meteorical | Forty-Fifth Shower

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Forty-Fifth Shower - [Voice]

[Private, 90% Unhackable]

I know a lot of people are already planning on how to make the best of this and make sure we have a good strategy, but why do I feel like that might not be enough this time? I was hoping they'd skip us this time, and right around Christmas? Thanks a lot.

I guess...I just have to make the best of this, too.
[/Private]

Well, guess that means I have to bump my Christmas plans back a little further. [She's trying to make light of the situation, even though she's really not that happy. She's pretty worried, actually.] Underground this time, huh? I'm not sure if that's better or worse. But why...you'd think they'd learn from last time, I'm not really a combatant.

I want to be better this time, and I'm not going to get knocked out early this time. I'm...I'm really good with healing magic now, and some of the other magic, too. And I'm a little better at combat for back-up support. [But definitely not for the front lines, she thinks.] I want to help. Just tell me what to do.

And for something a little less depressing...who's planning Christmas parties this year? I've got some ideas, but we'll see how those go.

Wish us luck.

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Yeah! You can use it any time you want. You might not feel anything at first, but trust me, it'll be working.

[He holds the wooden sword out to her now.] You can wear it now, too. I don't know if it'll count, but we can try.

[She'll go ahead and take the wooden sword too, tucking it under her arm for a moment to slip on the capacity core.] You're amazing sometimes, you know that? Should we head to the battle dome?

[... ///]

H-Heh heh...

[R-Right, time to move on to the other question!]

Yeah, let's go. You can choose the setting if you want to. [And with that, he'll turn and head toward the battle dome, slowing down after a few steps to make sure Kairi's coming with him.]

[Yep, she's following.] I should probably choose a harder setting than I'm used to...you know, just to challenge myself and make sure I can handle this. I want to be ready this time.

That sounds like a good idea. Do you know where you're going this time? [All he saw was the list before ragequitting on the post. Not really bright, but...]

Sounds like we're underground. I know they mentioned a mine, at least. Suddenly we're all just a bunch of moles.

A mine...

[Instantly, Akzeriuth comes to mind. Running through the mines, the air being so thick with miasma... the people here, so sick -

Luke shuts his eyes and takes in a deep breath. No, he can't go there now.]

... Then we should practice somewhere like that. Then you'll know what you're getting into.

...you sure you're going to be okay doing something like that? [Don't think she didn't notice the shift in your demeanor, Mr. Fon Fabre.]

[... She noticed, huh. It was so small, though... Still, Luke gives a reassuring smile.]

Yeah, I'll be fine. Besides, it'll be useful for you. Fighting in mines can be pretty tough.

[It happens when your best friends are basically poster children for PTSD waiting to happen. You start noticing details.]

Okay. If you're sure, we can head out there right now. I bet it's going to be busy though.

If it's full, I'll wait with you until one frees up. Or we could just practice somewhere else... But I think this'll be better.

[They're about halfway there now, though there's also the barracks to consider. Still, they're not like mines.

... Gah, mines. Luke just hopes he can actually do this for Kairi and not be useless.]

[She's walking alongside him, though she's a bit distracted.]

I really appreciate all of this, Luke...I'll make it up to you when I get back. Promise. You've trained for years, haven't you?

Sort of... [He looks down at the ground as he walks, just watching the rhythm of his footsteps. It's a little easier to talk about when he's focused on something else.] My master taught me basic stuff. But I still didn't really know how to fight until I got thrown into real battles.

It was like that for Sora and Riku, too. They spent a lot of our childhood playfighting with wooden swords on the beach...but it didn't help much when they got their Keyblades. It was almost like they had to relearn.

I didn't know you had a master.

[Luke listens to that, and can't help relating to it. Sora... and Riku, huh? So they had to learn like he did...

But after that, he pauses, and looks at Kairi for a moment... before he looks down at his feet again.]

... Mm.

[Decision made, he looks ahead with a frown on his face.]

His name's Master Van. If you ever see him, don't talk to him.

[...that doesn't sound good.] Master Van...what's wrong with him?

[... Dammit, he said it again. He's been trying to kick the "master" habit... but they're so hard to break.]

He's...

[He'd said he wouldn't tell many people. The more he'd tell, the more others would spread it, and the more Van wouldn't have a chance at possible reformation. He frowns to himself... What is he supposed to do?]

... He's not someone you can trust. No matter how much it seems like you can.

...does Xion know? [That's always her question when it comes to things with Luke. If her carbon-copy isn't safe, she doesn't want to be the one to tell her.]

Yeah, don't worry. She knows all about it. ["All about it" is right. How he acts, why Van can't be trusted, what he did to Luke...]

That's what I needed to know. You don't have to explain things to me, but I just want to make sure both of you are going to be safe.

We will be... But I want you to be safe, too. He's not... [This is kind of hard to say.] He's not evil. He just... He can't be trusted.

[Unconsciously, his hand moves back to rest against his sword.]

I did a lot of things I can never make up for thanks to doing that.

...he made you do terrible things? [She's got the vaguest of vague ideas what those things are. Bad. She knows they're bad, based on the few hints she's received from Xion.]

...

[He shuts his eyes and nods once. That's about all he can do. He couldn't possibly tell her, or... anything. Because... what if she leaves him for it? She's a friend, yes, but he couldn't bear to lose anymore friends because of this.]

...I'm sorry. [She can't blame him, really. She's got a few friends who were made to do horrible things and she can't blame them for that, either.] It's okay, you don't have to tell me any more. I believe you.

[... Good. Good, he... didn't have to say. And she didn't push, or leave him behind, or anything. Luke opens his eyes and takes in a deep breath, then smiles a little. It's a bit strained, but it'll surely come back once he's had a bit of time to get over it.]

... Thanks. [He looks ahead, and sure enough, that smile gets a little more genuine.] Hey, we're almost there.

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