Scenario:Soriz - Gather Ye Rosebuds, Soriz

Gather Ye Rosebuds, Soriz

Spurred on by Ghandagoza's words, Soriz spends his days running through the mountains, breaking boulders, and hitting the books—all while avoiding the women of the crew. Even with help from (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn, Soriz begins to crack under the strain, causing his friends to worry whether he'll ever take a break.

---

Ghandagoza's words push Soriz to reflect seriously on his way of life.

He sets himself a spartan training regime in order to take a good, hard look at himself.

Soriz: One, two!
One, two!

His morning begins early with a long run followed by weight training.

Soriz: Sooryaah!

He spends his afternoons alone in the mountains, smashing rocks and chasing wild beasts.

Soriz: Well, now... The best thing for soothing tired muscles is a nice, cool soak...

In the evenings, Soriz hits the books and studies martial arts, military strategy, or medicine.

Soriz: Ah!

Soriz: Phew... That was close. If I hang around here, I'll wind up seeing women...

Most important is the self-imposed ban on female company, which extends even to his crewmates. Soriz won't allow himself to so much as lay eyes on them.

Lyria: Huh?

Soriz: Wah!

Soriz: Wh-what're you three doin' here? I thought I was about to clap eyes on a lady!

Vyrn: Uh... Why're you hiding under that desk?

Soriz: I told you before about my new training regime, didn't I?

Lyria: Oh, that's right! Is hide-and-seek good training?

Soriz: Well, sort of, now that you mention it.

Soriz explains about his resolution not to look at women.

Lyria: I see! That... must be difficult. There are a lot of women in our crew.

Soriz: Yeah... I feel like I'm always trippin' over 'em.

Vyrn: Huh... You're really taking your training seriously for once!

Soriz: Hey, I'm always serious! I seriously love women! That's why I had to deprive myself of their company.

Vyrn: Yeah... My heart bleeds for you.

Vyrn: But hey, I can tell you're trying. If you want a hand with your training, just say the word!

Lyria: Yeah! We could keep a lookout and warn you if any women around Katalina's age come by.

Soriz: Whoa, really? That'd be a big help!

Soriz: There's no one around in the mountains, anyway, so could you just be my scouts when I'm on the airship?

Lyria: Of course! You can count on us!

With the promise of (Captain) and the others' assistance, Soriz throws himself back into his training.

Soriz: Hup, two, three, four!

Soriz: Toryah! Seiyaaah!

Soriz: Hmm... I see, I see...

Lyria: Soriz, watch out! Rosetta's coming!

Soriz: Evasive maneuvers!

And so Soriz spends his days running through the mountains, breaking boulders, deepening his relationship with his library card, and running away from the women in the crew.

He sticks faithfully to his resolutions.

Soriz: Huff... puff... Huff... hack...

Soriz: Gyah!

Soriz: Ugh, what's goin' on? My eyesight's getting' blurry...

Vyrn: Heeey! Katalina sighting!

Soriz: ...

Soriz: Wh-wha? Ladies incoming? Right!

Vyrn: Are you all right? You don't look so hot.

Soriz: Gyahaha! You know how tough I am! This is nothin'!

Soriz: Now to shield my eyes from feminine beauty...

Day by day Soriz's grueling regimen takes its toll.

Vyrn: What was that noise?

Lyria: Aaahhh! Soriz collapsed!

Lyria: Soriz, are you all right?

(Captain) hurries to Soriz's side to help him up, but Soriz refuses and gets to his feet on his own.

Djeeta is the Main Character

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Soriz: Nooo! No contact with women!

Soriz: Oh, it's just you, (Captain).

Soriz: Yow! Quit pinching me! That hurts!

Soriz: Sorry... Didn't wantcha to see me like this.

Lyria: Um, Soriz? Why don't you take a day off from training?

Vyrn: Yeah... You've been looking more ragged by the day. One little break won't kill ya!

Soriz: No! No can do! It feels like I've been doing nothing but slacking off for years!

Soriz: Sorry I worried you, kids. Just keep rootin' for me a while longer, okay?

And with that, Soriz drags himself off for more punishment.

Vyrn: He's overdoing it, right?

Lyria: Yeah...

(Captain) and the others watch Soriz go, worry writ large across their faces.

