Ari jumped slightly when Alice suddenly turned up behind her, and quickly turned to face the AI, locking her 'pad to hide the just-completed message to the Captain. "[color=0072bc]Ah, hello Alice, you startled me a tad. Ah, uhm, I'm fine, just fine, I guess the rest of the 7th has just been doing other stuff...[/color]" Ari trailed off with a nervous giggle, knowing full-well that if anybody was going to catch on to her attempt to quietly transfer out of the 7th it'd be Alice. Ari was going to miss Alice, she was always nice and her naivete was both endearing and funny. Minutely shaking her head to clear it, she added "[color=0072bc]Oh, um, just call me Ari...we're teammates after all, right[/color]?"

[color=7ea7d8]“Ah, my apologies, Ari, and indeed. I am glad to have you as a teammate, and a fellow member of the 7th.”[/color], Alice notice Ariana seemed unusually protective of her pad, but she did not get a good enough view of what she was writing, so it must be something private. She did not want to press the subject, at least for now so instead she just smiled. [color=7ea7d8]“Yes, it has been quite...boring since we’ve arrived, but still, it seems as if we have been seeing you less often since Jehan. Are you okay?”[/color]

"[color=0072bc]Ah..y-yeah, I'm fine. Just had trouble sleeping is all, busy helping fix things with the crew and what not...[/color]" Ariana trailed off, sensing she needed to move the conversation along. Thankfully for her, the FEZ station provided a perfect opportunity. She gestured to the nearby airlock that the Captain and Maki had gone through, saying with false gusto, hoping to distract the AI from her personal problems "[color=0072bc]Hey we should go check out the station! I'm sure there are cool places in there.[/color]" 

[color=7ea7d8]“Yes, I’ve also been doing what I can to assist the crew, and Maki as well.”[/color]. Alice was somewhat surprised by Ariana’s suggestion. The station was neutral territory, something she had not really ever encountered before. She would be lying if she said she was at least a little curious, but something about Ariana’s body language seemed to indicate she was trying to change the subject away from herself. [color=7ea7d8]“I mean...I suppose...but if you are having trouble with sleep, we should also visit the sick bay. After all, your health is important.”[/color]

Ari hurriedly shook her head, waving her arms out in front of her as if to ward off the suggestion. "No no, thats fine, I don't need to see the doctors! They have more important things to worry about than a little insomnia. It's fine, I'm fine, see!" Ari did a quick spin, as if to display her youthful vitality, saying "[color=0072bc]I could get in the Astel-...well you know, my MAS, and fight right away[/color]!" Ari was a little concerned for herself now, after all she hadn't expected uttering the word 'Astelion' to bring her nightmares back to the forefront of her mind, but it had, and she could only hope she could think of a good enough lie to convice Alice she'd just briefly derped out or something to that effect.

Alice stared at the display before her for a few moments, blinking once. [color=7ea7d8]“...I’m sorry, but I believe we should take you to a doctor…”[/color]

Ari sighed, saying "[color=0072bc]Don't worry about it Alice. It's not anything the doctors can help with, just....nightmares.[/color]" Shaking her head fiercely to clear it, Ari continued "[color=0072bc]The best thing for me is to get my mind off it.[/color]" At that, she gently tugged Alice towards the airlock, saying with a slightly forced smile "[color=0072bc]Come on, let's go look around. After all, this is a good chance for you to meet some civlians[/color]!"

[color=7ea7d8]“Nightmares?”[/color] From Jehan, obviously. She must have been seriously traumatized from that day. Not that she could blame her, but if she was having nightmares, then she should try to see a doctor about it. Alice didn’t know too much about human psychology, so she didn’t know the best way to approach something like, nor could she recognize if Ari’s claim was a legitimate method for coping with trauma. It didn’t help that Ari was trying to coax her to go to the station. [color=7ea7d8]“But...okay, but when we get back, we need to talk about these nightmares you’re having.”[/color]

Muting a sigh, Ari nodded and said "[color=0072bc]Alright Alice, when we get back I'll tell you about them. But until then let's try to have a bit of fun! There's all kinds of things to do in the FEZ, y'know, though we'll have to avoid picking fights with the coalition guys on the station, so we've both got to behave ourselves[/color]!" That said, Ari began more determinedly pulling Alice along until the pair were through the airlock and on the station. Assaulted by unfamiliar sights and smells, Ari took a moment to get her bearings before saying "[color=0072bc]Let's go find some stores Alice! We can get you some pretty clothes to wear around when you're off-duty.[/color]"

Clothes? Off-duty? Alice wasn’t sure about this. For one thing, it’s not like she had any money to buy anything with, let alone the fact the she wasn’t even sure if she was allowed an ‘off-duty’ in the first place. But if it helped Ari, even if by just taking her mind off her nightmares, then Alice would entertain Ari’s idea. The biggest problem would be avoiding combat with any Coalition personnel. Maybe as long as she didn’t see any uniforms or badges it might be okay?

