etraya | un: @wild.flower

Entry tags:

un: @wild.flower | video

Hey, everyone! Welcome to my ✨ new home tour! ✨

This is Muten-Ichi-Ryū Dōjō and I'm happy to show it to you!

[ This following video is filmed in the style of early 2000s influencers, unfortunately for everyone. Rosie holds up her smart phone to cover part of her face in any reflection and goes room to room to talk about the various parts of it and (lack of) amenities.

Most importantly to note though is: ]

-and, as the name implies, it has a dojo attached to it! For all you superhero or spar-happy types, I'm opening it up to the public for anyone to use! No appointments necessary or anything either, just come on down when you feel like it. It's a little out here though the peace and quiet might be nice to some.

But! All the weapons are bamboo or wood and you gotta' wear the padded suits for safety. This place is for training purposes only. I don't want anyone getting too roughed up. Besides, do you know how hard blood is to get out of these floors...?

I am a healer though, at least, so any unexpected injuries I can be on standby for.

[ She winds down the video by propping up her recording against something to film herself while she sits facing the enclosed garden on the property. She isn't looking at the camera now, but instead out towards it. ]

You may recognize this place it as previously belonging to Rin Asano, but... I figured I'd 'move in' to help keep it up and allow other folks to use it in her absence. We were from the same place, actually, even if different times so- This'll be my way of remembering her and making sure she has a place to come back to that's not, like, in disrepair or anything.

I think it's what she would have wanted. I hope it is.

[ Before things can get too somber though, there comes a small cluckcluckcluck from off-screen before a chicken pops into the frame. It peers curiously at the camera before pecking at it and knocking the device down. From somewhere unseen: ] Buck, come on, I swear to the gods...

[ The video ends there after another whoosh of air and dizzying video, but she's still available to talk once she has the device in hand again and away from unexpected chicken interruptions. ]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ Felicia smiles as the tour concludes. ]

You're keeping it up for your friend? That's sweet of you.

[ A grin and small wave in return. ]

Psht, nah, it's just what anyone would! I mean, I like to think that's the case. The helper bots already took some of Rin's personal things, but the house at least I can keep in shape if she ever returns.

Do people return often?

[ So far she knows of one. ]

So far, I've only known one person where they left, came back, and did remember me! And I've heard of other people, too...

So, I do know at least that it can happen. And I hope it does, in Rin's case. But even if it's a Rin that doesn't remember, well- That's fine too. We'll just have to get to know each other again!

( there is so much heather wants to respond to in this video message but the one key detail that truly stood out to her was the fact that someone else she knew had gone home—

or at least it seemed that much was applied. she hadn't gotten too terribly close to the girl, but enough to learn about her world and how she didn't even know what party games were. she taught her how to play beer pong...

and now in her absence, she's learning more. )

Hey Rosie, can you tell me more about this 'Rin'? I met her once a while back in December. Is she really gone?

Hey, girl! And sure, uh...

[ What to say about Rin, really? There's a lot that Rosie can think of, but she decides on: ] Rin was wound a little tight, I think, but pretty well-meaning and nice. Even when I... tested the waters about some more personal stuff, she was really receptive and didn't judge me at all for it.

As far as I can tell though, yeah- She's gone. Some of her personal stuff was taken from the helper bots, she's not on the network anymore, and I took up the house so it wouldn't disappear or go into disrepair. Seemed a waste if I didn't.

Yeah I could see that.

( she did seem a little tense when heather tried showing her the ropes to playing beer pong, but she figured it was just from dealing with something so new and modern. is she a little sad that someone left this world? perhaps but given this place, it was more than possible she could return.

only time would tell. )

That's actually a pretty smart idea, a way to remember her and what she's done. That whole revolt thing on the train was something she took a big part in it seemed. So are you offering self-defense lessons or what? I'd love to come train a bit myself.

