Chapter Text
November 30th S.1208
Avet Weiss didn’t have many hobbies. When she worked in the chapel in Trista, she’d learned to bake and enjoyed it; cake, brownies, and cookies all came naturally. Her other hobby was being a goddess-damned knight of the Gralsritter. She’d been told more than a few times that her job couldn’t also be her hobby but she ignored the advice. So when when the question finally came her way, Avet decided to give the honest answer:
“I’ve never seen an orbal film.”
The statement was said casually but it landed with all the force of a grenade. Not every piece of chatter ended in Montmart Bistro but more than a few conversations stopped as eyes turned toward Avet Weiss. Most of the gathered party guests knew Avet only as the severe-looking attendant knight assisting Celis and Leon during their mission to recover artifacts from the Almata mafia.
That had passed, the villains defeated, and now was a time to celebrate.
At least it was until Avet explained that she’d never see a film. Avet was sitting in the worst possible place to accept the news. She’d kicked off a conversation with Nina Fenly, someone she “knew” privately but not publicly. Their conversation has been cordial and contained no references oblique or otherwise to Septian Church affairs. Only Master Begard, that grand bear of a man, seemed to notice the ease at which two supposed strangers were talking. But then again, if anyone had secrets it was the former Eighth Dominion of the Gralsritter.
It helped that he was distracted by Gaius. Avet knew how the story was meant to go and this was among the biggest changes. Her prophetic visions had lessened since the Great Twilight but never faded; this made her a valuable asset to the Eighth Dominion and really anyone who might, within the authority of their position, request her assistance for field work. That usually meant Gaius—years of “will they, won’t they” had eventually given way to an open affection that they did not hide even as she worked as his Knight-Adjutant. Regardless, this was “different.”
In the story she first saw, Gaius did not learn that his beloved teacher Gunther Barkhorn had survived apparent death and taken on a new identity. At least not for a litle while longer. In this arrangement of fate, he’d rushed to rendezvous with Avet and his fellow Dominions once their mission was complete. The reunion was not untouched by anger. Even so, the first thing Gaius did was hug and forgive his master. Goddess bless 'em both.
And now there they were, happy and chatting away. But wait, what was that Avet had just said?
“You’ve NEVER SEEN an orbal film?!” Judith Lanster cried out from across the room. She zipped to Nina’s side with cat-like speed, soft apricot colored hair flowing behind her. Avet didn’t know Judith well. She mostly knew her as a friend of Van Arkiride. Avet knew that Judith was some kind of celebrity but, not being much for pop culture, it hadn’t been much of a concern.
The knight turned to Nina, who smiled apologetically. It was almost too perfect of a gesture. Only a small strand of cobalt blue hair falling across Nina’s face made it look accidental but somehow Avet suspected she’d been tricked into this conversation. “Sorry…” Nina whispered.
“How is that even possible?!” Judith asked, looking aghast. “Do you live on a mountain? I mean, you’re saying that in all your time in Calvard, you never took two hours at a movie theater? It's not like the church is against movies. You should've gone!”
Avet shook her head. “I was focused on assisting Mother Celis and Father Leon..”
“Don’t pin this on me!” a crass-voice called from a nearby table. “I gave you free time and it ain’t my fault if couldn’t be fucked to use it for leisure. Life isn’t all “work, work” y’know! You should try to do something other than sharpen your sword and be all gloomy.”
"I went to coffee shops with you?" Avet retorted with some confusion. "I thought the riverside place was pretty great."
A soft hand reached across the table, taking Celis’ with practiced comfort and giving it a sweet, almost patronizing stroke that—if you looked for it—held a more suggesting meaning. Father Leon Balthazar sighed. “Now, now, Celis, we were rather busy,” he said and for a moment Avet hoped that would be the end of it. “Although this is a most disturbing development and one in need of swift correction…”
Celis pulled her hand away from Leon and called out across the room. “Gaius! Gaius!” she roared without concern for tact. “Can you tell Little Miss Fucks-Her-Dominon after that after you’re done here, yer gonna go to the Tyrell District and catch an orbal flick?”
The response was patient but firm. “Can you please not call her that?” Gaius asked. "Especially in polite company?"
“Has she stopped fucking you?”
She hadn’t but that didn’t matter for the moment and, sandwiched between two movie stars, Avet found it hard to break free from the conversation. There would be time enough later for punching Celis. For now, Nina simply giggled politely. “I think you’d really like them..”
Judith had immediately slipped into some kind of scheme. She looked over at Nina, eyes narrowing. Some kind of agreement passed between the two women. Avet didn’t understand it but suspected it wasn’t good. “This is a rare opportunity, Nina,” Judith said. “Don’t you think..”
