What was I searching for here? There must be some reason, I'll try and ask

[spirialink]

Who: Kor Meteor (spirialink and Ruca Milda (demonicbookworm)
Where: Set in Kor's world, Organica.
What: Ruca finds himself mysteriously transported to Organica with no memories.

Comments

[spirialink]

[Quite some time passes before Kor finally rejoins Ruca, his meeting with the Guildmaster taking far longer to conclude than he would have liked.

Once he returns though, it doesn't take him long to find Ruca. He immediately takes note of the boy's new attire, marveling at it.]

Uuuwhooa! Now you look like you're ready to go on a journey, Ruca!

[demonicbookworm]

Y-you really think so?

[Ruca looks at his new clothes, then glances at his sword.]

I... don't look weird? Especially with such a big sword?

[He scratches his cheeks, slightly embarrassed. Strangely enough, the big sword doesn't bother him, but he does realize it must look odd on a person as unimpressive as him.]

[spirialink]

No way! [Kor grins widely and brightly at Ruca.]

Even though you're kinda scrawny-looking, the big sword says that nobody should mess with you, so it's perfect!

[It almost sounds like it could be an insult. Except he sounds so joyful and sincere as he says it that he's absolutely trying to compliment Ruca here.

Sorry, Ruca. He's not the best at choosing his words carefully.]

[demonicbookworm]

[Scrawny? Ruca would look heartbroken if only Kor didn't sound do happy now. It feels like he doesn't mean anything bad - quite the contrary actually, so Ruca sighs a little and gives him an awkward smile.]

I-I see... Well, I don't even know if I can actually fight... I was surprised I can even lift this sword...

[spirialink]

[Kor's smile doesn't fade as he reveals this next part, though it isn't quite as wide at least.]

You might be finding out soon enough if you fight, at least.

[demonicbookworm]

...R-right.

[Despite that huge sword on his back, he doesn't really look confident at all.]

[spirialink]

[....Boy, is it just him, or did it get really awkward here all of a sudden? He has no clue what happened, why's Ruca being so shy all of a sudden? Well it's a good thing he had somewhere he was going with that conversation.]

A-anyway... Did you know that when somebody tells you if you scratch their back then they'll scratch yours, they don't mean it literally?

[Yes, he may have had an awkward encounter with the guildmaster.]

[demonicbookworm]

[He's just an awkward bookworm having second thoughts on adventuring! Don't mind him!

Ruca blinks, surprised.]

Of course. It's just a saying... Wait, did you try to scratch someone?

[spirialink]

Huh?! [Kor balks at Ruca's reaction, taking a step back in surprise.]

So you know about it, then? What's it mean, Ruca? C'mon, tell me, please!

[He's absolutely serious here.]

[demonicbookworm]

Huh?

[Now he's even more surprised.]

Er... It means to do something for someone in hopes that the favor will be returned.

[spirialink]

Oh. Makes sense to me! [A normal person would probably be embarrassed over being corrected with such a revelation.

Kor is not a "normal person."]

Anyway, the Guildmaster heard about our journey together and wanted me to scratch his back in exchange for some information. [which he actually tried to do until he was pretty forcefully stopped] He says there are some Xerom-like monsters interfering with a supply route north of here, and he wants us to go deal with them.

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca only smiles at Kor's reaction. He sure is not minding being corrected.]

Us?

[Ruca looks a bit surprised to hear that.]

So we'll be fighting so soon... [He takes a deep breath. He's very obviously worried.] I can do it, I can do it...

[spirialink]

[Kor raises an eyebrow at Ruca's worry. Ruca cuts a pretty impressive figure in his new adventurer outfit with that big sword, even though he's pretty scrawny. He couldn't understand why Ruca was so worked up. It's just fighting monsters! A skilled fighter can handle that no problem!]

Yeah, of course you can do it! Asura seemed pretty confident you'd be able to handle yourself with a broadsword, and I can't imagine he'd be the kind of guy who'd want to send you into battle if you couldn't handle yourself.

[It sure wouldn't benefit him to get Ruca killed, at least.]

I bet after a couple fights, you might even get some of your memory back!

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca looks at Kor for a moment. The other boy sounds so sure, that it would be hard to argue with him.]

