lingeringlegacy | 07 ☆ Returning Returner

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07 ☆ Returning Returner

The Tree has seen fit to greet my return from the elevator with a flashy getup I cannot change out of and alterations to my personal effects. I suppose it confirms that one thing has not changed since I last wrote.

Youth, 00, Smoke, Mindelan, Gene, Huo & Hawk - My gratitude for your concerns. I am safe and sound. It was difficult to tell apart day and night back there, but from the cycle of eating and getting hungry, I estimate 1-2 days have passed. Yet, the number of journal pages filled suggests a longer period. How long have I been away? I ~~mis~~ would enjoy meeting you over a cup of tea or coffee. Or pie or pasta. Or anything, really. Foodless is fine too.

Dr Valeth and [Housekeeping NPC supervisor] - My apologies for the absence. I shall report for duty on Monday if it is acceptable to you. By acceptable I also refer to the long fringe trims on my jacket. They look awfully easy to get caught in things.

How did post-hurricane cleanup go for everyone? My house got through just fine, but the humidity seemed quite severe, judging from the state of my components rack. (Unlikely but) does anyone have a proper chamber oven for baking PCBAs? Otherwise I'll have to use a toaster oven but... not sure if the heat distribution's even enough.

-Stellaris

[ooc: Mun feels like going local. For the Rockstar event, Stellaris is dressed as Anggun from her 90s 'lady rocker' days [1][2], meaning: red beret & garish fringe jacket, with black top, denim shorts and suede boots. Accessories include xbox hueg digital watch, at least 3 necklaces and enough bangles to compete with an Indian bride.]

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[Still staring. 'A couple more inches and face paint.' The strange man's accent was like a Union native rather than his usual, but...]

...Gene?

[Fruit-seller was quicker. He ran up to Gene as if wanting to hug him. "Duuuude! Gene? Gene Simmons? Don't remember m'real name but I know I love you, man." The young man mimicked bass guitar picking while wildly sticking out his tongue, probably too close for Gene's comfort.]

[Gene chuckled wryly at her surprise.]

That'd be me. I did try to warn yo-

[He cut himself off and recoiled as the young merchant ran up to him and promptly seemed to lose his mind.

Normally, he would be tempted to play along for the laughs. However, that tongue was officially invading his personal space and Gene took a moment to plant a hand in the middle of the fruit-seller's chest and step back about a foot or so to maintain a comfortable distance.]

Gene-1. Sorry, pal. I don't think I'm the guy you're looking for.

[Stellaris had gotten over her surprise and was now stifling a laugh. She picked a few avocados.]

Detroit, I'll be taking these.

[Fruit-seller didn't pay attention to her, instead looking like a dejected pierced puppy over Gene's rejection. "S'cool, man. I know. The amnesia thing." He backed down two steps before perking up again. "Hey can I at least touch your axe?"]

[This guy really didn't get it, did he? Though Gene was kind of amused that Detroit seemed to recognize... whoever it was he was supposed to be. Probably couldn't hurt to humour the guy, at least a little. He had taken to carrying the axe slung over his back by the strap (you never knew when it might come in handy) so he lifted the instrument over his head, then held it out to the man by the neck.]

Knock yourself out.

[He thought to shoot an apologetic look to Stellaris for the delay, but she seemed amused enough by the circumstances.]

[Detroit was stoked. He took the instrument and air-guitared with gusto, then declared to Stellaris, "Lady! Take all you want for free today, since you're friends with Gene Simmons!" before resuming his act of worship.

Stellaris shrugged, still trying to stifle her laugh, then did as given permission. Lowering her voice, she addressed Gene.]

I guess I ought to thank you for these.

Don't mention it. [He kept his voice low, but he didn't even bother to hide his laughter. The guy was a trip.

He stood by for a couple of minutes, just watching the guy go. Though, eventually, he figured they should probably get on with the meet up.]

Mind if I have that back? I've got a... session, later. [Not a music session, but if he was going to make it to the axe training with Castor, it would probably help to have an axe. Otherwise, he'd consider letting Detroit keep it.]

[Luckily Detroit gave the guitar up without incident. Having bagged a considerate amount of fruit (not too much, lest he blacklisted her if word gets by that Gene wasn't the person he thought he was), Stellaris tugged lightly at Gene's leather sleeve, signalling that they leave.]

This day is really something.

[Once he reclaimed the axe and the two started walking off in the other direction, far enough that they were caught up in the crowd, Gene flashed Detroit the rock horns, just to see if the man would go off again. Gene practically shook with laughter with laughter when the man went off into a tirade of, "Yeah, man! Fuckin' A!" and was glad for the barrier of people between them.]

Never a dull moment. [He situated the instrument on his back once more, then reached out to flick the many strands of fringe hanging from her jacket.] Yours is kind of cute.

[Sure, it was dated and a little garish, but there was an endearing quality to it.]

[That was too much to hold laughter off, so Stellaris let our a hearty one. But caught by surprise when Gene complimented her outfit, her cheeks blushed.]

Ah... thank you.

[Heart beating a little faster, she was reminded of her slight hesitation to meet Gene today. Unsure of how she felt after their outing in the Camp, but on the other hand, he was a good friend, like Smoke, Gai, Huo and Hawk, with an added factor of being from the same world. And after days without anyone but her silent pet, she wanted to meet all her friends. This... should be fine.]

It is rather noisy, though. [She jangles with every step.] What did I miss these last few weeks?

[The corner of his mouth quirked upward in satisfaction at the pink tone spreading over Stellaris's cheeks and he gave the fringe one last playful swat before answering her.]

Hopefully you won't have to sneak up on anyone any time soon.

[He paused for a moment as he tried to recall the events of the past few weeks.]

