2024-03-02: Shall We Campus Tour?
- Log: 2024-03-02
- Cast: Leina Ashta, Alouette Pommier
- Where: Asticassia School of Technology
- OOC - IC Date: September, 0098
- Summary: Asticassia is open for prospective students, and Leina takes it upon herself to tour Alouette through the facilities. Though she doesn't want to sell her an misleading picture of what it's like to study at such a prestigious, elitist academy, it proves to be a very good chance to catch up on each other's lives...
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
On Alouette's list of potential universities, the Asticassia School of Technology isn't perhaps one of her top picks, but it is one where someone she's well acquainted with goes.
It's thus, just perhaps a day for giving the campus a nice onceover and socializing with Leina, who's been attending this past year.
Little did she know...
>at the station
>lemme know when u get here
>ill just be grabbing coffee off platform
... that today would be a TREMENDOUSLY WEIRD DAY-!
The time is now-!
The moment the train she takes arrives from the ring, it slides into a stop in the station, as several high schoolers in blue uniforms with darker accents and more sleek sailor collars, with a red tie wait to get on.
Several workers get off the train, shifting around her and... as Alouette gets off.
She's suddenly acutely aware of the presence of a drone on rotors flying low enough to look down upon the crowd.
The Orange Haro atop of it spins to look at Alouette, it's black eyes suddenly blinking red as it intones synthetically.
IDENTIFIED
Before anything can happen, it flies off, circling to and fro stopping every so often to look at passengers from the other cars.
As this is being processed, another Haro suddenly rolls up to Alouette on a wheeled pedestal, with a digital screen beneath it that reads.
I AM A
HARO
For a time the Haro atop it's pedestal stares at it her, unblinkingly on it's approach. Then it speaks, the screen displaying it's words in Digital Fashion...!
WELCOME
ALOUETTE POMMIER
GUEST GUEST GUEST!
Flapping excitedly atop it's pedestal, it's flapping suddenly stops, and from it's mouth, a card suddenly appears as if from an ATM, as it holds it out for her between the two parts of it's line of a mouth.
PLEASE TAKE YOUR
GUEST PASS
ALOUETTE POMMIER
"Oh hey! Alouette! There you are!" Someone calls out from the distance, as Leina, sporting a cup of coffee strolls on up to her, her pace quickening subtly.
She's wearing a simple T-Shirt which says 'J'Adore' a Denim Skirt, and a pair of comfortable looking flats.
"She's with me, Haro."
The Haro on the pedestal does a slow turn to look at her.
ACKNOWLEDGED
PILOT ASHTA
Leina's face scrunches up, as the Haro starts to roll away. "Nnngh - I thought that fixed that." Leina complains, but then turns to Alouette and smiles, "So good to see you - it's been way too long!"
As she then promptly puts one arm around her tightly in a hug, and the coffee arm way more loosely.
"How was the trip over?" She asks, after she releases her.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
It's been a good several months of university hunting, and while Alouette has honed in pretty closely on the Nouvelle Institute of Technology in a joint study-research offer... it doesn't hurt to give some others a look-over. They say the real advancements in technology are happening in space, and with Asticassia's connection to the Benerit group, it's sure not to disappoint, right? ...If it doesn't work out, it's a much needed chance to finally catch up with Leina, see how she's doing.
It's not a far ride from Orbit Base to the Orbital Ring, and the train ride, while quite busy... is ultimately uneventful. She snaps off a text to Leina telling her she'll be there soon, and...
The moment she gets off though... there's that feeling something is amiss. Watched? Followed? Ah, an identification drone. "My... is that level of monitoring really okay?" She questions to herself - really having expected to drag herself over to some welcoming booth. But it's not long before it flies off and another Haro takes its place. And in its unblinking approach, Alouette sees fit to... stare back, in true staring contest fashion. The Haro probably wins this by default.
"...Huh, it's accurate," she considers, as the screen lights up with her name. "...Correct. I'm here for the Asticassia open campus." She quickly accepts the card, as if not to take too much of this machine's time and scouts out for Leina. "Merci beaucoup, Haro~"
"Leina!" Alouette rushes in to meet her, the Haro surely following. "Cute outfit," she comments, herself wearing a stylish blue coat and scarf, and a navy beret - it's getting chilly where she lives. "Seriously... far too long," she agrees, going in for the hug.