Oblivious to Alice's inner struggle, Ari lead her on deeper into the station. Civilians were all around, but not just them, also personnel of other UEE ships and Coalition sailors and Marines. The two groups didn't mingle, staying away from each other and glaring angrily between each other. Ari made sure to keep a tight grip on Alice as they moved, eventually ducking into what appeared to be a small botique. Quickly looking about within, Ari indicated a rack of blouses, saying "[color=0072bc]You should pick one out! You'll look so pretty with something other than a uniform on....not that you're not pretty with the uniform, thats not what I'm saying, you are pretty in uniform too[/color]!" Ari burned bright red, thinking to herself "[color=0072bc]Oh I hope she doesn't get the wrong idea from that![/color]"

Alice made an effort to avoid looking at other people as Ari guided her through the station, not just to lessen the chances she might she any Coalition soldiers, but she was just nervous in general. Saying this was not at all a familiar environment to her would be an understatement. She was surrounded by soldiers and officers like normal, but it was understood by all parties that no combat was to take place here. The concept itself wasn’t hard to wrap her head around, but actually participating was another thing.

[color=7ea7d8]“Ari, I don’t have funds to buy anything with…”[/color], not that she would mind if she did. The clothes did look nice. But even if she did have money, she didn’t expect she might ever wear it. She was sure it did not meet the dress requirements on the Linc- wait. [color=7ea7d8]“Pretty?”[/color]

Ari mentally sighed, Alice had indeed noticed which meant this now warranted an explanation, not that it bothered her too much."[color=0072bc]Yes, you're really pretty Alice. You've got a nice face and pretty hair, I'd even say you're prettier than I am! Anyway, don't worry about money, I'll buy the clothes, I've got a bunch of money leftover from college, so go ahead and pick somthing out! You deserve it[/color]!"

Alice simply stared, not quite sure how to make sense of this information. No seriously, what the hell? For some reason it felt hard to move and several conflicting thoughts started racing inside her head. She quickly shook her head to clear her head, sighing [color=7ea7d8]“I...no, Ari, I need to ask you about something, okay?”[/color]

Ari cocked her head curiously, saying "[color=0072bc]Well, alright Alice. What's on your mind?[/color]"

[color=7ea7d8]“When you first joined the 7th, you told me a story about this boy you were attracted to. Could you tell me more about this concept of attraction? When did you first start having those feelings, what were they like, and how did you understand what they were? And you were a student, you surely had homework and other obligations, so how did you deal with them?”[/color]

Ari furrowed her brow, confused by the seemingly unprompted nature of these questions. As such, she tapped at her chin and thought for a moment, saying "[color=0072bc]Well, attraction is when you find another..appealing. Usually because their body looks good and their personality is appealing. I first started being attracted to boys when I was fourteen, they felt...nice, I felt warm around them and I'd feel so nervous, but in a good way. I knew because....well I just knew I suppose. I wanted to spend time with them more than I wanted to do other things. As for how I dealt, well, time management I suppose. I talked to them at school, while I was doing homework, and often as soon as I was done with it. It's just..priorities. Does that make sense, Alice[/color]?"

[color=7ea7d8]“Yes, I suppose that makes sense…”[/color], she thought to herself for a few moments before realizing she needed an explanation for her question. [color=7ea7d8]“O-Oh, um, I assume you’ve also noticed Maki’s...interactions with the captain. I became curious, and I believed you would be able to best explain the context…”[/color]

"[color=0072bc]Ah...that makes sense.[/color]" Ari replied with a nod of understanding. The Captain and Maki were indeed rather clearly...close. Ari's eyes briefly widened in a flash, then, as she realized the implications of that. Maki may see Ari's message appear, or even get told about this by the captain! For a moment Ari paniced before she thought to herself "[color=0072bc]Don't worry about it..I'm sure Maki won't try to talk the Captain out of this. After all, she got captured because I wasn't fast enough, she must not like me much.[/color]" The thought didn't much reassure her, after all she didn't want Maki to dislike her, but at least it calmed the panic.

