001 ▲ video.

[sylvan]

[The video comes at an odd angle, all wild waves of vivid green hair, occasionally rocking nauseously to reveal pale, creamy skin and the flash of dark blue eyes or part of a nervous but friendly smile -- much like the voice that comes over the airwaves.]

I've... never used something like this before, so I hope it's working! [Her laugh comes soft, chiming a few times before dissipating. The screen shakes and a slender hand comes into view, gesturing as she speaks. Slowly her appearance becomes a little more visible; a sideways angle of about two-thirds of her face comes into focus. Though the angle is odd, it's clear that she is an attractive woman and while uncomfortable, she radiates warmth.]

I'm not really sure where I'm going with all of this, I hadn't had much of a plan in mind when I started. [Another soft laugh that implies she's lost in more than one sense of the word. It doesn't reach her eyes, nor does the smile any longer.]

I do have a question, though, if no one minds it. What now?

Comments

[colorbymemory]

[Namine smiles.]

Hello. I think the others have answered your questions, but if there's any way I can help...

[sylvan]

[ And Rydia smiles back, wide and welcoming. Like she isn't the one lost and uncomfortable right now. ]

I can't think of anything... is there anything important that you wish someone had told you?

[colorbymemory]

[Everyone has their own coping methods. Namine checks other conversations before answering.]

I don't think so...

Oh! My name is Namine.

[Introducing oneself is always a good idea.]

[sylvan]

[ Hopefully not the one where she's being angry and unpleasant! She hasn't quite gotten the gist of these things yet, so it doesn't occur to her that anyone's watching the rest of the things she's been saying. ]

Then that's a relief! I don't think I could deal with much more information being thrown at me.

I'm Rydia. It's nice to meet you, Namine!

[colorbymemory]

It's nice to meet you, too.

[She catches on that not all of them are going well, and leaves them at that. Some things are personal. Maybe it's time to give a hint.]

I know, it's a lot to take in at once. Ummm...one thing you might want to know about the communicators is that most conversations are open to everyone unless you use the privacy settings...

[sylvan]

I'm afraid I don't know how to use them. For now, though, it's too important to me to let it slide. I understand if it makes other people uncomfortable, but it's something I needed to address.

[ Every conversation but the one with Edge is going swell, so she realizes this. She may also, perhaps, be a touch uncomfortable herself about this. Is that what people did here for fun? Listen to other conversations? Fine, she can accept that. It just had to be that one, didn't it? ]

I'm sorry. [ She looks flustered and embarrassed, her face lightly flushed. ]

[colorbymemory]

I'm sure someone can teach you when you have more time. If it looks like a conversation might be getting personal, then you can use the settings to have a little privacy.

[Oh, dear, Namine hadn't meant to imply everyone eavesdropped for fun.]

I don't think anyone checks other conversations as a hobby, but sometimes it makes it easier to offer help or see what information someone already has.

It's okay.

[Namine looks a little red herself, having spoken so much at once and on such a sensitive subject.]

[sylvan]

I see. That sounds useful. For, um. Personal conversations.

[ She doesn't understand this things, really. She's never seen anything like them. The fact that more than one person has mentioned it, though, is enough to make her feel like that's the case. ]

...thank you. I'm sorry, still. I don't lose my temper like that often and I'm sure it makes me look awful. It poorly reflects on me.

[ Ugh, it must look like a lover's quarrel. It barely even crosses her mind since Edge is so friendzoned -- the saddest part about that? The Zone of Friends is all his own creation. ]

[colorbymemory]

It is.

[They're not all spies, really! But if you're going to communicate, it helps to not have to repeat conversations.

Little life experience that she has, Namine doesn't pick up on that. She's seen worse arguments anyway.]

It's okay; not everybody can get along all the time.

[sylvan]

[ She doesn't disagree. It's more technology like this overall that is unnerving her. The closest they had was Whisperweed. ]

Unfortunately true. [ Though she does actually enjoy her arguments with Edge when they aren't heated and either have no reason or something small behind them. This one had been different. ]

[colorbymemory]

[It does take some getting used to. Namine had never seen anything like the communicators before, but they weren't too out of the realm of what she was used to. Apparently the same wasn't true for everyone else.]

I hope you clear things up quickly.

[Even friends have arguments, and while Namine doesn't enjoy conflict, she's aware of friendly teasing and snarking. Riku had been fond of it.]

[sylvan]

[ She's curious about what other kind of stuff they have around here. Strange creatures and portable.. talky-things and all. ]

I... I hope so, too. [ She does sound really confused by all of this, hurt by him and hurt by her inability to let it slide. Hurt by her own pride, hurt by... something she still can't quite put her finger on, but ties knots in her stomach when she tries to unravel it. ] It will pass, I'm sure of it.

[colorbymemory]

[There's all kinds of things, but it's probably best Rydia discover those on her own, little by little.

Namine simply nods in agreement.]

The tea shop is usually quiet for most of the day, if you'd like a place to sit quietly and think.

[sylvan]

I'm going to be heading there shortly.

[ She doesn't comment on the noise level. She hopes that it won't get too noisy, hopes that they'll remain civil. But knowing them, it may not last long. ]

[colorbymemory]

Oh! I'll see you soon, then.

[Why yes, she is a little surprised to hear that. She'd stopped following the other conversation, after all.]

[sylvan]

[ It isn't a very interesting conversation, so she isn't really missing anything. Not unless she's a fan of soap operas, at least. ]

Perhaps you will? I'm meeting someone, though. [ She hasn't felt nervous like this in a while. She wants it to go well. She missed him terribly, though she hesitates in being genuine about it out of fear of his (likely idiotic) response. ]

If not, I intend to stay here for a while to train before heading out to explore. We could meet up, maybe? [ She sounds hopeful. It's cute. ]

[colorbymemory]

[Considering Namine hasn't seen soap operas, she can't say if she's a fan. She probably wouldn't like them.]

I see.

[She can guess who that is, and will let them have their privacy to talk. Reunions between old friends are complicated sometimes.]

Maybe. If not today, perhaps some other time? I do need to practice my magic.

[sylvan]

[ It's alright. TVs don't exist in her world, so. It's all pointless, ho ho. ]

I'd like that. What kind of magic do you use, if you don't mind me asking? Magic can be a very personal thing, so I understand if you'd rather not.

[colorbymemory]

[TV rots your brain anyway, right?]

I'm best at healing and defense magic, but know how to use ice, fire, and lightning if I have to.

[She usually prefers not to have to.]

[sylvan]

Ah, I see. I'm the opposite. I can only use Black Magic. I lost my ability to heal when I gave myself to it.

[ She misses it. It was... liberating in a way, to be able to heal someone. To repair instead of destroy. ]

[colorbymemory]

Black Magic?

[Namine hasn't heard that expression before, but knows she would be sad if she couldn't heal anymore.]

[sylvan]

Attack magic. The only status magic I can use are Toad and Pig.

[colorbymemory]

Oh, like fire and lightning? I don't know any status spells yet--what do they do?

[sylvan]

Exactly! And those can turn the opponent into the creatures the spells are named after. There's also Slow and Stop, Haste... Protect, Blink. That sort of thing.

[colorbymemory]

Oh, I think I've learned the first level of stop, and I've heard of some of the others. Not Toad or Pig, though--are they useful?

[She guesses it would be better to change an opponent's shape than use fire or lightning, but...]