[ It was possible. Peter returned, after all, and she'd met him right after she arrived, so... There was hope that she'd see Rin again someday. Even if everyone else was back home and gone, Rosie was planning to stay here regardless. ]

I'm glad you think so! I know she had some pretty big influence here, so- People won't forget her anytime soon, I'm sure, but I'll help keep things up for her in the meantime.

I wasn't going to offer my own classes, but- I could? I do know some pretty good self-defense techniques since my job could get kind of hairy now and again. Reyson stepped in if anything was real bad but, like, I was expected to handle a lot on my own too.

( truly rosie was a great point of contact and resources given her unique situation, as bittersweet as it was. )

That's really nice of you Rosie, you know I didn't get a chance to tell you but I took your advice on the shrine thing. Just working on asking Aurora for a few things from back home to make it complete.

( once it was, rosie was the first person heather wanted to show the shrine to. )

And really? What kind of job did you do back home? Maybe you can teach me something new.

Oh, yeah? I'd love to see if when it's done.

[ She is touched to hear that, honestly. It was something she didn't expect to be taken to heart, but is glad that it was. ]

Oh, uh- It was kind of. Complicated, but. I was basically an informant? So, like- A spy, I guess, is how most people would understand it. I mostly got information from wealthy people to help break up their illegal operations from the inside.

But, you know- Sometimes you slip up and get caught and need to know how to protect yourself.

Wow you really have lived an interesting life.

( there's a small part of heather that wanted to ask her if she ended up preferring this world to her own given her unique circumstances, but she wasn't quite sure how she would react to that. so she decided to focus on something else for now. )

And yeah I actually wanted you to be the first person to see it. I guess since we're on the topic of people leaving, and possibly not returning, I just wanted you to know that and how grateful I am for your kind words during my party.

You're a cool person Rosie.

Oh, psht, I mean- It really wasn't as exciting as, like, TV probably makes it out to be? [ Says the woman who was literally the 'sexy spy' archetype, don't worry about it. ] I mean, the people I dealt with most were usually boring, stuffy old guys.

[ It just turns out a lot of them will tell a pretty lady pretending to be interested several things they probably shouldn't if she knows how to ask. ]

Oh, I- Thanks. I'm glad it helped! And I can't wait to see it. I'll even bring food - usually the person's favorite, if you know it! - or sake or something with incense like tradition.

Well I'm still impressed so you can't sway that away with humility!

( don't mind heather just laughing her head off a bit, picturing rosie in a black cat suit and heels to match.

the humor doesn't last very long though as the next subject was brought up and heather was left wondering what would be appropriate to bring to her dad. )

I know this is a little unconventional, but we went out to get burgers and fries at this place called 'Happy Burger'. It was kind of our tradition, and outside of whiskey, I only really ever saw him eat boring adult stuff you know? Oatmeal for breakfast every morning, cup of black coffee kind of stuff.

[ Rosie was a lot more cat-coded than she wanted to believe in some ways, sure...! But still, it was never quite like that. The overt sexualization of herself as a tool was definitely a thing, but- They don't need to get into all of that. ]

Happy Burger sounds super cute. Even if it's not from, like, that place specifically- I think getting a burger and fries would be good. Whiskey can also replace the sake since it's the drink of choice too.

( even if they did, heather would still view her the same way she always had—

with a deep sense of appreciation and fondness. )

Cute? I guess.

( she never really thought of it like that given it was just a burger joint but what came next was a great suggestion. )

You're right about that, okay well I'm putting my request in for his photo soon, so once I have it set up I'm paging you.

And you better show up~

[ While she isn't often known for her good suggestions, every now and then...! They did happen. ]

Of course, of course! How could I turn down that kind of dinner date?

Dinner date huh?

( she couldn't help but laugh a bit at that little comment, wondering just what her dad would think of her now.

of seeing heather like this, living life to the fullest even when so much sadness and pain lingered with it. )

Alright, talk to you later then, I'll let you know when I have everything organized.

[ Oh, Rin's gone. It's weird, who comes and who goes. Why? Is her world going to be okay? Isn't it decided, yet?

...