You've heard about the reconstruction efforts already, so I won't bore you with that. There was a little event in the park. A barbecue with food shaped like people in the Sphere. It was kind of creepy. [A huge understatement given what the event was meant to signify, but he wouldn't get into that just now.] A lot of people got their names back and, recently, a lot of our weapons have been replaced with harmless stand-ins. I think that's all the high points.

[He considered mentioning that Youth's son had disappeared, but he didn't know if the two were close and if she'd even know who he was referring to.]

[It's easy, too easy to slip to playfulness with him.] I'll have you sneak up for me if it comes to that.

It sounds like the usual fare, then. [She didn't think the food's resemblance to people would be that much.] I just met Gai, so I know about his. Who else get their name back?

Because I'm so stealthy at the moment? [He spread his hands a little to emphasize his outrageous state of dress.] Though, with all this black I think I'd be set to take someone by surprise at night.

Something like that. [So she did know You-Gai. That would be good to keep in mind.] Let's see, there's Derrick, now known as Richard Castle. Or just Rick. And some guy that used to go by Lea who's now known as Axel. I believe that's it. Doesn't seem like much, but it's rare that they happen so close to one another.

[Or maybe many weren't open about their real names. He knew Neil wasn't.]

So what about your time away, hm? I was promised stories about weightless frolicking, after all.

Diversion tactics! They'd be too distracted to realise you're spying on them. [She really just made them up on the spot.]

I don't know Derick, but he's... Genius' brother, if I recall correctly? I know Lea as Kagerou's brother. I'm glad she's back now.

[Yes, Derick with one 'r'. Genius typo'ed his name on her Adhoc Storage post. And Kagerou's return was definitely a factor to 00 looking happier now than she was in the Camp.]

Maybe we should find a seat before I tell you about that.

Ahh, clever. [While he didn't show it, there was... something about that last phrase that struck home. Hm.]

That he is. And I saw that she had. Quite a few people seemed relieved for it. [He'd only talked to her a bit over the journals but she certainly came across as a nice girl.]

That exciting, hm? In that case... [He craned his neck and looked out over the crowd to spot a small outdoor cafe, which he pointed out to her.] Will that do?

[She nodded, advancing to the cafe with a crink-crank along the way, tugging the small wheeled suitcase she always took for major shopping trips. Picking a spot furthest from the counter, she skimmed the tabletop menu. Her voice was such that only Gene could hear her. It was not top secret, but not something relevant to others.]

Well, as the words implied, I was somewhere like a space station. Aim told me before that he visited a familiar setting in the fourth floor, so when the elevator jammed, I wasn't too surprised.

[Having seated himself opposite of her, Gene nodded a bit at the description.]

Were there any defining characteristics about the place? Anything in particular that stood out?

Aside from the microgravity, I recognised it as space because our ringed Earth is visible from an observation deck. The place was incredibly spacious, with some very long hallways, but most of the doors are locked.

[She was interrupted when a waitress came to take their orders. Hers was caramel latte.]

[Gene requested coffee with milk, no sugar, then turned back to Stellaris once the waitress trotted off.]

Hm. Do you think it was a base of sorts, or did it seem better suited to research and observation?

[Gene found himself wondering if this was the same place that Stardust had described from her memory.]

It's hard to tell when I was locked out of most places, but among those I could access was a huge hall adjacent to airlocks. My guess would be hangar. And there was another room but... [Furrowing her brows, her eyes shifted to the right.] it had a really eerie atmosphere. Dimmed fluorescent lights, and... a lot of large glass containers. Reminiscent of the glass cocoons that covered those people with hourglasses some time ago. Did those remind you of anything?

A hangar makes sense, all things considered.

[Gene's brows raised slightly at the description of the unsettling room.]

Aside from coffins? [Because, unfortunately, that's very much what the hourglass cocoons reminded him of.] ...Maybe something medical, like a type of hyperbaric chamber. It'd make sense, if it was the same size as the cocoons. Or maybe a sort of specimen container, if the place was geared towards research in space.

[Stellaris nodded.] It's logical for any kind of space structure to have a hangar. The hall's empty, but appears to be high enough for a Gundam.

I don't think people make coffins out of glass. ...or do they? [The instinctual feeling she had when seeing Amurui's glass cocoon in the park was not one of hopelessness, but like waiting for someone to regain consciousness.] But they don't look like coffins to me. They're vertical, connected to some kind of wall terminal, and lots of wires. But the power was down.

Not in any normal, practical senses. I think it's been done for religious displays and reliquaries, though. [Though he couldn't remember any specific examples beyond a vague feeling that it was something that was done. ...Not that it was particularly relevant to the conversation to remember, and so he shook his head and focused on the important details.]

Vertical and connected to a terminal with wires... maybe they were used to run some sort of diagnostic. Did it look like the sort of thing someone could step into?

[His question made her momentarily shudder.]

It did. I—I did... I stepped inside. I got tired and there weren't anywhere I can rest at without floating aimlessly, so I...

[She went silent. It was hard to find words to convey the intense anxiety she felt inside one of those glass pods.]

[His eyes widened visibly at this news. That wasn't what he had expected to hear. Though it did seem to answer whether the receptacles were meant to hold people or not.]

Damn. That sounds really claustrophobic. [It would be hard to miss the unease evident in her voice and expression.] ...Are you all right?

[Sure, she had seemed physically sound, but that didn't necessarily cover all the bases of well-being.]

[It was embarrassing to be seen unable to control her emotions. She thought it was over; the visceral reaction should have stayed behind after leaving that room. She looked down at her shaky, clasped hands on the table—when it started shaking, she didn't know.

The waitress arrived with their order at that moment. Seeing Stellaris' pale face, she cast a suspicious glance at Gene while setting their cups on the table.]

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