exsilium | PV 02 ~ [Video]

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PV 02 ~ [Video]

[Okay, so things have been much better so far in July than last month. But Rise still looks a bit depressed as she sets up her tablet's camera and sits on the edge of her bed.

... She just sits there for a few seconds before letting out a long sigh.]

I'm worried about my roommate. She was sent on a mission a few days ago, and... with everything that's happened lately...

[She trails off and glances to the side, at a small pink plush fox on her bed. She got Nanami one, too... not the same kind, but another plush animal. A yellow one, even. She thought it might cheer her up a little bit.

Really, it's not just that she's worried. She's also kind of lonely without her in the apartment. But Nanami seemed so upset about the mission... it's hard for Rise not to be afraid something terrible might happen to her.]

Does anyone out there know Nanami Kiryuu? Did she mention how long she's supposed to be gone?

... I just hope she's okay...

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[It'll happen. Sooner or later.]

At least they're together out there, though. They'll have someone to watch each other's backs.

But yeah... I kind of know how you feel. There's someone I'm worried about right now, too. Well. More than one, if you want to get technical about it.

[His secret hobby is worrying about his friends, and some of them sure haven't made it easy lately. Of course, he can't really tell them that. But still, this girl's clearly depressed. He's never been all that great with words, but he wishes he could say something to put a few of her fears at ease.]

Do you think if you asked, someone from the Initiative could give you details about the mission?

Yeah......

[She really does believe Utena wouldn't just let anything happen to Nanami. Even though she doesn't know her very well yet.

She's not sure about asking the Initiative, though. She doesn't really trust them... being kidnapped from your own world for the third time doesn't exactly put you on good terms with the people who did it. Maybe they really do believe they're doing the right thing, but why couldn't they have just left her alone...?]

... Maybe. I dunno.

[Yeah, she's kind of avoiding talking about the Initiative much...]

[He's getting a pretty strong impression that most people don't trust the Initiative. And he can understand that, even if he wants to give them the benefit of a doubt.]

Well, you could always try, right? At the very least, it might help put some of your fears at ease. Besides, I'm sure they wouldn't have sent them if they thought it was something they couldn't handle.

[He tilts his head to one side. It is an ironically Sophie-like gesture.] But what about you? Are you going to be okay in the meantime?

... I guess.

[She's reluctantly agreeing a lot, today. But... the Initiative hasn't sent her on any really dangerous missions yet. She hasn't heard of a lot of people dying all the time, and the most dangerous things that have happened have been attacks here. She knows all of this. But it doesn't stop her from worrying.]

Yeah. I'll be fine...

[Rise's usually a good actress. But she can't make that sound any more convincing right now if she tried.]

[He's actually having a difficult time believing her. And that's saying something. Asbel scratches the back of his head.]

It's...hard to stop worrying, especially when you're not sure what someone you care about is going through. But you know, maybe you could get together and hang out with your other friends?

[He smiles softly.] I know it's not the same as being there with Nanami right now, but at least then you won't be worrying about her all on your own. I don't know... But when I'm bummed out, it always helps to have other people around.

Yeah...

[She sounds a little sad as she agrees. Thinking about all of the friends she had, both home and here, that are gone. But there's still others... Cheria, and Sheryl, and Junko...

... There's more, of course, but it really is a short list. She keeps going out and meeting people, but they keep getting sent back. Nanami's been one of the few constants in her life since coming here...]

... Maybe I'll talk to Cheria-san later?

[The more she thinks about this, the more she really wants to talk about it. But not with just anyone. Cheria's the first name that pops into her head when thinking of who she would talk to...

And she has no idea this person might even know who she's talking about. She's just thinking out loud.]

[And then it slowly clicks into place.]

[Oh. Hey. That's why she seems so familiar. This girl...reminds him of Cheria. Something about her voice, maybe? He's not sure. He can't point to anything specific, but he knows it's true.]