There is one thing Gorgug needs to address. ]

Hey, Rosie! [ H-haha, hi there, here's your buddy ol' half-orc on screen looking-- very casual, and not at all look he's hiding any worry! ] If you see anything, uh, with something that looks like a pin in a circular shape-- have you seen a grenade before?

[ Just, you know! Asking! ]

[ It is a bit odd... She remembers telling Gorgug about her neighbor, way back when, and now he's back. They're not neighbors anymore, but-! He remembered being here and everything, which seemed to be outside of the norm. ]

A- What? I know what a grenade looks like, yeah, but why do I need to know that?

[ Squints!! ]

Welllll....

[ Welll.... ]

Me and Rin were having some lessons... I was just showing her different ways to make-- it wasn't like she didn't already know how to make some form of explosive...

[ Is he weaseling his way out of admitting that he helped Rin make grenades??

Is he, Rosie?? ]

[ Lessons, he says. About how to make explosives. Grenades, probably.

It's practical, yes, and very much something she could imagine Gorgug doing. It's not a bad thing, just-! Some more warning might have been nice. ]

Are you tell me I should ban smoking in this place, just in case? Make sure nothing catches on fire easily?

[ Please don't mind the way his mouth hangs open, the small 'aahh...' sound as he's looking around, trying to think, wearing the most unhelpful expression on his face.

... ]

...I can come over and look for anything...explosive.

[ He's Helping?? ]

[ Yeah, that sure is the look of someone who knows he's about to be had.

Thankfully, she isn't actually all that mad. A little frazzled now, sure, since she just invited a bunch of people to come check out the dojo as they wanted but- Still! ]

You will come over and look for anything explosive. [ >: { ]

[ G-gulp!! ]

R-right away. I-I'll come over now.

[ L-look, Rosie, you can even see him getting up, he's getting up from his stool and kinda walking, but also he's so whipped (and so easily) by that instruction that he's making sure that this is the right thing to do before he shuts off to get his ass into gear and make it over to the dojo!! ]

[ She does see that! It is appreciated, too, since the last thing she wants to do is inadvertently set this place aflame...

Still, she does have to say before he cuts off the feed entirely: ] Okay. I'll make some tea for you for when you get here.

[ She may even have snacks, too, but only if he gets rid of the unexpected explosives in her new home!!! ]

Thanks. Thank you.

[ Never forget your manners, even when you're sweating about grenades!!!

But he signs off with that, and after ten or so minutes, there's the sound of a vehicle that Rosie might hear outside the dojo. The engine is killed, and Gorgug, accompanied by a robotic creature on his shoulder.

Gorgug walks close to the dojo, but lowers first to let the chamaleon-shaped bot jump down onto the ground, and so Gorgug can start laying out some...items. A dynamite-shaped object, a grenade shaped object... a tin with gunpowder... ]

Okay, you have to find any of this, okay? Show me your scanner's working, I'm gonna be watching. If Rosie gets mad, it's over for both of us. We can't fuck this up. We've gotta get the explosives out.

[ Truly... she will bring down such force on them!!!

And speaking of Rosie, it would be easy to find Gorgug talking with his lizard outside... but he'll start coming in soon, if she's indoors! ]

[ She does hear it but so does Smokey. Although a different vehicle than the one he remembers, the elongated canine catches Gorgug's familiar scent and knows him to be a friend.

As he's speaking to the little lizard, the dog comes up and boops it gently with its snoot as his tail wags. Hello, strange mechanical lizard? Are you also friend? Hm, to be determined. After a moment, Smokey turns his attention to Gorgug who will probably pet him in return at least. Hopefully.

Just as he starts to head in, she's heading out and with a tray of tea ready. ] Hey, [ she greets, smiling at him then glancing down to the lizard. ] I hope its scanner is working since, y'know, I just used the stove... Thankfully, no explosions yet but maybe I'm just lucky.

