daisy023 | REPORT 028 :: LIFE // VOICE

This is SPARTAN-023.

I am reporting that in January 30th of the Sixth Cycle of Luceti, Captain Adell of the Blue Rogues has returned to his world to continue his duties.

[...]

Because of it, by his orders established in the case he left, I have been assigned to command the unit until it's original founder, Captain Vyse, returns to Luceti and officially retakes his position as leader of the Blue Rogues.

Additionally, he has asked for someone to keep the Hakurei Shrine in his absence, a project me and the Captain built for mutual friends of ours. Faith is of no matter.

That is all.

[She stops, not sure with what to sign this with. By the UNSC, she was still a Chief Petty Officer, and only if someone on the UNSC chose to do so she would be promoted.

Strangely, now it's the time when she wonders if rank matters at all in here.]

Daisy SPARTAN-023

VILLAGE

[After leaving the message, she remains in her room staring at the note addressed not only to her, but the note addressed to Reimu along with the bottles of Gensokyo and RosenQueen sake Adell trusted her with if he ever left. His final order was basic, and a Spartan, it was curious how much did it make her think. She spends a long time staring at the note he left for her.

"Live. For yourself, for the people you love, and for a better world. Just live."

After several minutes, she grabs the bottles and the notes, and locks them in the same place she kept the more important possessions. She sets the picture of Adell with his old family in House 44 beside Daisy's own. Beside Valvalis, Neliel, Kirimi, and Keimi.

--

This time, she doesn't overdo her exercises and meditations. She dresses in the same winter garbs she wore a year ago, and wanders around the Restaurant, the Tea shop, the Item shop and even the Hot Springs.

If you're a friend of hers? chances are you will receive a message requesting for some time together.

--

Before the day is over, she returns to her Garden over the roof of the Fifth Community Housing to continue her personal project. Winter will end soon, and spring will allow even more flowers to bloom in the aftermath of the harsh environment. There were so many kinds she wanted to plant.

As she called for the help of Faeren and Sona when taking care of the flowers, she couldn't wait until it was the time to plant orchids.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[In spite of the friendly gesture, Daisy misinterprets it.]

I-I'm sorry! It's turned into less of a habit lately. I'm... I spent too long among civilians.

[He can't help but laugh a little, but he's trying not to, really.]

Sorry, sorry- I meant that as a good thing. Military training has it's place, but I doubt lunch with a close friend is one of those places.

...

[Close friend. Not NCO, nor anything regarding rank or duty. This is a reason she had wondered if rank matters at all.]

I've wondered about that. Sometimes even outside it is military demeanor confusing to everyone else.

[Composed once more, Michael leans back in his chair while venturing a glance towards the kitchen for signs of his food.]

Well, I'm sure most people understand the motives behind military codes of conduct. The chain of command, rigid shows of respect for your superior officers, it's a life and death matter out on the battlefield, but in civilian life you've got room to turn that off.

[Michael takes another sip of his tea, looking thoughtfully at Daisy.] And people are used to having it turned off most of the time, so it just throws them to encounter it somewhere they don't expect.

[She comes to remember her first source of confusion upon entering Luceti: Meeting civilians. She only knew how to act around officers, squadmates, and threats. But civilian life used to feel so alien, and in some ways, it still does.

Spartans couldn't turn that off. They weren't initially meant for a civilian life.

Daisy blinks. Noticing Michael hadn't gotten his order yet, she softly pushes part of her big pile towards his plate.]

... It was different for me. [She nibbles on a piece of cake.] It's not so much having room to turn it off. But training for it.

Even as accepting as people were towards me [And how much had she changed.], I still feel different.

Well you did come from very different circumstances after all. Just remember that it's not necessarily a bad thing.

[With a nod of thanks he grabs a fry, though he ends up using it to gesture with rather than eating it.]

I may tease you about deferring to my rank, but I wouldn't change that part of you for anything. Being different is fine and-

[Now the fry finally goes to it's fate.]

-and especially here, everyone has to learn to think a little differently to understand others.

[She looks at Michael when she hears of different circumstances. Despite not having told him about her origins, she wondered more than once if he knew a lot more about her than he let on.

Not that she'd blame him for it. For some people, it had been too obvious.]

I think I understand. How do people that have never served, or have never fought.

I wish I knew more of that life, sometimes. [She holds her tea. Smiling.] But the little I know? I'm glad that I got to know.

[He certainly suspected as much. At the least, Michael assumed Daisy's home world was one where Humanity was one where chances to live a "civilian" lifestyle were at a premium. Beyond that though, her deeply-ingrained military discipline constantly reminded him of the Zentradi from his own home. And entire race engineered and trained to serve as weapons.]

Well, that's the beauty of being here in Luceti at least. Most days, it's almost as peaceful and idyllic as it looks. [One corner of his mouth turns up slightly.] And when it's not... at least people like us get a chance to put our training to work.

[She smiles to him. Sometimes, and she hated herself for it, she prefers things to be this way. For something to make her feel useful.

At the very least, she no longer has the feeling she doesn't fit outside of combat.]

Yeah. For the times it is... I'm grateful.

[Daisy finishes her cake.]

And thank you for coming, too.

[One of the waitstaff finally arrives with his food- technically it's a salad, but the size of it, along with the mound of grilled chicken piled on top of the greens, makes it look almost big enough to rival Daisy's order.]

Don't even mention it. "Always be there for a friend in need" I say- especially if they've saved your ass in combat before.

[Michael thanks the waiter and takes an experimental taste of the salad as he walks away.]

I actually had one other reason for coming- joining up with the Rogues.

[She blinks.]

Michael?

[Once again Daisy wonders what protocols apply. She had joined an extraoficial unit and became its leader, all without a warrant or a commission. What applied with the presence of a superior officer joining the unit?

Ranks don't matter here, she reminds herself.]

I'd... be glad you did. I think we were missing a marksman.

REPORT 028 :: LIFE // VOICE | ACTION

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