**Jasmine Same Roth's Log, Supplemental**
**Shire Valley – Government District**
**Late April, 2126**
Ink stains on tired hands.
A republic is not written in silence.
Even leaders need someone to share the load.
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The apartment was dim, lit only by the pale blue glow of the holographic projector and the scattered pools of light from half-empty coffee cups. Jasmine sat hunched over the long table, surrounded by open books, printed drafts, and crumpled notes. Strands of auburn hair had slipped free from her braid and clung to her damp forehead. Her fingers trembled slightly as she turned another page, eyes scanning the glowing text hovering above the table.
"…Rome's Senate had too much power concentrated in the hands of the wealthy," she mumbled under her breath, voice hoarse. "If we adopt a similar upper chamber, we need strict term limits… and a way for the common citizen to actually challenge it. Otherwise it'll just become another tool for nobles to hide behind…" Her words trailed off into a tired, frustrated mutter as she rubbed her temples with ink-stained fingers. "Jasmine," A.L.I.'s small holographic form said gently from the table, "your focus has been declining for the last three hours. You should rest."
"I can't," Jasmine whispered, reaching for another coffee cup only to find it empty. She set it down harder than she meant to. "If I get this wrong, someone will exploit it. They always do. I won't let these people survive a war just to be betrayed by the very laws I helped write." She leaned forward again, eyes narrowing at the projected text. "The Senate structure could work… but we need stronger safeguards… something the people can actually use…"
The door chimed.
Jasmine flinched, blinking rapidly as if surfacing from deep water. She pushed back from the table, wincing at the stiffness in her shoulders, and crossed the room. When she opened the door, she found Sebastian and Sarah standing in the hallway. Sebastian held a large flat box that smelled of melted cheese and herbs. Sarah carried a six-pack of dark ale tucked under one arm.
"Evening, Princess," Sebastian said with a warm but knowing smile. "We come bearing gifts of questionable nutrition and fermented courage." Sarah didn't wait for permission. She stepped past Jasmine into the apartment, her eyes sweeping over the mess of papers and coffee cups with open disapproval.
"Two days," Sarah said, voice firm but gentle. "You've been locked in here for two days. We could hear you talking to yourself through the door yesterday." Jasmine closed the door behind them, suddenly aware of how exhausted she must look. "I'm almost done with the judicial oversight section. I just need to—"
"You need to stop," Sebastian interrupted quietly. He set the pizza box down on the only clear space on the table and gave A.L.I.'s hologram a polite nod. "Hello, Ali."
"Hello, Sebastian. Sarah," A.L.I. replied evenly. Sarah turned to face Jasmine directly. Her expression softened, but the worry in her eyes remained. "Jasmine… you're running yourself into the ground again. This isn't like commanding a fleet. You can't just power through until you break." Jasmine opened her mouth, then closed it. She looked at the two people who had followed her across half the continent — her oldest friend and the man who had kept the Ironclad running through storms and war.
"I just don't want to fail them," she said quietly, voice cracking slightly. "Not after everything they've already lost." Sebastian stepped closer and placed a steady hand on her shoulder. "You won't," he said. "But you will if you collapse before the real work even starts. You're allowed to lean on people, Jasmine. That's not weakness. That's how you build something that lasts."
Sarah pulled out a chair and sat down, already reaching for a printed draft. "Sebastian's right. You've got us. And you've got half the Provisional Council who actually want this to work. So eat something. Drink something that isn't coffee. And let us help." Jasmine looked between them. The tension in her shoulders slowly eased. She glanced at A.L.I.'s small hologram, who gave a tiny, knowing nod.
"…Alright," Jasmine said at last, her voice softer. She pulled out a chair and sat down. "But if either of you tries to tell me it's 'good enough,' I'm throwing you both out." Sebastian grinned and slid a slice of pizza onto a plate for her. "Wouldn't dream of it. Now eat before you start rewriting the entire Roman Senate from memory."
Sarah cracked open a bottle of ale and set it in front of Jasmine. "And drink. You've been mainlining coffee for two days. Your hands are shaking." Jasmine let out a tired but genuine laugh — the first real one in days. She picked up the bottle, took a slow sip, and looked at the two people who had refused to let her carry everything alone. For the first time since she had started this draft, the crushing weight on her chest felt a little lighter. She wasn't alone in this.
Not anymore.