Back at the base, the Dragonslayers were all very quiet during dinner. Nobody really spoke any words other than "Please pass the water." They ate quietly, and even Dilandau only picked at his food. His thoughts, as they often were, dwelled on Gabrielle. It seemed every time he shut his eyes, there she was. He couldn't get her out of his head, and he didn't really feel he wanted to, either.
"Lord Dilandau," Chesta began. "is Gabrielle coming with us on the mission tomorrow?" Chesta asked. "I don't want her to, but she has to. All of us have to go." He said in a hollow tone. "What do we have to do this time?" Chesta wondered aloud. "We're going straight into Fanelia. Wipe out anything and everything we can." Dilandau told him. "Oh." Said Migel. "And how are you going to tell Gabrielle that?" He asked. "Very carefully." Dilandau replied, and the others took it as a joke. "I'm serious, you fools." He said in a dangerous tone. All of them ceased laughing. He sighed.
"She doesn't like it when we kill innocent people. I never used to care... But now, I'm not so sure anymore." He said, and the table grew even quieter. "So... You think you love her?" Migel said. "I don't know. I've never felt like this." He said, while looking straight across the table at the wall with unseeing eyes.
"Well, do you always want to be around her?" Migel asked. "Yes." Dilandau replied. "You feel kind of... 'Giddy' when you are?" Migel asked. "Yes, if that's how you want to describe it." He answered. "Well, then you describe it." Migel said. Dilandau cleared his throat. "No thanks, Doctor Love." He said with a very small smile. "Well, it looks like Lord Dilandau actually has feelings about girls that the rest of us boys have." Migel said, faking surprise. "So, how far have you gotten?" "Migel, don't think I won't break that jaw again." Dilandau menaced. "Okay, okay..." Migel said defensively.
"You know, you should take her to dinner sometime and tell her how you feel," Said Guimel, who had previously been silent, just listening. "I'll bet she'd like that." He added, and turned back to his bowl of food, half-finished. "What?" He asked innocently when he realized all the stares. "It's only a suggestion." He said, shrugging a shoulder.
In the West, Gatti and Gabrielle got off the car and headed towards the L'Atoille. It was a massive building, elegantly structured. It had arches and curves, and the architectury was obviously done by a master. They walked in, and the person at the door showed them their table after Gatti had confirmed who he was.
A band was playing soft music from near the front of the restaurant, and there were many people there, all as well dressed as Gabrielle and Gatti. She found that while all the women's dresses were vastly different, a lot of the men's clothing were very similar. The men were dressed in mainly blues and blacks, like the uniforms. These clothing were lacking the armoured plates and guards, but in their place were ornate designs. They were high collared, like the uniforms, and close fitting to the upper body. The pants that they wore were neat, and looser than the shirts. She noticed that all of the people in the restaurant were young, the oldest looking was probably twenty.
They were seated at a table on the top floor, which had a clear ceiling. A crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the roof, casting a pleasant glow on the shining ground. The waiter said he'd be back in a few minutes to take their orders.
"Gatti, why are we here?" She asked politely. "Well, before Dilandau nearly bit my head off, I wanted to court you. Well, in fact, I still do... Even more so now, but Dilandau said that if I made any kind of move on you, he'd have me thrown off the edge of the fortress. I know for a fact he's not bluffing, because a year or so ago he had it done to somebody. It wasn't a pretty picture." He said. "He had that done?" She asked. "Yes. Sometimes, we think he's insane... You should see how he gets when he's allowed to burn things to the ground. He's a pyromaniac. He's also never displayed any kind of emotion other than extreme anger. You seem to have brought out something good in him." Gatti said. "Um, thank you." She said, not knowing what to say.
"And that's why I write poetry about you." He said with a soft smile. "Pardon?" She asked. "Yes, I've written poetry about you." He said. "I'm flattered." She said, and she truly was so.
