004 [voice/video/action]

[aerialassault]

[Voice]

...Vacations are funny, aren't they? If they last long enough, they can start to get kinda boring.

[The commentary filtered through the pages of the journal system around midday, as if it was just a part of a conversation between two individuals instead of a public address. Cliff's tone was as relaxed and casual as always, for those who knew him. There was a faint hum in the otherwise quiet background.]

I mean, the downtime is nice, but I'm kinda tired of it-- which should answer any questions about 'why' and what not, so don't bother askin'.

The name's Cliff Fittir, if any of you here don't know, and I figured I'd offer my services. If any of you want a sparring partner, trainer, teacher or whatever, I'm available. Just say something if you're interested.

And if you're not...then could ya tell me what this cool thing is?

[He flipped the video on at this point, revealing a small circular device methodically rolling across the carpet.]

I've got an idea already, which brings me to Question Two: Is there a way to get good tech supplies without needing to go outside?

[He ends the feed at that, but will be prompt with replies.]

[Action]

[Cliff set off about town, looking for the aforementioned tech supplies so he could properly play with his new toy, though he would be keeping his eyes and ears alert for any of his friends and students to check up on. After a several week absence followed by a Shift that had made him appear as a young woman, there hadn't been much chance to see his people without having to answer more questions than he wanted. Furthermore, there were people that he met during that Shift that he wanted to clear things up with, one way or another.

However, he had plans for that evening...]

[Action: Private for Fayt Leingod]

Yo. You better have some free time tonight.

[He had questions...but, more importantly, he had plans for both of them.]

Comments

[action]

[etherealblast]

[Fayt glances up from scribbling in a small notebook he'd taken to keeping, tucking his pencil behind an ear.]

Huh? Yeah, I've got time.

[action]

[aerialassault]

[Cliff grinned, already pleased with his idea.]

That's great. You better be thirsty, man, 'cause we're going out!

[action]

[etherealblast]

So you finally figured out what you wanted to do, huh? [He returns that grin, putting down his notebook and standing, stretching lazily as he does.]

We getting coffee?

Voice;

[ahappylie]

It looks like you have a little round pet now. What are you going to name it? Or her? ....him?

Voice;

[aerialassault]

[Pet? Oh, Souji. Cliff chuckled at the question.]

It's a little machine. Looks like some kinda vacuum too, but I've been wondering about what else I can get it to do more than any names.

...Did ya have any ideas?

Voice;

[ahappylie]

Machines can be pets - don't hurt its feelings, Cliff-san. What will you do if Voomy gets sad?

[voice]

[halfnhalf]

... Oh my god, you got one of those things.

[voice]

[aerialassault]

Huh? You know this thing?

[It was low-grade tech, in his opinion, but he was curious about what a kid from the era would have to say about it.]

[voice]

[halfnhalf]

Give me a second, I'm trying to think of the name of it... [At the moment, it's slipped his mind. It's not like he paid much attention to them, other than to watch cats riding on them.] I know they clean the room for you... It's a something.

[Action]

[distressedude]

[If Cliff is on the look-out for his students, at least one of them won't be too hard to find. The weather has calmed down a bit, temperature aside, which means Ion will be walking around with a certain someone who is very excited to be taking a walk right now. So excited, in fact, that Ion is getting half-dragged all over the place. Thankfully Colonel is a (mostly) attentive pup, and slows to a stop whenever Ion starts looking too tired. Like right now.]

[That is, until the pup notices Cliff, and immediately starts running over to sniff around his shoes, practically dragging poor Ion behind him.]

C-Colonel, hold on, you're-- oh! Hello, Cliff. It's been awhile, hasn't it?

[Action]

[aerialassault]

Whoa--hey, Ion!

[Grinning at the excited greeting from the dog, Cliff offered a to sniff.]

It has. What's up? And, when did ya get this dog?

[Action]

[distressedude]

[Colonel gives a quick sniff before prancing around, running back towards Ion and then around him, quickly tying him up with the leash.]

Oh, we've had Colonel for about a year now. He showed up as a puppy right around Christmas... [He's trying to de-tangle himself, but Colonel is having none of it, skipping around excitedly.]

[And then he darts back towards Cliff with a very enthusiastic Such tall! which has the unfortunate side effect of pulling Ion down to the ground with a yelp. Well, at least he can finally sit down.]

...he's a bit more of a handful than he was back then.

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

That's like a vacuum cleaner, I think.

[Getting the first question out of the way.]

And, out of curiosity, what sort of training are you offering, Cliff-san?

[Video]

[aerialassault]

I kinda figured it was something like that. It's picking up every piece of paper I drop on the floor for it.

[It was part of his test. As soon as he activated it and saw it make a circuit around the room, he had wondered how it's reactions were. Watching it zip back and forth in oddly smooth motions to pick up every speck of dirt was oddly entertaining.]

...I'm mostly offering unarmed stuff for training. You know, hand-to-hand, basic self defense and all. It's nothing too special, but there's so many specialists around here that you've gotta wonder if anyone's even bothering with this stuff.

[He grinned.]

You don't happen to be interested, do you?

[Video]

[faithfulflame]

Actually, yes. I would be. I've got a first dan in aikido, but I could really use some training and exercise that isn't by myself, or with my...well...my powers.

[He knows the ones.]

[video]

[friendshipfirst]

Maybe it's some kind o' Pokemon.

[ First thing that comes to Ash's mind always. Ash you're not even in a Pokemon world stop ]

[video]

[aerialassault]

Uh....

[Headscratch. Cliff flipped the journal and stared incredulously at the kid in the feed.]

A 'pokemon'? What the heck is that?

[He was pretty sure that his new toy was some kind of vacuum...]

[video]

[friendshipfirst]

Pokemon are creatures from 'nother world like mine. But I've heard that there are people here that have their own Pokemon.

[ And right then Pikachu comes into view of the journal ]

This is Pikachu! Pikachu is one of a lot of Pokemon but this one here is my best buddy!

voice.

[halflived]

[Cute vacuum contraption aside—]

That's an awfully wide range of services you're offering.

voice.

[aerialassault]

[Oh, hey. It's the kid who makes fantastic breakfasts at Seventh Heaven.]

Well, I've got an awfully large amount of free time on my hands, so I thought I'd diversify myself a bit. You interested in any of it?

voice.

[halflived]

[Yup, it's why he even considers taking up Cliff's offer. A little.]

The way you put it, it sounds as though you're learning as well with this.

[Video]

[soheartless]

You said that you are... a teacher.

Of... ballet?

[He ponders. It's been unusual enough that the nearby school hasn't had any teachers affiliated wit ballet.]

[Video]

[aerialassault]

Uh...no,

[Headscratch. Hi, Mytho. He didn't expect to see you again, and not so soon after Maria 'disappeared.']

I teach people how to protect themselves, [He said, simplifying things to just the basics.] Yanno, from bad guys. So people don't get hurt.

voice

[hero_of_smiles]

[It's your favorite hero with an inferiority complex, Cliff!]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii-iiight here. I think I need like, all the learning of other martial arts. To you know. Punch people in the face that are bad.

voice

[aerialassault]

[Cross's reply definitely saves him some effort-- he had been figuring on hunting the kid down one of these days to check in on him. It had been a while since things were calm enough for them to talk.]

We can get ya some learning, no prob. But, you're going to need to follow my rules if we're gonna be working together on this. You think you can do that?

[Cliff remembered remembered the kid's spirit, but he also remembered the kid's complete panic and emotional shut-down on TERRACE. There was going to be a lot of things that Cross needed to learn just to get past that.]