oo1. [video]

[holmes_fanatic]

[Conan beams. Pure, unadulterated, cheerfulness might not be enough to distract from the drab, gloomy interior of Hel's hall, but he's trying hard.]

Ne -- I was thinking! I've heard a lot of people wondering why we were here -- not the reason in the letter. Why us and not anyone else! So that got me thinking -- maybe we'll find out the answer

Comments

[Text]

[roadstotheriver]

[Lirael is at odds on how to reply: first, she knows she, as a person, is not important at all. Second, she knows that her job is extremely important, no matter how new she is to it, and she's uncertain just how important her own presence is. So, since this is Conan and he's (kind of) a friend, she just says both.]

My job is important. I'm not so sure about me, specifically, but I don't know if I can be easily replaced in my work, either.

[Text]

[holmes_fanatic]

I'm pretty sure that counts Lirael-san! Ne, I met someone who has a sister who sees and lays ghosts. Pretty coincidental, don't you think?

[Text]

[roadstotheriver]

Someone in your world? Or someone here?

[If it's someone here, she wants to meet them.]

[Text]

[holmes_fanatic]

Someone here. She made a post on the network about telling ghost stories -- ah, do you know how to check those using your bracelet?

[Text forever]

[roadstotheriver]

Oh. Yes, there's just so many that I tend to miss a lot of them.... I'll go back and look now. What was her name?

[That will make it easier to find, right?]

[sounds good to me!]

[holmes_fanatic]

Look for Ayumi-chan! She's maybe second, third year of high school, pretty cute with a ponytail!

[roadstotheriver]

[Most of which makes no sense to Lirael. What exactly is a ponytail, or high school? She doesn't ask. What she does ask, though, is:]

What is it you keep calling me? Putting the 'san' on my name. And is the 'chan' part of her name, or just something you're calling it?

[She's been meaning to ask that ever since they first met. Maybe she'll even work up to 'oneesan'!]

[holmes_fanatic]

Ah, sorry! I keep forgetting that doesn't translate -- it's how we call people in my world, to show respect. 'San' is for adults, 'chan' girls your own age or younger. Since Ayumi's older I use 'neechan' which is kind of like big sister!

[roadstotheriver]

Oh. All right, that makes sense, it's a title of sorts. Is that what 'oh-knee-san' means, as well?

[Since he'd called her that, too. That's an easy in to ask about the question, since the word he uses for Ayumi looks similar.]

[holmes_fanatic]

Mm! That's the politest way to call someone 'big sister' -- because I didn't know your name then, I didn't know what else to call you! You're not old enough to be called 'Aunt' I think.

[roadstotheriver]

[Lirael smiles at that, even though he can't see it.]

I am an aunt, actually. A half-aunt. Though it's a little complicated how it came about. But big sister is all right, too, if that is what you usually call people.

[It seems a little more familiar and friendly, anyhow.]

[holmes_fanatic]

So it really is Lirael-bachan? I think neechan sounds better, so I might stick to that.

[roadstotheriver]

I am not your aunt, so that's probably a good idea. And my niece and nephew are as old as I am, so it's really rather strange, anyway.

I spoke to Ayumi. She seems very interesting, and has quite a few stories about spirits in her world.

[It's fascinating, to be sure!]

[holmes_fanatic]

You made friends, huh? I'm glad!

[roadstotheriver]

I don't know if I would say friend, but we had much to talk about.

[Lirael isn't used to friends, after all. Especially not friends who aren't family or four-footed.]

[holmes_fanatic]

Well, that's a good way to start!