GambolMuse

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

Ethan grinned sheepishly as Amuné made her preference for a riding partner quite clear. No question that she liked him, though now he wondered if that may be for the wrong reasons; she thought he was a Ydran, and it was quite clear he was anything but. What made her think of such a thing anyways? It baffled him honestly, yet he worried what it might do to her to learn he wasn't one of her people. For now it looked to give her hope, and Ethan had every intention of letting her enjoy that as long as she could. It of course meant coming clean later too, and no doubt hurting her feelings, but he hoped she'd not be too terribly upset once they got to that point. "You want to ride with me? That's fine, you can sit in front and help me hold the reigns," he answered, smiling as he gave a thumbs up, "There's more than enough room for both of us I'd imagine, not a problem." It was easier than her getting her own horse too, as that would mean finding one that was small enough for the little girl.

"In the cart might be best. We can likely move faster with just the horses anyways," Nymira reflected, "And it's best he's rested anyways, should we need him for anything." Namely fighting, she figured, especially if there were more men still seeking to capture her. The chances of such a thing were unlikely, yet it was best they be prepared rather than caught by surprise. So if herself, Ethan and that Machina were all to ride a horse, then they would need three in all. Not to mention the cart, and then the cost of any supplies they should require. Nymira was fairly confident they could afford whatever they would need, especially given how amazed the others had been over her small fortune. "If there's nothing else to sort out, might we get going? I hate to waste time standing around..."

Norman smiled knowingly at Cecil's surprise, tapping his own temple with his forefinger. "I've got ways of getting around quickly, don't you worry about me my friend. I'll be able to come to near any town or city within hours, you've my personal guarantee on that." He wanted to track Cecil's progress and gather information on him, perhaps then he could discern the Machina's place of origin. Every factory had some kind of trademark they built into their pieces, whether it was something as obvious as an emblem, or some kind of feature or component. Without some thorough inspection he'd not know what Cecil's was, yet maybe over time he'd catch a glimpse of some clue. The mention of horses took him somewhat by surprise, he'd never considered a Machina riding a horse before. Ethan's question looked to properly stump Cecil, yet he could offer some help in that regard. "Well... Given Cecil's size, the material he's made of and factoring in the usual components, I'd venture he weighs roughly 60 kilograms. That's perfectly fine for a regular sized horse, he shouldn't have any problems," Norman remarked, smiling then at Cecil, "And you've got your oil, don't you worry. We'll put it in that cart of yours once you get it. Come back around here on your way back, I'll send a few things with you for the trip."

"Really? That's awesome, thanks Norman! We'll be sure to come by!" Ethan responded cheerfully, grinning as he clasped his hands together, "So that settles it! We'll go get horses, find ourselves a cart, then stop by here before leaving. Looks like we've got a plan!" And now they could get moving once more, within the hour anyways. He was fairly certain he had seen some stables back by the eastern entrance, they were bound to have a horse or two for sale there. Hm, but come to think of it, should they split up here and get things done faster? "Do you guys suppose we should split up and get this done faster? I mean we're in the city, we should be okay," Ethan suggested, figuring it would be faster. Like other times before though, his idea of separating didn't appear to sit well with everyone.

"Because nothing ever happens to anyone within a city," Nymira said sarcastically, rolling her eyes as Ethan gave her an apologetic look, "No, we'd best stay together. Besides, we'll need three people to move the horses, I don't imagine we can ride them down the streets. If we have to lead them then it's best one of us each takes one." That was if they could even bring the horses here. She hadn't seen a single horse anywhere in Galloway itself, only along the outskirts and at the stables. It was very likely it could just be too busy to allow them in, yet with it getting later in the day maybe they could manage it. "If that's settled, shall we get going?"

Uchiha Reborn

Sasuke really had no desire to remain in the store, so when Yura guided him out he was too happy to follow. Even though they had left the shop however he wasn't free from scrutiny, and all around he could hear people talking about him, about his clan and what had happened. He was so sick of being a curiosity and a piece for discussion like this, he just wanted to live his life, whatever was left, and not be questioned or treated special all the time. All these annoying favors people did for him, while well-intentioned, really got old and felt almost obligatory. If they didn't want to help him then fine, he'd get by with just Yura.

