First Silver Spoon - Joint Post, Video/Action for New Bark

[shslasshat]

[The boy who appears on the other end of the feed is sitting outside, in New Bark Town, if the gently waving trees and the windmill in the background are anything to go by. He appears deep in thought. In contrast to this, a sharply-grinning face appears over his left shoulder, all teeth and claws and hard, cold, gemstone eyes. Since Sableye aren't native to New Bark Town, that must clearly be his starter.]

Out of one game and into another, then.

[Piercing green eyes meet the camera from behind white-framed glasses.]

I presume I'm far from the first person to come here. ...Perhaps, even, not the first from my world – since this obviously is not the world I come from. I may have catching up to do, but mark my words: Byakuya Togami does not lose. Anyone who stands in my way will fall. So remember my face, and don't waste your t—

[But then, abruptly, the feed goes wild and veers away from his face; hopefully nobody watching gets motion sickness, because if so, they might want to avert their eyes. But given the angle and direction of the camera shift, combined with the brief flash of the boy's astonished expression before it disappears completely from view, it seems that someone has just snatched the Gear right out of his hand.

Which would be an entirely accurate conclusion to draw, really. Suffice to say, the camera is now displaying a rather attractive shot of the tip of someone's boot and a fair expanse of slightly matted grass.]

Don't be so quick to sacrifice your anonymity with needless posturing. There's nothing to be gained from ceding that advantage — particularly not in a place where that name almost certainly means nothing to anyone.

[...Does somebody want to get this man some ice for that burn.]

[The aforementioned boy huffs in the background, his hand appearing on the camera as he tries to take it back like a nerd who's become the victim of a cruel game of keep-away.]

Have you even read the training manual? A place that asserts the goal of becoming "the very best, like no one ever was" is not a bastion of subtlety.

[Then, almost sulkier,]

When did you even get here?

[JUST WHEN HE THOUGHT HE WAS SAFE.

Eventually, though, his superior height and reach everything manage to get control of the Gear back, and amid the shuffle, the second voice speaks again.]

About twenty minutes ago. [A beat.] I've been looking around. Haven't you?

[Even when his gear is back in his own possession, he doesn't bother aiming it at his face. However, he will flash Johto a shot of the lovely, lavender-haired girl who so rudely interrupted his arrogant pontificating.]

I've been reading the materials provided about this place and the creatures who inhabit it. [A smug, punchable beat.] Haven't you?

I wanted to see what my own investigations turned up first. But it'd be useful to see how much of my evidence is corroborated by yours; turn that off and let's compare our findings instead.

[For the first time since the girl appeared, Togami actually pays attention to the gear, and he scowls at it before flicking the camera off as requested.]

Comments

[throw_stone]

[Another shake of the head - and Ramza is getting confused as well.]
No, it is by the Old Valendian calender.
[But he does give another pause.]
That is quite correct, Sir. Though there are also organized families of knights and nobles, they are seen as two different kinds of organization. Do you two not have this kind of...?

[freshprints]

[Togami-kun, why can't he just be crazy. He might just be crazy. It's not like the whole world hasn't gone to shit and could very well be full of people tripping balls everywhere, you know.

Okay fine you know what fine we can humor the ~time displaced~ probably tripping balls guy.

...although that does give her an idea and she's probably going to regret this later but—]

Yes. He's of our nobility.

[Ohhh, yes, she's going to regret this. But she motions slightly to Togami anyway.]

[throw_stone]

[O-oh.

Oh.

Ramza suddenly bows, down on one knee - he was that rude already? How could he be like this? This was his training, the way he was raised. After a few moments, he does look back up at the teenagers. What a young lord, and...]
If he is a Lord, are you his Lady?
[He had to ask. She may not be - she may be some sort of caretaker for him instead.]

[shslasshat]

[Togami fairly chokes on his own spit when she says that - more so because it's coming from Kirigiri of all people than because it is or isn't technically true.

And then the weirdly-dressed guy is down on one knee and gee you'd think if he was just a crazy from their world he would've recognized them from the video broadcast.

Nevertheless, Togami clears his throat quickly.]

Get up. You don't need to embarrass yourself over it.

[He pauses at the question and glances at Kirigiri, then glances away from both of them.]

...She is.

[Which is the closest thing to a compliment he'll probably ever pay you, Kirigiri, and it'll be easier to get deets if this guy thinks you're nobility too.]

[throw_stone]

[He does stand up again, his head still lowered.
If they were from each others' worlds... well, they would know his outfit, his family colours. But they don't, so.

His face, when he raises it, is looking between the two of them.]
My apologies, my Lord - my Lady. [He nods to both of them, in order.] For I am a sellsword - it has always been a little strange, speaking to somebody so high up. [Lies. He's used to talking to nobles - his hand tightens, as he almost considers telling them... no. He doesn't know what to do with his family name right now. Does it matter?]
Though, I must admit... I do not know of your names, if you are from a different time then mine.

[freshprints]

[Note to self: punch Togami in the throat when all this is over.

More and more, though, this potential for alternate universes and timelines is becoming...maybe not less impossible, exactly, but there's enough gray area being injected into it that it's nudging toward improbable, instead. She's not so quick to accept it as a reality, but if she were to postulate that it is for the sake of argument...