Alice almost didn’t notice the look in Ariana’s eyes as she contemplated what she said. Something was obviously still worrying her…

[color=7ea7d8]“Are you sure you don’t want to talk about whatever is troubling you?”[/color]

Ari scratched at her chin for a moment before slowly saying "[color=0072bc]Well...[/color]" Should she mention it to Alice? It wasn't like the other pilot wouldn't find out, after all Alice could almost certainly access the messaging system and find out on her own regardless. That in mind, it was best Ari mention it herself and try to convince Alice to support her. "[color=0072bc]I suppose I should mention it...I uh...I've requested a transfer, Alice.[/color]"

[color=7ea7d8]“T-Transfer?”[/color] Were her auditory systems still malfunctioning from being whacked on the head by Maki, or did Alice just hear her say she requested a transfer from the 7th? Why would Ari want to transfer? She seemed like she was fitting in well, despite Eric’s misgivings. [color=7ea7d8]“But...why transfer…?”[/color]

Yep, there was the question Ari knew was coming, the why of it all. She had to explain this in such a way that Alice accepted this..."[color=0072bc]I'm...not good enough Alice. I couldn't save you, Trapp or Maki, I couldn't help above Cerol, I couldn't help fight the White Knight. I'm just dragging the 7th down...and they'd be better off if I was gone.[/color]"

[color=7ea7d8]“I...don’t believe that’s true at all.”[/color], Alice countered, [color=7ea7d8]“It is not your responsibility to ensure everything goes perfectly. Statistically speaking, perfection is unrealistic. At Jehan we were literally ripped from hyperspace and forced into combat against admittedly superior weapons, and the choice to abandon Cerol was not yours. All of this notwithstanding, your performance so far has been consistent with what one would expect of a pilot of the 7th MAS Team. And as far as I understand, Eric is the only one...skeptical of your place in the team, but fortunately, his opinion does not necessarily represent that of the entire team.”[/color]

Ari shook her head and sighed, saying "[color=0072bc]Alice...McKnight got his MAS badly broken over Cerol, and he wouldn't have if he had a better wingman. A better pilot could've done more over Jehan than I did. I'm just a rookie, me even existing is dragging the 7th down...and I don't belong here. Alice...do you really, truly think I...belong in the 7th? That some...fresh out of training pain in the ass who can't even keep her lunch down when she sees the product of her work belongs with people like you and Trapp and Maki? You're all so...amazing, legends and pilots who have every right to hold your heads up with pride....but me...I can't do anything Alice.[/color]"

[color=7ea7d8]“False. There are infinitely many things that could be prevented by just as many hypotheticals, but it is simply not practical to consider all of them. Consider that you were a better pilot, and as a consequence, neither Trapp, Maki, nor myself had fallen at Jehan. I would have never recovered the valuable data from their research outpost, and Trapp would have not commandeered their experimental MAS.”[/color]

[color=7ea7d8]“Also, notoriety is acquired, not intrinsic. The 7th didn’t start out as legends, not even me. We gained our status over time, through repeated battles together.”[/color]

Ari sighed and anxiously toyed with the fabric on her uniform, a nervous tic she'd picked up in basic, quietly replying "[color=0072bc]You have a point I guess...but still, do you think I belong here? I can't sleep after Jehan, I lost my lunch when I saw a dead man, and I can't even stand up to Eric...that doesn't sound much like a good pilot to me, Alice[/color]."

[color=7ea7d8]“I’ve never seen anything to suggest otherwise. And yes, those are certainly problems, but that’s why I’ve been suggesting you see a doctor to help you. Eric, well, that’s not that important. What matters more is you as a pilot, and if Eric persists in antagonizing you, he will surely suffer admonishment from Trapp, Captain Marquis, or both.”[/color]

In a way, Alice's persistent defense took most of the wind out of Ari's principal argument for the transfer regardless of actual merit to it, which she also possessed in spades. Ari could hardly believe Alice was so determinedly arguing against the transfer, essentially the inverse of the expected outcome. This brought a small smile to her face in spite of herself, and she chuckled, bringing her hand up and patting Alice on the shoulder, saying "[color=0072bc]Well...I don't know if I agree with you yet, but thanks for the vote of confidence Alice. I appreciate it[/color]."