piratejournal | 002 Strike [Voice]

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002 Strike [Voice]

Uh, hey out there! This is Asbel again! I had a couple of favors to ask if you don't mind too much.

[He attempts being polite, but pauses for only a second or two before getting straight to the point.]

Okay, so first! We haven't exactly managed to find our friends yet, but I thought maybe you guys could keep an eye open. Help them out, you know? Oh--and they could definitely use some more friends, too! Their names are Sophie and Ri...uh, Sophie and [crap what does he do what should he call him he can't use his real name argh what does he do--oh!]

Tiger Festival!

[Good save, Asbel! But he should probably describe them, huh?] Sophie says she's about fourteen? And she's got these really long purple pigtails. She doesn't really talk too much, and she has amnesia, but you'll definitely know her if you bump into her. Oh--and she can run really fast!

And... [Not Richard don't call him Richard] Tiger Festival's got yellow hair and acts and dresses all proper. He's around my age. But he can get gloomy sometimes, so be sure to cheer him up if you see him like that, okay?

As for the second thing. See, I'm kind of an aspiring knight, and I was wondering if there was anyone who'd be willing to help me with my sword work! Even a few pointers would be much appreciated! Thank you in advance.

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Oh my, what an interesting name!

But have these friends been in this world beforehand, or are they simply from your own?

Thanks! It is a pretty cool name, isn't it?

[Funny how this boy seems to take personal pride in his friend's name.]

Well, I haven't bumped into either of them since Hubert and I got here, but there's still a chance they could show up, right? I mean, we were traveling together just before all this happened.

Not impossible. Though, well, you'd think they would see this then, as an outsider would have one of these journals...

But then, I arrived two months after Mana-chan and Rikka-chan. Yet we appear to have come from the same time.

I keep hoping two of my other friends will arrive, as well. Though I don't wish these hardships upon them, we would be much stronger with them at our side, and I worry how they may be faring without the rest of us.

Well that's just it. Sophie's kind of spacey sometimes. I don't know if she can read that well, or if she's ever even used a journal before.

[Chan-chan? Are they sisters or something?] But- from the same time? What do you mean?

Huh. Yeah, it would be nice if your friends were all together. I've always thought it'd be pretty neat to travel around the world with everyone, but I guess it's kinda dangerous too. I wouldn't really want anything bad to happen to them either, you know?

What I mean is that my friends and I appear to have left our world at the same time. However, I appeared here two months after them. It is strange and I do not have an explanation for it, but... That is what happened.

But I do understand the feeling. I do not want to put my friends in danger, or have them trapped here... Still, I miss them greatly.

So it's like you...got lost on the way or something? That is pretty weird. I can't think of a reason it'd happen either. [But then, he's not totally sure how any of them got here. Sometimes it seems more like a really elaborate dream than something that could actually be happening to them. Except he already pinched himself, so he knows that theory's out.]

Yeah... I hope they aren't too worried about us being gone.

Something like that, yes. So if my other friends are on their way, I hope they are not displaced for much longer.

Of course, that is even assuming they know we are. I did not know Mana-chan or Rikka-chan were gone, and then suddenly I was here. From what we know, time does not seem to play the same way between our realities.

Me too.

But wait. Your friends were right there with you, even though they'd shown up over here already? So you think the people at home might not even realize we're missing?

[These are big and confusing concepts. The plus side is his father would have no clue about it. But his other friends wouldn't either, and that's not so good.]

[When Asbel's finished with his voice post, he may see Hubert giving him a bit of a disbelieving look over the top of a comic book he's reading (thank you, Christmas ship).]

You're really using that name for Richard?

[If only there was a Naming Things 101 class. Because Asbel needs to take one.]

[He sees that look, little brother.]

What? I have to call him something... [And he didn't have a whole lot of time to come up with a better name or else it would've sounded really suspicious.]

Besides, if the wrong people figured out he was a prince, he might get attacked again. I don't want that to happen!

[Not that it has anything to do with his naming choices here.]

[Like "Tiger Festival" isn't a suspicious enough name in and of itself.]

I know, but he might be mad if he finds out you gave him such a bad name. You should have just used a normal name.

[Mad? Nah! Why would Richard ever be mad at him? Yeah, they had a bit of a rocky start, but they're totally cool now.]

Well, sure, I guess I should've asked his permission first. But that's kind of impossible right now. Besides, if he doesn't like it, we'll just figure out something else to call him and tell everyone that Tiger Festival's a nickname.

[Tiger Festival's totally a normal name. Okay fine, they can call him William. Or George!]

[Richard can be Billy Bro, obviously.]

That sounds reasonable enough, I guess. [LOOKIT DEM BIG WORDS] I hope Richard and Sophie are okay, wherever they are...

[Billy Bro sounds like something you'd name a goat.]

Yeah, me too. And Cheria.

I wonder what everyone thinks about us being missing? [He groans as he realizes something.] Once Dad finds out, bet he'll ground me for the rest of my life.

Well...maybe not for the rest of your life.

[Hubert can't really dispute that Aston would be furious over Asbel sneaking out yet again. The only question would be how furious he'd get.]

I'm sure he'd understand if we explained things to him.

[Because this is such a normal and believable set of circumstances.]

Pretty close. But I guess by the time I'm twenty and an adult, he won't exactly be able to keep me grounded...

[He's got that look on his face again. That defiant one that shows up whenever he thinks about his father and the way he handles things.]

