25 ★ v i d e o;

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia shows up on the feed with rather curious expression. She sits by one of the cafes in the plaza, the SFC atop the table. She takes a sip of a warm vanilla milk, and with a slender finger on her lower lip, she begins to speak. A small dog can be slightly glimpsed running around behind her. It barks twice before Gracia's able to get her question out in the open. ]

Tell me something, Vatheon! What does it mean to be an "adult?" [ She leans on her elbows, and pouts. ] Is it really all about how old you are? Or is it more about how you act? That's what Father said to me once...[ Once? More like every time xD ] If that's the case, then how should an adult act?

[ Gracia sighs. This looks like something she's been pondering over for a while now. But speaking as a child at heart herself—regardless of her twenty years of age—Gracia only confused herself trying to look for an answer on her own. ] It's confusing! No matter what I do, it seems that my actions aren't those of an adult! Are adults not allowed to protect their loved ones the way they see fit?

[ Her dog, Futon, barks again. Gracia smiles and reaches down to pet him under the chin. ]

I wonder if to be an adult, I really only need to smile to become part of his strength...? I wonder if that will be enough...?

[ Her last words are no longer aimed at Vatheon's general public; they were questions aimed at herself, concerning a particular person. Her Father was always right, even if tried his best to tell Gracia otherwise. She believes in him fully, and so she wants to protect him no matter what. That was her reason for fighting—to make his dream of peace a reality. But how will she protect him now, when he gave her explicit orders not to? And that, whenever she disobeys him out of love, she is childish? Selfish, even?

Gracia is desperate for answers! (The last thing the SFC shows before she switches it off is her gulping down the rest of her milk with a satisfied and giddy smile. She sighs contentedly.) ]

Comments

[Video]

[redcloakedthief]

[He chuckles, shaking his head at this.]

You sure are childish.

[don't be a jerk, matthew.]

[Video]

[kagayakashi]

[ She takes offense to this. Have a stern frown! ]

Hey, I am not!

[ A clearly mature response. ]

[Video]

[redcloakedthief]

[Grin.]

I just wanted to see how you'd react, to be honest.

Which was not particularly maturely, Gracia, sorry.

[He has seen her on the network lots in their time together in Vatheon, even if they haven't really formally met.]

[Video]

[kagayakashi]

You know my name?

[ A brief look of surprise passes her expression before it turns into a pretty frown. She puts her hands on her hips before speaking again. ]

Well, whoever you are, accusing someone who doesn't even know you as childish is not a mature thing to do either!

[Video]

[redcloakedthief]

I do. The name's Matthew, by the way.

You've been here for a year and eight months; I've been here for that and then some, and I like to keep track of these things.

[He's a spy, it's what he does.]

But if you want to be thought of as mature, you're going to have to try harder than that.

[wavesoakedlegs]

Tama...

[This is incredibly frustrating. He has explained it so many times, in so many ways. Mitsuhide sighs.]

[How can he get through to her?

Haven't we been through this, time and time again?

[video]

[kagayakashi]

[ Surprisingly, instead of reacting negatively, Gracia shakes her head with a gentle smile on her face. It's not that he hasn't gotten through to her - on the contrary, he has. ]

Father, you misunderstand! [ She raises her finger as if to prove her point further. ] You've taught me what an adult is supposed to be like, but my learning about it can only go so far. [ Gracia nods in determination. ]

Now that you've helped me halfway, I must try and seek for the true answer myself. If I don't get the experience, then I'll never know the true meaning of your words.

[ Because that was how Gracia learned effectively; through experience. May it be sneaking inside a box to go to war, or figuring out adulthood on her own two feet. Her Father's guidance helps, but she knows that lectures will only serve to confuse her, at some point. And they have! ]

[video]

[wavesoakedlegs]

I am not sure I have misunderstood, my girl.

[He shakes his head.]

I cannot have taught you at all, or even helped you halfway, if you must go seeking such answers from others. All I have ever wanted was for you to accept my decision. That is all you need to do. That is all.

[Because that response, in some ways, worries him more. His mood is gradually dipping, lately, a consequence of anniversaries, and his thoughts have turned more and more to the things that worry him.]

I fear that myself, and my counterpart, have raised you in a matter that left little room for you to mature.