Though he ought to be excited at a promise of food, the young Uchiha could only give a small nod in reply. He wasn't terribly hungry at the moment, more trying to focus on ignoring all of the people around them than anything. All but forgetting that Yura was there for a bit, he glanced over curiously when she brought up animals. "Uh... I guess... Certain kinds," he answered, shrugging his shoulders before looking at the ground again. "I think... Hawks are cool... And I like cats well enough, I suppose." He'd never really considered getting one though, and now that it was just him and Yura he wasn't so sure they could take care of one either. She'd go on missions soon, all shinobi did, an he couldn't take care of it himself.

More than ready to just be home and back in privacy, Sasuke frowned when he spotted a familiar mess of blond hair down the road. Of all the people he'd seen over the last few days, Naruto had been one he'd been trying to avoid. Sure, before this he and the other boy might have been on decent terms, but now he was worried that, like everyone else, Naruto was just going to tell him how sorry he was, and how bad he felt. Sasuke was getting sick of hearing it, he just wanted to move on from it all already. So when he met the other boy's gaze and he started coming over, the raven almost considered running away, but knew Yura would probably stop him if he tried.

"Hey, Sasuke-kun! What's up?" Naruto said cheerfully, grinning as he waved to the Uchiha boy. Other villagers were now leaving due to his presence, yet he in large ignored them, paying more attention to his friend. Walking over to meet him he paused when he realized Yura was there too, frowning and glancing up at her confused. Eh, who the heck was she? He'd never seen her before, but she kinda looked like she was part of his clan. "Say... Sasuke..." Naruto mumbled, pointing up at Yura as he closed his eyes, looking very confused. "Who's the old lady with the big boobs?"

Uchiha Reborn

Leaving the Uchiha compound was a bit daunting, he'd not really done that since the massacre. The idea of having to face other people, people who new what had happened, frankly unsettled Sasuke. He didn't want sympathy or to be told "sorry" a million times over. Well intentioned or not those weren't going to bring back his family, and he was sick of hearing it by now. Yura was heading out though and he knew he should join her, even if he didn't particularly want to. Once they had finished working on his arrows and set them aside, the young Uchiha followed after his lone clan member, keeping his eyes down to avoid meeting anyone's gaze as they walked.

All around him he could hear voices, whispering and mumbling among themselves about him and his clan. This was exactly why he hadn't wanted to go out, he hated the fact that everywhere he went, sad looks were sent his way. That and he had become something of a novelty, being the only Uchiha member to be spared. Well there was Yura as well, but she hadn't been here during the attacks. Sasuke couldn't say if it angered or annoyed him more that people saw him for that, for being the survivor of some horrific attack. He'd almost prefer for no one to ever notice him instead, so he could go about his day without all that unwanted attention. Yet right up until they had slipped into a shop, he swore he felt eyes on him, and words about his predicament were constantly overheard.

Yet as it turned out, even in the shop they weren't terribly free from the attention. The woman at the counter seemed to be every bit as interested as those outside, and unfortunately they couldn't just walk away and ignore her like the rest. Glancing up when he saw her offering over candy he accepted it reluctantly, waiting until she was looking at Yura again to pocket it. He hated sweets, anything with too much sugar was unappealing to him, and he'd just as soon throw the treat away if the woman weren't standing right there. Instead he went about the shop, looking for a few things he needed of his own. Some supplies for school, a strip or two of sand-paper that he could use to help keep his bow in good condition, and to make more arrows if need be, and some food that he might like. With what little money he had of his own he paid for it, forgetting for a moment that Yura was even present.

Sasuke was only too happy to be out of the store once he was done, not wanting to linger and be spoken to. Back at the compound he had managed to relax somewhat when Yura was around, but out here it was another story. Everyone looked at him, they all spoke about him, they all had a million questions. What was it like? How does he feel? Does he need anything? Before most of these people wouldn't have given him much more than a passing smile, but now everyone felt bad for him and wanted to help. Cynically he rejected any offers, figuring in a week's time they would move on and go back to ignoring him as they had. Besides, he had Yura now, he didn't need their help.

