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RESPITE PARK, AFTERNOON
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Victoria wanders through the park, mostly done with her patrol for the day but not in a hurry to get anywhere just yet. Her two fluffy tails swishing, she slowly walks through the grass with no particular goal... besides that a nap might sound like an idea at some point. She's dressed in her usual set of cloths that barely cover the part needed for modesty's sake, not that the curvaceous leopard is modest in any sense of the word ever.
Florian wanders the park, knowing that Victoria's patrol route should take her through the area sooner or later. The afternoon warmth, though, is certainly enough that he's been sticking to shade of the various trees for the time being, even though he's wearing some of the lightest clothes he has on hand. As a result, he's way out of the line of sight when he happens to spot a familiar snow leopard walking along the path. He frowns a little, though, as he hesitates, wanting to make sure the leopard is who he thinks she is before approaching.
Victoria is not paying all that much attention to her surroundings, now that her actual patrol is mostly done so it's very unlikely she'd come across anything or anyone worth paying attention to.
Florian straightens himself up after a short bit spent watching Victoria, figuring that she's likely the only snow leopard in Respite aside from himself right now. If it turns out to not be Victoria, well... he'll have some words with Louma about the information later. He pushes away from the tree he'd been sheltering under and strides after Victoria.
Victoria pauses to lean on a tree, wanting a bit of a shade as she considers her next move. Nap or dinner?
Florian calls out once he's close enough that if she is Victoria, she can't just run away again. "So this is where you disappeared to, Vee?"
Victoria jolts to attention, her tails straightening out as she spins in place, claws extending in reaction. Her eyes widen as she sees who her would-be assailant is: "F-florian?"
Florian retracts his hand from reaching out when Victoria spins about, and he watches her claws with a wary look. After a few seconds of pointedly looking at her claws, he shifts his eyes up to meet Victoria's. "I'm surprised you recognize me, Vee. It's been how many years, now? Eight?"
Victoria just stares at Florian stunnedly for a few seconds before lowering her hand. Multitude of questions attempt to fight for space in her head, and the resulting output is less than stellar: "What the... how... wha?"
Florian reaches a hand up to grasp onto the strap of the case carrying his livelihood, almost as a sort of security item, as he gives Victoria a moment to try and respond. When it doesn't seem to be forthcoming, he looks her up and down for a moment, frowning a bit. He clearly doesn't have any of the difficulties ordering his thoughts, unlike Victoria. "Never thought your little brother would want to find out where his sister vanished to?"
Victoria blinks stunnedly: "No, just... wait, how did you find me?" Her tails swish behind her agitatedly, the leopard still not sure if this is real or not.
Florian hums quietly. "Persistence, Vee. I went all over Sarn, Vamas and Orela the last two years looking for you, ever since I saved up enough from working to afford the travel costs."
Victoria relaxes, if only rather little: "But... huh. Why?" She sizes up her little brother, as though to make sure her first impression was right, but... yup, same scrawny kiddo, if a bit grown up now.
Florian puts on a thoughtful look, though it's clear there's an edge to it. "Hmm, let's see... probably because my only sister, who I was exceptionally close to, up and vanished out of nowhere one day 8 years ago with only a terse letter that said "don't follow me"." He leans forward a bit and fixes Victoria with a sharp look as he stomps a foot for emphasis, "Dad and I were worried sick for you! We thought you'd gotten abducted or something!"
Victoria winces, though then also crosses her arms: "W-well, you can be happy that's not the case." She doesn't quite take a step back but has to admit to herself that her brother can be scary now.
Florian straightens up again. Though he's a full inch shorter than Victoria, his emotions seem to lend him a bit of a presence compared to normal. "Obviously. But we didn't know for sure until I found you just now, in this park, in the last place I could think to have found you. The literal butt-end of nowhere on the entire opposite side of the known world from Vamas."
Victoria looks aside: "Maybe I had my reasons to leave." Her tails swish ever agitatedly, and she's definitely not liking the direction this conversation is going.
Florian tilts his head. "And what were those reasons, then?"
Victoria glances around, then sighs. With a sudden movement, she grabs Florian by the shoulder: "You'd better not be some doppelganger trying to get an edge on me, okay? I'll tell you."
Florian furrows his brow in confusion at the weird accusation. "A doppelganger? What?"
Victoria frowns, then sighs again. "Nevermind." She gathers herself for revisiting the one event in her life she has had zero desire to ever think about again. "You probably heard that someone was found dead on the night that I left."
