damned_institute | Day 43: Courtyard, Third Shift

Once again, Endrance's nurse interfered with his plans. He had been planning to look around the Game Room, but the moment he began to move towards the Sun Room, she had taken him by the arm. "Your family has asked that we make sure you get as much fresh air and sunshine has possible, and you won't get that by staying inside playing video games all day."

He had thought for a moment about protesting, but decided against it. After all, if what had happened to Haseo was punishment for having spoken too strongly the day before, he didn't want to make that worse somehow. So, when given the choice of going out to the recreational field or the courtyard, he chose the latter.

There were a few reasons behind the decision, the most salient being that he wanted to see what the area looked like for a second time - this time without the threat of a brainwashed patient surprising him. The second reason was just as strong as the first, and it had to do with the presence of a second former Demon Palace Emperor. As energetic as she was normally in The World, he couldn't imagine Alkaid not wanting to spend some time outside.

Just as before, he sat down under a tree by the side of the pond, keeping one eye on the door.

[closed to Alkaid]

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"I hope so, too. My sister has some really good people around her now, to help her put things to rights, but..." Frey was almost the only family she had left, and Cousin Haswar, while a kind and wonderful person, was someone they'd really only barely known. Smart and tough and incredible as Lymsleia was, she was only a child. Frey wanted to be there for her, as much as for Falena.

Frey had to smile, though, at the thought of Lym, even if he did worry about her and want to be with her. "I'm sure there's a lot of things she's going to change. My sister hated some of the traditions she saw no purpose for, and she can be remarkably stubborn." And though Frey could never approve of how Aunt Sialeeds had gone about it, it was still true that most of the corrupt nobles of the Senate were either dead or had their positions weakened terribly by the war.

Ah, that was right. Freyjadour had a sister. It was likely she was the one who was ruling the country now, with Freyjadour's parents gone. But there was something odd about the way the prince spoke and it took Franziska a bit of time to parse out what exactly. Freyjadour's tone. There was something almost protective in the way he spoke, as if his sister were possibly younger than he was. Franziska only recognized it because... well, she had the same sort of tone (to a lesser degree) when it came to him. Not, of course, in his company or in anyone's company, but in her head.

"A stubborn woman is a good one," Franziska said, smiling faintly. She liked the sound of Freyjadour's sister. A woman, ruling her own country, disposing of useless things and improving efficiency? Yes, Franziska certainly liked that. "I should hope she changes things to your favor then. Equality is as important as justice and perfection in all things."

Talking about Lymsleia was bittersweet, because Frey was worried about her and missed her, but with some time and distance from the war he was also finding himself more able to focus on the fond memories he had of the time before things had fallen apart. Even some of the memories of their few wartime meetings were almos pleasant, in their own way. "I don't think that, when I was her age, I could have been half so brave and brilliant as she was during the war."

"Do not doubt yourself, Freyjadour Falenas." If she were capable of sounding encouraging, she would have at that moment. Instead (and much to her own chagrin), she sounded a little bit like she was scolding the boy at her side. She merely couldn't stand to see people lower themselves in comparison to others. She refused to do it herself and she refused to allow others to do it in her presence.

And judging by the way Freyjadour was speaking, his sister had to be the younger one. Franziska knew a bit about being the younger sibling, just as she knew about being an elder sister (albeit figuratively), and she chanced a small smile, just a trace of it lifting the corner of her lips. "The younger often becomes brave because of the example of the elder."

Fanziska was starting to remind Frey a little bit of his mother, but he knew better than to say anything of the sort to such a young woman--she would no doubt be insulted. Not that his mother was old, but certainly she was older than Franziska and while Frey didn't have much skill at "small talk," he did have some diplomatic sense. "I hope so. Being a good example to Lym is just about the best thing I could ever aim for. She's going to be shaping the future of our country for many years." And, of course, Frey loved his little sister and wanted the best for her.

Day 43: Courtyard, Third Shift

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