Huh? [ And for a moment, the smile breaks — left with nothing Lucina blinking at Veronica — before she regains some of her composure. She shakes her head. ] Not very much, I'm afraid.
... I come bearing news. [ Calm, composed. ] I'm afraid it's not very... pleasant.
[If there's anything, it's that Veronica is sharp. She can go through any number of things on a list in her head rather quickly. She falters for a moment here, visibly, before drawing the correct conclusion.]
No, it's—you could say it's to be expected, couldn't you? I've seen a number of those transfer notices already. Not all of them were new. Many were veterans, so a veteran presence is to be expected.
[And desired, among all else. Veronica feels selfish for wanting Lucina to stay regardless of that. The upcoming mission sounds daunting, and she isn't ready to give up on an arrangement like this. If anything, the bonding exercises gave her more room to be more ... like herself.
[ Logically, it makes sense — she's accepted the reasoning for what Hathaway does ages ago. But suddenly, every single apology she's received makes perfect sense. Agreement or otherwise, they're friends now. To up and leave them all behind is—
She exhales, slowly. ] Still. [ Expectations, or otherwise. She can't argue with it, but ...
Lucina hopes that the silence speaks for her, instead. As for the marbles— ]
I would not be opposed to it... though I'd prefer to keep them as a keepsake.
You'd like to have both? [Clearly there's some confusion on her end. Veronica's assumed that they were unique to the two of them, though. Maybe she's wrong? Maybe she can just hand the marble over to someone else.]
Huh— [ Her eyebrows furrow, the confusion equal on her side. Until she raises her hands up to shoulder-level, palms forward as she gently shakes them. ] Oh, no — I just mean ...
[ She lowers her hands. ] They are a matching pair. I was hoping that they'd be less of a tool, and more of a ... reminder. Of our friendship. [ #gross ]
I'm not opposed. I asked because I thought that there might be a way for me to see whee you've gone. I know the magitek doesn't let us connect across guilds. [Or else it would be easier to communicate with those who have been transferred away. These types of partings would be easier.]
And in turn, I could show you things, too. But I suppose we wouldn't have a way to really communicate when it's time to see.
Oh. [ That's a thought, isn't it? She thought these would work like the Magitek did, rendering them useless once they're hopping the multiverse once more. But if it didn't— ]
Still, it's more than what I could hope for. I'd like to keep up with your upcoming missions one way or another.
If we can manage a time and a place for you to see the dossier when you peer in, we can do that. [It's not entirely workable, but they can make it happen.]
And you have to trust that I will adapt, even without you. [Even if she doesn't want to—she will.]
You will. [ Lucina has no doubt otherwise. No hesitation, no second thoughts. She knows that Veronica's reasons for a bodyguard were well justified, and there are still ways to go before she can truly stand against dangers on her own, but—
She will adapt. With, or without a bodyguard by her side. ] You have a strength to you that others may overlook. I am grateful that I was not one of them. [ Now— all Lucina can hope is that they will see each other again, one day. ]
[Even if it's time for Veronica to take her incentive and go, she's going to wait until Lucina returns from a mission. Such a thing feels important to her.
Her hand extends to Lucina.]
I suppose such words are ... as good of a farewell as any. It may feel hollow, but you are one of the strongest, most loyal people I've ever met. And as I've now made clear, I am used to quite the opposite arrangement among those who are closest to me back home. Well, excluding my closest comrades, of course.
[ If you ever permadrop Veronica I'll do one last goodbye thread with you then
There's little hesitation as Lucina takes the hand. It's a firm handshake, still intensely formal by the virtue of who Lucina is, but it's still warm, somehow. ] They don't feel hollow at all. [ Maybe it's her voice. ]
Likewise. [ ( She doesn't intend to forget. ) ] ... Farewell.
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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... I come bearing news. [ Calm, composed. ] I'm afraid it's not very... pleasant.
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This is goodbye.
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It is. [ No need to beat around the bush anymore. ] I received my reassignment this morning — I'll be leaving later tonight.
[ How strange to get her own, after seeing so many of her friends explain the same thing to her. The smile's finally gone. ] ... I'm sorry.
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[And desired, among all else. Veronica feels selfish for wanting Lucina to stay regardless of that. The upcoming mission sounds daunting, and she isn't ready to give up on an arrangement like this. If anything, the bonding exercises gave her more room to be more ... like herself.
To do sketchy things with it, too.]
I wonder if the marbles will still work.
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She exhales, slowly. ] Still. [ Expectations, or otherwise. She can't argue with it, but ...
Lucina hopes that the silence speaks for her, instead. As for the marbles— ]
I would not be opposed to it... though I'd prefer to keep them as a keepsake.
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[ She lowers her hands. ] They are a matching pair. I was hoping that they'd be less of a tool, and more of a ... reminder. Of our friendship. [ #gross ]
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And in turn, I could show you things, too. But I suppose we wouldn't have a way to really communicate when it's time to see.
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Still, it's more than what I could hope for. I'd like to keep up with your upcoming missions one way or another.
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And you have to trust that I will adapt, even without you. [Even if she doesn't want to—she will.]
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She will adapt. With, or without a bodyguard by her side. ] You have a strength to you that others may overlook. I am grateful that I was not one of them. [ Now— all Lucina can hope is that they will see each other again, one day. ]
I wish you the best of luck, Veronica.
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Her hand extends to Lucina.]
I suppose such words are ... as good of a farewell as any. It may feel hollow, but you are one of the strongest, most loyal people I've ever met. And as I've now made clear, I am used to quite the opposite arrangement among those who are closest to me back home. Well, excluding my closest comrades, of course.
[Her family is sketchy as hell, basically.]
It would be difficult to forget you.
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There's little hesitation as Lucina takes the hand. It's a firm handshake, still intensely formal by the virtue of who Lucina is, but it's still warm, somehow. ] They don't feel hollow at all. [ Maybe it's her voice. ]
Likewise. [ ( She doesn't intend to forget. ) ] ... Farewell.