Supports: Chapter 12

We're on a boat, and our cabin feverish crew could use a few conversations. Just try not to remember that first bit for some of them.

Today's Supports

• Titania/Mist C
  
• Rhys/Mia C
• Ilyana/Mordecai C
• Marcia/Rolf C
• Titania/Rhys C
• Rolf/Mist C 

C Supports

Titania/Mist C

Titania: Doing the laundry, Mist? Here, let me give you a hand.
Mist: Oh, no, no… Please, you’ve been fighting all day. I couldn’t make you help!
Titania: We’ve all had our hands full around here, and you’re no exception. Now, give me some of those… Wow. Talk about a pile of laundry…
Mist: Yeah, I’m actually washing everyone else’s stuff while I’m at it. I thought it would be a good way to thank the others for all their help.
Titania: Well, it’s a thoughtful gesture, but make sure you don’t turn it into a full-time job, all right? Oh, this one is ripped.
Mist: Oh, that’s my brother’s. He’s been fighting too long in these old things. Look at it! It’s practically falling apart! Next time we’re in a town, I’m going to make him buy a new shirt. If he’s going to be commander, he’d better look the part!
Titania: Speaking of which…let me see that old thing you’re wearing. The sleeve is coming apart. See?
Mist: Hey, you’re right!
Titania: This is beyond repair. Your brother’s not the only one who could benefit from a shopping trip. We’ll go together, you and I.
Mist: I don’t know, Titania… There’s so much work to be done around here. I’m not sure I’ve got the time, really…
Titania: I’m telling you, Mist, you’re pushing yourself too hard. Everyone appreciates your work, but you’re leaving no time to relax!
Mist: Yeah, but… doing the chores helps me relax! What? Don’t look at me that way!
Titania: Mist, that’s nonsense. I mean it. You need to take some time off. Sometime soon, you and I will go into town, just the two of us.
Mist: Oh, all right!

This Support is one of the very few in the game to be modified depending on certain events. Specifically, if you view this conversation in Chapter 18 or later, exactly who Mist is doing the laundry for changes based on the new circumstances. Changes in Supports like this are nonexistent in the rest of the series... until Three Houses added about a hundred.

Rhys/Mia C

Mia: Oh… It’s you? YOU!? RHYS!? Well, can’t be picky, I guess… Hiyaaa! Take this weapon, cur!
Rhys: Um… Oh, hello, Mia. What is this? A sword? Yes, I think that’s right… Ooof! It’s heavy!
Mia: Yessir! Who would have thought it was gonna be you!? Funny, that. Now… Get ready! En garde!
Rhys: Yaaaa! Wait! S-stop, please! I don’t know what’s going on! I c-can’t use weapons!
Mia: Whaaat!? Oh, come on. You can use them a little, right? Riiiight?
Rhys: No! I’ve never even touched one before… B-but if you just want me to hold it, I can. Hmmm… I hold this end, right?
Mia: …Oh, this is so disappointing! I had my fortune read the other day, and the old crone told me that I’d soon come across my one true foe! “With white robes flowing in the breeze, your archrival rides toward you…” Oh, I was so looking forward to it!
Rhys: Um…sorry to disappoint you. I’m pretty sure that it’s not me.
Mia: Aw, it’s not your fault, Rhys. I was just prepped for a big fight with my archrival, and then you came walking by… Thought maybe it was you, you know?
Rhys: Um… I can just stand here and hold the sword if you want to hit it a few times.
Mia: Nah, forget it. I don’t want you to get hurt. I’ll give up for today… Shucks.

Rhys/Mia summarises Mia's main goal in life: to find her destined rival, as predicted by this one fortune teller ("the other day" implies it's a recent fortune, but no, this is her life goal), and have a legendary battle with them. Honestly, though, I think Mia/Largo says a lot more about Mia's fundamental experience than Rhys/Mia, which is Mia frantically trying to force the square peg that is Rhys into the round hole that is "her legendary rival".

Ilyana/Mordecai C

Ilyana: Ah…
Mordecai: You look sickly.
Ilyana: I… I…know you…
Mordecai: I am Mordecai. You are Ilyana. We have not met.
Ilyana: You’re right… I keep to myself, mostly… Even though we’re on the same side, I’m often forgotten. Ahhh… Whoa…
Mordecai: Mmm? What is wrong?
Ilyana: I’m… I’m sorry. I got a little dizzy, there. Don’t worry about it. It happens all the time.
Mordecai: Hmmm… You are skinny. Even for a beorc. Can you fight?
Ilyana: I can… Somehow.
Mordecai: But you are as thin as a paper. Won’t the enemy tear you to shreds?
Ilyana: There’s nothing I can do about my size. When that happens… I’m ready…
Mordecai: Grrr… I don’t like the sound of that. Stay close to my side. I will keep your skinny beorc body safe.
Ilyana: R-really? Thank you, Mordecai.

Ilyana's existence is just the eternal suffering of "I am really hungry". She has the fatigue suitable for such a character trait, but what exactly makes her so hungry is another matter. Is she just poorly attuned to magic and her thunder spells are costing her more calories than the other mages? Does she have some sort of real, diagnosable illness or ailment that's causing it? It's never really specified, so Ilyana just wanders from conversation to conversation, completely oblivious to everything that isn't being fed. She honestly doesn't have the energy to burn.

