2023-01-15: Echoes of Her Father's War
- Log: 2023-01-15: Echoes of Her Father's War
- Cast: Emilia Eschonbach, Suberoa Zinnerman
- Where: Nagoya, Area 11
- OOC - IC Date: January 15, 0097
- Summary: Suberoa Zinnerman decides to tell Emilia Eschonbach why the Garencieres crew were watching her. And then he asks her what she wants.
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
It was a late shift at Master's Choice- Emmy had had to work a few to make up for missing work over Christmas- and her last table were a group of drunk businessman who hadn't cleared the bar for a Hostess Club.
That bar was not being total chapeskates.
Emmy had spent the last thirty minutes trying to get them to move off so the club could close, and at the end it was just her, the manager and the cook. She managed to get them out with only a couple of uncomfortable gropes and the manager repeating that dates with customers were explicitly against store policy.
She took an appropriate time to get changed- a long sleeved shirt, tights, a skirt, a thick vest, a beanie and her locket secured by e-carbon cord under her shirt- and took off.
A regular had asked her to meet someone, regarding a family matter. And she wanted answers from him too- like how he knew where she was, or why help came for her and Ranka.
The meeting point was close- Emmy slipped through the backstreets, leaving little trail to follow. Hiding she was good at. Moving quietly she was good at. She'd watched the Knightpolice patrols and they weren't going to sweep the area twice in one night with the bribes paid off.
She just had to get there... and meet this person. Or people.
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
The meeting place is an old building, a run-down warehouse with the Rivacona Cargo logo almost totally faded away from the side of the building. The instructions were clear - handed to Emilia on a sheet of film paper that had wiped itself clean shortly after she'd read it.
"The green door. Knock twice, wait two seconds, knock three times."
The door in question is painted in faded, flaking ivy-green. Once she knocks, there's a long moment of silence before the eye-level slot in the door slides open, somebody looks out at her - and then the door unlocks, revealing Kwani, hair tied back and dressed in a dark turtleneck that she can see armour pads underneath, pistol worn openly on his hip. He looks past her, out into the night. "You weren't followed?"
He lets her inside, unhooking a walkie talkie from his belt and clicking the transmitter three times before returning it to its holster. "I've put some tea on for you in the kitchen. The Captain and miss Cruz will be joining us shortly."
Inside the front of the warehouse is an old apartment, carefully refurbished by Kwani to at least be comfortable without drawing too much attention. Emilia can hear a generator somewhere in the building, keeping the kitchen and an array of computers running.
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emilia followed the instructions precisely. "N-no." She confirms- she knows this area well enough- and her allies in the Black Knights keep everyone informed of movements. When she's let in, she looks around.
From the outside, it's not all that different than the Black Knights hideout- if a little more worn and battered. It doesn't have the energy of a space people hang out it. It certainly doesn't have the energy of a two level tour bus.
This is her first knowing look at what Zeon is now, from the inside... and she's not sure how to feel. "Th-th-thank you," She responds to Kwani. She looks to the Kitchen. "Should I...?" Even if she's the 'guest' she feels deferential, like she should be making use of herself.
Either way she stands, waiting nervously for the Captain and Miss Cruz. Were they really the same people who got them home from Side 3? The young woman who showed her how to move in Zero G? Kwani wasn't just the friendly regular who occasionally showed up with good timing after all. "Um..." She finds herself looking over at Kwani- gearing up to answer the question. "Y-y-you started coming to the cafe... r-r-right after the c-concert, right?" She pauses. "S-s-so you could keep an e-e-eye on me, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Help yourself," Kwani says over his shoulder, checking his angles as he closes and locks the door. The kitchen has a large window that opens into the actual storage area of the warehouse, allowing Emilia to see a couple of vehicles parked inside, including an unmarked gray van that she's definitely seen within a couple blocks of the cafe even on days when Kwani hasn't come in.
