001 | Prelude in E Minor

[pianola]

[ ACTION ]


What appears to be a short and petite young woman is staring at the sky.

She stares at the sky in the Bay.

Wandering, she stares at the sky in Attleton, Nova City, Genessia City, Everglade, and even Fayren.

But she isn't careless. Her stride is even and measured, and she keeps to the sidewalk, not drifting aimlessly into the street. She remains in the spaces which seem public, and loops easily back to the portals again when she is curious about other areas. Her sense of direction, it seems, is very good.

In fact, if it wasn't for her staring at the sky - and at the trees and buildings in Fayren, and at the style of buildings in Everglade - it would seem as if she wasn't lost or new to this place at all.

Her face certainly does not seem to display surprise. Her eyes are only, ever so slightly, widened.



[ VIDEO ] [ several hours later ]


[ Dorothy's eyes are slightly narrowed, her lips pressed thinly together. Her voice is flat, perhaps just very slightly sounding annoyed. ]

Angel.

Your sense of humor is quite terrible.

Send me back, now.

Comments

[koishi_komeiji]

And while Dorothy was exploring, a little green thing was following her. No one else seemed to see her but her apparent obfuscation didn't appear to work on Dorothy. It was because she was a robot but, of course, Koishi didn't know that.

While she had initially kept her distance, eventually she would drift forward, floating a short distance from Dorothy's sleeve and attempt to tug on it.

"Hello Miss? Can you see me? Can you hear me? I can't feel you at all. That's interesting. And I've never seen you before. Are you new?"

[pianola]

Dorothy had noticed the girl following her earlier. However, she hadn't thought it very important - this girl didn't appear to be threatening. If she was a lookout for someone who was a threat - Dorothy would deal with it when it happened. The most likely possiblity, she figured, was the girl was curious.

So, when there was a gentle tug on her sleeve, Dorothy turned, unsurprised. Her expression was calm, without even the slight wide-eyed look from earlier. She did not blink, of course. Even if the questions did seem a little odd.

"I just arrived here," Dorothy answered, hoping that's what the girl meant by 'new'. She couldn't work out why the other questions were asked. She ventured, in the same tone, "I can hear and see you fine."

[koishi_komeiji]

"Ohh... I guess you don't have a subconscious then. People's brains cant usually understand that I exist so they either can't perceive me or they just forget I'm there. But you can see me just fine! I like you!" It was hard to imagine Koishi's smile getting bigger, but, somehow, it did.

"My name is Koishi Komeiji, Miss! I'm a satori youkai. But I can't read minds anymore so don't worry. Also I can't seem to affect you at all with my power so you probably don't need to worry about that in the first place." Koishi really seemed to like to talk. A lot.

Koishi's third eye floated up a little, bobbing merrily from side to side, the cords extending from either side looping into a heart over her left shoulder. "Are you lost Miss? You've just been wandering for awhile."

[pianola]

Quietly, Dorothy absorbed this. She did not correct the stranger; based on what she was learning about herself, and regular robots, and human people, she did have a sort of subconsciousness. Or, at least, that was the best word she could find for it. Something which let Memories trickle up to her, unbidden.

It was also true, however she functioned, it would be entirely different than how a human would.

The name was strange, the words she used were strange. It was interesting. It was vaguely alarming. What had happened to the world Dorothy was from?

"My name is R. Dorothy Wayneright," she said, after a short but perhaps awkward silence. She didn't know, immediately, if she wanted to advertise the fact she was a robot.

Her eyes followed the third eye, then returned to Koishi's face. Everything here was so strange. It seemed pointless to ask for a way home. The hologram, the rules of this world, said there was no return route. With the faintest hint of awe, she explained, "I was looking at your sky. It is very blue."

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi's assumption had more to do with observation and experience rather than fact. It was Dorothy's capacity for machine learning and absolute information that saw through Koishi's ability.

"It's nice to meet you, Miss. But I'm going to call you 'Miss' for now since I have a hard time with names." A pause. "You have really red hair. I like it." Koishi, please stay on topic.