Nina’s soft smile shifted to something more conspiratorial.
“I suppose we could consider it a kind of research,” she agreed. “A chance to see films through an unclouded, impartial eye.”
“I want in,” a third voice declared. Confident, possessed of amazing swagger. “This is too good to miss.”
Van Arkride had somehow sneaked across the room. His smile was warm but eager.
Avet liked Van. She certainly liked him more than Celis did but that was a very low bar. The self-proclaimed spriggan was smart, worldly, and really if you wanted to categorize it this way he was the “hero” of this little misadventure with Almata. If anything else, he seemed to get along with Gaius; the Eighth Dominion showed no resentment for Bergard’s secret pupil. “Uh, what’s going on…” Avet asked. Suddenly, she was fully surrounded.
Van held out his hand. “Lemme see your Xipha.”
Avet obliged. She wasn’t big on orbal arts—through what Mecha Mishy might have called “complex reasons” she could summon a potent azure fire and stuck with that mostly—and was even less into modern technology. Until Calvard, she’d still been using her ARCUS II. Father Leon ordered, with starling haste, that some of their budget be spent on acquiring an additional Xipha. The design was compact and slim but Avet had no clue how to navigate any of the menus. She's snapped at least fifteen accidental picture tonight and downloaded three different new apps. She was hopeless.
Nina and Judith pulled out their orbments as well. All three Xiphas were placed together and with a glowing flick-bweooop! some sort of interaction occurred. Everyone seemed very satisfied with the results; Van handed the Xipha back to Avet. “I added my info also,” he explained.
“Information for what?” Avet asked. “The mission’s over; we don’t need to keep communicating.”
“Movie chat!” Judith yelled happily.
“Movie chat!” Nina echoed.
Van slipped his arm around Avet. “Here’s the deal,” the spriggan said. “You’ve never seen a film we’re not judging but it’s, uh… important for your cultural education that you get out there and spend some time at the cinema. We’ll give you picks, you watch ‘em, tell us what you think..”
Avet attempted to object but her voice could barely be heard over their recommendations for romances, action-flicks, political thrillers, and more.
Movie Chat had been established.
[SweetJustice Has Started A New Chat.]
[SweetJustice Has Changed The Chat Name To “Critical Cultural Education”]
[SweetJustice Has Changed The Chat Name To “Movie Chat”]
[SweetJustice Has Added MyOwnStuntDouble, SmittenForKitten To The Group.]
[SweetJustice Has Added AvetWeiss To The Group.]
SweetJustice: Okay, let’s get started.
SmittenForKitten: give everyone a second van
MyOwnStuntDouble: We don’t even know if she saw the movie yet.
AvetWeiss: Hello. I have seen the movie. Are you reading this?
SweetJustice: Awesome! And yeah, we gotcha.
SmittenForKitten: whats wrong with your username/
AvetWeiss: I don’t understand.
SmittenForKitten: why it is just “AvetWeiss”
AvetWeiss: It asked for my name. I don’t understand.
SweetJustice: Most people make up a kind of nickname. It’s mostly meant for fun but sometimes folks on the orbal net like to be anonymous for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes they're doing bad shit, other times it's more about self-expression y'know?
AvetWeiss: I did not want to be anonymous. It asked for my name.
MyOwnStuntDouble: It’s fine for now. If you want, you can always change it later.
AvetWeiss: To what?
SweetJustice: How about “KnightOfTheGalsRitter?”
SmittenForKitten: puns are good but maybe something cute like like “WrongButtonMistress”
AvetWeiss: IS THAT A JOKE ABOUT HOW I USE MY XIPHA?
SweetJustice: You’ve pissed her off, Judes.
AvetWeiss: HOW DO I TURN THIS OFF WHY DOES IT LOOK SO BIG?
MyOwnStuntDouble: I think she’s turned on caps-lock.
SweetJustice: There’s a button to the button left. Press that.
[AvetWeiss has started a voice call.]
[AvetWeiss ended a voice call after 00:02 seconds.]
[AvetWeiss has started a voice call.]
[AvetWeiss has ended a voice call after 00:06 second. Automatic voice transcription generated.]
Audio: “How the hell d-”
AvetWeiss: Okay, I got it.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Maybe we can wait before teaching her how to swap user names.
SmittenForKitten: agreed. so what movie did you see?
AvetWeiss: I started with Van’s suggestion: Gloria: Dawn of the Revolution.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Oh! That’s one of mine!
AvetWeiss: Yes.
SweetJustice: It’s a good flick but more importantly I thought it would be good for someone who doesn’t know Calvardian history too much. It takes some liberties but what movie doesn’t?
AvetWeiss: I am from Jurai. That means I can’t comment on historical accuracy. The costumes looked expensive.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Did you like it?