Well, it'd explain the outfit, and the fact that he doesn't know the names of two of the most famous children in the world, at that point. There are other, less improbable things that could explain that, too, but...]

That's to be expected.

[She regards him a little quietly, like she's contemplating something.]

There's no shame in it.

[throw_stone]

[Changing his stance a little, though - to look a little more relaxed, to help with his own lie - Ramza then gave a hard look to both of them.]
So, if you are from another time... [Which he is accepting of a little easier - after all, he has heard of Time Mages before. Even if he's not met one, it is a practiced sort of magick,] it must be rather different then mine.
[But, still, he looks a little awkwardly around them.] But, if we are truly in another land... I suppose your rank has no meaning to most.

[shslasshat]

[What??? Saying that she's worthy of being part of the great Togami harem is totally how you compliment a girl, right? Because it's complimenting not only her brains but her rockin' bod.

Yeah go ahead punch him in the throat.

The look that passes over Togami's face when the weirdly-dressed young man politely and hesitantly ruminates that his rank has no meaning is indescribable. Almost human.

Because it didn't have much meaning anymore where they came from, either.]

My name will have meaning here soon enough. Just because I'm in a place where my family's influence has not spread only means that it's my duty to spread it.

[There's an intense determination in his green eyes. Just because h/ here and not Outside doesn't mean that he's going to let his Hope slip away again.]

[throw_stone]

[Do any titles mean anything here, though? Ramza is almost glad he has his new start - as long as nobody here knows of the Beoulve name, he might get away with figuring out his own place without needing to hide it so well.
But enough about his thoughts, no1curr. No1 here, anyhow - his expression does grow the slightest bit darker, however.]
Your duty... and what if you cannot? What if the people of this land do not care for outside nobility, Lord?
[Questions Ramza wonders about, too. Hey, if he can further his own goals, why the heck not?]

[freshprints]

[Kirigiri's mostly just listening to this exchange at this point (which is what she likes best, frankly — letting people talk in front of her, listening in, and only weighing in when she's got something of relevance to contribute), but at the question, a light touch of something that might be humor crosses her face, and she regards Togami with a fleeting glance.]

Don't worry. This lord is not one to let something like that stand in his way.

[The best part is, that's a statement so likely to be genuine that you could ENTIRELY MISS THAT IT'S IRONIC.]

[throw_stone]

If that is the case...
[He finally lifts his head, to standing back in a semi-relaxed state.]
My name is Ramza. [As he states his name, he does sort-of pause... mulling over giving his last name. Nah.] As I stated, I am new to this land - and still seeking answers of my own.

[shslasshat]

[Togami doesn't normally hit girls, Kirigiri, but he sees that look and considers making an exception.

He nods at Ramza's introduction and decides to go for broke.]

I'm Lord Togami. From what I've come to understand, everyone in this town is either a newcomer or a native. I assume you encountered "Mom".

[throw_stone]

...I did, yes.
[An awkward shift. His mother... let's not get into it.]
So she does not care who you are when she calls you her child, then? I somehow doubt she was a Lugria, or the mother of a Lord - or Lady.
[...Lugria. His mothers maiden name. Perhaps he should start using it? It'd call less attention then Beoulve. If anybody knew of him.]
Did she... give you that creature, my Lord? [Gesturing to the Sableye.]

[freshprints]

The speech she gives is identical, regardless of who she's delivering it to. It may be most apt to say she doesn't care, period — she only recites the script she's been given.

[Just one of the many things she'd observed while looking around prior to this.]

[throw_stone]

Yes, I noted that as well.
[It made him feel awkward!]
And what of you, Lady Togami? What sort of creature did you get?
[ramza

ramza no]

[shslasshat]

[Feel free to smack him later for the smirk that creeps over his face at Lady Togami, Kirigiri.

He doesn't even try to hide it, crossing his arms.]

She did. It's unseemly, but eager.

[He's going to go ahead and let Kirigiri introduce her own starter.]

[throw_stone]

[A nod, as Ramza looks to his own bag. Well, if he is asking them their starters... he might as well get his out.

So, with a bit of shuffling, and a press of the button...

Whoops, there is a Stunfisk.]

[freshprints]

[...Okay, so up until this point Kirigiri had been kind of unsure about her own starter — a quiet but good-tempered little Nincada that likes to hang out on her backpack where it's shady — but then she sees the Stunfisk and okay, the albino ninjabug is not so bad.

Fearless despite the fact that she is a girl and this is a twenty-inch bug, she reaches down and retrieves her Nincada, aligning it along the length of her arm to support it.]

[throw_stone]

[...Well, that's another interesting one. No, he doesn't judge girls liking bugs. It takes bravery to be a squire, it takes guts to be raised in one of the best schools of Ivalice.

But that bug is interesting - much less demonic then the creature resting on the Lords arm.]
So it is true - everybody is supplied with different beasts.

[shslasshat]

[Judiciously, Togami doesn't remark on the floppy, damaged-looking creature now at their feet. His Sableye's going to poke it curiously with one claw, however.]

Apparently. And according to the manual included in the backpack we were given, one of the goals of this place is to obtain more.