"I don't like this... I want to go back..." Sasuke mumbled, frowning as he looked up at Yura. He was already sick of other people looking at him and talking about him, it made him terribly self-conscious. He'd prefer to just be home and train right now, rather than this. Clutching his bags against his chest he gave a disconcerted sigh when even more voices could be overheard speaking about him, making the young Uchiha scrunch his shoulders up. "Just stop... Stop talking..." he said meekly, far too quiet to be overheard by the folks speaking.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

"I wouldn't worry too much. You seem to be well made, it would take some strong force to shatter a component, or even damage one. So long as you're not fighting a wild bull I think you'll be fine," Norman joked, finishing up his polishing. Actually without a stress test on the materials Cecil was made of there was no real way of knowing just how durable he might be. It was safe to assume he was very tough, considering he was a combat model, and it would take a lot of punishment to cause real damage. Wiping up any lingering traces of oil or excess polish, Norman gave a nod of satisfaction now that the Machina was in better condition than before. With no parts seriously worn out there was little need for real fine tuning, he could travel a while yet before that happened. "Most Machina are kept indoors where they work, so I'm not surprised. I bet you could see one at the markets though, they can be used to help move products around as well," the engineer explained, giving Cecil's back a single pat to let him know he was finished, "And I travel a lot to keep my own supplies stocked, as well as for various jobs. You'll see me again I'm sure, and if not, Nymira knows how to reach me. You should be all set for travel now though."

Nymira didn't quite grasp just how much money she had on her, though evidently it was quite a bit. If it would get them all horses for travel then she was completely fine with spending some, she could care less about money herself. Glancing between Amuné and Ethan as they both stared at the bag for a moment, she was pleased that each of them thought purchasing horses was a good idea; having your own horse made traveling on your own time far easier, and she'd rather avoid dragging some innocent man into her business and have him at risk for transporting her. "You could ride with one of us, if you'd like? That way we can get the strongest, fastest horses available." Besides, did Amuné really need her own horse? She may not know how to ride particularly well, so it would be best for her to ride along with someone else. "I would be happy to share my horse with Amuné, and Wyth can run alongside us. Or if that doesn't work..."

"What if we got a cart?" Ethan suggested, "You know... Just a small one. That way we can carry whatever we own in it, and Wyth can ride in the back. If we got one really strong horse then it can pull them behind it!" A cart couldn't be too expensive, right? And that would be good too, incase they ended up with a lot of things and nowhere to put them.

"A cart...? I suppose that would be a good idea, if Wyth and Amuné agree to it that is," Nymira mused aloud, looking down at the pair before smiling. Crouching down she looked at the moorcat endearingly, reaching out and trying to stroke his muzzle, "How about it my friend? Would you like to ride in the cart?"

Ethan wasn't so sure that petting Wyth was the best idea, still a bit nervous himself he'd lose a hand if he tried it. Nymira seemed to be able to do it just fine, making the Magi pout slightly before returning to his usual positive self, smiling at Amuné instead. "You can ride with me too if you want, and Wyth can ride along in the cart. We could get blankets and everything to make it extra comfortable for him, and you can ride him if the horse gets tired, right? I think that would make sense." Oh, but weren't they forgetting someone? Cecil had been busy with Norman the last few minutes, but now it looked like they were just finishing up. Could a Machina ride a horse? Just how heavy was their friend anyways? "Hey Cecil, how much do you weigh?" Ethan shouted, grinning as he waved their friend over, "We need to know, we're going to buy horses!"

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

The exercises being assigned now were hardly strenuous, yet it was nice all the same to see Viral coping with them well. Being inactive as he had been for some time, coupled with his degenerating condition, there was some question as to whether he could handle even this much. With any concerns sufficiently quelled for now, they could perhaps focus on making some serious strides in his well-being now. With a lack of any equipment on hand they would have to make due with just themselves, which unfortunately meant a third of the exercises Vegeta had considered were now impossible to do. Simple sprints between one end of the room and the other however ought to be perfectly doable, and with luck Viral would have no issues in doing them. "So we'll run side by side? Fair enough, I see no problem with that," he agreed, nodding slightly before moving up against the wall. With his left heel pressed flush against the matted surface he leaned forward slightly, waiting for Viral to assume a similar position to begin. "A dozen times, six each way, perfectly reasonable I think. We'll go at your pace, and don't feel the need to try finishing in record time, this is not a race." No sense in straining and causing injury, there was more exercising to be done.

