video

[smitesevil]

[ Sanger shows up on the Warp Band network one fine day, looking completely grim and serious as he usually does. ]

My master always said that if swords can be kept sheathed, all is right with the world.

[ And if they must be drawn, destroy the enemy with great prejudice, but that's not the point here. ]

Yet it hardly seems that way. Though there is no great enemy to fight, there are always rumblings of something more to come. Enough that I can hardly abandon my duty as the Sword that Smites Evil and put my blade aside.

[ A pause. He seems to be gathering his thoughts. ]

So what is there for a sword that must keep its edge to do during times of peace?

Comments

[video]

[actsmagnificent]

[ ...Haruka waits to make sure Ferrari the Nidoking isn't around before starting her feed. The last thing she needs is for a recovering Romantic to learn that some people besides Trainer really do talk like the theater's scripts. ]

Honing yourself can get lonely.

[video]

[smitesevil]

[ Theatre scripts have to come from somewhere, and somewhere is apparently people like Sanger and Haruka. ]

If man could train forever and always get stronger, I would do so. Unfortunately that is not how it works, so I must seek other ways to use my time. Staving off loneliness and boredom is but a part of it.

[video]

[actsmagnificent]

So you're looking to sharpen yourself against someone else's blade?

Sounds pretty rough.

[ She's a mature adult. ]

[video]

[smitesevil]

It hardly needs to be a blade. I doubt there are many swordsmen who can keep up with me.

[ He doesn't make it clear if Haruka's 'maturity' is rolling off him or if he hasn't noticed it at all. He really just doesn't care, though. ]

This is still preferable to where I was just a month before. It is a privilege to worry about not having anything to do.

[video]

[actsmagnificent]

You could get a job.

[ There are even jobs where you get to handle your sword. In public, no less. ]

[child_of_luv]

Well, obviously, you need to keep practicing your skills with training, but keeping yourself that honed all the time can take a toll. During times of peace, there are other things, like finding hobbies, making friends, and other civilian things.

[smitesevil]

It is not something I have had to deal with in a long time. For as long as I can remember, whenever I was not on a battlefield, I was preparing to leave for the next.

[ He had made a name for himself in the battles between Caldera and Gigas with sheer grit and skill. That didn't come from anything but brutal training and actual battles. ]

Just for reference, what would you say are your hobbies?

[child_of_luv]

I like performing and playing volleyball. [And chasing hot guys, but she wasn't going to say that to this guy. That was too embarrassing.]

Have you ever done anything other than train to fight?

[smitesevil]

I have never dedicated myself to anything but battle.

[ Of course he's done things besides training, but he's never really bothered to become good at them. ]

It was necessary to keep up with my Earthkin comrades before I awakened to my own powers.

[child_of_luv]

A good reason, I guess. But you've done other stuff, right? Is there anything in particular that you've liked?

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh! I like reading.

[Responds Lucas, misunderstanding this question entirely.]

There's a good library up the street from the Medical Center.

[smitesevil]

I see. It is as fine a hobby as any.

[ It's not exactly what he's looking for, but he doesn't have the heart to tell Lucas that. ]

What kind of books do you favour?

[a_gentle_boy]

[If he has any sense that this man is just humoring him, he doesn't betray it.]

Um... I like the ones about old stories. Not, um, history lessons or anything, since there's enough of that in school. But things like stories about the old civilizations or stories about the time when the Savior was still here. I bet none of them are real, but... it's still fun to read.

[smitesevil]

I suspect there is more truth to those stories than you may think. Most legends are either embellished history, or a fable to teach young children how to become fine men and women.

[ Sanger was something of a fan himself, if his theatrical and frequently archaic mannerisms didn't give it away. He hasn't had the chance to indulge for a long time, though. ]

I suppose it is something to consider. I should pick up a book every now and again.

[a_gentle_boy]

The ones where all the Pokemon talk and teach you moral lessons probably weren't very real, anyway. They're still fun.

[Like Aipom's Fables.]

If you can't think of anything else to do, you could always volunteer at the library or the Medical Center or something, too.

[windyflower]

[Hmmm...]

I suppose that means you can find a way to use your sword skills for something else? Although, I don't see why you still can't use your sword as a way to keep yourself healthy and strong though!

[smitesevil]

Ah, I have no intention of giving up my blade. That is not something anyone has to worry about.

[ Using his sword for something else though... ]

Should I pick up making sushi?

[windyflower]

T-That's not...!

[Oh goodness, now she shouldn't stop giggling at how blunt his answer was!]

That's not what I meant! I meant that you should use it to exercise with! Although, if you want to make sushi with it, that's up to you!

[smitesevil]

Ah!

[ a beat ]

There is nothing to worry about there. I am keeping up with my sword practice. I have simply reached a point in my training where just dedicating more time to it is unlikely to help me improve.

[windyflower]

I see, then it sounds like you might have reached your potential with sword training.

Although, I wonder if there is anyone else who owns a sword. I wonder would it be possible to ask for their advice.

[steelbeowulf]

I hear the people of Citadel have been known to be challenging.

[smitesevil]

The Valkyries, was it? Hm. I always appreciate a challenge, but it is not as though I can simply walk up to them and get into a brawl.

[ Can he? Is that how they work? ]

[steelbeowulf]

I'm told they have... odd ways of welcoming men into their territory.

[smitesevil]

Odd? Do elaborate. I have encountered some of their nomadic tribes far from the Citadel itself, but I have never had the chance to visit.

[steelbeowulf]

Word is they like to haze some travelers. I haven't found anyone actually willing to talk about what happened.