[video]

[medalsome]

[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.]

Comments

[amadaman]

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?

[medalsome]

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.

[amadaman]

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!

[medalsome]

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.]

[amadaman]

I don't know. I'm twelve.



But okay. Um... take care.