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

[sharpsurprise]

It... [He hesitates a little. After all, he's only been here for a very short time. To already be telling someone this...]

It's incurable. That is to say, a doctor told me what it is. No one knows how to cure it.

[strangehistorian]

I am very sorry.

[She doesn't touch him, but does set her hand palm-down on his side of the table. Sympathy.]

[sharpsurprise]

[he twitches a smile at her, acknowledging the gesture. He coughs again, briefly.]

Thank you, Miss Chromie. Ah, but we all have our problems, right? It can be managed, until it can't.

[strangehistorian]

An expression of the condition of being alive, I suppose.

[She sits back and cups her mug of tea, letting it warm her hands.]

[sharpsurprise]

[he smiles a little more at that. Her calm demeanor does wonders to calm him down, too-- even in the face of being here, even with what his deal is.]

Miss Chromie is immortal, right? So, can you get sick?

[strangehistorian]

Well, I was for most of my life! It's a trickier question now.

[sharpsurprise]

Ah, how so?

[strangehistorian]

My kind has undergone severe changes in the last few years. Only time will tell if nonmagical illnesses can affect us.

[sharpsurprise]

It can change just like that? That sounds like a very troublesome situation, Miss Chromie.

[strangehistorian]

The end of the world is extraordinary circumstances, I think.

[sharpsurprise]

[his brow furrows, both in confusion as well as in sympathy]

Miss Chromie... I'm sorry. You must be very strong to still be so positive.

[strangehistorian]

Ah... oh, that's very flattering. I'm only trying to be professional. This is our workplace now, after all.

[sharpsurprise]

I don't think anyone would blame you if you weren't positive, sometimes. So I think it's very brave!

[strangehistorian]

Well, thank you. You're very brave yourself.

[sharpsurprise]

Ah, not at all! Miss Chromie is very kind, but I don't do anything special!

[strangehistorian]

Well, you're here for one! Sailing into the unknown!

[And the incurable cough thing but. She doesn't want to go into it.]

[sharpsurprise]

Ah, and that for a simple samurai who's never even seen the sea! I suppose you're right!

[strangehistorian]

Never? Oh, we should go the CES some time! It's quite beautiful!

[sharpsurprise]

It's always been too far, or we were too busy... Could we really see the ocean like that?

[strangehistorian]

I don't see why not! The CES is an amazing device, it can generate any sort of environment magically.

[sharpsurprise]

I've come to a really strange place, huh? [he finishes his tea and puts the cup down, carefully, still not sure how real it is.] I would like to see that, Miss Chromie.

[strangehistorian]

The barge is very strange. You can learn a lot, though!

[sharpsurprise]

Well, I'm looking forward to it. [He pushes his chair away from the table, then moves around to her side] Miss Chromie, thank you for your help.