THREE ♠ video | action to Gryffindors [backdated to the 25th]

[gurenpiloting]

[When the Commuter turns on, it shows a familiar fiery redhead in her usual resting spot on a squashy armchair at the Gryffindor common room. Right next to her is a small stack of individually wrapped presents, each of varying size and shape, and she's idly dangling the winglike key in front of her with the attached strap in between fingers. What's

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[alkahestry]

Did you get something from home too, Kallen?

[His voice rises up from behind the back of the chair as he approaches. There's a bright red cloak draped over his shoulder and two still wrapped gifts held carefully in his hands.]

[gurenpiloting]

I sure did!

[She lifts up the key in view as a smile appears on her face. Then she raises an eyebrow at the bright red cloak.]

Just a little memento from my old job.

[alkahestry]

It's beautiful...

[He remarks as he leans against the back of the chair, reaching out the tips of his fingers briefly run along the edge of the key's wing shaped edges.]

A good luck charm?

[gurenpiloting]

It is...

[It's even more beautiful with the realization that Lelouch gave it to her. A light shrug.]

Sort of. It's actually the key to a powerful Knightmare Frame that I own.

[alkahestry]

Knightmare frame?

[His fingers flex as his weight shifts more forward curiously.]

Sounds scary.

[He admits with a soft laugh.]

Is that some kind of machine or something?

[gurenpiloting]

I think I told your brother before about this, I'm not sure. But yeah, it's a machine.

[A small laugh.]

A combat robot that's about five meters in height. I own a powerful one called the Guren.

[alkahestry]

Y-yeah?

[The word that follows at the mention of his brother is muttered as Kallen laughs. However, he doesn't have time to focus on Edward when she mentions combat robot and how tall it is.]

That's... wow, really tall! Taller than me when I was a...

[His voice trails off as he catches himself about to blurt out about being a walking suit of armor.]

What did you do with something that big anyway?

[He asks as the thought crosses him, it's a big weird how they've been here almost 3 months and never really spoken about either of their homes and pasts to one another. At least not in all the great of detail that is.]

[gurenpiloting]

[The smile morphs into a serious frown, eyebrows creasing as she's reminded of her old job as a soldier.]

I used it to rescue Japan from Britannia's tyrannical ruling. I couldn't stand by and let my country be oppressed any more, having its resources and identity stripped away, so I fought really hard to save it. A long battle that took years to complete, but it was worth it in the end.

[A light sigh.]

Japan is free at the moment.

[alkahestry]

[He's afraid for a moment he's touched on a subject too serious. Though truthfully, he had not been sure what to expect as far as the question went. A giant robotic machine was technically he could barely wrap his head around. Steam power and automail were about the extent of the technology he was used to and something Kallen described stretched the limits of his imagination. Though he couldn't help but think of Winry, she'd probably be foaming at the mouth right now.

However, little could prepare him for Kallen's brief story. The some what peaceful school atmosphere made him forget that they all came from different worlds, each with their own problems, heroes, and bad guys.]

Like a freedom fighter?

[The question is certainly better phrased than it could have been, but Kallen has done nothing but be a good friend since they met for him to assume anything more negative.]

[gurenpiloting]

[It's not something she talks about freely, but since she has spoken to Ed about the topic for a bit, she feels she can trust Al as well.

She nods.]

Exactly. The Britannian government thought I was a terrorist for even breaking their rules, but I didn't care what they thought of me. I only cared for what was right.

[So many sacrifices that needed to be accomplished, so much bloodshed just to grant her people the basic rights that had been taken away from them. She let out a sigh as she leaned back against the armchair. Time to change the subject.]

Can I ask you a question, Al?

[alkahestry]

[While he can't related directly to the political agenda, Al is quite familiar with the necessity to fight for what is right and what's doing best for the people. To be an alchemist meant that you were supposed to be a hero to the people. Leaning his chin a bit more into the palm of his hand he perks as Kallen questions him.]

Yea' ... what's up?

[gurenpiloting]

[Kallen looks thoughtfully as a certain question pops in her mind.]

Feel free to disregard it if you want, but... have you ever dealt with fighting back home?

[alkahestry]

[He looks surprised, more so because depending on the question he'd have no reason to ignore it. They might not be from the same world and only friends for a short period of time, but it wasn't in his nature to ignore anything from a friend so easily.]

You could say that. I don't know what Edward might have told you...

[He offers the other girl a small wary glance, not to mention after he sacrificed his own life to bring Edward back things got fuzzy.]

Aside from the fact that our government is controlled by the military, there's always been a war of some kind going on. Brother might have been called away to war if they had a need for Alchemist, but I've seen the devastation it can bring and cause. A lot.

Our friend lost their parents in a war, they were Doctors and they were killed while trying help the innocent. There were also... well, Brother and I had our fair share of dealings with undesirable types.

[Scratching at the back of his head, he glances momentarily off to the side.]

Why do you ask?

[gurenpiloting]

[She presses her lips tighter, forming a thin frown in her face as she listens to Al's story.]

Ed told me a little about his job, but I couldn't remember what else.

[Losing important people in a war, dealing with undesirable paths... this is too similar to what happened back home, before Japan gained its freedom back. She shakes her head, bringing up a hand to massage her neck.]

... I was curious to tell you the truth. I've been wondering if the reason why we have to get involved in this war is because of our upbringing.

[alkahestry]

This world is very different from the one we came from, I imagine that the same could be said of yours as well, but it's still full of people who need help. This Voldemort guy... everyone here is so afraid of him.

[Al was more frightened by the other creatures. The dementors especially, he grips the chair a little more tightly as a chill runs up his spine at recalling them.]

It seems to me if the Headmaster wasn't around and this castle wasn't around... things might be a lot more worse off. I miss home, but I don't think I could just leave after meeting everyone. No one deserves this.

[By this, he means the war and what comes along with it.]

[gurenpiloting]

With the disgusting creatures he sent out to us, no wonder people are afraid of him.

[If anything, she's more afraid of losing the people she cares about from the Dementors and such than the man himself. She reaches over to subconsciously tug on the sleeve of her robes, shaking a bit.]

You're right, Al, no one here needs to be involved in a situation they didn't ask for, let alone someone else's. I'm not sure I even want my enemies to go through with it.