[ It's the dog, the pup of every hour!! Gorgug does pause from his very secret!!! game plan with his lizardbot when Smokey appears. The lizard turns its head to the canine, aware of its approach a little before Gorgug. ... in which it scurries to hide under Gorgug's legs before it can get too close. No!!! Don't perceive it, don't perceive!! ]

Oh-- no, no-- sorry. [ Gorgug mumbles as the unfortunate exchange occurs, but that sorry gets spoken to Smokey, and he does get a head pat, while Gorgug also tries not to lose his balance with the little guy now hiding under him. But that's okay, since that little guy? Has shrunk itself and decided to climb up Gorgug's lower leg.

Nothing can get it here!! (Okay, it might need to go higher to actually get away...)

So please, don't mind the slight...wobble that Gorgug walks with. The little guy isn't heavy, but it's weird! Having someone cling to your leg as you walk! Between that and the reason Gorgug's here, he looks appropriately sheepish. ]

O-oh, that's good. I don't think Rin would hide explosives in her stove. [ ... ] But people do a lot of things I don't think of.

[ So! Who is he to say. It is now (with the introduction of Rosie) that the lizardbot does the smart thing and starts climbing up Gorgug's back for safety. Smart for the bot, not so helpful for Gorgug, who gets startled and swings about in place as he immediately wants to grab it, but can't. ]

Hey, hey! What are you doing! We have to find bombs! Help me find bombs!

[ Sorry, Gorgug, but the lizardbot pokes its head up from over his shoulder to look at Rosie...! And ducks back down again. Someone is shy... ]

Well, I didn't notice any but who knows! Who knows how many potential explosives are just... around.

[ The bot does think that nothing can get it, maybe, but Smokey is persistent when he wants to make friends. So, even after the lizard seemingly disappears, he's snuffling at that strange new bump in Gorgug's pants leg.

Rosie, for her part, is just kind of charmed. From the walk that turns into a wobble, which- Oh. Smokey gets a little startled by that flailing. He moves back a few paces only to circle back around and peer curiously at Gorgug before glancing at Rosie. Is he okay?

The woman also catches that cute little peek of the bot. ]

Does it need privacy to work? I can understand that. Sometimes, it's easiest to work on your own with nobody watching.

[ Noooo he's being so uncool in front of Rosie! He looks back at her, flustered, wanting to continue to grab at the bot, but-- ]

U-uh, m-maybe. I didn't-- I didn't tell it what a dog was, and I made it to, to sneak around. I didn't think to socialise it.

[ That's the problem, right? The thought never occurred to him until now, until Rosie mentioned about privacy. He puts his hands by the shoulder it's hovering, ducked as it is. Stops for a moment just so he can do something about this. ]

Here, come here. They're friends. Look at their faces.

[ The lizard doesn't pop back up immediately, but... but give it a second or so, and its tiny face shows. And then it crawls, cautiously, over onto Gorgug's hands, staying curled up in them as Gorgug holds it to see Rosie. ]

It can't really fight, so it has to be good at hiding, [ he adds as explanation as Rosie. But, to the bot again: ] Rosie's friend. And that's her dog. Just... make sure not to get stepped on.

[ Rosie, we hope it's okay to introduce you to this little guy... and then also Smokey, too! ]

[ At least she's taking it in stride. He's plenty cool other times to make up for it, after all...! And really: what's cooler than a guy that can be uncool sometimes?

Flawless logic. ]

Hey, little guy, [ Rosie will greet, leaning in a little closer to peer at it curiously. From the ground, Smokey's long snoot tilts up to sniffsnuffle at the creature again. ] Well, I can already tell it'll be good at hiding but- Gorgug's right. We won't hurt you here.

Well- If Buck tries to, I'll tell her off. She's a little territorial, but can be put back in her place quickly enough.

[ The bot tries moving back its head when Rosie dips hers, even though it keeps its eyes on her: assessing her, if not in a very assertive manner, that secretive part of its programming coming through. Gorgug does dip his hands to let Smokey get in closer, a quick 'Stay still' given so that hopefully, the meeting between canine and animal-esque bot can be tested...! ]

I'll tell them to go off and camouflage. Maybe work on its... personality later.

