Claude was correct in the absolute sense. Should a takeover occur, Landel's Institute would transform into a beast of another nature. Though Tear and her conversation companion might know what to expect and react accordingly, the rest may be taken unaware and overwhelmed. This was terrible no matter how you looked at it; battles and deaths may harden a person, but the military forced discipline and at times, utter humiliation. Tear remembered how hard it had been to adjust, and her introduction had some cushioning.
The Oracle Knight gathered her hands onto her lap, the expression on her face appearing controlled yet off. "I agree," she replied, "especially if we lose our privileges in the day. We both understand what that can mean." Or so she hoped. Knowledge and experience in this could be a plus.
Here, she sighed for a second time. Any cordial, light conversation had been thrown out in the wake of this morning's events. It couldn't be helped, of course, but she had hoped to understand Claude better as a person. Preparing for the worst wasn't exactly the way she wanted to go about it.
Therefore, she turned to the other with a guilty air. "I apologize," said Tear. "I hadn't meant for this conversation to get so serious." Whether or not an apology was warranted did not matter. She just wanted him to know she never intended this development.
It was true. There were a lot of privileges the soldiers could revoke if given the chance -- access to their things, a chance to write on the bulletin board, free shifts where they could choose how to spend their time, just to name a few. That would mean their freedom would be even more limited than it was now. He had a feeling the punishment for getting in trouble with the staff would be more severe than just a sedation needle, too.
He hadn't expected Tear to apologize, of all things, though. Talking about the riot this morning was only natural, since quite a few people had gotten hurt from it. If anyone had to be blamed for being such a downer, it was probably him for bringing up the intercom leak from earlier.
"No, I'm sorry, too," he sincerely said, scratching the back of neck. "I've wanted a chance to talk to you for awhile, actually, so I didn't mean to drag down our chat like that." Claude offered her a smile. "You said you were part of the Oracle Knights, right? Anise told me a bit about them the other day."
The Oracle Knight gathered her hands onto her lap, the expression on her face appearing controlled yet off. "I agree," she replied, "especially if we lose our privileges in the day. We both understand what that can mean." Or so she hoped. Knowledge and experience in this could be a plus.
Here, she sighed for a second time. Any cordial, light conversation had been thrown out in the wake of this morning's events. It couldn't be helped, of course, but she had hoped to understand Claude better as a person. Preparing for the worst wasn't exactly the way she wanted to go about it.
Therefore, she turned to the other with a guilty air. "I apologize," said Tear. "I hadn't meant for this conversation to get so serious." Whether or not an apology was warranted did not matter. She just wanted him to know she never intended this development.
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He hadn't expected Tear to apologize, of all things, though. Talking about the riot this morning was only natural, since quite a few people had gotten hurt from it. If anyone had to be blamed for being such a downer, it was probably him for bringing up the intercom leak from earlier.
"No, I'm sorry, too," he sincerely said, scratching the back of neck. "I've wanted a chance to talk to you for awhile, actually, so I didn't mean to drag down our chat like that." Claude offered her a smile. "You said you were part of the Oracle Knights, right? Anise told me a bit about them the other day."
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