text/video/audio/hologram; @onestepforward

[ignoreher]

[ ... there's actually going to be a cycle of the different communication methods going on here, but it'll end on hologram i promise--

first up is text, which she's most familiar with using anyway: ]

Hello, world! I'm gonna be testing a few things, so I'd like your participation! o(〃＾▽＾〃)o I also have a few questions for everyone, since I'm still sorta getting my feet on the ground.

[ ...

okay, so, there's going to be a video dropped in on here. it's just of some of the feral cats by the hot springs rolling around, but their ears flick up towards the video's source after a moment and dart off; there's a soft, disappointed sigh before it ends. ]

Is there any way to befriend these furballs? They're sooooooo cute, but they keep running away when I try! ╥﹏╥ And I've tried food before anyone asks, they just don't seem to trust me too much... (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ

[ the next bit she has to psyche herself up for just a bit, but once she activates the audio function she's good to go. ]

So! I picked up a camera, and I've been taking pictures of a lot of things... they're all pretty amateurish, I guess? But it's been really fun too! [ thanks march ] Has anyone else picked up photography as a hobby? What do you take pictures of? Maybe we could make a group of it?

[ she sure is excited. to meet people and do things. anyway, last up is... malkuth's really working out what she likes best (so far, it's text, she likes the faces she can insert), and this is including putting out a hologram of herself: she's 163cm, or 5'4" those off the metric system, and she's wearing just the basic outfit of some pants and a longer sleeved shirt for the cold.

... this one she won't know if she likes actually but that's fine! that's fine. she'll learn. we'll all learn. replacing the book she might have held tight in her hand is, in fact, a disposable camera she'd bought with most of the money given to her, and the hologram makes similar motions as she takes pictures of her surroundings. ]

Actually, I could use a new hobby or two in general... You could say work really ate up my time, so I never really had any to spare for things like that. Any recs? Oh, you can reply however you want, I'll match!

[ okay, that's the end of it, promise, she isn't sorry for. all that. she's definitely digging text most she misses her little faces. ]

Comments

[seafloor]

[ The next clip is of him out in the city—Shibuya, specifically.

And there's an army of stray cats crowded in front of him. A black-sleeved arm stretches out, holding a plastic dish stuffed with kibble.

The army marches forward to bowl over Kaito and start nibbling. Many pets are given out. ]

No better time than the present. Or future, I guess? [ There's purring in the background. ] You could start small, making soups or sandwiches. I imagine it wouldn't be too hard to snag some ingredients from the kitchen.

[ignoreher]

[ you son of a ]

How did you do it?!

[ sorry was there actual advice here. ]

Don't tell me -- are your "good looks" actually worth something?! You could've been begging for so much more if you used it like this!

hologram

[seafloor]

[ Congratulations Malkuth, you've won a hologram of Kaito and some dozen cats hanging over his shoulders and cradled in his arms. ]

I'm not a beggar! And why are you saying good looks like it's wrapped in quotation marks, huh???

[ Many mewls follow. Kaito takes a few moments to pet the babies. ]

...I have an affinity with animals. Cats in particular are very choosy about who they approach. You can't overdo it or they'll just run away.

audio

[ignoreher]

[ carmen h christ. she is not projecting to his area FUCK matching, he gets her voice only. while she steps around and peers at the cats... the closest she's getting to them.

well, he can get images from her oculars when she backs up to get a picture of how ridiculous he looks. and one for her camera roll because she likes cats. ]

Maybe I'm being overenthusiastic, then... it's sort of a bad habit of mine to go full throttle without thinking too much, so I've been trying to curb it.

[ so she doesn't drown while in the pool someday, for instance. ]

I did get some good advice for being patient and using toys and treats, so I guess I'll try that next time and just... lay on the ground, or something. To show I'm harmless.

[seafloor]

[ There's an uncanny moment where Kaito holds out a gray Scottish Fold out directly in front of where Malkuth is standing. He can't actually see her... right? ]

Overenthusiasm intimidates or challenges most cats. Best to lay low, yes. You can try to attract a cat over by holding your hand out, but make sure your fingers aren't too far above or below their noses when they close in.

Alternatively, you can always just get food and lay it out for them and then try to get a few pets in.

[ignoreher]

[ ...

there's no way, right? it's just eerie enough that she steps back though, then circles around behind him. ]

They really do remind me of a coworker of mine with advice like that... Trying to pet them anyway sounds like a fast track to getting scratched, Katto.

[ she didn't mispronounce. that was on purpose. ]

[seafloor]

[ He doesn't track her movements, proving that it was just a very convincing coincidence.

...At least, until he puts the cat down and turns a 180 to start talking very close to her general direction. Stop that. Spooky. ]

I prefer Nyagano, [ he admits with a wink. While still covered in cats. ]

And that's the thing. You're going to get hit no matter what. Even when they're comfortable with you, cats are little shits. You can and will get the claw.

[ignoreher]

[ spooky. she's definitely going to keep moving. stop that. what's with this. nyagano? he's being called katto for sure. until malkuth gets over his animal magnetism anyway, then she'll be friendly again. ]

Sounds like you've just pushed your luck too far.

