[BBS] New Challenges

[earthlychild]

To all the healers and medics among our cadets and SeeDs:

We've been set an enormous challenge. We'll have to fight the monsters too: we all know how to function in combat, of course, and we will attack when we need to, but we're also tasked with a test of our special skills. We're the support beams that hold a team together in the field. Our comrades rely on us to monitor them, to cast protective magic to the best of our ability, and to keep them fighting.

As our commanding officers have made clear to us, we're going to fail a few times. People will fall, and we probably will too. Don't worry: we have enough cover to make sure no one's left behind as a monster's chew toy. And when we're done on the field for the day, we'll have to stay on our feet for an extra little while to make sure everyone will make it back alive.

I'll discuss strategy with anyone if you'd like, but I'll make a promise here: when it's all over, the healers are going to have a little party. I'm still looking for a place, but I'm sure I'll find something!

And to everyone else, if any teams are short a healer please let me know.

-Instructor Aerith Gainsborough

Comments

[fierybluebird]

Thank you Aerith. Care to extend the healer party to other guests? If so, I'd love to take part. I'll even bring something to make it extra festive.

- Marco

[earthlychild]

What festivities did you have in mind?

[fierybluebird]

Whatever you're interested in. It was a tradition back on the Moby Dick, my home ship, that any battle without losses we celebrated and cut loose with a party afterwards.

Usually there was a lot of drinking, but that's because my father was an alcoholic.

[Just. So deadpan blase about that.]

[earthlychild]

Hm. Well, some of our older healers might enjoy that, but we'd need a good bartender. My favorite one isn't here with us, so...do you know any?

[fierybluebird]

There's one in every major town, but for on the Garden itself, I'll make do.

[earthlychild]

That would work well, thank you. Just promise me you know when to cut people off.

[fierybluebird]

Oh, aye, absolutely.

[He is lying through his teeth Aerith, don't believe him! Marco is usually the one spiking the punch at every ball. And also his father was 20 feet fall and an alcoholic so even with oxygen tubes and round the clock nursing attention, Marco let him have sake against nurse orders. Oops?]

[earthlychild]

All right, but I'll be watching. If any underage cadets get themselves into trouble it'll be on me.

[fierybluebird]

If they're going to get in trouble, it should be on me. After all, I'm the one who's supposed to make sure they don't drink too much.

[earthlychild]

I'm not sure our superiors will feel the same, but I appreciate it. I'll keep watch as best I can.

[fierybluebird]

I'm sure the Commander knows my history well enough at this point that she'd be more suspicious of me than you.

[Since he's pretty open about the fact that he's a pirate. Though now that he knows Toby will be there, he probably won't let things get too out of hand. Toby is his son after all.]

[earthlychild]

All right. But I'd better see a good and safe time. I'll help too, of course.

[fierybluebird]

Much appreciated. Anything else I should bring?

[earthlychild]

Whatever makes you feel comfortable and doesn't risk making more chaos out of the party. Don't worry.

[fierybluebird]

It's going to be very hard not to cause more chaos. Likewise, I'm not great about not worrying.

[earthlychild]

All right. We'll just...give it a shot. But hopefully we'll be too tired to cause chaos.

[fierybluebird]

You'd be amazed how much chaos can be caused while asleep.

[Oh lord, don't get him started on Ace stories.]

[earthlychild]

By the sleeping person? Sleepwalking?

[fierybluebird]

Narcolepsy.

There's never a good time for it.

[earthlychild]

Right. That's definitely a danger we want to avoid.

[fierybluebird]

No worries, I haven't noticed anyone behaving that much like Ace around here.

[earthlychild]

Do I want to know about Ace?

[fierybluebird]

He's my narcoleptic brother.

But he's no longer here in the Garden.

[earthlychild]

Does that bother you?

[fierybluebird]

It's a very long story.

Ace was more than just my brother, he was my best friend. I do wish he was here, but for more reasons than I can explain right now.

I have another brother here though, so I'm hardly alone.

[earthlychild]

I'm sorry to hear that. But who's your other brother, if it's okay to ask?

1/2

[fierybluebird]

Espio!

The idiot who resigned. [He says with pride.]

[espio]

You're the idiot, Twinkle Brain.

[Espio, don't insult people without thinking up a decent insult.]

[fierybluebird]

Love you too Espio.

2/2

[fierybluebird]

He's also half son-in-law, which gets confusing.

[.... yeah.]

[earthlychild]

Oh, it's that kind of family!

I...well, to be honest I understand where he's coming from. I'm worried about everyone. But I wouldn't think of giving up over this.

[fierybluebird]

Aye. I've got 1600 brothers back home, and thousands more my Pops looked after as his sons and daughters. [Wait. There are other people outside of his family who do this?]

He's not giving up, this is just his way of fighting it.

[earthlychild]

Oh, I see. Protest.

I admit...I almost wanted to. What if someone doesn't make it back?

But I'm going every day I can to try to keep everyone alive. I'll sort things out by the end of the fight, I hope.

[fierybluebird]

They will. I'm going to make sure of that much.

They won't die.

[earthlychild]

Right. We'll get through----and then the party.

[fierybluebird]

As all things should be done.

[corruptedsouls]

[Tobias is admittedly a little perked.]

Everybody who heals?

[Because, y'know. Para-Magic Healer/Indirect and Battle Medicine specialist, here.]

[earthlychild]

That's right! We'll be working hard and we have our own challenges to deal with to keep our teammates going, so we'll need a nice break when it's all done.

[corruptedsouls]

Wow! That's really cool! Can I help, too?

[earthlychild]

With the party, or with joining teams as a medic?

[corruptedsouls]

The party! I'm going to make a team to help out already! I promised I'd protect everyone I could.

[earthlychild]

Of course you can! We just have to make sure it's warm and comfortable and that there are plenty of refreshments. I'll handle the entertainment.

[corruptedsouls]

I have a friend who can cook really well. I could ask him if he'll show me how to make something!

[earthlychild]

You don't have to put so much time into it! We have that mission to prepare for, after all. But anything we can bring will be great. I'll buy as many little snacks as I can.

[corruptedsouls]

Okay! I can do that too.

[earthlychild]

Great! I'll see you there.