You know Cheria?

[Cheria's always been something like the mother of their group. He's confident she'd know what to say to make this girl feel better.]

Yeah. She's... [~~her not!mom~~] ... a friend.

[They really do sound remarkably similar, too. Not that Rise thinks about this much anymore. She knows her own voice well enough to detect all the differences. And it's not as obvious when they're apart, oddly enough.]

You know her, too?

Yeah, I do.

[Saying they grew up together wouldn't exactly be true, so.]

We... Well, we're both from the same hometown. I've known Cheria and her grandfather since before I can even remember.

She's a good friend. [There's a wry note with the next statement:] And if you let her, she'll mother you like crazy.

Really?

[Come on, Rise, don't play dumb. She's doing it with you already...

But nope, not going to acknowledge that at all. She just giggles. At least Asbel got her to smile, right?]

She seems like she'd be good at it! ... Taking care of people, I mean...

[She's already doing it with you, Rise......]

[Right! A small victory.]

She is pretty good at it. [When she's not nagging you to death, at least.]

I've never seen her more motivated than when she's helping others. Cheria cares a lot about people, no matter whose side they're fighting on or what sort of situation they come from. She's really selfless.

[Asbel doesn't even realize he's singing her praises over here, otherwise this might be kind of embarrassing. :|b]

So, how did the two of you meet?

[It's okay, Asbel, Rise agrees with every word.]

Yeah... I'm really glad we met.

[And speaking of which...]

Oh, it was the day she... [was taken here] ... came here. She was looking for some people, but I didn't know any of them...

Even so, I bet she was glad to make a friend out of it. Besides, it looks like most of the rest of us are here, now. Um. Unless Cheria was looking for someone else...

[Like who, Asbel? Raymond? Actually, she could have been looking for Frederic or the relief organization...]

You know, you should join us for dinner sometime. Every now and then a bunch of us get together and sit down to a meal, kind of like one big family.

[It's nice. And since Rise is Cheria's friend and all.]

Oh, are you one of the people she was looking for? I know she found Sophie-chan, too!

[She's smiling brightly now, knowing that Cheria found her friends. But... oh... she suddenly blushes.]

R-really? Um... I wouldn't want to intrude or anything...

[This has nothing to do with that word he said that she's sort of kind of deep down associating with Cheria lately. Nope. Not at all.]

"Chan"? [Is it a title?]

Well, I suppose so. My name's Asbel. And yeah, she and Sophie are sharing a room together now. Hubert, Pascal, and the Captain also made it here.

[Cheria obviously must've been looking for that other group of friends she traveled the world with. As for Rise, Asbel can't read much more into all that than the fact she's looking considerably more happy than she did at first.]

Really. Besides, it's impossible for you to intrude. I just invited you, after all.

[And even if he hadn't, no one would mind. You can never have too many people at an informal gathering, in his opinion. And if they were to run out of food or something, he could just scoot off and buy some more. No problems.]

Okay... sure. I'd love to come meet you all sometime!

[She's still blushing, but it's a happy blush. Being included on something like this with Cheria and her friends... it might not be much, but the thought actually makes her smile. And that's far too rare in this place.]

And... it's nice to meet you, Asbel-kun. I'm Rise.

[She didn't think anything of it before, but after introducing herself, she starts to wonder if Cheria's ever talked about her. Would that be a good or bad thing? What would she say if she did?

It's just idle curiosity, but the questions keep popping into her head!]

Great! Then it's settled.

[Asbel's smile is easy and natural. That's much better. He'd hate to leave someone still looking so down. He just hopes she hasn't gotten herself sick or anything (her face is a little red).]

["-Kun"? Okay, he's going to guess it is some kind of a title. Or a nickname?? A slight flicker of confusion crosses his face before he nods.]

Yeah. It's good to meet you as well, Rise.

[Protip: Don't ask him. He barely remembers half of what Cheria says.]

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