maskormenace | ᴏɴᴇ ✝ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

[With a bowed head, the man on screen acknowledges his audience. His features are sharp, his smile disciplined, but however cleverly disguised his inner machinations, even on camera there is an unmistakable air of ostentation about him. How fortunate for those listening that he appears to have politely reined that in a little.]

I am Seymour Guado, a Maester of Yevon from Spira...a world that I suspect none among you are familiar with.

[Seemingly apologetic, Seymour shakes his head and offers a clear view of blue veins like a mask over his eyes and his very, very strange hair, a sort of blue-violet and horned. Behind him is the interior of his new home in Maurtia Falls, a temporarily spartan-looking abode that is also home to Luffy and Zoro.]

I cannot say that I'm pleased to find myself here as I've a great many responsibilities that require my attention where I come from, but I will nevertheless endeavor to help those in need, just as I would do back home. In fact, nothing would please me more—except, perhaps, the opportunity to become better acquainted with those of you sharing my circumstance.

[Here, he gestures towards the camera with one hand, large and manicured, with long nails barely visible for the billowy sleeve of the robe he's wearing.]

Might you introduce yourselves? And, should you have advice you wish to share, or questions that weigh heavily upon your minds, as I'm certain you must...please do not hesitate to ask. I will gladly answer to the very best of my ability.

[A final polite goodbye before, taking a step back and bowing his head above hands cupped together before him, Seymour cuts the feed.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Hmm...is that so? I wonder if something is the same at all if the ways in which we perceive it have been altered or, worse, if what made it meaningful specifically to us should simply cease to exist?

[Kidou isn't wrong. Seymour knows nothing beyond a shadow of a doubt, but for a man who spent many years in isolation, he quickly became adept at reading people upon his reintroduction into society. It was a skill he'd needed to possess in order to survive on his own, and a skill he'd had to master in order to ensure his appointment into Yevon's highest ranks.

Being more than a decade Kidou's senior helps, of course, but the way Kidou reacts to his statements also confirms certain things in Seymour's mind. The child isn't as well-adjusted to this world as he would have others believe, but it's not for a lack of trying.]

Athletics are important in my world, too...but the sport that filled so many with joy in Spira isn't one this world knows at all. Tell me, do you still play soccer here, Kidou? Is it the way you remember or...is it different? As is to be expected of some things.

[Probably more telling than any counter Kidou could come up with is his complete lack of one. There is no further reaction from him at all until soccer specifically is brought up.]

Of course. It's different, but the differences aren't big enough that I can't play.

[If a bit boring when almost no one plays at his level, and demoralizing when a pass is just a pass when it's not from a specific few. Nothing could take soccer away from him completely. He just won't let it.]

What about Spira? What do people play there?

[He knows. It's never a good sign when the genius game maker Kidou Yuuto, of all people, avoids a chance to talk about soccer, but there's very few in this world who could call him on that. It's therefore a safe redirection. Just one he shouldn't think about making.

So instead, he'll focus on making himself interested in a mystery sport.]

Edited 2017-01-25 23:23 (UTC)

Blitzball, an aquatic sport I have already concluded does not exist in this world. It is a pity, really. I quite enjoyed spectating when I had the time.

[More like he enjoyed creating a spectacle, but that's such a trivial detail and no one here knows anything about that incident. Thus, the joke remains one only he is aware of.]

I have heard it likened loosely to what this world refers to as football, but for all the similarities I've gathered that they share, they remain two very different sports. One is teeming with energy while the other...

[He shakes his head. It's dull to say the least, but it seems he doesn't wish to be insulting. Or would at least like to appear that way.]

[Kidou's eyebrows raise at 'aquatic'. He doesn't have any idea what a sport like that could be like - something that's aquatic, but uses a ball? Resembles the sport this country seems fond of?

How could that be?

Try as he might, no mental image comes to mind; the only aquatic sport he can conjure up an image for is surfing. And while Tsunami's ball control was impressive, especially with being able to sweep a ball back to shore with his board, he can't see a whole sport around that. If the ball wasn't caught, it'd be very hard to recover. Making a goal - would that be a floating platform?

No... he's still thinking soccer. Football he only has a passing familiarity with. Namely, that it's a sport.

He doesn't have to feign curiosity anymore; this makes too little sense.

But then with one phrase, it doesn't. Kidou's mouth falls open, expression more open than it's been this whole time. It doesn't last long before his face clouds again.]

I see. So that's how it is.

I admit, I am curious to know more about the different activities people of this world enjoy. Perhaps there exist even more similarities than those already uncovered...or a sport that is just as invigorating to behold.

[Wouldn't that be entertaining? No? Well, at least he would be able to find some use in that.]

Of course...such interests are minor, and I shall not pursue them with the urgency more immediate concerns require. I've still a great many things to learn about this world, after all. About its political state, its leaders, and the best ways in which I can be of service.

[Not to mention learning about all its imPort inhabitants.]

[Understandable, though he has to disagree with calling 'such interests' minor. They're the exact opposite of that. Or at least... they should be.]

There's a lot to take in.

[That's a neutral, true and yet completely useless statement. The kind he usually tries to avoid making. Kidou's attention isn't on the topic change just yet, still mulling over everything before that too much to think of something better to contribute to the conversation. He'll catch back up soon, but it's more important to give the impression that he's already still with this guy and not somewhere in his own thoughts.]

[Unfortunately, that isn't the impression Kidou is giving at all. Seymour doesn't seem the least bit offended, but he nevertheless speaks his mind...]

I seem to be boring you. Or perhaps there is something that holds your attention, but we have veered away from it in our discussion?

[Oh no, of course he'd notice. As long as he doesn't know the reason, though, it's fine.]

...Sorry about that.

[... there's no followup explanation or excuse. That's all he's offering.]

About this place - I can answer some questions at least. If there's anything specific.

[Of course, he's not just going to hand out all of his hard-won info. Or even most of it. It's better for him if it's not clear how much he knows or doesn't know. That doesn't mean he can't point some directions out to look into, if nothing else.

And more importantly, he can afford to do this much if it means steering this conversation away from his own vulnerabilities as fast as possible.]

[Seymour stares in silence for a moment before smiling finally and shaking his head.]

No, that won't be necessary. I have taken up enough of your time.

[Besides, he is most interested at the moment in learning about other imPorts, and Kidou seems most reluctant to talk about himself. It would be better not to continue prying for the time being. To try his hand again later...and see what precisely it is that makes the young man so wary.]

Perhaps we will speak again in the days to come. Until then.

ᴏɴᴇ ✝ ᴠɪᴅᴇᴏ

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