voice-testing a new character~

[facevalue]

Ah... I was reading a book recently that suggested that if one is having troubles with his 'mundane,' that such questions are to be submitted here. In which case:

Dear Mun-san,

While I am still puzzling out the meanings of 'comrade' -- those beyond the simplest definition -- I would request you refrain from trying to find more for me. I do not need pity or more comrades; Naruto and Sakura are baffling enough as it is. I have yet to find a suitable nickname for either of them... Perhaps you would be willing to assist? Though this book says I should choose their nicknames for myself...

Also, this seems to be as close to a smile as I can muster. I will not threaten consequences if you are to continue insisting I smile properly, as I am certain you are more than aware of what I am capable of, hm?

Comments

[niceguypose]

Oh, Sai-kun! I can help you with these lessons. But I would still like for you to develop a nickname for myself as well. That way we can properly bond as youths!

[facevalue]

Lee-kun...

Yes, proper bonding is good for teamwork. Hmm...

[A long pause.]

Extremely Thick Eyebrows.

[niceguypose]

I am glad you understand. Thank you, Sai-kun! I am so grateful to have my own nickna-

Eyebrows?

[facevalue]

Yes. You must work very hard to have such very large and thick eyebrows.

...

...

...Am I wrong?

[niceguypose]

The... the size of my eyebrows is only the result of my own youthly virility! And I would not trade them for anything in the world, for in the mirror they remind me of Gai-Sensei's! They do not offend you, do they?

[facevalue]

. . .

I do not find them offensive. Something ugly like that is suited for you.

[Smile!]

[niceguypose]

U-ugly?! Sai-san, such criticism is most unkind!

This is a disaster waiting to happen. :D

[beforethedarkness]

You know Naruto and Sakura?

[He's scoping Sai out right about now. Those are his teammates he's talking about. And what's with the talk about nicknames?]

Oh no-- hahaha

[facevalue]

Uchiha... Sasuke-kun?

[There goes that fake smile of his.]

Yes, I am your replacement.

[beforethedarkness]

... Is that so.

[Not smiling, in fact he could almost feel the temperature dropping. He already knows about his defecting (even if he still doesn't understand why), but it kind of feels unpleasant to hear about it from his apparent replacement.]

[facevalue]

Yes.

After you abandoned your comrades, they needed another person to be a three-man-cell again. I am that person.

[The corners of his eyes crease a little in an attempt to make the smile more genuine.]

Perhaps that was a good thing. After all, you did not have the strength to protect them.

[beforethedarkness]

[The words make him tense and rigid in reaction, because as much as he wants to refute it on some level he knows that Sai is right. And that stings more than anything else.]

I will have the strength.

[facevalue]

From Orochimaru?

I wonder... if someone like you can get strength from a weak cocksucker like him.

[And he just smiles all the way through, looking completely unfazed.]

[beforethedarkness]

I won't join him. I won't be like him.

[Of course he won't. He's getting stronger through training with Kakashi. Why would he need to leave?]

[willtowin]

Sai... You're not very good with nicknames.

[She made a face at him.] But you're improving.

[Points upward.] So I see you met the little Sasuke. That's what we think of as the real one, me and Naruto, you know.

[facevalue]

Sakura-sa...

Sakura. Ah...

So someone weak like that is the person you consider a teammate? I understand now.

[willtowin]

[She narrowed her eyes a little.] You know at the time he was the strongest one on the team. Don't you?

[facevalue]

I did know that. I researched his background thoroughly.

I also know that you and Naruto were exceptionally useless back then, so perhaps he was able to shine in comparison.

[Smile! He gets it now!]

[willtowin]

Sai.

[That's your only warning before she moves to punch you.]

[facevalue]

[A little more familiar with Sakura's temper when it came to Sasuke, he immediately ducked and rolled a good distance away.]

Am I wrong?

[walking_malice]

[As someone who has experience with giving nicknames to his comrades…] Just make sure you don’t call them something totally off-base. I don’t get why Master Meow lets me call her that and not Frank, but hey, I’m not complaining.

So you have weird comrades too, huh? Don’t worry; there’s gotta be ones that aren’t so weird or crazy.

You can’t smile? Is there something wrong with your lip muscles?

[facevalue]

Master Meow?

[One can almost see the thought bubble forming over Sai's head as he pictures a cat, brow furrowing slightly even as he dons an obviously fake smile.]

They are very strange, but they are my valued comrades. Ah... as for my smile, I do not have what are called 'emotions,' so I have been told my smile is still too false-looking no matter how I try.

[walking_malice]

Yeah. [Johnny beams a friendly grin at the other.] She’s a giant talking cat that fights using Drunken Fist. Pretty cool, huh? We were traveling together to save the world.

Maybe they’ll become your friends later on. It just takes a while. Sometimes, people’ll even push themselves on you, whether or not you want it. [Thinking of Frank.]

Huh? No emotions? [He frowns in disbelief.] No way. Everyone has emotions. Some people are just better at hiding them.

[facevalue]

...

[He's heard of stranger things. After all, he can make anything he draws come to life on a page, so a talking cat using Drunken Fist? He only smiles and nods as if he understands completely.]

I do not think I have any friends like that, but I am trying to find comrades. I was reading that if one has comrades, one is more likely to work harder to succeed on a mission, due to having something to return to.

[He only tilts his head, fake smile never wavering.]

No, I am afraid I do not have anything like that. It is impossible to hide that which is not there.

[walking_malice]

Well, keep trying. It’s not that hard. You can meet a lot of people from traveling. Or maybe your comrades could introduce you to their friends.

Hmm. I guess so. As long as you have something to look forward to after you’ve done your job, that’s definitely a good motive to finish it.

[He scratches the back of his head. There’s something unsettling about that plastic smile. It reminds him of Gilbert, right before he announced that he had created monsters.]

You sure about that? ‘Cause if you’re human, you’ve got emotions. Even if you’re not… you’d have to be a robot or something.