— 𝓥𝑨𝑳.

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀everything eats and is eaten .
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀i was feeling loved ,
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀being used .
⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

[ I believe you. Really.

. . . mm. Get some rest, eat something. We'll talk later. ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「It's alright, Val. Really. I know you're worried but I'll be alright.

I won't waste that faith either. . . I'm sure I'll be back, eventually.」

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

[ I'm not . . . I have a job and I'm focusing on it. Promise.

. . . I have faith in you. ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「I know. I know. . . You have to take care of yourself as well. Can't spend all of your time worrying about me.

I'll be alright, really.
. . . I won't let your care go to waste.」

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

[ You look fine, Noel. Seriously. I've seen you worse for wear.

Okay, okay . . . Good. Just—just keep yourself safe. Please. F—

. . . I care. About you. You know that. ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「Right, right. Still my hair is a mess. . .

If something went wrong, you'd know. I'm going to get a bite and take a nice shower. Those atmospheric re-entries really work up a sweat.」

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

[ Ah, there's nothing to apologize for . . . You know I don't care about something superficial like that.

What matters is that you're in one piece. And you'd better take care of yourself, okay? I'm not there to do it for you. ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「Figured I'd call you before anything else, sorry I couldn't make myself look pretty.

It wasn't so bad. Though a had a near miss towards the end. Scary.」

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

[ Ehe . . . Yeah, you look fine. I'm just . . . Er, I'm glad you're alright. ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

✨️

「I look okay, don't I?」

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

—!

[ H—Hello? You're okay? ]

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「Calling: @giverrose」

[—𝑬𝑳𝒀𝑺𝑰𝑼𝑴 @RXNASCENTIA]

「PHASE 2: FIRST CONTACT」

〔—DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO, CENTRAL AFRICA

1000 HOURS.〕

——————————

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

I wonder what Kilian is up to.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

. . .

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

W-Well, there's nothing for them to worry about anyway.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

Nn. I know, I know.

There's nothing /I/ can do, anyway.

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

. . . I get it.

Something about the situation doesn't add up. We just have to let things play out.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

. . . I don't cry that often.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

I know that. I know them, Kira, it doesn't change my worry.

Knowing you'd come back from an operation like that wouldn't make me worry less about you, either. I just have a bad feeling in general.

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

I understand. Just remember who you're worrying about.

A few extremists won't be much of a hassle.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

. . . . . . .

Yeah. I know.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

I haven't. I'm just worried.

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

Then you should also know better than anyone not to count them out.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

At least once a week, yes, but if something happens . . .

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

. . . I know that better than anyone.

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

Keeping them in one place would've been difficult.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

. . . Yeah. I know.

I have nothing but faith in them.

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

I would if they were still here.

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

If you can convince him of that, I'll take your word for it. Some people only see themselves as the gun.

. . . .

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

I know. I know, it's . . .

( Well, it's my fault too. )

[— 𝓥𝑨𝑳. @giverrose]

No one is a better soldier than they are a good person, Kira. No matter how adept they are at war.

. . .

[— 𝑭𝑹𝑬𝑬𝑫𝑶𝑴 @FULLBXRSTMODE]

I. . .—

I don't mean it like that. I'd prefer if no one had to but their lives on the line but as Commander, I have to make the tough call of who's more likely to make it back.

I know he'll make it back. He's a good guy but he's a better soldier.