FOURTEEEN

[mudhair]

[Dark, looming hallways are home to footfalls, precise and quick. A flash of silver and the resounding clink of armor.

There are two warriors, both fairly new by the apparent lack of disfigurements. After a moment, the taller of the two speaks up:]

"Did you hear? Apparently there's this warrior who still has color in her hair."

[The other

Comments

[onequarter]

I wonder if those girls are dead now.

[mudhair]

[O-oh. Clare... Clare saw that, huh?]

I- I don't really want to think they are.

[onequarter]

It's likely. Rank doesn't really seem to dictate who survives.

[mudhair]

...That is true. [sup there fellow 47]

[yetsleeping]

Personally, I think... if they had to look down on you that way, then they were the weak ones.

[mudhair]

[Everyone saw: Clarice realizes this now.] R-really...?

I, er, well, they were... better at combat than I was. If I remember correctly.

Video!

[yetsleeping]

Maybe. But if their spirits are weak, they don't have much time left to them on the field regardless of how strong they are.

I should know. [She gives a wavery little smile.]

Our hearts must be strong to control the creature within. And unless someone is simply strong enough to barrel through everything in their path regardless of their mood... a strong heart helps to maintain presence of mind in a battle situation.

...you always doubt yourself, but you did make it through certification. I don't know how things have changed since my time... but at that time, the vast majority of the trainees were killed.

Video

[mudhair]

[She hesitantly nods.]

I've never really thought about how I've made it this far, but I guess I do have a strong heart. Well, it's... I think differently than most of the trainees and warriors I was with during my time at the Organization.

Maybe it was based on a lot of luck, too.

[prescientblade]

We should all be so lucky to have such a color.

[Okay maybe that was kind of bitchy but... oh well.]

It's good you didn't die.

[mudhair]

A-ah...

Thank you. I um, I hope I don't.

[prescientblade]

You'd better not. Who would look after Miata if you were gone?

[Well, she probably would. But she's trying to make a point here!]

[mudhair]

[gulp. good question, actually.]

I don't know. She's... she's different from most. Even than most warriors.

[ video ]

[amongmonsters]

[Scowling Raki ahoy.]

Jerks.

Hey, if you're not busy, maybe we could have that spar now.

[ video ]

[mudhair]

[Brown-haired bro, d-don't scowl now.]

Ah-? [Oh... Yes, that. Yes!] Sure, I'll spar. Now, I mean.

[turquoice]

[look this is a touchy subject with him 8/] What does hair color have to do with her abilities as a warrior?

video

[mudhair]

[asdlfjsdf] I once heard that because I have brown still left in my hair, I'm considered an "incomplete hybrid", but-

That can't be true. I'm just... I don't like to fight.

[turquoice]

I know a lot of warriors who fight because they like to, and I don't know that they're any better at it than the ones who fight because someone has to.

Why do they believe something so ridiculous?

[mudhair]

I don't know, really. Those kinds of things are just what has always been said.