immamartillo | 5th Hat Flip [Voice/Action]

[Voice]

[It's early in the morning-after a night of much boredom and little sleep- when Firo opens his journal.]

I've been wonderin': what kinda weapons do people use back where you guys come from? Where I live, people'll fight with anything from fists to tommy guns, but I figure everywhere's gotta have somethin' different.

[Action]

[Later that morning, Firo sets off running for the Battle Dome. He hasn't been too pleased with himself lately: he failed to be effective against the droids that attacked a few weeks ago, and then he couldn't even protect his friend from being mallynapped. Actually, ever since Ennis was kidnapped before his arrival in Luceti he's felt nagging feelings of uselessness. They've only been intensified by recent events.

He has to get stronger. The capos of his Family would be disappointed if they saw him like this. In the back of his mind Firo can practically hear Yaguruma berating him.

He spends most of the day at the Battle Dome, focusing on training until he's ready to drop (though feel free to interrupt him). Maybe trying to go so long without a break isn't a good idea, but that doesn't matter to Firo at this point. When nightfall comes, he wanders outside and slumps by the door, exhausted.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

They can, they just want a faster way to win since it's been going on so long. They experiment on those people too, put them into machines with no will except to kill the enemy.

That's disgraceful. Why doesn't somebody do somethin' about those guys!?

[Not the police, of course, but there has to be somebody who's angered by all that.]

They control the world, there's nothing we can do!

[There's a chirp followed by an angry grunt, and he continues.]

I'm part of something against it, whose purpose is to protect the people they call the Fallen and bring about Utopia for them and all. Another person's here in it too. [Or was, but he doesn't know that yet.] We made good progress against it back home, I think.

[Even without all the details, Firo's a little impressed with this kid already.]

You did? So.. you think you guys can make that "Utopia" thing happen? What is it, anyway?

It's a world just for the Fallen, who we call Avatars. And we definitely can! My leader, Lady Mathias, has what's needed to make that a reality. So everything's going to be fine back home. [Especially with two of the opposing party here HEH HEH HEH.]

What about the people who aren't Fallen? Like, the ones who've got nothin' to do with all that stuff?

There those that've joined our cause and those that haven't, just wanting to spend their lives safe and, uh, ignorant of what's going on. Most of them are scared and want to see us destroyed or hidden from public eye though. I can't think of many of them that are okay with Avatars besides those in Arca. As for what'd happen to them... anyone in Arca will be brought with us, I think. The rest can burn in the pits of hell for all I care!

So, they ignore you, you ignore them, and everybody's happy?

[Firo's one of the last people who should be criticizing someone's way of life, but he doesn't let that fact get in the way.

On the other hand, this person sounds like they're just a kid, and Firo can't say he wouldn't have said the same things at that age. As such, the question isn't voiced with the mocking edge he'd use with most people.]

[Chien hesitates for a moment, and he sounds kind of uncertain. What would happen to those who didn't join them? Even the Avatars who were against Arca, what about them..?]

If it was that easy, there wouldn't be a problem. I think those that're against it will die, whether they're normal humans or not. Not all the Avatars are with us either. Lady Mathias ha only promised us Utopia, she never said what'd come after for everyone else.

You trust this Lady Mathias? Sounds like she isn't givin' you all the details.

[Yeah, now that he's thinking about what'll come next for those annoying goody-two-shoes of Avatars he knows he's kind of doubtful again. Just like he was when he came into Luceti and no one was discriminating against him for being a "monster". Still, he's gonna put on a good bluff of confidence and anger.]

Of course I do! Lady Mathias has never done anything to make me think otherwise, and whatever she does is for the best! Whether she tells it all to us or not, I'm sure she's got a reason for keeping it that way!

Okay, okay, calm down.

[He sighs. He doesn't realize it, but that's pretty much the same sort of faith he has in his Family.]

Look, ya just gotta realize that people's dreams of some sorta "utopia" never really work out.

[Calm down? After what you've said about Lady Mathias and their Utopia? There's some pained sounds from the other end, but that's really none of Firo's concern. It's just a bird tugging on Chien's hair after all to keep him in line and to tell him I'm booooored.]

Urg! How could someone like you understand Lady Mathias's hopes and dreams for us?! Don't talk unless you've lived like those in Arca have!

So? That doesn't mean I don't know anything about how the world works. I'm just givin' you advice, not sayin' you gotta take it. The least you could do is say 'thank you.'

Forget it, I'm not saying 'thanks' to anyone who doesn't understand.

I understand the world well enough.

[He sighs; was he this difficult as a kid? (Yes, he was).]

But fine. Suit yourself.

You might understand your world, but not mine.

Some things'll stay the same no matter where you are. Like people.

Lady Mathias is more the most trustworthy and honest person I know. She'd never mislead us!

I didn't say she wasn't! Just that you should be careful, damn it!

Why do you care anyway?!

With the way you're actin', I'm wonderin' that too.

[Still, he feels like he should at least try to offer this kid advice. It sounds like he doesn't have many people looking after him besides that Lady Mathias person; Firo has to feel a little sorry for him, even if the kid's getting on his nerves.]

[Firo'd be right. The only other people he can depend on aren't in Luceti, and so he's pretty much on his own. Though there are some gaining those ranks...]

I don't need your pity or-- whatever it is! So just shut up!

I don't pity you; the way you're actin' would make that difficult even if I was a goddamn saint.

5th Hat Flip [Voice/Action]

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