caughtinanetwork | Gohan // video // 001

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Gohan // video // 001

[Communicator clicks on when Gohan, face down and groaning, grabs it and tosses it gently into a post. Except 'gently' for a half-Saiyan is pretty forceful for a communicator, so it snaps on without him realizing what it was.

He rolls his weight to his right side, using his remaining arm to force himself to his knees, unsteady. He looks around, this way and that, confusion plain to read, before he starts thinking out loud.]

I don't remember... I'm pretty sure Dad and the others said you were supposed to go straight to Judgment when you die. There shouldn't be so much... city around here, should there?

[He gets up, and catches sight of the coral. He frowns at it.]

They said there were clouds everywhere, not... Shouldn't that be underwater? [He glances up and winces.] That answers that. I don't recognize the species at all, but it's been a while since I really read up on it.

[Wait. He glances up again, but this time like he's looking for something specific. And frowns, deeply this time, eyebrows very accustomed to this wrinkling. He glances to his left, notices the arm still missing.]

That's even stranger. Tien said that his arm came back after he died, and I should at least have a halo... Where am I?

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I see your point. I want to say there's a possibility of radiation lingering, but the timing might kill that.

[This kind of thing really isn't-- he's struggling to recall things he'd read about as a child. But he smiles back. It's easier when you're reciprocating.]

I may have to call that in quickly... Does anyone know how people end up here, when it's not a Gate?

[He won't ask you how to deal with moody teenagers. No use plaguing anyone else with that.]

Radiuses?

[Wait, are they suddenly talking about math? Oh man, he's really bad at figuring out this kind of thing.]

I was told the coral is what brought us here. I dunno how it did it, but it probably used some kind of magic. It gets some of its energy from everyone who's in here, so I bet it has plenty of mana.

[At least, that's how Lloyd's interpreting the pieces of information he's pieced together.]

No, no, not talking about circles. Radiation has more to do with lingering light and energy, although it... comes from a central source as well, which is why the terms are similar.

[Cannot define common scientific terms. Oh, what would his mother and Bulma say to him? He smiles a little grimly. So much for the 'great scholar.']

Mana?

[Now you're confusing him. But he's got some context clues to play with.]

The kind of energy it takes, is it like life energy? Ki?

[Don't worry, Gohan. Lloyd probably wouldn't have really understood anyway. He still struggles with elementary level material - but hey, at least he's finally got his times tables memorized!

That... probably wouldn't make Gohan feel any better about his own slacking education. Lloyd's ignorance, at least, isn't for lack of opportunity. Sorry, Gohan, your world just doesn't like you very much. :c]

Ki?

[Lloyd blinks at the term, then his expression perks up.]

Oh, yeah! That's what Vegeta called it!

[Right, question. Lloyd thinks about it for a moment.]

I'm pretty sure it is - I mean, what else would it be? I don't really feel any weaker, though, so it can't be very much.

You know Vegeta?

[Oh dear. We'll get back to the matter at hand in just a moment!]

He hasn't given you any trouble, has he?

Yeah, a little.

[Lloyd rubs the back of his neck, feeling mildly embarrassed.]

I guess you could say that. Darn it, he's really tough. He beat me like it was nothing when we fought! I barely even landed a hit!

[There's frustration in his voice, yes, even anger - but it seems more directed at himself than anything Vegeta did. There's even a hint of grudging admiration there.]

He didn't even use a weapon. He was just fighting with his bare hands!

If you lived, that's still really good. The first time I met him, it took my dad and I, our friends Krillin and Yajirobe, and few strokes of luck just to stay alive.

[Gohan can sympathize with this, quite a lot. The greatest enemy is within, if you can't defeat your own enemies.]

You're more of a weapons user?

[Mmmm, yeah, we are mostly... weapon-proof...]

Well, if he gives you any more grief, let me know. I can deal with him.

He was... trying to kill you?

[Wait, something about this conversation isn't matching up.]

Why would he want to give me grief? We just agreed to spar. We said we'd go all out and whoever won would get the other to the coral to get healed. He even warned me he might break my swords if I used them. It's my own fault I didn't believe him. But he seemed like an okay guy. He did what he said he would.

Trying? Did I actually say 'trying?'

[Laughs. Damndamndamndamndaaaamn.]

I... it was a misunderstanding. An off day. Conflict of interest, he actually became a really good friend of my dad's afterward. His son is still a good friend of mine.

[None of this is a lie, really... Even if Gohan might be speaking a little quicker, he's. not. lying.

Also, you remind him of his dad. He misses his dad.]

[Whoa, okay, speaking a little fast - but what that might mean slips right past Lloyd. As far as he's concerned, why would Gohan lie? In fact, why would he tell a lie like that?

Maybe he's just excited.]

Oh, I see.

[He relaxes, smiling again.]

Yeah, I have a friend like that, too. Someone told him we were trying to destroy his world, so the first time we met, he tried to kill us. Now that he knows the truth, he's our friend.