"You wouldn't be in servitude. It's not like we're forced into doing what we do," Sasha explained, "We do it because we want to. We believe in what we're fighting for, and we'd do whatever we can to make it a reality. In fact, the only thing I've ever been forced to do is retreat, and for good reason." Did it really come across as their being helpless soldiers or servants? You could join the rebellion of your own will, and leave if you wanted, plain and simple. Of course if you left and became an enemy then there'd not be any mercy just because you were a former ally; an enemy was an enemy, and for the welfare of everyone else, enemies had to be dealt with one way or another. Shaking her head at Kiton's comments on Uuonians, Sasha let out a sigh before looking around at some of the groups still busy at work. "Uuonians have been nice to me even before I joined with the rebels, and everyone else. There are refugees here who they are nice to, former soldiers of the Saiyan military who've been tended to and cared for, despite being enemies. These people have amazing technology, but they can't fight. What they can do is help others, and they do that plenty. Believe it or not, but they are good people, and they always have been. I can prove it, if you want?"

Takeshi was fine with Shu sparring with Krom, if a bit nervous. Shu did need to train, and so long as the Elite didn't hurt his brother or do anything dirty then they would be fine. It was hard to watch the little guy basically flail about trying to hit Krom, it was like their instructor was intentionally making Shu look bad. Takeshi wasn't going to interfere though, not up until his brother was kicked into the ground rather harshly. As so many times before he snapped seeing Shu be struck, rushing in without missing a beat and landing a punch square on Krom's head, getting him to even stumble slightly. He hadn't expected such a quick retaliation though, and in taking a punch to the face in turn he was knocked away, groaning as he bounced once and ended up on the ground, dazed and disoriented from the strike. Okay, so the jerk could hit pretty hard, he'd have to remember that from now on. He could just hear Shu shouting something about him, yet the room was kind of spinning at the moment and his head throbbed, probably best not to move just yet.

"Krom! Control yourself! You're frightening Shu, not helping him!" Aito warned, frowning as he watched the display disapprovingly. Takeshi had no business in getting involved, but he really didn't need to be borderline knocked out for it. If that hit was all it took to put Shu down then they shouldn't even bother training him, and his brother of all people ought to know that. To him, it almost appeared as though the older boy simply didn't trust his sibling to protect himself, like coming to his aid was almost compulsory. That was probably part of why Shu was so timid too, he always had someone to protect him. If a child was shielded their entire lives then they never learned to face adversity, and it almost appeared like Shu was suffering from that. Giving Takeshi just a brief glance to make sure he was okay, the doctor was relieved to see the older boy sitting up and regaining his senses. Good, now how was Shu going to fare?

Legend of Zelda: Templar Ascension

So Regol sounded like he was a rotten guy, that was unfortunate. Caelan had no personal issues with him however, and was far more inclined to live-and-let-live, even if Link had a bone to pick. Unless the man went and tried stabbing them in the back he wasn't going to worry too much about who their company was; when you looted tombs and dungeons for a living you often had unsavory partners, that was just his line of work. Hearing out the other boy's complaints all the same, Caelan smiled amused when Link brought up the attempts on his life, even if he knew he really ought not be smiling.

"Look, people will go after each other for any reason you can think of, that's just nature for you. If you were pushed enough you'd probably kill me, and I'm fine with that. But right now you're not trying to kill me, so I'm not going to worry about that crap. And right now Regol isn't trying to kill you either, so what's the big deal? Let the past be the past." Harboring some kind of animosity was so tiring, he didn't bother getting sour with old partners anymore. Sure, there were some he'd just as soon never see again, but he'd try being pleasant if they ever met up again. Money made a lot of people pretty seedy, yet Caelan understood too some decent people did bad things sometimes, it didn't make them a bad person, case and point himself.

As if professing his reluctance over Regol wasn't enough, Link made it seem like the whole world was out to get him. To that Caelan had to let out a groan, fighting a serious urge to tell Link to just man up and get over it. "Look... Just because someone gave you some fate or destiny or whatever doesn't mean you have to follow it," the water mage said, grinning before pointing at himself with his thumb, "My parents had a ton planned for me, and yet here I am years later, hunting for treasure and fighting in some crazy war. I didn't exactly go along with whatever fate they had for me now did I? My point is, it can be the Goddesses, or your parents, whatever, but no one else can say what your destiny is. You make your destiny." Then, letting out a sigh he folded his hands on the back of his head, a smirk crossing his lips as he glanced over at Link once more. "Unless you're fine with someone else telling you what you're going to be and do, then I guess you really don't have control."

