Sixth Blood [Video + Filtered Voice]

[speakveryclearly]

[The video feed, recorded at around 11am on August 20th, shows the inside of a Transport's Initiative-provided apartment. More specifically the bookshelf. Some people might recognize the three novels, or the simplified Initiative-approved introductory history to Exsilium's Earth, or the calendar on the nearby wall from Roslyn Small and deduce this is Kanaya Maryam's quarters in Unit 505.]

Hello. I'm Kanaya Maryam and I live in Unit 505. [Those people are right, judging by the politely frustrated fifteen-year-old girl's voice. Those people would also, if they looked closely at the bookshelf, perhaps notice that the thickest volume she owns is not present on the shelf in its usual place, or at all.] There's recently been some kind of mishap. Before I left for a mission in July, I was in possession of The Twilight Saga. This is where I kept it. I sometimes took it with me to read elsewhere, so it's not impossible that I could have misplaced it. However, I pretty distinctly remember having it before I left, and it's only after my return that I noticed it was gone. I've searched quite a few places I regularly visit in vain.

That's not all. I've gone to quite a few bookstores today, thinking that perhaps I should just remedy the situation unilaterally by purchasing a replacement. And all of them not only denied this volume was in stock, they had no idea what I was describing. I checked their stock too to make sure they weren't just discriminating against such an obviously alien Transport as myself, and saw no sign whatsoever of the book where it would belong in any alphabetical ordering scheme.

I know many people don't appreciate the quality of the book, but regardless of how you feel, it is my property that has disappeared. I'm not mad yet. I just want to know what's going on.

[The "yet" hangs in the air ominously for a few seconds before the video ends.]

[For one network user, there is a voice message today as well, playing on the tablet with the name of "Haruka Takahashi" attached.]

I bought you a birthday present. I can leave it at an agreed-upon location for you to pick up if you don't want to see me. There's a note inside that you don't have to read.

Comments

[mentalisolate]

Although I'm afraid I don't know the series in question either, it unfortunately sounds as if it's been erased from this reality.

[speakveryclearly]

Erased from this reali--

What are you suggesting as the cause of such an event?

[mentalisolate]

I couldn't say what might have caused it exactly. I haven't actually been present for any of the missions so far. But it could have been as small as changing an event which helped inspire the series, or as large as deleting the author from the universe entirely.

[speakveryclearly]

That's not theoretically impossible given the experienced effects of time travel here, not at all, but...

Isn't it a little extreme of a conclusion?

[mentalisolate]

Well, as I see it, there are two main options for what happened. One: reality, which in this universe is constantly in flux due to mandated time travel, has changed so that the Twilight series never existed. Two: someone stole your copy as well as every copy in Exsilium, and either erased all memory of the books from the shopkeepers here, or else made them agree to pretend they had no knowledge of them. They might be equally possible scenarios, but I know which one I find more probable. Have you checked the library?

[speakveryclearly]

.........

It's not in the library either.

[mentalisolate]

Then I'm sorry, but it really does sound as if it's ceased to exist. Perhaps it will return after another mission?

[speakveryclearly]

Maybe. In my experience, though, trivial appearances and disappearances are rarely reversed due to the low chance of any given one occurring in the first place.

private / etc

[heartsink]

[ And in a move that should not come as any surprise, the response is text. ]

I didn't ask for anything. And for that matter, it isn't my birthday.

[speakveryclearly]

[Voice for now she'll scsle back when she feels like it]

I know that, but I also know Shuuya Kano.

[heartsink]

And?

[speakveryclearly]

[Okay huff fine she can sit down with her keyboard there]

I Found Out I Had Been In Your Presence During That Date And It Wasnt A Good Day At The Time So My Failure To Provide A Gift Back Then Was Inexcusable

[heartsink]

Since you obviously only skimmed that conversation, I suppose it bears repeating. There's nothing I want now, or wanted then. I would have brought it up, if I had.

[speakveryclearly]

Are You Really Going To Make Me Explain What Im Actually Trying To Do Here
Because Almost Definitely Youre Going To Like It Less That Way

[heartsink]

You're probably right, but I can't force you to explain yourself.

[speakveryclearly]

That Is A Good Point Miss Can Only Cajole And I Kind Of Expected It Actually


Would It Sway Your Heart In Any Way To Know I Remembered What You Said You Wanted And Took That Into Account

video

[inhumanity]

Now the vampire stories have more people with interesting and exciting physical features that inspire awe and terror into the hearts of the readers, so really, I think we can count it as an overall improvement. We should celebrate this change that inspired more creativity in human literary circles.

[He means that there are more vampire stories with people whose appearances were inspired by his own freakish visage.]

1/3

[speakveryclearly]

[Her jaw drops, revealing both her pairs of sharp canines - fangs - and she seems to have already gotten really angry at him, which is also obvious by how her glowing skin has started flashing with more speed and brightness.]

2/3

[speakveryclearly]

[...she should at least try to hold her tongue here. Humans, hypocritically - because this is what she considers her respondent as on virtue of his absent horns, even if he's clearly divergent from other Earth humans - don't seem to like it when you're rude to complete strangers.]

3/3

[speakveryclearly]

Could you please explain to me how the loss of one vampire-lore-interpretation constitutes an increase in creativity when the conclusion rational analysis would yield is the exact opposite?

[Okay, so she's being passive-aggressive instead.]

[inhumanity]

[Christopher doesn't do passive, really. He has been known to do aggressive. As for the glowing, well—] My, what an exciting way of expressing your personality! Some people think they can get away with just telling people who and what they are with their clothing. I for one applaud you on your choice to do it with your skin itself.

[Wait, was there another question?]

[speakveryclearly]

[Must maintain friendly demeanor must maintain friendly demeanor]

It's not a choice! It's just something I do.

Because I'm a vampire.

[inhumanity]

[He looks surprised] You are? But you don't look like the vampires in books.

[And he holds up a picture book. With the picture of a vampire with red sclera and shark teeth, just like him.]

[speakveryclearly]

[She can think of the last time she was so angry but it was over something a lot less stupid.

She brings up a shaking, black nail polished finger up to her mouth, pointing at her upper left fang.]

[inhumanity]

[He does not seem to understand.] It's very elegant. I really like how it sets off the ordinary teeth in your mouth. I mean, I enjoy my teeth the way they are, of course, but there's something to be said for contrast.