"Oh... OH! Yes. Is the sky not blue where you're from? The sky is blue where I'm from so I didn't realize it could be any other color. Except at dawn and at dusk and at night when it IS other colors. If you like the sky while it's blue then you'll love it when its orange and pink and purple and slowly fades into black."

[pianola]

When Koishi mentioned the sky changing colors, Dorothy's eyes fractionally widened. The domes would replicate a similar effect, but she had always assumed it was an artistic thing, not something based off of nature. It almost made her want to stay, if only long enough for her to see the sunset.

"It is always overcast. Cloudy," she explained, speaking a bit more simply. The girl seemed rather young, at least in her behavior. She didn't want to be patronizing, but she also didn't want to talk over her head, either. "At night, the sky is dark, of course. Otherwise, there are only clouds."

[koishi_komeiji]

"Well that's just silly. Of course it's not always overcast. The sky is blue and pretty. But I suppose if you're used to clouds it makes sense the sky would be startling. Sis and I lived underground for over a century so coming up and seeing the sky again was really amazing!"

Well that answered the age question at least.

That strange third eye dipped to one side, still focused on Dorothy but still closed. Likewise Koishi followed it, drifting around slowly behind it. Though it wasn't literally pulling her along.

"The sky in Fayren is my favorite since it gets the darkest there at night. But sometimes there's clouds off the mountains. Still, it's better than having to look past all the big buildings since they're so tall. I can fly but not everyone can."

[pianola]

"Where I am from, it is overcast," Dorothy replied, patiently. She looked up, once, before returning her gaze to the shorter girl. "Obviously, it isn't here."

Over a century. Koishi wasn't a robot. She wasn't that strange, in-between thing either. Dorothy had conflicting Memories of repeating timelines, but (even assuming those were real, and not fabricated) she didn't think that was the case, here.

Because, obviously, there was the green thing which seemed to act like a creature which was alive. There was talk of reading minds (biological component needed? Was Dorothy actually immune?) and ... the ability to make someone forget.

Now that she thought about it, that last thing. Made Dorothy very, very uneasy. She was tired of forgetting.

"Koishi, what is a satori youkai?" she asked, glad she could make herself appear as calm as she wanted, and not reflect a single bit of her wariness on her face.

[koishi_komeiji]

Koishi didn't seem phased by Dorothy's panic. Though it was probably just because she couldn't sense it and that Dorothy wasn't exactly the most expressive person in the world.

"Oh! Youkai are sort of spirit-monsters. And I'm a satori. So I'm from the mountains and I'm psychic and I mostly like eating meat. But vegetables are delicious too so I like to eat both." Fair enough. "I should have explained that sooner since most people don't seem to know what satori youkai are. But that's okay since I got to explain it now."

Her third eye was bobbing from side to side again, open a sliver and revealing a milky white surface. She seemed more focused. At least, for the moment."You're unusually calm though. I don't see that normally in humans. So maybe you're not human. There are a lot of people who are not human around."

[pianola]

Monsters? Spirit-monsters? Except for the green creature which floated around her, Koishi seemed very ordinary-looking, for something which called herself a "monster". Perhaps the humans Koishi knew had a different standard for "monstrous"?

She couldn't help but stare, eyes again widening just slightly, when the third eye opened. Was this part of Koishi? Or connected to her, psychically? Dorothy hadn't ever met a real psychic before.

It seemed her true name wasn't a giveaway after all. This time, she didn't hesitate. She'd already made the decision not to hide it, for now. "You're right, I'm not human. I am an android."

[koishi_komeiji]

It did seem connected to her. At her ankles with two adorable heart-shaped buttons covering where the cords (or were they arteries?) passed through her shoes. Though the biological nature of it all had been up in the air until now.

"Ohh. That explains it then. If you don't think like a person then I can't feel or influence your mind. That's why you can see me so easily!" She didn't seem upset by this whatsoever. In fact it seemed Koishi was- yes. Yes that was a hug.

"That means I get to hang out with someone who wont forget they're hanging out with me! This is the best day ever!" The hug didn't last overly long though. It had been a long road coming but she finally learned not to cling... or cling less, at least.