There had been a handful of black markets that Caelan had visited, but none were ever hidden behind a false wall like this. Such an assortment of goods, though he was sure most were probably common junk elsewhere and being marked up for being rare here. It was helpful knowing a bit about how these places worked, it kept you from blowing a small fortune on something that was an everyday item halfway across the country. Still though... There were some mighty nice looking tools and weapons, yet they didn't have the time or money to appreciate them. Following Regol closely they made their way into some strange looking Mask Shop, for reasons Caelan couldn't even begin to guess. This had to be where they were meeting their friend or whatever this person was to them, but why here? Upon seeing the place absolutely void of any life he could take a guess why, though that in of itself presented a problem.

"So where is this person we're meeting...? Weren't they supposed to be here?" It was a tiny enough shop, yet there was clearly no signs of anyone else here. Taking a glance at the numerous masks along the walls, Caelan let out a sigh and rubbed at his forehead impatiently. He just wanted to get this meeting over with, and the fact this person wasn't even present at the moment annoyed him. Walking over to the front counter he looked behind it before rolling his eyes, reaching out and hitting the bell resting on top several times over. "Hellooooo? Anyone here?"

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

"If I'm not mistaken, yes, you're a combat model. Everything you seem to have would suggest that much," Norman reiterated, smiling as he nodded his head, "That's good to hear, it means you're working as you should. Combat models are... Different than your traditional Machina, yet their mechanics are much the same, so maintaining yourself shouldn't be very difficult. The most problems will likely come from your gauntlets and boots, since there's so many intricate, small parts working constantly. Other than that, you should experience minimal issues." Why did he have to be a combat model? It didn't make sense given Cecil's appearance, it almost seemed contradictory. Combat Machina were generally made to be large an imposing, or given some kind of daunting features to strike fear into the enemy. Yet Cecil... He almost looked like a normal boy, why was that? There had to be a reason behind his design, yet Norman couldn't imagine what that might be.

After giving a thorough look over Cecil's various parts, Norman decided the Machina was in good health. A little oil on the joints, some polish, and he'd be good as new and ready to get traveling again. As he began to apply some of the oil, Cecil had some questions for him concerning how he looked, and about his earliest memories. "No, I suppose it's not a bad thing, it's just unusual," Norman answered, concentrating as he applied a modest amount of lubrication to Cecil's legs, easing it into the sockets with a narrow brush, "As I said, combat models tend to be different, yet not in the way you are. Most look like machines, not people. That's what strikes me as so unusual here, that you look the way you do." It is possible he supposed that someone had made Cecil to resemble a lost relative; it was rare, but some wealthy benefactors had requested such models made, so that was a possibility here. "It sounds like you were activated in the factory, and for some reason felt fear... Hm..." Another unusual thing, Machina didn't really have emotions. They might be programmed to display some sort of emotion, but to actually feel it? This was beyond his own knowledge of Machina, and not knowing was like an itch he couldn't scratch, he had to resolve that. "You'll be safe as long as you remain with this group, I'm sure of that. But Cecil, can you do me a favor?" Norman asked, finishing up the final bits of oiling, "I'd like to monitor you and your progress, to see how you experience things. If you can maintain some kind of log, something for me to look at on our next encounter, I'd appreciate it."

"Do you think we can really afford that? Transportation I mean. I'm pretty much broke, save for a few coppers I've got in my pocket, but that's my emergency fund," Ethan remarked, smiling slightly as he patted the coins, "And besides, aren't carriages expensive?" He'd never taken one himself really, yet the few he had seen here and there always looked to carry wealthier types as opposed to, well, them.

Nymira smiled slightly amused and gave a small nod of her head, turning then and leaving the room for a moment. When she returned she carried with her a bag of coins, roughly the size of Amuné's head and filled to the brim. "Like I said, I managed to get some money for my mission. I know it's not terribly much, but it should get us what we need." Setting down the bag on the table she pulled loose the string holding it closed, and out spilled quite a handsome amount; gold, silver, more of the former than the latter clattered against the sheetmetal as they poured out over the surface, glistening in the light of the shop. "I understand that these carriages cost more the further they travel too, but this should still cover it, I'd think."