"It wasn't so bad," she answers, honestly. "I haven't been out to the Orbital Ring very often, though, so some of the sights on the way were... quite surprising!" She giggles. "...How's it been for you, Leina?" She pivots into next. "Between your duties and school... I guess it must be pretty busy." She smiles apologetically. "...Honestly though, I'm not really sure what to expect. I'm kind of surprised the welcoming committee was a pair of Haros, hehe..." But then again, who doesn't love Haros? Even if they have access to your personal information...
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
JE VOUS EN PRIE
JE VOUS EN PRIE
The Haro flaps back it's formal French at Alouette.
"Thanks. Trying something new." Leina replies, and indeed, if Alouette thinks about it... it might be the first time she's ever seen Leina in a skirt.
The Colony is way more mild perhaps than where Alouette was on Earth. Certainly the weather is controlled, but today it's like the milder days of Winter, where it's only a little brisk.
Leina as it stands isn't even wearing a light jacket.
Perhaps the hot drink is the substitute, as she sips her coffee, and- "Nail on the head. If my work study program didn't make accommodations for work there's no way I'd make it."
She shrugs with a sheepish smile, "My Pre-Law program is pretty intensive."
Pre-Law? Isn't it a School of Technology? Yet if Alouette looked it up, it has a pretty good Pre-Law program, it's just not... what one thinks about attending a school like this for.
"Oh-! Yeah? There's Haro's everywhere. Actually..." Leina makes a motion for her to follow, and eventually they come out to the front of the station... where the artificial lighting shines in, as bright as daily, and a long arcing curve of the school in bright greens and blues, segmented with different buildings, and even long stretches which look like just rural hillsides on Earth?
But more importantly, a check out station of bikes locked in like shopping carts, with a card reader. Each one sporting a Haro atop it.
The lead one swivels atop it's position on the handlebars and flaps in greeting.
BONJOUR
BONJOUR
Apparently the Haros have all calibrated themselves to Alouette's presence???
"Most students get around campus this way, though there's linear rail transfers everywhere." She winks at her as she lets that sink in, "I'm not gonna make you pedal around or deal with transfers when you're our guest, there's an elecar waiting for us outside."
As they walk to the car, and a man in a suit stands there holding the car door open, she asks, "How's life in GGG right now for you? I read the press releases about the upcoming split from NERV. Hectic time to be dealing with college admissions."
Leina slides into the back seat herself. Alouette's glance of the sky will see more Haro drones circling around...
... and students everywhere, riding those bikes, with the single orange dot of a Haro.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Well, isn't that charming..." Alouette comments, as the Haro instantly matches for her native language the moment it 'hears'. Perhaps that's just because Haros have a certain reputation of being cute, but that at least, is a fun novelty.
Alouette does feel like she dressed a little warm for the weather too... but she doesn't terrible seem to mind - she's been known to put on layers even in the dead of summer. It does mean she stands out a little next to Leina, though. "Trying something new? Mm... that can be good sometimes." She does have to rack her brain on why Leina looks different, and eventually it clicks why she might not worn skirts before, but... "To be honest, I've been thinking about that, too. Some new hairstyles, maybe..." Though she does like her primary one, she's worn it like that since she was young...
Alouette nods sympathetically as Leina explains the troubles of balancing school and work. "Yeeeah... that makes sense. You're able to choose when you deploy, right? Which means it'd totally be viable to turn it down when you're swamped with exams or something..."
Before she can ask Leina about 'what' she's studying though, she mentions pre-law. Funny enough, there's instant understanding. "It must be! Especially in a place all about the evolving bounds of technology, the study of ethics is quite important. Because... you know what you get when you ignore that." Perhaps she means both the follies of BioNet and Anaheim, though she mentions neither by name. "...Why did the Haro call you a pilot, then?" She has to ask though - the piloting program is pretty popular, it seems.
She gets her first good look at how the campus is then, and... it is plenty impressive. "Haros everywhere... no kidding. I get it a little, though... these days, they're the first thing most people associate with 'technology', right? They used to be firmly in the 'nerd' realm but now even general stores sell them." Perhaps they... don't sell Harocycles there, though. Especially not ones with such good "memory". "Bonjour, bonjour... I do know more languages than just French, you know." She smiles. Is she challenging them?
"I guess it's not a bad way to get your daily exercise in, all things considered... but I'll take the elecar for today, thanks~!"
How's life in GGG...? Alouette wasn't expecting a question like that. "Ah, it is pretty hectic at the moment. I think... we got the right personnel to handle it, though. And I have been given quite the generous time-off." She gives the driver a polite smile.
