Scenario:Cherine - Must Stab, Must Hold Back
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Must Stab, Must Hold Back
Several days after the battle surrounding the mystic crystals, Cherine has recovered enough to move around. She undertakes the ship's chores as a way to make up for the trouble she has caused and begins to prepare lunch. However, Camieux happens to see her when her stabbing impulses attempt to take over. Guilty for having surprised Camieux, Cherine wanders to a different corner of the ship when the impulses seize her again. Suddenly, Lich calls out to her.
Cherine: (Captain)... Please, I'll do anything...
An Erune, her cheek embedded with mystic crystals, grasps (Captain)'s hand and holds it close to herself, eyes pleading.
Vyrn: Hey, I get why you feel the way you do, but you don't needa go that far...
Rosamia: That's right, Cherine. Did you forget that the doctor told you to rest for two more weeks?
Rosamia: Just because the mask killed your pain receptors, doesn't mean you can go running around with such a heavy spear. It's exactly why your body's a mess right now.
Cherine: But, Rosamia...
This is Cherine, a young lady who was once trapped at the empire's mask experiment test facility with Rosamia. The two supported each other through their hardships there.
Under the influence of Zaryda, former head researcher at the facility, Cherine had succumbed to the impulses that ate away at her and tried to fight Rosamia and (Captain).
In the end, she was rescued by the crew. Freed from her mask, she has since taken on the task of pursuing the criminal Zaryda, traveling together with (Captain)'s crew.
Cherine: I've caused so much trouble for everyone. Now that I can move around again, I want to do something to help... otherwise I'm going to die.
Cherine: So please, (Captain). If there's anything at all that I can do on this ship, do tell!
Cherine: And I appreciate you. That's why I'd like to support the crew in any way I can.
Cherine: Yes, anything! I'd like to make it up to all of you!
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Rosamia: Be careful what you agree to... but if you feel so strongly about it, be my guest.
Vyrn: Come to think of it, an urgent request came in for the person in charge of makin' lunch today. Someone else needs to prep the veggies instead.
Lyria: Oh, that's right. We haven't decided on who's going to take over yet, have we?
Rosamia: Unfortunately, I'm about to head out for a monster extermination request myself. There won't be time for me to help before that.
Choose: The veggies are all yours, Cherine!
Cherine: You got it! Thank you! I'll do my best.
Rosamia: Don't push yourself, Cherine.
Cherine: I'll be fine, Rosamia!
Rosamia: Somehow I don't trust your standard of "fine"...
After receiving a simple explanation on the kitchen facilities, an enthusiastic Cherine gets straight to working with the vegetables on her own.
Cherine: Oh no, oh no! I need a ladle... Where's the ladle... Nope, not on this shelf.
Cherine: I didn't think I was too bad at cooking, since I made meals for everyone when I was with Zaryda...
Cherine: I wonder which island this vegetable is from. I've never seen any of these ingredients before, and I can't even find the ladle!
Cherine: Oh no, oh no! The pot's boiling over! Gotta turn the heat down...
Cherine: Oh dear... I thought I could make up for what I've done by helping out, but it doesn't look like it's going to be that easy.
With lunchtime drawing closer and closer, Cherine begins to shake.
Cherine: Ah... Oh no, oh no...
Cherine: (The impulses... Not now!)
Her hands quiver uncontrollably. The empire's experiments had caused her to fall victim to her mask's corruption—leading to a particular fixation.
Cherine: Hah... hah...
Despite having grown numb to the cruel experiments at the facility, the sensation of piercing a beating heart with her spear had rattled her mind and body.
Her mask had come off once the main part of the mystic crystal was destroyed, but the crystal fragments from her mask remain ingrained in her cheek, at times producing the impulses that now seize her.
Cherine: Th-the tendons in the pork for tonight's dinner haven't been cut yet, I think...
Cherine: Hah... Hah! Stab the meat... Stab it!
Cherine: Please... Let this be enough to stop it!
Eyes blazing, Cherine takes the kitchen knife and thrusts it into the pork with all her might.
Camieux: Gwaaah!
Cherine: ...!
At the sound of a scream, Cherine quickly turns around and sees Camieux standing at the door to the galley, tears in her eyes.
