3 flames

[antiheaven]

[Voice]

The other day, when people were fighting... did some really die and then came back? Ashura almost thought, that day when the streets were all empty, that it was because---

...But it really doesn't work like that here, does it? [A sigh] It's been almost two weeks already. Yasha...

Oh, but that's right! Ashura wanted to ask something. Are

Comments

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[notaweapon]

[she's made her way to the carousel, and arrived exactly on time. Laura's not entirely sure how to go about this-meeting new people is tricky, especially those who have no connection to her original universe-but she heads over to the person she assumes is Ashura. She stands there, stares at him, and probably takes a good ten seconds too long to ask]

Are you Ashura?

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[antiheaven]

[Ashura had grown more nervous the closer the time for their appointed meeting was drawing. It never occured to him to think of Laura as a threat, but something about her just seemed so strange, even though he didn't quite understand how. It was something about they way she talked, he had eventually decided. He wondered what kind of person she'd turn out to be?]

[When she approaches him, he smiles - she's a very pretty human girl! - but the smiles fades when she proceeds to stare, and for a moment he feels insecure, almost slightly afraid. Is she angry? Disappointed?]

[He nods hesitatingly.] You're Laura?

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[notaweapon]

[although she's relieved that she's found the right person, it doesn't show in her expression. She nods, confirming her identity, and then isn't certain of what to do or say. Maybe if she waits, he'll ask her a question, or tell her what they should do. After several moments of contemplation, she offers out her hand for him to shake. It seems like the right thing to do]

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[antiheaven]

[He stares at her hand for a moment, then up at her, and back at the hand. Not knowing quite what he's expected to do, he figures it's a greeting, and responds with what seems natural: he carefully takes her offered hand in both of his and holds it for a few moments, smiling briefly up at her.]

Hi.

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[notaweapon]

[he doesn't react as she expected, but Laura doesn't correct him. She's never heard of his homeland, after all, so she can't adjust her behaviour to match his cultural norms; a handshake had seemed like a safe enough bet, but there's no reason for her to feel discouraged. Laura pulls her hand back]

Hi. [she realises that she's just repeating him, and then adds] I am glad you arrived.

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[antiheaven]

[He doesn't feel nearly as nervous anymore; just touching her and her telling him she's glad to meet him - which is how he understands her comment - makes it seem like they know each other already, if only a little.]

Of course. Ashura promised, right? Promises are important. Ashura's glad to meet you in person... Ashura couldn't really imagine what you looked like before.

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[notaweapon]

[she isn't so sure about this business of promises, per se, but there's a lot to be said about the importance of being on time and doing as you've said you would. This isn't so bad, she thinks, now that he's actually speaking, giving her something to work with. Talking in person is a lot more difficult than it is over the network]

The same for me, also. It would have been a wise idea for me to utilise the video function.

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[antiheaven]

[He's grown used to spending time with people with whom physical contact comes naturally, but with Laura he doesn't feel that urge to be close - she reminds him a little of Kendappa-ou, the woman he met only briefly who would help him tie his hair when she asked but who was cold and stiff but still felt like someone he might like.]

Ashura didn't think of that either. It's still so weird that you can talk to people and see them even though you're far apart.

[ooc: I apologise for the slowness. If I disappear, it's because I need to sleep.]

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[notaweapon]

[she listens to each of his words carefully, analysing everything he says. Still, he says, like he's not used to this technology. She's learnt about the theory of parallel universes and the like, of course, but it's still of interest to her regardless]

You do not have this level of technology where you are from? You have never previously used a cell phone, or something similar?

[ooc; no problem! It's coming up on 1am here anyway, so I'm happy to continue this in the morning.]

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[antiheaven]

[For a moment he feels like he's being interrogated, but quickly dismisses the thought. Her tone is not forceful nor demanding, and of course she'd be curious about how different worlds work. He'd like to know about her world as well -she's not dressed like women in Tenkai, so she must come from a very alien place, he thinks. Maybe she could even teach him more about how to fully use this little box?]

Nope. Ashura thought at first that they must be magic. They have things like this in your world?

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[notaweapon]

[she knows that magic is real enough in her own world, and has even met a reality-bending mutant from back there, but she can't imagine there being a strong or constant enough magic supply in order to support such a demanding form of communication.]

Yes. The internet is accessed by approximately twenty-two percent of the population world-wide; however, this data appears flawed, as it is skewed towards particular socio-economic groups. More economically developed countries, specifically. For example, in North America, approximately seventy-four percent of the population have regular access to the internet. Similarly, eighty-two percent of Americans own a cell phone.

[she pauses here, not hesitantly, but rather because she realises that reciting reams of data isn't particularly useful. Not to mention that it's got her in trouble before]

We have things like this where I am from. This device is simple to use, but in-line with the level of technology currently available to the public. It is useful.

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[antiheaven]

[Well, it's a good thing she does, because most of all that information completely flies over his head. His eyes go a little wide, and even though he doesn't understand most of that, he figures she must be very intelligent and learned. He believes her when she says she's not nobility, but he doesn't understand how else she could possibly know that much. Well, it doesn't really matter. Maybe in her world, all people are as educated as she is.]

Ashura only knows how to use the voice and video on this thing yet. You can write with them too, right? Ashura can't really read and write very much, but Megumi's said that Ashura will learn in school. You know how to read, right?

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[notaweapon]

I am able to read. [she cuts herself off there, fairly certain that this isn't the appropriate situation in which to list off the numerous languages she can both read and write in] That must make communication difficult for you.

[difficult is an understatement, in her mind. She can't comprehend how he's managed to adequately gather information off of the network, being at such a disadvantage. She can't remember a point in her life where she hasn't been able to read]

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[antiheaven]

It is, a little. Ashura can listen to people speaking on the network, though, and Megumi reads aloud sometimes when Ashura doesn't understand. She's very kind.

[He smiles fondly at the thought of Megumi. He doesn't dare imagine how his stay in the City would have been in she hadn't been there to help him. Is this Logan as kind to Laura as Megumi is to him? It's difficult to imagine a gentler person than her, but Laura says she likes Logan, so that has to mean he is, Ashura thinks.]

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[notaweapon]

Okay. [she nods] The school system is not very effective. You should find a private tutor.

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[antiheaven]

Why not? You don't like school?

[And just when he had started to think going to school could be fun, despite him being trapped here without Yasha.]