Fates Supports/Avatar(M) Rinkah

Back

C Support

Avatar: Rinkah? Over here.

Rinkah: Did you need something done?

Avatar: Sort of. I'd like to ask your opinion on something. Take a look at this map. If we are positioned here, and the enemy attacks from here...what should we do?

Rinkah: ...

Avatar: If a unit detached and came at them from the river...do you think they'd cluster? If so, we could hit them with a volley...but if we fail, the attacking force might rout.

Rinkah: ...

Avatar: Rinkah? Are you listening to me?

Rinkah: You know as well as I that I am not a tactician. Why are you here? Hoping to make friends? I'm sorry to disappoint you. I'm just here to carry out orders. Nothing more. Farewell.

(Rinkah leaves)

Avatar: Hey! Hey, wait! I'm not done talking yet!

Rinkah: I have nothing to discuss with you. Leave me alone.

Avatar: You know I can't do that. We're allies! I have to be able to communicate with you.

Rinkah: That's not what I meant. I will still listen to and follow any orders you want to give. But otherwise, do not speak to me!

Avatar: What is wrong with you?

Rinkah: *sigh* My apologies. Perhaps I went too far. That is no way to talk to one's superior. I am grateful you spared my life when I was your prisoner. And I will follow you wherever you decide to lead us. However I neither need nor desire your attention. Please leave me alone.

(Rinkah leaves)

Avatar: Hm...

B Support

Avatar: Hey! Rinkah!

Rinkah: ...

Avatar: Rinkah! Did you hear me?

Rinkah: What is it this time? I told you to leave me alone.

Avatar: I wanted to ask you why you insist so much on remaining aloof.

Rinkah: If I do, will you leave me be?

Avatar: I...I guess I can do that.

Rinkah: *sigh* Very well. I keep my distance because it is the law of the Flame Tribe. As you know, we worship the God of the Flame. To honor our God, we keep a fire in the village burning at all times. This is a challenge, and so in order to keep it burning we have effected many laws. One such law directs us to avoid contact with outsiders as much as possible. This is why we live in isolation—and why I would prefer you quit prying.

Avatar: How does living in isolation keep the flame burning?

Rinkah: It's always an outsider that extinguishes the flame of life. They don't respect it, and so foolishly they run headlong into taboo acts.

Avatar: Like putting out the flame?

Rinkah: That is one of them, yes. And it has terrible consequences for the transgressor. Once, a long time ago, the sacred flame was extinguished by an enemy tribe. They only wished to cause us harm, but they angered the God of the Flame. The holy mountain then erupted, and fire fell from the sky. Lava decimated the enemy tribe, and by the end of it, there was no trace of them left. The stories say our own tribe suffered greatly as well, however.

Avatar: I see. But then why were you siding with Hoshido against Nohr?

Rinkah: Because our chief—my father—decided we should cooperate with Hoshido. A fighter should fully commit themselves to every battle, it's true. But to be honest, I had grave misgivings about this whole venture. Bad omens. And those feelings turned out to be well- founded. As you know, I was taken captive.

Avatar: I see. You must feel very vindicated.

Rinkah: I feel the same as I did before. So. Now you understand. I expect you will stick to your end of the bargain. Farewell.

(Rinkah leaves)

Avatar: Rinkah... There must be something I can do.

A Support

Avatar: Rinkah.

Rinkah: Heh. Lord Avatar. You really don't know how to take a hint, do you? I'm starting to lose count of all the times I told you to stay away.

Avatar: Er. Sorry.

Rinkah: Well? What is it this time?

Avatar: Is there no way I can convince you to be a little more friendly with the others?

Rinkah: Why?

Avatar: When we spoke of your capture at Nohr's hands...you seemed angry. Do you hate having been caught so much?

Rinkah: Of course I do. Being captured is far more shameful a fate than death to a warrior. I wish I had perished that day. I would have retained my dignity, at least.

Avatar: But if you'd died, we'd never have met and worked together.

Rinkah: What?

Avatar: We're at war. Nothing is certain. One day we celebrate, the next we may be mourning. But I have to believe there's some kind of order to things. And so I think we were fated to meet as we did, and that we should be grateful for it.

Rinkah: I see. I AM grateful we met. But I still feel regret and anger at my capture. It is difficult to be grateful for a misfortune, is it not?

Avatar: But in the end it wasn't a misfortune, right? It all worked out. We should thank fate for that—for all the ways it sees fit to connect us. All of us. And I think fate has given you a unique and incredible opportunity.

Rinkah: How so?

Avatar: It's rare the Flame Tribe interacts with outsiders, right? Then perhaps you should take advantage of this chance to learn about the world. About other people, other cultures, lands, arts, history, technologies... Your people may not have an opportunity like this again for a long, long time. And I think it would be a terrible shame were you to let it slip past you. But...I admit I may feel this way because I spent my entire life trapped in isolation. So the choice is yours. I won't press you further.

Rinkah: I see. Very well. I will have to think on it, but your argument has a certain weight. I'll...do my best to try to warm up to the others. All right?

Avatar: Thank you, Rinkah!

Rinkah: No. Thank you.

S Support

Rinkah: Avatar. I've been looking for you.

Avatar: Oh! I've been looking for you too! I hear you've been warming up to everyone. I'm know it couldn't have been easy for you. Thank you.

Rinkah: S-sure. No problem.

Avatar: So, you had something you wanted to talk to me about?

Rinkah: No, never mind. It's not important.

Avatar: Are you sure?

Rinkah: Maybe we can talk some other time.

(Rinkah leaves)

Avatar: W-wait! Rinkah! What's wrong? You can tell me. You've finally started to open up. Don't close yourself off now! Please. Let's talk.

Rinkah: Hmph.

Avatar: Huh? Are you all right? Your face is burning up! Do you have a fever? Are you sick? Let me get you a healer!

Rinkah: N-no!

Avatar: Are you sure? You're sweating a lot too...

Rinkah: I wanted to tell you...

Avatar: Yes? Go on.

Rinkah: I'm sorry. My pride prevented me from telling you before. I swore I'd never do this. Every time I saw you, I felt ashamed. You were a reminder of my capture. A reminder of my weakness.

Avatar: I'm so sorry.

Rinkah: But over time, the shame over my capture has weakened, and been replaced. I began to wrestle not with my weakness, but with a new feeling.

Avatar: A new feeling?

Rinkah: Yes. Love.

Avatar: Love?!

Rinkah: I could not accept that I had feelings for you. You are a foreigner, an outsider—and a constant reminder of my capture.

Avatar: I see. Well, the truth is, I have had feelings for you too. Ever since the day I saw you.

Rinkah: Huh?!

Avatar: I made excuses to myself, saying I just wanted you to make friends and learn. But the truth is, I really only wanted to get closer to you, Rinkah.

Rinkah: Avatar...

Avatar: Hahaha. When you think about it, we really met in the worst possible way, didn't we?

Rinkah: Don't say that! From now on, I will remember it as one of the happiest days of my life. As you said, we should be grateful for everything fate did to connect us.

Avatar: Haha. Yes. Thank you, Rinkah.

Rinkah: There is no need to thank me. I should be the one thanking you—for saving my life. And for igniting this fire in my heart.

(Confession Scene)

Rinkah: ...I love you. The flame in my heart will never die. Thanks to you...I now know what true love is...