AvetWeiss: Yes, I think it is quite good.
SmittenForKitten: booyaa ninna way to go!!1 i knew she’d dig it. definitely one of your best
MyOwnStuntDouble: I’m glad. I really liked working on that one. I was so, so nervous about making sure I really dug deep into Sheena Dirke’s passion but also her doubts. I read so many biographies but everyone has such different opinions on her.
AvetWeiss: It showed. Your performance was quite good, Nina. I felt bad for Sheena having to take on so much at a young age. The speech outside Vashtar Palace surprised me. I didn't know I could feel like that. I nearly cried because I really was happy the revolution succeeded.
AvetWeiss: I was worried for a moment.
SweetJustice: Well, I mean, you already knew that much before watching the movie.
AvetWeiss: Yes.
AvetWeiss: It was still an exciting conclusion but I have some notes.
SmittenForKitten: notes? are they good or bad?
AvetWeiss: I think the revolutionaries' tactics in the final battle were flawed. They placed many cannons in places that would not realistically hit the palace. They also broke ranks near the end and simply rushed up the steps. This tactical mistake ended up getting many people killed.
SmittenForKitten: oh these are bad notes. that’s the kind of stuff you’re not supposed to worry about in a movie dear. it’s all about the feelings and the sights and sounds and sometimes the camerawork and a few other things
AvetWeiss: Like what?
SweetJustice: You mentioned costumes and that's a good example. Music's a big one for me whenever I watch a flick. The composer for this one is particularly good. They got Jules Berger for this one and I’ve always really loved his stuff. Did you know the leitmotif for Sheena actually uses part of an actual composition by Aramis Gainsbourg? That’s the kind of detail that really turns the score in something special! Really smart stuff.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Did you like the music, Avet? Don’t worry about the tactical details or anything like that.
MyOwnStuntDouble:Just let us know what you liked or even what confused you.
AvetWeiss: The music was good.
AvetWeiss: I also was impressed with the actress playing the child Sheena Dirke.
AvetWeiss: She looked very much like you, Nina. She was also talented like you.
MyOwnStuntDouble: That’s Vicki Lettmann. She’s actually from Erebonia but I think she nails that old Calvardian accent perfectly. We actually didn’t get to work together except for that scene where Sheena talks to herself on the night before the revolution starts. She’s great!
AvetWeiss: That scene was nice. Did that really happen?
MyOwnStuntDouble: What?
AvetWeiss: Did Sheena Dirke have a vision and talk to her childhood self like that?
SmittenForKitten: it’s historical fiction. so it’s not literally what happened.
SmittenForKitten:for instance if you remember the sword fight on the supply train that’s made up too. but wasn’t it cool af?
AvetWeiss: Why would you put fake things in a story about real events?
MyOwnStuntDouble: It’s not all fake. Some of the speeches are from real documents and some of it’s pulled from diaries belonging to old revolutionaries. But movies aren’t only about facts. They’re a way for us to experience something bigger than ourselves. Feel new and exciting feelings and melt away from worries for a while. So the scripts add some fun stuff too. Otherwise, it's just a documentary.
AvetWeiss: I want to watch a documentary.
SweetJustice: That's not really this chat's deal.
SweetJustice: It’s also about keeping the audience in their seat. You want people to really sit down and pay attention? You blow up someone in the first twenty minutes or maybe there’s a kiss or car chase. Once you hook people, then you can do the more subtle stuff.
AvetWeiss: The train fight didn’t happen?
MyOwnStuntDouble: No, but most of the stunts were real. I spent about four months learning all that and shooting it on the train took about two weeks. I think it’s the most intense thing I’ve done since Wolves' Requiem. And like Van said, it does help glue people to the screen.
AvetWeiss: You have good footwork. Better than some of the recruits I train.
SmittenForKitten: that’s high praise, nina. not ever actor does that kind of work, avet. it’s dangerous and makes executives worry. i did some of the firearms work in Golden Blood and i also convinced them to do the wire stuff too. So when you see zoe run down the building that’s actually me doing it. I have ex i really practiced hard to learn all that
SweetJustice: Real smooth save there, Judith.
SmittenForKitten: shut UP vAN
AvetWeiss: I have not seen Golden Blood.
SweetJustice: Wait, hold up. You don’t know how to turn off your caps but somehow you’ve figured out how to italicize the titles for movies? How the hell does that work? Are you screwing with us right now?
AvetWeiss: I don’t understand.
SweetJustice: Forget it. But, man! Now you gotta see Golden Blood; it’s really one of the best things that’s come out in ages. The color grading is exceptional and all the cross-promotions were amazing. Andalucia made a “golden blood” cake that had this thick layer of orange zest on the top but it didn’t disrupt the vanilla underneath at all. I think about it all the time!!