"That's right," he says as he joins her. "Feel free to take a seat." The walkie talkie crackles as he moves to sit down, and with an 'ah', he walks over to a button near the glass window and presses it to open the large door of the warehouse. A black car with frosted windows drives inside, and a young woman in a dark coat and hat with red hair steps out, opening the back door to allow Zinnerman to disembark from the car. He and Marida approach, and are let into the kitchen by Kwani. "Good to see you, Cap."
"At ease, Kwani. Check the car," the big, old man reminds him aas he and Marida step inside, removing their coats. The freighter captain takes a seat at the table, stern but deliberately not frightening. "Miss Eschonbach. I regret that it's taken so much time to arrange this meeting, but I am relieved to see you doing well."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emmy nods, and heads into the kitchen. And some tea to calm her nerves would be good. She pours herself a mug, and one for Kwani on autopilot. Milk and sugar for herself and- ... She doesn't actually know how he takes it, just how she wants to make it. "...S-so..."
It's interrupted by Zinnerman and Marida and she turns to face them entering. She wants not to be nervous. She wants so badly not to be nervous. The fear coming off her doesn't care she wants. The stress she's been bottling. Now this, out of nowhere.
"G-g-g-good evening, C-Captain Zinnerman. M-M-Miss Cruz." She should have called Mineva and Banagher first. Or even Miss Leina. Or Ai. But no, she went alone. She has her star and moon earrings, at least. She sits after Zinnerman does, clinging to her mug as a steadying tool. "Th-thank you." Doing well seems to be a bit of an embellishment. And for all he tries to split stern and not frightening, he's an imposing figure, and Emilia has a way she's trained to react to those.
"How... d-d-do we start this?" She asks- she's cagey and a little scared all at once. Is it safe to share? Why now? Why did they save her in the first place?
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"Captain, if I may." Marida cuts in, picking up on Emilia's obvious distress and sitting down next to him. Zinnerman nods to her, and the young woman directs her full attention to Emilia. "After the concert, your friend Milly confronted the Captain about how the crew had reacted to your presence. He told her how he'd recognised you, and she insisted that we look after you."
"I was already planning on doing so," Zinnerman says. "The Garencieres original mission remit was to safeguard Princess Mineva and keep her survival a secret from those who would use her." Marida pours tea for herself and the captain as he speaks. "It was natural enough to extend that to keeping an eye on Lord Garma's daughter as well."
"We decided," Marida continues, "to remain as covert as possible; to let you live the life you chose for yourself. Your friend Kallen had also been in contact with us - though, sadly, not since the incident in PLANT space. It wasn't difficult to deduce what was happening when you both went dark shortly before the attack on the Orbital Rail."
Zinnerman grunts once at the mention of that. Marida glances at him, then looks back at Emilia. "We interceded after monitoring the situation when it became clear that your comrades could not muster a rescue. I'm sorry we couldn't get there faster."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emilia pauses. Milly had told her that the Captain had spotted her right away. Kallen knew too, from just a picture. The crew of the Garencieres all saw it... Still she looks up, startled when Mineva's name comes up. "Is th-that..." She stops herself for a moment. "Is s-s-someone other than th-the federation... after her?"
Emilia falls silent again. Lord Garma's daughter... It was the first time she'd been acknowledged as such. And then Marida says something and Emilia's anger *spikes*.
"Th-th-th-the life I *chose*? I d-d-didn't choose to b-be here! Th-the only r-reason I'm still h-here is because M-Milly m-m-m-made a p-place for be! B-b-b-because Kallen decided I h-had a r-r-right to belong! I spent... m-m-my whole life n-n-n-not knowing who I w-was... Not kn-knowing wh-who my father w-was... all th-th-the while G-Grandfather sp--ewed his hatred at me! B-Because I h-had spacenoid b-blood, and I d-d-didn't know!" Her hands are shaking as she sets down her tea.
