001 [video]

[a_gentle_boy]

[The video flips on and a young boy with golden blonde hair and somber blue eyes blinks slowly into the camera for a few moments. His speech is hesitant and his manner apologetic.]

Hi.

I, um... I think this is working now. Can anyone hear me? ...I'm sorry if I'm not doing this right; I've never used anything like this before. But they said this was how I could communicate with everyone, so... hello.

[He shifts uneasily as he speaks, though he manages a small smile as he introduces himself; his gaze falls now on a point just slightly right of the camera. Technology was not something he was terribly familiar with using - or ever really wanted to be.]

My name is Lucas. And it's very nice to meet all of you. I guess I'm using this now, because I... I'm happy to be here and help, I am, but I don't think I really understand why I'm here. I mean, I do understand about the monsters and the 'demons' and all of that kind of thing, and... of course, I want to help, but what I mean is... I'm not sure I understand why me and why... now. I-I know it's a bit selfish, but I...

I'm very tired.

Do you think I can go home for a little bit before I start here? I promise I'll come back and help; it's just -- you see, the thing is, I sort of needed to see if there was a home to go back to, still, and then this happened, and I really should... check.

[He swallows, and his eyes flicker to his feet as his speech becomes ever more incoherent.]

Um. Sorry, that didn't come out right at all. It's not like that -- I mean, it is, a little bit, but not very; it all should be fine, I just -- Oh!

...I'm sorry. This wasn't how this was supposed to go.

[He blinks hard and brushes briefly at his eyes before reaching to fiddle with the COMP, trying to turn it off. It will take him some time to be successful.]

Comments

[greyerrant]

Then rest. There are others here who will fight in your place.

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas is still busy fiddling with the controls when the first response comes; he squints into the screen and decides that, perhaps, it would be best for now if he just swung it around the other way.

Garviel will get a nice view of Lucas's wall as he becomes the recipient of slightly mumbled responses.]

Oh...

I just don't know if I have the time for that... Not yet.

[greyerrant]

You can go home, I think. People have done it. Why are you concerned about time? Things move slowly here, for the most part.

[a_gentle_boy]

A-Ah...

[Time. Time to see his journey come into fruition. Time to rebuild his world. Time to show the Dragon what it truly meant to be human - goodness, kindness, and strength.]

Sorry, I thought you meant I should rest here. ...There's just a lot left to be done, still. I think.

How... can I go home, do you know?

[greyerrant]

I can't say. I have work yet to do here.

[a_gentle_boy]

There's always a lot of work left to do in any world, huh...?

[The sounds of quiet sniffling and quick, shallow breaths had been masked somewhat by the communicator facing in the wrong direction; Lucas turns it back around now with slightly reddened eyes and a soft smile.]

What is happening in this place, exactly...? I just know there are monsters.

[greyerrant]

It is a world at the edge of destruction, where we struggle for the soul of humanity. I think it is in what we'd have called japan, but it is... hard to tell.

[a_gentle_boy]

...

I... see.

[No he didn't not at all but it certainly sounded slightly familiar.]

I don't think I've heard of a Japan, but... why do you say something like that, mister?

[greyerrant]

Because we're more or less trapped in a small part of the world, and we can't venture out to get the truth of things.

[a_gentle_boy]

Um.

...I guess if you can't see the rest of it... at least it might still be alright. Maybe.

[greyerrant]

[ Garviel doesn't answer that one, it might be too cruel. ]

Well, you're here now, and you seem tired. [ He wonders if he should come over and like do daycare stuff with lucas until he sleeps, just like his day job }

[a_gentle_boy]

[Lucas shakes his head slightly.]

A lot's happened in the last day or so before I got here. I just... feel like it's a little too much to handle right now.

Sorry. I shouldn't be bothering all of you with my problems.

[greyerrant]

You aren't bothering me.

[ More confusing him really. ]

[a_gentle_boy]

Mm.

[Lucas responds with another slight shake of his head, though what it means is difficult to discern.]

...Thanks.

Ah, um. Do you mind if I ask who you are?

[greyerrant]

My name is Cerberus.

Video

[terminally_clever]

[Fumi glossed over most of this except for the part about checking to see if he's still got a home left.]

Why wouldn't there be a home to go back to?

[voice]

[tipthescales]

I'd say you're doing it right! But I'd never used anything like it before coming here either, so that might not mean too much.

Maybe you should rest before deciding anything else, though? It's usually easier to think after a good night's sleep.

video

[hetried]

U-Um... are you OK, kid?

[Wow what kind of a question was that that was a stupid question.]

I mean, you can go home from here, I'm pretty sure. I've never actually tried it out myself. Are you sure you're OK though? If you're tired, you really need to rest, or you might over exhaust yourself. I don't think anyone would be angry, it'll be better in the long run...

[a_gentle_boy]

Because --

[A soft sigh.]

Because... the Dragon woke up. The Dragon woke up, and there wasn't any other way.

It's kind of a long story.

[a_gentle_boy]

I... just spent a night here. ['a good night's sleep' wasn't something he had gotten, though.] And I think I might have lost too much time already.

[a_gentle_boy]

A-Ah -- I'll be OK.

[He manages a small smile, though his face is still turned away from the camera.]

I'm sorry to worry you - I didn't mean to make it sound so... dramatic. But, um. I think what I mean to say is just... I don't know how many more monsters I can fight.

[a_gentle_boy]

It's nice to meet you, Mr. Cerberus.

Thank you for talking to me. I'm not so sure I understand, still, but... I guess this city needs help, too, is all I really need to know.

[hetried]

If you're sure... [He's a little iffy, but he doesn't wanna touch any bad subjects or anything...]

Heh, I know how you feel... Uh, kind of. Maybe. [Just gonna try and play that off with a chuckle.] Honestly, I'm not big on the fighting either. But there are plenty of other ways to help, if you want. If not, you can just hang back and chill-- most of the time this place is a.. pretty normal city.

[Sorta.]

[a_gentle_boy]

...I know, a lot of the time, there's no choice - if you don't do it, something even worse will happen. But...

[He shakes his head.]

It still never feels right.

But, um.

I thought the reason they wanted people here was to fight monsters...

[terminally_clever]

[Dragon? Now that is interesting.]

I've got time.