The waiter came back and handed them two menus. She looked it over. It was written in strange characters that she didn't recognize. She'd never seen them before. They look kind of like ancient Runes, She thought to herself. She looked at Gatti, who was reading it at a fast speed, occasionally pausing.
"Gatti, I can't read this." She said softly. "Oh? Sorry." He said, and he pulled it flat so he could read it upside-down and tell her what the things were. He read and translated. "Okay, there's salads, and fish, birds, ... Blah, blah, ... You wouldn't like that... Got alcohol... Hmmm..." He was busy reading when she spotted a picture. "Pizza?" She exclaimed. "Yes. Pizza's a delicacy." He said. "What? Where I come from, you can get pizza just about anywhere." She said, amazed. "How much is it?" She asked. "Doesn't matter. Get what you want," He said. "Well, I guess I'll get pizza then." She said. "Okay." He replied.
Most of the Dragonslayers had left the table, except Dilandau, who was still poking at the food, Migel, and Chesta. Migel sat avidly chewing on a wood toothpick, and Chesta was clearing the dishes.
"Can I take the glass, Lord Dilandau?" Chesta sked politely. Dilandau snapped out of his train of thought. "What?" He asked. "I asked if I could take your glass for you, my Lord." Chesta said. "Oh. Yeah. Sure. Thanks." Dilandau said, and resumed thinking. Chesta and Migel looked at each other. "Dilandau said 'thank you!'" Chesta mouthed to Migel. "I know. He's been acting polite. I like it." Replied Migel. "Same." Chesta said as he took away another plate.
"I'm going to go consult the L- The Oreides about something." Dilandau said absently. Migel smiled. "You mean, you're going to go ask the Libreia what Gabrielle thinks about you. It'll answer to the best of it's ability because it's her mecha! You know that as well as we do, my Lord." Migel laughed. "Don't get smart with me, Migel." Dilandau snapped. "Yes sir," Migel said, and when Dilandau had his back turned, Migel made a face at him. Dilandau turned, and Migel sat innocently in the chair exactly as if he'd never moved.
Dilandau squinted at him suspiciously. "Migel... You're in charge. I'll be back in a while." He said carefully, and turned back away and walked down the hall. Chesta and Migel shared a smile after he was gone. "He is so whipped." Chesta said. "I know! I said that." Replied Migel. "I just hope he finds the answer he's looking for." Chesta added, and then stepped in the kitchen to wash the dishes he'd just collected.
Damn, how'd Migel guess? Dilandau wondered. Ah, it was probably my slip of the tongue. Damn. I'd better not be losing face! He thought. He headed around the corner, and up the ramp, into the massive doors of the docking bay.
He moved catlike along the rows upon rows of mechas, until he came to the lineup that was his squad's. The Libreia sat in stasus, charging from the power supply it was connected to. It's red eyes were sealed shut with a type of shutter that one would find on a camera, because that was exactly what it was. He stepped up directly in front of the gigantic red dragon mecha, poised in front of the thing's pointed nose. He touched the tip of it's beak-like upper jaw.
"Libreia," He said to it. The thing didn't move, but he thought he heard a click somewhere deep within the mechanical beast. "Libreia?" It still didn't move. "Come on, I know you can hear me. You're listening, I can tell. Look, I need to know something very important, and only you can tell me." He said, expressing emotion in his voice, almost hesitantly. Unnoticed to Dilandau, one of the camera-shutter eyelids on one of the red eyes twisted and opened slightly.
"I know that you have the same thing as the Oreides does. You're bonded with her, and the Oreides is to me. You and the Oreides always know what Gabrielle and I think, what we know, everything. That's partly why we can control you so well. You know that."
What is it you wish to know, Commander Dilandau? The Libreia's sudden voice startled Dilandau. "Good, you were listening," He said. I am always listening. It replied, and Dilandau got the strange feeling that 'it' was, and should be called, a 'she.'
