Mooglenet Archives

[And Laudo has the look of a deer caught in the headlights as he makes hasty excuses - man, he's in for it now. You can tell that's what all the other knights are thinking as Steiner storms up to him and snatches the phone.]

We are not here for your ENTERTAINMENT! I shall delete this at once-

[Steiner presses a button and the video begins to play back.]

Terrible filming; why the angle is completely-

[And the penny drops as Steiner gets a digital eyeful of Beatrix's cleavage.]

This is deliberate! HOW DARE YOU MAKE SUCH FILTH OUT OF THE GENERAL'S - GENERAL'S - HOW DARE YOU!?

[And there's a hollow-sounding smack as Steiner clips the unfortunate Laudo around the ear. The knight is in big trouble.]

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[The first outburst gets Beatrix's attention and she marches over to the cause of Steiner's ire. She would be the voice of reason, but she is too furious herself to consider this is not the source of the gossip.

She stands beside Steiner, eying his Knight, one eye looking down at the screen of the phone. Upon viewing the footage, she looks up, jaw locked. Staring with cool disdain.

Her hand drops to her sword hilt.]

You will meet me in the dueling yard fifteen minutes hence.

[She'll defend her own honor, thankyouverymuch.]

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[Laudo just sort of whimpers and edges behind Steiner, his eyes pleading for mercy. He knows that he stands no chance against Beatrix. Unfortunately, this only infuriates Steiner even more.]

Don't be such a wimp! A knight must face such a challenge!

[Never has a knight looked so despondent.]

...Yes, Captain.

[Steiner puffs out his chest.]

We shall finish this later! Dismissed!

[As the knights shuffle off, he turns to Beatrix.]

...I can only apologise. For one of my knights to use the phone in such a manner...

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Don't apologize. You had no hand in it.

[Nevertheless, Beatrix is still visibly fuming, in that cold, detached manner she's notorious for. It makes for a good distraction from the outright distress she'd felt initially when she'd heard that first whisper of a rumor out on patrol. Surely Steiner would not believe such idiocy.]

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Nevertheless, this should never have happened.

[Awkwardly, he extends a gloved hand to touch Beatrix's arm.]

Do not think I believe any of this nonsense, Beatrix. I know gossip when I hear it.

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[That touch softens her fury, and Beatrix rests her hand atop Steiner's.]

I... of course you do not.

[It really truly occurred to her to even think it, save a fleeting second at the first. She sighs, glowering in the direction of Laudo's retreating back.]

Such speculation is disrespectful.

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Extremely disrespectful!

[Thinking about it is getting Steiner angry again.]

I'll not allow anyone to treat you in such a way, Beatrix! Once you have taught Laudo a lesson, I shall confiscate all the knights' Sky Phones and put them through the most punishing training regime I can think of!

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[Sigh. Steiner is always so extreme. She's rather delighted he's so determined to defend her, however. He can be so sweet.]

Working them into the ground won't tell us who began that rumor, Steiner.

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But it will teach them not to do it again!

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That it will, or exhaust them enough that they have no time for mischief.

I suppose I should begin with Laudo.

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[Steiner nods.]

I'll deal with the others.

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[At least the poor knight will be facing her with a cooler head than she had moments ago.

Not forgetting that there might be remnant snoops around, and little caring that they see, Beatrix lightly pecks Steiner on the cheek.]

Don't kill them and make more work for the maids.

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[So daring! Steiner hastily looks around to check if they're being watched, trying to look as though he's just doing his usual look-out for trouble.

Once he's sure there's no-one around, he leans in and smiles at her.]

Only as long as you don't do the same.

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[Her lips slowly twitch into a smile and she inclines her head.]

I'll try, but only because you asked.

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[Steiner nods back.]

I should go. Farewell!

[And he marches off to find the other knights.]

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tantalus-born.livejournal.com

[Zidane was out and about again, flying his airship far up above the city as he did...well, a lot. Boys and their new toys, after all. He stopped to look at his phone. After several seconds of watching...he promptly burst out laughing.]

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[Only once Laudo has been suitably dealt with does Beatrix bother to look at the phone, presumably to delete the colorful footage. Zidane laughing isn't going to win any points with her today.]

Your Majesty?

[No Zidane, her cleavage being broadcast is not amusing. Stop laughing.]

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tantalus-born.livejournal.com

Oh man, not you too. You can still call me Zidane, Bea!

[Zidane was still laughing, though it settled to a chuckle.]

Oh, and don't kill that knight cause if you do Dagger will have to yell at you and you know she hates doing that!

...Don't let Rusty kill him either.

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He's not dead.

[Although her tone implies that he probably wishes he were right now.]

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[Okay, Steiner temporarily forgets that Zidane is the king because you do not laugh at Beatrix.]

Zidane! How dare you laugh at this - this mockery!

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tantalus-born.livejournal.com

[More laughing.]

S-sorry Rusty! It's just...you know. Oh man...

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You should apologise to Beatrix, not me! She deserves more respect!

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[Oh that is a very lovely figure right there. Edgar's going to watch, but unlike the knight filming and Zidane, he knows how to watch without appearing to watch - by keeping one eye half-looking at the screen while pretending to work on papers in front of him.]

[It was an accident that that broadcast just happened to be on, truly.]

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[Sometime later, after some justice has been dispensed on Laudo's head, Beatrix claims the phone, presumably to erase such material. Only then does she catch sight of Edgar and is mildly perplexed.]

Your Majesty? Is there something amiss? Shall I send for the Queen?

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[And Edgar is an Honorable Lech, so he won't try to seduce Bea away from Steiner - but there's nothing that says he can't appreciate her very fine looks.]

No, nothing, I was simply working on something. I like to leave this on in case anything needs my attention.

[Such as your backside.]

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[That's wise, since she would Stock Break him like she just did to Laudo if he even thought about trying it.]

Ah. I apologize for the inappropriate nature of the knight's post. I assure you his offense has been adequately addressed and disciplined.

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[Would it count if he wasn't serious about it? He flirts with happily married women, after all, but he doesn't try to take them away from their husbands.]

You are quite a soldier, General Beatrix. I'm sure that knight has many regrets.

[Such as being caught and not being able to worm out of it. There's no regret for looking.]

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[The mood she's in today? It would count, in a bad way.]

I thank you for your kindness. I apologize for being abrupt, but I have duties to see to. If there was nothing further?

[The first of those duties being to delete this video.]

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