SCRAMBLE 02 :: video :: open to both courts (slightly forward dated to the 23rd)

[foreignflight]

 [ When the video turns on, it's to the conflicted face of a young boy. He's clutching a letter in his hand, not quite focusing on the camera just yet. There seems to be a lot there just from this glimpse alone. He's not a stranger to what's been going on with the network, although he stopped looking some time ago when it was evident there was going to be more things shared. For their privacy he stopped...

But he didn't expect the letter and it's the letter that's troubling him now. There's a balloon of hope in his chest that he's sure will be popped in just a few simple words. He wants to try, though, to understand-- but he has to ask something before he ca let that hope go one way or other. ] 

--Does anyone know how well we can trust the rulers here? They told me they could help me with something, but... I can't trust people who kidnap others for war. I've never met them. They gave me something last month, too, but that was different. This is-- This is something I need to know.

[ A beat. ]

If I do it, I'm going to be away for a while, too.  It's fine because I'm by myself, but if anyone has any tips for traveling I'd be grateful.


...At least it looks like all the memories have slowed down. I hope everyone's okay.

Comments

[knightspirit]

[ If he could know what the other boy was thinking about, maybe he could give a better response. As it is, Tsurugi can only guess at the what silence that led to those conclusions really meant, and he doesn't want to make assumptions. He shakes his head. ] ... Somehow, I get the feeling we're not talking about the same thing. [ Something too wrapped in experience, maybe. ]

But even if you say that, what happens if you did? What then? [ It's just not possible to never mess up, and even then, sometimes the best possible decision for a particular moment can make someone sad. He's done things like that, too; hiding the truth until right time. Pretending to betray his friends when he was really fighting for their lives. And it saved so much—he could never regret that. ]

But it's not like we disagree. Not completely. If you think about it, trying to grow from them and trying to prevent them are one and the same thing. It's still about making the best decisions we know how to make. That's what I meant, about staying true to yourself.

[ He rubs at the back of his neck a little awkwardly; it's a little more talking than he's used to. Not that he's never given his thoughts on things, but in most cases, listening tends to suit him more. ]

That doesn't bother me. ... The harder the challenge, the more satisfying it is to overcome. It's boring when everything's easy. If we don't like what we find, we just smash it down. That's all there is to it.

[ it's how he lives—by overcoming walls. although the truth is, those words are tougher than he's really been feeling lately. they're more to remind himself what he has to do than anything else. ]

[foreignflight]

Maybe... But I don't think my opinion would change either way.[ He thought about everything that might effect others harmfully now. He didn't allow for any mistakes that would hurt someone. The time he had... well, it wasn't as if what had happened had any precedence. Rubbing his hand he shook his head. The ]n I'll find a way to make things right.

[ He doesn't want to do anything to hurt other people. But that was the tricky part. Wrongs to make rights sometimes were fine, depending on the circumstances. Lying was fine, but anything beyond that-- it wasn't acceptable at all. It was something instilled in him. A family trait, a promise. ]

I guess. I wasn't planning on doing anything that would make me do something else. That's why... That's why I wanted to be sure.

[ Frowning, Ao shook his head. Listening he glanced towards the locket and then back. ]

It being boring doesn't bother me. But making sure it ends right, that's what's really important.

[knightspirit]

[ Tsurugi just shrugs. It doesn't really concern him much if they agree or not, and he can respect those differences. ] Then don't change it. The only person you have to answer to is yourself.

[ but he pauses for a moment. It sounds like Ao's putting quite a bit of thought into this, so whatever this gift is, it must be something big, or at least something worth consideration. Which makes him think it's something he probably shouldn't ask about; it's not as if they know each other that well. Still. ] ... If you're that interested in it, why not just go for it? Even if they call in a favor for it later, that doesn't mean you have to listen. [ he does value his debts, and kindness is something that should always be repaid, but only the individual person can decide what that's worth to them. If it's not a gift worth going to war for, he shouldn't go war for it. Simple. ]

... Really? I like having my limits tested. [ But he waves it off. It's just a persona preference; it not like it really matters. ] But you're right. I've seen wars settled peacefully before. ... There's no reason that can't happen here.