"I... I want to know... W-what Gabrielle thinks of me." He said in a lowered voice. I should not tell you. That is personal information. Why don't you simply ask her yourself? 'She' replied with a question. "Because I don't know how." He said stubbornly. You are fluent in English. You asked me the same thing.
"I know that, it's just it's more complicated than that. I could never expect you to understand..." He said. Oh, but I do. You see, I am her, and she is me. I know exactly what you mean. She still does not know that I am connected with her. Therefore, any information I give you would be completely unbeknownst to her... But, I should not. It is against regulations. The Libreia said.
"Please, Libreia." He asked 'her,' involuntarily leaning slightly harder on the dragon as he attempted to get to eye level. The Libreia moved her head down and glared him in the eye with her clear, orb-shaped red eyes. The way the light played in them reminded Dilandau of how Gabrielle's eyes had sparkled when she watched the fire... The Libreia was silent for a moment, seemingly studying him.
Gabrielle thinks you are very attractive. However, she is somewhat intimidated by you, and she doesn't know how to act around you. If you were to sum her feelings about you in one word, it would be 'hesitant.' She wants to know you better, because she likes you more than she shows to you. She hopes that she will know you better, and she often thinks of you, even though she is afraid. She said, and Dilandau listened attentively.
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" He asked finally. She is afraid that you will not feel the same as she does, and that you will push her away. She knows you kissed her, but she doesn't know if that is just because you're lonely, or because you really like her. She feels lost and afraid, and she feels completely alone. All her friends she used to know are gone, and she knows she'll never see them again. She never says anything because she doesn't want to cause a problem to other people. She is too used to just listening to other people tell her their problems. But really, inside, she always feels like she could break down and cry. She has no one to cry to, so often at night she cries herself to sleep. Dilandau listened to the mecha speak, and he could almost feel Gabrielle's pain as her story was being told. Will this information suffice? The Libreia asked.
"One more thing. How does she feel about ... Gatti?" He asked, trying to mask his feelings. She finds Private Gatti respectful, charming, attractive, and easy to talk to. She is speaking to him currently. She is flattered by him. However, she is holding back from him. The Libreia explained. Dilandau's heart fell, but he felt a glimmer of hope at the last sentence. "Why?" He asked.
You. The Libreia said, as if she were speaking to an incredibly thick child. She doesn't want to attract Gatti, because she doesn't want Gatti to do anything that would make you hurt him. She said. "Oh." He said in a small, disappointed voice. "So... She likes Gatti more than me?" He asked, half to himself. I was not finished. She also wants to be with you, but she doesn't know, as I said before. She has a kind of 'crush' on you. She values Gatti as a friend for now. May I add a suggestion? She asked, and didn't give him time to answer, just in case he refused. Tell her how you feel. The Libreia said plainly. Before you regret your silence. She desperately needs someone to be close to, and I can tell by your tone of voice and the practical dents you are making in my nose that this is important to you. Please. She needs to hear it, and you need to tell her. I can also tell by your voice that you care for her more than you know yourself. She said, and he could have sworn that Libreia had smiled. But that was impossible. Her mouth was just hinged metal...
"Do I love her?" He asked, looking the Libreia deep in her crimson eyes. With a slight mechanical whine, she brought a single claw forward. I cannot tell you that. You will know here. She said, and the claw stopped with computerized accuracy at the exact point that his heart was beating inside his chest. Or so they say. She said. "How will I know?" He asked, not really expecting to get an answer. You just will. Nobody can describe it, as you have read. That is why there are no files stored on the mother computer. To many theories, too many philosophies. You will just know. She said. They are done eating. They will be back in approximately one hour, if my estimates are correct. Now go, and wait for her, and tell her. I'll know if you don't. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to get back to listening to her music. I rather like it.
"Thank you, Libreia. Please, delete file of this conversation." Dilandau said as the Libreia retracted the long, sharp claw. File deleted. She said, and Dilandau thanked her again and walked away.