Besides, since when has he ever understood anything? Even if I told him what happened, he'd never believe me. He'd say I was just making it all up.

[Hubert on the other hand... He might believe Hubert. Or he might just blame Asbel for making him go along with his "story".]

[Yeah, that possibility has just occurred to Hubert as well.]

What if we brought something from this world as proof? Like the journals.

The journals...! [The thought never occurred to him before.] Yeah! There's no way he could argue with that many people. Maybe we could even get them to help explain what happened.

[He doubts all the written parts would do much good, though. Again, because he could accuse them of making it all up. Or even going around Lhant and getting other people to contribute. Sure, they all have to answer to their lord, but occassionally some of the townspeople will go along with Asbel's plans.]

Colonel Jade can talk to him!

[After all, Jade's a military officer, whose word is worthy of respect. ...well, generally, speaking, since Hubert is still smarting about Jade's "helpful" advice during the pole incident. But for the purposes of trying to explain to Lord Aston about inter-dimensional abduction, he'd be a good candidate. ~~if only there were a Guy around to explain instead~~]

Yeah! He'd definitely listen to Colonel Jade. The man's military, after all.

[And, you know, an adult. That helps when you're dealing with Aston Lhant. Not that everything he says can be believed.]

[Good. Now that they've gotten that little issue out of the way, here comes the patented Little Bro Lecture.]

You really shouldn't have snuck out again, though. If you'd stayed put, then maybe you wouldn't have been taken here.

[Though Hubert has to admit it would be really lonely without Asbel around, so there's not a lot of weight behind this lecture (which is really a few months belated anyway). But even if he sometimes snitches on Asbel's plans to their parents, he doesn't really like seeing his brother get in trouble.]

If I'd stayed put, I'd have been bored to death and then you might've been stuck here all by yourself. Besides, Dad's got another thing coming if he thinks I'm going to do whatever he says without question.

[He gets enough of this from the adults, he doesn't need a lecture (however light) from his little brother, too.]

And it's not like I didn't have my reasons. I thought maybe if we asked around in Barona, we might be able to find out something about Sophie's family.

You could've asked me to do it for you, you know. I want to help her too.

[You don't have to do everything yourself, Asbel. :|]

Sorry about that, little brother.

But hey, I did say I'd take care of her, so it's kind of my responsibility, you know? And with all the grown-ups standing around...

[He barely got to exchange more than a few words with Hubert anyway.]

Well, just remember you can ask me for help later, okay? [Though that won't exempt Asbel from getting an earful from Hubert if what he needs help with turns out to be something of a questionable idea.] If we find Sophie here, then we'll look after her together!

Well...

All right. It's a deal then. [He doesn't want to agree to this too easily, but he well knows he's in a little over his head. Okay, he's in a lot over his head. There's got to be tons more to taking care of someone than just hanging out together and making sure they don't get hurt. Like...picking out clothes and studies (ugh) and all sorts of other stuff!]

I could maybe use your advice down the road. After we find Sophie, I mean.

[Don't ask Hubert for help with clothes, all his own clothes were picked out by Kerri ~~and we know his own fashion sense is awful~~. Studies, though, he could do that.]

Of course!

Right!

In the meantime I guess I should continue sword practice, huh? You should keep practicing, too! I'll bet if we get good enough, the others'll quit telling us to go and hide whenever there's trouble.

[At this, Hubert loses a little of his enthusiasm.]

I don't know, Asbel...I don't think I'll ever be good at fighting.

[He's not sure if he'll even be good enough at it. He does practice with Asbel, because there's only so much to do on a boat, but it's just so exhausting and he always ends up hurting somehow after it. All that aching is so distracting whenever he tries to sit down and read.]

[Asbel shakes his head. Sure, Hubert's got a long way to go, but he isn't totally hopeless. It'd probably help if he wouldn't squint his eyes shut so much, though.]

Part of becoming good is believing you can be good. And practicing a lot.

[What Hubert can't see won't hurt him!!! ...yeah no. He curls up a little in his seat, shoulders hunched.]

I guess.

[He understands the necessity of it, too, especially now that he and Asbel are on their own and far from home. But it doesn't make the sessions any less arduous, and it doesn't do a lot for his own self-esteem. Sometimes he worries that his lack of skill makes Asbel hold back in their spars -- and that, by extension, he is the one holding Asbel back, no matter how hard he tries to catch up. Hubert may eventually master the basics through methodical study and practice, but he doesn't and won't have Asbel's fire and enthusiasm for swordsmanship. It's just not where his strengths are.]

Edited 2014-01-26 23:25 (UTC)

...That is an awesome name! I wish mine was that cool!

[Because that is clearly the most important point in this post, right?]

Thanks! [Again, why does he seem so proud of his friend's name?]

And I'm sure we could make your name into something cooler if you really wanted! Heroes and adventurers are always doing things like that - at least from what I've heard.

You're welcome!

[And of course the fact that that's a little weird goes right over Henry's head...]

Huh, really? I didn't know you could just do that! Maybe I should change my name to something really awesome and scary! Though I'm not sure what.

Something awesome and scary, huh? We'll need a really good combo for that!

What else do you want your name to say about you?

[He's already thinking about it. Awesome and scary, awesome and scary... And it's gotta be good, too!]

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002 Strike [Voice]

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voice; ahahaha "sisters," you're funny Asbel :'D

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