lingeringlegacy | 04 ☆ Exceeding theoretical boundaries

[She nodded at his assessment.] Mm. Blond, plaid, wave... limbs? [It sounded strange, but distinct enough to recognise if it was really a habitual behavior.] Thank you for the information.

I think... that was all I mean to tell you. I hope I haven't bored you.

[That was a lie, but she was not ready to share the last piece of information that was bugging her mind lately.]

[He reconsidered his description when she seemed confused by the limb-waving statement.] Eh, he's high strung, is what I mean. [Gene said with a dismissive wave.]

I was anything but bored. [He picked up his plastic fork once more, spearing a bit of the sausage and potato that had been neglected during their chat.] There's more I could tell you, you know. I didn't get to cover all of it in Tokyo.[Which may have been for the better, considering how there might be consequences when one learned too much too fast.]

Do you have the time to go over that now, or should we save it for another time? [He had no idea how long her lunch break lasted, after all, though he had time to spare since he was already at work.]

Edited 2010-10-01 04:43 (UTC)

[Actually, limb-waving sounded like a more easily observable quality. But she just nodded along, and smiled gladly at his reassurance about not being bored.] I'm glad.

[Her own portion of gratin got some attention back as well before she checked her wristwatch.]

Mmm... I don't need to return to the Petal for the rest of the day, because my next shift is in Section 4. So I still have some time. [And at the back of her mind, she did not want to go to soon. Perhaps she did not even mind going a little late, as long as she still finished her workload. Section 4 assignments usually get finished earlier than other sections, she thought.]

Good. It'd be a shame to get you in trouble.

[He started chewing thoughtfully on another fork-full of food as he pondered how to put all of this.]

During your last stint here, as Stardust, you received a couple of memories which you told me about. In one, you were in a base of some sort, and Dyad and Aurora were both there. Cheers, too, and she mentioned the ship they had docked there needed repairs and supplies. Apparently, you had mentioned how long those tasks would take. In addition to all that, it seemed like all involved were part of some cohesive group since they were all wearing the same uniform.

[He paused to let that information sink in, keeping an eye on Stellaris's face. It wasn't startling news, but people usually took on interesting and very telling expressions when they came across information from their past.]

[Few seconds passed in which she remained mum, facing Gene with her lips ajar and eyes widened in surprise. Her hands had likewise stopped processing the lunch. She had not quite anticipated Gene to come up with that much in one go.

But Edensphere had her used to being surprised by now, more or less. There wasn't much resistance in her mind to start fitting the new details to the growing tapestry of who she had been.]

...so that's how you came up with the conclusion that we were part of a group.

[The reaction was along the lines of what he had been expecting, but he had to hand it to Stellaris. She took it all in stride fairly quickly.]

It was one part in a few contributing factors that clenched that fact. When I first got here, the ones from our world were more or less acting like a group and found Gundam to be a common theme. When Raise came back as Dyad he mentioned that a few of us were in his dream. But I think the information from that memory was the first detailed account I'd heard that actually came from our past.

Do you think every one here from our world came from that group? Though if an unrelated person did arrive, it might not be easy to tell.

[She had now finished eating, and dabbing at her mouth with a napkin. The styrofoam tray went inside the plastic bag she brought them in.]

I wonder... [She folded her arms, clutching lightly on the sides of her body nervously.] what become of our cause there. We must have had one, haven't we?

That's a good point. Familiarity with one another might be a way to tell the difference... but then, without memories to back it up, it's just as possible that the person you find so familiar could have worked at your local deli instead of the same base. [He gave a shrug. It was frustrating to have what little you 'knew' called into question like this, but there was little to be done for it.]

As for what our cause was... I'm not entirely clear on it, but I have some bits and pieces to work with. I know that in my memory, I was piloting a Gundam saw a bunch of automatons mowing people down. After I dispatched the machines in the base I turned and saw another machine like the one I was in, presumably piloted by someone. I shouted at them, called them 'A-LAWS' and fired on them, but they got away.

[He paused for a moment, his jaw tight from clenching his teeth. The memory of what happened at that base STILL left him furious. Finding himself without any more appetite, he packed away his own portion of the lunch Stellaris had brought.]

Later on, the Wilderness shifted to a place with actual people rather than mannequins. Some of those we knew and one of the ones I came across was Aurora... or rather a double of him. I still don't know how the hell it worked. But he still had his memories. You'd think that'd solve a lot of problems, but there was one issue. You couldn't find too much information in this place without it killing you. Another trick of the Sphere, I guess.

[The frustration and anger that he had started feeling at the mention of his memory was only building when he thought of the conditions attached to Adstringendum, and it was starting to show in his expression. It was just so damned ridiculous how this place was always one step forward and two steps back.]

I still got a little information out of the encounter, though.

