Post by vastrix on Aug 27, 2021 22:18:13 GMT -5
D steps out of the shadows, looking around at the gathered women who have stopped doing their workout to look back at him. Esmeralda smiles wickedly.
Esmeralda: Have you come to inspect my Valkyries, D? They have a long way to go, I will admit, but they will become great. Minerva will see to that.
Minerva nods to D, who nods back. They have, after all, been on several missions before as a team.
D: How many of these Valkyries will find their death in the training that you intend to put them through. That you put me through?
Esmeralda flicks ashes onto the floor, raising an eyebrow.
Esmeralda: You must separate the weak from the strong, dahling, but you knew that. You knew it then. You know it now. Why are you here if not to support my new Judges?
D shakes his head, looking to the now nervous Valkyries who have begun to whisper amongst themselves.
D: I have come to speak for the fallen. You see half or better of your new recruits die during training. You’ll see half or better of those who pass the course die within their first few missions. None of them see it through to the hundred missions to attain their freedom. None save-
Esmeralda: You. You are so egotistical that you think that you are the only one to accomplish one hundred missions? Minerva has almost two hundred missions. Vesta is at a hundred and ten. June is at a hundred and fifty missions. Salacia is at a hundred and twenty missions. They continue our great work instead of trying to salvage their consciences.
In a blur of motion, D reaches out and snatches the Egyptian cigarette out of the holder and flicks it away. Esmeralda shakes her head with a smile as she places her foot long holder away in a small handbag that’s hanging from her shoulder.
Esmeralda: Tell me, D. Are you a good man?
D: I try to be…
Esmeralda: Good men do not stand around and do nothing while evil persists. Do you want children to be abused? Mere babies harmed or slaughtered because rich people cannot be touched by the law. An environment destroyed by evil companies because their people can lobby better. Sure, some people fall in their quest to become Judges and some perish when trying to bring people to Justice. You would disrespect their sacrifices because you feel bad about murdering someone?
D: I would feel worse if I no longer felt anything, like you. These girls do not need this life thrust upon them. You’re not freeing them, you’re making them monsters, like you.
Esmeralda looks at the gathered Valkyries with a wicked grin.
Esmeralda: Do you all feel as if you have been thrust into this life? Would you rather go back to your old lives?
There’s a lot of differing answers at different times from the Valkyries that sort of counteract each other, but the general consensus is that they do not want to go back to their old lives. Esmeralda looks back to D in triumph.
Esmeralda: You see? They do not feel as if this life has been thrust upon them. They are grateful for having been saved. They were abused whores before I rescued them from that life. I give these women the chance to be strong. The chance to take down one hundred evil doers and then if they want, go out into the world as a changed people. You would take that from them? What life do you offer? I will give them training. I will give them shelter. I will give them more ones than they will ever see by laying on their backs. What will you give them? The chance to go back to being whores? The chance that they will be beaten again by the same men who are supposed to be their protectors? I am no monster. I bring positive change to this world. You know that as an agent of such change.
D: When all you offer is this life or another filled with pain, no wonder they choose to inflict pain rather than receive, but that is all they are doing.
Esmeralda and her Judges are silent as the Valkyries animatedly talk amongst one another about what life that they could have other than murdering other people. Esmeralda breathes in deep and lets it out as a laugh.
Esmeralda: You are right! I have only offered this life or that. I have not offered a life of regular work. While you have offered nothing for their futures, I will offer one more thing. I am always in need of handmaidens. Assistants to help me get ready for my matches and such. None of you are qualified for such work, but I am willing to send you to the schools you would need to become qualified for such a job. Who amongst you would rather become an aid of mine rather than a glorious assassin?
Minerva: You heard the mistress! Who amongst you would prefer to be an aide than a Judge? There will be no punishment for choosing this life, other than having to put up with Esmeralda.
More talking until one of the girls, her new name Pernille, raises her hand.
Minerva: Yes? What is it?
Pernille: What if we wish to seek other jobs? I mean we were told that we would be killed if we did not join Justice in the first place.
Minerva just smiles coldly, her hand going to a blade at her hip. Esmeralda clears her throat.
Esmeralda: It is fine. I take back my earlier words. I will grant each of you five thousand dollars. You may take it and leave here to find your own future without the threat of harm. Well, I mean you will have to wait for me to get the cash, but you may stay in the hotel I have rented until I get you the money to go start your new lives. You may continue, Minerva.
Minerva looks around at the many excited faces in the crowd of Valkyries. She does not seem to understand why anyone would not want to be a Judge.
