Scenario:Cassius - After the Fall

After the Fall

Cassius needs provisions in order for his body to recover from its injuries, so Beatrix readily offers him the bread she gets as a stipend. Cassius finds Beatrix's actions to be highly illogical, but at the same time it piques his interest in skydwellers.

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Cassius: ...

Cassius is seriously injured crash-landing onto Moon Sliver.

He agrees to follow the crew at their behest, but he's in constant pain from his injuries.

Cassius: (My body is damaged in multiple places. Luckily blood loss was staunched before it could exceed ten percent.)

Cassius: (Those emergency measures have stabilized afflicted areas. Now I can focus on recuperation. However...)

Beatrix: Does it still hurt?

Cassius: It's nothing.

Beatrix: Yeah, I don't know about that. Your face tells a different story. C'mon, you can be straight with me.

Cassius: ...

Cassius relents after realizing that he has unconsciously given himself away.

Cassius: I lack iron.

Beatrix: Huh? Iron?

Cassius: Proteins, calcium carbonate, silicon, lipids. Furthermore—

Beatrix: Wait, wait, wait! Let me get this straight. Iron and proteates? Carbonics? What do you need all that stuff for?

Cassius: Oral intake of the aforementioned resources is required to repair damaged tissue. I need to find these provisions.

Beatrix: What the heck are you talking about?

Beatrix: Oh! Maybe you're hungry! Is that it?

Cassius: Hunger is not a prerequisite for eating.

Beatrix: Haha! Getting your appetite back is a good sign! And I've got just the thing!

Beatrix rummages through her pouch.

Beatrix: Here you go. This bread'll do you some good.

Cassius: ...!

Beatrix: It's my pay from the higher-ups. Gobble it down and you'll feel good as new. Plus your injuries will heal faster. Try it.

Beatrix stuffs the large loaf of bread into Cassius's hands.

Cassius: I don't understand. Why are you giving your rations to a complete stranger?

Beatrix: Huh? Um... I don't like to ignore people who are down on their luck I guess.

Cassius: This arrangement imparts no benefit to you. It is a highly illogical action.

Beatrix: Excuse me? Life isn't just about profiting, you know.

Beatrix: Anyway, as long as you make a quick recovery, that's more than enough for me.

Cassius: I see.

Cassius hasn't lost his skepticism but accepts the bread nonetheless.

Cassius: Mm... Mm...

Cassius: (No hint of poison.)

Cassius: (Comprised of wheat and oils, and fortified with healthy quantities of nutrients. I can see how this will shorten my convalescence.)

Beatrix: Whoops, almost forgot the best part. It tastes even better with strawberry jam!

Beatrix again reaches into her pouch and pulls out a small glass jar.

Cassius: Strawberry... jam?

Beatrix: Oh, do you like it?

Cassius: Frankly this is my first encounter with jam. Luxury items are only awarded to designated individuals.

Beatrix: You're kidding me! It's only strawberry jam! And you've never even seen it before?

Lyria: Just where were you living before, Cassius?

Cassius: ...

Cassius: All I can tell you is that we are compensated based on our contributions.

Lyria, Vyrn, Beatrix: ...

Vyrn: Hmm... He really doesn't wanna give the deets about where he's from.

Lyria: Mm-hm.
You just worry about eating your fill, Cassius.

Cassius: ...?

Cassius seems intent on dodging this topic. Thus the conversation takes an unexpected turn.

Beatrix: So, um, I've got other flavors too! Like blueberry, tangerine, apple... Let's use all of them!

Cassius: Okay.

Beatrix produces jar after jar from her pouch and starts slathering the bread with preserves.

Vyrn: Whoa... That thing's more jam than bread...

Beatrix: Heheh. This ultimate sandwich can even unclog those pangs of guilt you get in your chest when you blow a mission!

Cassius: ...
(It has stress-relieving properties?)

Cassius stuffs the bread, which buckles under the weight of quivering jam, into his mouth without question.

Cassius: Very sweet.

Vyrn: I told her that was too much.

Cassius: No, this is acceptable.

Beatrix: I know, right? The best cure to a problem is a big dose of all the spreads! I've got honey too, if you want some.

Cassius: ...

Cassius's nod does all the talking for him.

Beatrix: Haha! We've got a heavyweight here!

Cassius: (On the moon, only provisions of the highest grade would have such high sugar content.)

Cassius: (So this is what is consumed by the upper echelons. Fascinating.)

The bread doesn't stand a chance against Cassius.

Cassius: (Elevated heart rate and rising body temperature confirmed. These nutrients must be given time to be properly absorbed. Focus on resting.)

And so Cassius closes his eyes.

Vyrn: Wow. Lights out right after the last bite.

Vyrn: You gonna pull through this, Blue? He ate your food.

Beatrix: Yeah. I'm used to going without a thing to eat!

Beatrix: Actually this is just like the time Zeta and I first met. Only she was the one feeding me, and it ended up in a fight.

Vyrn: Uh... How do you go from someone sharing food with you to having a fight? What happened?

Beatrix: I mean, the way she looked at me when she handed it over, anyone would take it the wrong way!

Beatrix: But that was then, and this is now. Consider it my way of making up for the past! Aaah, it feels good to get that off my chest!

Cassius: (To feel elation at giving away one's own sustenance is utterly illogical. I understand now why the higher-ups need to know about these people.)

Cassius: (They defy rationality with irrationality. They can defeat automagods.)

Cassius: (The people of Fossil are most fascinating...)

This is the last thought in Cassius's mind before his consciousness drifts away.