Edited 2010-10-04 03:15 (UTC)

[Her mind had been distracted when she asked that short, wistful question. A cause. A purpose. By right, humans design objects to fulfill a purpose, like playgrounds for children. Thus wouldn't the artificial components in her body, too, have been designed for a purpose? It had been on her mind ever since their discovery by Lezard and his technician, but no matter how hard she crunched what little information she had, she hadn't been able to find a clue. It was mostly the reason she had sought Gene out to this place. And if she was part of an organisation, it would be plausible that the reason for her state tied with the cause of that organisation.]

That sounds horrible...

[Then she was shaken out of the haze by Gene's reaction, the way he clenched his teeth and the abrupt way he packed his lunch. She didn't really expect him to be so affected. Though thinking back to their first —first that she remembered, at least— meeting and how he seemed to have a distaste towards battles, his answer, his memory explained it.

There was a contrast between the Gene currently in front of her and the image he projected in the journals, goofing around about being pirates or bantering with Bell. Perhaps, she thought, it was part of how the man coped?]

And to think the Wilderness would have another... place with Aurora, but I would guess not our world either?

But Gene, if it's too... [Too what? Painful? Difficult? Frustrating?] If you don't feel like doing so, you don't have to tell me.

[The combination of words she just spoken pulled at something within. Something comforting, but sad. But she bit her lips, trying to bite back the strange feeling from engulfing her.]

[He shook his head at her question.]

No, he gave every indication that it wasn't his home. They were just as trapped as we are. [And every bit as screwed, if not more, judging by the dystopian landscape of the place.]

[When Gene looked up at Stellaris's gentle words, it was obvious that she seemed a bit... worried? Anxious? Something. He had probably gone a little far, hadn't he? While he felt it within his rights to get angry at the situation, now might be the time to scale it back. Though absently he noted the fact that it did seem easy for him to talk with her, even about things like this.]

Don't worry, I was... just going to say that I found out the attack was from a source that seemed to be keeping the info under wraps. Whatever we were up against, seems we had good reason for it. [He gave her a half-smile but, rather than managing to be reassuring, it was tinged with a wry sort of edge.]

Edited 2010-10-04 05:57 (UTC)

[She relaxed a little seeing his tension waning. The thought that another universe where people are trapped existed, though, was quite disconcerting.]

I would like to believe so, and right now, I think I wouldn't want to fight without a good reason. Realising how little we know is scary. [She attempted a smile back. It didn't quite reach her eyes.] But I guess I should try and follow Youth's advice. Try not to worry about things I have no control of, and focus on what I have now. [She chuckled lightly.] Maybe I can even learn to enjoy the playground while it lasts.

Scary's a good way of putting it.

[The fact that the smile was forced didn't escape his attention. Though the shift in topic to the playground seemed to turn it a little more genuine, which was nice to see.]

It's worth trying at least once. You might be surprised.

[Even after an awkward start, she found it easy to smile when with 00. The Haros' antics usually helped, too.]

In fact, I will be going this afternoon with 00 and Kagerou.

I see. Do the lot of you have a game plan for which parts you're going to attack first, or will it be a more impulsive endeavor where you go after whatever grabs your attention?

I haven't really thought of that.

Ah well, I'm sure it'll come to you once you get there.

Considering you've got that appointment for fun later on [Gene looked at his watch and noticed that the time had passed more quickly than expected] and I should be to getting back to work, it might be best to bring our lunch break to a close.

[He picked up the styrofoam container that he'd set aside earlier.] Though, if you want to chat about this sort of thing at another time, I'm up for it.

[He grinned at her.] And since the suggestion of talking in the S-yard was only to avoid getting in trouble for certain things, we could even stand to go somewhere a bit nicer.

Edited 2010-10-05 06:02 (UTC)

Hopefully so. Besides, Kagerou is knowledgeable about social things.

[She checked her own watch and surprised at how fast time passed. Which didn't really make sense, because the length of time should be constant as long as she does not travel at different speeds. It would be nice if time passed this fast when she was waiting for wash cycles to finish.] So this kind of talk doesn't really have to be in the Scavenger's Yard? You should have made it clearer, then. [She pouted a little, but smiled again as she started packing her things.] But I would love to see those nicer places.

Hey, give a guy a break! [The pout was met with mock defensiveness, the effect of which was ruined when he returned her smile.] I couldn't exactly say Scavenger's Yard chats are best for discussing the Sphere's dirty little secrets when we were up above.

[He stepped out of the car, container in hand, and came around the car to open the door on Stellaris's side.] In that case, I'll round up a list of possibilities for the next time.

[His act prompted a short burst of laughter out of her, but she still mentally registered that bit on 'Sphere's dirty little secrets' and associated it with things like the mysterious writer some time ago. The talk on a war and a grey man. That could wait—she needed to be in Section 4 soon and she didn't really want to part with Gene in a dour mood.

Then he opened the door. The gesture reminded her of when he laid his jacket on the broken window in Odaiba. A slight flush coloured her cheeks as she stepped out of the car.] Thank you. I'll look forward to your list.

[He caught a glimpse of the blush and the edges of his smile quirked up that much more as he closed the door behind her.]

Glad to hear it. I'll do my best not to disappoint.

04 ☆ Exceeding theoretical boundaries

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