Overcoming.

[01:11] Aimlessly striding around town with his hands behind his head, this man stomps on the cobblestone, marching to nothing.

His attempts to woo the ladies in front of his father...had gone very poorly. As a result, he wasn't in the best of moods - but the boy was always ready to rise to the challenge. That was the thing about Jericho. He would always look to improve for the next great challenge, just over the horizon.

It was fine.

Wandering without aim transpires for some time...And then he saw Bas, standing there in the midst of nowhere.

"You seem...different," he notices right away. "Something change?"
(Jericho)
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[01:15] Standing around, doing practically nothing; just thinking to himself and what not-- he'd spot Jericho approaching via his peripheral.

In order response to this, he'd wave off in Jericho's direction, accompanied by the same jovial smile that he usually branded. Contrary to Jericho, he was in a spectacular mood! The months of training had finally paid off.

A nod is offered in response to Jericho's question. His lips part; words flowing freely past his lips.

"Oh, uh.. yeah! I've been training. I'm glad that you can tell, but it's been awhile since we last spoke. How is life treating you?" He inquired, tilting his head.
(Bas)
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[01:20] Training?

That was what he should have been doing, a voice in his head berated him at once. Training...would be how he refined his body, his skills to the apex at which he could finally stand out among the hordes of Kurokaiya heads, of people stronger and more noticeable. To rise above the nobility he so despised, to be noticed in a world that drowned out his voice, as it did the leaves, the trees...

He was in a conversation. He was here. He was present. He couldn't think about that now.

"Life..? It's...well, it's life, ain't it?"

The boy looks...cleaner. No longer do leaves and twigs cling to him. Infact, mud isn't even clung to his boots. Compared to even the more adventurous nobles, infact, he might look clean... this is because he doesn't actually venture out into the wilderness anymore. As if he was afraid of something.

He swipes underneath his nose.

"I don't hear voices as much anymore," he says, eternally unaware of how crazy he sounded, "I think that's good. That's what people tell me. How have you been, Bas?"
(Jericho)
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[01:26] Voices, huh? That's a bit. . outlandish, and it made the boy perceive Jericho just a tad-bit crazy! Though, these thoughts are dismissed, and a sigh is all that he could muster.

Honestly, Jericho's response wasn't something that he anticipated, but oh well. Thin and pale lips pressed togethering a line, and his lips proceeded to part once more:

"Uh, life is. . alright. I'm trying to muster up the courage to do something that I've been meaning to do for months, but uh. . that's that." He said, his tone brimming with uncertainty.

Well, if there was anytime to ask what Jericho meant by voices. It'd be now.

"So, uh. . what do you mean when you said that you don't hear voice anymore? Were you uh. . like, going through something?"
(Bas)
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[01:34] He tilts his head. Had he been going through something?

It'd be easy to dismiss the myriad of things that had accumulated, the venomous sentiments, lingering resentment, and plethora of issues with such an all-encompassing statement. Was this how people talked? How they conversed? Capturing so very much in so very little, so that they could make anyone, everyone understand, even if it meant diminishing the impact of how they felt?

"You already have the courage. You already are going to do it," Jericho said dismissively, as if completely unworried by whether or not Bas would take that next step, whatever it was he intended. "You're hesitating for no reason, Bas. You can do it."

Jericho doesn't need to know what it is Bas is determined to do to know he can do it. He says it with the certainty one might say the sun is going to rise.

"The voices were never rude to me. They talked to me when no one else did. The leaves and the trees, they have lives in them. Told me tales no one else would. And when everyone else leaves me, nature will always be there."

He smiles.

"I could say I'm going through something, but that'd be an understatement. It's rude to burden you with such things, I'm sure, and father would be disappointed in me...so instead, I'll say 'I'm fine.' That's what people do...isn't it?"
(Jericho)
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[01:41] A smile crept upon his visage in response to Jericho's words of encouragement. Encouragement wasn't something that he got often, and it was something that he'd cherish for a lengthy amount of time.

Though, as Jericho voiced his problems-- it was only right that he'd reiterate the favor. His hand jolts forth, and it's place onto Jericho's shoulder, granted that he allowed for such interaction to happen in the first place. A deep exhale is emitted, and the youngster shakes his several times.

"Jericho. W-.. we don't talk often, but I'll always be here for you if you ever need someone to talk to. I'll always consider you a good friend, and I can assure you that there's nothing that you can do that'd make me dismiss that opinion."