[ even the abnormalities didn't really... well, there were signs for them. some were very even-tempered. some weren't. it depended on the "personality". ]

Thanks for the advice anyway. If you see me laying on the ground surrounded by cat food, don't come any closer -- I'd like it if they got used to me so I can take pictures of them.

[seafloor]

[ Following...... ]

—Your audio's coming through as if you're speaking to me from a specific direction, y'know. [ Oh. ]

If I see you, it'll be too late. My sphere of influence with cats specifically spans at least two globes. [ He's clearly joking. ...Right? ]

1/2

[ignoreher]

[ oh.

... oh, that's-- oh. she's stopping. this is stupid. thank the wings he can't see her, her cheeks are hot. that's so stupid? of course he can hear it like that. just like he'll be able to hear her voice casting away when she turns her burning face away out of habit. ]

Liar. The ones around here would be meandering through the city just to find you if that was the case, so it's gotta be less than one.

2/2

[ignoreher]

[ ... okay it's back at him!!! from below!!! stupid ass tree!!! ]

Why didn't you just tell me that thing about my voice earlier?! I really thought you could see me for a second!

[seafloor]

[ Kaito laughs, and a few of the cats jump off their human* perch as a result. ]

I thought you were just being fidgety. It made sense to me, given how bouncy you were when we first met.

What, did you think I was trying to spook you by tracking your movements? [ Another chuckle. ] That's silly.

[ Then, not two seconds later— ]

—But I would do it, so fair.

[ignoreher]

[ she's pegged him and this is just their second time talking... he's not like the other guys she knows, but she can kind of imagine roland pulling something like that on angela if it wouldn't get him turned inside out. ]

I'll remember that. [ the bullying. and the audio directionals. ] What were you saying about cooking? Soups and stuff? I could try my hand at soup.

[seafloor]

[ Please don't talk about pegging him on the second not-date. ]

Soup's a good starting point. It's not too simple but not too difficult. Though, we might have other priorities for you if you can't peel a carrot or boil water...

[ignoreher]

[ we can wait until the third ]

I can do that much!

[ ............ ]

I mean, how hard could it be? It's just some water and vegetables.

[seafloor]

[ ... ]

You should probably have some supervision when you start cooking.

[ Several cats meow in unison. Are they agreeing? ]

[ignoreher]

I definitely don't need to be babysat. I'm going back to the kitchen to prove it.

[ just a. heads up that she's moving. like he can still hear her, but honestly she doesn't know if his hologram comes with her. they are going to learn so much. ]

People put bones in them too, right? For flavor?

hologram > audio

[seafloor]

[ The hologram most certainly doesn't follow—though it does try. After a few moments of it clipping into the edge of her vision, it disperses. Bye, meowmeows. ]

Not just for flavor. Bones contain a bunch of nutrients that seep into the broth as they sit and soak.

If you end up burning water, you have to show me, okay? I don't meet many people with that kind of skill.

[ignoreher]

I won't be showing you anything but a flavorful, nutritious bowl of soup if I'm showing something at all, Kaito! Mark my words.

[ like. how hard can it be! you boil some water with. bones and vegetables in it! sure! sounds simple enough! nevermind that she's hiking back to the city on foot, so it'll be a hot minute before she's back to let her pride simmer more than just her words, but it's fine. she'll just have to hit him up later. ]

You answered two of my questions. [ cats, hobbies. ] What would you take pictures of?

[seafloor]

[ A photo of some lilies bundled together in his hand appears in the corner of Malkuth's HUD. ]

Flowers, [ follows his voice. ] And for the record, it's good to show off successes and failures. You can't grow without stumbling, y'know?

[ignoreher]

[ the flowers and reminder soften her pride-born irritation a little and she sighs, slowing her steps to be less. hurtful on her feet. pounding pavement is really pounding. ]

I know that more than anyone, actually, but that'd require me failing in the first place. And if I am, it's not gonna be by burning water.

[ ... at least, she's not gonna burn water... ]

Will you taste test for me?

[seafloor]

I suppose I could... if you ever get to the kitchen. I've been waiting here since I shut off the hologram.

[ His words carry a smile. ]

Should I stop by the kitchen later, then? It might be prime time to take a nap.

[ignoreher]

How did you get there so fast? Weren't you just outside with the cats?

[ what the hell. where's a car when you need one. preferably something that doesn't run on human suffering but beggars can't be choosers. ]

[seafloor]

Sounds like a skill issue.

[ Now they're carrying a smirk. ]

Where even are you? Did you go off-road to take your pics?

[ignoreher]

[ she's going to burn his water. no, she's going to make such a wonderful, delicious soup, that he'll be stunned into silence. sweet silence. ]

Yeah. There's a lot of abandoned buildings and stuff out here, so I thought I'd take some pictures to remember them by. Someone has to, right?

[ if not the families that abandoned them... then someone. ]

I mean, I can see why they left. [ a small picture of claw marks, destruction, etc pops up. ] But I think it's sad.