[ Make it more confident? How does one do that...

For now, Gorgug lowers to let it get down onto the floor. Smokey can have a better time sniffing at it from there, it'll allow it--by being as still as a statue. ]

I never knew building bots would involve training them, too.

[ After a few cursory sniffs, Smokey seems satisfied. It is a strange metal creature but seems fine enough in his book. He wanders off to go chase the chickens or... something more exciting, maybe. Once the lizard starts moving around the house though he might become interested again. ]

I wouldn't have thought of that either, honestly. Though most robots where I'm from weren't nearly as advanced as here.

Like, the most impressive I saw was a little server robot. It was just basically trays on wheels that played fun music while it delivered your drinks at restaurants.

[ It might be a simple concept, but Gorgug thinks about that for a second, and... ]

That's cool. I could make a little server robot.

[ Wow... wouldn't that be fun, Rosie? But that's how Gorgug feels about any potential project, his to-do list a never ending scroll. For now, he looks back down to the lizardbot, and places his hand down on its head. Not in any affectionate manner, but just to get its attention. ]

Okay. You go and find bombs. Look for those [ grenades-- um ] things I showed you. Okay? And then tell me. ... okay.

[ The bot turns its head towards the way that Smokey went, but after a moment starts scuttling with a rush deeper into the dojo house. G-goodbye! It has a job where it can start to hide!!

Gorgug gets back up, and looks at Rosie awkwardly for a second. ]

...so you don't want to keep any if we find them?

[ Mayhaps?? ]

Is there anything you couldn't make? [ Realistically, she imagines there are limits to what he's capable of. It really doesn't seem like it though sometimes; almost anything she thinks of, he's ready to try and build.

The woman watches the lizardbot skitter off and out of sight. Hopefully, it finds - and removes - anything that might potentially be a danger to the animals. She could probably withstand an explosion, but- It's the pets she's really worried about. ]

I'm not sure what I would use them for, honestly. When I did have to fight, it was usually just my own two hands or, like, daggers. [ She was small and quick, which made getting in close with short-range blades easier. ]

We don't get into a lot of fighting. [ So there's not much use for grenades, unless you think they're cool. ...which Gorgug does. ] I could show you how to throw them if you ever-- if you think you would use smoke grenades? They're good if you just want to get away, or throw someone off. But it's okay, if you don't want to.

[ Sometimes, you don't care about things! Except about grenades not blowing up your new pad. ]

I'm a close-range fighter too, so grenades are good for--making distance.

[ He mimics throwing one, without much swing to it. ]

.. wait, you and Rin came from the same place?

[ Fabian may know a bit about both Rin and Rosie, but apparently this is something he didn't know about them.

Sure, it's nothing super shocking, but he still definitely sounds surprised! ]

We did! Different times, it seems like, but we were both from Japan.

[ Although, she also does need to clarify: ] And maybe not from the same world, exactly? But who knows! Japan existed in both of them if nothing else, which- That was a nice common link to have with someone.

[ There's another kid here from there, she thinks, but hasn't seen much of him since the pool party last summer when she first arrived. ]

So there's..

[ ...

Hold on, he's getting there. It's not like Fabian is really dumb or anything, but this is a new idea to wrap his mind around for a second. He's met a whole lot of people, sure, but never anyone who came from some weird different version of Spyre. He doesn't even know what a different version of Spyre would look like! ]

There is more than one Japan out there? Is that what you're saying? I mean-- [ Okay, Earth to Fabian, he is somewhat realizing he's ignoring half of what she's saying here. ] I am very glad that you two got to share something like that, but this is the first I am hearing of it!

[ It's a lot, she gets it. Until here, she also hadn't really considered the idea of different versions of her country existing, but... Even if it's not called Japan, in some cases, it sounds similar enough that she has to wonder. ]

Yeah, probably! Or, I guess... Earth seems to be a pretty common planet people come from, apparently? Which usually has Japan on it, so- Even if they're not from the same earth as me, theirs probably also has a Japan.

