Board Thread:Role Plays/@comment-5999656-20170705042341/@comment-5999656-20170709202451

Lustra was silent for a moment after hearing Cyzarine's question. As expected, the girl was quick to seize upon her uncanny reaction. She would have to be careful with her next response if she was to maintain Cyzarine's trust. Already she sensed the inklings of suspicion from the green-haired girl.

"Well, I'm not from Vacuo," Lustra said simply. "I've been working here for a few months, but I grew up and attended academy in Vale. So I wouldn't say I'm the best person to ask about what kind of behavior is normal around here."

She stood up and stretched, then unslinged her pack and pulled out a disposable handkerchief, which she then proceeded to use to begin wiping off the blood from her needle.

"I've taken on dozens of missions both during and after I graduated from Beacon. At some point, a lot of Hunters begin to lose patience with people who remain protected by our efforts but can't bother to treat us with basic human respect."

Lustra paused again, holding her now-clean needle up to the sunlight before sliding it neatly back into her fan.

"I only intended to truly injure the leader. The others I gave basic blunt wounds that should be locally treatable. However, I wasn't counting on you to kill two of them. And as your temporary guardian, I have to take responsibility for that," Lustra said, stowing her fan away and looking coolly into Cyzarine's eyes.

"You have to understand that Huntsmen and Huntresses are very limited in their capabilities. Our job is not to fix society but to ensure that the Grimm remain beyond the borders. Whatever villains that arise from flaws in the community are fair game for hunting, but we have no way of taking them down before they arise - nipping the problem in the bud, so to speak. I can't introduce legislation that enforces stricter regulations on firearms. All I can do is make sure the asshole with a gun will never be able to shoot properly again. Does that make sense, Cyzarine? That's why I can't condemn your actions, because we're not in a position to be choosy."

Lustra held the gaze for a moment longer, then she broke it off and glanced aside almost sheepishly.

"Sorry if that's not the answer you were looking for. Due to circumstances, I'm used to having to rely on myself if I want things done."

Lustra began circling the round table, so that she was on the same side as Cyzarine. She looked at the girl again, but this time it was not a gaze of repressed malice, but one of calm reassurance.

"I have never ended a life with my own hands, and I intend to keep things that way. I don't know who taught you that going all out was the only way, but I think you're skilled enough that using your full strength on small fry isn't necessary anymore. You should save that for the Grimm."

"You're... still coming with me, right?"

Lustra was being extremely straightforward in her description of her moral beliefs. She hoped it wasn't too much for a seventeen year old to handle, and it would be immensely uncomfortable if Cyzarine decided to withdraw from the mission after what had just occurred.