Supports: Chapter 17

We head into the belly of the beast. Last call for Supports!

Today's Supports: 

• Sothe/Astrid C
• Astrid/Gatrie C
• Marcia/Gatrie C
• Lethe/Jill B
• Mia/Ilyana B
• Rhys/Kieran B

C Supports

Sothe/Astrid C

Astrid: Taking care of your weapons, Sothe?
Sothe: Yeah, that’s right.
Astrid: Ahhh… splendid. May I speak to you for a moment?
Sothe: What do you want?
Astrid: You are quite skilled with a dagger. If my memory serves, swords are very effective against axes. But, can you tell me which weapon axes are most suited to attack?
Sothe: Hah! You don’t even know that? I thought you were a mercenary!
Astrid: Oh… I’m sorry. Please forgive my ignorance. It’s been only a short while since I became a mercenary. What’s more, I wield a bow.
Sothe: What did you do before?
Astrid: I wasn’t doing… anything. Nothing at all, really.
Sothe: Nothing? It’s hard to fill your stomach doing nothing! Ahh, I get it. You’re a noble, aren’t you? I can tell from all that poncy talk of yours! Peh! You couldn’t tell a hatchet from a pot of rat stew! Not that you’d ever eat rat stew… But why is a soft-hand like you in this war?
Astrid: …
Sothe: Ah, well… Who am I to judge? As long as you feather some Daein scum, you’re all right with me.

Would you believe me if I told you Astrid/Sothe is Astrid's best Support chain? At the very least, you can see the basic ingredients of what's going to go down later on in here: Sothe is going to learn about what exactly Astrid's lot in life is the hard way. I wonder if this winds up shaping Sothe's personality for Radiant Dawn? Not something I can remember off hand. Also, don't bother finding out the answer to that one, Astrid, you're going to use axes on everything just fine.

Astrid/Gatrie C

Gatrie: Hey there, Astrid! Have I told you yet just how glad I am that you’ve joined our little band of warriors?
Astrid: No, but I’m flattered that you say so. I’m glad to be riding with you as well. I heard you were once among Ike’s band of mercenaries. Is that true?
Gatrie: Oh, yeah… We go way back. I’ve been through a lot with them. Is there anything I can help you out with? I’m always glad to assist such a beautiful girl.
Astrid: Oh… Thank you, Gatrie. Actually… Will you teach me how to fight like a mercenary?
Gatrie: Eh? You want to fight like a mercenary?
Astrid: I don’t have much fighting experience. I want to learn so I can hold my own in a battle. I don’t want to be a burden.
Gatrie: Oh, I get it! That’s very admirable, Astrid! Er… But now isn’t the best time for that. I’m a little sore from… uh… lifting heavy things… Blast! Where’s Titania when you need her? I don’t know the first thing about training people…
Astrid: Sorry? I didn’t catch that.
Gatrie: Ha ha! No, nothing at all! Let’s train some other day! I want to make sure I’m totally prepared!
Astrid: Perhaps next time, then. I’m looking forward to it!
Gatrie: She’s so cute… And she asked me to teach her how to fight! That must mean… Yes! I knew it! She wants me! She’s crazy for me! This is going to be fun.

This is going to be a Theme with Gatrie. He doesn't have a single braincell to rub against anything and he moons after anything with a skirt. At least this time, Gatrie is trying to do something genuinely difficult. Teaching people is hard work. Especially when she can kick your ass already.

Gatrie/Marcia C

Gatrie: Marcia! How are you doing, beautiful?
Marcia: Huh? How do you know my name?
Gatrie: Why wouldn’t I know the name of a cute girl like you?! You know, there was a time when Titania was the only woman in this mercenary group. Things have really started to shape up while I was away. Mmm… Not bad at all.
Marcia: Oh, nice line, chump. I’m swooning. Waaaait… You were a member of the Greil Mercenaries?
Gatrie: Yep. Actually, I was a senior member.
Marcia: I knew it! You were one of the guys that saved me from those boat monkeys, weren’t you?
Gatrie: Boat monk… You mean the pirates? Uh… of course! That was me!
Marcia: Aw, heck! That’s fantastic! I was so grateful for the help. Lemme do something to return the favor!
Gatrie: That’s nice of you to say, but having someone as gorgeous and talented as you join us is payment enough. I need nothing more!
Marcia: Whoa…that’s a lot of pressure. I had no idea people depended on me so much. In any case, I’ll keep doing my best! Wish me luck!
Gatrie: She’s so adorable! She will be mine… Oh, yes. She… will… be… mine.

...Is it too late for me to ritually sacrifice Gatrie? I have no memory of this chain even existing, nor where it goes, and I don't like it one bit.