I don't know if Rin and I were from the same original world since she was, like, three hundred years before my time. We could have been, but I don't have a way of knowing so- I thought, well, maybe it's a situation of different earth and time, but coincidentally both from the same country of origin.

I'm guessing you haven't run into anyone else where you're from but the people you know already?

[ Dang, Rosie. That's a pretty weird story. At least Fabian is used to more long-lived people where he comes from, so the fact that Rosie and Rin are that far apart doesn't even seem all that strange to him. If only both Rosie and Rin weren't just human - or so he thinks - then maybe they could even have met back home!

But he cuts off his own thoughts about that for a second so he can focus on her question instead. ]

You would be right about that. I actually assumed that someone else here was from the same world as us, since she seemed to share knowledge that seems foreign to most other worlds out there but ours, but she ended up coming from an entirely different place anyway. [ He does sound a little bummed about that. Not extremely so, but-- well, if Rosie is paying attention to his tone, she'll be able to pick up on the fact it was a disappointment for Fabian. ]

[ Perhaps she's desensitized to 'weird' knowing the people that she has the last few years. For example, Gorgug hadn't seemed odd to her in the slightest despite being so large and green. Neither had Fabian's bike beyond the term 'hellhound' and how for her it was... a lot different. ]

Aw, man, yeah- I can see why that might be hard. It is interesting though that your guys' worlds were so similar! Kind of neat, the common ground even across different universes.

I also wonder if, like, when we do go back home what Etraya will sound like to other folks. I wouldn't be able to tell anyone anyway considering, uh, my unique circumstances but- Still! It'd be one helluva story.

...

[ Wait, hold on. ]

Your unique circumstances?

[ Fabian's brain is moving back so quickly through everything Rosie has ever told him about herself and the place she comes from, but he isn't so sure there's something in all of that information that would consider unique circumstances exactly..

And with Fabian being Fabian, of course he's just going to ask very directly: ]

What do you mean?

Oh, well- I'm dead.

[ It's not a secret, after all. She doesn't usually tell people so bluntly or in so few words, but it isn't something she thinks needs to be kept from Fabian for any reason. ]

I mean, I'm pretty sure. The last thing I remember before ending up here was falling off a skyscraper, which... You know, most people don't live through! [ Not even with her enhanced healing factor would she make it through a drop like that. Not to mention that she was injured beforehand, too, and so was already at a disadvantage. ]

I need to talk to Aurora myself about what that means, whether it being staying here or... what, but I haven't gotten around to it. [ Ignore that it's been months of her saying this. Aurora is scary! The whole thing is scary! It's easier to not worry about it and just coast along. ]

Well, even if you died, you'd just become an angel, right?

[ Sorry, Rosie. He's saying this so casually. And it's not because Fabian doesn't care about her - far from it! - but more because it's just the way things work in his world. There's never a need to get too upset about someone dying, because there's a big chance you'll just see them returning from the afterlife sooner or later.

It's just what happens when you have a dad in hell you still have seen a few times after his death.. ]

Or someone could revive you back in your own world. Was there no cleric with you when it happened? [ He can't imagine why someone wouldn't help Rosie, after all. She's nice! ]

Me, an angel? Oh, no, I... [ How to word this without sounding super self-depreciating? ] My kind automatically go to Hell, basically. There's also no returning.

I mean, there are exceptions in history. But those usually involved a lot of rule-breaking or, like, cheating the system. They've kind of tightened things up because of that so now it's just usually a one-way trip to the afterlife.

But that's alright? Like, I don't want to be dead. Who does? I just also know I'm lucky to be here, at least, and whenever it's over...

[ So will her life be, finally. Borrowed time is nice but she tries to remind herself now and again that's all there is. ]

It's why I am trying to make the most of things here, really.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

un: @wild.flower | video

un: blackcat | video

no subject

no subject

no subject

un: mason | video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

going to wrap this one up here!

un: gorgug, video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

to action!

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

video; un: MAXIMUMLEGEND

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject