It's hard to believe that you're leaving, Lady Heidi, after all the effort it took to return to this great city.
Pompous Man
But perhaps it's time you returned to your father.
Heidi
Back to Toron? Well... maybe I'll go further than that. My father is not the only guide I have in life.
Heidi
Your advice has been most enlightening, of course, such as your story of dinner with the envoy of the Earl of March.
Pompous Man
It's my pleasure to offer first-hand information to an aspiring novelist who is not involved in the political world.
Heidi
Or perhaps, I will write my familiar homeland of Toron into the story of this terrible war in Londinium.
Pompous Man
Yes, it can be painful to recall those shameful times, but someone must remember the heroic deeds we performed for the city.
Heidi
Heroic... you're right. Maybe we're all heroes.
Heidi
How about a love story: a girl from the Victorian borderlands falls in love with a young man who came on holiday, but the young man dies on the battlefields of Londinium.
Heidi
In the end, though, the news of the young man's death turns out to be false, and he returns to her side a hero.
Pompous Man
A brilliant idea, Lady Heidi. A love lost and found again, just like a city trampled by outsiders, but saved by our hands.
Pompous Man
Hear, the orchestra plays. There is no wine or dessert, and the candles do not burn as bright, but the music remains beautiful.
Heidi
By all means, join the dance. Leave me on this balcony with the inspiration you've supplied.
Pompous Man
What about your friends here—
Eliseo
Uh...
Heidi
An emissary from a foreign land, yet unfamiliar with Victorian customs. Surely you will forgive him?
Pompous Man
Of course, of course.
Heidi
...
Eliseo
Lady Heidi, is that right?
Heidi
—Ah, I can show you around the place.
Eliseo
N—No, we shouldn't bother you any more than we already have. Thank you for the assist.
Heidi
This place turns away no one. Next time, you should come in through the front door rather than the balcony, though.
Eliseo
Thank you for the offer, but... I'm not that interested in noble parties, to be honest.
Eliseo
Victorian noble politics was the first thing I studied before I came. I'm familiar with your customs, your attitudes toward the Infected, even your dance steps...
Heidi
Setting aside whether a third-rate novelist would call herself noble... have you asked this soldier why she brought you here?
Eliseo
Sh—She didn't make me come here. I insisted on coming.
Diane
I apologize, Lady Heidi. He said he wanted to stay in Londinium and learn more about our Infected problem, so I was taking him around... in less-than-conventional ways, sometimes.
Diane
You can laugh if you want. You see how he is; not at all adept at lying or concealing his thoughts.
Heidi
Rather fits the Pure Heart name, doesn't it?
Heidi
Eliseo, representative of Pure Heart Medical?
Eliseo
I didn't expect our reputation to precede us...
Heidi
It's easy to recognize the people who are interested in the Infected problem.
Heidi
Less easy to see through the concerted deception of the nobility.
Heidi
—Like how most of the people stepping onto the dance floor are Infected.
Eliseo
...
Eliseo
That's to be expected, in theory at least. The Originium particles that the Sarkaz spread don't discriminate according to social status. But...
Heidi
Nobody will say it out loud. Nobody asks if they're standing next to an Infected. It's about appearances... and a dream.
Eliseo
...
Eliseo gazes at the hall. There are holes on pillars where golden ornaments once glittered, a testament to the looting during the war, but the passionate playing of the musicians is almost enough to cover up the desolation.
The self-proclaimed novelist opens the cap of her fountain pen and scribbles in a notebook.
Heidi
You could call it meaningless self-consolation, at a time when basic livelihood is in question.
Eliseo
No, not at all.
Eliseo
Just different ways of living.
Eliseo
What is that?
Heidi
The shadow of a synopsis... and a little extra information. I would like you to take it.
Heidi
I have a feeling we will meet again, Eliseo.
Eliseo
Thank you.
