To All Heroes

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

To Everybody:

Whether we've met or not, I'd appreciate a reply from as many people as are willing, especially if you didn't just come from a version of Earth.

So, let's talk holidays. Christmas, I was willing to let pass as a coincidence. Any civilized planet out there with a winter season ends up with some version of a winter solstice. It doesn't matter the time or the planet or the alien race, they've got some kind of tradition that we would recognize. Celebration for being 'almost out of the dark,' as a friend of mine would put it.

But Valentine's Day? Definitely a product of Earth, of a specific time period of Earth, to be sure. At least, in my experience. And that's where you guys come in. Anybody else, not from Earth, have a custom or a legend like this? Something specifically surrounding a holiday, something that's celebrated. Also, is anybody else reading up on Aqures Ixen legends enough to know if we're going all going to be dealing with rabbits and eggs in two months? If so, I'm calling shenanigans now.

-Captain Jack Harkness

Comments

[nomorecowbell]

There's a dueling arena in the back of the school where the student council fights over who gets to be engaged to the Chairman's sister. That's weird, but not the weirdest thing.

There's also a castle in the air over the arena where Eternity is supposed to live. All kinds of weird things appear in the arena during the duels.

And the Chairman is running it all. I don't even know why. Besides that he and his sister are seriously creepy.

[the paper is crumpled, like Nanami nearly threw it out before sending it].

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

That's horrible. I'm sorry. Why do they have to fight? Over a girl? Or is there something else going on? Can't everybody just refuse? No one participate at all? Just- why?

At least here, there's a point. Sort of.

Would you even want to go back to that?

-Jack

[nomorecowbell]

I don't think any of them wanted Himemiya -- the girl. Except Tenjou-san was friends with her and Miki had a crush. Plus, Tenjou-san thinks she's a prince and going to save everyone. Everyone else wanted whatever was in the castle. Eternity, I mean.

And it's all voluntary. I think the Chairman and Himemiya find out what it takes people to stay in. What they want. No one makes anyone do anything.

I left. I even was working on transferring schools. Then I ended up here.

-- Nanami

[theendiswherewestartfrom]

[There is a lot longer pause before Jack's reply this time. When it does come, the letter is tied to a bar of chocolate.]

Well, let me say that I'm glad you're finding a way out of there, then. And if you do have to fight here, at least you know the stakes, and we're fighting to protect people, not for some mysterious reward.

I guess, since we're both doing this Heroes Of Light thing, that makes us co-workers, of a sort, right?

I'm sorry if I brought up anything too bad. Next time we talk, we'll make it about something a little lighter, eh?

-Jack

[nomorecowbell]

Right. Thank you for the chocolate.

-- Nanami