Within the cockpit, a small computer alert displayed to nobody, 'File Saved.' The Libreia curved her neck back to it's graceful swan-like position, pleased with herself. A music file began to play, inaudible to anyone but the robotic creature herself.
"Lord Dilandau," Chesta began. "is Gabrielle coming with us on the mission tomorrow?" Chesta asked. "I don't want her to, but she has to. All of us have to go." He said in a hollow tone. "What do we have to do this time?" Chesta wondered aloud. "We're going straight into Fanelia. Wipe out anything and everything we can." Dilandau told him. "Oh." Said Migel. "And how are you going to tell Gabrielle that?" He asked. "Very carefully." Dilandau replied, and the others took it as a joke. "I'm serious, you fools." He said in a dangerous tone. All of them ceased laughing. He sighed.
"She doesn't like it when we kill innocent people. I never used to care... But now, I'm not so sure anymore." He said, and the table grew even quieter. "So... You think you love her?" Migel said. "I don't know. I've never felt like this." He said, while looking straight across the table at the wall with unseeing eyes.
"Well, do you always want to be around her?" Migel asked. "Yes." Dilandau replied. "You feel kind of... 'Giddy' when you are?" Migel asked. "Yes, if that's how you want to describe it." He answered. "Well, then you describe it." Migel said. Dilandau cleared his throat. "No thanks, Doctor Love." He said with a very small smile. "Well, it looks like Lord Dilandau actually has feelings about girls that the rest of us boys have." Migel said, faking surprise. "So, how far have you gotten?" "Migel, don't think I won't break that jaw again." Dilandau menaced. "Okay, okay..." Migel said defensively.
"You know, you should take her to dinner sometime and tell her how you feel," Said Guimel, who had previously been silent, just listening. "I'll bet she'd like that." He added, and turned back to his bowl of food, half-finished. "What?" He asked innocently when he realized all the stares. "It's only a suggestion." He said, shrugging a shoulder.
In the West, Gatti and Gabrielle got off the car and headed towards the L'Atoille. It was a massive building, elegantly structured. It had arches and curves, and the architectury was obviously done by a master. They walked in, and the person at the door showed them their table after Gatti had confirmed who he was.
A band was playing soft music from near the front of the restaurant, and there were many people there, all as well dressed as Gabrielle and Gatti. She found that while all the women's dresses were vastly different, a lot of the men's clothing were very similar. The men were dressed in mainly blues and blacks, like the uniforms. These clothing were lacking the armoured plates and guards, but in their place were ornate designs. They were high collared, like the uniforms, and close fitting to the upper body. The pants that they wore were neat, and looser than the shirts. She noticed that all of the people in the restaurant were young, the oldest looking was probably twenty.
They were seated at a table on the top floor, which had a clear ceiling. A crystal chandelier hung from the middle of the roof, casting a pleasant glow on the shining ground. The waiter said he'd be back in a few minutes to take their orders.
"Gatti, why are we here?" She asked politely. "Well, before Dilandau nearly bit my head off, I wanted to court you. Well, in fact, I still do... Even more so now, but Dilandau said that if I made any kind of move on you, he'd have me thrown off the edge of the fortress. I know for a fact he's not bluffing, because a year or so ago he had it done to somebody. It wasn't a pretty picture." He said. "He had that done?" She asked. "Yes. Sometimes, we think he's insane... You should see how he gets when he's allowed to burn things to the ground. He's a pyromaniac. He's also never displayed any kind of emotion other than extreme anger. You seem to have brought out something good in him." Gatti said. "Um, thank you." She said, not knowing what to say.
"And that's why I write poetry about you." He said with a soft smile. "Pardon?" She asked. "Yes, I've written poetry about you." He said. "I'm flattered." She said, and she truly was so.
The waiter came back and handed them two menus. She looked it over. It was written in strange characters that she didn't recognize. She'd never seen them before. They look kind of like ancient Runes, She thought to herself. She looked at Gatti, who was reading it at a fast speed, occasionally pausing.
