breaks_destiny | 024th Shattering * Audio

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024th Shattering * Audio

[Filtered to Ange || 100% Unhackable]

Have you ever ice-skated? We could go to the lake, I don't think it will snow today despite how the sky looks.

[Open to all]

While I appreciate the effort from the Malnosso to bring in the Christmas mood... I still would have preferred to be able to decorate the house myself and decide what lights it has and all that. Guess we could still do it despite this.

How many of you are spending Christmas here for the first time? Or even hearing the term Christmas for the first time, I guess there are many of those. If you're curious, Christmas is basically a winter holiday, it has religious background but it also has a pagan tradition. Back on Earth many different religions and countries have it or an equivalent holiday. In simple terms it's a way to celebrate the end of the year and the start of the new one, also there's a tradition of giving and receiving gifts on the 25th, which is Christmas day. Or getting them from Santa Claus, or the Malnosso like last year.

It's a holiday to spend with friends, family and loved ones... Does everyone have someone to celebrate it with?

[Filtered to Brigade members, Hughes family, Winry, Arisato twins, Loki, Rosa, Shiki, Ami, Usagi, Naoto || 100% Unhackable]

By the way, anyone has some advice to share regarding what to do for a special girl on Christmas? I don't mean regarding gifts, I have that covered, but... You know, getting her somewhere or doing something special, I suppose. It doesn't have to be necessarily romantic, it's preferred if it's not too romantic, even.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Of course he would be Santa Claus! Come on, he had to be young and handsome at some time, or do you think Mrs. Claus fell in love with him with that aspect? Well, it's possible but, come on, they can't have been always old. Besides, I would only wear it for us, so long as you don't mind it and believe I am Santa Claus I don't care what the others think.

[He is talking about the house in general, but it sounds almost focused on her, doesn't it? The joys "you" being both the singular and plural.]

Yes, Minato and I got drafted around March or so I think of this year. Right after the experiment of February.

Is it really such a weird idea that they could just always have been old? It's the same as stories about Cupid who always remains young, right? Besides, I'm sure that there are some women out there who go for the fat old guy type. At least he has his heart in the right place, after all. [ ... she's totally going to assume the 'you' is plural, okay, there's nothing special about her to do it for!! B| ] Are you sure the other three will enjoy it too and not laugh at you?

I never got drafted before, so I guess I'm lucky in that aspect. ... But.. can you even fight well enough for something like that, Keiichi? [ because no offense, but he seems like a regular boy. ]

Actually I don't remember any myth that specifically claims that Cupid is a baby. And it's not a weird idea, but I like it better to think of them as a couple that has grown old together.

[He pauses for a moment considering the question.]

Nah, Loki and Minako would probably go along with it. And Minato would understand it anyway.

I know you haven't been drafted, they would have had to deal with an extra soldier if your name ever appeared in those lists.

[He looks at her at the question regarding his fighting capacity and looks ahead nonchalantly.]

I can. Besides that I have been training daily for combat since I arrived here, Hughes-san taught me how to use push-knives and I've gotten quite good with them after almost two years of constant training.

[That's not all there is, of course, but that's all he will say without her paying for it.]

It's all about the image, the image. People all see Santa Claus as a fat old jolly guy, and most people see Cupid as a diaper-wearing baby with a bow. And as to growing old together, huh.. what a romantic kind of view on that idea. [ she lets out a slight sigh, but it doesn't really sound annoyed.

When he mentions the 'extra soldier' bit, she glances towards her side at him. Are you trying to imply something here, Keiichi? She doesn't comment on it though, but she's definitely thinking about what you did there. ]

Really? Well, that does sound like a lot, although I don't know what level of fighting the enemies during drafts usually have.. would it really be enough to fight real soldiers or whatever? [ she pauses for a moment, pondering it. ] ... Not that I would be capable of fighting real soldiers either. I can fight, but if there's a group and they're all older and taller than me, then I don't stand much of a chance. Getting away from Kasumi Sumadera's bodyguards all the time was already annoying enough, and that was just running away, not even fighting.

That's just how life is, isn't it? You grow older and older, there's nothing wrong with wanting to do it besides good company.

[What 'implying', he's saying it. Just wait for the next draft, if you are dragged there so will he.]

Well, it's not as if you have to fight alone. And the enemies... They are quite dangerous and strong, but they have wings too. Those are a weakness for everyone, fortunately. I stuck with the defense line, though, a few times going out to gather people who got misplaced when returning to the battlefield, but that's all. I left the serious fighting to all the guys with super powers here.

So that's your idea of an ideal way of growing up, is it?

[ KEIICHI STOP BEING SO NICE TO HER how does she even know how to handle all these feelings and this gratitude and-- ]

Yeah, I guess you're right.. I just have no idea what to expect, since I've somehow managed to always stay off the list of people being drafted. Luckily, I guess. Well, it's a good call on their part either way, it's not like I would be very useful during a time like that, but still.

Can't say it's not. Growing up old with the woman I love besides me, maybe with a couple of kids and a work I enjoy, no matter how much it pays or how much I can go up on it. I'm not interested in those things after all.

