2024-07-10: A Vision Of Peace

• Log: A Vision Of Peace
• Cast: Calas Zelinn, Marian Cross
• Where: A Government Building in Olofat, United Emirates of Orb
• OOC - IC Date: July 10, 0099
• Summary: In the midst of their own separate political maneuvers, Marian Cross and Calas Zelinn meet at the window. They have a conversation, and see some potential common ground. Will it be enough later?

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<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

Yalafath Island, the home of Orb's capital of Olofat. The homes of some of the most prominent members of the Orb Unionn are here, as are a number of important government offices. Officially, calas Zelinn has accompanied her husband Navras Zelinn on a diplomatic visit from the PLANTs to discuss business involving certain Orb researchers visiting the December cluster. A cooperation of PLANT local government with Orb nationals. Unofficially, that's also true, but she has a job to do, too.

Just now, Calas is leaving the office of a relatively minor government minister who happened to be of the Seiran family. She stepss out into the hall in civilian attire; her ZAFT history is irrelevant to her clothes today. Red on red on red; there are large windows in the hall, at which Calas stops to look out over the city, thoughtful. It's a beautiful view.

But she obviously doesn't live here; her Visitor badge says that clearly enough. 'Calas Zelinn, PLANT.'

It is still morning, and a beautiful day.

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

Marian likewise, is on some political business on behalf of the Athha family. It is of course, only half the story. In order to solidify herself as the 'Hero of Orb,' she needed backing from more than just the Athhas. Support from the other families and officials is needed as well if she's to have free reign among the military and aristocracy. It's all done to serve Orb's ideals. She needs to be Orb's Hero to protect it. She's convinced herself of that.

And just across the hall, Marian is walking with a noble from a smaller family that threw in their lot with with the Sahaku family.

"I'll bring this to Cagalli's attention," Marian says. There isn't really anyone around, save for a woman she's never seen before in the distance.

The man nods. "...and about that other matter?"

"...I'll take care of it. I expect the file I asked for within the week."

"I'll have my men deliver it."

As they approach Calas, they exchange a curt nod and went their separate ways. The man smiled at Calas, the kind of practiced smile diplomats do, before walking past her and leaving Marian alone with her.

Marian took note of the badge Calas is wearing, and offered a smile. She herself is dressed in her usual military uniform, with some of her eccentric personal adjustments.

"Good morning," she greets. It certainly is a beautiful day. Buildings on the skyline as far as the eyes can see as the sun beams down on them.

<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

Calas's badge displays no particular rank or position. And yet, she has such a badge! ...Well, it's not that unusual.

'Cagalli', Calas hears, and knows that name well. She knows her by her late father--the one who took responsibility for the suits at Heliopolis during the war.

Calas smiles back to the man, a similarly practiced expression, and then turns to look at Marian. She looks her over, consiidering her uniform, the adjustments to it, what that makes of her rank...

Calas smiles back. "Good morning," she greets her back. She gestures to the winodw, "I was just admiring the skyline. Being on Earth is always very different from being at home, and this nation is especially pretty."

A gesture to herself, "My name is Calas Zelinn. I'm visiting from the PLANTs."

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

Marian only stopped out of curiosity. She would've continued to speak in detail with the lesser noble more on their shady little deal otherwise. But a woman from PLANT, one who's seemingly older and more experienced looking than her here in a legislative office in Orb? Now this, she needs to find out more.

"It's all thanks to our hardworking citizens. They poured their sweat and blood into building what Orb is today," Marian replied. While she really does believe in that, it sounded more like something a politician would say. ...maybe she's been spending too much time around these people.

"Marian Cross," she returns. "...Commander," she added afterwards. Almost and afterthought. It's the bare minimum she should reveal about herself to a stranger in a government building, she figured.

<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

For Calas, openly normalizing visitors from PLANT is itself a worthwhile end, so she's freer with her personal information.

"Yes," Calas agrees, "It's the people who really make a nation. I hope I can meet more of Orb's citizens. I think our citizens and yours have a lot to offer each other, in a time of peace."

Marian Cross... "Good to meet you," Calas answers. "I have no particular rank anymore, not since I retired from ZAFT. But I'm here to support my husband."

"If you're used to being around politicians, you know the job of a Representative's wife is rarely finished, either."

She pauses, then, and her gaze changes as she places the name, becomes more thoughtful.

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

As Calas speaks more of herself, Marian suddenly recall who's standing before her. The wife of an influential official of PLANT's government. She herself is a veteran from the Blood Valentine conflict. Marian did not take part in that conflict, of course. But she's still heard of her in passing, even if she's not familiar with all the details regarding Calas Zelinn.

"Indeed. Orb doesn't discriminate against either naturals, coordinators, spacenoids or newtypes. I wish the day would come when we could all live together in peace, without fear of conflict."

