fortunefail | - 93 [Action]

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- 93 [Action]

[For a long time, the Battle Dome had never truly caught Yuan's interest. That is, until a few weeks ago, when Luke Skywalker had used it to create a flight simulation for crafts from his own world. That's when Yuan had realized just how much potential the Battle Dome truly has.

Choosing an environment had been tricky. While he'd been determined to recreate something from his own world, most locations left a bitter taste in his mouth. The holy ground of Kharlan, the forest of the elves, the Asgard region... There wasn't much land that wouldn't make him restless just from seeing it, let alone walking across it. What he needed was something that would calm him and finally, he'd settled on the floating city of Exire, haven for all those with elven blood. Exire as it'd been back in its prime, the houses in an untarnished state and welcoming, with colorful gardens out front. The time when the paved roads were not yet covered with moss and Maxwell's altar was adorned with offerings.

It was one of the few feats the Kharlan Heroes accomplished that he was actually still proud of, even with the way the city had decayed over time.

With no villagers programmed into the setting, the city is peaceful. The only sound to be heard is the wind rustling through the treetops as the interlinked islands travel over endless ocean. Yuan hadn't bothered to lock the simulation- he doesn't see why he should. If someone were to venture inside, they'll find him in the village square, tinkering with a Rheaird. It was recreated in perfect detail from the blueprints he'd drawn from memory a few years ago and updated whenever he'd requested a Rheaird during drafts. He doesn't need the Rheaird for flying purposes, he just wanted something to keep himself busy with. To take something apart that's magitechnology, not the electronics that can be found in Luceti's shops. Noishe, the large white and green Arshis, is dashing cheerfully between the islands. Yuan had figured that he shouldn't be the only one to enjoy the familiar sights and while the Battle Dome had intimidated Noishe at first, that anxiety had changed to excitement the moment the simulation started.

After so many years, there's little point in denying the fact that Yuan's homesick. Or rather, sick of Luceti, but there's hardly a difference between the two.]

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[While Jeb's initial plan had been to train a little bit in the Battle Dome, the plan is at least temporarily lost when he stumbles across the simulation. If there's something Jeb enjoys, it's how real everything in these simulations seem to appear, even if he knows the truth.

And this one is amazing, absolutely beautiful. Did a place like this really exist within someone else's world? He's in the village square, close to Yuan, but he's pretty distracted by the sights to notice him yet.]

Wow...

[Jeb's mutter of amazement doesn't go unheard, but Yuan doesn't make his presence known. Not yet. He's still crouching by the side of the Rheaird, one hand reaching into the engine to replace a spare part.

The simulation's other occupant, however, comes running towards Jeb from one of the adjacent islands. Noishe is panting loudly from all the exercise, but it doesn't make him any less cheerful.]

[Jeb makes a soft, surprised noise when he notices Noishe rushing toward him. The cheerfulness must be contagious, because the boy laughs happily.]

Hi there! I can't say I've ever seen anything like you before... [He moves to gently pat Noishe on the head, but with the slightest bit of caution just in case.] You seem to be having a lot of fun, too! I'm glad.

[Don't worry, Jeb. Noishe won't bite. In fact, the Arshis is just a little cautious himself. Excitement aside, strangers will be strangers. Once he receives a pat on the head, though, he mellows out again and wags his tail. Then, with a loud whine, he turns on the spot to wander over to Yuan.]

[And once Noishe wanders over to Yuan, Jeb notices him.]

Oh, Yuan! Hello. [He smiles and waves a little.]

[Sorry Jeb, Yuan's still a little distracted with trying to reach inside the engine. His attention isn't truly torn away from the Rheaird until Noishe pads up to him to brush his head against Yuan's arm. There's a loud noise of frustration and he retracts his hand again.]

Jeb.

Oh, I didn't interrupt you did I? [He looks over the Rheaird.] Whatever you're working on, it certainly looks like something impressive!

... It's called a Rheaird. [His voice has an underlying tone of exasperation in it, though a small part of him is pleased that Jeb is impressed by the design.]

A Rheaird... that's an interesting sounding name. So what's a Rheaird used for? [Don't mind him, Yuan. He's youthful, curious and enthusiastic.] It looks like some kind of vehicle, but...

[Not like any he's seen before, which makes it interesting!]

Of course it's a vehicle. What else would it be? [He pauses for a moment, then elaborates.]

It's an aircraft. It works by utilizing lightning mana to power the propulsion system in the rear end, here.