Florian nods, frowning. "Along with hints of a big scuffle and that hastily written note you'd left. Dad and I figured you'd gotten abducted." He shrugs and shakes his head, "We would have accepted you were gone, had I not found you here."
Victoria frowns: "If only it was about your acceptance, and not the town's at large."
Florian frowns a bit deeper in turn. "Acceptance would have been us assuming you were dead, Vee. I set out to find you because we still hoped you were alive."
Victoria glances at Florian: "At least you're the only one crazy enough to hunt me down."
Florian eyes Victoria. "As though I wouldn't want to find my sister, no matter what."]
Victoria grunts: "It's not about that, really." She goes quiet, then just says it outright, glaring daggers at Florian: "I murdered someone who had first raped me."
Florian blinks and stares blankly at Victoria. "And you fled from Fern because you defended yourself?"]
Victoria gives Florian a look: "Do you really think that collective mob of a town justice would have taken it well?"
Florian fires a similar look right back at Victoria. "And do you think they wouldn't have? If you don't trust the justice system, why are you working for a justice system?"]
Victoria raises an eyebrow: "For one, I haven't killed anyone here." She pauses. "Well, anyone of Respite." She winces inwardly, knowing that admission will only invite more questions.
Florian raises an eyebrow at that statement, but doesn't seem to be deterred from his original line of questions. "I might not be a guard, unlike you, but I'm pretty sure self-defense is a valid reason."]
Victoria frowns: "It's not really a question of what's right. It's who you are - or are not. Our family, face it, was never of any note to that crew running the town. I wasn't going to take that chance."
Florian gazes at Victoria for a few moments. "And then... if the "crew running the town" was as bad as you seem to think... do you really think they would have just... gotten no retribution? If they really wanted payback for something, they'd have come after me and Dad after you vanished."
Victoria starts to get visibly annoyed: "What's your point?"
Florian hums quietly. "Dad and I are your family, Vee. We could have helped you out and kept you safe, especially after something like that. Dad would have fought to make sure you were cleared by the law."
Victoria harrumphs and looks aside. "Maybe." Her tails swish in annoyance; she knows Florian is probably right but admitting that is another thing entirely.
Florian 's eyes narrow a bit. "What, you don't trust Dad to have our backs?"
Victoria glances at Florian: "I didn't say that."
Florian shrugs, his happiness at finding his sister alive and well quickly ebbing away. "So what do you mean by "maybe", then, if not "maybe dad would have fought"?"
Victoria frowns: "'Maybe' kept me safe. You don't know that. Yes, he would have tried."
Florian sniffs quietly. "And he wouldn't have given you to the authorities if he failed that."
Victoria looks away: "Probably... not."
Florian crosses his arms. "So... that's it, then? What do you want me to tell Dad? You're dead and that we should stop trying to find you?"
Victoria gives Florian a look, though this one is a lot less sharp. Her voice is quiet, the fight seemingly out of her: "What would you want me to do?"
Florian shrugs again. "Don't ask me. You seem pretty determined to do what you want, and to hell with anyone worrying about you." He uncrosses his arms and grabs hold of his case's shoulder strap again, "Not like your little brother can do anything about it, anyway."
Victoria gives Florian a hurt look, but then the mask of ruthless soldier is seemingly back on: "There's no point in me going back now."
Florian seems a little disappointed in Victoria's answer. "Then I'll tell Dad I've found evidence you're dead, and we'll be out of your hair for good, then." He shakes his head slowly, "You coming back never mattered. We only wanted to know if you were alive and well, but if you'd rather no contact at all, we can cut ties right here and now."
Victoria hesitates. "Tell Dad... I'm alive. And well."
Florian stays quiet for a few seconds, eying his sister all the while. "...If you're serious, you write something for him, and I'll send a message along with it."
Victoria pauses, then nods. "...give me time to gather my thoughts, then."
Florian nods after a moment. "I'll be at the Thirsty Minnow when you're ready, then."
Victoria gives Florian a nod: "I will find you, then." She looks like she wants to say more, anything, but words fail to come out.
Florian chews on a few choice words for a moment, before he shakes his head and turns to take his leave. "And while you're at it, find something good to wear, Vee. You look like a vagrant, dressed like that." He walks away, muttering to himself, his tail twitching all the while, "...And the way the captain acts, no wonder that's allowed on-duty, gods..."
Victoria looks at Florian go, sighing softly. What just even happened?