"There are lots of other robots and androids and things in Nova City but not many of them look like you, Miss. They don't have pretty red hair or a nice face."

[pianola]

Dorothy felt better, knowing that these powers didn't work on her. It allowed her to be a little more curious, peering at the boots. Well, before -

It was indeed a hug. Dorothy wasn't really certain what to make of it. She had barely been hugged by her father, when he was alive. It was. Maybe it was nice? She wasn't really certain. After all, it was a sudden and brief thing.

She couldn't decide if returning the hug was the right thing to do, and then Koishi let go.

Compliments, at least, she knew what to do with. Plenty of people thought she was pretty. Since it was by design, she didn't really feel any pride in it. Still, polite, she answered, "Thank you."

Earnestly, perhaps with a bit more intensity than before, "I promise, then, I will not forget you."

That was a familiar sort of fear, at least, in Paradigm.

[koishi_komeiji]

"Ahh! And you actually mean it! Other people don't really mean it even if they don't mean to not mean it." Koishi, slow down.

Now that Dorothy wasn't being hugged it was more clear that the little hearts were attached to the shoes in some way. Perhaps serving as anchor points to help disperse some of the pressure if they were tugged? That would make sense... Or maybe they were just stylish.

Either way, Koishi reached down and took Dorothy by the hand. "You should come with me to Fayren! I bet you'd like it there since the sky is prettiest and there's all sorts of interesting things to see and do. Maybe you could meet sis too if she's around. I bet she'd like you since she's the nicest person ever!" Though Koishi was very biased. Her big sister was, after all, grump incarnate.

[pianola]

The android's hand wasn't cold and didn't feel metallic. However, it wasn't exactly flesh-warm, either, and the texture of her skin definitely didn't feel right. A good approximation of human skin, maybe, but not an exact one. Anyone who touched her would instantly know she wasn't "real" by most people's standards.

However, she let Koishi take her by the hand. Dorothy didn't think she had any reason to worry about a negative reaction from the spirit-monster. Really, this is the first time someone had a positive response to her nature - well, someone who didn't want to use her, anyway.

"I've seen a little of Fayren," she said, and it had been the most confusing place for her of all. "I'd like to see more, though."

action.

[carrythesin]

Dorothy's movement and behavior wasn't strange at all. In fact, it's almost similar to Kirika either when she's in an alien area or trying to blend in with the crowd. Kirika was always quiet and didn't quite spoke unless she had to. But this woman, Kirika grew quite curious and wasn't exactly sure why.

What caught her attention was how the person stared aimlessly to the sky in Attleton. It stirred Kirika enough to look up as well. Was something up there? While Kirika stood next to Dorothy, she looked up, and the sky was still blue with some clouds. The sun though, the ray shined so bright Kirika had to sheltered her eyes with a hand. If Dorothy was still walking, so was she, it didn't bother and she was quite aware of her surrounding. Don't mind the duffel bag on her shoulder, it seemed she was released from school or something.

[pianola]

There wasn't anything in the sky. Besides, well, the normal things which should be there. The sun. Clouds. Birds flying about, on occasion. But it seemed fascinating to Dorothy.

Attleton? Not as much. It seemed like an ordinary "small neighborhood" which existed in some of the domes. Maybe it wasn't as upscale, but the neighborhood seemed to strive for that same, high level of "We Are Normal Here".

Yet, eventually, she looked at Kirika. She had noticed her there, before. Yet she didn't feel under any threat, so she hadn't thought it mattered. It was probably impolite to ignore her.

"Your sky is very blue," she observed. Her voice held the slightest measure of awe. Otherwise, she seemed ... very calm.

[carrythesin]

The area seemed normal, but not everyone was normal. Kirika at least, sort of, looked normal at first glance. Even in a crowd, the girl isolated herself.

Kirika wasn't quite sure what to look for up in the sky. It looked normal to her. Maybe if it was the Everglade, that'd be a different story. She didn't mind walking next to Dorothy silently. Eventually she would had to depart soon to her next destination. Dorothy happened to be along the way.