Oh, wow! That's... that's amazing! [The childish wonder will not end, Yuan.] We have aircrafts like jets and planes back home, but not something too similar to this. It's cool!

[He pauses.]

Mana... that word seems familiar, but I'm not sure why.

[There's a fine line between being curious and being nosy and while Yuan normally leans towards accusing people of the latter, Jeb does seem genuinely interested.]

It's a sort of energy from my world. It supports not only technology and magic, but even life itself.

That's amazing! My world doesn't work that way at all. [He understands how his world's technology and life is supported, but magic is constantly a mystery. Especially in terms of elementals, where someone can be born as one and have no family history of it.] So lightning mana would mean the mana that produces lightning magic, right? Or am I wrong?

[Either way, it's fascinating!]

[After so many years in Luceti, Yuan's gotten used to the idea that most other worlds don't have any form of mana. He's heard of two, but in both those cases, it still seemed mildly different from the way mana works back home. And to think, if his world hadn't depended on mana, things wouldn't have spiraled out of control the way they did during the ancient war.]

Hm. It's... something like that, yes.

Wow... [He looks to the Rheaird, then to Yuan.] That's something else. We have magic in my world, but because my world works differently, not a lot of people use it like that...

[He does know of at least one elemental who likes using his abilities to provide heat for others, though.]

It's surprising just how many differences there are between worlds. [His gaze falls on Noishe again and he gives the arshis an idle pat on the head.]

It isn't just that the choices people made resulted in different histories, it's that the nature of the world itself is different. The physical laws and governing powers. Considering those differences, it's amazing just how similar people from other worlds are. ...In a psychological sense, I mean.

[Radically different physical laws aside, most worlds have a history of war. Of people attempting to expand their territory and gain more power. The nature of the world is different, but the nature of man is a universal constant.]

I think I know what you mean.

[He bows his head a little.]

I'm sure every world has beauty in it--it's hard for me to believe that there isn't. But at the same time, discrimination and hatred exist too. It's also hard for me to believe that with every world, there aren't people who are hunted down just for who they are or what they were born as, or that the need for power doesn't exist. And... that people don't get hurt because of that need for power.

[There was a time he could deny that those things existed in a wide scale in his own world... but after the year he spent back there, his eyes were forcibly opened. He can no longer pretend. But...]

I still believe that the beautiful side of each and every world can trump the ugly side of it if there's enough of an attempt, though. [He smiles, then laughs sheepishly.] Sorry. I didn't mean to ramble like that!

[That sentiment Jeb's uttering sounds painfully familiar. It's the sort of words he's heard before from both Martel and Mithos, in his younger years. Personally, he doesn't believe it. The ugly side can't be trumped, it can merely be suppressed for a while, only for it to surface once more. It's like an hourglass.

He gives Noishe one last scratch behind the ear, then turns his attention back to the Rheaird.]

It's fine. Rambling is harmless.

All right, as long as you don't mind. [...] How have you been? I probably should have asked that sooner, I'm sorry.

Well. I've been well. [It's the only description he can think to give. He hasn't been drafted lately, he hasn't been involved in serious experimentation personally... He hasn't been through much of anything, really.]

And you?

I'm glad to hear you've been doing well, Yuan! Have you played any Tetris at all?

[He pauses a little at Yuan's question in return. He... has been okay, for the most part. In the last few months, frequency of the nightmares of Tori and Michiru covered in blood has lessened. But in turn, his desperation to get Mithos to just see he has at least one ally has only become stronger. Although Jeb has no plan on stopping, rejection does weigh strongly on his heart. He's come too far anyway--the scar on his back is a constant reminder.]

Well, I'm doing better than I was a few months ago. So... so I guess there's that, right? [It's a hesitant response. He doesn't want to give out too much information solely because Yuan is someone who told Jeb to avoid Mithos early on. He doesn't want any conflict...] I've been in worse condition while I've been here, that's for certain...

[It was a dumb idea, anyway, but at the time Quinn thought it might be interesting. Creating a replica of the old Fashion Club headquarters, just to compare it to the new club. The new one would win, of course, but...well, Quinn would be lying if she claimed she didn't miss the old one a little.

But of course, she got distracted and never actually did it. And she's still there, staring at the exact thing that distracted her.

It's definitely a step up from what Sandi's bedroom would have been.]

It's like something from a movie...

