✿ 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

[tailforbrains]

I guess if you wanna help look for Sabetha, I won't stop you. I haven't seen her anywhere yet, or heard her on the mind-melding chatter, either, so I'm guessing she's all infiltrated again.

[upcard]

Sabetha...?

Um, I don't think we've met...what is she like?

[tailforbrains]

Uh. Tall, red hair, kind of mean sometimes... but also kind of nice? She was a mermaid before, with pink tentacles, and a student in my department in the jaunt before that, and... I don't know what she was in the jaunt right before this one. I didn't see her until things fell apart.

[upcard]

Ah... I see. I don't think I know her at all...

[After a moment, more firmly--]

I'll be sure to search for her, Neeshka-san!

[tailforbrains]

Thanks. ... and what the hells is up with that "san" thing, anyway?

[Mai isn't the first person to use that on her, either, so she's starting to get curious.]

[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.

[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...

[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]

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.]

[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]

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...

[tailforbrains]

[She's so cute and funny. Neeshka tries not to let her amusement come over the network, but she's not great at that sort of thing, so some of it does.]

Good to know. It's not like it's an uncommon insult where I come from. The horns and all.

[upcard]

Oh, but...

[That's still so rude.]

You don't deserve anything like that...! I mean, um, your appearance is really...unique, but I don't think it's goatlike at all!

[tailforbrains]

Obviously you don't have a thing against tieflings, unlike most of the world where I come from. I get a lot of names like that.

[She makes it sound off-hand and quite normal, as if it doesn't bother her at all. And really, for the most part, it doesn't.]

[upcard]

Um, no...

[...???]

I'm sorry that you have to go through that... though--I've never heard of tieflings.

[tailforbrains]

We're part demon, part human. Or elf, or dwarf, or whatever.

[upcard]

Oh...! [de...mon...??]

I had no idea... [But really, Neeshka is Neeshka.] But you're still Neeshka-san, so...you're still a friend.

[tailforbrains]

[That does take her a little aback. Neeshka doesn't have many actual friends. She's somewhere between touched and suspicious, though knowing Mai, the suspicion is probably entirely misplaced.]

You hardly know me, and you're already calling me a friend?

[upcard]

Oh... Was that strange to say?

[Mai hesitates at that, and when she responds, the hesitation is clear even in her psychic voice.]

It's just...you've always helped me in so many jaunts, so... I thought it would be nice... um, if we could be friends.