[Quest...?] A Wild Goose Chase, One Way or Another
Party! Asch, anyone
Location! Port Merrium
Goal! Lulz! Asch is trying to find this secret weapons shop. Come help him find it and/or drag him into the scavenger hunt?
Affection! TBD
Status! Open~
( He'll never trust kindly old ladies again. )
Location! Port Merrium
Goal! Lulz! Asch is trying to find this secret weapons shop. Come help him find it and/or drag him into the scavenger hunt?
Affection! TBD
Status! Open~
( He'll never trust kindly old ladies again. )
[But he was not wandering or lost. He shifted as he was about to cross his arms out of habit, but he caught himself. He was just confirming that some creepy old hag sent him on the most out-of-the-way route he was going the right way, not starting a long conversation. He didn't walk when he had his arms folded across his chest, so he gave himself a mental reminder to hurry up and move. ]
[And then that boy confirmed his suspicions, causing him to grit his teeth in a strange attempt to bridle his frustration. Apparently wandering worked better than stopping for directions. That was fine with him, since it meant he wouldn't have to embarrass himself with asking for help. ]
You did?! [So much for composure. His eyes narrowed into a glare at the ground.] Dammit!
[Given his irritation, he couldn't speak softly or politely anymore. When he looked back up at the silver-haired kid with an unintentionally stern expression, he used the same voice as he did when barking out commands or scolding subordinates.]
Where the hell did you find it?!
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On the other hand he was well aware that he wouldn’t be of much help, since he just didn’t remember well enough where the weapons shop was, no matter how much he thought about it. The only thing he remembered was that it couldn’t be too far away from here.]
...W- well... I don’t remember where exactly it was but... it was definitely somewhere along that way...[He pointed at the direction he came from.]... I-I think... [He didn’t look at up as he spoke, afraid that the redhead might scold him again.]
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Tch--!
[Whoops. He still sounded annoyed--Well, of course he would! He also realized that his arms were still crossed, which he forcefully pried apart. Soon after, his left hand went to his blade. Surely that would make the kid feel better. Why was he even worried about that when he probably wouldn't have to deal with him again?]
...That'll do. And stop crying. [That was the closest he'd get to saying thanks and sorry to a total stranger. He had expected something more helpful, but at least the kid'd pointed him in the right direction. He started with a few steps, only to stop again when he realized that this scenario was still too similar to the one he'd just been in. He shot a stare over his shoulder at that boy.]
Just how obvious is this place?
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At the comment about crying, Ruca quickly wiped his eyes.]
S-sorry. [He really didn’t mean to cry, it was just the way he reacted when someone was scolding or yelling at him. He really wished he wouldn’t react this way though, bowing his head in shame.
The question about the shop made him look up once again.]
Not much... It looks like most of the shops here... but... [He paused and made a thoughtful look. He then took a few steps in the direction he pointed earlier, without looking at the redhead.]
...I...I’m sure I would recognize the place and where it actually was. [He stated looking at the street.] So... maybe it would be better if I go with you...? [He wasn’t sure if that was a good idea, after all he still thought the guy was scary, but... he felt bad for not being able to help.
Besides, he didn’t think this person was that bad. He probably was just annoyed... Ruca blinked then looked in question at the guy. Was he looking for that shop for that long...?]
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[...Having to stop for directions. Asch's chest tightened (and puffed slightly) at that comment, since it threatened his proud image. Asking for directions? He didn't have to bother with something like that!]
I can find it on my...
[He cut himself off, realizing just how successful he had been. People were telling him to rely on others more, a notion that still didn't really appeal to him, but he was annoyed and just wanted to get to the stupid shop already. He could have probably gotten a good weapon already had he just gone to one of the normal shops.]
Alright! Hurry up and lead the way.
[He sounded indignant, but he was too busy kicking himself for having to sink so low that he would have to get a crybaby kid to find this place he'd been looking for.]
[As he let this boy lead the way, Asch noticed something off, and as he spoke, his eyes focused on the large sword strapped to his company's back.]
I expected more backbone from someone who can fight.