[video]

[kagayakashi]

[ She falters for a bit, because she doesn't want to aggravate him like before - oh no - but she tries to keep the conversation in a light that favors both of them. ]

But you have taught me, and you've taught me plenty! But...I can't accept your decision until I see for myself what you mean. Father, I was told that our relationship is a "two-way street." In both our efforts to protect one another, we instead push each other away. It's because we love each other!

[ Her smile fades and she looks back at him with an uncharacteristic determination - almost defiant, even. ]

Then give me that room now, Father. I want to know the answer as to why it has to be the way it is. Why must I only smile for you, when I can do so much more to help you. I know what you've told me, but I also know that I need to understand it my own way. Otherwise...

[ Her true motives are revealed. Gracia breaks eye contact and looks down at her slightly trembling hands. Despite the break in their gazes, Gracia obviously looks pained. Sad. Remorseful. ]

...I might hurt you again.

[video]

[wavesoakedlegs]

You have not pushed me away. Not once. I cannot even understand why you think that, Tama.

[Mitsuhide actually looks somewhat hurt for a moment, but he quickly shakes his head again and adopts a calmer, if rather serious, expression.]

I have known frustration and sadness because you push and push at something I have chosen not to share with you. You act as a child would in trying to tear down a barrier that gives me strength, because you are determined to see the situation from your own point of view alone.

[The young man bites his lip briefly. If he were older, more experienced, would he be able to help her more effectively? But... perhaps not. Tama really is a child. Perhaps the only real way she will every comprehend is by growing up, gaining more years.]

[If he was not certain it would deeply trouble her, he would suggest she move out. Not far, even just into the next house.]

Understanding in your own way won't help. If you truly wish to understand, you have to see the situation from my point of view, Tama.

[Video]

[donotcomprehend]

An adult is a person of an age where they have finished their physical and mental development. There may be actions attributed to those who have reached that stage.

[Video]

[kagayakashi]

[ WHOA, science. She blinks, and her expression clearly shows he lost her from that explanation. ]

Physical and mental...development? Actions...that attribute to that stage?

[ Gracia looks up momentarily, in thought, and then replies with a knowing grin. ]

Oh, do you mean that when you reach a certain age, you'll act a certain way, and that's what being an adult is?

[Video]

[donotcomprehend]

When you are a certain age, you are likely to act a certain way. There are variations.

Someone with more experience with children might be able to make further distinction.

[Video]

[kagayakashi]

Hmm...what kind of variations? [ You've got her curiosity now, hook line and sinker. ] You mean I should speak to someone who takes care of children? But why? I'm asking what an adult is like, not what a child is like.

[Video]

[donotcomprehend]

Differences in personality or circumstances cause people to have different reactions to the same circumstances.

I simply meant that I may not be the best to explain the difference between a child and an adult because I have never known any children.

[video]

[seablaze]

[Hello Box!lass. The pirate gave a considerate look for a moment before shrugging.]

Can ya hold your alcohol? [Curling a hand under his chin as he gave a grin.] Look, poppet, it's a bit of a two way street there.

[Green eyes flicking towards something off screen before looking back to the screen.] I have a couple of people I'd go to Davy Jones' locker and back for. One of 'em I met here in the bubble. It'll cause me a bit of trouble, if it hasn't already... [Tapping his chin.] He'll do the same for me, which is where the trouble is. Because I don't want him to, I'll do what it takes to protect him, even if it means not sharing some o' my burdens or taking the fall for any thing he might have done.

What I'm trying to say is maybe it's the same for the one you want to protect, lass. They don't want ya to be burdened not because you aren't a big girl, but because you mean something to them. And they will be stubborn as a wall to keep ya from being in harm or exposed to any thing bad.

[video]

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia looks a bit conflicted. ] I don't really drink...Father doesn't either. Is that what being an adult is all about?

[ She doubts it. Ahaha, but when he starts speaking...Gracia really listens. She can only assume that "Davy Jones' locker" means death - though it did take her a while - and all in all, his response what something she might have needed to hear for a long time now.

A moment of silence passes before Gracia is able to speak again. ]

That's...exactly what confuses me. [ "They don't want you to be burdened not because you aren't a big girl, but because you mean something to them." ] Father calls me childish for trying to protect him as much as I can, but I don't understand. I care for him as much as he cares for me. [ She shakes her head. ] This two-way street you speak of is difficult to tread!

