[66] every minor detail is a major decision

[buildstherobots]

[Yeah, Dist is still rather bitter about the whole droning thing and his talk with Nina. He hasn't even had the energy to update his letter, which he knows sorely needs doing, and his efforts to repair the Kaiser's gun constantly end in frustration. Sol, his cheagle, to his credit, does his best to comfort his master, but in a house full of drones he's often just too worn out to be consoled.]

[phone]

Someone in this town must be able to teach me to fight. An old resident had begun the process, but he's been... gone... for ages. I will provide compensation if it's required.

[action]

[It's late in the year, but Dist is in his garden anyway, dressed down for the job of digging up his flowerbed and eventually beginning to replicate a pretty white flower, which Sol is replanting for him as he comes up with new ones. They're selenias, flowers native to Auldrant, and it's a comfort to have them there. He's stuck, and might as well make it a home rather than a prison. He'd given up in bits and pieces already, and this just seems fitting. Damn his drone-infested house, damn his lack of friends. Damn it all.]

Comments

[phone]

[brotherseyes.livejournal.com]

[Nina's is probably the last voice he wants to hear right now, and she knows it. Especially when she's sad and tired too, under the cheerfulness she tries to project so no one will worry.

But... she can't stop herself.]

Why do you want to learn?

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

What business is it of yours?

[His hackles are a bit raised, and she can hear it.]

[brotherseyes.livejournal.com]

Because I could teach you. But I want to know why you want to learn, first.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[There's a long pause on the other end of the line. He doesn't want to admit why, not after their argument, not to anyone.]

...But why do you want to know? Isn't it good enough for you than I'm looking for help?

[brotherseyes.livejournal.com]

I don't want to teach someone to fight if they're going to misuse what I teach them. It's for self-defense only. If you can tell me you won't use it for anything else, I'll help you.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

I want to learn because the weapons I have now to use against the town have proved useless, okay? And I'm... I'm sick of needing my machines. I love them, but I can't... I can't function without them.

[brotherseyes.livejournal.com]

[Nina's voice goes soft and quiet.]

I live at 836 Hastings Boulevard. If you can stand to look at me, feel free to stop by any time.

[She's thinking about her encounter with Medic as well as her last conversation with Dist. What she knows hasn't always been able to save her, and she hates that. She hates feeling helpless, against this town and the people in it.

But it has helped. It has made her, if not totally safe, than safer than she might be if she didn't have it. It protected her against Dist himself, after all.]

Phone

[photonicfighter]

[There's a small laugh on the other end of the line.]

And here I was offering training to people not long ago...

I might be able to help you out. What were you being trained in, previously?

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Jecht's methods were weird. They mostly involved him attacking me and me trying to keep him from it until I collapsed.

[photonicfighter]

Hm. That's one way to do it.

Was this armed combat? Unarmed combat? ...did this person bother teaching you any basic technique before... all of the attacking and collapsing?

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Unarmed. And no, not really. I guess he just... hoped I'd pick it up if he attacked me enough.

[photonicfighter]

[The sigh on the other end of the line is not a happy one.]

There's a time and a place for challenges like that, but I don't think they're suitable for complete novices.

I could teach you some basic martial arts moves, and get you started on a training regimen to toughen you up. Then I'd chase you around your backyard until you're exhausted. Does that sound reasonable?

[There's a tiny, tiny laugh appended to the end.]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

It sounds at least more helpful. As long as you don't mar my perfect face, that is.

[Dakkai really has his work cut out for him on this one. Dist is skinny, wholly untrained and without body strength, and whiny as hell. Good luck putting up with him.]

[action]

[dclassreyvateil.livejournal.com]

[Here, have a clueless new person standing nearby watching

An older teenager (around 17 years old) dressed up in 1950s typical outdoor wear (details what's that) is contemplating whether to disturb the man from his work. She's wearing a red hairband, with both sides of her light-to-dark-brown-hair done in makeshift black ribbons, and a really long braid of hair going down past her knees. A reference can be seen here (http://images.wikia.com/artonelico/images/5/50/School_days_Aurica.jpg).]

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Sol actually notices before Dist does, scampering away from his work and looking up at the newcomer with what looks like a smile and a wag of his stubby tail. Dist follows the creature with his eyes, sees the girl, but doesn't speak. He mostly looks tired.]

[dclassreyvateil.livejournal.com]

[The girl doesn't know what to make of the cheagle, but it pings her interest nonetheless. She squats down briefly, petting it with a soft smile.

She glances up to see the whitish-pink-haired (hope I got it right D: it does seem pinkish at least) man looking at her. Her smile breaks, and she stands up again, arms to her chest.]

I'm sorry...was I disturbing you?

it's white in canon and then the anime changed it to pink 8l so technically both are right

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Sol purrs, clearly enjoying the attention, while Dist shrugs and shakes his head.]

Not really. What do you want?

Ah D: Such discrepancy @_@

[dclassreyvateil.livejournal.com]

♪ BGM: Peaceful Song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiK0oqYoJL8)

Ah..I'm new here, and I'm looking for some people..

[As she says this, she digs into her pockets. She produces a folded paper and opens it.] I'm Aurica, and this is who I'm looking for:

[The girl opens up the paper and bends down, holding it out to the man, so she doesn't mess up the garden. Though the names are spelled correctly the handwriting is a little childish, but legible enough:

Lyner Barsett (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Lyner)
Claire Branch (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Claire)
Radolf Schnaizen (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Radolf)
Krusche Elendia (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Krusche)
Jack Hamilton (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Jack)
Misha Arsellec Lune (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Misha")
Shurelia (http://artonelico.wikia.com/wiki/Shurelia)

Each name is accompanied by a crude but colorful picture drawn in crayon of each person, in any manner of heads or miniature bodies.]

Have you happened to see or hear of any of them..?

yeah it annoys me :c

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Dist takes the paper, looking it over with a frown.]

Are these people you knew at home?

action

[cameracrush.livejournal.com]

Those are really lovely.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

They're selenias... native to my home. I had one replicated from a while ago, and I thought it was only fitting to fill the garden with them. Knowing Mayfield, they should survive the winter.

[His expression is still somewhat sad, though.

[cameracrush.livejournal.com]

Um, I don't really know what replicating is. But it's nice that you managed to get something from home.

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

[Dist sits back on the grass, crossing his legs.]

Someone from home got one back, a long time ago. I have a machine that can make copies of things, so I made a copy of it just in case. Just as I expected... both he and the original disappeared.

whoops )8 any*

[cameracrush.livejournal.com]

You've been taking care of it since?

[buildstherobots.livejournal.com]

Yes. There's no one left from my world that can. I'm the only one.

[Him and the cheagle, but Dist has a bad habit of discounting him as a stupid animal. They have a weird comfort-ignore relationship.]