PC: ACE 💀

[resumed]

Comments

[selfimmolation]

It'd be better if the puck was less light, but then I guess the air thing wouldn't work...

[ no just hit less hard you absolute weirdoes. hits it again a little harder. bounce bounce bounce ]

[resumed]

And then I think that's just regular hockey. Not that I've played that either. [ they are going to amp up the intensity of each hit like a couple of idiots, watching the puck bounce and miss both goals. ] I haven't had time for stuff like that in a while.

[selfimmolation]

I haven't played it either, but I didn't play a lot of real sports growing up. [ "does hockey exist in one piece" whatever. whatever. they are both just failing to make any goal and getting more aggressive for it ] Busy with training?

[resumed]

Among other things, yeah. [ this is going to continue. ] I've been busy with a lot of things over the last five years. We just got another break a day or so ago before I got here.

[selfimmolation]

Talk about bad luck. You start a break and wind up here of all places.

[resumed]

This still isn't as bad as it could be. [ rocket is not dead yet, for instance. ] But yeah, usually we have at least a few months between major world crises.

[selfimmolation]

Several world crises every year is normal for you guys?

[resumed]

I wouldn't say several per year, but there's been at least three in the last two years or so. One of them was a threat that was ongoing for several years until we managed to bring down an army and defeat the guy trying to destroy the world.

Then about six months later, there were stirrings of another uprising. That was another threat in the making. Defeated the enemy responsible about eight months later. And then several months after that...well, you get the idea.

[selfimmolation]

That's kind of a lot for two years.

When you say destroy the world, you don't mean literally, do you?

[resumed]

[ bounces the puck back to ace's side. ]

No, I mean literally. The destruction of the world and everyone in it.

[selfimmolation]

... Why would someone actually be trying to do that?

[ THEY LIVE IN THIS WORLD??? ]

[resumed]

That is a very long and complicated story. But the summary of it really is people wanting to overthrow those currently in power and create a new world for them to rule themselves. Sometimes it's about revenge. Sometimes it's about thinking they could do better. Sometimes it's both.

[selfimmolation]

It sounds more like a revolution, when you put it like that.

[resumed]

In a sense, yes. But the option wasn't better. And the ones trying to revolutionize the world and overthrow its current rulers had no plans for the rest of humanity.

[selfimmolation]

What's the point of change if the world isn't going to be any better?

[resumed]

[ ... ]

Like I said, long story. And definitely not one I think I can tell right now. But the point was only that they thought their change was better. People set in their ways can rarely change themselves.

[selfimmolation]

I guess that's true. [ but he can sense nico doesn't want to talk about it more. partially because nico stated it outright. so he moves on; ] There's a Revolutionary group back home, but I've never really looked into what they do. Government hates those guys even more than pirates.

[resumed]

[ slaps the puck across the table to try and sink it into the goal. ]

So that means your feelings are more ambivalent about them? Since you don't know much about them.

[selfimmolation]

[ blocked!!!! and sent right back!!! ]

Sorta. I know something about their leader. [ a little vague. ] I can't say I haven't been ready to fight the world myself, too. But I dunno. It's just not for me.

[resumed]

[ he considers that, narrowing his eyes and sending it back again. ]

...you don't have to tell me, exactly, but do you at least know what exactly you want?

[selfimmolation]

Huh?

[ well. nico's scoring there because ace hesitates-- he sort of laughs weakly when nico scores ]

Aw, man. [ ... he takes out the puck from the goal, spinning it around in his hand ] Yeah. I know what I want. Do you?

[resumed]

[ hehe. he watches the puck (and ace) for a moment as he tries to decide what answer to give him. ]

I'm working on it. Or at least I have a better idea. Getting there used to feel impossible, but...lately it seems like there's a chance.

[selfimmolation]

Yeah? Glad to hear it. People should follow their dreams. [ even if your dream is simply getting an answer to one question. he places the puck back and sends it again ] No matter how crazy it is.

[resumed]

[ he watches the puck, bouncing it back to ace. ]

What about if something else comes up? Do you try to follow that, or your original dream?

[selfimmolation]

It's not like people can only ever have one dream. [ puuuushes the puck back ] It's about being true to yourself and what you want.