dear_mun | Hey, I think you need to slow down now.

Hey, I think you need to slow down now.

Now, madam, when you first picked me up, I was flattered. You seemed like a sane, normal, fairly intelligent person.

[Aw, thank you, Malik. Now I'm flattered.]

Well, I wasn't finished. At first, I was flattered. Now, I'm just exasperated. You already have more pressing obligations. Why are you attempting to put me into a game where you haven't even settled in with that lovely healer girl?

I'm sure she'll be fine taking care of Asbel and Hubert... With the help of the other adults there on the ship, at least. At least Pascal and Cheria aren't there to make matters worse.

Now, why don't you be that woman that I thought you were and focus on your inbox. It's a mess.

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Hey, sometimes our Muns get a little overeager! It's all perfectly natural.

As long as she can manage her inbox at the end of a day, what's the harm in bringing us out once in a while?

Now, if she could manage it, I would agree with you. I don't mind going out and seeing the sights every once in a while. There are plenty of people that I can talk to in this thing she calls a headspace, so I'm not bored, but...

[Looks at the inbox.]

There are things in there from December. She doesn't need to be distracted by attempting to illogically justify "apping" me into a game

That... sounds familiar...

[Glances upward, as though looking at her mun.]

I know! Maybe apping you somewhere could be her reward for maintaining a tidy inbox for a while?

If she could manage it for longer than a week, possibly. We'll have to see.

[He strokes his chin in thought before turning on the old man charm.]

I think I missed your name, young lady.

Well, good luck to your mun! I mean, I'm sure she'll do it, but I'm not sure what other encouragement I can give...

[She smiles, scratching at the back of her head.] Sorry to have been rude! I'm Utsuho! Utsuho Reiuji.

Thank you. I'm sure she could use all the encouragement anyone is willing to give her. She's a nice enough woman, but so easily distracted.

[He gives a short bow to the woman before him.]

Not at all. My name is Malik Caesar, former Captain of the Knights in the Kingdom of Windor.

Just like my Mun! It's no wonder they're friends.

[She giggles, rocking on the tips of her toes a moment.]

It's nice to meet you, Malik! Though I've been to the Kingdom of Windor... maybe my Mun has... [She looks horribly confused -- at least for a moment -- before she brightens up.] That must be a place outside of Gensōkyō then, right?

Ah, then it's good to see that she's managed to collect like-minded friends. It's very encouraging.

I've never heard of Gensōkyō. [And, considering he's been over every inch of his planet and what was left of Fodra as well, that's an accomplishment.] The current ruler of Windor is King Richard. However, my home is in Fendel.

I can understand the sentiment. These mundanes are always coming up with new ideas, and yet they become so easily bogged down by their various projects.

Still, regardless of the adults onboard, I suspect you're concerned for them as well. Aren't you, Malik?

Well, she just got that lovely Tear into that game and she's dealing with a few others here. They all seem to be around your age, to be honest.

And of course I worry about them, Your Majesty. Children are bound to find trouble wherever they are. Especially Asbel. I'm sure you remember that.

Interesting. It sounds as if she's quite the busy woman. But come now, Malik, you aren't so very much older yourself.

[After a moment he smiles wryly.] Oh, yes. I remember it quite clearly. Even then Asbel wouldn't allow anything to hold him back. Which is, perhaps, exactly where the trouble arises.

Yes, she has her hands full. I'm trying to encourage her to not add more to her already busy schedule. And flattery will get you everywhere, Your Majesty. However, I am old enough to be the father of most of the others she deals with.

[Sometimes, he wonders if it's okay when Richard smiles like that. Really.]

Exactly. I'll concede that it's Asbel's fearlessness that makes him who he is, but exercising a little caution wouldn't hurt every once in a while.

Yes, this player is rather ambitious as well, though it doesn't seem as if she'll be overloading herself anytime soon. Presently she lacks the time and the means to speak for more than a few of us at any given moment.

And? I can think of little reason why they wouldn't welcome a well-traveled adult role model into their ranks.

[It's never okay, Malik. You have every reason to wonder.]

Indeed. My concern is that fearlessness might lead them into trouble they won't easily be able to get out of. Those pirates are certainly not a group to take lightly, nor is the local Navy.

Some of them would resent anyone attempting to pose as an authority figure, I fear. Not all of them feel that way, however, so there is some progress to be made.

[He thought not. He's pretty much watching himself around you, Richard. He remembers having to fight you all too well, sadly.]

No, from what I understand, that's certainly the case, but when Asbel was at the age when he joined the academy, he wasn't really very willing to listen to authority figures. I can only hope that he's doing so now.

Indeed... He does have some difficulty in that area, and anyone who reminds him of the late Lord Aston is likely in for a particular challenge. [Hmm.]

Then perhaps what they need is for someone to play the role of the favorite uncle, dispensing both good humor and worldly knowledge in equal parts.

[Ah, yes. Richard has hardly forgotten that little detail himself, and though he doesn't doubt Malik at this point... Well, the scar of betrayal is still there. It's a matter both of habit and survival, nothing more.]

...Though I lack any first-hand experience of this type of character, in various works of literature, the "favorite uncle" appears to be portrayed in such a way.

[Richard's remark about the favorite uncle is so much like the role he's already taken up that he can't help but laugh.]

I suppose that's a role I'm used to at this point. Let's just hope that Hubert's not quite as...prickly as he can be, hm?

And, I'm sure that you'll find the perfect to role to play. I believe yours is that of "best friend", correct?

Yes, let us do that. Although, if I recall correctly, Hubert was well-mannered and rather timid as a child. Certainly nothing like the man he is today, and not so easily ruffled.

[Best friend, is it? A pleasant thought, surely, but he knows Asbel well enough to know he does not rank his companions; they are all equally dear to him. As for becoming a best friend to someone else... Yes, Richard would like to meet more individuals he can place his trust in, and they him. But after everything that's happened, it will take some time. He nods politely after a moment.]

Thank you, Malik.

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Hey, I think you need to slow down now.

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