[...That and maybe he'd forgotten to ask for the kid's name. Unimportant details!]
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Right!
[He quickly looked around once more and led the guy through the streets. He was trying not to miss anything that looked familiar and was pretty sure that they were going in the right direction, but... he just hoped the guy wouldn’t kill him if they happened to get lost somehow... He wouldn’t do that, right...?
They were walking in a silence for a moment, until he heard redhead’s comment.]
I guess you’re right... [He said getting a hold on the hilt of his sword, then letting it go. He fell silent for a while, hesitating. He could say that he actually was quite strong, but that would probably make the other ask some question that Ruca just wanted to avoid.] ... Actually... I’m not much of a swordsman. [He said in the end. Well, he lacked confidence plus the skills he had right now weren’t exactly ‘his’ so it wasn’t a lie, but it probably wasn’t a good answer either. He sighed.]
... If that was possible... I would rather not to fight at all... [He glanced at the redhead to see his reaction, realizing that he never introduced himself.]
... That’s right... My name is Ruca. Ruca Milda.
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[With that out of the way, Asch waited about a minute before he spoke again.]
And you don't have a choice in the matter? About fighting.
[Obvious doubt leaked into his voice. Despite the questioning tone, he didn't mean to fish for an answer. He probably realized this because he started to watch the signs instead of this Ruca guy until he thought of something to say.]
[Unfortunately, Ruca's hesitation did remind him of someone else who broke down completely after making his first kill. This caused the next things he said to come out in a slightly gruffer and louder voice than he had intended, shy of yelling, but still less pleasant than the average friendly hint.]
If you worry about it too much, you should turn in your sword now.
[Not that he enjoyed killing people, despite what "the Bloody" might have implied, but he'd forced himself not to think twice about it once he committed the act. Thinking about that, he eyed his sword and then his dominant hand, then that wimpy swordsman...who was leading him to a weapons shop, of all places.]
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...turn in my sword... [He repeated, didn’t looking at Asch. ] I can’t do that. I have to fight... for many reasons. [And right now the main reason was to come back to his home world... to help his friends and stop that person...] Even if I don’t like it, even if I I’m weak, I can’t give up. I won’t give up. I have to keep fighting so one day I... [He didn’t finish. That was enough. There was no point in saying anything more.
He started to walk again, completely silent. Why didn’t he just let it be? After all this wasn’t his world, but Atlas. Nobody will recognize Asura in him, nobody was trying to lock him up for being able to use artes. People just think about him as a weak boy that happens to use a sword and magic and he honestly didn’t mind it all that much (and even when they knew that he was actually rather strong, they didn’t ask any questions). It was better to leave it that way.
Rethinking what he just said made him more and more worried... worried about what Asch may think.]
...I’m... I’m sure it’s not too far from here... that shop... [He said at last, trying to change the topic and break the uncomfortable silence.]
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[Moving along, the former God-General hadn't really noticed the silence until Ruca spoke up again. By the time his guide had specified which shop, the redhead had already caught sight of some sign advertising a sale on weapons. That gave him a bad feeling, but he kept on moving toward the store.]
That's it, huh? Makes sense if it's supposed to be out of the way.
[He wasn't about to get excited over this thing. He wasn't about to get excited over anything right now, but he would maintain that it was out of the way--which it sort of was, even if it wasn't as remote as that hag had made it out to be.]
[At that time, he noticed a picture of something bright, multicolored, and in the shape of a sword. Frowning a little, he looked over at Ruca.]
Did you see just what kind of weapons are sold in there?
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By the time Ruca was about to point the shop, Asch already went ahead. That left the boy nothing more, than to fallow the redhead.
When Ruca was here for the first time, since he wasn’t interested in buying a new sword, he simply overlooked everything about the shop itself, only keeping in mind that there was a weapons shop here. Now that he got a better look he got a feeling that this store was different from any other he’s seen so far. And he wasn’t sure if it was a good thing...
As he got close enough to the building he peered in through the window, but it turned out it was hard to see anything inside, except maybe for something that looked like... was that a deck brush? He wasn’t sure. It seemed there was no other way but to go inside and check things out from there.
