maskormenace | Second Princess (Video)

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Second Princess (Video)

[The video turns on to reveal Euphemia, now in a significantly more practical outfit than her huge poofy dress, in some kind of... garage? It's concrete and dimly lit by cool fluorescent bulbs, making her pink hair take on a very odd tone.] Oh, hello everyone! I hope you're doing well.

I'm actually speaking to you all today because I could use a little, ah... assistance? When I first came here, I was told that in addition to my healing powers, I had an item from my home world as well. And that item was-- this: [She takes the camera, turning it to reveal... a humanoid robot, roughly 14-15 feet tall] The experimental Knightmare Frame, 'Lancelot.' It was being developed by my brother's research facility, and the pilot was a... very, very dear friend of mine.

But I don't know much about using it, myself. Is there anyone here who considers themselves experienced in this kind of thing?

It feels a little wasteful just to leave Lancelot gathering dust in a garage like this.

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[that's one of the more interesting reactions she's gotten from the whole robot revelation. she laughs brightly.]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, but fashion in my world isn't nearly that interesting. I was designed this way—specifically for geological surveillance.

[well, she's already in robot form. may as well transform her hand into a drill like it's no big thing.]

Recently I helped with the foundation work for Nonah's new imPort center, but I'm not a full-fledged construction robot, so my capacity was limited there. I was mostly meant to be an assistant to my mother in the laboratory when not out in the field gathering data and rocks.

I see! That's very interesting!

You say you have a robot, but you also have a mother...?

Yes! I'm told it's not normal to think of my creator as my mother, but there isn't much that could really be called normal in the field of robotics. Especially here, where so many disparate technologies are coming together for the first time. The Knightmare Frame is a very exciting fusion of biological and mechanical components that I don't think existed outside of science fiction in my universe.

[aw, look at how she's nerding out about this. science is cool, okay? don't harsh her buzz.]

Oh, I understand, it's metaphorical. That makes far more sense.

Er, I may have miscommunicated, the Lancelot and others like it are completely mechanical, to my knowledge. There's nothing biological about it at all.

Not on its own, but its pilot certainly is biological! I'm sorry, I was just trying to express it in impressive language. I am a scientist's daughter, after all. I have a bit of a natural interest in that sort of thing.

Oh, I'm sorry, here I am babbling and I haven't even asked you for your name. I'm sorry for my impoliteness.

That's perfectly all right! My name is Euphemia li Britannia, but you can call me Euphie!

Ah, it's excellent to meet you, Euphie. ...Would it be out of place to ask whether you're part of a royal family? I don't hear many people with last names that are also large, famous empires.

Ah--! Then you've heard of the Holy Britannian Empire as well? Are you, perhaps, from a world where it exists instead of the United States of America?

[Her world feels so strange and out of place :( ]

I'm sorry to disappoint you, Euphie, but the United States of America exist in my world as well. I'm referring more to... well, historical precedent, let's call it. The British Empire was once much, much larger and more impressive than it is today. I was shown a map at some point of areas the British Empire had not at some point colonized and it was a very short list. I believe the phrase was something like... the sun will never set on it?

But they've never, to my knowledge, called themselves the Holy Britannian Empire. It sounds as though you come from a very alternate universe to most.

Ah... I see. [She can't help but look and sound a little disappointed.] Yes, in my world's history, Britain was conquered by Napoleon Bonaparte, and its rulers founded the new nation of Britannia across the Atlantic on their American colonies.

If nothing else, you're easily the most divergent universe I've seen that still bears some resemblance to my own. From a scientific perspective, your world is very interesting, even if it is apparently one of the less likely possibilities.

[she's trying to put a positive spin on things. she really hopes it's working, but she has no idea how to console someone with this particular problem.]

Perhaps if Napoleon had succeeded in my world, I'd be a suit being directly controlled by a human, rather than indirectly through a human's programming! It's interesting to think about.

Perhaps... [She doesn't sound convinced.] Then your world's history resembles this one? What year is it for you?

The world I come from is in the 21st century. For the most part, our histories are similar, but... the Russians are no longer a threat to America in my world. In fact, my mother and Dr. Light are working closely with one for the betterment of society. I'm not entirely sure why they remain a threat here.

It may be because of people like us, now that I think of it.

Because of us? You think that our presence here is prologing the war?

Imagine if an arms race in your world suddenly found one side with a device that produced people with literal superpowers. I don't think we are a non-factor. And I don't think it's too far off before we fall victim to attempted weaponization.

But we've only been here relatively recently, haven't we? Surely that can't be the entire reason.

We can't be the only reason, no. But the Cold War in my universe ended in the late 20th century, and I can only think of a few differences of a great enough magnitude to cause this. And with the introduction of battle suits, I do worry that America may be escalating too quickly. This war may become much less cold very soon.

...do you truly think so? That would be awful...

It's difficult to admit. I want to believe otherwise. I want to believe that this world is better than my own, or countless others I've heard of. But this world has much more nuance than my own. There are more than just supervillains, singular people who can be blamed and stopped.

I'm sorry, I'm afraid I have become a little more existential than I would prefer lately. If you'd like to talk about happier things, I would understand.

No, that's alright. To only discuss pleasant things is to blind oneself to true injustice in the world.

Perhaps it's in our power to prevent such things.

[Tempo smiles in a way that, were she a worse person, might suggest mischief.]

It would be very interesting to see their weapons metaphorically used against them, if it came to that. Let's hope we don't have to see that day.

Er... which weapons would those be? They weren't the ones to first bring powered individuals here, were they?

Whether the American government were the first to bring powered individuals here or not, I have no doubts that we would be their weapons. But this is why weapons are usually not designed with free will. Or a reasonable simulacrum thereof.

I have no intention of being used as a weapon, and I doubt many of the others here do, either.

Which makes the fact that we outnumber them very dangerous for them. I doubt any plans they have for us will come to as neat a fruition as they wish.

i'm so sorry i missed this

whitequeens - 2015-06-20 00:40 (UTC) - Expand

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Second Princess (Video)

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i'm so sorry i missed this