maskormenace | [video]

[Joaquin is standing up very straight, arms crossed, a serious look on his face. Under his mustache his mouth is drawn in a thin line, not really frowning but not happy either. Uh oh.]

As a soldier I've often found myself defending others in the name of what is lawful and just. That's the true nature of my work, back home and here as a hero. However, there are times when even a soldier is at odds with the law they have sworn to uphold. This, unfortunately, is one of those times.

[The stiffness melts away as he takes on a more huffy tone.]

I mean, seriously, you have to be twenty-one to drink? What kind of arbitrary age is that? You can buy smokes when you're eighteen but those are [he does the air quotes] bad for you. People will gripe at you at any time for just having a cigarette but making drunken posts over the communicators? Completely above reproach. [~~Sorry not sorry about using you as an example, Newton~~.]

Look, all I'm saying is, it's terrible that people are so judge-y when it comes to certain vices and not others. And those of us who could drink back at home should be allowed to drink here! It's only fair!

[Yeah, that's his real complaint here. Just had to get that off his chest.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Considering different countries have completely different standards, I think choosing twenty-one as the age for it was probably just based on values at the time...

But that aside, I think laws should be abided. Even if it's not fair, and people drink illegally anyway... [he trails off. What was he saying? Did he care? Uh.]

I guess what I'm saying is I think if you're going to drink even if you're not twenty-one, maybe you can drink at home so you don't get hassled.

It still seems like too much of an arbitrary number to rely on.

I understand that. And I would gladly abide by laws that make sense, but this is a little ridiculous. I've been drinking since I was twelve, I know how to be responsible about it.

... I'll have to get some alcohol first before I can do that.

If that's the case, then I've been handling weapons since I was eleven, but that doesn't mean that's sufficient argument against restrictions on dangerous objects.

It is an arbitrary number, but it's the number this state decided on so saying it wasn't like that back home is silly, I think. It sounds like there're exceptions to the law anyway.

No, but if you were properly trained then there's no reason to worry about you handling your weapon at that age. [He won't judge on that because he's been practicing sword fighting since he was ten.]

I assume the state thinks age equates maturity, then? Ridiculous. But hearing that there may be exceptions... that's promising, at least.

... Self-taught, actually. With a broom in secret, but that aside, you're not old enough?

[BUT YOU HAVE AN ACTUAL BEARD GOING ~~unlike jaime~~]

Oh really? That's... well, if you used a broom, that's fine. Seems like it would be a dangerous jump to switch over to a real weapon from just that, though.

Ah, no. I'm about half a year away from being old enough, according to the current standards.

Mmm. It works out for us. What do you usually use?

... Anyway, is it that big of a deal? Drinking, I mean.

For training? I was taught to fight with swords and I've always used swords, though the ones they started me on were pretty blunt.

As for drinking... I guess this old man just wants some of the comforts of home back. [Also, he is stressed the hell out and there's no real place he can be alone and decompress from it all.]

Well, if you were training against people, of course. Back home, I fight against monsters, so I didn't have any opportunity or reason to 'go easy' on anything.

If you have a friend who you trust to take care of you while you're drinking, maybe you can visit their home?

Makes sense, I suppose. There aren't really monsters back where I'm from. Or, at least, not monsters that didn't start out as people.

Hey, hey, why does everyone here think a drink will automatically make you a drunk? I've dealt with drunks before, and I don't plan on becoming one. But I get what you're saying, kid. I won't just drink irresponsibly.

But they say that you should always have someone with you just in case! You never know, sir. I never said you were going to be a drunk, just that you will be drunk!

Well, drinking alone is never fun. Who would want to do that?

You don't have to worry, kid. I'm not going to get drunk.

[Or maybe he will. Someday. But it wasn't all that bad yet, and for Joaquin to purposefully get drunk it meant he was either having a terrible time or a great time. Not this nebulous life-is-sorta-crappy-but-not-all-that-terrible kind of feeling he'd been dealing with lately.]

I don't know. I'm twelve.

But okay. Um... take care.

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