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]

[ 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.

[seafloor]

[ But what if the water burns her? Huh? Huh???? ]

...Yeah. Someone has to. I get that. I've got a lot of memories I'm carrying.

[ For all the wrong reasons, but that's not the point. ]

Do you know which ward you're closest to? Shibuya, Harajuku...

I can come pick you up.

[ignoreher]

[ then she'll toss it. ]

Um... Hmm.

[ what was it... ]

I think it's Shibuya. I still haven't memorized everything as well as I should, and I still came out this way. [ she's so stupid, actually. her tone speaks her thoughts too. ] I can make my way back... probably, I remember the direction I came in.

[ at least that. but she's so stupid. ]

audio > action

[seafloor]

[ Tone: clocked. He'll remember that. ]

If it's Shibuya, then...

[ He trails off, pulling up a bunch of maps. ]

Don't sweat it, yeah? I'll find you in a few minutes.

[ He's not kidding, either. In less than five minutes, the man's voice echoes through the air behind her. ]

Heeeeey! Is that you—? [ Oops. He almost yelled out her real name. ]

[ignoreher]

[ wow, so dependable. malkuth's read that you should stay where you are if you're lost, and even though she definitely is not lost she does decide to take a little rest on some rubble while awaiting kaito's "few minute" rescue. the call startles her and she whips her head around at it, searching for his name as she stands. ]

Kain! [ yeah. yeah? yeah. weird, but she'll get used to it. ] Who else would it be?

[ dummy. but she is more relieved than she wants to let on, though there's little mistaking the way her face lights up. ]

You're not a half bad detective if you managed to find me on that little info.

[seafloor]

I dunno, a ghost?

[ Smartassery even as he jogs over... Kaito slips his hands in his pockets and offers a triumphant smirk when she praises (or half-praises) his skills. ]

In this case, it's less being a detective and more being a bloodhound. I'm pretty good at tracking down people I'm familiar with.

Were you satisfied with the photos you took?

[ignoreher]

[ she's definitely sticking that bloodhound piece of info into her back pocket. sounds like it could be useful... or a terror. ]

I'll come back tomorrow if I'm not. As long as there's nothing crazy going on, anyway.

[ ... weird to have some amount of free time. sure, the more hands they got at the library the more time she got to have to herself, but the whole place did go into lockdown mode when they received guests. ]

But I think so! I think the people who lived here would be happy to see them still standing too, if they're even around anymore. The structural integrity of these buildings isn't too shabby.

[seafloor]

[ Both, probably. ]

Gotta admit, being out here makes me want to go exploring, too. Especially if there are more cats.

[ Poking his tongue out, Kaito shuts his eyes. He seems to concentrate for a bit... and by the time they open again, his golds take on a brilliant cerulean hue. A short gate similar to the torii from earlier manifests behind him, made completely out of water. The portal between the posts shifts and churns before producing an image of the main base's entrance. ]

The teleporters around town are nice, but this is how I prefer to get around.

When you're ready, step on through.

[ignoreher]

[ oh. so he's not a ghost with how fast he got back to the main base and here. it's just that he's a total-- ]

Cheater. [ skill issue her butt. ] I don't mind if you tag along next time though, you're good company.

[ nice to talk to, for most of a conversation... but she doesn't really mind his teases either. but malkuth'll step through after a readying inhale, wondering briefly if she'll come out soggy since it's water and all, but he hadn't seemed any wetter for wear so maybe not. ]

[seafloor]

Sounds like something a sore loser would say. —The cheater bit, not the rest. Now get on in.

[ Luckily for all parties involved, this portal (while not the same as the PSL portal) did not, in fact, make its travelers wet. Kaito follows Malkuth through, and the gate closes once he's cleared it. ]

You're also good company, for the record. A little high-energy, but not too much so.

[ignoreher]

[ she turns as soon as she makes it through to watch him... and the portal close. huh. just like that color. ]

I used to be a sore loser, thank you! You just didn't lay out all of your cards on the table!

[ cheater!!! swindler!!! other names. still...... she'll exhale softly, smiling up at him. ]

But... really, thanks for the quick way back. That's a pretty handy skill you've got, Kaito, I'd be here a lot later if it wasn't for you. I'll try not to get too ahead of myself next time I'm out and about like that.

[seafloor]

As it should be. You never show all your tricks in the opening hand.

[ Kaito smiles in turn, looking down. ]

You're welcome. It wasn't your fault at all, though. Not like you were in any actual danger, y'know? I'm just a chef of convenience.

[ He lingers there, maybe for a beat too long—and then It's off to the kitchen. ]

Search up a soup recipe, yeah? The kitchen should have enough ingredients for whatever you want. If I had to make any recommendations... How about a plain ol' vegetable soup?

Extra spicy, if you're brave.