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[therewerefifty]

[Makie has had the facts of this place explained to her already, by a gentleman in a... fairly awkward situation.

It doesn't prepare her for the reality of a village with occupants like none she's ever seen before. Some of you aren't even human, Luceti. The hell. She wanders the path of the village from Community Building #1 down toward the plaza still in her New Feather dress, just like a gawking tourist, and spends some time staring at the fountain and plaza itself. Uh.

...right. Okay. Time to begin glancing through various shops in her attempts to find the places she was told her things would be. She finds her clothes with a measure of relief, and her shamisen at the item store-- and after she picks it up, she frowns. It's too light. She doesn't need to open it to know she's missing something.

Eventually, she'll find her way into the forge to pick up the last of her things, pays a visit to the Welcome Centre-- and then finally fetches up at the tea shop, which is the most familiar-looking thing here.

...sort of. Never really loses that dazed and confused look.]

Comments

[yourfononsarewhack]

[He gives a smile.] Of course it's an honor. [Maybe she could interpret it as him saying it's an honor to meet her too, but really he's confirming that it's an honor to meet him.] And, yes, we are all residents in this enclosure. In fact, I am the resident genius.

[therewerefifty]

[Noo, she interprets that correctly as being a smug bastard. He may not be one of the ones in charge here, but he distinctly reminds her of the checkpoint officials in Edo.

Which makes her wonder what he wants.]

I see. You must be quite proud.

[The thing is she's so straight-faced and grave that she might not actually be sarcastic. Then again, she might.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

[It's hard for even Jade to tell. Regardless, he'll fire back with something that sounds more obviously sarcastic.]

Me? Oh, never. I am well known for being a model image of humility. I wouldn't want my ego to swell, now, would I?

[therewerefifty]

Truly, humility is an admirable trait. [Serenely.]

I thank you for the tea. [For here it comes via serving tray.] Is there something I can help you with?

[yourfononsarewhack]

Think nothing of it. [He says with a dismissive wave of the hand as he sips from his own cup.] I'm not seeking anything in particular. I'm simply in the mood for some idle conversation. Such as - what manner of world do you hail from?

[therewerefifty]

It is hard to answer such a question, sir, when to me it is all I have ever known. I hardly know how to begin comparing it to others you have seen or heard of.

[Sip.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

I see. In that case, perhaps I should help you build a frame of reference. For example... in your world, do all of the intellectual beings resemble you? Does your world contain anything that could be considered magic? Does the word "fonon" contain any significance to you? What would you consider the most advanced technology that you are aware of?

[therewerefifty]

[Those questions would have made less sense to her had she not met a floating pony in the item store on her way here. She takes another drink, wondering how best to frame the knowledge he's after.]

In our world, there are only humans that possess intelligence. We have no 'magic', but... [She thinks of Manji's bloodworms. And decides it's disrespectful to go into detail there.] ...there are always rumours of such things existing.

Fonon means nothing to me. As for "technology"... I am unsure. There are tales of advanced medical knowledge on the continent and in other, far off places. [It's the word 'advanced' that makes her wonder if he's talking about knowledge and learning. Technology, on the other hand, is an unfamiliar concept.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

[Always rumors. It seems perhaps she may be holding something back, but what she does say says a lot about how basic her world must be. Like one of those Earths he's read about, especially in its older ages.]

Ah, it sounds like you're far behind the rest of the multiverse, in that case. A fairly mundane-sounding existence to be sure. So many things here must be unfamiliar to you in ways that must be confusing and possibly horrifying.

[therewerefifty]

I don't believe I've yet to understand them enough to find them horrifying. [She's seen some things today that have made her feel... different. Light isn't quite the word, but...] And it seems so. A young lady outside mentioned electricity. I've never heard of it before.

[If that gives more of an indication.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

Don't worry, I'm sure that you'll get there. [He says with an unfittingly cheery smile.] But yes, you're quite behind if electricity is so foreign. Are you even aware of lightning itself?

[therewerefifty]

[Jade pls.]

I am "behind" in comparison, sir. Not ignorant.

[yourfononsarewhack]

Heavens forbid I make such an assumption. I had to ensure that your world was not unique enough to lack even lightning, or perhaps you could have known it under a different name. Regardless, it's simple.

[He briefly sips some tea.]

Electricity could be considered to be like taming lightning and keeping it in your walls, channeling its power for the most mundane of uses.

[therewerefifty]

So the young lady said. For light and warmth. It certainly sounds convenient.

[She also said not to stick metal into it, but let's not give Jade any further ammunition for snark.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

It certainly is. And there's quite a number of other machines it can be used to power. Not quite as efficient as fontech, but remarkable all the same.

[therewerefifty]

Machines...?

[yourfononsarewhack]

Metal boxes which, when powered correctly, can produce a number of effects in ways you would most likely interpret as a form of magic.

[therewerefifty]

I see. It seems that staying here is going to be full of unexpected surprises.

[yourfononsarewhack]

Oh, it will! [He gives a pleasant smile as he finishes his tea.] It's a shame I'll likely miss out on witnessing most of your reactions. I'm confident that they will be priceless.

[therewerefifty]

[As priceless as the one she's going to give your other character in the next post, yup. Makie stiffens a little at the comment, but she's not terribly offended.]

I'm sorry to disappoint you in that regard.

[Not terribly sincere, either.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

There's no need to fret. [He says somewhat exaggeratedly himself in response to that.] I'm sure you'll make up for it in some other way. This place has a way of putting its inhabitants through unflattering circumstances, so I'm sure that there will be many an opportunity for entertainment.

[therewerefifty]

Unflattering? The... experiments, I assume.

[yourfononsarewhack]

Yes, absolutely. And the journals have a habit of recording particularly embarrassing incidents in everyday life.

[therewerefifty]

The journals?

[Spoilers: she doesn't have one with her.]

[yourfononsarewhack]

The journals. Every inhabitant of this enclosure receives one. If you missed yours, I believe it may find its way to you eventually.