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[takesitfromtherear]

[The camera shows nothing but pavement, the edge of some wet fingers, and the ends of a really flashy red cape, fabric worn and water-heavy, trailing on the ground. Oh, and an adorable little white rabbit chomping down on the end of that cape.]


I don't get it. I don't freakin' get it at all. What--

OI!


[Suddenly the camera jerks and... goes flying. Seems Kamina, not knowing what it was, tossed it over his shoulder. It clatters against the coral, still recording for a few moments.]


Oi, lil' punk! Come here. I'll friggin' teach you to attack a guy from the rear when he ain't lookin'.


[Kamina dives for the rabbit, trying to catch it, and then the feed cuts.]

Comments

[sorcery_fledgling]

Beastmen? No, it's the coral who took us. And no one's found a way to escape yet.

[takesitfromtherear]

Coral?

[Nope, it was beastmen. He saw them.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

You know, the big thing that's over the dome up above? That's what my friends told me. It also put the mark on you, too.

[takesitfromtherear]

Mark?

[woah, he's gotta check that out. He gives himself a once over, easily discovering the mark on his chest.]

I don't like this at all. The only mark I'll wear is that of the Dai-Gurren Brigade.

[sorcery_fledgling]

It's kind of useful, though. You show it around here and you'll get free food, housing, and clothing. Pretty much anything so long as it isn't from Nostalgia Nook.

Dai-Gurren Brigade? [Sounds kind of awesome.] Who are you?

[takesitfromtherear]

[Not kinda awesome. Super awesome.

He flashes her a showy grin, planting his sunglasses on his face in a dramatic gesture.]

The unbeatable man that burst through the Jeeha village ceiling, founder of the Dai-Gurren Brigade who will never rest until all humans can walk free under the great blue sky, the great Kamina-sama, that's me!


[It's okay. You can applaud.]

[sorcery_fledgling]

[No applauding here. Rinoa isn't the type to feed into egos.

However, she is the type to know when someone's talking about a resistance group.]

I see. So this Dai-Gurren Brigade is a resistance faction of some sort?

[takesitfromtherear]

That's right! We're fighting the beastmen scum that's trying to keep us locked away under the surface. I guess our stories haven't gotten to your village yet.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[Oh boy. No one's explained the total concept of this place to him yet.]

Ah, actually, about that... I don't know if you've noticed, but there are a lot of different kinds of people - and animals - here in Vatheon. They're not all from the same world. The coral pulls us all in from different worlds and different times. So, I'm not from your world. I'm in a resistance faction, too, but I'm fighting something much different.

[takesitfromtherear]

[Nope. He's still fresh and innocent and really dumb.]

I don't really get what you're saying, but if you're the kinda chick that stands up to battle injustice and protect the weak, you're cool in my book.

[Cause that is what all resistance factions do, right?]

[sorcery_fledgling]

It's okay. I think it's one of those things you'll understand a little better after you're here awhile. Let's just say for now I wouldn't have heard of your brigade and you wouldn't have heard of my group no matter what.

[She obviously perks up a little at his words.] I like to think so. I'm with a group called the Forest Owls. We fight to free the country of Timber from Galbadian occupation.

[Only the good ones!]

[takesitfromtherear]

Yeah? And what have these Galbadian punks done? Maybe I'll come help ya out once I'm done kicking beastman ass.

[sorcery_fledgling]

They invaded Timber 17 years ago when the current President came to office. Timber was overpowered and the Galbadians took over, occupying the country and depleting most of its resources. Now Timber is a pretty poor area and the people there have been miserable. They're sick of being run by Galbadia, especially considering Galbadia has a pretty unsavory reputation and is known for being pretty ruthless.

[She smiles at his offer, as impossible as it is.] If you can find a way to get to my world, you're more than welcome to. We could use your enthusiasm.

[takesitfromtherear]

[He frowns at her story. Tales like that, it just ain't right; oppressing people, making it so they can't live happily, it ain't right at all!]

Right. I'll bring our entire brigade. And our ganmen. We'd beat those bastard together piece of cake.

[sorcery_fledgling]

Ganmen?

[takesitfromtherear]

Yeah! They're how we fight. They got huge faces.

[sorcery_fledgling]

So they're weapons of some sort? With... faces. [Uh...]

[takesitfromtherear]

Yeah, that's right! Like really huge robots with faces.

[sorcery_fledgling]

Oh okay. Those sound pretty cool. [And very handy.]

[takesitfromtherear]

More cool than that. When we beat up those bastards, I'll take you for a ride.

[sorcery_fledgling]

[She can't help but smile at that.]

That sounds fun.

[takesitfromtherear]

Excellent, I'll remember it.

[sorcery_fledgling]

So, have you met anyone from your world yet? Anyone else who was brought here too?

[takesitfromtherear]

Not yet.

[A pause as he thinks of his nearest and dearest, Simon, Yoko, his brigade, and then he shakes himself out of it.]

It's fine. It's better if they ain't stuck here under this ceiling either, you know?

[sorcery_fledgling]

I understand. I have friends here, but in some ways I wish they were back home, safe and not... trapped.