He smiles once more, pausing and then continuing:

"Therefore, if you ever need someone to talk to! I'll always be here for you, and don't everfeel like you can't talk to me. I'll never consider you a burden." He remarked, accompanied by a thumbs up with his free hand.
(Bas)
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[01:57] It isn't often that Jericho received encouragement, either. His is a gentle heart - he ran around seeking to brighten up the days of all he met, and bring joy to the people around him, but he never expected that to be reciprocated, really.

The daily rigors of life were ransacking his mental and physical health. Despite the airs he put on, it was clear Jericho struggled to make it from day to day. He didn't believe himself enough. He could never see himself as enough. He was always pushing himself further, the last one on the field after the lessons, hitting the dummies, and sitting in the mirror for hours, practicing being able to speak, to be able to blend in...

But Bas's honest, heartfelt, encouraging words, they are like a light that comes in through the crack that was his rapidly deteriorating stability. The smile that spreads across his face is tired, but genuine.

"I feel the same way, Bas," he says honestly. "For you, Akira, for any of my friends, or family...I'll never run back into the forest, no matter how hard it is, living in this city, trying to talk like these people..."

He rubs at his cheek.

"No matter how many hits...I'll have to keep getting up. Please...just like father...hold me accountable. If you see me frowning - just hit me!"

The boy juts out his chest and enthusiastically nods!!!
(Jericho)
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[02:02] Sven Svenson exclaims, "What a jerk!"
[02:04] W-.. What!? A dismissive wave is offered in Jericho's direction. He wasn't just going to. . punch Jericho for having feelings. It didn't make much sense to him, no matter how long he pondered on the logic behind it. Scratching the back of his neck, accompanied by a timorous smile.

All that really mattered to Bas is that Jericho was happy! The youngster only had one goal: the goal to push others to be the best they can be. As long as he could achieve that one, simple task. There wasn't much that could dismay him.

"U-.. uh, right! I won't hit you or anything, but if I see you frowning. I'll just try to brighten your day or somethin'." He said, tossing a fist up into the sky-- though, he wasn't quite sure why he did it. It just felt as if it fit the moment.

"Don't, uh. . let anyone ever dismay you from doing something. If you feel like you can do it, just go ahead and try your best. I'm sure you're capable of overcoming any obstacle that sits in your way, Jericho."

In all honesty, Jericho truly reminded him of Kieran; his own brother. The two had a plethora of similarities, despite their different backgrounds.

"Anyway, uh. . what do you wanna do? We can keep talking if you'd like, or we can go around and explore and look for somethin' to do."
(Bas)
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[02:22] * You have been awarded 3 Roleplay Points! *
[02:22] "Overcoming any obstacle..."

The boy looks into the distance as he mulls, probably more than Bas, over the other boy's own words. He believed Jericho could persevere and overcome all that was in his path..?

Marisol had said something similar.

It was just odd, with how daunting the colossal wall before him seemed, to ever imagine him breaking through to another side. So many problems were laid out before not just him, but his entire family. Things got weirder and weirder everyday, too, with a noble, his sworn enemy, sitting underneath the Kurokaiya roof...seemingly welcomed by all.

"You're too kind," he says, but then, "No, really. Too kind. I need to train - so thus, part of my training is that I need to ready to be struck at a moment's notice! By hitting me whenever I frown, I can train both my emotions and reflexes at once! I'll do my best to react, and then, I'll have the reflexes of the primates to the west!"

His plan was absolutely foolproof...or so he thought. So foolproof, in fact, that he juts his fist into the sky, joining Bas in his posing.

The two of them probably looked insane to passerby, but it just felt right.

"Honestly...I must stew over all of these developments, the way that the boars of the south taught me to," he says, sagely. "You have been most kind, friend Bas, but this is a journey...I have to make alone." And then he sits, slowly, on the nearby bench. His eyes close. What kind of ancient magics could he be about to unleash..?

And then Bas would just hear snoring, and see Jericho's head tilt, as well as perhaps a bit of drool falling onto his collar.
(Jericho)
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[02:28] Well. . since Jericho went to sleep. There was no point of just lingering here and waiting for him. A wave is offered, despite the receiver not being able to see it due to be asleep. Though, it just felt right.

He proceeds to walk off into the opposing direction!

"Well, take care and I hope you enjoy your nap, friend!"
(Bas)