[Action]

[dissonates]

[Missions suck as much as, if not moreso than, the drafts. Asch has decided this. It's not just that he'd been sent on an uncomfortably-outnumbered solo mission, it's not just that his health problems had reared their ugly heads in the middle of it and nearly gotten him killed, it's not just he'd had to rely on luck and skill to keep him alive with zero ability to heal himself despite being a Seventh Fonist.

No, at this point, mostly? It's the fact that once it's all over, and the Malnosso saw fit to send him back to the village, he finds himself floundering underwater.

Bastards, is his second thought, since his first is a string of expletives that would do a sailor proud. Thankfully he's only a couple of feet or so from where his feet can touch solid ground, so within a minute he's slogging towards the shore, soaking wet and pulling seaweed from his hair. Damn. Bastards.

Not that the shore is much better. There's apparently something going on - the usual love experiment, no doubt - and he's managed to get dumped right in the middle of it. They probably did that on purpose. He can't do anything while soaked as he is, though, so his first order of business is to get changed. There isn't much selection, but within a few minutes he's got his uniform hung out to dry and is wearing a suit and a long, dark blue bathrobe. It's humiliating, but it's better than freezing to death back in the village.

Since he has to wait for his clothes and hair to dry in the sun, Asch will be hanging around the beach area, available for chatting, fruity goodness, and whatnot. Come and bother the cranky one! (He is unaffected by the normal love stuff, btw.)]

Comments

[broji]

[A pause as Ginji takes another look at the trees, the decorations, the people, etc.]

I understand what you're saying. [But if he's suspicious of everything strange in Luceti, he'll never learn anything new and he'll spend all day, every day on guard. Ginji just can't live like that.]

[dissonates]

[...Well, it's not like he'd expect Ginji to agree with him. After a moment's thought Asch merely shrugs his shoulders, glancing away.]

There's a lot of people here... is the weather like this in the village?

[broji]

Sorry.

It wasn't when I left, and that was about four hours ago. A lot of people were already here when I arrived, and more keep streaming in bit by bit.

[A beat, and gently because he doesn't want to be yelled at:] But you're the first person I've seen to show up in the middle of the ocean... Was that...?

[dissonates]

...That... [Asch's tone is just oozing delight as he responds, can you tell,] Was the Malnosso's idea of gratitude for defending their citizens. Either that or they have terrible aim.

[broji]

[Yeah, bro, he can tell. Maybe they thought Asch needed to cool off.]

At least it's better than being dropped off in the snow. [Weakly optimistic as that is. Ginji offers a smile.]

It sounds like you've been busy, though. Are you hungry?

[dissonates]

A little. [Asch pauses, and then glances suspiciously at the fruit scattered over the beach.] ...You're not going to suggest I eat those, are you?

[broji]

No, I wasn't. Not unless you're feeling reckless after everything you've said about not letting my guard down.

[Ginji gestures with one hand, a palm-turning motion; he's open to whatever suggestions or orders Asch intends to dish out.]

What are you in the mood for, Mr. Asch?