Minerva: Stand forward if you wish to not be a Judge.
To be concluded!
Esmeralda: Have you come to inspect my Valkyries, D? They have a long way to go, I will admit, but they will become great. Minerva will see to that.
Minerva nods to D, who nods back. They have, after all, been on several missions before as a team.
D: How many of these Valkyries will find their death in the training that you intend to put them through. That you put me through?
Esmeralda flicks ashes onto the floor, raising an eyebrow.
Esmeralda: You must separate the weak from the strong, dahling, but you knew that. You knew it then. You know it now. Why are you here if not to support my new Judges?
D shakes his head, looking to the now nervous Valkyries who have begun to whisper amongst themselves.
D: I have come to speak for the fallen. You see half or better of your new recruits die during training. You’ll see half or better of those who pass the course die within their first few missions. None of them see it through to the hundred missions to attain their freedom. None save-
Esmeralda: You. You are so egotistical that you think that you are the only one to accomplish one hundred missions? Minerva has almost two hundred missions. Vesta is at a hundred and ten. June is at a hundred and fifty missions. Salacia is at a hundred and twenty missions. They continue our great work instead of trying to salvage their consciences.
In a blur of motion, D reaches out and snatches the Egyptian cigarette out of the holder and flicks it away. Esmeralda shakes her head with a smile as she places her foot long holder away in a small handbag that’s hanging from her shoulder.
Esmeralda: Tell me, D. Are you a good man?
D: I try to be…
Esmeralda: Good men do not stand around and do nothing while evil persists. Do you want children to be abused? Mere babies harmed or slaughtered because rich people cannot be touched by the law. An environment destroyed by evil companies because their people can lobby better. Sure, some people fall in their quest to become Judges and some perish when trying to bring people to Justice. You would disrespect their sacrifices because you feel bad about murdering someone?
D: I would feel worse if I no longer felt anything, like you. These girls do not need this life thrust upon them. You’re not freeing them, you’re making them monsters, like you.
Esmeralda looks at the gathered Valkyries with a wicked grin.
Esmeralda: Do you all feel as if you have been thrust into this life? Would you rather go back to your old lives?
There’s a lot of differing answers at different times from the Valkyries that sort of counteract each other, but the general consensus is that they do not want to go back to their old lives. Esmeralda looks back to D in triumph.
Esmeralda: You see? They do not feel as if this life has been thrust upon them. They are grateful for having been saved. They were abused whores before I rescued them from that life. I give these women the chance to be strong. The chance to take down one hundred evil doers and then if they want, go out into the world as a changed people. You would take that from them? What life do you offer? I will give them training. I will give them shelter. I will give them more ones than they will ever see by laying on their backs. What will you give them? The chance to go back to being whores? The chance that they will be beaten again by the same men who are supposed to be their protectors? I am no monster. I bring positive change to this world. You know that as an agent of such change.
D: When all you offer is this life or another filled with pain, no wonder they choose to inflict pain rather than receive, but that is all they are doing.
Esmeralda and her Judges are silent as the Valkyries animatedly talk amongst one another about what life that they could have other than murdering other people. Esmeralda breathes in deep and lets it out as a laugh.
Esmeralda: You are right! I have only offered this life or that. I have not offered a life of regular work. While you have offered nothing for their futures, I will offer one more thing. I am always in need of handmaidens. Assistants to help me get ready for my matches and such. None of you are qualified for such work, but I am willing to send you to the schools you would need to become qualified for such a job. Who amongst you would rather become an aid of mine rather than a glorious assassin?
Minerva: You heard the mistress! Who amongst you would prefer to be an aide than a Judge? There will be no punishment for choosing this life, other than having to put up with Esmeralda.
More talking until one of the girls, her new name Pernille, raises her hand.
Minerva: Yes? What is it?
Pernille: What if we wish to seek other jobs? I mean we were told that we would be killed if we did not join Justice in the first place.
Minerva just smiles coldly, her hand going to a blade at her hip. Esmeralda clears her throat.
Esmeralda: It is fine. I take back my earlier words. I will grant each of you five thousand dollars. You may take it and leave here to find your own future without the threat of harm. Well, I mean you will have to wait for me to get the cash, but you may stay in the hotel I have rented until I get you the money to go start your new lives. You may continue, Minerva.
Minerva looks around at the many excited faces in the crowd of Valkyries. She does not seem to understand why anyone would not want to be a Judge.
Minerva: Stand forward if you wish to not be a Judge.
To be concluded!
