[Agent Eight suddenly finds himself having to defend a cultural touchstone he's taken for granted even before he was able to choose clothes for himself. He grew up idealizing the freedom to wear what he wanted, when he wanted. That was part of what he was told: the Inklings couldn't be anywhere near as Fresh as Octolings and to make sure they couldn't show them up, they had to keep them down.
No wonder he's struggling.]
Because...they want to show everyone that they can take the heat?
[OK, OK, maybe that's a start?]
Wearing something like that makes a statement about who you are. You wear it to show how unbothered you are by being uncomfortable. Or you wear shorts and a thin jersey to show you're so good you don't need armor. Or...you wear a mask so your opponent can't look you in the eye. That's Freshness. That's what's important.
no subject
No wonder he's struggling.]
Because...they want to show everyone that they can take the heat?
[OK, OK, maybe that's a start?]
Wearing something like that makes a statement about who you are. You wear it to show how unbothered you are by being uncomfortable. Or you wear shorts and a thin jersey to show you're so good you don't need armor. Or...you wear a mask so your opponent can't look you in the eye. That's Freshness. That's what's important.