Gather Ye Rosebuds, Soriz: Scene 2

(Captain), Eugen, Jin, and the others worry over the changes in Soriz, who never seems to smile anymore. One night, as Soriz forces himself to study through his exhaustion, he gets into a heated argument with his inner voices—one urging him to give up, the other demanding he persevere.

---

Concerned for Soriz's health, (Captain), Lyria, and Vyrn go to find Eugen. They find him in conversation with Jin.

Eugen: Hey, you three. What's with the long faces?

Eugen: The crew'll worry if they see their captain looking so grim, (Captain). Tell me what's up.

Lyria: Um... We're worried about Soriz.

Vyrn: Training's one thing, but he's really going overboard...

Jin: Indeed. I've also been troubled by how sallow he looks of late.

Lyria: It's definitely affecting his health.

Lyria: And I feel like all the fun's been sapped out of him.

Eugen: The fun?

Lyria: He usually looks so happy when he's training or spending time with women.

Vyrn: Yeah... He's been really gloomy lately. Maybe it's 'cause he's tired.

Lyria: Soriz's smiling face always calms me down.

Lyria: Even when I'm scared, it makes me feel like everything will be all right. It's really reassuring.

Eugen: It's true. His cheerful attitude has been a real lifesaver at times.

Eugen: I don't wanna stop him training, but he's losing one of his best qualities, isn't he?

Jin: I believe that by imposing this new regimen on himself, Soriz hopes to discover a new kind of strength.

Jin: But perhaps he would be better off seeking his answer within the lifestyle he's led so far.

Jin: It may lie hidden there, as does his good cheer.

Soriz: Phew... When did it get so late? (Captain) and the others're probably asleep. Shouldn't wake 'em up.

Soriz: Well, that means all the ladies are abed, too. May as well get in my reading and then hit the hay.

Soriz: Lessee here... "When engaged in rigorous physical training, one must be sure to rehydrate..."

Soriz: "Due to elevated body temperature during exercise, one must also be vigilant against heatstroke."

Soriz: "The symptoms are difficult to treat, so great care should be taken to avoid developing them in the first place."
Well, yeah. Even I knew that.

Soriz: Yaaawn...

Soriz: Whoa, no nodding off yet. Still got thirty pages to go.

Soriz: Sigh... Thirty more pages...

???: Give it up...

???: No! Knuckle down!

Soriz: Huh? What was that?

Devil Soriz: It's me, chump! Your inner voice!

Devil Soriz: C'mon, ditch this boring homework!

Angel Soriz: No way! You said you were gonna figure out your personal philosophy!

Angel Soriz: So you're feeling a little starved for feminine company—so what? Isn't it more important to leave something behind for the next generation?

Devil Soriz: What've those brats done for me lately? I wanna see ladies!

Angel Soriz: You wanna do at least something worthwhile with the time you have left, don't you?

Devil Soriz: Hey, if we don't have much time left, let's spend that time getting at least one more eyeful of a bathing beauty!

Angel Soriz: What'd you say?

Devil Soriz: You heard me! Got a problem with that?

Angel Soriz: Yeah! You wanna piece of me?

Soriz: Shut up!

Soriz: Just listening to the two of you is wearing me out!

Soriz: And I'm tired enough from training my ass off all day!

Soriz: You're on my last nerve! Beat it!

Devil Soriz: Say that again!

Angel Soriz: Hey, chief, we're here to help you.

Soriz: I said scraaam!

Gather Ye Rosebuds, Soriz: Scene 3

After laying the smack down on his warring inner voices, Soriz realizes that he wants to do his utmost to make sure he and everyone around him can enjoy life. A few days later, he goes to challenge Ghandagoza and share his new philosophy.

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Soriz: Doryaaah!

Devil Soriz: Gyaaah!

Soriz beats down his conflicting inner voices.

Soriz: Sheesh...

Eugen: What was that sound?

Lyria: Ah! Soriz!

Vyrn: You're back? Why didn't you say any... thing...

Soriz: ...

Jin: Soriz?

Soriz: I found it... My philosophy...

Vyrn: Gulp! Yeah? What is it?

Soriz: It's...

Soriz: If it feels right, do it!

Vyrn: What?

(Captain) and Lyria trade surprised looks.