Instead, she reaches for her locket, and pulls it out out so can grip it tightly. "I d-d-didn't find out until a-a-after Mom was k-killed. I f-f-found out on m-my f-f-f-fifteenth birthday... S-s-someone knew who I was a-and..." The words start to die in her throat. "Ev... everyone kn-knew, and nobody e-e-even asked... Wh-why couldn't y-you h-have f-f-found me sooner? Why c-c-couldn't have any of y-y-you have saved m-mom!? Wh-wh-why couldn't... wh-why couldn't you have... st-stopped Grandfather..."
Her anger falls into a slump in her chair, Zinnerman's apology hitting her. "R-Ranka's s-s-safe now... Sh-sh-she doesn't remember what h-happened, so you d-d-don't have to worry."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Zinnerman closes his eyes as Emilia's rage spikes and her voice rises, opening again as her voice ebbs and she slumps in her chair. Marida reaches out to gently place a hand on the girl's, as the captain speaks again. "Even despite what your grandfather has done to you, you have persisted; found friends who accept you wholly, a job, even. Protecting the choices you're making, even under that kind of pressure... I judged that to be better than dragging you into Zeon politics. While you would be treated with less hate, I am sure, there would also be less love."
He frowns. "Part of the reason my ship was originally charged with Mineva's protection was that her status as the daughter of Lord Dozle was being used by ambitious figures in Neo Zeon to grant them a sense of legitimacy with the people, a sign that the blessing of the Zabi family was with them. I feel that a child should never be a tool for another's advancement or agenda."
He sighs. "If I misjudged what you want from life, then I apologize unreservedly, and ask you: What do you want, Emilia?"
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emilia feels the wind come out of her sails. As much as she tried to put voice to that well of anger... It falters against Zinnerman's practiced wall. She doesn't move away from Marida's hand as it's placed on hers. It's still trembling quietly.
"Y-y-you only a-answered one q-question." She says, at the end of it. This doesn't stop her facing the one asked by Zinnerman head on. She's had time to give it a lot of thought.
"I w-w-w-want my Grandfather to st-stop interf--ering in my l-life. I w-w-want Britannia g-g-gone. I w-want my f-f-friends to be s-s-s-safe." The steel in her voice starts strong, but she falters as she goes. It's less a determined response and more... desperation.
"I w-w-w-want t-t-to be able to g-graduate f-f-from A-Ashford. I want... I w-want to get to kn-know my cousin w-w-without d-danger hanging over b-both our h-heads. I w-want to be able to s-s-s-say that I'm m-my fathers daughter w-w-without being sc-scared!" This time, tears start rolling down her cheeks. Right now admitting what she wants *hurts*.
"I want t-t-to see R-Ranka m-make it as an i-i-idol, I w-want to t-talk to Sh-Sheryl without f-f-freezing! I w-w-want to make more friends... I w-want everyone wh-who d-d-disappeared to c-c-c-come back..." Marida can feel her shaking. Her fear of loss rises to the service. When she finally looks up at Zinnerman's face, she's the picture of a terrified girl.
"M-m-more than a-anything e-else... I want... I w-w-w-want to be with-" She gulps and tries to catch her breathe. "I w-want to be with Milly." She's sniffling, crying messily. "I-I-I-If... if sh-she d-doesn't c-c-come back... I d-d-don't..."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
"You're right, of course, but... there are some things which lie outside the grasp of man." His face shadows for a moment. "I, too, would do anything to see Marie again." He offers Emilia a deeply sad smile, before listening to her answer to his original question.
"I see." His smile becomes a little more fond. "Some of those will take some time to make happen, but... we can start with monitoring the PLANT space for any sign of a reappearance, and I can have Kwani look into some accounts for you to help keep your grandfather's nose out of your business. As for the rest... I can promise that the Garencieres and any of our holdings like this warehouse can be places you can come to hide from the world. It's hardly luxurious, but we'll keep it safe." He reaches into his coat, retrieving a communications device and sliding it across the table. "You can use this to keep in touch. If you need anything, I promise I or Marida will listen, whichever you prefer."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Zinnerman's comment is a sobering one, but it does nothing to stop the tears that have been unleashed. Some things lie outside the grasp of man...