And watches, perhaps a bit too quietly at the campus. So many students... so many Haros. "It's probably a good time to ask... how is the school atmosphere? Like the students and such. There's been.. somewhat of a reputation when I looked at some of the reviews... but I'm sure it's different in person, right?"
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"They really grow on you." Leina says with a smile, remembering the first Haro she knew, on the Argama with Shinta and Qum.
Leina looks at Alouette as she suggests a new hairstyle, "The hours of haircare routine each morning finally wearing on you?" She teases playfully, "Honestly! I'm sure you'd look cute no matter what you did with it."
The light good-natured teasing continues, "Be sure to send me a selfie if you commit to it, we'll see if I recognize you or wonder if you're trying to hook me up with a friend of yours."
Leina takes a moment to adjust her purse on her shoulder when Alouette asks that, about her being able to choose that, "... Yeah. Though I do take a shift on Front Management every week."
There's this long moment of... awkwardness as she asks about the Haro, before she takes a breath, "It's identification program - it recognizes me as both student and Dominicus Corps pilot. And it's priority checking is - turned around since, being a member of Cathedra gives me far more clearance than a normal student to Benerit run facilities."
A beat pause.
"I... choose to deploy real often. We've been cracking down on science criminals throughout the Earthsphere since Cathedra's jurisdiction is expanded. So I choose to deploy on... most of them."
In the beginning there was less pressure, but once the Psychojammer was proven so effective, it's part pressure, and part apprehension on her part.
If she doesn't deploy then...?
"It's okay though right? We're doing something good there. We're at twenty three R&D - and about fourteen manufacturing facilities and counting."
That is pretty impressive numbers for about a year, NUNE must actually be taking science crime far more seriously.
Leina's awkwardness eases off as she speaks of the Haros, "I think Burion got a contract in advanced Haro modification and AI - so it's niche has expanded considerably. I hear our Counseling rooms utilize Haros now? I haven't swung by one yet to try it out..."
The Haro cycle doesn't respond to Alouette for a moment, as if it was processing, and then it flaps again.
KNOW MORE KNOW MORE
Leina just snerks into her coffee, "Not bad at all, I do it myself, when my security detail lets me get away with it."
As Alouette discusses her generous time off, and they get into the car, Leina smiles at that, "Oh hey! I'm glad they're being generous about that. What with the transition and all."
As the car starts to pull away, down the line, Leina considers the question, and looks at her coffee for a time. Then she smiles, "To put it bluntly, they're almost all privileged rich kids from the ring. There's some from Earth here solely on charity sponsorships."
Leina waves a hand out the window, "It's super classist here? I don't get along with the majority of students. I've got a handful of friends among my classmates but, the vibe is just - it's still weird."
The driver up front looks in the rear view mirror with a sigh that tells Alouette perhaps 'There she goes again.'
"Like it's a great school education wise, and it's definitely not all bad. Just I think the atmosphere is sometimes a little too-"
There's this wave of her hand. and at the exact same moment there's a loud echoing detonation in the distance.
"-aggressive." She leans forward to ask the man, "Please tell me there isn't a duel today! The committee sent me confirmation that there wasn't!"
The man up front says, "No ma'am, the piloting program is doing an artillery exercise with dummy ordnance though."
Leina just, sighs, and rubs a hand against her forehead. "Of course." It's definitely not that she's trying to HIDE it from Alouette, after all she's being up front about her problems with the place, and not trying to make the hard sell.
It's just embarrassing when your school can sometimes have the Gundam Fight version 2.0 going on when you're trying to show them around one of the Campus Quads.
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"I've seen some people almost... treat them more like pets than machines," Alouette nods, about them growing on you. "It makes sense, though. From the standpoint of an engineer, the learning programs in today's more advanced models lets you... take a really hands-off approach to 'teaching' them, right?" It makes the campus of Asticassia feel a whole lot less cold and impersonal, too... even if they are still drones.
Alouette flips her hair dramatically as Leina lightly teases her about it. "I mean! Not exactly. Actually, it's kind of nice to put in that extra time for self-care. I don't want to get lazy about that..." She admits, in the sense that it actually takes some effort to care about herself in that way. "But it can be nice to change it up, too. And I'm really glad you think so~" A vote of confidence from Leina is pretty good in her books.
But she keeps going... "Ehh? Would I really look that unrecognizable? Come on..." She complains, smiling all the same. "Should I keep it in mind that you're looking though~?" She shoots right back.
