Eponine/Zero Recruitment & C-A Supports

[PARALOGUE: An Unforseen Encounter]

OLD MAN: Thank you for coming. To tell you the truth, I have a request to ask of you. A band of thieves have been sniffing about my mansion, as it contains countless treasures, each of which are among the finest specimens of Nohrian culture. The very thought that they could break in is keeping me up at night. Please, I beg of you, do something about them.

SILAS: Alright, we understand. I'll ask our commander to send some troops over. We have an expert in thievery among our ranks. I promise you that we'll apprehend these robbers.

ZERO: Yeah, I can read those thieves' minds like an open book. I know what they're after, and how they'll get to it. We've already got a plan in place. Rest easy.

OLD MAN: Ah... do you? I leave everything in your hands.

ZERO: Hahah... I can't wait to see the defeat on those small-time thugs' faces.

[scene change]

ZERO: Good... we've confirmed the gang's entry. Now it's time to shut them down.

SILAS: Stay sharp, Zero.

ZERO: Yeah, no worries. Leave it to me.

ZERO: ...! Target captured.

???: Urgh!

ZERO: You're not getting away, you little catburglar. Now, let me see the shame on your face...

[Enter Eponine]

ZERO: Eponine!? What are you doing here!?

EPONINE: Wha? Dad!?

ZERO: What are you doing!? You're supposed to be in the secluded lands!

EPONINE: Hmph! I haven't been staying there much these days. I've been in the outside world, working as a righteous thief.

ZERO: A righteous thief?

EPONINE: That's right. I snatch loot from bad guys, and share it with the poor. The owner of this mansion's in some dirty business. That's why I'm here to rob him.

ZERO: Hold it! Have you forgotten what I said!? Stealing is the one thing you should never do! I've told you enough times to make my jaw sore!

EPONINE: This isn't stealing. I'm executing justice. Now let me go.

ZERO: I'm afraid I can't do that. Thievery is thievery.

EPONINE: Hm? I don't wanna hear that from an actual thief.

ZERO: You dare speak to your father that way!?

EPONINE: Back off! I'm doing what's right, unlike you! If you don't move aside, I'll force my way through!

ZERO: What are you doing, Eponine!? You'd better apologize right this moment!

EPONINE: No! Let's go, guys, it's time to clean this house out! Don't let them catch you! We're the ones in the right here!

ZERO: Stop this, Eponine!

EPONINE: I'm doing the right thing. If you're siding with the owner of this mansion, not even I'll show you any mercy. You're the one who's gonna be wearing a look of shame by the time we're through!

[Combat start]

[Initiate combat with Eponine]
EPONINE: I won't be captured by the likes of you!

[Defeat Eponine]
EPONINE: No... How could I... get caught...

[Post-combat]

EPONINE: Let me go! Let me go!

ZERO: Eponine, struggling won't change anything. You're not getting away this time.

EPONINE: ... Fine, then. Kill me.

ZERO: What?

EPONINE: You never visit. You don't approve of what I do. I'd rather die than let a dad like you catch me.

ZERO: Stop... Don't say that...

EPONINE: Fine! If you're not gonna kill me, I'll do it myself!

ZERO: Stop! I'll never forgive you if you kill yourself!

EPONINE: Huh...?

ZERO: Listen, I don't want you to treat your life so lightly... Don't look at me live you've lived your life alone this while time! Why do you think I made you stay out there?

EPONINE: I-I don't know, and I don't care...

ZERO: If it were possible, I wish I could've stayed with you the whole time, and watched over you as you grew. But, the reason I didn't, was because I didn't want you to get caught up and killed in the war. I wouldn't be able to go on living either if you were to die...

EPONINE: ...

ZERO: I can't accept you as a thief. But, you'll be staying with me from now on. I won't leave you in the secluded lands anymore.

EPONINE: ... Fine. But, my conviction as a righteous thief stays unshaken. That's because, no matter how I see it, it's the master of this house who's the villain here. He conned the poor out of their money to satisfy his own greed, and some of the kids in my gang lost their parents because of him. I'm not going to apologize to him, but...

ZERO: But?

EPONINE: Dad, I'm truly sorry for what I said... I won't dare think I'm better off dead ever again, cause I know how important I am to you...

ZERO: Eponine... Alright, that's enough for now. I'm sure... it'll be some time before we can truly understand each other.

[Enter Silas]

ZERO: Guys, sorry for making you waste your time while we're on the march.

SILAS: No, it's nothing to worry about. In fact, we should be thanking you. If we hadn't come,  the mansion owner's misdeeds would have gone on unnoticed.

ZERO: But-!

EPONINE: Oh, my... aren't those two awfully close? As they continue to work together, they'll come to notice each other's respective appeals, and... ahh... that might not be so bad.