When Dorothy spoke, Kirika's head still aimed at the sky. She gave a small nod followed with a 'hm' to acknowledge Dorothy, also calm. Wow, perhaps Kirika's partner was right, she can be robotic.

"Your sky isn't this blue?" Kirika asked calmly with her quiet tone.

[pianola]

So far, Kirika hadn't seemed strange to Dorothy. If she seemed a little quiet? Not everyone was talkative, or energetic. Certainly, she could appreciate the quiet company of others.

"It is overcast," Dorothy explained, now without that note of awe. Just matter-of-fact. "It is always cloudy, with or without rain."

Even though Dorothy very much wanted to go home, to not be here, she could still appreciate the sky. Such a strange way to be kidnapped, to be kept in a place which appeared more beautiful than her own world.

[koishi_komeiji]

"Good! Because we should go there right now!" And Koishi was dragging her along. She was... surprisingly strong for such a tiny thing. In fact a blue tendril with a large, soft spade had unfurled itself from Koishi's sleeve and was wrapped around Dorothy's wrist...

Okay so that's where the 'monster' bit came into play. A psychic tentacle... thing with the usual appearance of a little human girl. She wasn't gripping tight though.

"We're not very far away. Which is good. I know you'll love Fayren, Miss. There's so much to see there. Also, there's lots of good food but I dunno if you have to eat. Most of the robots and androids and things that I've met don't have to. Which is really convenient when there's no food around."

[pianola]

Congratulations, Koishi, you've managed to surprise Dorothy. Normally, even a fully grown man has difficulties pulling her along. It's nearly impossible a single person if she drags her feet, too. Of course, Dorothy was willingly going along, but still. The initial tug was strong.

The tentacle was actually less surprising. That is to say, she'd seen them before, from other monsters. It actually made Koishi less strange to her, because the description she'd used for herself now matched.

Dorothy let her new ... friend? ... babble, and didn't interrupt or interject. When given the opportunity, she answered, "I don't need to eat. I can't really taste most things."

"I can eat, though, if it would seem less strange," she added. Fitting in was often important, as distasteful as Dorothy found it at times. Still. Sometimes, it was safer to stand out less. Make oneself less of a target.

[koishi_komeiji]

Just wait until she finds out about the mind lasers!

"Well if you can't taste then what's the point? Eating is about doing what you need to and about enjoying the food. If you're not enjoying yourself then that's half the reason to even eat gone!"

Koishi hadn't seemed very phased by Dorothy's weight. Of course, she, herself didn't have that much mass. She also didn't have any traction with the ground currently. As it stood Dorothy could pretty easily get away.

"Fayren is my favorite place though. It reminds me a lot of my home except with more dragons in it. There aren't really dragons everywhere like there are here. Do you have dragons where you're from, Miss?"

[pianola]

As it stood, currently, Dorothy was following quite willingly. She thought Koishi had a good point about the food. Certain things which were largely water, like tea, could be easily re-purposed by her system for other functions. But most things were just ... wasteful.

She tried to think of what a dragon was supposed to be. There was a fragment of a Memory there, something dark about a Beast, and she shied away from that. But more benign Memories said it was a large lizard, right? What about megadei? Would the Leviathan count as a dragon?

"I don't think so," Dorothy answered, the pause and the cadence of her speech the only things which revealed her hesitance. "At least, they probably aren't real dragons."

[Video]

[youfool]

Hello, whoever you are, and welcome to Genessia! Would asking for a name be too much? Both for yourself and this angel of yours. The latter wouldn't happen to be Michael, would it?

[Video]

[pianola]

[ Placid expression, same tone of voice: ]

My name is R. Dorothy Wayneright.

Her name is Angel.

Sometimes, she goes by Casey Jenkins. Or Patricia Lovejoy. Or, likely, a few other names. She has many aliases. To my knowledge, she has not gone by Michael.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

[Pleasurable gasp]

Really? That's my name, but in reverse! What's the "R" stand for?

[Somehow that instantly warms him to her, as though they were long-lost fraternal twins]

Heh, was this Angel of yours known for sending you hither and thither?