[ as maes falls silent, riza starts to understand the territory they're stepping into. the territory that hughes has specifically brought to her, to save asking roy. the weight of this exchange is noted, for sure, and riza does her best to prepare for it. because while she and maes may not know each other as either of them know roy, or as roy knows either of them, they have a shared set of values. a shared goal, and shared priorities.
he is her superior officer, sure, but he also is allowed to be frustrated. allowed to be concerned. allowed - as riza soon sees - bitter questions directed at an impossible witch. she doesn't take them personally, though she does need a moment to consider them herself. ]
There's not- [ she pauses, reconsiders, and then lets out a soft exhale. despite herself, there is a flash of hughes from before - bloodied, weak, sleeping in the corner of a makeshift tent in a forest that none of them had been prepared for. she sees roy, haunted and falling apart, asking why in this exact same frame of mind. but then riza takes another breath, resets herself, because she has to. because she needs to, for them. ]
Sir, there's no proof she is going to send you- or any of us- back. [ which, as soon as the words leave her, riza winces ever so slightly - realizing the extent of her comment, of what it could mean. ] I don't know what her expectations are, or why she brought us here at all, but Roy and I- [ there's a brief part of her that worries she used roy instead of general but she continues anyway. ] We've been here, or at the mercy of the previous witch, for nearly a year.
[ another pause, and then she shakes her head. she's not good at this. she's never been good at this. ]
Astoria is using us to do a job she can't do herself, and is bringing people here consistently to help us do that job. There have been people sent back, but every time she's asked about it, she doesn't know why or how. Just that she 'lost connection' with someone.
action
he is her superior officer, sure, but he also is allowed to be frustrated. allowed to be concerned. allowed - as riza soon sees - bitter questions directed at an impossible witch. she doesn't take them personally, though she does need a moment to consider them herself. ]
There's not- [ she pauses, reconsiders, and then lets out a soft exhale. despite herself, there is a flash of hughes from before - bloodied, weak, sleeping in the corner of a makeshift tent in a forest that none of them had been prepared for. she sees roy, haunted and falling apart, asking why in this exact same frame of mind. but then riza takes another breath, resets herself, because she has to. because she needs to, for them. ]
Sir, there's no proof she is going to send you- or any of us- back. [ which, as soon as the words leave her, riza winces ever so slightly - realizing the extent of her comment, of what it could mean. ] I don't know what her expectations are, or why she brought us here at all, but Roy and I- [ there's a brief part of her that worries she used roy instead of general but she continues anyway. ] We've been here, or at the mercy of the previous witch, for nearly a year.
[ another pause, and then she shakes her head. she's not good at this. she's never been good at this. ]
Astoria is using us to do a job she can't do herself, and is bringing people here consistently to help us do that job. There have been people sent back, but every time she's asked about it, she doesn't know why or how. Just that she 'lost connection' with someone.