[color=7ea7d8][center][h2][u]Jeanne Christina Roussin[/u][/h2][/center][/color]
[color=gray][b]"Before we get to that answer...Let me just question you on some of your descriptions...A religious woman, you must be? […] It doesn't add up to me, unless of course the religion supports the idea of biased segregation?"[/b] [/color]

[color=7ea7d8]“Blasphemy?”[/color] She interjected, a somewhat amused smile playing around her lips. [color=7ea7d8]“Ah, yes, some more common religions forbid their followers to name their god by their names don’t they? We call upon Lemä, the mother whenever we need her, and like most mothers it can irritate her if one keeps on calling her name, but it’s nothing near as serious as ‘blasphemy’. My religion has very little to do with any of this. Lemäikan are  obliged to be strong, kind, compassionate and fierce like the Mother herself. It’s a very informal religion compared to most others I’ve learned of. Lemä is just a fact of life, rather than some faraway deity. I wouldn’t call myself a ‘religious woman’ either, it’s not like I’m a priestess… We don’t have a set of strict rules, aside from treating one another like brothers and sisters… While we might fight, we’re all bound by blood in the end and should try to get along. Magi are said to be the odd one out in the family though…  Unnatural creatures… I’m not that good at explaining it really, it has always confused me… Please, let’s refrain from starting a theological discussion, I’d love that some other time but not now.”[/color]

[color=gray][b]"So you're a mercenary too?”[/b][/color] Fae continued, barely letting her finish her explanation before verbally attacking her on another point. [color=gray][b]“Hired because of a big price. Take the highest bidder, no matter what the reason is...Or who the bidder was? You are aware of who sets these prices on Magi, do you? [..] Don't you think it's wiser to openly act for a cause, than to hunt in the shadows without one? Might give you something to think about."[/b][/color] He stood up and started walking around. She just remained sitting, taken aback by his sudden fierceness, the judgement in his voice. It hurt her more than she would have expected. Especially since many of these questions were ones she asked herself whenever sleep refused to come to her at night. He continued without giving her a chance to interject, this time speaking of his heritage, what he was, what he could do and posing her confronting question after question.

[color=gray][b]"… There's a world that I can see, somewhere in the future...Where I know what I've done today will end what you might do now...If you do it, that is...Jeanne.."[/b][/color]
Jeanne… It had been a long time since anyone had called her that. And for reasons she could hardly understand herself, the rush of his words combined with the sound of her own name from his lips made her lose her carefully crafted composure. She felt her face grow hot at his accusations, but decided to just ignore it, hoping that he wouldn't notice her embarrassment.

[color=7ea7d8]“You… Have [b]no[/b] idea who I am or who my companions are. Sure, you can call it ‘stereotypical’, but let’s see you deal with your fiancé, your child, your wife being killed by a certain group of people. Let’s see then, if you have enough compassion in you not to start hating those responsible.”[/color] She looked at Fae with a bewildered expression, she just didn’t understand how he could say such a thing.
 
[color=7ea7d8]“It’s the hard truths you want from me? Fine, I’ll heed your words and be completely honest with you. I hope, I truly do, that not all Magi are monsters and of course I don't blame them all for what some did. But every single one I met has only giving me more reason to distrust their kind... You have no idea how hard it is to just let your hopes be shattered time and time again... Only to pick it up and offer it to the next... I'm distrustful for a reason."[/color] As she spoke, the fire inside her chest grew, fanned by the fear that he might be right, she stood up and continued talking with large hand gestures as she grew more passionate in her monologue.

