pacifistleader | Duplicity Inbox

No, there's no reason why you can't.

[She agrees softly before moving to keep up with him as they begin their stroll through the park.]

Yes, lets. I always find the path forward to be the most rewarding one to follow along with being the most beautiful.

Well-said!

[Ferdinand moderates his pace to match with hers so that they can remain side-by-side.]

Are you truly a princess, Relena? Or was whoever authored your Finder post just throwing that word out facetiously?

[She appreciates that he's willing to match her own pace. Though his question hardly surprises her. It's one she's had to field every time the city brings up her former royal status like some sort of taunt.]

No, that part of my Finder was true. I really was a princess at one point and even a Queen. I even had my own country once upon a time. But, that was years ago and I've given up those titles in favor of different political aspirations.

[This response piques his intrigue in her even more.]

And you willingly threw away such noble titles and responsibilities for these aspirations? You must have deemed them more important. Surely you can anticipate that I would be curious about what it was you set out to accomplish.

[She nods a little as she glances up at him with a smile.]

I did. Most people ask when they hear I gave them up. In all honesty, I didn't earn the Queen title. Someone was trying to use me as a figurehead to control the world. And my title of Princess became a little outdated when the Earth Unified.

[She gives a little shrug.]

I felt my political aspirations to promote peace and pacifism were better attained by being the liaison between earth and the space colonies.

[It just gets more interesting. There is so much that Ferdinand has yet to understand about her world, and he already conceives that it is quite different from his, given they have colonies attached to their Earth. Nevertheless, it sounded like the same old sorts of political machinations might just take place, no matter how far the influence or technology had spread.]

Being a mere figurehead affords someone else more control over you, so I can see why you feel that you can achieve more being an emissary. Am I correct in assuming that your world was not so peaceful, given your aspirations?

[As far as Relena is aware, there is no other world like hers. Apparently giant mechs and space colonies aren't exactly a normal development in most worlds. But, politically? It's pretty much like everywhere else.]

You would be correct.

[She sighs softly just thinking back on the Eve War.]

There was a foundation made up of world leaders and the rich that wanted to control the world with military might. That also meant using the military to control the colonies for their resources for personal gain.

As an emissary, I hoped to help the Earth and the Colonies navigate the political traps of this shadow government for a better future for everyone. I wasn't the only one trying, I was simply the only one trying with pacifism and talking as my main weapon to achieve that goal.

[A group of world leaders collectively exploiting the people they govern... It sounds bitterly familiar, and Ferdinand grows solemn as she describes the plight of the colonies, and her will to try and use peaceful methods instead of violent ones. This way of operating sets her apart from Edelgard, who had determined that force was the only way in which she could dismantle the corruption she saw festering at the heart of not just the empire, but Fódlan itself. Relena's ways inspire curiosity in him.]

Wars are costly, [he agrees.] And I am sure that the people of the colonies were the ones who suffered the most loss from the bloodshed and the exploitation. If violence can at all be avoided, that is better for everyone. Were you seeing your goal realized with diplomacy?

[Her way always inspires. Whether it's curiosity, hope or change, Relena knows she can inspire others and her willingness to speak out always makes her voice be heard by those who need to hear it.]

Everyone suffered. The colonies did suffer and we lost two of them to the war. However, a lot of the fighting happened on Earth.

[She sighs softly.]

Yes and no. The Eve War still happened with rebels representing the colonies going up against the Earth's military force. It took me some time to really find my voice while they risked their lives for they believed in and in turn inspired me.

By the end, my words along with their actions finally turned the tides and the people spoke up for peace.

It didn't end conflicts completely at first, but, it was the beginning.

[What a fascinating story. Ferdinand could endlessly pry more details from her to nurture his growing understanding of her world, and it would be impossible to resist even if he didn't get the chance to feed his hunger to know more right now. But too much talk of the war and the nitty-gritty of how it was fought might wear on someone, especially a young woman geared toward pacifism.]

It sounds as though you inspired each other. I think that striving for peace is a noble goal, Relena. [His smile falls upon her and grows.] How I would love to hear what it was like to be galvanized by your words like the people were!

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