"Gatti, I can't read this." She said softly. "Oh? Sorry." He said, and he pulled it flat so he could read it upside-down and tell her what the things were. He read and translated. "Okay, there's salads, and fish, birds, ... Blah, blah, ... You wouldn't like that... Got alcohol... Hmmm..." He was busy reading when she spotted a picture. "Pizza?" She exclaimed. "Yes. Pizza's a delicacy." He said. "What? Where I come from, you can get pizza just about anywhere." She said, amazed. "How much is it?" She asked. "Doesn't matter. Get what you want," He said. "Well, I guess I'll get pizza then." She said. "Okay." He replied.
Most of the Dragonslayers had left the table, except Dilandau, who was still poking at the food, Migel, and Chesta. Migel sat avidly chewing on a wood toothpick, and Chesta was clearing the dishes.
"Can I take the glass, Lord Dilandau?" Chesta sked politely. Dilandau snapped out of his train of thought. "What?" He asked. "I asked if I could take your glass for you, my Lord." Chesta said. "Oh. Yeah. Sure. Thanks." Dilandau said, and resumed thinking. Chesta and Migel looked at each other. "Dilandau said 'thank you!'" Chesta mouthed to Migel. "I know. He's been acting polite. I like it." Replied Migel. "Same." Chesta said as he took away another plate.
"I'm going to go consult the L- The Oreides about something." Dilandau said absently. Migel smiled. "You mean, you're going to go ask the Libreia what Gabrielle thinks about you. It'll answer to the best of it's ability because it's her mecha! You know that as well as we do, my Lord." Migel laughed. "Don't get smart with me, Migel." Dilandau snapped. "Yes sir," Migel said, and when Dilandau had his back turned, Migel made a face at him. Dilandau turned, and Migel sat innocently in the chair exactly as if he'd never moved.
Dilandau squinted at him suspiciously. "Migel... You're in charge. I'll be back in a while." He said carefully, and turned back away and walked down the hall. Chesta and Migel shared a smile after he was gone. "He is so whipped." Chesta said. "I know! I said that." Replied Migel. "I just hope he finds the answer he's looking for." Chesta added, and then stepped in the kitchen to wash the dishes he'd just collected.
Damn, how'd Migel guess? Dilandau wondered. Ah, it was probably my slip of the tongue. Damn. I'd better not be losing face! He thought. He headed around the corner, and up the ramp, into the massive doors of the docking bay.
He moved catlike along the rows upon rows of mechas, until he came to the lineup that was his squad's. The Libreia sat in stasus, charging from the power supply it was connected to. It's red eyes were sealed shut with a type of shutter that one would find on a camera, because that was exactly what it was. He stepped up directly in front of the gigantic red dragon mecha, poised in front of the thing's pointed nose. He touched the tip of it's beak-like upper jaw.
"Libreia," He said to it. The thing didn't move, but he thought he heard a click somewhere deep within the mechanical beast. "Libreia?" It still didn't move. "Come on, I know you can hear me. You're listening, I can tell. Look, I need to know something very important, and only you can tell me." He said, expressing emotion in his voice, almost hesitantly. Unnoticed to Dilandau, one of the camera-shutter eyelids on one of the red eyes twisted and opened slightly.
"I know that you have the same thing as the Oreides does. You're bonded with her, and the Oreides is to me. You and the Oreides always know what Gabrielle and I think, what we know, everything. That's partly why we can control you so well. You know that."
What is it you wish to know, Commander Dilandau? The Libreia's sudden voice startled Dilandau. "Good, you were listening," He said. I am always listening. It replied, and Dilandau got the strange feeling that 'it' was, and should be called, a 'she.'
"I... I want to know... W-what Gabrielle thinks of me." He said in a lowered voice. I should not tell you. That is personal information. Why don't you simply ask her yourself? 'She' replied with a question. "Because I don't know how." He said stubbornly. You are fluent in English. You asked me the same thing.
