Adriana couldn't help but to let a giggle escape upon Phil's attempted apology, "I'm not sure if you're aware but apologies in Rokkenjima are about more than simply saying you're sorry. You see it's about politeness, letting others know that you've reflected on what was wrong, and that you're not merely working through the motions. With that in mind, perhaps a little more loudly, you may try again..." she looked at the tablet which Gemma had handed her a moment ago, "....Philip Lassiter, Earl of Cottonwood, son of Lord Jordan Lassiter, Duke of Cheswick. Ah, I see here that the dossier notes you like to go by Phil, so we'll keep it informal. Now that we're introduced the floor is yours, Phil," she said, withdrawing herself for a second while looking at him expectedly.
If he had wilted before he now looked as though he had seen a ghost, with the colour having effectively drained from his skin. He cleared his throat and turned to Tom, "Look I'm not good at this but Tom...." he said looking him straight in the eyes as loud as he could without shouting, "I was a dick, I'm sorry man, no hard feelings?" He turned to Adriana, "Is that better, I'm really sorry and I won't be a jerk to him again, I promise." "Better, yes, though you won't be a jerk to
anyone. Each of us has the power to change the world every day, maybe not the whole world, but we can change the world for someone for better or for worse. Use your words and actions to change the worlds of others for the better, it makes Mundus a brighter place for us all. Can you try to do that for me, Phil?"
"I'll try, yes, Adri..." she shot him a glare, "Your Majesty." "You should eat your lunch before it gets any colder. Now if you'll excuse Tom and I we have a ship to catch, the waters of the Strait and the Bay are so beautiful this time of year, and I wouldn't want us to be late."
"Hey, that's what friends do isn't it?" she asked with a smile. "I saw many bullies throughout my schooling back home, as well as straight up jerks who think they can do whatever they want without consequence. Better that they're put in their place when they're young before they grow up to be monsters. Enough of that though, I'll see you in twenty."
Austrana It had been some hours since they touched down upon the
Austrana which made its transit across the Strait of Arovium without issue. The usual flotilla of smaller ships were present as she entered Arovium Bay, "Has she lived up to your expectations?" Adriana asked. "Now obviously there's parts of her that I can't take you to, you know, national security interests and all, but she has all the comforts of home while her and her sister,
Estvua, are always deployed so they may be used by the Empress as swiftly as possible, regardless of where she may be in the world. Planes are fine and all but this," she said looking out to the sea, "this experience can't be had on a plane. Just over there," she said pointing to a spot isolated from the beaches and activity of people ashore, "dad taught me to fish, it's his favourite spot for some reason even though we have some of the top fishing stocks just off the shores of Azukishima. Mum always gave him a hard time over the travel costs, but he always insisted on coming here."
She sighed as she turned away from the waters to face Tom, resting against the hand rails of the
Austrana. "Whatever happened to my strategy of staying in the shadows? I nearly pulled it off after the fall but now....putting your bully in his place by making him apologize
and bringing you along on the
Austrana, I'm not exactly going to be able to keep a low profile now. Word will spread from him, his friends, everyone in the cafeteria and before we know it...."
"I know we see each other mostly in passing and we share a class or two, but I gotta know. What do you think of me, like who I am not my status, or the toys I have at my disposal? What am I to you?" she said with an innocent grin.