Points of View
A Star Ocean 3 fanfic
by Intrasonic
Setting: Castle Aquaria, Nel's Quarters.
There was a polite knock at the door.
Nel permitted her eyes to crack open, but remained slumped over at her desk.
There was a second knock at the door, slightly loudly.
The dust was getting rather thick, Nel noted in a detached manner. Who was it that thought it was a good idea to give a desk to the leader of the Secret Legion? And how long had it been since she'd actually sat down at it?
The third time, the knock was a little more forceful, as though the person was starting to put their shoulder into the effort.
"Come in," Nel invited, yielding to the inevitable. The only people who would be bold enough to be so insistent were probably more important than she was. And as a result, they were probably well aware that she was here.
The door swung open quietly, then shut again.
"Are you feeling alright, Nel?" Claire.
Nel shrugged, but didn't bother turning around. "I'm fine."
"And that's why you've spent the last half day shut up in your quarters?"
"There's nothing for me to do. And they sent your father away on another mission, so I can't ever get some good practicing in. So I'm waiting here until I'm needed."
"I see. You're sulking."
A pause. "I am not sulking."
There was a longer period of silence.
"I am not sulking," Nel insisted.
Wordlessly, Claire positioned herself behind Nel's chair and began to massage her shoulders.
"I'm not." crick
"Of course not. So, exactly what manner of non-sulking activity are you engaged in?"
"I prefer my tea-" crick "-without sarcasm-" tik "-thank you very much."
"Your shoulders have more knots than the furniture. You need to take better care of yourself."
Nel sagged slightly under her friend's ministrations, once again reminded why she put up with so much of Claire's mothering. "I've been-" crick "-busy lately." Dammit, did that ever feel good.
"And now you're not busy," Claire agreed, not missing a beat. "I know you miss them, but I'm sure you'll meet again."
Nel had her doubts, but kept them to herself. From what she could tell, the group was already in a heap of trouble for showing up the first time. Thus, despite the definite camaraderie that had developed in a short time, they would certainly know better than to let it happen a second time.
"It's not that," she muttered.
"You're bored," Claire affirmed. "You're just like my father is - always looking for adventure, even when there isn't any to be found. Maybe we should start sending you out with him?"
"They do that to get rid of him, Claire. And I've caught you helping."
"My father is a fighter, Nel, and he needs a challenge to focus on. The difference between you two is that you don't keep trying to find a husband for me when you're home."
Nel couldn't quite keep from smiling. "If I start, does that mean you'll start finding things for me to do too?"
"If you do, I'll return the favour. And there's a young man I saw recently who would be perfect. He has ample intelligence, excellent fighting skills, proven leadership ability, outstanding discipline, is halfway handsome, and possesses not a spark of male chauvinism."
"Is that so?"
"Absolutely. Of course, he sometimes goes by the name of 'Albel the Wicked', but that's just a minor little detail, right? I'm sure both Her Majesty and King Airyglyph would give their full support."
Nel couldn't keep from laughing a little. "That's not fair. You fight dirty."
"Well, I had to threaten to match my father up with Lady Elena the last time he tried, so it's an area I have some practice in."
"Hah, I suppose so. Well, don't worry, I'm not that bored."
Claire sighed in admonishment. "Don't look at it as being bored, Nel. Look at it as a chance to rest and get some perspective."
"Claire, I just finished operating the Thunder Arrow, strapped to the back of the Marquis himself, in combat against giant flying ships from another world. I have enough 'perspective' to last a lifetime. Even your father is going to be hard pressed to match this story."
"You have a point, I suppose. Maybe our boring little country isn't enough for you anymore?"
Nel finally turned her head, giving her friend a suspicious look. "That's a nasty way of putting it. You make it sound like I should have left with Fayt and the others earlier."
"Who's to say that you can't do that next time they arrive? My father would probably scold you for not taking advantage of the opportunity the first time. Perhaps you can go on a vacation to where they're from?"
Nel briefly considered trying to explain the complexities behind what Claire was suggesting, but decided that it would take too long. Besides, despite Cliff's attempt at an explanation, she had a hunch that she still didn't understand everything herself.
So she settled for a teasing, "I see. So you are trying to get rid of me..."
"Oh, don't be like that. All I'm saying that another opportunity will come along before long, and you need to be ready to pursue it when it happens, right? You can't do that if you're sitting around sulking-I mean, resting in your room like this."
"Easy for you to say," Nel replied, choosing to ignore the obviously deliberate slip of Claire's tongue. "Our country still needs an army commander, it doesn't need a Secret Legion commander."
"Then maybe you need to expand your focus a little? Keep an open eye and mind for when an opportunity presents itself, and be willing to try something a little different. You know Her Majesty tries to make you relax, so she surely wouldn't object to you indulging yourself a little."
"I'm sure that she wouldn't."
Claire sighed, but she had a smile on her face. "Look, Nel, why don't you come with me? I'm heading over to Kirlsa to discuss some matters with Lord Woltar. You can keep me company for the trip there. And while I'm engaged in discussions, perhaps you can do an inspection of the Black Brigade's training facility?"
"There? Why?"
"The King is looking into refurbishing it, and has been expressing interest in hiring some Aquarian workers. You're familiar with the facility, so there's no reason that you couldn't scout around by yourself and ensure that the facility is safe for our unarmed civilians?"
It didn't promise much excitement, but it would get her out of the castle, Nel admitted. And from personal experience, she could attest that the state of the Kirlsa Training facility was questionable at best, and thoroughly unfit for habitation at worst.
Besides, it would be a shame to waste a chance for a peacetime trip with her best friend.
"Fine, I'll come with you."
end