Canon Bump - 1/3 - Nanoha A's Start!

[lil_tanuki]

[You see Hayate moving around the kitchen, working on something that's boiling at waist height as she's on the phone.] -- You'll be coming home late? Okay. I'll make sure that there'll be food ready for you when you get home.

Sorry Hayate-chan, I promise we'll be back as soon as possible! [Was the voice on the other end, audible to the community.]

It's okay, Shamal, just come back as soon as possible okay? I'll call one of my friends to keep me company. Laters!

[Hanging up, she sighed as she found her laptop broadcasting.] Oh hi community! Looks like it's been a long time. It's December now. So how are things?

Comments

[coolblueiceman]

It's been a long trip through space and time, with a few snags along the way. So... it's been a little rough, but for the most part I'm not complaining. Long voyages through uncertain terrain are part of the job.

How are you and your family holding up?

[lil_tanuki]

Mmm that would take some time then. Good to hear the trip is almost over.

We're doing okay. They've been out longer lately, but they're all adults. I can allow them to have some leeway after all!

[coolblueiceman]

Yes, that's important, even if you're unofficially in charge of them, which is definitely what it looks like when we see you.

Some of our missions lately have been... a bit unorthodox, so I'll be looking forward to the break.

[lil_tanuki]

Hehe yeah. They can be such fishes out of the water at time.

Oh ho? Anything you can talk about?

[coolblueiceman]

Not that I can blame them, honestly. I'm not exactly a social butterfly myself, to my mother's eternal dismay. [He's not sure whether to look over his shoulder or grimace; he's certain Lindy heard that comment somehow.]

This tour hasn't been anything too dangerous. A few awkward moments, though. We made a stop at a low-population world that had experienced a massive volcanic event... but it didn't have any active volcanoes. When we went down to investigate, there'd been a huge clash between two mages that didn't want to blow up anyplace close to home. Their fight destroyed something like a quarter of the planet, by the time all was said and done, and it was very hard to placate the locals. They weren't exactly willing to make peace with us when we couldn't promise it wouldn't happen again.

...Then there was the world with the beaches, and the Lost Logia that replaced people's clothing with swimsuits in unreasonable colors and materials. Let's just say that tree bark is not a suitable substance for a bathing suit. In any capacity. [He coughs, and his face colors ever so slightly; it must have been quite an ordeal.]

[lil_tanuki]

Aww you should be! At your age you should be having a little more fun.

[Hayate nodded at his explanation as she laughed a little, the tone cheery] Oh goodness you really have to keep track of things all the time. The last sounds really silly.

[coolblueiceman]

Hayate, I am a ranking officer in an interdimensional navy. Being friendly isn't exactly part of basic training. It's not like I want to be a stick in the mud, I just... don't do the whole social thing very well. I'm working on it.

And you wouldn't even believe how rough it can get sometimes. The Bureau is good, honest, rewarding work, but it's a lot to handle, some days. I thank the Saint Kaiser every day for my second-in-command, Amy - she's great at keeping all this under control. Someday I'll get her to teach me how she keeps up with it all, but... for now, I'll let her take care of things.

[lil_tanuki]

You're still fifteen with a ten year old babyface. Isn't your mother trying to get you to loosen up? [Hayate no, no taunting him.]

Oooh Amy huh? Do you like her?

[Yeah she's totally taunting you now.]

[coolblueiceman]

If she is, she needs to ease up on it before she starts to ship me with Amy herself. [He pauses, a disturbed expression crossing his face.] Did I just use that word out loud? I think I did. [He shudders.] This place is starting to get to me, clearly.

And no, I don't. I don't have time for that, anyway. Besides, aren't I a little too young for a relationship?

[lil_tanuki]

Oh you'll live, it's not like it'll affect the rest of your life if you get shipped.

You're fifteen, she's fifteen... Look at all of the couples here!

[coolblueiceman]

I beg to differ. You're forgetting that my mother is an admiral in said interdimensional navy. If she wants to make something happen... she's got the power. I'm still not certain she didn't pull strings to get me on her ship.

Besides, I don't want to think about all those couples. Some of those pairs are... weird.

[lil_tanuki]

Ship ship ship ship~ Okay I'll stop.

Oh c'mon, what's so silly about a robot and a girl finding love?

[coolblueiceman]

Please do. I'm serious here - I'm trying to get out of my mother's shadow and become an officer that can stand on his own merits. Being in a relationship on her bridge where she can watch over me is not how I'm going to get there.

And... I don't even want to think about that. My head hurts just from hearing it.

[lil_tanuki]

Everyone needs a stepping stone, even if its with your mother. Don't worry too much about it.

It's funnier than say a dead girl with a guy from another world.

[coolblueiceman]

I don't want a stepping stone. I want to do my job... well. Nothing for it, I guess. If it happens, it happens. [Chrono is rapidly realizing that Hayate is not the person to talk to about love. Ever.]

...I don't want to think about that one, either. In fact, let's get off this subject.

[lil_tanuki]

Hmm I guess you're right.

Hehehe~

[coolblueiceman]

That laugh concerns me. But anyway... yes, I know I don't really have a personal life. Not that I really miss it. I'm the son of military parents, and I serve under my mother. I don't make free time for myself, and that's okay with me.

[lil_tanuki]

I'm sure you'll get one eventually. I mean, there's going to be downtime sooner or later.

[coolblueiceman]

That's what she keeps telling me, Hayate. One of these days I might even believe it.

[lil_tanuki]

Seriously. You can't work 24/7 for your whole life.

[coolblueiceman]

Perhaps not. But I don't have any desire to do anything else. This is my whole life. I'm a soldier with no other hobbies, and a warship hurtling through dimensional space isn't really a good place to discover one, other than stargazing.

[lil_tanuki]

You need some hobbies then. Good ones. I can teach you. [Is this the face of someone who would take no for an answer?]

[coolblueiceman]

[Unfortunately, it isn't, and he knows that.]

I'm not sure I'm going to like the answer, but what did you have in mind?

[lil_tanuki]

I could definitely show you around town, teach you how to take a little time off and enjoy yourself.

[coolblueiceman]

...Maybe. Get back to me when I'm back in orbit, and we'll talk. I could be talked into a little shore leave.

[lil_tanuki]

Sounds good then. I'll keep it on my schedule.