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Mineva Lao Zabi, despite her blood, is easy to love. She weighs only a few lbs in Char’s arms and yet she seems to fill the whole room. Somewhere in the corner Char can hear Zenna talking to the help, stressing over her daughter, the loss of her husband. The weight of the Zabi name has done a number on her. In an instant vague memories of her at the academy flash through his mind, her face youthful and her eyes vibrant. The war has aged her, and robbed her of optimism, of hope. Despite her mother’s stress however Mineva is a happy child. Gurgling in his arms, her hair is a light ginger and it curls around her face like a halo, she's angelic.
Since A Bao Qu Zeon has been in a mad dash to salvage any ounce of manpower or wealth it once had. A large portion of their population had been drafted and killed in the war, the only working hands available were either young or lucky. Resources however. were even more scarce, so much money spent on war left little in the budget for much else, and many previous avenues of trade or production had been destroyed. This harsh reality should make him feel disgusted at this princess. Even now she lives in opulence, her dresses and bibs are of fine silk and her bedroom is filled with luxury. So much more than any one person could need used on this one child? And for what? So she can continue her bloodline's monstrous legacy?
Char reaches a gloved finger out to brush a ginger curl on Mineva’s cheek and one of her chubby fingers grabs onto it. All 5 digits wrapping around his one finger, her bright bug eyes gleam at him as her plump cheeks contort into a smile. He should hate her. He hates everything she represents. He hates the conditions his fellow spacenoids are living in. He really should despise her.
As he cradles her he wonders in the back of his mind if his mother ever held him like this.
-
Shinta and Qum are a symbol of the failure of the Federation, though they are only two of many. Across the Earth sphere there are thousands like them, war orphans, with nowhere to go. And no one to turn to. Well that last one does make them a bit different. Quattro is nicer than Char ever was, more mature. The Char of the past was so focused on one goal, his revenge. He might not have taken pity on such orphans, but Quattro Bajeena would, and he did.
They’re loud, even after the shock and the tears wore off, always wanting to play or asking for a snack or complaining loudly at how bored they are. Quattro doesn’t remember Artesia being like this, but maybe being a child at the time himself has altered his perspective there. He wishes he could do more for them, he understands the pain of losing your parents at a young age viscerally. But what’s done is done, all he can do is find them a place to stay.
-
Kamille Bidan is an oxymoron. He’s so bright it hurts to look at him, but it almost feels impossible to look away. He has a sort of Gravity to him, not dissimilar to HIS but still unique, distinct. Kamille is loud, brash, and impulsive. He does what he wants and hates little more than domineering adults telling him what to do.
Or he did anyway. Char can hear it echo in the back of his mind, what Kamille had said to him earlier that day. “All we can do is kill others” a blank smile on his face. So many emotions filled his body at that moment. Confusion, shock, GUILT. He couldn’t get it out of his head. Kamille had always been such a strong boy, always yelling at something or other, proud of and willing to stick to his morals. To see him look so blank felt wrong, like a law of nature had been broken.
He lifted his coffee cup and felt its warmth seep into his palm. Things were changing, and fast. The way things were looking, the climax of the war between the AEUG, Axis, and the Titans is vastly approaching, and if their plans succeed both the Titans and Axis forces should be almost completely crippled. Having once more taken on the Deikun name at Dakar he should be thinking about the aftermath of this politically, on how to rebuild a civilization that's been devastated by two wars in the past decade. But his mind can’t help but wander to Kamille again, what will be his future after this war? He’s a talented pilot for certain but he doesn’t enjoy fighting, at least not in the same way Char does. He has a mind for engineering, another similarity between Kamille and HIM, there’s dozens of opportunities for that kind of work both in the military and civilian spheres.
Maybe he should look into it when he has the time, Kamille is young and his work for the AEUG was hardly started in a traditional way, help for this kind of thing is normal to give seventeen year olds right? And it really is the least he can do after everything that's happened. He taps his free hand’s fingers on the table and takes a sip of his bitter coffee. It’s useless thinking about this now, with the fight ahead of them. He’ll talk to Kamille later, when the war is won and he’s in better spirits.
Yeah, they can figure it out once this is over.
-
Artesia won’t stop crying. Mother says it's normal but Casval doesn't think so, what sort of person spends all their time crying? When he expressed this thought to her however she just hit him upside the head and told him he was no better. He has a hard time imagining that,at only six years old, he was quite smart for his age, and knew well he was past his crying phase by three. Knowing that didn’t help much with solving his issue though.
Artesia was on the couch sniffling quietly to herself, she had been playing with their cat, Lucifer, when something had spooked the cat and he had run off. For Artesia who was still so little, this rejection hurt her deeply. Curled up in a ball and shivering she made a sorry sight, and Casval felt something like a twinge somewhere in his chest. Without even thinking he began to move towards the couch until he was standing in front of where his sister lay. So caught up in her sorrow she didn’t even realize he was so close until he plopped down right next to her.
She lifted her hands off her head and looked up at him, her eyes were watery and her face was a bright, blotchy red. Artesia tilted her head, as if to ask a question, and instead of responding Casval just set his hand on the top of her head and began to run his fingers through her hair. Artesia let out a choked little noise and then leaned into her brother a wobbly grin replacing her previous frown.
-
Quess Paraya is valuable. Char knows that much. Quess is also thirteen years old, no more than a girl. Char also knows this. Quess is a powerful newtype, and she is desperate for attention. Someone of her caliber would be an excellent asset for Neo-Zeon. Char should feel bad, this he knows as well. A 13 year old Girl has no place killing and being killed. He should care. He should care about her clearly troubled homelife, He should care about her need for a father, an adult who genuinely has her best interests in mind.
He cups her cheek in his palm and she leans into him, so eager for even the slightest bit of affection. So willing to do ANYTHING for it, she’d die for this validation. Char should care.
He doesn’t.