thenearshore | OVERFLOW for | 012

[Kija wouldn't know a pin-up from a hole in the ground, but he does know that he is considerably more comfortable with the way this young woman is standing now than he was with... how she was before. Which he is almost convinced is something to be saved for marriage. Or something else, anyway.

[Her words, however, are curious. He has not really thought about it before. He knows it matters. Of course it matters. But as to why-- well, that doesn't. It is simply how things are.

[Were.

[It would take a lot more than not really understanding his motives to change his mind about how he should be acting, though. Kija ventures another look at the young woman's face - just her face, thank you kindly. Returning the smile is only polite.]

I... understand, I think. Things are very different here from what I am used to, but I cannot expect everyone else to change, simply for my comfort.

[That would, after all, be entirely unreasonable.

[Still. It would be nice if they could.]

But then everyone, I suppose, must find this place a little strange?

[Well, he's got the main point at least: the rest of the world isn't going to bend over to accommodate him any more than they are the next snowflake.]

It's certainly different for me, too. The fashion is close enough, but...

I'm not used to being confined to one location like this.

[Left unsaid: anymore...]

Oh, do you travel a lot, too?

[There was no doubt about it, he really should not have been here. He missed the Princess and Shin-ah, and even Hak - though Hak would rather die than let the princess come to harm, and if he were still with her she would at least be safe enough: but, since he was, he might as well make the most out of little things like... oh, like having a roof. Roofs were pleasant, and so were clean sheets and food neither he nor anybody else was expected to chase down and kill first, and much as he loved his brothers it was nothing but a pleasure not to wake up with Zeno's elbow in his ear.

[Staying in one place did have its advantages...

[Except he'd done that for twenty years, and the only thing he missed were the amenities. Except he'd had a purpose, and now he didn't. Except he felt frustrated and adrift, and just plain bored. If only there was a way to travel, but bring the roof along too.]

It is strange to have nowhere else to go. You think they would realize we were busy.

Yeah. I'm on a journey around the world-- or I should be. I've met some people who think bringing people here must be justified if the need is strong, but I can't agree with taking away a person's right to choose. Who's to say what we were doing in our own worlds is less important?

That is just the trouble. It is more important. I have seen nothing here to indicate our presence is needed so desperately.

[Even if there had been - there is still the matter of the Princess, of the dreams she is fighting for. There is still the matter of leaving her alone and unguarded - well, Hak would be there. There is no who's to say about it.]

My country waited two thousand years for King Hiryuu to return! Why take his protectors now, just to have us sit idle on a beach? It is ridiculous!

OVERFLOW for | 012 | The Beach Episode

Nami

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