Ethan didn't quite hear what Nymira was saying, too busy gawking at the small fortune she'd just laid out before them. Each of those gold coins were worth a hefty sum, and there were so many of them! Never mind the silvers, and he didn't even see one copper amongst the bunch, that was amazing. He had never seen so much money in one place before, and he'd certainly never had that much himself. Blinking in surprise as he touched one of the coins, as if to test its authenticity, he smiled brightly and looked back at Nymira. "This is a small fortune? You're rich, Nymira! Heck, we could buy horses with this money!" Ethan exclaimed, getting all excited now as he started to put the coins back in the bag, "I mean, that's if you want to, it's your money. But a carriage definitely doesn't cost this much!"

"Well that's nice to know. I still don't understand how you people price things here, so I made sure to get plenty of coin for myself," Nymira said plainly, shrugging off Ethan's amazement. "It's not that much honestly, to myself anyways. I'm used to seeing large amounts of funds come and go, my father handles huge sums on a daily basis. It's a good thing that none of the other clans use your money, otherwise we'd probably have been attacked by now." She understood that each type was more expensive than the last, yet she had no real bearing on just what the real cost was. Far as she was concerned they were just bits of metal, she'd hand them out without a second thought if she didn't have someone advising her. "I'm fine with buying our own horses, I'd rather not rely on someone else to move us. Can you ride a horse though, little one?" she asked, looking to Amuné. "And what of your moorcat?"

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

Vegeta saw no point in partaking in the exercise himself, yet figured for Viral's benefit he might as well. Since the push-ups were already over with he began with the crunches, keeping pace with his brother easily as they went through the paces. That exercise didn't last terribly long, and with nothing to help them do the dips, they had to reconsider their next step. Glancing up at the Beastman as he stood, Vegeta thought for a moment before pointing across the room. "Run from the far wall to the other and back, do that half a dozen times, back and forth," he explained, still sitting as he spoke, "You've got some good strength still despite what you may think, you weren't struggling at all even with twice this planet's gravity. So it's time to see whether or not your stamina is still there." Should he join Viral for this one as well? He could likely move faster, unless the Beastman was slated to surprise him. Slowly standing up himself, he placed his hands into his pockets and leisurely walked to the far wall, standing by patiently as he waited for Viral to begin. "I can either run with you as a competitor, or I can follow you and just keep an eye on you, to make certain nothing goes wrong. Your choice."

Leto hadn't expected Kiton to freak out like that, certainly not to the extent he had. Watching in surprise as the Frost Demon went off shouting, letting him get it all out before saying anything more. Furrowing his brow at the question, the Yulian remained silent a while longer before letting out a long winded sigh. "I've never lived like that, you're right. And I understand that it's a matter of survival for some, and not every criminal is a criminal by choice. I understand that it must have been horribly difficult, and that you were forced to do things that you might otherwise never do," Leto spoke, looking back and stopping again, holding a fist out to Kiton. "But that life is behind you now my young friend! Embrace the sanctity that the rebellion can offer, and welcome these people as you might your brothers and sisters! You no longer have to resort to such extremes, your life will become better if you just let us help." Uuonoe, the rebels, there were plenty of people around who could change Kiton's life for the better. Even if he had trust issues he'd have to overcome those, otherwise he'd never be able to leave that old life behind.

Maybe Leto's impassioned speech wasn't quite how Sasha would have gone about that, but he was right. If Kiton agreed to join them, or even the Princes, he was in line for a far better, more lawful life. "What if we can prove that you're not a criminal here? If we find someone, or a lot of people even who are friendly to you, then would you believe that Uuonoe is different? That it can be a home?" She had been taken in by these people and while she did miss her home, it was as close to a replacement as she'd ever find. These people, those in the rebellion, they were her family now, and she couldn't be happier for that. There was no telling what sort of life she and Ricken would have led if not for Korian and Sayomi, if any at all, there was no end to their gratitude. "I know it seems like it's impossible now, but there are really good people here. Even if you don't plan on staying, they'll help you however they can before you go. That's part of the reason why this war is just so wrong, these kind of people shouldn't ever be forced into fighting." All the more reason to fight alongside the rebels, to bring peace back to her adoptive home world.

