[Vault] Analysis of a Failure

[curebootleg]

Library - Information Overload

[Preme is one of the more enigmatic new members of the Vault. She seems incapable of fun, expression seldom changing from a distant frown. Mostly disinterested in getting to know other people, or engaging with her peers in general.

It's not like she doesn't have interests, though. The library has been her main focus, and she's been tearing through books at a voracious speed; sitting on the library floor, the stack of books around her slowly gets taller. Books on world history, magic, and martial arts seem to be her main focus, but there are plenty of weird non-sequiturs in there, too - cookbooks, camping guides, even fairytales for children. It's like she's trying to figure out the whole of the human condition without having to actually talk to anyone.

If someone did catch her eye, though, she has plenty of questions.]


Training Room - Grindset

[The other place he's seen most often is here. Preme wants to become strong again, and he's rapidly finding that his patience is not what it used to be.

The beastkin(?) is sometimes eager to spar, comparing his power level to others to estimate his progress, and sometimes just repeating basic katas or beating the hell out of a sandbag. On this particular evening, something snaps, and he lets out a frustrated yell and puts all of his strength into a single punch. Despite his mental image of the bag being pulverized, it just moves a little more than normal.

He looks at the gently swaying sandbag with a defeated look.]

This is a waste of time...

Comments

Training Room

[relentless_sentinel]

[Preme's not the only one in the area, given this is one of Nephenee's normal hangouts as well. But as she's walking towards her room, the Sentinel isn't expecting to hear that sort of yell. It sets her nerves and instincts on edge, and she carefully peaks into the room, halberd at the ready (nevermind it's unlikly a threat, the caution's automatic), and spots the...bunny person? How many Laguz (or not) are around here...

Carefully, she enters the room, still some ways off from the person. Her voice is a bit quiet as she speaks.]

I-is...everythin' alright?

[curebootleg]

Of course not.

[There's still anger in its voice, but it doesn't seem like it's going to vent it at Nephenee. No, it's more angry at itself.]

How long does it take to become strong? This body is so pathetic, I can't sense any improvement at all.

[relentless_sentinel]

[Well, she'll take not getting yelled at, but something stirs in her. How long, indeed?]

W-well, it takes time an' hard work, an' everyone's different. What are ya lookin' to do, fightin'-wise?

[She notices the bit about "this body", but 1) It can wait, and 2) She's not sure if she translated that right in her head. (And relatedly, is this a guy or girl? She's not sure...maybe a really pretty guy like one of the Heron Laguz?)]

[curebootleg]

Ideally, I want to get back to a level where I could destroy the empire myself. However, I'd be satisfied with even one percent of that.

And yet, after exhausting myself training, I don't feel even one percent stronger than I was before.

[relentless_sentinel]

[...Huh. The way Preme's saying that doesn't sound like an empty boast. Which...leads to lots of questions. Well, one thing at a time.]

Your body's gotta build itself up after trainin'. Heard back in the guard that it's important to do a few different things each day, not jus' the same. Not sure why, jus' that's what folks said. But it won't be overnight.

[She doesn't know the science of it, and, frankly, neither do her peers. They just know it works better this way.]

...Uh, ya said ya coulda taken on the Empire by yourself...are ya some sorta...[What was the word here for a divine being...ah.]...deity, back home? Or some sorta hero?

[curebootleg]

Deity? No.

[So this will take, what? Months? Years? Decades? Centuries?

So be it.]

Maybe something more like a monster.

[relentless_sentinel]

[Maybe surprisingly to Preme, Nephenee...doesn't seem to be surprised or taken aback by that statement. The soldier just looks at him for a moment in thought, her expression softening.]

...Think a lotta us been called monsters...Ah've fought beside some back home, too.

[Murderers, monsters...she can't recall all the things she or they were called, or what all of some of her eventual allies had done.

Stepping forward, she shoulders her polearm, and offers her left hand to the other Corsair.]

Ah'm Nephenee.

[curebootleg]

[Preme looks down at her hand, then back up to her. What's she supposed to do, shake it? Why?]

...Call me Preme.

[relentless_sentinel]

[Huh...maybe hand-shaking isn't a thing on Preme's world? She pulls it back and tucks some hair behind her ear in a small, nervous tic.]

Preme, huh? That's a nice name.

[This place sure has all sorts, but she's not judging. It's just very interesting and confusing.]

Um, do ya mind if Ah ask who you're stationed with? Ah don't recognize ya...

[Not that that means anything really, but she's pretty sure she hasn't seen them on the ships? Maybe?]