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

[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

[heartsink]

I don't understand your meaning.

[speakveryclearly]

Would It Be More Efficient If I Just
Tell You What I Bought

[heartsink]

Probably.

[speakveryclearly]

Okay



I Got You
A Book
Because The Only Thing Youve Ever Openly Acknowledged You Want Is To Go
Which Of Course I Cannot Provide
However Reading Can Approximate The Experience Of Being Somewhere Else






Its Science Fiction

[heartsink]

[ ... wow that is honestly touching.
fuck. ]

Have you read it yet?

[speakveryclearly]

No
Or Well
I Read The First Chapter
I Only Bought It Today
Id Been Looking At Lists Of Classics For A While But Im Not Exactly Welcome In Exile-Run Establishments That Sell Books as Opposed To Initiative Offers For Borrowing

[heartsink]

That's right. You can't disguise yourself at all, can you?

What did you think of it? The book, I mean.

[speakveryclearly]

Lets Just Say I May Be Using A Very Liberal Definition Of Bought Here
That Might Involve Entering And Providing Payment Too Quickly To Be Observed

Anyway The Book Seems Promising Enough
Theres A Plucky Protagonist And Interdimensional Travel Involved To A Degree That Almost Makes Your Intelligence Seem Plausible If These Were Actually Your Role Models

Wait A Minute Youre Going To Just Make Me Keep It And Read The Rest Arent You

[heartsink]

Encourage.

[speakveryclearly]

Does Encourage Here Mean Refuse To Take This Present Into Your Possession Thus Leaving No Choices Other Than Keeping It For Myself Or Discarding It
(Besides Give It To Someone Else Which Is Absolutely Out Of The Question)

[heartsink]

Well, I can't rule out the possibility.

1/3

[speakveryclearly]

You Cant Can You

[She'd have to be psychic to do that!

There's a somewhat normal short pause here, like the kind someone might be able to get a reply in edgewise during, but then--]

[speakveryclearly]

Im Sorry

[Sent a heartbeat before--]

[speakveryclearly]

For My Excessively Liberal Use Of The Verb Make

[heartsink]

Ah, so she can learn, sometimes.

[ wow rude ]

[speakveryclearly]

When Given The Opportunity

[heartsink]

Only when given, huh?

[speakveryclearly]

Maybe
I Think Wed Have To Remark On A Semantic Explication Of That Verb To Be Entirely Sure
Since If To Be Given The Opportunity Means To Be Explicitly Schoolfed Then I Suppose Thats Not The Only Time Its Ever Possible
However I Did Intend A More Intransitive Sense That Could Perhaps Have Better Been Rendered
Should The Opportunity Arise
Because Doesnt There Have To Be A Teachable Moment As It Were For Learning To Occur
A Prior State Of Either Ignorance Or Outright Deception

[Fallback plan "find excuses to keep conversation going" is WORKING]

[heartsink]

[ but is the gradually increasing stream of irritation really worth it? ]

That's life.

[speakveryclearly]

[There is only room for one empath in this conversation okay

That said she types and deletes a couple different things before sending this and only does so out of a desire to not leave her hanging too long. Gosh Ms. Takahashi give her more to work with!! Huff puff.]

If Only All Aspects Of Existence Were So Easily Explicated

[heartsink]

[ but that would indicate she actually wants to continue the conversation as it's going... ]

If you're looking for something "easy," you've done an awful job. Life isn't easy.

[speakveryclearly]

A Girl Can Dream Cant She

[Of Being Good Enough For You is the subtext she doesn't intend; probably more of a poke at the recurring dream theme on a conscious level.]

[heartsink]

There's no Truth to dreams.

[speakveryclearly]

Of Course Not
That Doesnt Mean They Arent Pleasant While They Last Does It

[SUBTEXT]