Marcia/Rolf C

Rolf: Ready… aim…
Marcia: Hey! You’re Rolf, right? What are you doing out here all alone?
Rolf: I’m practicing my archery skills! See? I just nail a target to a tree and fire away. I cover my arrow tips with burlap to prevent accidents. You see… there was this one incident with a marmot… Well, I just try to stay close to the target now. It’s not the best way to train, but at least it gives me some practice.
Marcia: Aw, that’s so cute! You’re trying hard, even though you’re such a little guy!
Rolf: Hey! I’m not small! I’m a dangerous mercenary!
Marcia: Yeah, of course you are. Say, you mind if I practice with you?
Rolf: That’s all right. I can take care of myself.
Marcia: Pfff! I know! I’m just offering to help. You know… I was once a knight in the service of the world’s greatest country. I also know how to handle a bow. Us pegusus knights fear archers more than anything else, you know.
Rolf: Yeah? Well… you better watch out or I’ll feather you like a quill!
Marcia: Hah! Big words from a little guy! I like you! Hey, you should take a look around and make sure nobody else is around before you start shooting arrows.
Rolf: I KNOW that! Don’t talk to me like a baby!
Marcia: Sheesh! All right! Touchy…

This sounds a lot more impressive when you realise that the nearest trees are on Goldoan soil about five squares away. Again, Rolf is being very macho. I would be in the "how adorable" camp if it wasn't so horrifying.

B Supports

Titania/Rhys

Rhys: Training again?
Titania: Yep. I get antsy if I don’t train every day… Kiyaaaa! Haaaaaa! Whew!
Rhys: Would you mind if I joined you for a while?
Titania: What? You want to train? Really? Well, no, of course I wouldn’t mind. Um…why?
Rhys: I was hoping to find some way to… defend myself I hate being a burden on everyone.
Titania: Rhys! You’re a healer, not a fighter. That’s not your fault. I don’t even think you know which end of a sword to stick in someone! Maybe…
Rhys: Yes, Titania?
Titania: I just wonder if you’d be happier had you not rescued me. Perhaps living in peace with your parents is more your style.
Rhys: Oh, I don’t know. That life wasn’t easy. I have a small, frail body, and there were few jobs for me in our village. My parents were always worried about me. I was sick all the time, and constantly getting bumps and scrapes… They only agreed to let me follow you because you were a strong mercenary group! They figured I would be safe.
Titania: … There must be safer jobs out there! You could be a fisherman. Or a botanist! Do you like plants?
Rhys: Oh, that would bore me to tears! …Titania… I love this job. I don’t want to quit. I was a sickly child, and I didn’t get out much. I used to sit inside and listen to the other children play… In those years, my uncle took me under his wing. He was a mercenary, too. He used to spin unbelievable yarns about his exotic travels and fantastic battles… It inspired me.
Titania: I had no idea!
Rhys: Kinda funny, isn’t it? You know, I shouldn’t say this, but… Sometimes, when we fight one long battle after another… It makes me happy. I feel like I belong.
Titania: You’re a big part of our company, Rhys. I’m glad to hear you say so.

Like commander like deputy. Also it's kinda funny Rhys brings this up after Mia hands him a sword and tells him to start swinging. Titania/Rhys is honestly really good so far. Some nice Rhys characterisation, since he's probably the most lacking of the Greil Mercenaries. Well, OK, Gatrie is definitely the least interesting.

Mist/Rolf B

Rolf: Aim…and release!
Mist: Can I talk to you for a moment, Rolf?
Rolf: Sure. Just hold on and let me tighten my bowstring. I’ve got to be ready… You know, just in case some Daein thugs try to jump us.
Mist: …
Rolf: So…what do you need, Mist?
Mist: Let’s not fight in any more battles, Rolf. I really don’t think we children should be fighting in this war.
Rolf: Huh? Why are you saying this now?
Mist: Let’s go back to being kids. If this is what it’s like to be an adult, I don’t want any part of it.
Rolf: You’re right, Mist. Fighting scares you. You don’t have to fight. Don’t worry… I’ll fight for you!
Mist: That’s not what I meant, and you know it! You’ve got to stop fighting, or it’s all meaningless.
Rolf: I can’t do that. I have to slay our enemies and defend our own. I’m a man, now…
Mist: Slay your enemies? Is it that meaningless to you? Like picking a flower or squishing a spider. They’re human, too.
Rolf: …
Mist: Do you understand that, Rolf? The enemy… They’re human, just like us. They’re not paper targets pinned to a tree.
Rolf: I don’t want to hear it.
Mist: Rolf!
Rolf: I don’t want to hear it!! Got it?! They’re trying to hurt us! Kill us! I’m just stopping them. I’m protecting all of you.
Mist: Wait… Rolf! Oh… Please understand…

I feel bad about using Mist now. Somewhat. Rolf, though... wow, he's definitely gotten too hardened by war so far. We're in the middle of the ocean, what Daein thugs?