving her a chance to protest.]

[superior_archer]

Well that knight isn't here to protect you, so I'll do it for him. Besides, I'm not letting you say no. This so-called school is more dangerous than they let on. [ he's already gotten into two fights... ]

[heartofarapier]

[Yes. This sounds very familiar. She's tempted to react exactly the way she did the first time around.]

Why do you feel that you need to?

[superior_archer]

..... [ for a moment he's not sure what to say. He'd long-since payed off his debt to her. But Innes was not one to beat around the bush or cover things up. ]

Because I've fallen for you.

[heartofarapier]

[She simply stares at him.]

This isn't a good time for jokes, Prince Innes.

[superior_archer]

I don't joke.

[heartofarapier]

Uh...

[Eirika's still trying to figure out how to respond to that.]

You have plenty of other ways to make my brother angry. I hardly think choosing me is a necessary option.

[Why are they even talking about this? At some point in time, she was thinking on how she needed to return to Magvel. Somehow, Innes has managed to sidetrack her. How good of him.]

[superior_archer]

...........

For once this isn't about Ephraim.

[heartofarapier]

[Those are surprising words and it shows in her expression. As long as she's known Innes, he's ever been consistently obsessed with her brother. She's heard for many years of their rivalry with one another. She's had to listen to Ephraim occasionally complain over Innes' behaviour.

And he's even been curt to her. How can a man who's so... short claim to love a girl who isn't?]

...You hardly know me...

[superior_archer]

........ [ this is going really bad; horribly even. She seemed so accepting of him when he'd confessed it back home, but it seems that wasn't the case here. Certainly the time difference would explain it. ]

Forget I said anything.

[ of course, that didn't mean he was giving up. No, he would win Eirika's hand in marriage. The plan was just delayed. ]

[heartofarapier]

You know I can't do that. You can't just say something... like that and expect me to overlook it.

[She wonders idly how his own version of Eirika handled the situation. From a political standpoint, a marriage to Frelia's prince would be... ideal. And it's true that she's got one particular adamant nature to fulfill as her lineage requires her to.]

I just don't understand-- [Eirika pauses.] This is not a conversation we should be having like this. I would rather see you in person. This interaction feels very impersonal to me.

[superior_archer]

Name a place. [ not that he really knew many places here. ]

[heartofarapier]

I...

[She thinks on that for a moment. She's not seen much. There were buildings, undoubtedly. But she was shuffled around so often that she's not sure what the names are of locations.]

I saw a fountain on my way here. It was across the way from where the... rather large hand found me. I imagine I could find my way there easily.

[superior_archer]

Tch, those hands... I know where that fountain is. I can be there shortly.

[heartofarapier]

We can discuss those as well, if you'd like.

[Eirika would personally like to discuss a way to get out of enrollment rather than this tutelage she didn't exactly plan for.]

I'll wait for you.