Okay, first off, let me apologize! I know I'm late with the posts, but I've been extremely busy lately, what with end of the semester classes, looking for a job... My body deciding that I needed to go back to being sick for a couple days more and my laptop requiring a trip to a repair shop also definitely didn't help, and I've just spent the past week putting out fire after fire. I'm sorry about not sticking to schedule, I'll try to keep up better from now on.
But, putting that aside... It's time for Never Meet Your Heroes: Episode 4!
For those of you who are recent followers (and there are a lot of you, actually, ilysm), this is a small segment where we bring in one of the League's members and have them answer a couple questions, some about themselves, some about the League, some about the world at large... Whatever I (and your lovely submissions!) manage to present them!
Today we have the nicest girl of the bunch, the oft-proclaimed 'cinnamon roll' of the team, Aki. And she's sure glad to be here, right?
Aki (referred to as A from hereon): Come on... You don't have to be so nice, I'm not, uh, that good at this whole interview thing...
Juan (referred to as J): Oh, don't be nervous, there's no need to worry. We'll do some softball questions, nothing hard, alright?
A: I'd like that, I think. The guys want to know more about me, right?
J: Yeah, of course they do. You're dope as hell. Just give us a couple tidbits, whatever you feel comfortable sharing.
A: ... Okay, alright. Let's do it. What's the first question?
J: Let me see, I got quite a few to go through here... Ah, here's one. You like metal, yeah? Why's that?
A: Metal as in the music genre? Well... It may sound a bit dumb, but I kind of like the emotion in it. I used to be really...
J: Sheltered?
A: Well, yes, but I guess it was for my own good. Anyway, I didn't get up to much exciting stuff as a kid, so I always... I don't know, lived vicariously through shows, or songs, and that kind of stuff. A lot of the time, metal songs are about some epic event and stuff, so I like... you know, closing my eyes, and thinking I'm the one going through it. I guess it's some kind of dumb daydreaming I like doing.
J: I don't think it's dumb. A lot of people do that.
A: Yeah?
J: Well, most of them do it with love songs, to be fair, so I guess you're a bit of an odd case, but it's still a perfectly human thing to do.
A: Oh, that's good. That's really good to hear. Thank you, Juan.
J: No problem. Now, mind if we move onto Question 2?
A: Oh, no, go ahead! Shoot your shot!
J: Not... quite how it's used, and I'd rather Forlorn not break my legs, but for Question 2... Oh, here's a good one. Obviously, your entire life isn't being a hero, so... what do you do in your free time?
A: Well, I like painting. I'm not exactly great at it, but I like doing sketches some times... Oh, and obviously, knitting. I actually made a scarf for Ignis a while ago, she seemed to really like it. Aside from that... Hm... Oh, right, videogames! I don't play as often as Nova, but I do like going through some games every once in a while.
J: Oh, so you're a gamer.
A: I'm pretty sure that's not a good word anymore...
J: Oh, it's not, I'm just pulling your tail. Anyway, what kind of games do you play? FPS?
A: Oh, heavens, no. I don't like those, they're kind of... boring. I normally play RPGs. Actually, Lat recommended me the Trails in the Sky series like two weeks ago, and I'm absolutely loving the entire franchise. I just started Cold Steel!
J: ... But that's the sixth game in the franchise. And you started two weeks ago?
A: ... Yeah? Is that bad?
J: Oh, no, don't worry. I don't have much room to speak, either. One thing though, best girl?
A: Estelle, obviously.
J: Hell yeah. And actually, now that you brought up Latooni, I do have a question about her.
A: What is it?
J: You two get along, right? Any thoughts on her as a person?
A: Well... This won't, uh, get me in trouble, right?
J: No, absolutely not. Just let me know what you think of her.
A: Okay... Well, when she just joined, I, uh, I kind of thought she was a lot.
J: A suprisingly common take, I'm led to believe.
A: Oh, but we're cool now! I'm not, uh, the best at making friends, so Lat being so forward and stuff was nice. We haven't had much time to hang out lately, but she's always nice. Our interests don't exactly always align, but I always like hearing her takes... Even if I don't get some of them.
J: Any examples?
A: Well, do you know what submissive and br-
J: MOVING ON, uh, Question 4. We can do Question 4 now, right?
A: Oh, you don't know either? Okay... Yeah, sure, let's do Question 4.
J: Alright, so, I wanted to-
A: Wait, hold on. You said you're only sending softballs, right?
J: Yeah...?
A: That means you have some harder questions, no? I'd like to try one.
J: You sure? You're doing perfectly so far, there's no need to pressure yourself.