"Likewise," she replied. Calas is retired, huh? Marian doesn't harbor any ill feelings towards ZAFT. Orb and ZAFT never officially went to war, after all. Save for that incident of Heliopolis One. Still, Marian doesn't really care. But a husband... "Yes... But the work is rewarding in its own right." That's just lipservice. She finds the work dull. But she's doing it anyway for her own goals.

"You got any kids?" She then asks. Curious about the life of a retired soldier. But especially in regards to the subject of family.

<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

Calas in turn recognizes a 'Hero of Orb' by name and rank if not by face, but imagines it would be strange to hear it from her, so she doesn't comment. Instead, she's happy to continue their discussion... with pleasantries hollow and otherwise alike.

"I think it's a noble dream," Calas says. "Once, I might've felt it was impossible. But seeing the way Orb lives wiht both Natural and Coordinator... Maybe it can be done after all."

"It can be. And I enjoy meeting the people I do."

"I do," Calas answers, and her smile then is more genuine. "My youngest, Tarol, is with us here in Orb at the moment. He's too young to be away from me for long--almost one and a half. He's why I retired. My oldest is ten; it was hard leaving him and his sister behind, but I think you can understand the need, being military yourself."

"You? Any family?"

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

"I believe it can. I believe all it takes is for naturals and coordinators to put aside our differences instead of fearing each other," Marian says. Naturals designed coordinators. And now they are envious and fear them for their superior physique and mental capabilities. Coordinators in return fear naturals for their superior numbers and other such cliches. "Honestly, how trite." ...She leaked her inner voice, before covering herself with a cough.

Marian did catch her genuine smile. There's a hint of bitterness welling up within her as she hears Calas speaks of her family in such a delighted tone. "That's lovely," she says. There's a sadness in her expression, but her smile is genuine when she replied. "I don't know if I could...but I'm happy for you either way."

"And no. Never had one. Won't ever have one," she clutches just under her navel with another pained expression.

<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

"Easier said than done," Calas opines, "But I suppose saying it is a good first step." That's definnitely political--and Calas catches the statement about how it's trite. She lifts an eyebrow, but doesn't dwell on it. She's trying to be pleasant, anyway. That's part of the point; there's no sense in revealing her cynicism about those hopes.

...It would be nice, but...

"Thank you," she says. "I appreciate that. They're the most important thing in my life."

A pause, thenn. Never had, won't have. Calas gives a sympathetic expression. "I'm sorry," she says. "That's difficult. ...That's part of why I'm here, actually. The genetic expertise of some of your scientists might help our scientists solve that very problem for some of our people."

"...Little comfort though, I know, to hear that somene else might be helped with the same issue."

"...I wont pry if you don't want to talk about it," she says, which is the closest she can come to an invitation to do so politely. "But as I said, you have my sympathy all the same."

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

Marian is an Orbnite, through and through. She believes in Lord Uzumi's ideals to the very end. Maybe it's just her own abilities that matches, or even surpasses coordinators when it comes to piloting. The things she's achieved in spite of her rough upbringing that she's so proud of. She's never given thought of what it feels like to be one of the less gifted. Someone who may possibly, and justifiably, be envious and fearful of a coordinator's prowess. It's always just been is for her.

But that's clearly not enough. She needed to do more. She needed to be stronger.

"...I only have myself to blame for not being strong enough," she says, unknowingly biting her lip as she does.

"I see. I'll see if I can help lobby for resources and people towards that. I'm sure the Princess wouldn't object to that either," she offered.

"Well, this isn't the place to talk about it, but... Let's just say this..." She lifts her shirt and expose her scars before continuing, "this isn't genetic."

<Pose Tracker> Calas Zelinn has posed.

Calas has more experience with Naturals than most of the Coordinators in the PLANTs--her time with the AEUG gave her a new perspectiive. Nevertheless, she's experienced fear of the Naturals before, after things like Junius Seven. It's a hard thing to balance.

Calas looks at Marian very seriously when she says she wasn't stronger.. but she doesn't argue aloud. She just met this woman, after all.

"I'd appreciate that," Calas says. "My husband has a strong vision of people working together. ...I've seen the uglier sides of the conflict, but he reminds me there are better ideals to be had."

The Princess... so Marian does know Cagalli. That's an interesting thing to hav confirmed.

"Then I won't say more," Calas says. "Except that... war is cruel," she commiserates. "It takes so much from so many." The melancholy in her voice is clear; she knows full well she's been the avatar of war's cruelty herself.

"...Still," she says, "It was good to meet you, Commander Cross. I hope we get a chance to speak again sometime."

<Pose Tracker> Marian Cross has posed.

"It's a beautiful vision to have. One I share with your husband," she replied truthfully with a smile. She doesn't know if Calas's husband actually believes in that, or if it's just a political ploy, but it's the truth she spoke from the heart either way.

Marian nodded as Calas spoke of war's cruelty. She agreed, of course, but have nothing to add to it other than acknowledgement.

"Yes, likewise, Mrs. Zelinn."