Supports: Chapter 16

So, while Sanaki's been playing the cloak and dagger game, what have our folks been talking to each other about?

Today's Supports:

• Ilyana/Zihark C
• Mist/Jill B
• Ike/Soren B
• Mist/Mordecai B
• Rhys/Rolf B
• Rhys/Mia B
• Oscar/Kieran B
• Mist/Rolf A

C Supports

Ilyana/Zihark C

Zihark: Uh…Ilyana? What are you staring at?
Ilyana: Oh? Er… The bag on your hip.
Zihark: It’s nothing special. I just carry a vulnerary and some snacks in there. Why? Is there something wrong with it?
Ilyana: Oooh… It smells delicious…
Zihark: Really? That’s odd. It’s just some dried meat.
Ilyana: Dried meat! So… savory… I’m just… you know. I’m hungry.
Zihark: You’re hungry? But I just saw you shoveling down some roast rabbit a few minutes ago! You may look frail, but you can sure throw down the chow! Well, I’m off. Talk to you later!
Ilyana: Oh… good-bye.
Ilyana: What am I going to do? I should have told him I’m starving and nearly ready to collapse from hunger pains. Maybe then he would have given me some of his delicious-smelling snacks. I need food!

This conversation doesn't make Ilyana's hunger habit look healthy. In both a medical and a social context. I suppose that's what happens when the comic relief character gets five chains and the writers just really need to keep things fresh.

B Supports

Mist/Jill B

Mist: Does that taste good, Jill?
Jill: Mmrph… Yeah, it’s really good. Why?
Mist: Because I made it! I’m glad you like it.
Jill: You made this?
Mist: Yep. I call it Mist’s Magical Meatloaf! It’s chock full of stuff that’s good for you, especially when you’re sick. You look real sad and you never eat, so I thought this would make you feel better.
Jill: You’re worried about me? Why are you so… nice to me? I’m a Daein sol–
Mist: Stop. Please stop saying that.
Jill: Why? It’s true.
Mist: Because it makes me feel bad, that’s why! You’re always saying, “I’m a Daein soldier! Everyone should hate me! Blah blah blah!”
You’re not a bad person, Jill. I want to be your friend. And you make it really hard!
Jill: M-my friend…?

Mist is a clear winner in Supports today, but Mist/Jill continues to be very much about Jill's character arc through the Begnion story. At least that means Mist gets time to shine elsewhere!

Ike/Soren B

Soren: …
Ike: Do you have a second, Soren?
Soren: What is it, Ike?
Ike: What’s wrong? You’ve been quiet and moody for days. What’s going on?
Soren: Um… Well, it’s…
Ike: Yes?
Soren: …It’s nothing. … …You’ve never worried about who you are, have you? Your family? Where you come from?
Ike: Who I am…? Well, not really. No. I guess I don’t understand what you’re getting at. I had a father and a mother. I don’t remember much about her, but otherwise, no complaints.
Soren: It must be… nice to have loving parents. You need people to experience your childhood. To help shape the person you will become. Without an adult around to affirm and support them, a child can’t know which path to take. Or who he really is.
Ike: Don’t you have any memory of your parents?
Soren: No. The woman who raised me was not my birth mother. And she wasn’t all that fond of me, anyway… My earliest memories are of her saying, “Why me? The world isn’t fair!” or “Stay away from me, child!” No love. No affection. She took care of me out of some sense of duty that she didn’t really possess.
Ike: …
Soren: When I was about four, a nearby sage came by and asked to take me in. He said I possessed rare magical talent. I remember the day clearly. My caretaker was delighted to give me up. In fact, she seemed almost delirious with pleasure. Smiling like a madwoman as she handed me over… The sage even gave her gold as compensation. Not that it was necessary.
Ike: Oh, Soren… I had no idea.
Soren: The sage was old, and knew that death would soon come for him. His only goal was to teach his art to an apprentice. As time was short, he put me through terribly rigorous magic training. We worked day and night, without cease. I didn’t even have time to think about who I really was. But it was still a better life than I had ever known. When the sage died two years later, I had acquired much magical skill. Perhaps too much for a child of my age… At any rate, once I had eaten all of the food in the sage’s hovel, I left and walked for days to find help. Upon reaching civilization, I came to another grim realization… I couldn’t speak. Not a word.
Ike: Soren…
Soren: Oh, I could read and write better than most of the villagers. And I could understand what they said. I just couldn’t talk. I couldn’t help it. The woman and the sage both used to hurl words at me. Unkind words, usually. But I never needed to answer, so–
Ike: Soren!
Soren: Huh? Oh… I apologize, Ike. I should not have made you listen to such nonsense…
Ike: Soren, it’s no nonsense! It’s awful! It’s the most terrible thing I’ve ever heard! Where did this happen? Was it in Begnion?
Soren: No… But, there’s more. I haven’t told you… About my parents… No, that’s enough. I’m sorry. Excuse me…
Ike: Wait, Soren? Soren! Blast!