A: No, I want to try. I'm not gonna get better at the whole interviewing thing if I always shy away from the tough topics. And, well, you're being nice, so I'd like to try here first.
J: Okay, alright. I have two big questions then. Ready?
A: Ready.
J: What made you choose to be a hero? It's a pretty dangerous lifestyle.
A: Eh, it's less dangerous than you'd think, really. I'm pretty strong and... Wait, did that sound like a brag?
J: It did, but don't worry. Keep talking.
A: Okay, well, I just... thought it'd be a good substitute, I guess.
J: A substitute?
A: Yeah, well, I had some... responsibilities, I guess, to take care of when I came here, but, uh, I couldn't really do them.
J: Why not?
A: It's, uh... it's private. I don't wanna talk about it.
J: Okay, no worries. So you went with the hero life instead of your original purpose?
A: Well, I still plan to get back to that eventually... But yeah, I guess. When I got here, Forlorn had already been doing heroics for a couple years, and, well, I have powers too, right? Why not help people like he did? Only, well, y'know...
J: Without his signature permanent frown?
A: Haha, well, yeah. Don't tell him I said that.
J: Hey, I think I'd be worse off than you if I shared that. But now that you've brought up Forlorn...
A: Oh no. Is the second question about him?
J: Partly. You don't have to answer if you don't want to.
A: ...No, no, it's fine. I'll answer. As I said, I need to get used to this. What's the question?
J: Well, I think we all know Forlorn's plenty... protective of you.
A: He has his reasons.
J: I know, I know. I know more than you, actually, but point is, uh, you must have... thoughts on it, right? How does it make you feel?
A: He... has his reasons for being like that.
J: Well, yes, but that wasn't the question.
A: I...
J: Again, Aki, you don't have to an-
A: I don't like it.
J: Ah.
A: I'm sorry, I shouldn't say that, but I... I don't! It's so dumb. I know why he does it, and I know he doesn't mean anything bad by it, but it's just... it's stifling. I know I'm nowhere near the most experienced person, or that I don't know a lot about local customs and stuff, but he treats me like a child, like I'll break if I ever step out from his shadow. And he's right about protecting me from some stuff, I'll admit that, but sometimes it almost feels like he's hiding me or something. Which I know isn't the case, because what the hell does he need to hide me from? I'm basically untouchable to anything on Earth. You could drop a nuclear bomb on me and I'd probably be a bit winded, at most. And he's even stronger than me. There's nothing we have to be afraid of.
J: You're being very candid, Aki.
A: I'm sorry, I'm pretty sure this is called venting, but I don't... I don't have anyone to talk to about this stuff. He treats me like I'm made of porcelain, like I'm some irreplaceable piece of something, and, sure, I get I'm important, but I'm here for a reason, Heavens damn it! Besides, I just... I just want to have a chance. At a normal life, with friends. Not kept safe like some princess in an Ivory Tower, protected from all sorts of dangers. I just want to live, and I'll get he'll always watch over me, because we're family, but... He can watch over me without ordering me.
J: Have you... brought any of this up to him?
A: I... no, I haven't. I know I should, but there's not a good chance to do it, and whenever I get the courage to do it, something big happens, and the moment is lost, and...
J: I understand, it's okay. I'm sure you'll talk to him when you're ready, right?
A: Yeah, I mean, of course. Eventually.
J: Okay. It's your choice to bring it up, whenever you do. And, I'll admit, it's been a joy to have you, but...
A: Oh, are we done already? Wait, did I waste all the ending time just babbling on? Oh, dear, I'm so sorry.
J: No, no, don't worry about that. It's always interesting to hear the League member's thoughts. And yours are... rather full of emotions.
A: I'm... not sure if that's meant as a compliment or not.
J: It is, it is! Please take it as one. I'm more than happy to have had you here today.
A: Okay, great. I'm glad I didn't, uh, screw it up or anything. Out of curiosity, who's next?
J: Hmm, I'm thinking Latooni will be next. And since you're such good friends...
A: I'll let her know, it's no problem. Thank you for letting me be here. Oh, and before I forget... I'm not that good with music, but Forlorn left you a song that he likes, right? There's this one that I like too, and...
J: Ah, thank you. I'll include it. Until next time.
A: Until next we meet!
Thank you for the questions, everyone! I hope this little... 'interview' gives you a bit of a deeper look into what Aki is like, and gives some slight hints on what to expect regarding her, and her relationship with Forlorn himself. i loved all the submissions, they were all plenty of fun.
Next time, we'll have ya girl, Latooni herself, here and ready to have a chat, so feel free to start sending some questions for her!
And, lastly, here's a small song, courtesy of Aki. I'm sure it doesn't reflect on her thoughts or anything like that...