"I never attacked civilians, don't be stupid..." Takeshi grumbled, glowering at Krom as he continued to speak. Sure, he'd fought plenty of weak opponents while serving his father, but he'd tried not to hurt them. How could he possibly leave them be though when Shu's well-being was on the line? He'd tried making people submit or agree to surrender, yet no one ever wanted to. Knowing just how bad things were under the Saiyans he could almost understand why, yet his hand had been forced. Still... Were those other lives worth ruining for the sake of just his brother's? He didn't know then, and Krom's prompt made him realize he still didn't know now. Shocked when he heard Krom's idea of training, Takeshi looked over at Shu worriedly before the Elite, already not thrilled with this plan. "You can't be serious, that's ridiculous!" he shouted, gasping when Shu jumped at Krom to try and fight him. This wasn't good, how was scaring Shu supposed to help him? "Shu, no! I'm fine, don't!" The little guy couldn't even touch him, he was jumping all around and missing every time. Takeshi wasn't going to interfere until his brother was hit, getting kicked into the ground rather roughly and slamming his face down. Gritting his teeth angrily, the older boy rushed in this time, trying to punch Krom square upside the head and keep him away from Shu.

Adelon: Steeling the Faith [Open!]

"Good, a tune-up I can do! Just get yourself comfortable and I'll get to work. And you don't have to shut down for this, we can do it all while you're conscious." They wouldn't be doing anything with his power supply, and any components that were to be replaced wouldn't be electrical, only mechanical. Joints, braces, things of that nature would be worked on. Grabbing a small box of tools he set them down beside Cecil, rolling his sleeves up and beginning to inspect the Machina by hand for any irregularities. "Your hands...? Hm... Well given the design of the gauntlets themselves, it almost appears if you were meant to do heavy lifting. Either that or they're meant to grant you powerful strikes, if you were made to be a combat model. Your design is largely the same as existing models, with some variations, so I'd have to assume you're a combat model." But then why build him as such? And why like this? His entire build was a bit puzzling, he'd have to do more digging it seemed.

"If your legs are similar to your arms, then by design its to grant extra strength. Now is that for speed, for jumping, or to help support yourself if you're moving a great weight? I've seen vaguely similar pieces before, that was generally their purpose. So I can only make guesses based on that." Curious, Norman examined Cecil's gauntlet and found the space where the two halves met, using his tools to loosen the joints and easing part of it open. From what little he could see from here, it was a very unusual design indeed. On top of having extra receptors to draw more power to the gauntlets, nodes seemed to connect with his palms, likely to enable him to emit some kind of static shock. That had to be for combat purposes, no way would a regular, everyday Machina be outfitted with such a thing. Closing his gauntlet back up, Norman smiled and grabbed a container of sealant next. "You seem to be a combat unit, interestingly enough. I've never seen one that looks so... Life like though, and I can't help but wonder the purpose of that. Tell me, do you remember anything at all about where you came from?"

Well that kind of made sense, just follow the sun and the time of day. But what if it was cloudy? Or late in the day when the sun went down, how do you tell then? He was still awfully lost even after Amuné tried to help him, he'd just have to apply himself more and try learning it on his own. His sense of direction problems paled in comparison to some of the other matters going on, especially Amuné not knowing where her parents were, or how they might be. He really didn't have an answer, yet Ethan tried all the same to reassure his little friend, hoping she'd perk up and try to remain positive. Smiling back when she broke into a smile, the magi gave his map another glance, still not certain where they should go next. "So try all of the towns...?" Ethan asked thoughtfully, tracing the path with his finger, "Yeah... That could work. I mean it's not that big of a detour to do it, and we can easily get back on the road afterwards. I'm all for it!"

"If that's what you wish then I'll agree to it," Nymira added in, looking between the three towns. None of which she recognized by name, yet she hoped one or two of them might give her what she was seeking. Depending on the size of the towns she may or may not find someone worth allying her clan with, though at the very least she may find an individual willing to lend a hand. For her people to move forward they would need not only to build relations, but to bring back skilled workers to help develop their land; living with Dimurans may seem unappealing to many out here, but they would do their best to accommodate outsiders. "If it would make our journey easier, I can find us transportation. I managed to secure a small bit of coin before coming here, and I've kept it safely hidden away in Norman's shop here. I know not what the charges for a trip might be, but I think we should take anything we can get." She didn't much care, be it horseback or carriage, so long as they could be quick about it. She didn't have time to waste idling about or talking a casual stroll through the countryside, she had important work to do.