If you say so then... I believe you. [He nods lightly to himself, as if to find determination in his fears and worries.] I-I'll do my best!

[spirialink]

Yeah, that's the Spiria!

[Ruca may not feel terribly confident, but that's okay, because Kor had enough of that for the two of them. It was all going to be fine. Probably.]

Well, if you're all set, then we should head out. We've got a lot of walking ahead of us.

[demonicbookworm]

[In all honestly, Kor's confidence is affecting Ruca, too. He nods again, feeling less nervous about fighting the monsters.]

Alright... let's go!

drops in here eighty four years later SEE I TOLD YOU IT'D BE SOON

[spirialink]

[With that said, the two of them are off! But it's not long after they hit the road that Kor's already bringing up conversation. After all, what's a Tales adventure without some skits, right?]

Say, Ruca. You found that sword on your back for sale in town, right? I've never seen anything like it before.

I believed in you ♥

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca fixes the stripe on his back and looks at the other shyly.]

Y-yes. You said I should get a big sword... and this one seemed just perfect.

[He smiles awkwardly.]

The owner found it funny that I want to try this sword... I guess he didn't believe I could lift it, but I can't blame him. I wasn't sure about this either.

[spirialink]

[Don't mind him as he gets close to your back, Ruca. Just invading your personal space to get a good look at that sword.]

I don't see weapons this fancy for sale very often. [He flicks the blade with a finger. Sure sounds real based on the sound it just made. Not that he doubted the integrity of the merchants in that marketplace, but... Well, no, he kind of did. There are some shady fellows there, he wouldn't want his new friend to get ripped off! But this definitely was a sound transaction.]

It kinda reminds me of a Soma.

[demonicbookworm]

W-well... it took me some time before I found it...

[He looks over his shoulder to watch Kor as the other boy examines the sword.]

Soma is... very special, right? Is it even possible to buy one?

[spirialink]

Well...

[Kor thumbs his chin thoughtfully over the current state of Somas.]

It's not impossible. I sold my body to help a friend get a Soma, even! [Don't say it like that, Kor...]

But the church rounded up most of the Somas, so I dunno if there are even any left to be found besides those or the ones me and my friends own.

[Kor comes out from behind Ruca, taking the lead again as they head onwards.]

But it's not like it'd be illegal for somebody to sell one. ...I think.

[It's not like Kor's all that good at knowing the law, much less obeying it.]

[demonicbookworm]

Y-you did what?

[Ruca stares at him with wide eyes, then quickly steps closer, grabbing the other boy's hand and looking him over with a concerned frown.]

A-and you're okay, right? What did you have to do? Ah, b-but... it's okay if you don't want to talk about it! If it was something really bad...

[He trails off, growing even more worried about his companion.]

[spirialink]

Huh? [Kor stares down at Ruca in confusion over his sudden outburst. What was the issue, he just offered his eternal servitude to Innes to get a Soma from her, what was the problem??]

Of course I'm okay, Innes--

[Kor cuts himself off. The port's visible from their current location, and though it was hard to make out, it looked like... it was on fire?!]

Hold that thought, Ruca! Looks like there's trouble!

[The port was going to be a detour from where they needed to head, but... He couldn't just stand around if he could do something to help.]

Let's go!

[He's not giving Ruca much choice or chance to respond here, because he's booking it full speed towards the port.]

[demonicbookworm]

[Ruca wants to ask more questions, but he never gets a change. Buildings in the distance are burning and before he manages to say anything Kor is already rushing towards the port.]

W-wait!

[Ruca is running after him and since he's stamina is absolutely awful, by the time he reaches Kor he's already completely out of breath.]

[spirialink]

[It's probably a good thing that the port, though a fair decent distance away, is pretty easily accessibly on foot.

By the time Ruca catches up to Kor, he'll find him frozen in place at the entrance to the port, clearly shocked by the state of it. Fires have started, cargo has been smashed and destroyed. There are no people around, though whether they've been killed or simply managed to flee remains to be seen.]

--!! This is...!

[The most noteworthy part of it, however, are the culprits. Winged monsters wielding swords occupy the port, and they may or may not look familiar to Ruca...]