She looks a bit... surprised at Zinnerman's offer, but her hand goes to grab the communicator. Another lifeline. Another string with which to weave her escape rope. A connection to who she was. She nods, as Zinnerman asserts one of them will respond.
"Y-Y-You'll t-tell me if... s-s-s-something h-happens?" It's clear what's at the forefront of her priorities right now. "Th-thank you..."
She pauses, holding that Sleeves communicator close to her chest. "....C-c-c-can I ask s-something else?" She asks, after a moment. Assuming permission is granted... "Wh-why aren't M-Mineva and Banagher with you?"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
He nods. "We will. We'll even make sure your friends get home safe if the PLANT reappears." It's an easy enough promise to make for a freighter captain.
He nods when she asks to ask a question. "Go ahead."
It's a difficult one to face. He takes a breath. "Banagher wished to learn more about the Earth Sphere and be with the people he cares about, and Mineva wants to be with him and Leina. I want them protected, but I don't want them to lose their youth together. Make no mistake; if they called on me, I would move heaven and earth to be at their side." The fact that he hasn't heard from them is a concern, admittedly, but keeping quiet is also important for their safety.
"Is there anything else you want to know?"
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emmy nods slowly. It's... a lot to take in. A lot to observe, Can she even be sure Zinnerman is telling the truth? But... he's the first person to tell her the truth of her origins, even though she knew.
She pulls out the locket, and opens it. She's not hiding the image of her parents, of her as a little girl. But she looks at the picture for a while. "I m-met Banagher th-the same day I m-met you. In th-the museum in the p-p-palace." A day that was... a lot. She could barely talk when she got to the Garencieres after all. "He t-told m-me he'd f-find a way to meet Mineva. A-a-and he and Miss Leina d-did. It w-w-was one of the happiest d-d-days of my life." If Zinnerman would move heaven and earth...
"Th-th-there's l-l-lots I w-w-want to know. So m-m-much I d-don't kn-know wh-where to begin." She hasn't taken her eyes off the photo. It's only now that she does, making eye contact with Marida, then Zinnerman. "I... I'll o-only ask o-one m-more today. B-but I n-need an h-honest a-answer." She closes her eyes. Mom... Dad... Is this something I should ask? Emilia breathes out.
"Wh-wh-what would you s-s-say. If. I t-t-t-told y-you that I wanted. T-to. F-fight for Zeon?"
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Zinnerman frowns. "I would advise against it." He holds up a hand to indicate he means to explain. "You've already decided to fight, that's not the reason. I am..." He sighs. "I am starting to believe that Zeon is a relic of the past. Banagher and Mineva... they want to build something new, and I am starting to believe in them."
He smiles sadly. "The young should fight for the future, not be shackled by the past." He sits up straighter. "Whatever you decide to do, though, we will support you."
<Pose Tracker> Emilia Eschonbach has posed.
Emilia blinks again. That's not the answer she expected. Mineva and Banagher want to build something new. She just wanted to tear something down. She seems to dwell on Zinnerman's words for a long time, because gently closing her locket. Was the world Zero wanted to build the same one Mineva wanted? How does she ask that?
Eventually she nods. A promise of support... "Th-thank you."
It's then that the day's toll shows on Emilia, and she yawns. The mental energy needed to keep herself together through this was a lot. She's so very tired. "I-I'm s-sorry, I should. Get back to th-the Professor's h-h-house. I h-h-have a p-p-presentation t-tomorrow f-for civics c-class. And an e-emergency student c-council m-meeting. A-and my a-associates, um, as w-well." The weight of everything is visible as she starts to slump again, and reaches for her tea. "Th-thank you for. T-talking with me."
<Pose Tracker> Suberoa Zinnerman has posed.
Zinnerman nods. "Kwani can cover you on the way back, just in case." He and Marida stand, the redhaired young woman heading over to check on the computer terminals Kwani had set up. "Take care, Emilia." He smiles warmly at her.