1.

[sharpsurprise]

Turn on camera

Turn camera on

[The feed flickers, and then the newly-calm (or perhaps... too calm) Barge is treated to a close-up of half a nose and part of an eye. The close-up is muttering in Japanese, the image occassionally moving]

Should I just say it...? Ah, I should have read it more carefully...

[suddenly the face moves back, revealing a frowning young man. He's lit by a lantern that sits in a corner, just visible in the background. He looks tired, a little bit too skinny and too pale, but he starts beaming when he apparently notices that the camera is already on. He speaks in English from now on]

I did it, huh? [he sits back and waves cheerfully, tucking some of his long hair behind his ear with the other hand]

I guess everyone's been pretty busy the last few weeks, so I hope I'm not disturbing you. My name is Souji Okita, and I'm new here! I'll work hard to fit in, but I'm still getting used to everything, so go easy on this old man... Oh! I walked around a little bit, and it seems pretty dark! If anyone needs them, I found a lantern and some candles in my room. Please ask me if you need help!

Comments

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

Eh. Get used to it, sailor. Shit happens, right?

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

It's unusual shit, but nonetheless!

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

You ever been in space before, Souji?

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

[laughs softly, rattling a little]

I didn't even know it was possible! Had you, before... this?

video;

[ichoosefight]

Well hey, you need anything feel free to ask.

video;

[sharpsurprise]

I'll remember that! Ah, and you too, of course!

video;

[ichoosefight]

Thanks, Souji. I'll see you around.

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

Fuck no. Do I look like some kind of astronaut to you?

a little less talk a little more action ~

[strangehistorian]

[Chromie has learned that teleporting in next to people tends to startle them, so she waves as she approaches in the dark. Floating, magic lanterns follow her, clinking and only bumping into each other rarely.

Chromie herself is tiny, barely three feet tall, with big green eyes and a beaming smile.]

Hello!

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

...Maybe? You use a lot of weird words!

[sharpsurprise]

[Smart thinking, Chromie. There's only so much he can take before he's gonna go nuts.

The lanterns delight him, but he'll just ignore that for now. He gives a slight bow in greeting, beaming back]

It's nice to meet you-- again!

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

It's kind of my schtick. You get used to it.

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

I hope so. If everyone speaks this way, I'll probably have a hard time helping anyone! [laughs sheepishly]

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

Relax. I set a high bar of awesome.

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

Ah, that's a relief for sure! Perhaps you could teach me some of the more basic things, so that I won't look so foolish?

[strangehistorian]

You too!

[Chromie bows, able to pick up on a greeting when she sees one.]

As you can see, our collection is extensive! A little more well-lit than this, usually! Let me get my pamphlets...

[She steps ahead of him a few paces to a desk and unlocks one of the larger drawers.]

[sharpsurprise]

[he follows her, still looking around in wonder. He has a little book of his own, his warden item, tucked into the belt of his kimono. The thought of Hijikata's book being in a library makes him snicker a little-- it probably wouldn't be an addition to the literary world.]

Thank you, Miss Chromie. You've been very helpful already! Ah, so, you work here...?

[Voice]

[mistconduct]

Uhh...fuck, that's kind of a huge overhaul. The way you talk, I think you're pretty much fucked.

[Voice]

[sharpsurprise]

Ah, how tragic... How will a guy like me ever gain respect? Maybe I should curse more? What do you think?

[strangehistorian]

Oh, yes! I'm head librarian at the moment.

[She produces a typed leaflet and scurries over to hand it to him.]

Here you are!

[sharpsurprise]

Thank you! [It's kind of a relief to see that it's Japanese-- although he's glad he can communicate with everyone in English, somehow, it's a little tiring. He scans it, briefly, then folds it and puts it carefully inside the book he'd been carrying. The snark is lost on him for now.]

That must be a difficult job, with so many books, and so many different people!

[strangehistorian]

Many books, but there haven't been many checked out lately. You've come at the end of quite the event!

[sharpsurprise]

I gathered as much! It's confusing, but people seem very melancholy, don't they? ...are you alright yourself, Miss Chromie?

[strangehistorian]

Oh, yes. I wasn't hurt as badly as some of our residents. But it's very kind of you to ask.

[sharpsurprise]

I'm glad to hear that. [smiles briefly] Ah, but I hope I'm not taking up your time! You must have better things to do than helping out this lost guy.