wildsaber | 01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

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01 ♪ video/action ♪ wake up sleepyhead!

[The feed shows a nice view of absolutely nothing. There is, however, the sound of someone spitting. Very lovely. He just woke up with a mouthful of dead rotting leaves. His day is off to a great freaking start, that's what.]

Ugh, nasty! Ow--... ow... ow. [Don't let the nonchalance fool you. He's realizing he's alive. Taking in a deep breath, and letting it out.

He's alive.

... And also FREEZING COLD. But wait until he finds a way home! This is impossible, but maybe-- just maybe--]

Hahah... jeez, it's c-c-cold. Am I in K-Keterburg or something?

-- Hey, what's...

[And here's when he brushes the journal off. Hello, there's a half-naked redhead getting up close and personal, and turning it upside down, and then shaking it out a bit. What is this strange and mystifying technology? It sure as hell isn't his journal.]

Weird.

[Feeling something tickle his shoulder, he reaches over to brush it off. And then he notices the wings, red with gold tips just like his hair. He has wings. This is not a drill. Luke drops the journal in favor of screaming like the grown man he isn't.]

W-what the hell is going on!?

[NO LUKE DON'T PULL ON THOSE--] —OW! [Yeah, that hurt more than anything else in his life. Now he's curled up over his knees again, trying not to cry. He almost blacked out there.]

G-guess they're real...

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[Jade knows exactly how to poke him.]

I-I haven't given up! I just got here. [Yeah, he's still a spitfire, especially now that he's not freezing his ass off. He's cold but steadily getting warmer and more confident, settling back into his old skin.]

I just... we've never gotten good news from a doctor's visit, you know? I can't help being a little nervous.

[He definitely missed that spirit, as irritated as it occasionally proved to be.]

Oh? I'll have you know that I'm no ordinary doctor, so you should revise your expectations. Otherwise, it's refreshing to hear you attitude. We can't allow disappearances in this world, after all.

... Weren't you a coroner?

[Jade. Jade, you are not making this better. Regardless, he huffs a bit and crosses his arms behind his head.]

Whatever. I don't plan on disappearing again.

Edited 2014-02-18 12:56 (UTC)

Now, now, this is no time to fret over details. [But he flashes a sinister smile just because.] The important point is that I know enough to be able to assess your condition.

[He does exhibit the tendency to figure out unusually educated deductions from other fields.]

You should hold yourself to that promise, Luke. [And he adjusts his glasses.] As for myself, I should see if the clothing store has any spare medical outfits. [AKA, Dr. Mambo returns.]

[Oh god. Oh god. Oh god.

Yeah, Jade is pretty smart, but why does he feel like he's about to be dissected?]

Hah. Hahah. Hah.

I should probably head there, too. One outfit isn't really enough.

[Some habits die hard.]

What about money?

I've already decided that the clothing store would be our first stop. How lucky for you.

[They should be nearing the village now, actually. Jade keeps a trolly smirk on.]

Even luckier for you, there's no form of currency here. As there are surplus supplies for everyone living under this enclosure, plus the messiness of some items already having owners among the populace, everything is offered free of charge.

So you won't have to worry about embarrassing yourself through indulging in apple thievery again anytime soon. [How did he find out about that? Probably by being Jade. He looks cheekier than ever.]

[Wow, he didn't expect Jade to bring that up. That was a hella long time ago, but it's still embarrassing enough to make his cheeks flush scarlet. Or maybe that's the cold. No, no, that's definitely embarrassment; he's huddling more into the jacket and looking away, like he's been scolded.]

You never forget anything, do you? [Dude's like an elephant.]

That's weird, though. If someone's keeping us here, why are they so happy to give us stuff?

[And he's as old as one, too. Not to mention how amused he is at Luke's reaction.]

After all this time, you should have little reason to doubt my memory. [He adjusts his glasses.]

I can't quite confirm whether or not the Malnosso are truly happy, but the number of free items seems to be linked to the vast resources at their disposal. For them, providing us with these things may just be a trivial accomplishment. Of course, they also likely prefer to keep us satiated to an extent considering the roles that they have us perform.

You're really not half as old as you pretend to be.

[Luke's lips form a line. The more he hears about these Malnosso people, the less he likes them. If they're responsible for stripping him and dumping him out in the snow with new appendages, he's already pretty unhappy, but...]

Roles? ... I don't like the sound of that.

I could say the same of yourself, Luke, but that won't get us anywhere.

[He shrugs at the seven-year old relpica.]

My, I imagine you wouldn't like the sound of that. They seem to have a certain liking for drafting residents for their war.

[He's a bit more serious now. Luke getting embroiled in a war is something which does concern Jade, despite their previous adventures being near enough to taking part in an actual war. Still, this Luke had forgotten his previous experiences in the Malnosso's war, which was an entirely different danger.]

[Luke makes a face.] ... Okay, so I walked right into that one.

[He adjusts the jacket, trying to keep every bit of himself as warm as possible.]

So it's a war. They don't feel like fighting themselves, so they toss us into it. Is that it?

[Luke, too, is serious. Maybe even a bit angry. He's exhausted but he can always spare a second or two for bitching about the status quo.]