More seriously, she notes the brief silence before Leina's answer about 'choosing to deploy'. Front management... "Sounds boring." She comments instead, candid. Though it only gets more awkward after. "...Ah, so that's why." She nods. "I can see how that would be awkward in front of... other students," she considers. "Like they could think it's some kind of flex." She knows it's a fair bit more complicated than that, though.
Fighting science criminals... It's not hard to tell why Leina might take most of those missions. "...I see. Maybe it's nice that 3G Blue isn't so alone on that mandate, that NUNE seems to be taking more of a proactive stance." She says, quietly, before pausing. The numbers are certainly impressive, she thinks... "But what about you, Leina?" She asks out loud. It's a strange time to ask such hard questions, but she wants to know what Leina thinks of her role.
A deep breath as Leina brings the tension down with Haros. "Counselling Haros... I'm really curious how that works. Is there still a person there, or are you unpacking all your woes just to get," she pauses, to put on her best Haro impression. "That's rough buddy. That's rough buddy."
Maybe it was bad enough that the Haro decided it didn't want any of that and left. "Oh, you do? Your secret is safe with me~" She teases, about the elecar. For now, though... she's benefiting from it.
"Mmm, it's really easy, and Chief Taiga is lenient about it. With all of 3G Green back, I can, you know... dump all my papers onto Mikoto's desk and she'll be happy to handle it." She winks. "It's almost weird, that the dynamic is so different now." She adds, with an almost wistful smile. "We're roughly the same age now, so now I can treat her for all the trouble."
A student body of rich, privileged Ringer kids... yeah, that just about lines up with what she read on the online forums. "I can't say that's a very promising review. But... it's honest, and I value that from you." She replies, just staring out the window. "Judging from what you just said, it sounds like a lot of people here just don-" Boom! Just artillery exercise, not a duel... "The duels... I've heard a lot about those, too. Honestly it'd be quite a spectacle for the open campus, but... it surprises me that such a thing is so prevalent?" She comments. "Like this is a school of technology... but duels of honour are just so old-fashioned." Which is perhaps a reason she was interested in high-school fencing - it's different. "Don't tell me you ever got a challenge." She looks, half expecting Leina to say 'absolutely'. "That wouldn't be fair at all." She laughs.
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"It's..." Leina trails off and gives a self-deprecating smile, "... I see them sorta like somewhere in between, like companion machines."
As someone who has pets, she definitely still loves her Haros. Whereas she mostly giggles at Alouette's response to her teasing.
As for her last comments though, "Depends on what you decided on! Your hairstyle is really distinctive." Alouette does actually elicit a light blush, and her eyes do look up.
"Um- maybe not right now." It wouldn't be fair right now, despite it having been months, Leina still considers herself on the rebound. "But-" A hand touches her hair, a fingertip curling in a lock to the side.
"-you know, let's table that one, and say 'ask me again later'. Maybe once you actually are sending me that... picture."
Wait does that actually mean she's really considering it? At the very least she's trying to say without detailing it that she needs a little more time before doing so.
The candid remark gets a chuckle, "Yep. Mostly just making sure things don't get out of hand." And there's a dip of a head, "Honestly I'd prefer noone know? Just, unfortunately it doesn't work out that way with so many people here having insider knowledge of Cathedra... like it or not, I have a reputation."
She absolutely does not like it, but- "Yeah, definitely. I've heard that we're starting talks for collaboration with both 3G Blue and NERV?"
A little awkward perhaps, to invoke NERV after the split, but she's not usually once to mince words, "Us being private sector complicates things, but I don't think it'll take long to work things out."
Her eyes do blink owlishly for a moment, "Hmm, well I do still have tele-sessions with Doctor Hinoki, twice a week."
She murmurs, as if that were a gap filler while she thinks on how to answer it, "It's complicated. I've definitely seen the worst kind of abuses from both policing organizations and corporations. So I'm not gonna pretend that I'm not worried, especially after the collapse of the EFF and the formation of NUNE."
A beat.
"But, our mission?" She says as she makes eye contact, "That's something I can get behind, one hundred percent. With every single suffering mill we shut down, and every person liberated from them."
If anyone can understand that, then Alouette can.
"It's... what I can do. It's more than most can do to try and pass on the good will that was shown to them to change the world for people in that position."
Even if - the world is getting worse in many others, it's something she can do.
Despite the gravity of conversation, she does laugh at the Counselling Haros, "Me too. I've got no idea. Maybe it's just about them being good listeners?" Then busts out giggling again at the double 'That's rough buddy' - "Alouette! I'm gonna spill my coffee!" She does manage to find a cup holder in time, despite that.
