trainingwings | Now for something completely different

[Action]

[There you are, in the Battle Dome. Trying to mind your own business and do a good day's worth of training. But this guy's too bored to let you do so in peace. As you train, he will sneer and smirk through the observation deck, as if aware of some fatal flaw in your training regimen that is invisible to you. Every time you look up to him, he's answering your latest move with a scoff or a small laugh. Sometimes even an indifferent shrug. And after your big show stopper? A yawn.

Whether you try to approach him or not, Jade Curtiss casually saunters over towards you when you're finally throwing in the towel. He prods his glasses up his nose before assessing you in person, showing every possible visible sign in his face that he is disappointed with your performance.

But he speaks in a casual, almost sing-song manner.]

My, my. Done already? And here I thought this facility was supposed to be used for challenges!

[Voice]

[Jade sits up in bed, impatiently poking at his journal while wearing just his signature bathrobe. It's been a week already since he came here - and since his peers from his world had to endure his tests to prove they were not replicas. Or in some cases, prove they were the same replicas he knew.]

This is Colonel Jade, Third Division, Malkuth Imperial Forces. I've been here a week now, but some matters are still pressing on my mind.

So! Tell me, Luceti. How would you rate the quality of the local hot springs?

Player Name: Gore
Are you new? Nnnope
Character Name: Colonel Jade Curtiss
Character Fandom: Tales of the Abyss

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

You know me, Peony. I'm a kind and patient man. I'll take my time in giving this place the chance to impress me.

A general idea of its quality could help. And who knows? A question like this could lure out people from our world we may have been unaware of.

Heh. Right.

I thought there might have been an ulterior motive. Going to invite everyone to go as well?

And sacrifice the leisurely solitude of going alone? Afraid not. After all, they have a tendency of being late.

[And/or he has a tendency of purposely giving them a later time.]

You weren't even thinking of inviting me? I'm hurt!

And leaving you alone is nonsense. It's more fun being at the hot spring with a friend.

How peculiar. You act as if you ever wait for an invitation to bring yourself along.

That's a fascinating theory. Do let me know if you say any of those around.

You give me too much credit! I'll let you know at least. [No you don't]

I know you better than to believe you don't have a few of those running around, even if you won't admit it.

No, you don't. And if you do show up, I'll have a very strict guideline regarding what I'm sure followed you to this place.

Oh come now, Peony. It's not as if it's a crime that I'm refusing to commit to. Although, I feel I'd rather prefer that option.

I'll make sure they'll ignore all of them.

[A smile] Nope, I think you're stuck with us. Me mostly.

I speak of your beloved pets - not my own more human ones, in this instance. They are not to be anywhere in the vicinity of the hot springs when I am there.

[He gives a wistful sigh. But his smile seems a little more sincere than usual.] Story of my life.

Oh. Well there's no need for that kind of treatment, the Malnosso weren't nice enough to bring them here. [He sounds...very disheartened by the fact. Thanks for reminding him his rappigs aren't here, Jade :/] Or should I be glad my little rappigs aren't caught up in this? I bet they'd look cute with wings though.

[He sighs. He digresses] Someone has to keep one eye on you.

Pets of those already here typically do not receive wings, Peony. [Geez, what a newb. Jade feels a scholarly thrill from being Right on The Journals.] They'd be as unsightly here as they were back home, and without any servants to unload them on. Be grateful for that.

I suppose so. You know me, always ready to run off and start a gang of fonic roughnecks at the first opportunity that any of my keepers are distracted.

Really? [Peony doesn't seem that upset that he didn't know that fact.] Well I can understand the lack of servants, but unsightly? Please! Everyone would love them!

There's always something when you come back to see me.

I bed to differ. But I suppose the Malnosso may give you the chance to prove yourself right in due time. If you are as new as I am to assume, any pet may still show up to accompany you, most commonly within the first week. [Here so soon and already doing his homework.] Either that, or you are actually here as my pet. The timing certainly fits.

The way you say that, you'd think all the world's problems which we require your help with are actually my fault! That is simply not fair, Emperor. Only a decent percentage have my hand in them.

I'm quite sure it is not the latter. How long have you been here? [He gets the impression Jade has been here longer, but how long?]

And it's not that. I may just need to borrow you for something from time to time.

...

I thought we were making some progress with you calling me by my name.

I am going on a week myself. And I am afraid I find myself lacking in non-human pets.

"Want" is the word you're actually looking for, and it is quite odd considering that I assumed you were trying to avoid causing trouble. Of course, you'd have to take it up with Luke and his friends as well. They tend to fancy themselves as my keepers. [He presses his hand to his forehead.] Now I fear that this pet metaphor is growing too convulated for my tastes.

[But then the trolly smile returns, trickling through into his words.]

Your imagination is playing tricks on you, Your Majesty. [He may look back later and scowl at the realization of any slips he made. Being separated from their world and its nations may have subconsciously made him slip on some formalities.]