Camieux: Hngh...
Cherine: S-sorry! I didn't mean for you to see that...
Camieux: No... I'm sorry I freaked out again. Gosh darn it...
Cherine: Huh? Freaked out?
Camieux: I don't have much of a spine, so I get scared by the tiniest of things... It's pathetic.
Cherine: I wouldn't call this tiny! Anybody would be scared! You shouldn't feel bad about it...
Camieux: If it were my older sisters or (Captain), I'm sure they would've stayed calm...
Cherine: (She's comparing herself to (Captain)... That's quite ambitious. She's a strong one.)
Camieux: I thought I'd gotten a bit tougher since traveling on the Grandcypher... but I guess not.
Cherine: Um, Camieux, was it? Did you come here looking for something? Maybe I can help.
Camieux: Oh yeah! Silva, Cucouroux, and I are gonna play a board game, so I came to fetch us something to drink!
Cherine: That sounds fun! Would orange juice suffice?
Camieux: Yeah! That'd be perfect, thanks!
Camieux: Oh... Are my eyes red? I don't want my sisters finding out that I got scared again.
Seeing Camieux's frustration, Cherine takes the girl's hand and holds it to her chest, giving it a squeeze.
Cherine: It's going to be just fine. You're as amazing as (Captain), you know.
Camieux: Wha! No way, I don't even hold a candle to (Captain)!
Cherine: That's not true. I was impressed by how independent you are.
Camieux: Really? Well, I've still got a long way to go... Ehehe.
Camieux blushes, happy at the compliment. Cherine can't help but reach out, thinking to give the girl a pat on the head.
Cherine: (She's so cute, like a little puppy who's been praised.)
However, her hand stops before it reaches Camieux.
Camieux: ...?
Cherine: (No... My hands are no longer...)
Test Subject: ...
Cherine: I... I... Arghhh!
Cherine's hand hangs midair without reaching its intended destination.
Camieux: What's the matter?
Camieux: Oh! Are you feeling sick?
Cherine: Ah, no, I'm fine!
Cherine immediately retracts her hand, unconsciously brushing her fingers across the handle of her spear.
Cherine: (It's the usual feel... The usual touch...)
Camieux: Do you feel better when you touch your weapon?
Cherine: Huh? Um, good question... I guess I'm just reminding myself it's there.
Cherine: I lost it once, but knowing my circumstances, Adam and the others retrieved it from the ruins for me.
Camieux: It must mean a lot to you then! As someone who grew up at a foundry, I understand the feeling.
Camieux: All the tools at the foundry are like my friends—family, even. We need to treat 'em nicely!
Cherine: Maybe this spear is my family too, then. Thanks for helping me realize that, Camieux!
Camieux: Ehehe, now I feel kinda embarrassed.
Anyway, I should get back to my sisters!
Anyway, I should get back to my sisters!
Cherine watches as Camieux rushes out of the galley, orange juice in hand.
Cherine: (Camieux's hands are so small, yet she tries her hardest with them. It's amazing.)
Cherine: (All I can do is pray with mine... and hope for divine intervention.)
Cherine: (I'm not fit to pat Camieux or anyone else on the head...)
Cherine: ...
I should finish preparing the food.
I should finish preparing the food.
Cherine: I'll look for the ladle later. Once I clean up the pork, I'll start mashing the potatoes...
Feeling calmer after her talk with Camieux, Cherine immerses herself in making lunch.
Cherine: (I'm glad everyone thought the lunch was delicious.)
Cherine: They said I can do some cleaning next, and then help with making dinner and preparing the bath. Just have to find the place...
Cherine wanders the Grandcypher, looking around until she spots a dimly lit storage room.
Cherine: Ooh! What's this?
Cherine: Whew... Maybe I'll sit here for a while.
Cherine: (Hehe, I used to sit in a corner like this with Rosamia back at the facility. We'd hide there and talk...)
Cherine: Ah! Oh no, oh no...
Cherine: (This place won't do! Memories of the facility are making the impulses come back...)
Lich: Heh... What do we have here? Didn't think I'd come across a fellow intro in a place like this.
Cherine: Eek!
Lich emerges from the darkness, a rather sinister smile plastered on her face.