2022-11-28: More and More Questions

• Cast: Anita Rosetta, Rena Lancaster
• Where: Ra Mari
• Date: U.C. 0096 11 28
• Summary: After rescuing Riika, Rena and Anita try to hash it out. But, really, they don't have enough information.

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<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

Riika Sheder has been recovered, but now a lot of questions have been opened up.

She is currently resting -- after being seen to by medical staff -- and that leaves Rena Lancaser to wonder and worry over problems that she never really thought she would have to. The last year has corrected that notion.

She is currently in one of the lounges on the Ra Mari, turning over a datapad in her hands. She is reading through a few reports, idly. Technically, she is off the clock; this is evidenced by the beer on a coaster, next to her.

But she is still doing work even when she is off duty. Bad habits die hard.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

They have a lot more to think about now than they did just the day before, and no one can say they didn't already have a lot on their plate. It's all one, big, confusing mess. It's something they're going to have to sort through eventually.

There's not much Anita can do about any of it from here, though. Right now, she decides to focus on the things she can do - namely, check on her friends and see how they're handling everything. It doesn't take too long for Anita to track down Rena. The Ra Mari is well-equipped with lounges, but she has a good feeling for where she'd probably be.

"Rena." Anita greets with a friendly wave as she strolls into the lounge. Her eyes track to her drink, and then to the datapad. "Whatcha readin'?"

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Hey, Annie," Rena says, looking up and smiling at Anita as she walks in. She looks down at the datapad, then back up at her friend. Her face flushes.

A little like she got caught doing something she shouldn't.

"Just, ah, a compilation of after action reports on JOSH-A, intercepted ZAFT communications, and that sort of thing..." She glances to the side. Then, she takes a sip of her beer. "I know I'm off the clock, but..."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Anita watches Rena, the movement of her eyes, and the way her face goes red. Anita smirks, just slightly, and listens as Rena explains herself for a moment. She considers it... and then, she sighs.

"...I should scold you for that, but... I kinda get why that'd be on your mind right about now." Anita admits, massaging the back of her neck. She walks over, taking the nearest seat next to Rena. "So, I'll let you off the hook just this once."

She looks at her again, consideringly.

"Turn up anything interest yet?" She asks.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah..."

Rena trails off, then she sighs too. "I know I shouldn't, but given everything..." She had hoped more information would make her feel better, but it hadn't. She could find evidence of any number of things, and most of those things probably didn't exist.

She shakes her head. "I don't have a good answer. I trust Riika, though. I don't... think she'd lie about this," she says. "I think she's a good person, just not from where we are."

Her brow furrows. "And the Britannians... you heard what they said."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Anita nods. She can hardly blame her, really. Everything's so fresh in their minds. Rena continues, talking about Riika. Anita nods.

"If you trust her, then I trust her, too." Anita agrees. "...And for what it's worth, I get the same vibe. She didn't have to help us out. She could've kept quiet, would've cost her nothing."

The Britannians, though...

"...Yeah. I heard 'em, alright." Anita confirms with a nod. Her tone's a little sharp, but that sharpness isn't directed at Rena. She still feels that anger for her sake.

The man who said it might be dead, but it was a stark reminder that there are likely many who think just like him.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah. Even if she didn't want to go back to PLANT... she could have said something else," Rena says, with a shake of her head.

She puts her chin in her hand, for a moment, and then she nods. She can pick up that Anita is angry, and for her sake. She looks at her, smiling for a moment.

"Mm. Yeah," she says. "They hate Coordinators. But... if they're working together... then that's even worse. It means something's behind all of this."

She looks down. "And Londo Bell's really not situated to do something about this."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Right?" Anita agrees with a nod. She was upfront with them. That means a lot, for someone like Anita. Rena smiles at her, though, and Anita smiles back. That anger she felt fades out... though it's soon replaced with a contemplative frown as Rena continues.

"...Yeah. I can't think of a worse combination." Anita agrees, shaking her head. And then, she nods. "...Yeah. It's not like we've got a lot of clout."

She pauses.

