text; get this child out of his comfort zone

[huaaaaagh]

Who: Kazuto Kirigaya and [insert your name here]
Broadcast: Fleetwide
Action: Marsiva
When: Today / Sept 4


[Waking up in unfamiliar surroundings is not new for Kazuto, but in the past it's been quite a different experience. It's not an MMO this time, which is what catches him off guard the most. He can tell immediately, even with a simple glance around- the world is too real, too detailed. (Just in case, he tests a few menu-summoning gestures, but no dice.)

Waking up in a hospital-eque area makes him think that something went wrong with his last MMO dive, but that isn't right. He clearly remembers being safe and healthy the night before- they'd checked him out at the hospital before he'd gone to Sinon's. So... what? A kidnapping? Some kind of experiment? Something about this place doesn't feel right, and there's information slowly filtering into his head that doesn't make much sense.

And then he goes and looks out a window. Yikes.

He spends some time wandering, quietly observing, though there isn't really anyone to observe- computers, broadcasts, machines, yes, but people? The place is pretty deserted. It's eerie and uncomfortable, and he gets totally lost before long. Finally, though, he puts to use the knowledge of the broadcast system that is inexplicably in his head now, typing out a message.]

Is anyone out there available to answer some questions? I don't understand what's happened to me.

[Yep, that sure is a message. Which... is probably gibberish to anyone who doesn't read Japanese. Someone should probably let him know about the auto-translate not working on text.]

Comments

[huaaaaagh]

[Ah, right, he did say that, didn't he.]

Yeah, that's... it's complicated, but the short version is my body can't keep up with my mind when it comes to fighting right now.

[curiositykilledthecats]

[Ah. When Miah hears that, the first thing that comes to mind is injury- and she's seen many, debilitating injuries that could prevent many from ever fighting again. That he still wishes for a sword again despite the assumed state of his body is something that she finds admirable- and 'right now' means he intends to get better again.

The sympathy and the admiration for that are both enough to finally outweigh that prior negative impression.]

... I know not the circumstances, but I may offer my services. Though I have taken the path of the Paladin since, in the past, I was once a White Mage, and I retain those abilities still. Should you need healing...

[huaaaaagh]

[Paladin... white mage...

Those are RPG terms. Hearing that, and with everything else she's said, I'd have thought she's just a hardcore cosplayer, but...

Yeah, he'd definitely seen the ears and tail move. This is literally something out of his world.]

You mean... you can cast healing magic? Here?

[Magic in the real world, how can such a thing exist?]

[curiositykilledthecats]

[I should tag with my other character, she'd discuss her stats.

Miah reaches... Well, there's no good way to say it. She reaches into her top and pulls a pair of crystals out of her cleavage- one white, one blue.]

I can. Though my armory is gone, my ability to use aether is not, nor the skills I have learned from these.

[huaaaaagh]

[....WOW THAT SURE WAS A THING SHE JUST DID.]

Wh- what are those?

[And why do you keep them there]

[curiositykilledthecats]

[because she doesn't have pockets, gosh]

Souls. The soul of the Paladin, and the soul of the White Mage. I have learned my abilties because of these.

[huaaaaagh]

[Whoa. That's an interesting skill management system.]

Is it easy to switch between the two? Or is there a cost involved?

[curiositykilledthecats]

Cost? No, it is quite simple.

[The other soul crystal besides the one in the icon looks like this, for the record.]

[huaaaaagh]

That's pretty convenient, then.

[Sometimes switching class is a whole messy process and it's easier to make a new character and- he should probably stop thinking that way before he offends her by asking what her level is or something.]

But, uh, as for the offer- I appreciate it, but I doubt this is something that magic can fix. Training and physical therapy, more like. And time, I guess.

[curiositykilledthecats]

Should you desire practice, then, once we are armed, I may offer that as well.

[huaaaaagh]

I'd be grateful for that, actually. I'm sure I could learn a lot from a paladin.

[He's just going to assume she's as skilled as she claims unless he sees otherwise. He's never met an actual warrior outside of a game before, so this is pretty awesome.]

[curiositykilledthecats]

[She's a level capped Final Fantasy character decked out in named gear.

So yeah. She's pretty goddamn strong.]

And much I from you. What manner of blade do you use?

[huaaaaagh]

Well, let's see... I used to use one-handed broadswords, but...

[There's no way he'd have the strength stat required to wield the blades he's used to in real life. Even if the practice swords he'd used with his sister had felt pretty light, his attack speed would never keep up with his expectations if he tried something a lot heavier.]

Recently I was using a much lighter blade, and it had a good feel to it. So maybe something like a katana or a rapier?

[curiositykilledthecats]

[She nods.]

I myself use sword and shield, and have received much instruction in fighting with paired knives.

I know little of other disciplines save what of archery I have learned from my bonded, but I may provide some instruction or practice in those.

[huaaaaagh]

Ah... I've never been any good with a shield. I was fine with blocking with the broadsword, and I figured my best defense was a good offense.

[Maybe not the wisest decision ever, but after he got the dual-wielding skill, a shield was completely off the table anyway, so he just rolled with it.

Oh man, he misses dual-wielding. It was so useful.]

[curiositykilledthecats]

... You often fought alone, then.

[It's not even a question- Miah's been through enough real combat to know that fighting style can't work in a group.]

[huaaaaagh]

For almost two years straight, yeah.

[Ever since those early days when he'd earned his "Beater" reputation (and, at the same time, the contempt of his fellow players) he'd opted to fight solo to avoid the drama. Truth be told, his most dangerous experiences had been after joining up with others, so he can't even say it was bad for him to work alone.

Physically, anyway. Otherwise... well, it was a lonely path for sure.]

[curiositykilledthecats]

You are strong.

[Fighting alone... Miah's never really fought alone since Ifrit. To go for two years without help... He has to be strong enough to look after himself, but to be able to bear it emotionally, too...]

Is that how you wish to continue fighting?

[huaaaaagh]

[Ahaha... he's heard that before, and he doesn't believe it now any more than he has in the past. For him, isn't never been especially true.]

I wasn't strong... not really. I was just trying to survive. I still made too many mistakes. If I'd been stronger, I could've done more for--

[God, why is he saying any of this? She's put him so at ease with familiar conversation that it's veering in ways he doesn't want it to.

Closing his eyes for a moment to get himself back on track, he finally shakes his head.]

No... I'm done fighting alone.

[curiositykilledthecats]

... Even the strongest make mistakes.

[Without thinking, she touches a hand over her left eye, absently tracing a line down the scar she has hidden under her hair and face paint.]

It may do you well to learn to use a shield.

[huaaaaagh]

[He's certainly not going to argue with that. Stat-wise, he is the strongest in nearly every game he plays, and he's still gotten people killed or hurt because of his bad choices. There's no escaping that.]

...I don't... think that's a good idea. With my fighting style, it would just get in the way.

[curiositykilledthecats]

What is this style?

[huaaaaagh]

....Berserker?

[Okay, no, surely there's a better way to describe it than that.]

I mean, it's mostly a combination of attack and retreat. but since I don't have the skill or balance to defend one-handed, when I'm attacked and can't dodge it, I need my other hand free to support the blade. That way, my sword is both weapon and shield.

[And eventually he'd like to get back to using two swords at once, if it's even possible in reality. He won't be able to do that if he changes his technique before he even begins.]

[curiositykilledthecats]

... It sounds as though it is a smaller version of Ishgard's rumored "Dark Knights".

[huaaaaagh]

[Dark Knights. Wow.]

Well, people did used to call me the Black Swordsman, so...

[Basically, it's perfect.]