Coming down from that, as they ride, she does smile, "Feels like you're taking advantage of her 'unscheduled leave'." She teases, "I'm glad she's back. Though God it sounds so weird to think that I'm basically the same age as Guy or Mikoto! I was once half their age! I attended Mamoru and Hana's 'ceremony'!"
She does nod at Alouette talking about it not being a promising review, "Yeah, it's part why I insisted on showing you around rather than some flowery admissions person. I'm sure they'd put on a whole song and dance about how this school is perfect-" She waves a hand dismissively at that, "-and it's not like I wouldn't love you attending here? Like if you did decide to attend - God - I'd basically swing by so often you'd probably get sick of me."
The hand drops, and- "But, I'm not gonna lie to get you here. You deserve way better than that." Doesn't that mean Leina deserves better than this too? But she's not saying anything there.
There is a sigh at another thud of a mortar in the distance, like some weirdly thunderous rain drops, as she mentions that, "Spectacle? Sure. Last time Roux visited we had a whole - thing."
She's about to talk more about the duels but then Alouette mentions it. "Several." She says after a moment, but looks her way, "No it wouldn't. But these are entitled - swollen egos we're talking about, they're not thinking clearly."
She rubs a hand across her face, "One guy it was just because I turned him down for a date, even though he was five years younger? He didn't even realize that! Now he's trying to stake me being his girlfriend on it. Another just - wanted to see if my skills matched up to my reputation? And still another was like - I don't even know? I have no idea who he is and his challenge reads like I have deeply offended him..."
She lowers her tone, "... by my existence." She tells her gravely, before more cheerily, "I turned them all down. I'm not required to accept any duels, so I just don't? And like you said, it wouldn't be fair. I'm already flying in combat? From what I've seen some of them have real talent, but that's not the same thing as experience."
<Pose Tracker> Alouette Pommier has posed.
"Really distinctive... that's true. That can be a good thing and a bad things... but maybe I've grown a little attached to it." She admits. It seems like her teasing hit the mark... but maybe too close? "Oh! Right, I didn't mean to imply..." She trails off, because it doesn't seem like Leina took it too badly after all? "...Hehe, I actually wasn't expecting that kind of response. You're an amazing person, but having that time to heal is probably important all the same." She nods. "...Though usually you're the one playing matchmaker. Not me." She laughs - doubly so at the idea of actually sending a picture trying to convince Leina it's someone else.
There's a slight smile imagining Leina on the most boring shift guarding some vaguely important company property, though she does understand Leina not wanting anyone to know about it. "It sucks to have people's perception of you coloured right from the start," she agrees, about having a reputation. The idea of Cathedra collaborating with both 3G... and NERV elicits genuine surprise, though. "Is that so? I can see that working out really nicely. 3G Blue lacks remit outside the OCU, and Cathedra lacks remit within it... oh, and I bet Chief Taiga is shrewd enough to work around even the most stubborn businessmen."
A pause. "NERV, though... my girlfriend still flies for them. I understand it, for sure, but... I wonder how that will work down the line. She's doing the best she can, I think..."
She takes the time to focus on Leina's own situation, then. She nods, about the telehealth with Dr. Hinoki. "That much is good to hear... that the political split didn't affect your therapy." She nods, somewhat awkwardly. "Dr. Hinoki is really nice... isn't she?" At the time, she felt like her therapy did a lot of good for her as well.
"...But at the same time, I'm glad you aren't pretending that things aren't at least a little worrying, either, fighting in a mobile suit... seeing what you see so often." She adds, with full honesty. She knows before, Leina might've just bottled it up and said it's fine. "But you're right... it's complicated. I don't really have a reason to distrust Cathedra. I want to believe in their mission too, because I feel the same way." Her gaze wavers. "Maybe I couldn't fight the way you do, Leina... but the least I can do is watch out for you." It's hard to watch your own back when your gaze is on the world.
Perhaps it feels good to drop the tension after saying... all that, though. Being able to make Leina laugh like that is its own joy.
"Maybe a little bit~" She grins, about Mikoto. "She's doing really well, though. I think she's just waiting on one little thing." Probably not hard to deduce what that might be. "No kidding! They're always bringing up how I was 'this small'," she gestures to her knees, with exasperation. She giggles about Mamoru and Hana's wedding - the two are never hearing the end of that, but they don't seem to mind.