[Color=7ea7d8]"In truth I only joined this whole circus to find someone I have some business to settle with. And knowing him, he’ll show up on the wanted lists sooner or later. You can think all you want about me, but I DON’T kill or hunt people just for money. And even if I did, do you honestly believe that killing for your own ideals is better than killing to survive? You take lives either way and your victims won’t profit from this better world you’re striving for. As I said before, I’m fine with people laying down their lives for the things they believe in… I’m not fine with innocent people being killed for things they don’t believe in. Sure, call me a hypocrite, but I try my best only to go after those who deserve it and then I still try not to kill them. Thank Lemä Dike agrees with me and that he does research of his own on the targets we chase…. Faran frequently kills innocents, he might not intend to do so, but he does. I can’t believe that you’re so blind as to think he should be left alone. He will make the same mistakes again, whether he regrets his actions or not. Just look at the sheer amount of incidents he has caused in the past year. So don’t… Don’t go ahead and think I just go on a killing spree whenever I’m in need of cash. Don’t presume to think you know me after spending only a few hours with me.”[/color]

Ris sighed deeply, sitting back in the chair again as the anger subdued as suddenly as it had been inflamed. She started rubbing her temples once she realised she recognised the fearfulness in Fae’s voice and expression. It always bemused her how older, stronger and taller people could be fearful of her, but she didn’t show the bemusement this time. [color=7ea7d8]“You really don’t need to fear me Fae. As I said when we first met, I don’t kill or hurt people… Even half-Magi, just for the sake of it. If anyone here should be frightened, it should be me. You’re the one with the weapon after all.”[/color] She added, holding her hands up to emphasize that she was unarmed. [color=7ea7d8]“And I’m really sorry if I made such a bad impression that you’d think I’d repay the one who provided shelter for me and my friends by killing him. My words might be sharp, but I have some humanity left.” [/color]Humanity… She still couldn’t believe that Fae wasn’t completely human. It confused her and she really had no idea how to respond to him. 

The implications of his unique heritage made her fall silent for some time. His participation in a rebellion like his suddenly made much more sense now. While she still saw the two races as destined to be at war forever, his very existence proved that a compromise, maybe even a permanent reconciliation was possible. Such a reconciliation was in fact a reconciliation of the two pieces of his identity. No wonder he was striving for peace… His specific power also explained how he had survived a hit like the one he had taken in Middleseed… 

Magi and human… The impossible romance. It sounded so painfully familiar. She couldn’t help but think of what had happened with his parents. Had they died, trying to protect one another? Had they split up with a child underway? Had they been killed by someone who detested the idea of the two races coming together? Surely such a relation couldn’t have anything but a tragic ending. For once however, she refrained from asking her questions. Instead she just sighed, trying to fight back the tears which she felt burning behind her eyes. The sadness from memories Fae had brought back, the beginning of hope, embarrassment at the realisation that his words hurt her so much because there was truth in them, angriness at his judgement but most of all confusion and tiredness made her slump back into the chair. She pulled her legs up and under her while letting her face rest in her hands. She wouldn’t let him see her cry, before he’d feel pity… Or worse, think that she was trying to manipulate him with a crying-fragile-girl-act.

[color=7ea7d8]“Alright… This complicates things. Please, just let me pretend you didn’t say anything about that… Don’t tell Hilde or Romeo about your heritage, no matter what. They don’t have any mercy left in them. Being as ‘cliché’ as they are.”[/color] She mumbled through her fingers, putting the last sarcasm she could muster in her voice. She slowly breathed in and out, trying to calm herself. [color=7ea7d8]“Rich is in it for the money I believe… He wouldn’t care much about your heritage, but don’t go yelling any louder about the bounties on your head. Levi will likely not believe you… I… I can hardly believe it myself.”[/color] After a short silence she added [color=7ea7d8]“I’m sorry about your parents, they can’t have had it easy…. I know, oh I know.”[/color] She tried to swallow it away, but the first tears already rolled down her cheeks. She tried her best to smile and wipe them away, but the smile was as fragile as her voice and the tears just kept coming.

[color=7ea7d8]“I’m fine… I’m fine. It’s… It’s just b-been a long day.”[/color] She stood up, listening to a sudden impulse that occurred to her. [color=7ea7d8]“I’m taking one of the horses, I’ll get those supplies I w-was speaking of… Rich needs medicine… Be sure to get some sleep. And… Romeo… Relieve Romeo from his w-watch… We all need our sleep.”[/color] A week smile crossed her lips, she didn’t dare look at Fae and wished he hadn’t lit those other candles, hoping against hope that he wouldn’t notice how she was breaking down. She just really needed to get away, be alone for some time.