✿ Investigating time

[upcard]

[The voice that prods at everyone is so quiet and tentative, it's probably pretty easily ignored, even despite being a voice in everyone's heads. Mai's just that bad at this psychic network thing.

She's trying, though.]

U-um... excuse me, everyone... Er, everyone that can hear me...

[focus, Mai]

I-it's just...does anyone know what we're supposed to be doing? I mean, everyone's wearing such spectacular masks and costumes, but... it's a little lonely...not being able to tell who everyone is...

[You're rambling, Mai.]

Ah! I don't want to take up too much of your time, everyone...I was just wondering... and if there's anything I can do, I definitely want to do my best...! Is it important to figure out who's who...?

...Thank you...for listening.

[She just feels a little alone, with everyone masked and hidden as they are.

ooc: this is a totally open psychic network post, feel free to use it to communicate about identities or what-have-you!]

Comments

[fridgeninja]

Oh. I hadn't heard about that.

Similar things have happened before.

[upcard]

Eh...?

[She hasn't been asked that yet, so in a way, she's a little surprised.]

W-well... it's an honorific. It's polite, back home... um, since we're not that familiar with each other, that's how you show respect.

[upcard]

...Ah... right, because you were here long before me...

[...she sighs.]

Still, that sounds awfully dangerous. I hope nobody was hurt.

[flatteries]

[ Inigo is sure taking that opportunity, but he's not going to say it to Mai's face.. or.. well, to her thoughts, considering their current channels of communication. Especially not since it's not like he wants to let other people know he's shy or actually often really hurting a lot, whoops..

So instead he focuses on-- ]

Have you ever thought about it, Mai?

[upcard]

Eh? Thought about--

[Oh...about being someone else... no, she got her fill of that when she hopped worlds and timelines and was someone else.

Instead, she sounds even more uncertain when she responds.]

No, I... [...] I think I...still need to worry about who I am now... [Which she is happy to allow him to think is because of the Jaunts messing with their memories.]

[tailforbrains]

Respect?

[The confusion turns into amusement. Neeshka doesn't get respect much.]

Well, all right. That's okay. It's pretty neat, actually. What other things do you call people?

[upcard]

[She's the politest person ever, so...she doesn't really use other honorifics... but she hesitates, before nodding to herself.]

Um, well... you can use "-kun" for boys that are younger than you, if you feel comfortable with it...and "-chan" is for girls.

[...]

If you're close with someone, you don't have to use an honorific with their name at all, like... with childhood friends. But... um, does that make sense? I'm really not sure how to explain...

[fridgeninja]

I don't really think that's how crashes and explosions work.

[tailforbrains]

It makes sense. We use stuff like that, too, back home. Like having to call a rich guy with a title Lord, or a married woman Missus. Everybody's got stuff they use to call other people with. We just don't use it that much, not on everybody's name.

[upcard]

What...do you mean?

[upcard]

Ah... right, that makes sense...

Well, I mean--it doesn't bother you, right? I can...try to use what's more comfortable for you.

[Even if the thought of not using honorifics is beyond weird to her.]

[fridgeninja]

Whether it's a ship or a space station, destroying it leaves people vulnerable in a dangerous environment.

[undefine]

It's nothing. [He shakes his head.] There is not much to be done until this celebration is over. Regardless, even watching from here could still be considered productive.

[He liked to be aware of everything that was happening, so even if it was just watching what was going on, that was plenty.

(There really wasn't a whole lot to do otherwise, anyway.)]

[knightceties]

Ehhhh... I'd know you're lying to me, so that wouldn't work at all. You really need to practice that kind of thing on the unsuspecting, you know?

[tailforbrains]

Naw, it's fine. I just wanted to know, since I didn't know what it means. For all I know, you were calling me goat-girl in some other language, or something, you know?

[upcard]

Well, yes, but...!

[...]

But... I still have to hope that...nobody is hurt. Even if it is unlikely...

[upcard]

[Right...okay. He...can still work here.

Does Saitou ever...stop working? She's not sure at this point, honestly. It seems questionable. Still...she's hardly in the position of looking a gift horse in the mouth here.

He's still saving her from immense amounts of awkward and discomfort.]

Right... [...] What are you watching for...? Maybe I can help! [Still eager to be of use: the protag life.]

[upcard]

Oh, um... I wouldn't want to impose on you anyway...

[...no she kind of would rather practice on someone who she at least vaguely knows.]

[upcard]

Oh, no, I could never-- That would be so rude--!

[This is a polite, delicate flower right here...]

... N-no, Neeshka-san, it doesn't mean anything like that...

[undefine]

[Saitou stopped working once. It was terrible— wait, no, that's not true. But he really does prefer to be doing something, anything that's even remotely useful. Fortunately, all he can really do right now is something fairly simple, so he doesn't mind sharing with her at all.]

Simply anything out of the ordinary. It will help our understanding of this place, and might give us clues as to what we should be doing.

[...unless what they should be doing is dancing. He's doing his hardest to avoid dancing as much as possible.]

[fridgeninja]

Mm. I don't think that way; but I'm glad there's someone who does.

[knightceties]

Ahahaha, I guess it wouldn't be very knightly of me to say no to a sad face like that! Okay, I'll let you practice lying to me.

[upcard]

[gOTTA TAKE BREAKS SOMETIMES, SAITOU...!! But at the very least, she can do that too, nodding slowly.

Thoughtfully, she shifts her gaze back to the dance, uncomfortable in her own dress. She doesn't know why she ended up with a dress like this, but it certainly doesn't make her feel...okay... not with something so extravagant, and her shoulders bare like this. She's had a lot of things to be uncomfortable about--but at least she's relaxing a bit in Saitou's company.]

Um... a lot of the people who responded to me said that...they think the dances are really important. Um--like something political? ...Or something like that.

[upcard]

[She purses her lips at that, even if he can't see her.]

... When you say it like that, it makes it sound bad...

[upcard]

...Eh?

[wait, what....HOW DID WE GET HERE.]

N-no, I don't want to do that...!