Soriz: Sittin' around thinking things over isn't worth it! It's pointless and it's a bore!

Eugen: Pff... Hahahaha!

Eugen: Hahaha, you're right. That fits you just fine!

Jin: Agreed. I believe that attitude is what makes you the excellent companion you are.

Their conversation seems to be going straight over (Captain), Vyrn, and Lyria's bewildered heads. Soriz reaches out and gives each of them a thorough hair-mussing.

Soriz: In the beginning, I started training to prove that a person's body could be the ultimate weapon.

Soriz: Proving that with my own physique was so much fun, I just kept right on training.

Lyria: Hehe, you always did look like you were enjoying yourself.

Soriz: I was. Training happens to be what I'm into, but it could be other things for other people.

Soriz: Whatever you like, you oughta do it! If it puts a smile on your face, you don't need a better reason.

Soriz: But that's not the most important part...

Soriz: I'd rather see people happy than down in the dumps.

Soriz: I really killed the mood on the ship by going around looking like I was at a funeral.

Soriz: Can't have that. No one was having any fun.

Lyria: We feel the same way. If you're happy, we're happy!

Soriz: Haha, thanks. I've seen the error of my ways.

Soriz: From now on, I'm not just gonna stand by and enjoy other people's good moods.

Soriz: I'm gonna do my best to make 'em happen myself.

Soriz: That's the best way for me and everyone around me to enjoy life!

Soriz: And that's my philosophy.

Eugen: I like it. That's a damn good philosophy.

Soriz: Right? Haha, I guess something good came out of all that hardship!

Soriz: But that's all in the past! Now if you'll excuse me...

Jin: Hm? Where are you going?

Soriz: Where else?

Soriz: I've got peepin' to do!

1. Stop right there!

Choose: Stop right there!

(Captain) leaps to block the way to the women's baths.

Soriz leads the captain and the others on a merry chase as they try to prevent his bad behavior.

But Soriz, at least, appears to be having a grand old time.

Soriz: ...

Soriz: Thanks for coming, Ghandagoza.

Ghandagoza: Certainly.

Ghandagoza: You look refreshed, Soriz. Did you find your answer?

Soriz: Heh heh...

Soriz: Let me tell you... with my fists!

Ghandagoza: Ohhh, no better way!

Ghandagoza: Here I come, Soriz!

Soriz: Hyaaah!

Gather Ye Rosebuds, Soriz: Scene 4

During their fight, Ghandagoza notices a change in Soriz's style, which he attributes to Soriz's newfound philosophy. Soriz answers that he's discovered his reason for living—to make himself and everyone around him happy. Ghandagoza's approval brings a bashful smile to Soriz's face.

---

After a spirited battle, Ghandagoza steps away from Soriz and lowers his fists.

Soriz: What's wrong?

Ghandagoza: Your fighting style has changed, Soriz. Is that the manifestation of your newfound philosophy?

Soriz: Yeah... I think it is.

Ghandagoza: Your new style... is oriented towards fighting in a group rather than alone, is it not?

Soriz: Well... Life's just no fun without friends!

Soriz grins and relaxes out of his fighting stance.

Soriz: Y'know, Ghandagoza...

Soriz: I want to surround myself with people, and I want to see them smile.

Soriz: So I want to dedicate these fists to helping others.

Soriz: These hands can do more than punch. They can reach out and hold someone else's.

Ghandagoza: Indeed?

Soriz: So maybe that's... not my philosophy but my reason for living—to make myself and everyone around me happy.

Soriz: And if I put smiles on people's faces, they'll do the same for others.

Soriz: Even after I'm long forgotten, that happiness will keep on rippling outward. That's good enough.

Soriz: No, not good enough. Damn good.

Ghandagoza: I see...

Ghandagoza: A sentiment worth risking one's life for.

Ghandagoza: Well spoken, Soriz. I knew you wouldn't disappoint me.

Soriz: Haha! You're makin' too big a deal out of it!

Soriz: But it's kind of a relief to realize I don't need such a lofty goal.

Soriz: I guess this old hound can still learn a trick or two!

Soriz laughs self-consciously and turns away to gaze into the azure distance.

The possibilities awaiting Soriz and his friends are as vast as the cloud-strewn horizon.