[BBS] Homecoming

[espio]

Heads up, you lot. This is an announcement from your pilot.

[Well, one of them.]

You know that fancy dance that's coming up? Believe me, I know a bunch of you aren't interested and aren't even gonna show up - I don't do dances. But do yourselves a favour, and make sure you're actually on board the Garden an hour before it starts. I'm taking the Garden around the Balamb coastline during the dance, for the whole romantic sea view nonsense.

[He's saying this like it wasn't entirely his own idea. It was.]

It'll still be warm enough to take to the balconies - just hope it doesn't rain.

If you're not on board, I'm leaving you behind, and you'll have to set up camp until it gets back in the morning. Got it?

ESPIO

Comments

[elementofloyalty]

you want it not to rain

it won't rain

simple as that

[espio]

Oh? Weather magic?

[elementofloyalty]

not magic but pegasus ponies control the weather

at least on equestria, but clearing the skies for an evening's easy as can be. i'll take care of it before we take off and it'll be smooth sailing.

or i could just knock the water out of some and leave them around decoratively... that'd also work.

[espio]

Got it.

[MAKES TOTAL SENSE TO HIM. ...no, really, it actually does. He does live here, after all.]

That'd be great, then. If we're going for ideal summer night, best to clear the lot.

[bunnypassingby]

Thanks again for offering to do this!

[Did you hear that, Espio? That was just the sound of your cover being blown.]

- Mikuru

[espio]

[AFFSGFF MIKURUUUU! DON'T.]

I just want to fly the Garden.

[bunnypassingby]

I know! But this is a great way to make the Homecoming dance more special.

- Mikuru

[bratbeyond]

That sounds really corny. :/ Fun for you, but slagged for the rest of us.

- Damian R.

[espio]

Tough luck. Other people liked the idea.

Besides, for a school that's mobile, it doesn't do anywhere near enough mobilising.

[espio]

That really wasn't my intention, you know.

[redcinemareel]

I'm boycotting this event, so long as you remain as the pilot for this evening.

-Grell ♥

[bratbeyond]

People with a poor sense of judgment, maybe.

It leaves for school vacations... does it need to head out more? [The second question is genuine; Day's just being tsundere.]

[bunnypassingby]

It's a nice side effect!

- Mikuru

[espio]

I guess.

[espio]

Of course!

It doesn't always leave on vacation.

Besides, Balamb's a nice base, but its transport links are terrible. Your choices are boat, or Timber's rail station. Unless I'm mistaken, you can't get to FH, Trabia, or the Esthar continent from Balamb in a hurry without using flying something. Right now, there's only one Ragnarok.

When there's a major mission or series of missions in a given location, we really should be taking the Garden closer to the action. Or at least to FH, when that bridge is finally repaired.

[espio]

Really?

[UM. This doesn't sound right. He and Grell tend to argue a lot, but that seems a bit drastic. She must be upset about somethi-

...oh.

Toby...]

Please yourself.

[elementofloyalty]

you got it, boss

[redcinemareel]

If I wanted to please myself, I'd need a higher rank.

[espio]

What for?

[redcinemareel]

Shopping.

[espio]

So, go on more missions and get your rank up.

[redcinemareel]

Thanks for the helpful advice. So good to know you're capable of that despite what you've done lately.|

[So. Irritated.]

[espio]

Should I even ask you to elaborate, or can I guess?

[redcinemareel]

[This reply comes at least an hour and a half later, because she's trying not to succumb to anger. But the way the T-Rexaurs are in such bad shape in the training center says otherwise.]

You'll probably get it right the first try.

[espio]

And he says it's his fault as well, I'll bet.

[Espio feels much too guilty to even be defensive.]

It isn't. I'm not gonna blame him or make excuses - I moved without thinking, and that's my own fault. But there's a long and complicated reason, which I need to talk to you and Marco about. It's important.

[redcinemareel]

You'd wager correctly. I don't believe him, however.

Marco is not here. It will be another couple of days before his return. If you want to wait until he returns, then that's your call. But if something like this happens while he's gone again, I won't hesitate to resolve this issue myself.

[espio]

Of course you don't believe him. Nobody's to blame for that injury except me, Toby just refuses to believe it. There is a reason, but I still shouldn't have hurt him.

It won't happen again. I know how to learn from my mistakes. I don't even need a threat.

[PM]

In the meantime, a favour.

When Toby was last here, he'd become a lot stronger and learned how to cope with all sorts of issues. [like Espio's moodiness.] He's lost that - he remembers us, but practically nothing else. He really needs to relearn how to handle issues a bit more directly, instead of running away. Just give him tips or something, I don't know. It might have more effect if it's not just me trying.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

He does need that boost of confidence. Marco and I will have to work on that. It would be off putting to force him to realize that he can make his own choices, and that he is safe.

[espio]

[pm]

I'm not saying force. I'm saying encourage.

We know he can, after all. He just needs reminding and encouraging. I don't even mean arguing and fighting - I mean negotiation, too.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

I'm aware! For Toby, it may be the same thing.

We may need to bribe him. [She's not above that.]

[espio]

[pm]

I don't think bribery will work. But I'll make the cake if you want something to hand.

[Suddenly, the fact he's actually fairly good at making cakes and sweets and things and yet hasn't made any for Toby yet hits him. He'll have to fix that.]

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

Anyone can be bribed. One just needs to know the proper weaknesses. Cake may be one of them.

[espio]

[pm]

Bribing self-confidence into someone doesn't strike me as possible.

But I'll make the cake anyway. All that time learning to cook, and I haven't even made him anything yet. Stupid.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

What would a goody two shoes know about bribery anyway? [STUPID HERO TYPES] You act as if it will last forever. He needs to learn self confidence, the least we can do is make it enjoyable.

Do we need to have another wedding? I'm sure Marco and I can renew our vows.

[espio]

[pm]

How would it even work? A piece of cake if he calls me an idiot?

And not getting the connection between bribery and weddings, sorry.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

Of course not. If you want an example, he would need to be a bit more outgoing for a week in order to gain a reward. Be it participating in a club or joining a study group.

Never mind.

[bratbeyond]

That's assuming they want Cadets closer to the action. The transportation sucks here, but I was under the impression it was safest. [Not that he really believes in it, but he understands where they're coming from. Kind of.] If you tell Zabala it's cheaper to move us to the action, she might actually listen.

Wasn't she the one who said we're broke?

- Damian R

[espio]

[pm]

[that... Sounds like teaching a five year old, to be honest. Espio is unsure.]

Oh. In that case, I guess it might help a little, but using treat rewards might just seem patronising to someone his age. Worth a go, I guess. Won't work on its own, though - he needs to want to be involved in those things in the first place, for a start.

It took a while to get to where he was before, and he's kind of building back up from scratch.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

[Grell just thinks getting through to Toby via his stomach would be of some help.]

Go preach somewhere else. [Starting to get irritated again...as if Espio knows how to raise kids!]

[espio]

[PM]

[Kids? What kids? Espio doesn't see any kids involved in this conversation!

Sixteen is just far too recent a memory for Espio to think of it as "child."]

I'm just thinking, okay?

I don't know. I'm just kind of worked up about it.

[redcinemareel]

[PM]

[Toby will always be her darling baby.]

Well stop thinking to me! It's irritating.

[espio]

[PM]

Fine.