ZERO: Hm? You need something, Eponine?

EPONINE: ... No, nothing at all. Don't mind me, just keep talking.

ZERO: ...Sure.

EPONINE: Fufu. Coming along with them might actually be pretty fun. I hope they'll give me lots of good times.
---
C RANK

ZERO: Got a moment, Eponine?

EPONINE: ... What is it?

ZERO: You're not allowed to conduct any more rightous theivery.

EPONINE: That again? I'm gonna live the way I want.

ZERO: No, you aren't. Stealing from others is wrong. I don't want you to do that, ever.

EPONINE: But you did it too, Dad! How come I can't?

ZERO: I did it because I didn't have a choice.

EPONINE: I'm just doing what I think is right. You're in no place to tell me what to do.

ZERO: Sigh, how did you turn out like this...? You used to be such a cute, obedient little girl... Well, not that you've stopped being cute, at least.

EPONINE: Uegh! Stop that, you're creeping me out! Just so we're clear, Dad, I never even liked you.

ZERO: Eponine...

EPONINE: ... Hm. So you actually do know how to look like you're hurt. Not that seeing you that way makes me feel bad. Just don't bother me about my way of life anymore!

ZERO: ...
---
B RANK

EPONINE: *pant pant* Boys talking all friendly-like to each other... oh, I can't take this... I'm feeling all squeezy inside...

ZERO: You're feeling all squeezy where? Explain to me in close detail.

EPONINE: Gyaaaaaa!? Dad!?

ZERO: Getting yourself all hot and bothered looking at boys again?

EPONINE: Butt out of this, dad! Th-that aside, I think I already told you! I don't like you at all, so stop talking to me!

ZERO: I can't do that.

EPONINE: Why not!?

ZERO: Because I like you.

EPONINE: Stop that, it's creepy!

ZERO: That's nothing to worry about, Eponine. My creepiness runs in the family.

EPONINE: Y-You suck! You're nothing but a pest!

ZERO: Eponine, why do you hate me so much?

EPONINE: ... Can't you tell? You never cared about me... and now you interfere with my way of life and tell me to stop being a righteous thief...

ZERO: ...

EPONINE: You're just doing what's convenient for yourself... and I... I was so lonely...

ZERO: Eponine...
---
A RANK

ZERO: Eponine.

EPONINE: ... Dad.

ZERO: I can understand why you hate me. But, I want you to listen to me, just this once.

EPONINE: W-What's wrong with you, looking all stern like that...?

ZERO: Even I have times where I'm stern. There's something I want to say to you, as a father to his daughter.

EPONINE: You've got something you want to say?

ZERO: Yeah. I feel sorry for leaving you all alone. Even if I didn't want you to get caught up in the chaos of war, I did something emotionally to you that's beyond forgiveness.

EPONINE: Y-yeah, you did.

ZERO: So, I'm here to apologize. Sorry for never being around to see you.

EPONINE: ...

ZERO: But, I won't apologize for saying the things I did about your way of life.

EPONINE: Why...?

ZERO: I was born among the lowest of the low. My parents were long gone by the time I was old enough to think.

EPONINE: Huh...?

ZERO: A kid can't survive by himself, so I had no choice but to give myself up to a gang of thieves. And of course, I stole. I did everything I had to survive. I did things that would shake you to your core, things that I don't ever want you to know about....

EPONINE: ...

ZERO: You said you were a righteous thief, and that you knew you were doing the right thing... but, I didn't want to risk even the slightest chance of letting you go through the same things I did. That's why, instead of walking through the back alleys as a righteous thief, I want you to follow the path of light. That.. is the one wish I have for you.

EPONINE: ...

ZERO: I've said what I'm here to say. You can decide the rest for yourself. You're an adult now, so I won't bother you anymore.

EPONINE: W-Wait!

ZERO: What?

EPONINE: I can't believe you'd just talk until you're satisfied and then run away like that! Besides, I knew that even without you telling me! I'm the one who decides what I'm gonna do! But... but...

ZERO: Eponine?

EPONINE: I won't do anything that'll make you sad... I like you, Dad. I don't want you to suffer...

ZERO: ... Alright. Thanks, Eponine.

EPONINE: And thanks to you too, Dad, for telling me how you feel. To be honest, Dad, I-

ZERO: You don't have to say anything.

EPONINE: ...Why?

ZERO: You see, like what I just did, there are some cases where you've gotta talk things out. But, there are just as many cases where you don't have to talk at all. I know what you wanna say. We're family, right?

EPONINE: Yeah... you're right... I don't need to put anything into words... to fill you up with my warm essence.*

ZERO: Yeah... I feel it penetrating deep into me.*

*[Translator's note: It doesn't sound any better in Japanese, trust me.]