[If Quinn turns her head at just the right time, she may notice Noishe padding over to the Rheaird, sniffing the ground as he goes. Then, in one sudden move, he snatches a spare part up in his mouth and darts off as fast as his four legs can carry him. Yuan notices the action, but is too late to prevent it. All he can do is stand up straight to shout in frustation.]

Noishe! Get back here, you mutt!

[Quinn loves little puppies, but Noishe does not look like a little puppy. More like a big wolf-ish thing from what she can tell. So of course her reaction isn't exactly favorable.]

Aah! Don't let him near me, I just washed this skirt! [she starts backing up, not sure where to, but...]

[Too bad for Quinn, Noishe is headed straight for her. He'll attempt to brush past her towards one of the adjacent islands, but if she doesn't move away he may accidentally hit her with one of his floppy ears or his tail. Yuan is absolutely powerless to stop any of that.]

[She does move, but not quickly enough to avoid being hit with his tail. And it hurts a bit more than a puppy's tail would...or a regular dog's.] Owwww! Watch it! [she adds quickly, after a small pang of guilt] You could've gotten hurt too, if I were carrying anything other than a purse!

[Noishe pauses his running for a moment to look back at Quinn, but then he notices Yuan taking a step in their direction and promptly continues on his way. Realizing he's not going to get that part back until Noishe is done fooling around, Yuan heaves a frustrated sigh and turns his attention to Quinn instead.]

... Are you all right?

I think so. [she dusts herself off, luckily the dog didn't do too much damage] I don't want to be mean or anything, but is your dog always like this? I know some people don't like to be strict with their pets and I'd probably be the same way about a cute little kitten or a puppy, but one that size could do some damage. Especially if there's small children around.

[Whatever pleasantness was present on Yuan's face just devolves back into a scowl. Some young girl giving him a lecture on pet discipline is hardly what he needs right now.]

Noishe is not a dog, nor is he mine. It's not my responsibility to teach him manners.

He's not? He sure acts like one.

[Okay, he might sort of have a point there but that doesn't excuse what just happened!]

It should be, if you're the one taking care of him.

Edited 2013-06-19 03:24 (UTC)

I'm not taking care of him, I'm simply taking him for a walk. If you have such a strong belief that he needs to be disciplined, you can take that task upon yourself.

[Well, that was rude. Give a guy a little advice and he chews your head off! Quinn furrows her brows and puts her hands on her hips.]

Why are you getting so defensive if he's not even yours? All I said was he shouldn't be running around knocking people over!

[The way he sees it, he has every right to be defensive when strange girls waltz into his simulation and start badmouthing Noishe for just being playful.]

He wasn't knocking anyone over. He barely even grazed you.

Well...he could have been! [She knows she's being kind of bratty now but she's always had a tendency to puff herself up and blame the other person when she's embarrassed.]

He's playful, not blind.

[By now, Noishe's stopped running and turned to watch the two from a distance, the spare part still clamped securely between his jaws.]

Even if he's not blind, what if he doesn't look where he's going?

Then the other person should look where they're going as well.

I was! [she's pretty much in full puffer fish mode now, sorry Yuan]

[It's very rare when Naoto gets the chance to come to the battle dome anymore. She tries to come once a week but more often than not she finds herself knee deep in her own work, even missing some nights sleep just to work. It's an obsession for sure but it's all that's really keeping her sane too, with her close friends leaving and Luceti lacking the one thing she can't do much without, cases.

But today is one of those rare days when she steps out of the house to go and train for a little, stretch and maybe release some of the stress she's been under. Before she can go to make her own simulation however, she catches glimpse of a certain simulation that piques her interest.

It's beautiful, from what she can see of it and the man inside is no doubt one who's very familiar to her. And while she is cautious of allowing herself to get close to anyone anymore, she wants a closer look. With the door unlocked too, she seems to be allowed just that. And it's beauty is only much more than it was from what she could see on the outside. It was almost surreal.

She doesn't spend but a moment looking around curiously before speaking up to Yuan] Forgive my intrusion. It was not locked.

[Yuan's so lost in his own work, he doesn't notice Naoto's presence until her footsteps are approaching him. A moment later, she speaks up and he raises his head to peer at her from beside the Rheaird. Naoto's another one of those residents who'd been here longer than the average norm, but who Yuan still expects could leave at any moment. Back to where she came from and back to having never known him.

He draws a short breath through his nose before he responds.]

It wasn't meant to be locked. You're welcome to look around, if you wish.

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- 93 [Action]

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[action] i can't recall if jeb's even met noishe so we'll go with this

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