Urbanite Lost: Day At the Beach [action]

[urbanwonderland]

[After fashioning herself a tankini according to her taste (violet with a boy-cut leg), gathering together a bag of papers and books, fixing a thermos of something cold to drink, and a finding a reasonably large towel, Reeve set off for the beach. Following a brief walk near (but not in) the surf, she's made herself at home a little distance from

Comments

[notvitiligo]

[Jessica: has been in the water, though not swimming because fuck being in a swimsuit in public here. She does that awkward "trying to check out the journal without looking like you're being nosy and also trying not to be noticed but not really being sneaky because you don't want to bother anyone but really you're not trying to eavesdrop" thing. In typical self-conscious teen fashion.]

[urbanwonderland]

[Sleepy from the sun, Reeve doesn't register Jessica as being nearby immediately. When her peripheral vision does register the flash of color, she comes up onto her elbows, shading her eyes for a better look. Lovely. She doesn't move to close the journal. She does smile.]

That really is one of the nicest conspicuous looks I've ever seen. Have a seat, won't you? Unless you're on your way to somewhere else. I would offer you some lemonade, but a vacationing government security agent came by and drank it all. Well, nearly.

[notvitiligo]

I'm not really on my way to anywhere... just kinda wandering. [So, she takes a seat.]

Government security? Like the bears?

I think the whole place is a diversion.

[urbanwonderland]

Ah, no-- just another resident, one I know from a universe with a similar structure to mine. [Smooth, Reeve! Reno wouldn't like you to out her to Sephiroth's pal when she's trying to avoid Sephiroth! Oh well, in a pinch she'll say it was Rude.]

[Reeve smiles. So, that's your conclusion? Do you think the diversion is the Queen's?

[notvitiligo]

Oh, I see. One of your guys. Well, girls. Women. Whatever.

How many of you guys are around here, anyhow?

I don't really think the Queen is all there. I think there's someone else in charge, and she's just... like our keeper or something.

[urbanwonderland]

You know, at current count I think we're hovering somewhere around 3. Since Tifa and Aerith went. I didn't know them in my universe, but they were both familiar with Sephiroth.

Well put. I doubt she's all there myself. Your excellent record of events since you arrived makes that very clear. If there is another being in charge, I wonder why they allow this garden to be run in the haphazard fashion that it seems to be? Or maybe it's only meant to seem that way.

[notvitiligo]

You, Sephiroth, and, um, Government Security? [She frowns at Tifa's name] Yeah, I remember those two... Glad one of them's gone.

I assume it's not really for our benefit, so long as we don't die or get out. My guess is some kind of... I dunno, like the Matrix or something.

[urbanwonderland]

Yes, that's the lot of us! [Sorry! Ignore Reeve's outing of Rude, if you would! Silly Reeve forgot to get her lie on about that bit of info. Rude is with Reno in maintaining stealth concerning Sephiroth, at least for now-- and Reeve has agreed not to blab! Oops!]

It's true, I didn't know Tifa or Aerith very well, but I did find Tifa's treatment of Sephiroth's arrival troubling. She also seemed rather avoidant of me, but I didn't take that personally.

I think your assumption is most likely correct-- but I must ask, what is the "Matrix"?

[notvitiligo]

[Ignoring!]

Yeah, I didn't really trust her after that. Aerith seemed OK. Kind of weird, though. [That level of princessness can't be normal.]

Oh, yeah... uh, it's a movie. About how computers took over the world and kept all the people in jars and hooked up to a virtual reality simulation of real life, to use them as batteries or something. It really didn't make a lot of sense.

[urbanwonderland]

Computers-- ha ha, no it doesn't sound as though it did! That would require an incredibly sophisticated and malevolent AI-- and who would make one so emotional that it became unstable?

[She smiles wryly.] Yes, Aerith was-- unique, wasn't she. I wonder if anyone else from my-- multiverse, I suppose, will turn up here? What about you? Any hopes or fears in that regard?

[notvitiligo]

Yeah, that's kind of an inherent problem with most "computers taking over the world" stories. That, and most computers are pretty easy to mess up.

Multiverse?

Uh, I dunno... It'd be seriously weird to see Dad or some of my guy friends... I'd kind of like to see my family again, but... it'd get awkward and creepy, with this place. [She hugs her knees]

Though it feels weird because I have a lot more, y'know, actual friends here than at home.

[urbanwonderland]

[Reeve laughs in a commiserating fashion.]
That's true of me too, you know. I've had more social interaction in the time I've been here than have in the last year, I think. I'm not sure I like what that says about my life. I think that when I do get home I'll make more time for times like this. At least I mean to try.

The person I see most of outside work is my mother-- you're right, it would be very strange to have her here. Even if it didn't mean a change in gender.

Oh, multiverse is just a term I've been playing with for the notion that there can be multiple versions of the same basic reality. Like the separate universes Sephiroth and I inhabit-- they share some common variables, but events and timelines do seem to diverge at different points. I can't prove it, of course! Possibly it's just as far fetched as "computers taking over the world". What do you think?

[notvitiligo]

For me it's not so much talking to people as just... the people here are easier to get along with. Mostly.

Yeah, even ignoring the whole hooking up issue, it'd be like, "Oh, hi, I'm finally interested in someone and it's a g-" [eep. She hunches over.] Can we forget that last part was out loud?

[OH GOOD a different subject THANK GOD] Hmm... I guess that works. It seems a little sci-fi, but then with a place like this... So you guys are from different worlds, but they're mostly the same?