What happens if we say no?

It's close enough. They do have their own forces to use in battle, but we are supplementary additions.

[He adjusts his glasses.]

They have the means to force us to coming to the battlefield, no matter what. However, while on the battlefield, we are free to our own devices. So by all means, feel free to say 'no' as much as you'd like to at that point. The enemies will be too busy trying to wipe out everyone else on the battlefield to properly hear you, however.

[Luke presses a hand to his head as they walk. What a mess.] So if I don't fight, then I'm a liability.

[It's just like back then. Luke still doesn't like killing people. He might remember his kill count as slightly less thanks to having his memories wiped, but...]

Who are we supposed to fight? Monsters? ... Other prisoners?

I know that it will be difficult. [He says with some rare sympathy in his tone.] But for the better or worse, it should be a role that you're accustomed to.

As for the opponents, they are a separate organization. Perhaps you can say they share some qualities with monsters. They are known as the Third Party. They have larger wings which are capable of flight, and you'll find that they are single-mindedly determined towards destroying all life on this world.

I... I guess. [Luke nestles further into the jacket he's been given, until the tops of his ears are just barely visible above the collar.] Why do they want to destroy everything?

[It's not like they had a choice, being drafted into this war. Maybe the others don't have a choice, either.

He remembers the replicas forced to go into battle. Sometimes they were replica soldiers, wearing full mail and plate and having no idea what they were doing. Sometimes there were real soldiers. It all hurt the same. Luke has some qualities in common with monsters, but that's...

There has to be another way. Right?]

Very little is known about their methodology. [A calm tone.] However, a popular theory attributes it to a type of mental illness that comes from a longterm exposure to this world - or from being raised in this world. Reasoning with them is practically impossible.

[He looks towards Luke hesitantly.]

I'm sorry, Luke. You've ended up arriving in quite the mess.

[Luke's eyes widen at the apology. That's one thing he wasn't expecting. He shakes his head after a moment.]

-- It's okay. I mean, it's not really okay that they're doing these things, but I'll be fine. I get to be with everyone again, so whatever happens, we'll deal with it together.

[He smiles, soft and maybe a touch sad.]

But... thanks, Jade.

[In the past, Luke was from before this time. He did not know yet the full sacrifice he would be making, and Jade only found it fair to hold back regarding that subject.

But now? It seems like he and Luke can now talk on equal terms about it. They both came from the same time. And they both understood what a second chance this was.

Jade smiles back at Luke, his hands folded in his pockets.]

Think nothing of it, Luke. After all... I'd have to admit that I'm quite pleased for this opportunity as well. I've hoped to be able to see you again.

[And the smile turns trolly.]

After all, I'm certain that I haven't harassed you nearly enough the first time around.

Edited 2014-03-17 05:20 (UTC)

[Oh no. Luke isn't expecting to hear those words. Despite how cold it is, there's something warm and pleasant about being missed by his friends. He has a place to belong. Though he died, they don't hate him for it. They just want to spend time with him, as much as they possibly can before something else happens.

It's the best kind of welcome he could ever hope to receive, if he even let himself hope for anything. Of course, right as the air starts to get mushy, Jade slams it with some of his usual humor.

Luke ducks his head, smiling brightly and trying not to laugh too hard. He can't help a chuckle, though.]

Uh huh. I missed you, too.

[-- and then he trips, flails, and just barely stays standing. Because he is a graceful creature.]

[Jade laughs warmly. Of course, clearing the air from getting too emotional is one of his favorite defense mechanisms. But Luke is one person who has come to the point of receiving honesty for the most part.]

You didn't have enough time to miss me, Luke. Then again, it took you only one second to miss your balance, so perhaps my judgement is too hasty.

[Luke is honest with him too, even if his emotions confound Jade sometimes. He is, after all, just a kid. The things he feels don't make sense to Luke either, sometimes.

He huffs, mumbling:]

It's different when you don't expect to come back.

[He prefers to say 'childlike'. Of course, Jade hasn't always been the best at making sense of emotions himself.

And there Luke goes... defeating his joke with more emotionality. Jade's smile fades.]

I can't quite say that I know the feeling. [He quietly adjusts his glasses, reflecting on his own near death experience at Luceti. He may understand more than he knows.] But I can understand where it's coming from.

[And just like that, he assumes a casual air again.]

Very well, Luke. You may resume having missed me to your heart's content.

[Luke watches him for a moment. He lets Jade lead the conversation, though. He's not about to pry into Jade's feelings when they're both pretty poor in that area.]

Don't worry, I won't hug you again. ... Unless you've suddenly decided you want to.

... Nah, that might be weird..

[Teasing is easier, even if he falls flat on that sometimes.]

[Oh Luke. He tries.

Jade keeps on leading the way, smirking and adjusting his glasses as he moves.]

I'm afraid that no miracles have returned. But rest assured, you'll receive more than your fair share of such affection form your more compatible friends.

...Despite the fact that a number of them should still be unaware of your actual fate.

[Luke blinks-- once, twice, trying to make sense of that.]

What? But-- but everyone--

[And here he thought he could live without hiding that. That's a big thing to hide.]

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