Now that's a chunky backstory revelation. You can really tell Ike/Soren is the Support to follow, since it's the one that made a main story appearance (I guess this is what was bothering Soren in Chapter 15!). Who Soren is and his place in the world also has huge implications for the story at large, which definitely puts him in the same sort of narrative importance that, say, Ninian and L'Arachel have in addition to them being "the main Lord's girlfriend". And to think this is only his B rank!

Mist/Mordecai B

Mist: Hello, Mordecai!
Mordecai: You are quite an energetic girl, are you not?
Mist: Yep! I’m in a good mood today.
Mordecai: I am glad to hear it.
Mist: Well, I like to think I have a cheery disposition. I don’t like to be a Complainy Janey, you know? Ha ha… Um… And I like cooking, too. Oh, but I’m not so good at sewing, but my mother was.
Mordecai: Is that so.
Mist: And… And… Um… I forgot what else I was going to say. Um, er… Uh…
Mordecai: Mist. You must breathe.
Mist: …HAAAAAA! Whew! Sorry! I’m better now…
Mordecai: You are nervous. You have not spoken to many laguz before. I can tell. But in your heart, you are trying to be my friend. That much is clear to me. Most clear.
Mist: …
Mordecai: Do not be nervous. In time, we will grow to be friends. To speak true, Mordecai feels as nervous as you do.
Mist: Oh, Mordecai… Yes… Thank you. I feel a lot better now, kind of. You’re right. I shouldn’t try so hard, should I?
Mordecai: Graow.

Trying to be Mordecai's friend is a lot harder than just getting over whatever laguz prejudice you have. Mordecai's biceps are bigger than Mist's whole body. This guy could break Mist like a twig if he grabs her hand the wrong way. Not that our Mist is going to be in much danger of that for long...

Rhys/Rolf B

Rolf: Oh, Rhys! What’s wrong?
Rhys: Hm? Nothing, Rolf.
Rolf: Are you feeling sick? Are you gonna barf?
Rhys: No, no. What makes you think that?
Rolf: Don’t lie! I can tell! Your hands and face always turn pale when you’re sick! Let me see your hands!
Rhys: Hey, stop that! I’m only wearing gloves because they’re fashionable right now! Don’t take those…
Rolf: AHA! They’re cold! Cold as ice! You’re supposed to tell me when you’re having a rough time of it!
Rhys: …Sorry, Rolf. But I’m well enough to move around a battlefield, so I’ll be all right.
Rolf: You’re talking about a battlefield, Rhys! Not some fort! Don’t pretend to be fine if you’re not! You’ll end up dead if you keep doing stuff like that!
Rhys: Rolf… I… I’m sorry…
Rolf: Hmph!
Rhys: I’m really sorry, Rolf. I wish… Cough! I wish I wasn’t so frail. It would be nice to be strong.
Rolf: Well, I wish your staff could heal sicknesses and not just big gaping axe wounds!
Rhys: So do I… Sigh… I wish I had a better plan than just waiting for it to pass.
Rolf: Well, I’ll ask Ike to let us fight together. At least then I can keep an eye on you.
Rhys: Thanks, Rolf…

Rolf is taking responsibility seriously around here. Also, man, Rhys really isn't cut out for a battlefield, huh? Almost makes me feel like Mist is the more ethical healer.

Rhys/Mia B

Rhys: Oh, hello, Mia. Um… You’re not going to throw a sword at me again, are you?
Mia: Huh? Oh, heya, Rhys. I was hoping to run into someone today… And guess what? You showed up!
Rhys: Ahhh! Not that fortune-telling again! L-look, I d-didn’t mean to interrupt you… Let me just back away now…
Mia: No! Stick around! I could be wrong. Maybe fortune-telling can’t predict the future after all… Too bad! That crone had a great reputation. Wait… Maaaaaybe…
Rhys: Yes?
Mia: Do you want to train with me, Rhys?
Rhys: Huh?
Mia: Oh, why didn’t I see it before! You have what it takes to be a legendary swordsman! You just don’t realize it yet. There is awesome potential within you. And when you finally realize it, you’ll end up clashing with me as my grand archrival!
Rhys: Hah! Haaa…. Um… I don’t think that’s likely to happen, Mia. Although… it’s true that I once wanted to be a fighter, back when I was a frail child.
Mia: Aha! I knew it! You can’t give up unharnessed talent like yours just because you’re frail! Give it a try. C’mon! I’ll train you myself! We’ll start with the basics.
Rhys: You…will?
Mia: Of course…even if I am training the man that will one day be my most hated rival! We better get cracking!

