Contemplating zodion

[searchforpeace]

I won't go.

[The tone of Mineva's voice is firm and decisive. Her expression is even set into a hard one.]

A mundane's orders mean little to a muse who won't follow them. You have yet to win my confidence or sympathy and you certainly won't with force. I refuse to go against my good senses. There is nothing in that place that I need. Logically or emotionally.

Force me. I won't go willingly.

Comments

[redcomet]

... You've grown up, Mineva.

[searchforpeace]

[There's a pause before she speaks where she simply studies him.]

... I suppose I have.

[redcomet]

How have you adjusted to life off of Axis?

[ One of his greatest regrets. Ironically, trying to drop Axis on earth wasn't one of them. ]

[searchforpeace]

[Her brows cant up a bit at the question. The Axis?]

The Axis was a long time ago.

[Well, to her it was.]

[redcomet]

Of course. But that doesn't answer my question.

[ He's curious what happened once he made sure she was no longer involved. She didn't deserve to see Haman's descent into insanity, or Glemy Toto's attempted coup de'tat. Being who she was, she would have been right in the middle of it, and would have most definitely been in danger. ]

[searchforpeace]

[And she seems equally unwilling to go into it.]

I've lived, that's all that matters.

[redcomet]

That's true, I suppose.

I'm... sorry, regardless. [ She knows why. ]

[searchforpeace]

[Her brow furrows at that, her expression confused for a moment. He's... apologizing? She has a feeling she knows what it's for but...

She doesn't sound surprised exactly.]

... It really is you, isn't it.

[redcomet]

It is. [ A sigh. ] My mundane told me about my... 'fan.' Not what I would have wanted. I'd have preferred someone follow my father's vision, rather than my own.

[searchforpeace]

I think more than a few people would share the sentiment.

[redcomet]

None of the right people, unfortunately. So long as there are Colonists, Zeon will always exist in some form. And honestly, you were probably the last and best chance for anything good to have come of it.

[searchforpeace]

[She seems just a bit touched by that sentiment. Not that she thought he hated her or any sort of thing but, well...]

Perhaps. Perhaps not. ... I've decided to stop running from it though.

[redcomet]

[ Her? No. He hadn't stooped low enough to blame her for what the rest of her family did. And he wasn't about to. She had already proven that she was nothing like Dozle, Kycilia, Garma, Gihren, or even Segwin. ]

I didn't consider it running. If we hadn't hidden you, you would have been one of the first people Glemy Toto targeted, and neither me nor Haman could have stopped it. I had to lay low and wait for it to end.

[searchforpeace]

[She shakes her head.]

Not then. I'm grateful for that decision. Now though... it's begun again. And I thought somehow I could stop it all without the need for more fighting by going against Neo Zeon. The peace has been an uneasy one but it was much better than more war, so I thought.

[redcomet]

I don't think Zeon will ever get over how the One Year War ended, and many of them feel it's only a matter of time before the Colonists face similar treatment that they did under the Titans. I think they've given up on the idea of peace entirely.

[ It's regrettable, but it's been proven true time and time again. ]

But I've had my chance. [ And he didn't even except to return from it alive. He cared less about Zeon at that point and more about killing Amuro. ] If anyone can save it... it's you.

[searchforpeace]

[She doesn't really have a good answer for that. As hard and forthright as she can be when discussing politics, Mineva isn't very skilled at responding to much beyond the literal and logical.]

I will try.

[redcomet]

I know you will. I have faith in you.

[searchforpeace]

... Thank you.

[redcomet]

There's no need to thank me, Mineva.

[searchforpeace]

Of course there is. It's nice to know someone thinks well of me, isn't it?

[She hesitates, then glances aside.]

I'm afraid I haven't thanked as many people as I likely should have.

[As careful as she was of him earlier, she's softened a touch. Relaxed, if only a fraction.]

You were good to me when I was younger. That deserves thankfulness.

[redcomet]

[ He isn't even sure what to say to all of that. Instead, he's simply place one of his hands on her shoulders. ]

... I would remind my 'successor' that my oath to you is still valid.

[searchforpeace]

I'm glad to know that.