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

[sylvan]

Do you think it would be beneficial to rent a place semi-permanently instead of nightly, then?

[ She pauses, tilting her head a little to the side. ] That's a strange way of naming things. You'd think those places would be named opposite, wouldn't you?

[shadearchivist]

I've chosen to buy space from the moogles for a shop and apartment; the hotel seems too impersonal to me.

[He considers the question for a moment.]

I think the point of Traverse Town's night is that one can always see the stars.

[sylvan]

Which implies you don't think you'll be leaving any time soon.

[ No reason to be delusional, she thinks. She doesn't plan on getting too settled in, but she doesn't want to lie to herself, either. ]

Is it? I'm so used to them back home. At least in the Overworld. You can't see them in the Underworld or in the Feymarch. I sometimes take them for granted. [ A beat. ] Do you like them?

[shadearchivist]

I've been here for some months, so despite my hopes of a quick escape, no, I don't anticipate that we'll get out quickly.

[He'd spent ten years away from home before. He can stand a few months away, so long as he can return again.]

I don't know how exactly the world works where you come from but each of those stars should be another world. It's the light from the hearts of those worlds that shines in the sky. So I suppose I do like them. It makes one feel less lonely.

[sylvan]

I'll try to make a conscious effort not to bring things up like that again. It's so normal to me that I forget that things are... different here.

[ She shifts a bit closer, rocking back and forth on her feet. ]

Hm, well. I think I'll probably stay here for a while and gather my bearings. [ She might be drawing the wrong conclusion from his words, but she thinks he's very melancholy. He reminds her a little of Edward. ] So you can call on me if you ever need company.

[shadearchivist]

It's hardly sensitive, just...depressing, I suppose.

[Ienzo smiles at her.]

Thank you. I'm not without friends here, but one does get homesick.

[sylvan]

How honest of you to say. [ Although perhaps brutally so. She wouldn't quite go so far as he had, not yet anyway. ]

You're quite welcome. I figured as much, though, since I can't imagine someone as helpful and interesting as you being without comrades. [ This really could easily come off as flirting, couldn't it? She's rather oblivious to that fact, simply stating how she feels -- which happens to be complimentary. ]

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles and shakes his head. He doesn't take it as flirting, because honestly he doesn't really expect to be flirted with.]

Thank you for that evaluation. I'm certain you'll make friends as well. But truly, I should be going so you can settle in.