"...Or resources." ...She could go further, but it'll just feel sad if she does.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah," Rena says. "We don't, really. We're already stretched thin. More, after... what happened with Captain Aiden."

That would make Londo Bell look all the worse.

"What do we do, do you think? If... if this is true?" she asks. "We can't just ignore it. If there's Britannians working with someone in ZAFT, and... if it's involved with the weapon at JOSH-A..."

She frowns. "I don't know. I don't think we can just let that sit."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Captain Aiden... Anita frowns slightly at that. ...She'd heard about that. She knew her - had a drink with her. She seemed nice. ...It's a lot to take in. Anita nods.

But then, there's that question. What do they do?

"I don't know, either." Anita admits with a shake of her head. "...But, you're right. If there's something we can do, we gotta do it."

She frowns for a moment, though, uncertainly.

"...I just don't know what that something is. And whatever we do, we gotta be careful." She says. "They've got a lot of reach, a lot of power, and they don't care who they hurt with it."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah. I agree. I think Eight will, too," Rena says. "We can't do nothing. Maybe... if Rikka tells us more, we can decide something."

She hesitates, too. There's an uncertain look on her face, as she takes another drink of her beer.

"You're right," she says. "It's... going to be dangerous. It's really not the sort of thing I ever thought we'd have to do. I thought we'd been better than this, but..."

But it seems like things changed.

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"That's our Eight. I think so, too." Anita agrees. Riika... yeah, they'll probably end up having to rely on her more. "Yeah..."

She notices that hesitation, that uncertain look.

"Never thought I'd be in a position like this, either." Anita agrees with a nod. She's not really the type. Left to her own devices, she probably would've let it slide, but... She has a bunch of good influences around her that she cares about. She can't think like that, not anymore.

She studies Rena for a moment, then, considering her words.

"...Well, there's always gonna be people like that. People who'll do anything to get their way." She says. "Don't let 'em make you lose hope, or forget that there's good people out there too. Just means that someone's gotta stand up and knock 'em down a peg or two. And if that someone's us... Well, that's how it goes."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"I guess most people who end up in it don't," Rena says. She wonders, for a moment, if that's what Doctor Bidan thought almost ten years ago. Maybe she should ask him.

"You're right, though. It's a little easy, to be tempted to lose hope," she admits. "It feels... disappointing, from what I expected. But..."

She gets a small smile. "I guess I'd rather try to change it, than not."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"Guess so..." Anita agrees with a nod. It's a little funny the way that works. People drawn into conflicts that they never imagined getting involved in... It's a recurring story.

"...Yeah. I know the feeling." Anita says with a nod. It is a little disappointing... but, she smiles back when Rena continues. "There you go, that's the spirit. And it's not like we're in this alone... We just gotta figure out who we can trust."

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Yeah," Rena agrees. She smiles a little, after a moment. "Who we can trust, huh..."

She trails off for just a moment, before she looks at Annie. "Fortunately, I know I can trust you, Eight, Callie, and the other Kakapos. So, I think... that's a start."

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

Eight, Callie, and everyone... Anita nods.

"A good start, if you ask me. Couldn't ask for a better bunch." She agrees. Whatever happens, even if the world falls apart around them, at least that much will remain true. She shakes her head, then.

"...But, I think that's enough heavy talk for one break period, don't you? What do you say, wanna talk about something more fun?" Anita offers. After all, time spent off-duty should be relaxing, not worrying. They can do that when they're getting paid for it.

<Pose Tracker> Rena Lancaster has posed.

"Mm-hm," Rena agrees with a smile. She can't argue.

Then, she tilts her head -- and nods. Even if it's understandable that she was working during her break, she shouldn't overdo it. This is something Annie is good at not doing!

"Yeah, let's do that," Rena says. She smiles. "Thanks, Annie. Want to get some food, too, maybe?"

<Pose Tracker> Anita Rosetta has posed.

"No problem." Anita replies, and then grins. "Food sounds great right now, actually. Let's go."

She stands up, offering Rena a hand to help her up in turn. She has a number of conversation topics at the ready to help Rena relax and unwind. They could all probably use that right now.