Eliseo
If you don't mind me asking, though—you seem to be holding onto some pain that this banquet can't soothe.
Heidi
I'm just missing a friend of mine.
Heidi
There's one less person who will speak with me frankly, now that she's gone.
The Lateran is paying close attention to the events in Victoria. After all, this is a disaster caused by the Sarkaz.
Oren
However, the decisiveness that you and Parliament have shown on the Sarkaz question gave me hope for the city's revival.
Oren
Of course, His Holiness sincerely wishes to build the bridge of peace for the nations of Terra, in order to prevent another tragedy from happening.
Vina
You're not only here on behalf of His Holiness the Lateran Pope, are you?
Oren
I am but a humble Messenger, here to deliver a message to you and Parliament.
Vina
Then please send my apologies to His Holiness. I appreciate the kindness that Laterano is demonstrating, but Parliament is not in a position to address matters beyond Londinium.
Vina
Kindly inform the duke currently playing host to you that I am not going to Laterano in any capacity. As for his own plans, those have never been any business of Parliament nor myself, have they?
Oren
Of course. That's what Messengers are for.
Delphine
Oren Argiolas. He was on Duke Gododdin's battleship during the war, but never participated directly on behalf of Laterano.
Vina
Just as I thought. Does Gododdin have a sweet tooth too?
Vina
If so, we don't have much for him here in Londinium.
Vina
So much for Parliament's day off.
Delphine
One interesting tidbit. The Lateran Messenger went onto the ship with a group of refugees. He made an oath by placing his hand on his gun, in order to convince the Duke to accept the refugees.
Vina
And?
Delphine
The scorching hot barrel gave him a blister on his hand.
Vina
Hah, that's out of nowhere. Is it important?
Delphine
Day off.
Vina
Alright, I've been off. Now, which message should I read first? Investigation report on the Arts Circle remnants?
Vina
Oh?
Vina sees Lieutenant Shearer's name. Another letter.
She sighs and drops it in the 'Pending' bin.
Vina
Delphine, is this—
Indra
Hey, Vina! We caught those robbers you were on about and taught 'em a lesson!
Dagda
Targeting frail Oripathy patients. Scum.
Morgan
You know what's even worse? We got a bunch of cowardly wankers who wanted to join the ranks.
Morgan
It's a good job you got the news quick and didn't give them a chance to grow.
When was the last time you had candy since we got back to Victoria?
Vina
Indra...
Indra
The lad who got robbed said he made 'em himself. A risk with every mouthful! It's not like you ever liked normal candy sticks.
Dagda
He said he couldn't get his hands on regular sweeteners, so he's tried potatoes, carrots, Originium slug fluids...
Indra
I tried all of 'em. Didn't throw up or nuffin.
Delphine
Sounds like a real pick-me-up. Can I try one?
Indra
Sure! There's plenty.
Dagda
Are you okay, Vina?
Vina
Fine. I've had worse.
Dagda
What about your Speaker duties?
Morgan
Yeah, what are you worried about right now? New laws? Announcements? Reports?
Morgan
Any work you need us to do? Especially the ones that involve punching which you can't do yourself.
Indra
I even took on a new lackey today! He's built like a straw, but I can teach him a few moves to defend himself.
Indra
It's time for Glasgow to rebuild. When can we go back—
Dagda
...
Morgan
...
Indra scratches her head. She did not need her friends' reproaching glances to realize she should not have asked.
Vina glances across her desk, where the mountain of papers has not grown any thinner.
Delphine walks to her side and takes the letters that she was holding.
Vina
I think it's time to give a public answer to the issues that concern our citizens. Most don't come to listen to Parliamentary debate, but they'll listen to the radio at the end of a long day.
Vina
The situation in the city is stabilizing. I've requested a third engineering team for Norport. Soon, our home will be back to the way it was.
Morgan
BETTER than the way it was.
Vina
You can go back to Lynncardine, Delphine, once we've taken care of this business.