B Supports

Lethe/Jill B

Jill: Le…Lethe?
Lethe: Oh, look what the cat dragged in… It’s you again.
Jill: Jill… My name is…Jill.
Lethe: Fine. Jill. What brings you here today? More stupid questions?
Jill: I’ve been thinking about things, and I haven’t been able to figure out… See, in Daein we were taught that you attack humans indiscriminately and without mercy. That you are just savage animals.
Lethe: Laguz attacking humans? Grrrrawl! What garbage! We dislike even the company of humans and want nothing to do with them. Even mauling you would be…unpleasant.
Jill: But in Daein, everyone believes that to be the truth! That’s why… That’s why I never questioned it. But when I saw you fight beside Ike and other humans on the South Sea, I knew that something was wrong. You were so different from what I imagined! Ever since I was young, they filled my head with tales of your terrible claws and teeth… But you stand on two legs. And you talk… You even make jokes! …Sometimes… You’re much closer to us than a beast!
Lethe: So glad to hear it.
Jill: I wonder why humans and sub-humans started fighting in the first place? Maybe we’re just destined for war.
Lethe: Well, I don’t know much about that. It’s not for me to say if the goddess made us a certain way or if we’re just two races that don’t like each other very much. But I know that Gallia, Phoenicis, and Kilvas all have a reason to hate humans.
Jill: W-what reason?
Lethe: …Are you serious? I take it humans aren’t interested in passing history down to their children… …Typical. All right… Centuries ago, when Begnion was still a monarchy, the only countries were Begnion and Goldoa. Goldoa was as it is today: a reclusive nation inhabited only by dragon tribes. All the other laguz lived in Begnion with the humans.
Jill: Humans and sub-humans used to live together in Begnion?! I had no idea…
Lethe: A human was named as the first king, although the laguz’s superior strength led us to rule more often than not. Despite the harmony that most felt about this arrangement, the senators wanted nothing to do with it. In the name of the “apostle,” they claimed that only a human could be the true ruler of Begnion…and started a civil war. Like blind, mewling kittens, the laguz kings underestimated the situation… We never had a chance. Caught by surprise, my brothers suffered defeat after defeat in the face of superior human weapons and magic. …That was the start of long, dark days… The start of laguz slavery.
Jill: …
Lethe: After nearly 200 years, a small number of enslaved laguz managed to escape their human captors in Begnion. The beast tribes fled to the mountains and unexplored forest areas–places where humans were loathe to tread. The bird tribes, on the other hand, escaped to the distant southern islands. This is how our laguz kingdoms began. It took another eighty years, and the blood of many brother laguz, until we were formally recognized as nations. This is why we fight. Why we hate. Humans don’t want former slaves to have countries and be treated as equals. Laguz carry the shame of the past deep in their hearts, and struggle still for the freedom that you take for granted. This is the true history of Tellius… No wonder humans would bury it.
Jill: I don’t know wh–
Lethe: What to say? Idiot! Think! Think about what I have said. Think about what you have seen with your eyes and heard with your ears. If you don’t even have the guts to do that, never show yourself in my presence again!
Jill: Um…all right…

This really feels like it should be Info conversation material, not tucked away in a Lethe B Support. Well, at least it is slightly bent truth.

Mia/Ilyana B

Mia: Oh, I remember you from the other day.
Ilyana: Hello…
Mia: You’re staggering again. Is there something wrong with you?
Ilyana: No… I’m fine. Really.
Mia: But you look sickly and ill. Why don’t you go and see a priest?
Ilyana: I’m quite all right. The last time I saw a priest, he said I wasn’t sick.
Mia: Hmm… Are you sure you weren’t being bilked? Was he a real priest? You look like you’re about to keel over.
Ilyana: I’m fine.
Mia: Meh. Have it your way… Can you even walk?
Ilyana: Yes, of course… I’ll see you later.
Mia: Where are you going? That’s a dead end!
Mia: Hold up for a moment. I’ll come with you! You’ll never find anything without me.
Ilyana: Thank you…

This conversation really makes Mia come off as rather helpful. This isn't a general part of her character, but it does kind of fit into Mia's overall picture. Man, her last chain can't come soon enough.

Rhys/Kieran B

Rhys: Ah, Kieran. There you are.
Kieran: Oh, hello, Rhys! What brings you here?
Rhys: May I watch you train? I figured someone with a heal staff should be around, just in case an accident happens.
Kieran: Ha ha ha! Aren’t you a worrywart! But being watched is good! Now I can take my training to the next level! All right! Watch this!
Rhys: Oh, er… I’m just here to see that you don’t get hurt… Oh, do be careful… No! Don’t juggle the lance, too!
Kieran: Behold the awesome power of Crimean Royal Knight Fifth Platoon Captain Kieran! Now I call this little trick– Nnngg…! Gaaaaa! Whaaaaaaaa! …Ah, nuts.
Rhys: Oh, dear heavens! Oh, this is terrible. Stay right there! Let me take care of you…
Kieran: Ho, I’m fine! Don’t worry about old Kieran! I just need to pull this axe out of my head here… Whooo, that’s sharp!

I have too many weapons in my merchant convoy, I need to hide them all from this lunatic before he kills someone else- or worse, himself multiple times.