Second Princess (Video)

[whitequeens]

[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.

Comments

[whitequeens]

[Uh, all hail Britannia?] Well, there's... a considerable amount of time between the two events. Nearly two hundred years. Knightmare Frames have been around for almost three decades now. The Lancelot is the first seventh-generation unit, if I remember correctly. [She smiles, tinged with embarrassment.] Military history was never my strong suit, I'm afraid.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He takes in the information silently, soaking it in.

What he responds with is this: ]

"Knightmare Frames" is such an awesome name.

[ priorities. ]

And you said your friend pilots this one, normally?

[whitequeens]

I believe it was meant to evoke the imagery of a knight on his warhorse. It does have a certain ring to it, doesn't it? [She turns up to look at Lancelot, her expression turning somewhat distant.] Yes. His name is Suzaku Kururugi. He's an Ele-- [She catches herself] --a Japanese boy who fights with the Britannian military. He was chosen as its test pilot for his remarkable skill. He's really a very sweet young man. He likes cats but they don't seem to return the favor. [Sorry, Peter. She's got a faraway look in her eyes, her voice sounding just a tad wistful.] I do miss him.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Again, he's quiet as she speaks, and he catches the way her gaze softens and grows fond.

There's something sympathetic in his gaze, for a moment -- because he gets that, having friends back home that you miss.

But the moment is gone, because soon he's grinning. ]

Oh man, is he your boooyfriiieeeend?

[whitequeens]

E-ehh?! [Euphie straightens at the question, her hand coming up to her mouth and her cheeks suddenly flushing a dark red.] No, it's-- it's certainly not like that! Ah, he's-- --he's my knight, you see!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He can't help it. He laughs a little at her reaction, though he manages to get himself under control. ]

Your... knight? So he's, like-- a bodyguard or something?

[whitequeens]

[She's still flustered and red in the face.] Y, yes... members of the royal family are allowed to appoint their own personal knight. They act as guard, adviser, confidante, or even just a friend. [Euphie frowns, not quite looking up at Peter. It's difficult to discuss Britannia's inherent inequality here.] Most royal knights, like my father's knight Lord Waldstein or my sister's knight Lord Guilford, come from nobility, so it's not... unheard of for romance to bloom between them, though it's rather inappropriate. But Suzaku's not even a Britannian, so-- ah, I'm sorry, it just couldn't happen!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ Peter knows all about social inequality -- not all of the planets he visited were rainbows and buttercups. One planet in particular, he remembers picking up a hot chick in a bar, ended up getting brought back to her place.

"Her place" ended up being the pool house of her estate. "She" ended up being a Duchess on a planet where the nobility were most certainly not allowed to sleep with the common folk. He ended up with a pretty hefty fine after that, but damn, was that a good night.

It's why he casts Euphie a sly grin, eyebrow arched. ]

But do you liiiiike him?

[whitequeens]

[But racist oppressive imperial nations feel a little worse :( Euphie's beet-red now, not looking anywhere near Peter, her fingers tightly clasped in front of her.] I'm very fond of him, yes, but-- really, we should leave it at that!

[nostalgiabomb]

[ He offers her one more teasing smile, but with the way she's as red as a tomato, he decides to leave well enough alone. ]

So what do you use these things for? [ He hooks a thumb toward the mech. ] Fighting giant irradiated monsters?

[whitequeens]

Other Knightmare Frames, mostly. They're war machines; they're the backbone of almost all modern militaries. [A little sigh; she doesn't seem very happy with this.] That's not to say they're not without civilian uses, but a model like this especially...

[nostalgiabomb]

Giant robots fighting other giant robots.

[ He glances at Lancelot, gives another little appreciative whistle. ]

Sounds like something from a sci-fi show. [ Says the man who lived most of his life hopping from planet to planet. ] How long's it been here? You got anyone on board to do maintenance for you yet?

[whitequeens]

As long as I have, so about a month. It's been here this whole time... I was hoping to get situated first before I found someone who might want to use it. It's not exactly something I can entrust to just anyone.

[nostalgiabomb]

Right, right. Giant fighting killer robot -- definitely not a thing you can just let people have joyrides in.

Have you been inside it, yet?

[whitequeens]

This particular one? No. But I've been inside a Knightmare's cockpit before.

[nostalgiabomb]

Are they all the same? [ He wanders toward Lancelot, pauses to tilt his head one way to get a better angle -- oh shit, the fingers are articulated too?! ]

The cockpits, I mean. Like, are all these robots built from a kit or something? Like, you just go down to the local IKEA and look for something called "Knightmare," only it has a bunch of umlauts over the vowels?

[whitequeens]

Ah... I'm not sure I understand your reference, I'm afraid. [What's an IKEA] But yes, an experienced pilot would likely be able to operate it. To be honest, I'm not so sure what makes this one 'seventh generation' as opposed to the others. I do know that it doesn't have a cockpit ejector, but that's the only real difference I've heard of. I'm sorry, I'm not much of a scientist.

[nostalgiabomb]

Hey, no worries. I'm surprised you were even let inside one of these things, considerin', you know. [ A pause. ] Your status, I guess?

[whitequeens]

My sister is the general of the Imperial army; she showed me some things when I was younger. And... I've used them when I wasn't entirely supposed to.

[nostalgiabomb]

[ WHOOP. That makes him spin to face her. ]

No way, you've piloted one of these things? That's awesome. How do they handle?

[whitequeens]

Er, once. In a non-supervised scenario. It was a little awkward for me, but I'm not much of an expert. Experienced pilots could probably make theirs dance!

[nostalgiabomb]

What kinda scenario? Just a quick joyride?

[whitequeens]

[Euphemia looks slightly uncomfortable, withdrawing into herself slightly.] ...no, not exactly. They had ordered Suzaku to maintain position holding a terrorist leader down, so that they could fire on his location. [And kill them both.]

I couldn't stand by and let that happen. It was a little reckless of me, I know...

[nostalgiabomb]

[ ... ah, crap, he screwed up -- he can tell as much; he subdues his own enthusiasm, sobering a little. ]

Sounds like you did the right thing to me, actually. Have to help out your friends, after all, right?

[whitequeens]

[She looks up at him, and there's an odd resolve in those gentle lavender eyes.] I know I did the right thing, Mr. Star-Lord. But there are those who care for me in turn, whose lives I might have risked in my actions. I would do it again, but I must also be aware of how I can affect others.