AvetWeiss: Do you have the recipe? I could try to make one if I ever visit your office again.
AvetWeiss: I don’t think I will be in Calvard for a while though. Me and Gaius are taking a brief vacation in the Nord Highlands.
AvetWeiss: I intend to bring some movies with us.
SmittenForKitten: but you at least saw Gloria in a theater right?
AvetWeiss: Yes.
AvetWeiss: Tickets were more expensive that I imagined but Father Leon said we could use mission funds so long as we noted in the after-action report that it was for a ‘cultural cooperation’ project. It still was not very much of the total budget available to us. I went to an early matinee.
AvetWeiss: But I think the commander would not have cared too much if we just
AvetWeiss: said it was for an orbal film. Sorry. I did not mean to send that message ye
AvetWeiss: These touch screens are very sensitive. Sorry.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Nothing beats the atmosphere of a cinema but there’s a lot of charm to watching a movie snuggled under a blanket with someone else. I hope you enjoyed it! Opening night in Edith was a night I'll remember forever.
SweetJustice: Do you have a final score for Gloria? Scale of one to ten.
AvetWeiss: Eight swords out of ten.
SweetJustice: Hey! That’s pretty good!
SmittenForKitten: it’s not a nine or ten but i think everyone’s first movie leaves a really big impression. maybe you can see it again if they do a second theatrical release. you could watch it with a little more movie experience and see how it holds up
AvetWeiss: I liked it. You should be proud, Nina.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Thank you, Avet. That really means a lot to hear.
AvetWeiss: I bought a commemorative pamphlet as well. Let me send the image.
AvetWeiss: One moment. The weather app just opened.
AvetWeiss: Hold on.
AvetWeiss: There.
[AvetWeiss Has Added BlazingBaddie, ArticSophistry To The Group.]
AvetWeiss: Did you get it?
BlazingBaddie: Why the fuck am I in a chat with Avet and Arkride?
SweetJustice: Oh no.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Hello there. Sorry. She added you accidentally.
AvetWeiss: Is that you, Mother Celis?
BlazingBaddie: It sure as shit isn’t Thomas.
ArticSophistry: Let’s behave now, Celis. If it’s alright, I took the liberty of scrolling up. This appears to be a chat for discussing movies? That’s delightful. What are we talking about?
SweetJustice: You two aren’t talking about anything. You’re banned! See ya!
SweetJustice: Wait, why can’t I kick you? Why does it say Avet is admin? How the hell is that even possible? I made the chat!
SweetJustice: Avet, get them out of here. They're going to totally ruin the carefully cultivated vibes.
AvetWeiss: How?
BlazingBaddie: OMG! This is hysterical! Up yours, Arkride!
SmittenForKitten: avet just gave us her final score for Gloria
ArticSophistry: A respectable film but I found it relies a little too much on bombast. Nina Fenly’s performance was, of course, wonderful but I would have appreciated a few more quiet moments. The film got away from itself at the end but I still rather enjoyed it.
MyOwnStuntDouble: Thank you. I worked really hard on it.
ArticSophistry: Am I in a chat with Nina Fenly and Judith Lanster? :D
BlazingBaddie: Why the hell are you giving your own review?
BlazingBaddie: and the SHIT is a knight of the Gralsritter doing in an orbal chat with two movies starts and Van ASSride!? Does the commander know about it? No skin off my back but Ein's a real hardass sometimes.
ArticSophistry: Technically, she paid for Avet and Gaius’ tickets.
BlazingBaddie: THE FUCK
ArticSophistry: What was the final score?
AvetWeiss: Eight swords out of ten.
ArticSophistry: A fair score all things considered. Most people use stars though.
AvetWeiss: I used swords.
ArticSophistry: What’s the next film?
SmittenForKitten: i think it’s gonna be Golden Blood
ArticSophistry: Gotti’s finest film to date! Does she have the theatrical or director’s cut?
AvetWeiss: I think Gaius bought the theatrical cut.
ArticSophistry: Inferior. I will have someone send you the unrated director’s cut.
SweetJustice: Can you please kick them from the chat?
AvetWeiss: How?
MyOwnStuntDouble: I think that ends our first session. It's fine to keep this one a little short since it's the first time we've done this. We can talk later once Avet’s seen Golden Blood. I’ll start a document to keep track of all the scores. Until then? Stay safe, friends!
SmittenForKitten: man its so good to get reall ass movie opinions
ArticSophistry: We shall see you then.
BlazingBaddie: I guess.
AvetWeiss: How do I
[AvetWeiss has muted AvetWeiss for 86000 seconds.]