thunderfists | ◎ Bout 2: The age question [action/voice]

[action]

[Akihiko's been adjusting well enough to Luceti following the crash back to reality that Luceti was a different world that was not the TV world he was supposed to have appeared in. He's back to a "civilized" level of hygiene and no longer running around in survival pants and a cape -- no, now he's back to sweatpants and T-shirts for his jogs and training. He can be found jogging on the village roads and into the forest, which he's now fairly familiar with after spending so much time out there.

Later in the day, after he's finished with his training for the day, he opens up his journal. Ever since that "experiment," he's been wondering something. But before he asks, he should probably introduce himself...]

[voice]

Hey. I'm Akihiko Sanada. I arrived here in the recent ... cycle. I guess that's what you call it. I've heard that I might have met some people here before, so I thought I'd warn you that I don't remember ever being in Luceti.

Anyway, I've got a question. How do you decide when to celebrate or acknowledge your birthdays here? There can be a lot of different kinds of calendars, even in the same world, so... I'm curious how other people handle it.

Also, if anyone knows how I can get my hands on a speed bag, I'd appreciate hearing about it.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Not at all, I have been here since November of the third cycle. I have been told, however, that I was here before at a different time prior to this current stay.

So you're one of these 'returning' folks, too. I heard I've been here before, but I can't say I've met anyone who's really recognized me. It sounds a little ... awkward.

It could be that many of those who knew you then have also left. It isn't an uncommon occurrence.

Yeah, I figured as much -- either that, or they're just not saying anything. [It wouldn't surprise him if some people thought it too difficult to reconnect with people if they'd been forgotten about.

...] Sorry, I guess I never asked your name. I'm Akihiko Sanada. [...He'd already introduced himself in the entry, but it couldn't hurt to say it again.]

It's all right, I'm Tear. [She doesn't mind him introducing himself again at all, thinking him as being more polite that way.]

Are you still having trouble settling?

It's good to meet you, Tear. [Tear? He's reminded again of fantasy genres, which leads to him briefly thinking about the talking dragon he'd met. But he soon focuses on her question.]

A little, but probably not in the way you'd expect. I was traveling a lot before I arrived, so settling into a house took awhile to get used to again.

If you don't mind me asking, why were you traveling?

I don't mind. I wanted to work on my fighting skills -- finding different ways to train and improve myself around the world. So I was traveling pretty often.

Your fighting skills? [She could respect that, but it did leave her faintly curious about what he could have learned.]

You must have witnessed a lot in that time, has any of it been what you were searching for?

Nothing so specific. [If not for the fact that there were other pursuits he'd like to focus on back in Japan, he could see himself traveling a lot more in the future.] I want to improve so I'm at my best when I need to protect others.

I see. [And there is definitely some sympathizing now, recalling her own journey to become stronger so she could fulfill the expectations she had set for herself.]

If you continue to want to improve, would that goal also extend to here? Assuming those you are to protect are in the village.

[Well, considering what he hoped to do in the future, it didn't matter if there were specific people in the village he wanted to protect...]

I can't imagine stopping. I'll find ways to keep working on my skills here. It's not hard to imagine I've just gone into another country. [...Except most people here knew how to fight, may know about some form of magic, he was in a different world, not a different country.]

[She almost wants to point out that it wasn't as simple as believing you were in another country, but his determination is enough that it probably wouldn't matter in the end.]

Though here your form of fighting might not always be suitable, unless you go on to try to expand your abilities.

You think so? [He muses aloud at her remark. He had heard about the war, but he'd never taken part in anything related to missions or drafts yet.] Have you been in that situation before?

[What kinds of environments and opponents could they be exposed to out there? There was an obvious challenge there, intriguing and currently out of his reach.]

Once before, and it was costly on everyone involved. [She's well aware of where her limits currently are, and it has driven her to practice more rigorously during instances at the battle dome.]

It only takes once. [Costly was quite a way to describe the experience. He doesn't pry, but her wording says something about how it affected her.] At least you learned from it. Did you end up 'expanding your abilities' afterwards?

Of course I did, I would be a fool not to and risk the same mistake again. [She had no issue with admitting to her own weaknesses and always desiring to improve.]

Heh. [It's not a wry laugh at her expense or to belittle her experiences; it's just the best way to sum up his thoughts with making mistakes. He just knows all too well that feeling of not wanting to make the same mistake twice.]

Maybe you'll do me the honor of sparring with me sometime. Or let me see your skills at work.

I would be glad to. [She offers a smile of her own, having taken no offense to his laughter. She already did the same with a handful of others, it would benefit both of them to test their skills.]

Whenever you would like, you are free to contact me.

◎ Bout 2: The age question [action/voice]

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