audio; un: alucard

[reposing]

[The video feed turns on, and Alucard can be seen combing out his hair thoughtfully, his brows knitted into a tight frown. He considers his words carefully, then he begins:]

I recognize that we've been successful, at least, in assisting in stopping the attack at the end of the festival. It seems we'd adequately identified that they were not related in any way to the Empress of the Crashing Wave.

However, I felt it important to mention to the rest of you that during combat, I did slay one of the masked warriors. It brings me no pleasure to inform you of this. At the time, it felt necessary. Looking back on it now, I regret my lack of restraint.

I hope that this does not reflect badly upon our mission. My apologies.

[Alucard bows his head.]

I shall end this message, though I welcome your questions and comments if you must.

Comments

voice | un: lucina

[tolight]

... He is not speaking the whole truth. [ Her tone — even, measured, calm. Which is good, probably. ]

Adrian and I attempted to interrogate one of the masked warriors shortly after the attack. When she attempted escape, we gave chase. We had nearly cornered her when she ... attacked me. In a fit of desperation, I presume.

What he did was to protect me. While the situation was regretful, he is not the only one to be blamed. [ If the situation was reversed, she would have done the same. ]

[reposing]

I... my lady.

[He sighs softly.] I do not aim to bear you any guilt. My reaction was instinctive. I wish I thought better of it, even in your defense.

[tolight]

We are equals — I cannot sit idly while you bear all the burden.

Instinctive or otherwise, what is... done is done. [ ... ] Whatever our consequence may be, you will not be alone.

[reposing]

I understand. I should remember that we function as a team -- and to consider your standpoint as well.

My apologies, Lucina.

[tolight]

That is all I ask — thank you.

[reposing]

Of course, my lady.

[eyedrop]

Were you in fear for your life?

[ She seemed pretty capable to him. But then, so did Alucard. He's been wrong before. ]

[tolight]

The attack came suddenly — I had my sword raised, but there was always a possibility that she would have breached my defenses.

[ She recognizes that if Alucard hadn't stepped in, it would have been a fight to death. Regardless of what she intended, their attacker wasn't pulling any punches. ]

[eyedrop]

[ Lance had admitted to killing one of the shark men during the last mission, and Aizawa had comforted him then. But Lance is a child, more or less. Lucina and Alucard are not.

(And the context here is a little different, besides. There wasn't any possibility of diplomatic complications with the pirates.) ]

They were trying to sow fear. But it seemed like a hit and run job.

[tolight]

Their attempt at sowing fear still resulted in casualties.

Regardless — this does not change the fact that the mask woman attacked me, and Alucard came to my defense. If we are not to watch for each other, then who will?

[eyedrop]

Don't put words in my mouth. No one would ever say you shouldn't defend yourself. But you and Alucard are trained fighters, near as I could tell.

If you say there was no way to avoid the killing, I'll believe you. But it's not a good thing, no matter what they did.

[ HEROES DON'T KILL PEOPLE, LUCINA. ]

[tolight]

[ Good thing she's not a hero then :/ ]

You misunderstand me — what happened was regrettable. But I do not believe every battle will end in the way we wished, no matter how trained we are.

What's done is done, and Alucard admitted to his mistake. If the consequence can be limited, we will be the ones to bear it.

[eyedrop]

[ sounds fake ]

Life is unpredictable.

[ That much he'll concede. ]

If this was the best you could do at the time, we can only accept it. We won't know the consequences for sure until we start trying to help with negotiations, anyway. If we even get that far.

[tolight]

[ Relaxes a fraction — ] That is all I ask.

Thank you, Aizawa.