010; (video; english)

[vonkarmic]

(The video feed starts suddenly, focused on a young girl with shoulder-length blue hair; she hasn't been in the city before today, but if you know Franziska von Karma, this girl will look very familiar ... and the similarities will be even more obvious once she opens her mouth.)Assuming that this device has some sort of communication feature, I

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[voice; german]

[fingersnapping]

[While one would have to be blind to not notice the sudden increase in the city's child-age population, seeing Franziska at this age is certainly most unexpected, and for a moment, his heart feels heavy. This is what her bright-eyed innocence used to be, before she grew into the regrettable woman who she was (had been? there was no way to tell how long these circumstances were going to continue for) today.

Yet, surprising as Franziska's appearance is, Manfred's determined to use it to his advantage somehow - and only that, because the notion he might miss his daughter before she strayed from the path is just...foolish.]

Franziska. You have not been kidnapped. Where are you now?

[voice; german]

[vonkarmic]

(Franziska's nerves instantly relax when she hears his voice; she's overjoyed to hear that he's here, ostensibly somewhere relatively close, and she's unable to completely suppress the relief she feels, try as she might.)

Papa ... are you --

(She cuts herself off there, because as glad as she is to see him, and as many questions as she has, she won't - can't? - ignore a direct question.)

At what I believe to be a library. Are you nearby?

[voice; german]

[fingersnapping]

I will be shortly. Stay where you are, and I will come to collect you.

[voice; german]

[vonkarmic]

Understood.

(She'll be sitting patiently (?) in a tattered armchair until he arrives.)

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

[He makes his way to the library at an acceptable pace; no harm will be done if Franziska needs to wait a bit -- unless she wanders off, so it's best not to be too slow. Soon, however, he makes his way to the library, cane tapping sharply against the floor as he approaches Franziska, who he spies sitting docilely enough in a chair on the other side of the room. He's reminded of the first -- and last -- conversation he'd had in this library with her, and knows that this will be more successful. Here is a chance to make things right and Manfred von Karma does not waste opportunities.]

Franziska. [That's all he says -- or as far as he gets as something in his peripheal vision catches his eye -- of course, he thinks to himself -- when Franziska had been this age, she had still been using the riding crop.] Stay here; I will return shortly. I have something to show you.

[comment log]

[vonkarmic]

(Franziska leaps to her feet as soon as she sees him, tilting her head up to look at him attentively, but her face falls when he speaks.)

I can't come with you?

(Her voice sounds childish even to her own ears, but she dismisses that - for the moment - as unimportant. She'd just woken up in a strange city with no idea how she'd gotten there, why she was there, or how she was expected to return home; her only comfort was her father's presence, really, and now he was suggesting she stay here alone for a while longer?)

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

[He shakes his head carefully, keeping an eye on Franziska's reactions.] I told you to stay here, and that is what I expect. Do I make myself clear? Wander off, and you will only get lost -- I will not allow that to happen. Sit.

[And with that, he turns around, walking a path behind the bookshelves to make sure his route is as hidden from Franziska's view as possible. It is indeed his daughter's whip he finds on the floor, lying in the middle of the aisle. He picks it up, coiling it in action which brings him back to a moment in time which is long gone now, a smirk curling onto his face as well. Then, to add some additional time to his journey, and to ensure that he doesn't return suspiciously soon, he walks out of the library, down the road, glaring at anybody who dares cross his path before returning, walking towards Franziska once more.]

[comment log]

[vonkarmic]

(Disappointed, Franziska sits back down on the armchair, perched on the end so that he feet don't swing and sway in the air -- like a child's would, she thinks derisively -- and folding her hands in her lap, watching her father's back intently as he leaves the room.

Her patience is rewarded a little while later when he returns, holding in his hand what appears to be -- Franziska narrows her eyes at it -- a whip? Perplexed, she looks up at him expectantly.)

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

[His smile both widens and softens slightly - he's very much starting to look the part of a proud father doting on his darling daughter. He holds the whip out, uncoiling the lash, but still holds both the lash and the handle in his hands, outstretched.]

Franziska. You have been patient.

[comment log]

[vonkarmic]

(Franziska nods, pleased that he noticed, but her attention soon turns to the whip in his hands.)

What is it -- I mean, besides a whip - that much is obvious ...

(She scowls at her sudden inability to speak without stumbling over her words and stating the obvious.)

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

It is a reward. I have noticed your effort lately -- not only your effort, but your success. I trust that you will not stray from the path of perfection.

But before I give it to you, I want you to make me a promise.

[comment log]

[vonkarmic]

(She beams at the praise, though she feels a bit taken aback; this was all a bit sudden, a bit unexpected -- the first action her father took when finding himself in a strange land was to present her with a gift? But if he thought it a wise idea, then she wouldn't question him -- he always knew best, after all.)

Yes, of course.

(Her assent is firm enough, really, without any additional assurances, but she still feels as if she should take it further, add an 'anything' to the end of that in case he didn't think her agreement was sincere enough.)

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

I want you to promise that no matter what happens, no matter what anyone else says to you, that you will not stray from that path. That's all.

[comment log]

[vonkarmic]

(That was it? Franziska feels ... 'disappointed' isn't quite the right word, but it comes close -- she's concerned, almost worried that her father considered it even worth making such a promise, as if he thought that doing such a thing were even possible for her.

Still, if he wanted reassurance, she would gladly give it to him.)

Of course I won't, Papa.

[comment log]

[fingersnapping]

[In that case, he holds the whip out for her to receive.]

If that is truly the case, then you are deserving of this. [And there's a pause where he desperately tries to ignore the heaviness in his heart before he continues.] You have made me proud.

[comment log] lol so many adverbs in this tag

[vonkarmic]

(Though she knows that this should be a relatively solemn moment, Franziska cannot help but grin widely as she reaches out and tentatively takes the whip from his hands, turning it over and examining it curiously. It would have much better range than her crop, she knows, and would assist her greatly in cutting a much more imposing figure in court ... for which he obviously thought she was ready, else he wouldn't be presenting her with it.

It was much more than just a gift, she knew -- it was tangible evidence of his faith in her, something she'd always yearned for, though she'd scarcely admit that to herself, let alone anyone else.

She coils the whip in her hands, then smiles widely up at him.)

Thank you, Papa. I won't disappoint you.