They have drafted kids before, being useful or not doesn't matter to them. I suppose they just think that if you are going to die you should at least fall in a way so the enemy trips with your corpse and thus stalls their advance more. Whatever, it's better if you just stay here, I don't want to see your name on that list ever.

... Yeah. [ She seems to be talking more to herself now, kicking against a small rock to make it roll down the road. ] That.. doesn't sound bad at all. In fact, it sounds like it'd be a little nice. I wouldn't mind it if I ever got it, that kind of life..

[ because she knows she won't grow old back home either way, not as long as she's stuck as a mere piece in those witches' game. ]

Oh, that does sound like them. [ her voice is more back to her usual deadpan with that. ] Cannon fodder, huh? At least you can be useful as a corpse.. yeah, that sounds about right for the way they would think. How great, even the use of our bodies was given some thought. [ and she knows what he means with that last part, but.. ah-- she just shrugs, trying to act casual about it. ] It can't be helped, right? Maybe it'll show on there someday, maybe not. It's out of my control.. or anyone's, really.

If we stay here long enough we may be able to have that here at least.

[He laughs a bit, but it's hard to tell if it was a joke or not. He looks at her in resigned agreement but lets the topic drop as they arrive to the clothing store. After all she's right, and there's no point in worrying about it.]

What's your shoe number?

I can find them by myself just fine, you know.

[ There's totally not slight embarassment here over the idea of being able to live with Keiichi like that. Nope. Not at all. What do you mean, she's just normally stomping into the store to find a fitting pair. Nothing strange here. ]

Eh? Okay...

[No, it seems a bit strange, okay? Now he wonders if he said something bad or did something wrong. Anyway he will wait a bit, trying to figure that out.]

[ You still have much to learn about tsunderes, Keiichi. But a little while after that she manages to have gained a pair of iceskates, and her embarassment tantrum seems to have died down a little. ]

... Ah. Let's go. I'm ready.

[This is why dealing with Rena was easier. Or even with Bernkastel, but he won't mention that so ssssh.]

Okay! Uhm... Let's go back home, I can pick my bicycle and we can go to the lake faster that way. Sorry I didn't think of that.

[But then again, they sort of have to pass through there so it's not so bad.]

[ Wow, does he find dealing with a witch who could kill him at any time easier than with a tsundere.. ]

It's fine. A little exercise never hurt anyone, or whatever they always say about that stuff. [ ... wait. he mentioned his bicycle, but.. ] Are you sure it can hold the both of us at the same time though?

Well, it's not the travel there what worries me, it's the travel back. And of course it can, I wouldn't suggest it if it couldn't. I made sure it had a seat big enough for two.

[She will have to hug him quite tightly, though.]

[ was that hugging thing all planned. :| ]

Then it's fine. As long as you're okay with it, I won't complain, I guess.

[No, but it's a nice extra.]

Then let's go, we're going to the one at the south of the village anyway so we can pass by easily.

[ it's only so she won't fall of the bike, okay.. d-don't think too much of it.. ]

Hmm, let's hurry up then, before we've wasted an entire day doing almost nothing.

[It's okay, he doesn't think more of it. He'll just enjoy it.

And thus they go back to the house, grab his bicycle and ride the rest of the way to the lake. Fortunately, when they arrive, they still have a lot of time to enjoy there.]

Fewh! Was that fast enough for you?

[ That's good, because she'll silently enjoy it too. But never admit it. ]

Yeah, you're nearly a race car on that thing, Keiichi. Soon they'll ban you from driving it around Luceti for everyone's safety. [ deadpan jokes all over the place - she's used to Amakusa's horribly reckless driving, after all, so just this is rather nice. ]

Don't worry, I think I still have enough leeway to run over three more squirrels before they ban me from driving my bicycle.

[Maybe too dark of a joke? Anyway he parks the bicycle against a tree.]

One of the good things of this place... You rarely have to secure things. It still feels odd to not put a lock on it so no one steals it, though.

[He returns to Ange's side as he talks, eying the frozen lake with critical eye.]

[ Ange is the queen of morbid humor, so she doesn't even blink at it, really. And you know, Ange is already walking off a little to test it - did I mention she's pretty reckless? Yeah.

So currently she's tapping one foot against the ice to test it, although she's still standing on land with her other foot. She's talking as she does this. ]

It's only to be expected, right? There's no way someone could steal a bike in this place and not be found out about it with such a small community, so nobody would even dare to think of doing something like that to start with.

[He hurries after her, no wonder Bernkastel had fun with you, girl.]

Besides, a bicycle isn't something that special. A bit rare around here yet, but nothing great.

... You are the type that checks things by herself, huh? That's good. But don't worry, by time time of the year the lake is already frozen. And anyway we won't go too far into it.

[He sits and starts putting on his ice-skates.]

I just want to make sure. Falling into ice cold water or getting stuck under the ice isn't exactly what I'd call a fun afternoon activity, after all. [ then again, what would Ange call fun out loud..

But once she sees him starting to put on the skates, she just sits down as well after shrugging to do the same. ]

I'm telling you, it's all safe. You think I would bring you anywhere that can be dangerous without making sure the chances of that happening are as small as possible? The biggest danger you're in by being here is falling and hurting your bottom.

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