Mia really desperately wants this fortune of hers to come true. If this was Three Houses, there would be a tragic backstory behind this fortune. However, this is Tellius, and while I have a theory about the nature of this fortune, it will be a good while before we get the Support that gives us the context.

Oscar/Kieran B

Kieran: Oscar!!
Oscar: Hi, Kieran. Still hanging in there, huh?
Kieran: I can’t take it anymore! Come back! Rejoin the proud brotherhood of the Crimean knights!
Oscar: This is sudden–
Kieran: As a former Crimean knight, surely you have some sense of loyalty! What say you!? Rejoin! For king and country! The homeland is in danger! Any who used to be Crimean knights should come rushing to her aid!
Oscar: You have a point. And I’m glad I’m able to help rebuild the homeland, even if it’s as a mercenary.
Kieran: I’m not here to make you glad! I’m here to convince you to be a knight again! You’re not fulfilling your allegiance to sweet Crimea by being a mercenary! How can you sleep at night?
Oscar: I love Crimea, but I’m happy here. I want to serve Ike as a member of the Greil Mercenaries. Forever.
Kieran: Darn! Why!? What draws you guys to such a life…? What could make the mercenary life so appealing that you would sell your loyalty to our glorious homeland, Crimea? A-ha! Could it be the nice fat salary!? That’s it! I remember you saying that you needed money! Ho! Loose lips sink ships!
Oscar: If I wanted money, I would have stayed with the Crimean knights. I only get about half of that now.
Kieran: What in the–!? Bah! Wake up, man! Can’t you see you’re being duped!? Honor! Fortune! Glory! It can be yours!
Oscar: I doubt it.
Kieran: Bah, I say! You’re hopeless!
Oscar: Who’s hopeless…?

Kieran, dude, the more you open your mouth, the more useless the Crimean Knights come off as on the world stage. Quite frankly, if you told me Geoffrey and Kieran's platoon was the entirety of the Crimean Knights, I'd believe it.

...Also, what is the saying "loose lips sink ships" doing in Tellius? This continent is not designed for naval warfare.

A Supports

Mist/Rolf A

Mist: Rolf.
Rolf: …
Mist: Stop ignoring me! Can we please talk? Please?
Rolf: …
Mist: I don’t blame you. I just wanted you to know that… Not everyone we run into is evil. Some of them might just be caught up on the wrong side.
Rolf: So I wasn’t thinking about that? Is that what you mean?
Mist: What? No…
Rolf: We’re not fighting targets. I know the difference. Targets don’t squirm on the ground and gurgle in pain. Targets don’t make the grass slippery with blood. I learned that lesson the first time I took a man down. They’re fighters, just like us.
Mist: Rolf…
Rolf: But there’s a difference. They’re trying to hurt the people I love. Anyone that tries that is an enemy of mine. That’s why I won’t hesitate to feather them. If I let even one of them live, they will do everything they can to kill one of our own. I… I’m afraid of that. I won’t stop spilling blood until it’s over.
Mist: Rolf!
Rolf: I don’t want you to die! I… I… I don’t want to lose anyone else… … Whaaaa…
Mist: I’m sorry, Rolf! I’m so sorry…
Rolf: Whaaaaaaaaa… …Sniff… Sniff…
Mist: I thought you had changed. You used to be such a sweet boy. I thought you’d turned hard and didn’t understand about death. I’m sorry… I didn’t understand how you felt. You’ve been so desperate to protect everyone else.
Rolf: This will be over one day. I just want everyone to see that day.
Mist: Me, too, Rolf. Me, too…

Rolf's dehumanisation is just one giant shell. He's going to murder his enemies or else he has to confront the grim reality of what he is doing. Mist, who's been in charge of the "redeem Jill" project, has a bit of a fundamental miscommunication here. Really, Rolf is going to need a lot of therapy at some point, and I'm getting more and more concerned that "some point" might be during the plot of the game rather than after it.