[foreignflight]

That's not true. There's plenty of people who can be effected by someone else's whims.

[ Which is the issue here. If he did something, who knows what would happen? He'd done it before and it turned out fine. Then the other times... it didn't turn out that way. He had to be careful. But Tsurugi's words make him pause, albeit briefly. ] ...I don't know if I'm interested in it. But I would like to learn more about Anma. There's no saying they can't force us somehow though, right? [ Everything has to be considered. ]

Really.[ But he let's it drop. He doesn't really care about things aside from knowing what happens and being with people he cares about-- them being okay. He didn't have many wants or desires, they weren't things he was familiar with. The only things he loved most was the island he was born and flying... Even if the people who want to fight don't stop it, we can. I believe that. ]There's probably plenty more people who don't want to fight here, so we just have to figure it out.

[knightspirit]

I'm not saying your actions won't affect people. Just that you're the one that determines what you believe in.

It seems a little counterproductive to try and win us over if they're just going to make us fight by force anyway, but there's always a chance. [ he pauses. How should he put this... ] Maybe instead of asking if it's dangerous, you should ask yourself if it's something you care enough about to take a risk for?

... Yeah. All we can really do is keep trying to do something about it. Nothing's going to change if everyone sits back and hopes for the best. And the more people who try, the better chance we have.

[foreignflight]

[ But the point is an action he may believe in at the time may be wrong later. He has to figure out how to not do that kkind of thing.
]
I just want to continue the circumstances. [ A beat. ] I wouldn't ask if it wasn't important.

Hoping for the best... That wouldn't change anything at all anyway. I know a lot of people don't want to fight, so I hope that all of us outweigh those who do.

[knightspirit]

Even if we don't, we will if we keep trying. It only takes one person to stir up the winds up of change; people will get caught in that wind sooner or later. ... I've seen it happen before.

[ Which ends up making him frown. It's not an unpleasant memory—quite the opposite, in fact—but that line of commentary reminds him too much of home. He shakes his head, trying to pull himself out it before the sudden heavy air gets too obvious. ... If it isn't already. ]

At any rate, it might not be much, but that's probably the best advice I can give. But, if you did decide to go I'm willing to lend a hand. I've had to deal with traveling before.

[foreignflight]

Mm, but first we have to find the right wind to catch.

[ It's simple, at least. He's not really sure about anything, but he is sure about that. If there's one thing he's going to do it's going to be to try and stop the madness. Even if he can't do it today or tomorrow he'd find a way.

He hesitates again, however, and shakes his head. ]

Thanks, but it's something I have to do on my own. I don't know what will happen there so I don't want people to get involved if they don't have to...

[knightspirit]

[ 'Don't want people to get involved,' huh...? Sounded like something he would have said a while back. ]

... I think I can understand that. But if you change your mind, I'll still be around. There's no need to hold back among friends.

[ slightly hypocritical statement of the day ]

[foreignflight]

[ That's kind of embarrassing. And delighting to hear. He didn't really think of people in the Drabwurld so much just yet. Not that he didn't care for them, that wasn't it. But he grew up alone, lost his best friend, and then erased himself from his universe... He didn't really think he'd get the chance to hear those words again.

Usually, the idea didn't bother him too much. Anma had fought hard enough to keep him alive, that being alone was such a small price to pay compared to what she went through. He didn't get to really meet his family, though, or spend time with them. His island hated him and then even Naru... But Naru was still Naru. They were still friends-- or were. And Generation Bleu was a second family. But he didn't exactly have a place he was sure he could return to there.

Hearing the word friends meant more then anything for that. ]

Thank you. I won't forget. If something comes up, I'll tell you. For now, I need to do what I can on my own.