[video]...I fail.

[seablaze]

[Snerk. This could only be a terrible idea.]

Eh. To some that's good enough to judge. We can always try to see if it changes anything.

[Thinking it over for a bit.]

Don't fret your pretty head over it much, lass. Either ya can keep on fighting him or accept that he won't be changing his mind. When he's ready to share whatever bothers him, then ya can be there for him. Until then jus' enjoy that bond you do have now. I can't be of much help in this department. Can't remember my dad. I jus' know how it was on the ship.

[video] I FAIL MORE :(

[kagayakashi]

[ She sighs. ]

I enjoy our bond very much, but I want to help him too...He tells me to just smile for him, but will it ever be enough? Will he truly be saved just with that?

[ Gracia is silent for a while, before she replies to the last statement she hears. That spark of curiosity returns to her once, melancholic gaze. ]

Ship? You grew up on a ship?

[Audio.]

[warrior_king]

I wish I could give you answers, Gracia. But I can tell this is less about yourself, and more about your relationship with your family. As such, an Evronian is worthless as a point of reference. Not to mention that our passage into adult life is much less fraught with complexity than yours appears to be.

However, there is something I have to give you - your father informed me of your birthday some days ago, but so far I have had no opportunities to deliver my present to you.

[Audio.]

[kagayakashi]

[ She shrugs, smiling as she speaks. ] Was it obvious, Gorthan? But it's also about me too. It's just that without Father or Motochika to guide me, I would have never realized what it is that I must figure out on my own.

[ Before she delves further into the topic, Gracia caught unawares at Gorthan's next few words. ]

Ohh, you got me a present? [ The young lady laughs happily. ] That's so nice of you! You're a wonderful friend indeed!

[Audio.]

[warrior_king]

I mean no offense, but... have you considered that you might, perhaps, be too sheltered? Perhaps, in order to begin to reason like your father wishes you would, you must first break away from the safe nest of your family.

I am not implying that you are sheltered, of course. I would not know. But no Evronian ever truly takes care of younger Evronians - and for an adult couple to take care of a single child seems like an unnecessary luxury to me.

I wish to meet you, to deliver your present. But you must promise... [A frustrated sigh.] that you will tell no one about the state you will find me in.

[Audio.]

[kagayakashi]

[ Gracia gives that a moment to sink in, allowing herself to picture such a scenario. She supposes it's happened once or twice; after all, her first experience in battle involved her running away from home. And she has always dreamed of going out into the world, journeying into far off places, traversing through mysterious lands...!

But she never imagines coming home to an empty castle. In her dreams, her Father and Motochika were always included. ]

But I don't think I want to leave them. Father means everything to me, and so does Motochika! Can I not find the answers I'm looking for if they're around me?

[ She doubts it. ] Father knows so much though, and Motochika has plenty of experience in dealing with such difficult matters...!

[ She shakes her head and is temporarily distracted by his request to see her. She's about to respond in a positive tone, before she hears of something suspicious. ]

That state I'll find you in? What do you mean? Where are you now?

video;

[pactum]

Your father has the right of it, I believe. Being an adult has nothing to do with physical age.

[ says a 13-year-old boy who firmly asserts that he is an adult already. ]

Rather, what matters most is how one conducts themselves. Acting with grace and maturity, shouldering responsibilities, and accepting the harsh realities of the world are what makes one an adult. Likewise, acting childish makes you a child, no matter your age. Men who drink their cares away, or refuse to provide for their families, or shirk their duties, or think that the world revolves solely around them are more like children than adults, wouldn't you say?

video;

[kagayakashi]

I don't doubt that Father is right! He always is! [ She smiles widely. ]

[ But as she stares at the feed...why hello there someone younger than her physically but is probably a million times more mature than her ~ She listens intently to his explanation! And nods once in a while, showing understanding. ]

I agree! But tell me something! [ She raises her hand. ] You said that acting like an adult means "accepting the harsh realities of the world," as well as "shouldering responsibilities."

[ Those were very relevant topics. ]

What do you mean when you said those? I'm not sure I understand completely. [ Because the way she sees it, she does both, yet her Father still refuses her actions, still refuses to see her beyond a child. ]