[TEXT] UN: STOPMESSAGES

[eyeforaneye]

A number of things.

First, I want to know how many people are familiar with ninja and the shinobi world.

Second, I’m interested in increasing my knowledge when it comes to the technology on the ship.

Third, in connection with the second point, is there a way to stop others from being able to send messages to your communicator? Stopping all of them temporarily would also be acceptable.

[ That's it, Sasuke's first message, no name attached and no hint of an introduction in sight. Still, it's downright personable for him. ]

Comments

[eyeforaneye]

I take issue with the word "afraid", but fine. [ Of course he does. ]

... should I notice any effects, this excursion will be over. I don't need to deal with that. Do you understand? [ Right. Maybe he does need to "deal with that" if he's this tightly wound, but this has been the case for years. And years. And years. ]

It's already enough that I'm out here with you in the first place.

[finethanks]

Of course. Would it help to purchase a cloak of some sort to hide you? Or, since I'm taller than you, you can stand behind me at the right angle as we pass crowds. A perfect plan.

[Use him as a shield. ✰ Haha, but Sasuke is so serious it's very entertaining. Eichi loves it. He gestures for him to follow as they head towards the gate.]

Let me know the moment you feel uncomfortable, and I'll do my best to help. I wouldn't want to trouble you, after all. [He says, after nagging him until he went out to eat with him...]

1/2

[eyeforaneye]

[ urgggh ]

2/2

[eyeforaneye]

Patronizing me does not make me more likely to escort you off the ship again in the future. We aren't here for my health. [ No, even if something as simple as fresh fish sounds extremely appealing right now. There'd been no time to eat in the days of non-stop fighting he'd been subjected to prior to coming here and what has been available on the ship has been... lacking. ]

Were you here alone during your first exploration? [ He keeps close out of habit, guard up, and they appear laughably different. Sasuke's posture is rigid and uncompromising but his clothing is so shabby and damaged that it almost takes away from that impression altogether. ]

[finethanks]

Am I patronizing you? I don't mean it at all. I was thinking of your comfort, not your health. I'm rather comfortable, myself.

[Even if he does cough a little harder shortly after, enough to bring up a hand to cover his mouth. Hm. It's fine, probably. He pushes forward, both in step and in conversation.] No. I insisted that a friend I made here come with me, but he became rather distracted in that district you're not permitted into, so I left and moved on on my own.

Is this your first time on the planet?

[eyeforaneye]

Thinking about my comfort is patronizing. [ Which gives a little insight into how he lives his life. He snorts faintly at the implication that Eichi's "friend" found something in Luxuria worth stealing his attention, however, immediately judging it as he removes the appropriate token once they're ready to pass through the gate. ]

It is, but I have other plans here before too long. I'll take advantage of all the open space before we move on.

[finethanks]

Fufu, I'm not the type who has scolding for a hobby, so you shouldn't worry about my concern. I have friends of my own who are constantly worried about me, and it gets rather tiring, you know? I'm not a child, so I can handle myself. I don't need someone following me around and stopping me from every little thing I'd like to try.

[Except he gets scolded for shit he really shouldn't be doing, like wandering around lost in the winter... But nevermind that. They show their tokens and enter the district, and Eichi already knows where to go. He wastes no time leading the way.]

How do you intend to make use of the space?

[eyeforaneye]

[ Eichi's reassurances aside, Sasuke is convinced he can feel an immediate effect upon stepping into the district. A sort of weak haze that, placebo effect or not, causes his posture to become even more rigid to combat it. What is this place...

Are those pillows? In the street? ]

... I plan to train, whether alone or in a spar. The close quarters on the ship make it impossible to let loose. [ A pause. ] Then again, as you've said, you wouldn't know much about it. Whether you need someone to stop you from overextending yourself or not...

[finethanks]

Mm, that may not be a bad idea for someone like you. I can tell that you're strong from how you hold yourself.

[And unlike Sasuke who's having immediate trouble, Eichi is used to forcing himself to relax in order to move forward. If anything, this district helps his health a little, causing his heart to not act up so quickly and to continue in slow, steady beats. He seems the same as usual as he walks, and thankfully, the little place he has in mind isn't too far in.]

There's bound to be danger again. Have you heard about the last planet we visited?

[eyeforaneye]

[ Sasuke looks down at himself, then, as if trying to ascertain what about his bearing implies strength. Maybe the missing arm. Maybe the fact that he's carrying weaponry. So many options. ]

Oros? I heard a few details. From what I gathered, it didn't end as peacefully as it should've. [ An understatement, but he wants to hear Eichi's take on it rather than regurgitating what he's heard from others. ]

[finethanks]

No, it didn't.

[He's a little solemn sounding as he says that, but he maintains his smile because he thinks that's the sort of image he should keep up with.] I wasn't on the main mission myself, since my weak body wouldn't be suited for the job, but I went with two others to investigate the fek and gather information. It was a rough start, but they turned out to be a kind people.

But before long, there were evacuation orders. I guided as many of them off of the planet as I could, since they deemed me and the other two trustworthy, but I'm afraid only a few were able to survive.

[eyeforaneye]

[ Ah. Some new information. Well, at least that helps him piece all of this together. ]

I see. That explains the population on the ship, at least. [ A pause. ] For someone who seems sensitive about how incredibly frail you are, you bring it up a lot. [ Just as a casual observation. ]

[finethanks]

Sensitive? I'm not sensitive at all. [Yes he is.] I'm used to death in my family, so it's a casual thing with us now. Some say I'm morbid, but really it just seems normal to me.

[It's a coping mechanism... Stop him.]

[eyeforaneye]

[ ... ]

That isn't what I was talking about; you made that about death too suddenly.

[finethanks]

Look here, we've arrived already~.

[Eichi completely ignores that comment, gesturing to the little place with a calm sort of cheer. He enters, holding the door open long enough so that Sasuke can come in as well.]

Let's find a seat and you can take a look at the menu. It will be my treat today, okay? ♪

[eyeforaneye]

[ Is he singing? No. Only nearly.

Sasuke feels he should be far more annoyed by this bullshit than he currently is but there's something about the atmosphere in this quaint little restaurant that saps his ire, leaving him quietly frowning instead of making a rude comment. Damn.

He's quick to find an isolated table in the corner, back facing the wall out of sheer paranoid habit, and he drags a menu closer to himself from where they're propped up in a holder. ... The tea selections alone are incredible. ]

Do you really struggle so much to find company that you're resorting to mine?

[finethanks]

Is the only way you can believe that I'd want your company that I must be struggling for some? Fufu, it's true that my usual friends are off on their own currently and I'm left with no one to speak to, but I could easily wander anywhere I'd like and make some new ones.

[He knows he's got some level of charisma, at least... And for what he lacks, he has social skills. But anyway.] You seem interesting to me, so I'd like to become friends. Before you say something cold and indifferent like "we won't be friends," know that you can't stop me from trying. Fufu, it's a little like a challenge.

i'm not dead, i promise

[eyeforaneye]

We won't be friends.

[ He almost sounds distracted as he continues to peruse the menu, eyes dragging over words and pictures... but mostly the latter. ]

At some point the challenge becomes an exercise in masochism. Only you can decide when to give up.