"It beats the alternative. There comes a point where a perpetual nightmare doesn't seem much of a good choice anymore. My life ended the moment my ship did, it's just fate playing tricks when I woke up on a hospital bed." she spoke with a discord in her voice; It was quite clear she wasn't holding up well. This was her first time opening up to someone else, and it took all of her focus not to break down under the tide of pent-up emotions.
"That doesn't matter to you Bretonians anyway. I'm sure you have more important questions to ask." she said, trying to redirect the conversation.
He shook his head These are important questions and it does matter to me. You strike me as an intelligent individual my lady, but one that lacks..purpose, for lack of better term. So tell me, where do your loyalties lie?
She sighed, getting riled up by his comment. "My loyalties lie with the Kingdom and my family, Bretonian. If you're questioning whether I see your cause relatable, then the answer is clear by itself."
A broad smile crossed his face and he started with a playful voice You remain loyal to a Kingdom who would gladly cast you out for cowardliness and mock you for surrendering? Beg pardon my lady but, is it worth it in that case? He took another draw on his pipe before he followed on from his questions, but with a slightly colder tone in his voice I suppose related to my questions is a few more, do you regret serving in the Royal Navy? What with all that's been said and done in the war. Do you truly believe in the cause of the Kingdom of Gallia, and what your leaders and commanders say of us? That we are all barbarians, brutes and 'uncivilized' types. Would you say that the experiences you have had as a prisoner are equal or worse to the treatment our own men and women suffering at the hands of your own Military? And most importantly, He asked with a serious voice and with an intense stare into her eyes Do you believe that, if and when Gallia wins the war, that everything will be better under the reign of the Gallic King? Do you believe, in your heart of hearts, that life for Bretonians and Libertonians will genuinely improve? Can you look me in the eye and honestly tell me that you believe that?
"You dare suggest that the military treats people poorly, and seeks only the worst? The only reason we treated civilians under suspicion is because they would always promise not to intervene, and do it the moment we're distracted. Look at Agincourt, look at Leeds. They were fixing the infrastructure, they were bringing civilisation back to norm." she raises her voice, staring daggers back at Steiner.
"Do you honestly think that the people of Leeds would see it terrible that manufacturing slowed down, poisoning their planet less? You've made an entire solar system be covered in smog! Most of the people living there no longer have a sense of smell or taste, all thanks to your government. You've provided a safe harbour to cardamine dealers so they can start raiding civilians on your borders! Your own solar systems are separating under rebellion because of yourselves. You mentioned better prisoner treatment? I would have much preferred a guillotine than being mentally tortured for a year, monsieur. Believe me when I say that your actions already confirmed everything that my superiors have said about you; it screams 'barbarian'." she looked at the man with a furious, almost condescending look.
"It's not my place to judge what the nobility seeks to do with Bretonia, but I'm certain anything the Roi would think of would be better than whatever it is now. At the very least, I'm glad to have contributed towards that."
By now, his features had softened to the point of calm, I suppose I can relate to that in some way or another. I don't agree with everything you say of course, but if that's what you believe then I think I know where to take you next. He cuffed her again and stood her up and lead her back to the featureless landing pad, once again linking arms with her before giving her back to the two guardsmen for the time beingDon't worry my lady, you cannot flourish underground, so we will not be locking you in a cell today. He wandered off to a nearby building with a tell-tale radio tower to have a word with someone inside before returning. There'll be a shuttle along soon. In the mean time, what's your favorite kind of music?
The conversation was frustrating, but Victor's response and actions reignited the dread brewing inside her. It was incredibly hard to judge his intentions, especially when she wasn't even sure if his politeness isn't a cover for something more sinister. It made her incredibly reluctant to step towards the landing pad, but she didn't have much of a choice with the men dragging her towards it. A very uncomfortable moment passed, standing with the guardsmen, until the man returned.
She was thrown off by Steiner's question. "Music...? Is that what your intelligence wants to know from a hostile pilot?" she stared dumbfounded for a second. "Instead of learning about my tastes, would you rather tell me where you intend to send me now, if not to a cell?"
He laughed, I've no intention of 'sending you' anywhere. You and I are simply taking a little trip to a location I believe will benefit us both. That sounds slightly more romantic than it should but it's best I can convey it. Needless to say, you'll see when we arrive. And No, the Intelligence service isn't overly interested in your personal music tastes, but I am. Some come, what music do you like?
This couldn't lead anywhere good, she thought. "You Bretonians are a strange sort. Friendly and secretive on one hand, holding a dagger in the other." she muttered to herself in her own dialect, remembering her encounter with Admiral Hall. "And it's anything melodic, not a specific genre." she answered his question quietly, hoping he'd just ignore the response. To her, it felt wrong to even talk about something like this with a Bretonian agent.
"What was the point of even landing here, then? I thought your intelligence operates differently."
My dear you have been told a great many things about Bretonia, but you've never actually been here have you? You've seen what has happened on leeds, but that's about it. One limited case example that is now a war zone. I think it's time you forget 'what you know' about us and pay closer attention. He paused, extinguishing his pipe Melodic eh? very well. He finished speaking as the shuttle arrived, a private two-seater, much nicer than the prison ship she arrived in. They got in, Victor making sure that she was in a comfortable position with her cuffs. I am sorry my dear but considering we're flying it would be unwise of me to leave one such as yourself unbound. Now, how about some music? He said as he put Debussy's Rêverie on. With that, they soon took off from the lone landing pad in the woods and were making their way over farmland and forests before approaching a large city that stretched on seemingly forever. Lets restart your introduction to Bretonia shall we? Welcome to Yorkshire he said as they descended outside a rather formal collection of buildings.
![[Image: Ramkerawr.gif]](https://sig.grumpybumpers.com/host/Ramkerawr.gif)
![[Image: K21Vaai.png]](https://i.imgur.com/K21Vaai.png)