He looked at Asch.]
... I’ve never been inside, so I don’t really know what kind of weapons could be sold here... It’s hard to see anything through the window too. [He looked at the said window again, frowning a little.] ...Why don’t we try going inside and see for ourselves?
[That’s right, he said “we”. It’s not like he suddenly thought about buying a new weapon, he was just curious. Besides, it couldn’t hurt to take a look inside. He might find something interesting actually... maybe.]
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[...Unfortunately, if Ruca was about to enter, he might have run into trouble--that was, if he defined trouble as Asch's back. The redhead had stopped in his tracks, his face contorting into one of his scowls of stupefaction as he took in the shop's wares. Half-expecting Ruca to be behind him--or if not, for the shopkeeper to hear him, he voiced the first thought that came to mind.]
...Why is that paper fan 45000 gald? [He clenched his fists for a moment.] Is this supposed to be a joke?!
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As he got a better view, he saw the cause of Asch’s anger: not only the paper fan Asch was holding but all of the store’s wares were certainly not something one would expected in a place like this. Toy hammers, deck brushes, paper fans... was this really a weapons shop? Not to mention that the prices were high enough to buy a really good sword. Or even two... Well, in Ruca’s world at least.
The shop turning out to be such a disappointment made Ruca uneasy. He had a bad feeling that Asch might get angry at him too (for leading him here), so for now Ruca thought it was best to stay silent and hope that the redhead will calm down eventually... Maybe.]
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It's not even a weapon! What could you possibly do with this?
[Luckily, he didn't hang onto it much longer. He was putting it down rather roughly, so the shopkeeper wrenched it from him and set it down. Put off, he turned behind him to see if Ruca held up that "we" bit. When he saw the boy cowering in back, he called him out as he gestured toward the shop's goods.]
Are you sure you didn't see any other weapon shops? Or is this place just known for having expensive toy "weapons"?!
[Fitting for a certain someone he knew, but he didn't feel like remembering that person right now.]
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He was silent for another moment, then slowly shook his head.]
I’m really sorry... It was the only one I saw... [He wasn’t looking at Asch as he spoke.] B-but surely, it can’t be the only weapon shop in whole Port Merrium... After all, guild members from around here... um... like Ad Libitum’s, have to buy or repair they weapons somewhere... right? [He added looking up then away again. There was still this thought somewhere in the back of his mind that looking people in the eyes will make them even angrier at him.]
I’m sorry, I’m not helping, am I...?
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No, you're not, and course it isn't. This place is supposed to be some secret shop with higher quality weapons.
[He seemed to be done, but as he cast one surly glance at the toy dagger on display, he threw in one more comment.]
It's fine. You took me to the place I was looking for. [He picked up said toy dagger, starting to poke the tip of the plastic weapon. Much to his surprise, it actually hurt--he even noticed a little blood at the tip of his finger, weirdly enough. Keeping that bit of information to himself, he set down the weapon.] It's the items that aren't what I'm looking for.
[After that, he turned his back on Ruca.]
If there's anything that interests you here, hurry up and take a look.
[Exactly why he would even waste his time waiting for a stranger, he didn't know. He also didn't want to think about that for right now and instead focused on these weird weapons. ]
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[A special secret shop with higher quality weapons...? He pondered. Either it wasn’t this place or it probably was just some kind of rumor. But who knows? Maybe those weapons really were high quality, even if he honestly couldn’t imagine anyone fight with them.
As Asch spoke again, Ruca couldn’t help but be both a bit surprised and relived by his words. It’s not like Ruca thought about Asch as a bad person or anything like that... Actually, the boy was just panicking way too much, since he was in a city he didn’t really know, trying to help an easy-to-anger looking stranger (with Ruca usually being rather awkward around strangers) and he was all by himself, constantly worrying that he might do something that would upset Asch. He let a sigh. He really had to get a hold of himself...
Not wanting to make Asch wait even more, Ruca cast one more look at the shop’s wares and spoke.]
... It’s fine, we can go now... [He made a thoughtful look.] I should probably head to the guild now anyway...
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