"That's more than understandable. Honestly, I might've been even more skeptical if it was sold as perfect? Hearing it from you just solidifies that." Though Leina really desperately wants someone here with her. "Even if I don't pick this school... maybe I'll be able to visit? Especially if we get that deal. I hope... you do find someone bearable, though. You deserve to be happy too, right?" She doesn't examine in depth the feelings of maybe being sick of the place - she knows there weren't many options.
She was expecting the duels to be wild, but not that wild. "Geez... how shallow is that?" She shakes her head, at the story about that guy 5 years younger. "I don't blame you. Maybe it'll be more of a lesson if they can't get everything they want just by fighting?" Even that sounds like a stretch. "It's good to know it's optional, though. I'm... super out of practice. Ever since they came back... I've stuck with desk work. I guess it's not so bad... not having to. For now at least."
<Pose Tracker> Leina Ashta has posed.
"Sometimes to things just become almost... a part of your identity." Leina gestures towards her own short hair, "When I was little I learned - to lop it all off myself, because we just couldn't afford proper haircuts." She smiles at Alouette, "It was just less trouble, but now years later when I have more than enough money - I'm still doing it. It's almost like a reminder of who I am and where I'm from."
The light blush does return as Alouette giggles at her response, but does smile, "Yeah, you know? I'm getting there, on my own time. It's just the whole 'Newtype' thing makes it complicated." After all, it was hard enough getting a boy with no Newtype powers that she loved out reframed within her own head.
What happens when the connection is, supernaturally enforced? And cannot be broken? It's much harder to deescalate the intensity of one's feelings. "Well it's... not like I don't mind it." Someone playing matchmaker, rather than her. "It's only fair right?" She perhaps just isn't used to it, she's spent most of her later teenager years in a relationship with someone.
It was simply her way of letting people know she cared about them - that she was invested in their happiness. She's not upset if people wanted to show it to her in the same way.
Most boring shifts imaginable. It's not hard to imagine, her in some mobile suit, just playing security guard. There's a nod and a sigh, "Too common I'm afraid. Was the same way coming to Earth as- a Colony girl." That's certainly easy to imagine, though things on Earth have changed...
... perhaps it's simply that the old scapegoats are gone, so the fingers can be pointed at those truly to blame, relying on elitist pride when one lives paycheck to paycheck only goes so far.
"I think that'll only last for - so long." Is Leina's comment on Cathedra lacking OCU remit, "They have a vested interest in winning against Britannia, and in the perception that they're not utilizing... methods the whole world would unite against to win them."
She doesn't sound too enthused about it, but in the end, she would deploy against the OCU in an instant if they tried to win utilziing the Psychofield.
"She is. I'm really grateful to her for everything she's done for me." She remembers how she was just afterward, especially, after coming back, and how she had to be forced to go - and yet Hinoki still treated her as well as she could, considering the consent issues.
Alouette however then shifts to how she isn't pretending that things aren't at least a little worrying, and Leina looks abstracted for a moment, before finally focusing back in at her. There's a prolonged pause, as if she were processing, and then, a smile, as if she were genuinely touched. After a moment, she reaches over to place a hand on her arm.
"You fight in your own way Alouette." She replies, "And woe be to anyone who underestimates you - or that. I feel..." For a moment, words seem to fail her, then she squeezes her fingers gently- "... I'm honored that you'd want to look out for me." She says, softer, "I won't underestimate that either. It means so much to me that you would."
Alouette's exasperation over being continually reminded of how she once was solicits a small giggle, as Leina's hand drifts back down, "Shame we weren't in a position to meet properly back then." She notes almost airily, as she doesn't mind being reminded she was once a child herself.
After a moment, it drifts back into something more serious, "I'd like that. I really would. It sometimes gets a little lonely on campus?" She admits, and it's not an easy thing. An entire campus of people, where almost all of them get along with her like oil and water - and even the ones who might find common ground with, likely seeing her as still as someone who sold out.
A rueful smile at that, "Very. And yep! Exactly what I was thinking. It's - if I just crush them, then it means I'm just reinforcing that might makes right to them." She smiles at her, "My feelings are not a prize to be won." There's a pause of consideration then- "Well if you ever want to take a day to practice, I don't mind." She says to her with a smile, "My Ex- Shiro once spent a whole day drilling me just to make sure I'd survive out there. I'm happy to pay that forward."
She winks, as if to confide to her.
"Pretty sure I'm better than him now though - don't tell him, he'd have such a sulk given what a fanatic he is at training."