trainingwings | Now for something completely different

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[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

[He only creeps because he cares. Actually that's a lie, it's all because of boredom. And he answers Hubert with that odd grin, which is always difficult to determine the sincerity of.]

Oh, of course not! The way in which you improve must be a very valuable secret, after all, if you can get results from such a minimal effort. [He throws his arms into a shrug exaggeratedly.] It just wouldn't be my place to ask!

[What is with that infuriating smile? That's even worse than Malik's when he gets on Hubert's case.

Well, no matter. He's not falling for your bait, no sir. He is a distinguished member of the Strahtan military and thus is above such petty things.]

If what I do looks effortless, it's simply because I have spent countless hours honing and refining my technique.

[That is totally what Jade meant, right.]

[It doesn't matter; Jade will continue tugging at his line of sarcasm.]

You must feel so, so proud. After all, you make all that hard work look so... simplistic. Basic, even. Appropriate for such weak enemies.

[Was that the barest of eyetwitches you may have see on Hubert's face? No, of course not. He would never be bothered by someone questioning his hard-earned skills that he taught himself by obsessively re-reading Troll Calibur.]

I was merely warming up. But... [Hubert pushes up his glasses on the bridge of his nose as he glances sidelong at Jade.] Perhaps you would like to try your hand at these monsters and see for yourself how "weak" they truly are?

[It's as much a challenge as it is genuine interest in what Jade's skills are.]

[He finds himself subconsciously pressing his own glasses up. He does find smug satisfaction in guessing that Hubert genuinely needs his glasses.]

I'd be glad to. And you should feel honored for this chance to witness true fonic mastery.

[what no don't be judging my cool glasses like that!!! Just because I might need them doesn't make them any less awesome. ;_;

Anyway, Hubert begins reloading his last sim. The only change he makes is shortening the duration of the simulation.]

Fonic mastery, you say... [He's heard of terms like "fonons" and "fonic" before from other Luceti residents.]

[He looks over curiously to absorb any visible details.]

Of course. Are you not familiar with the fonic artes? I can't say I'm surprised.

Now for something completely different

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