.11 - audio;

[dualbladewarrior]

I understand the basic premise behind... Valentine's Day.

[Hubert sounds a little awkward, uncertain and even a little nervous as he speaks.]

But I wasn't here last year, and we don't have a holiday like this in Strahta. Would anyone be willing to give me a little more information behind it? What's common for ah... not... "couples" but perhaps two close friends... ?

[Short, sweet and... mostly to the point. Mostly.]

Comments

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

[Aahhh... A chocolate fountain! Honey's seen those before. Small ones, of course, not lifesize fountains.]

Well... the courtesy chocolate is cheaper than true chocolate. Not just in price- true chocolate is nicer. You should definitely avoid anything heart-shaped, that's for sure!

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

[This one was life sized. Amarcians are kind of amazing inventors like that.]

Yes, of course. That makes sense... we are just friends after all...

[And yes, he's taking notes. He wants to make sure he gets this right, of course!]

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Mmh, exactly! Hearts could give someone the wrong idea, that's why courtesy chocolates don't have that shape. Where I'm from, the girls give out chocolates on Valentine's Day and then the boys who received them return the favor on White Day.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

Some one just informed me that... I'm not quite sure I understand why there would be a need for two holidays, though.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Well, it's said that the gift the boys give needs to have more value than the gift they received, so maybe it's to give the boys time to save up money.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I suppose that makes a little more sense...

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

If you don't have this holiday in ah... Strahta, what sort of holidays do you have there?

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

Not many. There are festivals for certain times of the year, but that's really about it.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Festivals are sort of like holidays... Do you get time off from school for them?

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I never really did, no, but military academies don't usually take much time off.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Military academy? They have some pretty strict rules there, don't they? I go to a boarding school, myself.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

Fairly strict, yes. But I prefer it that way.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

... Why would you prefer stricter rules?

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

We're expected to defend and protect Strahta, as well as intervene in issues regarding the two other nations of Ephinea. If there are slackers or those lacking in skills, we would never get anything accomplished.

Point being, I don't tolerate poor work ethic in myself or in others.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

A-aaah... I see. I guess it's logical to expect discipline from soldiers. I just hope you don't forget you're teenagers, too.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I'm a Lieutenant first and foremost, miss.

[Yes he really is that stuffy and overbearing.]

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Hah? But you're not that old, right?

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I'll be nineteen soon. Why do you ask?

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

If you're nineteen, you shouldn't have to focus on being a Lieutenant! You should be focusing on things like... dating! And having fun with your friends! All those things that you need to cherish before you're forced to become an adult.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I've dated plenty, and I even gave up my post for a time to travel with my brother and several of our friends.

[Hell, they saved the world. If that isn't bonding, I don't know what is.]

I even had an offer of marriage back home. Not that I'm going to take it... sadly it's more for my father's benefit than my own.

[Audio]

[honeyflaaash]

Wow... It sure sounds like you've already accomplished everything that some people still dream of when they're halfway through their twenties.

[Audio]

[dualbladewarrior]

I suppose I do have high ambitions, yes...

[He sees no problem with this. At all.

Hubert is 19 going on 50.]