"I know that, it's just it's more complicated than that. I could never expect you to understand..." He said. Oh, but I do. You see, I am her, and she is me. I know exactly what you mean. She still does not know that I am connected with her. Therefore, any information I give you would be completely unbeknownst to her... But, I should not. It is against regulations. The Libreia said.
"Please, Libreia." He asked 'her,' involuntarily leaning slightly harder on the dragon as he attempted to get to eye level. The Libreia moved her head down and glared him in the eye with her clear, orb-shaped red eyes. The way the light played in them reminded Dilandau of how Gabrielle's eyes had sparkled when she watched the fire... The Libreia was silent for a moment, seemingly studying him.
Gabrielle thinks you are very attractive. However, she is somewhat intimidated by you, and she doesn't know how to act around you. If you were to sum her feelings about you in one word, it would be 'hesitant.' She wants to know you better, because she likes you more than she shows to you. She hopes that she will know you better, and she often thinks of you, even though she is afraid. She said, and Dilandau listened attentively.
"Afraid? Afraid of what?" He asked finally. She is afraid that you will not feel the same as she does, and that you will push her away. She knows you kissed her, but she doesn't know if that is just because you're lonely, or because you really like her. She feels lost and afraid, and she feels completely alone. All her friends she used to know are gone, and she knows she'll never see them again. She never says anything because she doesn't want to cause a problem to other people. She is too used to just listening to other people tell her their problems. But really, inside, she always feels like she could break down and cry. She has no one to cry to, so often at night she cries herself to sleep. Dilandau listened to the mecha speak, and he could almost feel Gabrielle's pain as her story was being told. Will this information suffice? The Libreia asked.
"One more thing. How does she feel about ... Gatti?" He asked, trying to mask his feelings. She finds Private Gatti respectful, charming, attractive, and easy to talk to. She is speaking to him currently. She is flattered by him. However, she is holding back from him. The Libreia explained. Dilandau's heart fell, but he felt a glimmer of hope at the last sentence. "Why?" He asked.
You. The Libreia said, as if she were speaking to an incredibly thick child. She doesn't want to attract Gatti, because she doesn't want Gatti to do anything that would make you hurt him. She said. "Oh." He said in a small, disappointed voice. "So... She likes Gatti more than me?" He asked, half to himself. I was not finished. She also wants to be with you, but she doesn't know, as I said before. She has a kind of 'crush' on you. She values Gatti as a friend for now. May I add a suggestion? She asked, and didn't give him time to answer, just in case he refused. Tell her how you feel. The Libreia said plainly. Before you regret your silence. She desperately needs someone to be close to, and I can tell by your tone of voice and the practical dents you are making in my nose that this is important to you. Please. She needs to hear it, and you need to tell her. I can also tell by your voice that you care for her more than you know yourself. She said, and he could have sworn that Libreia had smiled. But that was impossible. Her mouth was just hinged metal...
"Do I love her?" He asked, looking the Libreia deep in her crimson eyes. With a slight mechanical whine, she brought a single claw forward. I cannot tell you that. You will know here. She said, and the claw stopped with computerized accuracy at the exact point that his heart was beating inside his chest. Or so they say. She said. "How will I know?" He asked, not really expecting to get an answer. You just will. Nobody can describe it, as you have read. That is why there are no files stored on the mother computer. To many theories, too many philosophies. You will just know. She said. They are done eating. They will be back in approximately one hour, if my estimates are correct. Now go, and wait for her, and tell her. I'll know if you don't. Now, if you'll excuse me, I would like to get back to listening to her music. I rather like it.
"Thank you, Libreia. Please, delete file of this conversation." Dilandau said as the Libreia retracted the long, sharp claw. File deleted. She said, and Dilandau thanked her again and walked away.
Within the cockpit, a small computer alert displayed to nobody, 'File Saved.' The Libreia curved her neck back to it's graceful swan-like position, pleased with herself. A music file began to play, inaudible to anyone but the robotic creature herself.