Dragon Ball: Legacy (Mogtaki and Vena Sera)

Vegeta put his hands up in a defensive gesture when Viral got angry with him, only having stated the obvious. Being concerned over increased heart rate was a bit foolish when exercising, that was generally supposed to happen. There would be far more cause for concern if Viral's heart didn't work harder for it. "Viral, you'll become short of breath and weaker long before your heart gives out. I'm not trying to cause you harm, so if that happens then say something and we'll stop immediately." Until then however he intended to proceed with these regiments as scheduled. Prompting Viral to test himself, he got through near a dozen or so push-ups easily enough, promptly going about doing the crunches as well. "Hm? You want me to join you?" Vegeta asked, frowning before getting down on his knees, "I can do that if you'd prefer, though I fail to see the point in it." He was in good health, this wasn't exactly going to be difficult for him. Mimicking Viral he sat down before beginning his own crunches, trying to keep pace with the Beastman as not to annoy him. "After this, a few good squats would do well, to help get the blood circulating. Then a couple of dips, and after that we'll pause and see how you're fairing."

"The fact that the people here are good people?" Sasha interjected, glancing over at Kiton with a frown, "Or that this is their home? Space stations are known for having a diverse population, sure. But it's also known to harbor a lot of criminals, and a lot of shady business dealings. It's why the Galactic Police are always hanging around them, they're basically a cesspool for ill-will." Then, changing her demeanor she smiled slightly, reaching out and placing a hand on Kiton's shoulder. "And I'm not saying you're one of those people, before you get ahead of yourself. I've been to plenty of those stations and I've seen the kind of people who hang around there. From what I'm told, since this war started it seems like less and less people are willing to risk traveling to go there. Now it's mostly folks with nothing good in mind that make the journey. That's the difference, if I had to name one. The space stations are dangerous, but Uuonoe is... Well it's like a home. People here will give you the shirt off their backs if you needed it, you only have to ask. They've been through a lot too, if you couldn't tell, yet this planet has always remained friendly and welcoming. That's the big deal, I suppose. No matter who you are or where you're from, Uuonoe can be your home." No surprise that as soon as she'd finished saying that, Leto began blubbering like an oversized fool. Giving an annoyed sigh she glanced over at the Yulian, crossing her arms testily. "Honestly... Do you ever NOT cry over something?"

"Tch... I didn't say it was foolproof! You asked what I had done before, and I answered!" Takeshi snapped, huffing and turning his head away as Krom went on. He knew how ridiculous that was, but there was no other way he had of helping Shu. Harmony? So like Kai and Choi then, but could they really be that in-sync? The twins could seem to talk without talking and always knew what the other was doing to do, but for him and Shu they might as well be total strangers. Not only that but they had two totally different styles of fighting, how were they supposed to be in harmony like that? He didn't see this being possible, but nonetheless he accepted to take charge of his brother, for better or worse. That fact made Krom happy for whatever reason, and Takeshi shot him an annoyed side-glance when he spoke. "Of course we're ready, and I know that. I can take whatever you can give us, and I'll help Shu deal with it too. Help Shu first, our friends can wait." It sounded a bit mean saying that, but Shu did need help more than they did. All the others had to gain was becoming stronger, none of them were at risk of going rampant if they didn't get trained.

Just what was Krom intending to do here? Getting Shu to control his anger was going to be difficult, no doubt about that, but was violence absolutely necessary? The way the Elite made it sound they were going to be going through torturous regiments, and Aito failed to see the benefit in doing so. Wouldn't harming or provoking Shu only further exacerbate this? Takeshi was trying to play his part and rise to the challenge, yet he likely had no idea what they were about to go through. Could the boys even handle this? "Takeshi, everyone must be trained to prepare, we cannot solely focus on you two," the doctor said, frowning as he glanced then at Krom, "That being said... The others can likely just be told what to do and be left at that, they don't require constant supervision. If you can spend more time on these two then all the better." It was difficult to say without getting some measurements, but Aito was almost beginning to wonder just how powerful these boys might become. Given their heritage, a Super Saiyan, and their genetics, could they be the strongest children here? Even the strongest warriors? Vegeta was born of the same thing, yet the doctor didn't know how himself and Yamate compared in terms of power. There was a very real possibility that their best hope in this war was standing right before him, so all the more reason to devote more time to them than anyone else. "Shu, Takeshi... Understand that what is being done here is to ensure everyone's safety in what's to come. Please try to go along with what Krom asks of you, and remember I'll be here to help if it's needed."