Now that I've played completely through Episode: AIGIS, I have a pretty good idea of the new character, Metis, and wanted to play around with her a little. Enjoy!
Under the stars
The dorm was unusually quiet, steeped in a rare kind of stillness that seemed to settle into the very walls themselves. Most of SEES was either resting or lost in their own thoughts, recovering from the exhausting trek they'd made into the Abyss earlier that evening. The air was thick with an almost tangible sense of weariness and reflection.
In the common area, Aigis sat alone, perched on the edge of the worn-out sofa. Her golden eyes were half-lidded, reflecting the soft, muted glow from a nearby lamp. Outside the window, the city lights twinkled against the night sky, a sight she would normally find oddly calming. Tonight, however, her gaze was distant, as if her focus was cast inward rather than on the view beyond the glass. She was still, save for the faint, rhythmic hum of her internal mechanisms—the subtle sound that was unique to her and a quiet reminder of what she was. Yet at this moment, her mind was elsewhere.
A soft shuffle broke the silence, and Metis stepped into the room. Her steps were light, almost noiseless, but her presence was anything but subtle. There was always an air of liveliness about Metis, an energy she seemed to carry with her that filled any space she entered. Her sharp, perceptive gaze landed on Aigis, and she took immediate note of her sister's unusually contemplative demeanor. Aigis's golden eyes, typically so focused and steady, were instead softened with an expression that was almost... wistful.
Metis approached slowly, her expression curious. She had her suspicions as to what—or rather, who—might be occupying Aigis's mind. But she wanted to hear it from Aigis herself. She slid into a seat beside her, breaking the heavy silence with a gentle but direct tone.
"Aigis," Metis said, her voice cutting through the quiet. "What are you thinking about?"
Aigis turned to her slowly, her gaze seeming to refocus as she processed the question. "I have been... reflecting," she replied, her tone soft, as if speaking any louder would disturb whatever fragile thoughts had been forming in her mind.
Metis arched an eyebrow, a glint of mischief already sparking in her eyes. "Reflecting?" she echoed, her tone light but knowing. "On Gamma, perhaps?"
For a moment, Aigis hesitated. The faintest flicker of surprise crossed her face—a rare moment of vulnerability that Metis didn't miss. The soft hum of her internal workings became just a bit louder, a subtle sign of the inner conflict she was feeling. "I... I do not understand why you would assume that," Aigis replied, her voice calm, though there was an undertone of uncertainty that betrayed her.
Metis leaned back in her seat, her arms crossing over her chest as a grin played at her lips. "Oh, come on, Aigis," she teased, her tone gentle but persistent. "I've seen the way you look at him. You're not fooling anyone."
Aigis's head tilted slightly, her expression growing thoughtful. "Gamma is an important member of SEES," she said slowly, as if reasoning it out for herself as much as for Metis. "I... care for all of you."
"That's not what I mean, and you know it," Metis retorted, her tone warm but insistent. She leaned in, her gaze steady on Aigis as if willing her to see what was so clear to her. "You're not just concerned about him as a teammate. I mean you've got real feelings for him, don't you?"
The question seemed to linger in the air, and Aigis's expression grew still, her golden eyes widening almost imperceptibly. Feelings... for him? For Gamma? The concept felt foreign, something she hadn't quite dared to fully consider before. She wasn't sure she even had the right words to express the strange warmth she felt when he was near, the way her gaze would inevitably drift toward him during missions, how she found herself wondering if he was safe—even though she knew he could take care of himself.
