Princess Maker 1.5: Heart Soldier Senshi

[idolpro]

[ When you insert the key and open the door, you'll find yourself in a humble cottage, in what seems to be the living room specifically. There are several doors, but a specific one catches your eye: simple in its decoration, the door has a cute little wooden plaque with flowers carved into it. Though the door is closed, you can see through it—as if it's somewhat transparent.

A wooden cradle sits in the room beyond, which is otherwise plain. Inside, a baby sleeps peacefully. When she stirs, calling for her parent, you, her nursemaid, are there instead, to cradle her back to sleep. ]

-

[ Slowly, the scene changes, fading in and out with various silent scenes—the baby coos pleasantly, giggling jovially when you (presumably) make faces at her; she tries to pick herself up and falls over, but she does not cry; a disagreement between you and her lead to a thoughtful discussion; the young girl carries a large laundry basket to do chores; she buys a pet dog, looking so proud for having earned the money all by herself; then the wall becomes opaque. ]

[ In the middle of the open doorway, a young girl the age of 11 stands, smiling at you. A stern-looking shepherd dog sits obediently next to her.

This is your little girl. You tried your best to rear her, and she's been good to you. You know she is capable of anything if she puts her mind to it—even becoming a princess. But you also know it's not easy to become a princess—she'll have to work hard, and she's capable of it but she'll need a guiding hand, you know. Better she become a princess than go off to war, though—better that she bear the burden of aristocracy than living a life of loneliness wrapped up in duty like her mother, or losing that life on the battlefield like her father. Whether she actually becomes a princess or not . . . well, that's up to fate, isn't it? Fortunately, when she goes to the Lost Continent, she won't be alone: you, as her longtime caretaker (her third parent, really, or her first, if you consider how her family's left her care entirely to you), may accompany her to her new school. You'll be her ally, her support, her greatest weapon; you'll be the one who determines her success . . . or her failure. ]

[ Of course, you're not the only one that thinks your charge can do it: Joyous Dark Firestorm Starling, one of the Queens of your Kingdom, hand-selected your employer's child. She could not send her own child to the Lost Continent, of course—she has her own inheritance battle to face within the Kingdom and sending her own child out is essentially forfeiting that battle—so she's selected theirs to sponsor. It's because of her that your charge will be able to go at all—in other words, it's your patriotic duty to make sure your charge gets that inheritance. ]

Comments

ROUND 2 DILEMMAS

[idolpro]

PERSONAL DILEMMA

[idolpro]

Hey, remember that doctor?

Well, they're super unhappy with you pulling witchcraft on them.

. . . But you haven't heard anything about that, since. Your daughter doesn't seem to be having problems, either.

You're starting to hear a rumor—that the knight's girl is so incredibly charming that she could do anything she wants, and anyone would be fine with it . . .

What, if anything, should you do?

DECISION

[idolpro]

Re: DECISION

[crossmyheartandhope]

[Before they talk to their daughter about this, they ask her if she's been using Charm, and if she has, what for]

Re: DECISION

[idolpro]

Your daughter confesses . . . she used it, firstly, to keep the school doctor from saying anything about your abilities. She didn't want you to get in trouble for trying to help the sick man.

Since then, she's largely used it for altercations. When there's trouble brewing, she'll charm people into getting along. It's not the perfect solution, not always, but it's helped so much.

Is she in the wrong?

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

...oh boy.

Re: DISCUSSION

[420blazeit]

Hm. We might have to find a way to dash this rumor.

Re: DISCUSSION

[adorabilities]

[can't fuckin' relate]

Uh... people start rumors about things like that?

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

Looks like it.

Guess we better sit her down and give her a talking-to.

Re: DISCUSSION

[polarislight]

Ah.

What did I miss while I was talking to her?

CLASS DILEMMA

[idolpro]

Fortunately, since there's no evidence, no one was deported. Instead:

One family essentially swept the incident under the rug by paying off the damages, declaring what actually happened to be impossible to discern the truth of; both accusers start trying to get closer to the commoner, not leaving her alone.
One girl is punished by cleaning the school, although another would help clean and yet another would help pay for the damages.

The commoner seems to be discouraged from going to school, entirely avoiding the rest of the semester. Her parent seems to be trying to get a sports class going at school, but they need everyone's support in order to be able to proceed.

The semester passes without further incident, but . . . !?

On the first day of the new semester, the stolen possessions show up in the lockers of three different girls: were they the culprits after all. . . !?!?!

Where does your daughter stand on this? . . . Well, it seems she's started disappearing at night, sneaking out and staying out late . . .

What should you do?

DECISION

[idolpro]

Re: DECISION

[crossmyheartandhope]

[We tell our daughter that she did good to investigate, and that she doesn't have to be shy or embarrassed that she joined the sportspuck team. She's our daughter, and if there's something she loves, we want to be involved in it! We promise to take her to games and cheer her on, plus help her bake something for the bake sale. If she wants to go out in the future, though, she should ask before going off on her own without permission.

Northstar shows Nari (and also the rest of HSS) how to bake some awesome peanut butter star cookies, and they send her off to the bake sale to help raise money for the team. They also encourage her to reach out to Diving Chryselephantine Kingfisher, if they're friends, and ask her to give school another chance. She’s definitely not alone, and Nari could be her Knight in Shining Armor should any of the girls try to pick on her again. Everybody’s shown their true colors, so there’s no need to be coy.

Of course they support the sports class at school.]

Re: DECISION

[crossmyheartandhope]

PS - Nari also goes to the parties, but we warn her to be charming and cautious and keep her eyes and ears open in case anyone tries to pull anything.

DISCUSSION

[idolpro]

Re: DISCUSSION

[420blazeit]

I think we should ask her what she's been doing. It's one thing to stay out late if she's told us, but sneaking out is another thing entirely...

Re: DISCUSSION

[crossmyheartandhope]

I mean... I guess we oughtta talk to her about where she's been going.

Could be it ain't got nothing to do with this, or could be whoever took the stuff brought it back, or could be the noble kids framed the other girl in the first place.

...I'm good with giving the green light on the sports stuff, though. That part seems like easy mode.

Re: DISCUSSION

[polarislight]

I think we should follow her out and see what she's doing for ourselves before we confront her about it.

TALK TO NARI.

[420blazeit]

Nari, honey, is there anything you'd like to share with me? It seems like a lot of stuff has been going on at school again lately. [ huffs a laugh. ] It never ends, huh? But, you know, you can always talk to me and your other moms and dads if something's bothering you or if you need help...

Re: TALK TO NARI.

[idolpro]

"Huh?"

She looks up to you, considering your words.

". . . I'm investigating. That's what we should do first if something suspicious is happening, right?"

!!!

[idolpro]

The commoner's family is starting a bake sale for sportspuck! Free snacks for those who attend, proceeds going toward supporting growing sports teams in the school. They've invited your charge!

Re: !!!

[dragonheartedgirl]

Oh!

[ Our daughter has... maybe befriended the commoner child? Cute. ]

Nari, what do you think? Would you like to go?

!!!

[idolpro]

One family seems to be doing a bunch of other things, too! They're not just inviting you to one party, but several; these parties are definitely mimicking high society back in your Kingdom, made in the name of fundraising and making friends, but you know. It's an aristocrat. There's definitely some politics going on there.

Will you choose to go?

Re: !!!

[dragonheartedgirl]

[ Oh....

Hm. ]

It would probably be bad not to go, right?