So, I bet you're really excited to see your friend again!

[You're excited to see Vegeta, right? Aren't you, Gohan?]

[Gohan smiles very warmly at that.]

You remind me an awful lot of my dad. He had a lot of friends from, um, misunderstandings like that.

[Like, you know... all... of them... ehehe.

...though wait hold on back up. Hand behind the head, nervous laugh. Excited to see...]

Well, I mean-- it's very-- it's actually been a very, very long time since I've seen him.

I'll take that as a compliment. It's not easy fixing misunderstandings sometimes. I bet your dad's a really neat guy!

[Gohan's laughing, so clearly everything is just fine.]

It has? Then you definitely must be excited! I bet he's excited to see you, too. Wait, you know he's here, right? You could call him right now and see him!

[Wistfully:]

He was a great man.

[... .... ...]

It's certainly... a possibility... assuming-- uh! He recognizes me. He might not.

[Lloyd catches that "was," as well as some of that tone. His smile fades a little.]

Did he die?

[Wait, if Vegeta might not recognize him...]

It's really been that long since Vegeta saw you? You were just a little kid?

[Hey, it's a good conclusion to make. Just... not the right one.]

Just remind him. Even if you're all grown up now, I bet you look enough like you did as a kid that he could recognize if you told him who you are.

Yeah. Heart virus, when I was ten. Trust me, being reminded of him is a good thing. I like knowing there are still people like him out there.

[It very easily could have been!]

For me it has been.

[But he smiles, and, as self-conscious as the statement makes him, refrains from touching the scar across his eye.]

Guess I won't know until I try. D'you talk to him much? Since your spar, I mean.

Oh. I'm sorry.

[A little bit awkward now, but at least Gohan doesn't seem to be too bothered. Lloyd offers a small smile back.]

If I remind you of your dad, then I'm glad. Memories of people you can't see anymore... They're important. I wish I could remember my own parents, but I'm glad if I can help you remember yours.

[He shifts a little, then shakes his head, looking off in the direction where he and Vegeta sparred.]

Not really. I mean, I haven't seen him since then. It's a pretty big city, and maybe he's been busy.

[Assuming the best of Vegeta.]

It's fine. Really. It was along time ago.

[He nods at that.]

I have a lot of friends in that category... I wish there was something I could do to return the favor.

[And then takes on a pensive look. Decides to encourage Lloyd.]

Busy training, I'd imagine.

I bet you already are, just by being you. You're friends with them for a reason, right? Well, they're friends with you for a reason, too.

I'll have to keep an eye out for him, then. If I can figure out a way to make sure my swords don't break, I wouldn't mind sparring with him again.

[Encouraging optimists to have faith in Vegeta? To continue to press their attempts at friendship on him?

Vegeta will thank you someday for this, Gohan. Profusely and personally~]

[It takes Gohan a good half-minute to properly process that sheer convergence of positive thinking. That kind of encouragement and optimism; no one's actually said anything like that to him since his father died, let alone since the androids attacked. It's overwhelming, and a little bittersweet. Nothing can really change the fact that he failed in his life's mission, let all of his friends down, and can only rely on Trunks to carry through. As much faith as he has in the kid, it's a heavy burden.]

I think that's the sort of thing people need to hear more often. Thank you.

[He's tried to show that kind of unconditional faith in Trunks (in between severe beatings, of course), but who knows how well it stuck four years later?]

I wouldn't know.... There might be a way to reforge them with a denser alloy. Or you could try infusing your ki -- or mana, I suppose -- into the blade. I've heard of that being done.

[By personally ripping his spine out so far that everyone'll think his tail grew back, surely.]

[He wasn't looking to be thanked, but it always makes him feel a little bit warmer when someone appreciates his encouragement. He grins in response, genuinely pleased.]

Then I'll say it as often as it needs to be said. You're welcome!

[Whoa, whoa, Gohan has ideas for how he can achieve his goal? The older man suddenly has his full attention.]

You can do that? I mean, I'm not a good enough smith to reforge my swords, but you can put your own energy inside of a weapon? You don't know how, do you?

[See, Vegeta does care. <3]

Edited 2012-04-11 12:41 (UTC)

[Shrugs.]

I've heard of it being done... or I've heard of the potential for it to be done, I forget. Two of my dad's friends used to fight with swords, but I haven't seriously used one since I was five.

[Message from the future: CARES TO KILL HIM, anyway.]

Huh. Maybe I can figure something out, or maybe someone will know more than that.

[Lloyd looks really thoughtful for a moment before he straightens and the expression melts back into a grin, the grin of a kid with a new toy.]

I want to go try it out! Thanks, Gohan! That could really help a lot!

No problem. Good luck, I'd like to hear about your progress.

Sure thing! See you later!

[Lloyd waves, then with a click the video feed cuts out.]

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Gohan // video // 001

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