realityshifted | (no subject)

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tales of the abyss (d1) peony

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[Peony came to the Plane to escape council meetings. In his wandering, he came across the batting cages, and is now struggling to figure out what they are and how they work. He hits the pitching machine with the bat to see if that does anything, and then jumps back, to the left of the machine, as balls start flying out. He's holding the bat like a sword, and still staring at the entire thing with curiosity, watching the balls fly from the machine to the back of the cage.]

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[Jade considers rescuing the emperor, but in fact, it is far more interesting to investigate the machine. So he more or less ignores Peony to tear off a bit of the machine and tuck it away for later science investigation.]

The likely aim is to hit the balls, Your Majesty.

[He says this as he reaches out to take one of the baseballs flying out. That doesn't fit into his pocket as easily, but oh well.]

[Peony looks over Jade's shoulder at the ball itself, before looking at the machine again.]

That can't be too hard.

[he moves back to the cage, and then, debates how to approach this, before deciding charging and swinging the bat like a sword at the balls is probably the best way to go. He hits a few balls, dodges others, and then comes back over to Jade as he finally passes the pitching machine in his charging.]

Hey, that's not too bad. I'll have to put one of these in the casino up in Keterberg or something.

It's gratifying to know that philandering isn't the only habit Your Majesty has inherited from his forebears.

[He holds out his hand for the bat. Privately, he's impressed Peony's in good enough to shape to dodge any of it.]

[he rolls his eyes, but then places the bat in Jade's hand]

Why not? Things like this are made for young guys like you anyway.

On the contrary. Why, I feel my back aching just from the weight of this. [Still, he steps up to the front of the cage and, when the baseball comes flying, takes a nice hit at it, sending it flying right past Peony's head.

On accident, of course.]

Perhaps we should consider weaponising this. I'm sure the proper application of force could make it an ideal tool for innocuous assassination. ['King of Kimlasca killed in baseball match: didn't know what hit him.']

[Peony ducks down, but then brushes himself off and stands up, leaning his elbow on the pitching machine.]

[♥~] If everyone can attack it the way you do, I'm sure it will be a lethal weapon in no time.

Would you check the machine's capacity? [He wanted to make that an imperative, but you can't direct an imperative at an imperial ruler!] I'd like to see if it's self-resupplying like the library and bar.

[Peony dropped the bat and checked]

It looks like it takes about fifteen, but I'd say it pitched a hell of a lot more than that without me touching it at all.

How convenient. [he rests on the bat.] At this rate, I'll have to start getting creative with my excuses for diverting funds.

Don't try too hard. Your creativity leads to things like that outfit.

If Your Majesty objects, the laws are always open to the Emperor's will. [JUST TRY TO PASS A LAW CHANGING MILITARY UNIFORMS. HE DARES YOU.]

That's actually not such a bad idea. What a surprise, coming from a guy like you! I can't think of anything more important than the upkeep of my faithful and fierce military.

And we soldiers can think of no higher purpose than to please the whims of our liege.

Hey, it's not like you have anything better to do

Quite so. We need something to occupy our time when we're not working on adapting to a new world order. Why, just the other day my aide was complaining about not having anything to do between gathering the texts I need for my work and managing his own day-to-day affairs.

Yeah and what kind of work are you doing with those texts?

[the question is actually genuine and he is sincerely interested]

Edited 2011-07-20 02:08 (UTC)

Very little of significance. Just research for the replicas and the problems from reduced fonons.

[He's just working to save thousands of lives. No big deal.]

Yeah, it's about as unimportant as the usual stuff you waste your time on. Find anything interesting during all of this useless researching?

I'm afraid I've learned that all-nighters are just too much for me at this age. How fondly I reminisce on the heedless fervour of my youthful experimentation. [Which is to say that Peony can't see his research until he is done with it.]

You were a pretty wild kid. I'll have to reminisce with Gailardia and the rest of those kids about your childhood adventures.

I'm sure they'll appreciate the stories.

They always do.

Is all that useless research producing anything promising yet?

It shows some possibilities. [No answers for you. Not until there is more data.]

Edited 2011-07-22 19:37 (UTC)

How about a straight answer? Does it show any possibility of getting one of those out of you?

[Because it's not like he's the Emperor or anything. Nonetheless, the question is asked with a cheery tone]

If you are interested, I'd be happy to give you the reports. [The most technical ones he can find.]