week 10

[vicedirector]

seven vices week 10 16 players remaining ♫ sunday - sunday There are no announcements come Sunday morning. No instructions, no voices, nothing. Characters will be left to their own devices for the day. Come Monday, however, things will change... Characters who choose to explore will find that the void around the town has retracted a bit, and there is now a whole residential district beyond the park. Anyone looking for it will also find that Bill's cane is now gone. >Mingle? This is Week 10's log. Days will be split up. There will be no trial this week. When posting toplevels, specify the time and location. If you plan on having any private conversations between characters, remember to let us know in the post linked below. cast setting rulebook profiles private conversations

Comments

[dereban]

That's true. But translation is actually quite difficult, admittedly; it's a difficult process for someone who isn't used to speaking more than one language. Though I'm more used to it than others are from back home, knowing two.

[ English and Japanese. She's well rounded. ] Hajime didn't happen to teach you the characters to his name, did he?

[ She assumes not, but... ] Because I don't know if he explained it to you yet, but the characters in a person's name have a meaning behind it, too. Besides how it's pronounced. Like my name, for example. It's written with four characters - "ine", "ha", and "hime", "ko". When the characters for "ine" and "ha" are combined, the pronunciation changes to "Inaba". The character for "ine" is "rice plant" and the character for "ha" is leaf. Although my first name doesn't have a pronunciation change, it's just Himeko.

[ Just going to... shrug her shoulders. Inaba, why did you leave out the explanation of the characters from your first name out???? ]

[symbologic]

So I am discovering. Eldarian translation technology makes learning different languages a rather pointless affair. So this is an entirely new learning experience for me.

[Which he actually looks pleased about because of course he does. Learning is great.]

He did, yes. It sort of went without saying, really, as names having meaning behind them is a fairly universal concept. It's the same on Eldar. Though Japan seems to take that to an entirely different level with the myriad ways one can read the same character...

[HOW DOES ANYBODY KNOW WHAT ANYBODY'S NAME IS, THIS JUST BOGGLES HIS MIND.]

What does "Himeko" mean, then?

[dereban]

You seriously need to take me to your planet at some point.

[ No ifs, ands or buts. This is a demand at this point, because Faize said "technology" in that sentence and Inaba is a huge Nerd.


And then he asks about her first name. ]

I kind of hate it, but... The character for "hime" means princess, the "ko" means child.

[symbologic]

If I have the opportunity once all is said and done, I most certainly will.

[If you took the elves out of any given stereotypical high-fantasy adventure, put them all together on a planet where they were the only highly-intelligent life form (a la humans on earth), and gave them several millions of years worth of time to develop...you'd basically get Eldarians. Future elves. In space. So of course their tech is sick because they're elves and elves do everything better than humans, or so says most popular media.]

[Inaba's hardly the only one he'd like to take back for at least a brief visit but...he's really just not sure how feasible it is. Alternate universes and timelines aside...Faize himself hasn't been home for a while, and he doesn't see that changing soon. Important missions and all. The fates of both Eldarians and Earthlings hanging in the balance and everything!!]

[He cocks his head slightly to one side, looking politely curious.]

If you don't mind my asking...why? [Princesses are pretty great??? As Faize has only just recently learned because haha what is a monarchy?]

[dereban]

Hey, all of us can go full on SF and travel everywhere.

[ VISIT EVERYONE'S WORLD???? That sounds like fun. ]

Well, back at home, my name... it's kind of something that's made fun of. Because it's "cute", and because people assume that I need to be protected by some sort of white knight or whatever.

[symbologic]

[Faize quirks a brow slightly at "SF". Is...is that anything like NSFW? Safe For...no that can't be right. Why do you guys keep using abbreviations, dammit you know he doesn't know what those mean!]

[But that's not important. Not compared to what Inaba says next.]

Mmm...well, admittedly, I fail to see how a name being "cute" is a problem, but I will assume that is a matter of personal preference and leave you to your own opinion in that regard. But...this white knight assumption.

[He pauses, thinking about how he wants to word this exactly.]

I think that there will always be people who want to protect you, Inaba. And their reasons for doing so have nothing to do with your name, but rather because they care for you as a person. Because they want to see you happy and safe. It's only natural for people to think in such a way, and that is not something you should bear them grudge for. [Is he including himself in this group of people? Maybe. Who knows for certain.] However...if there are people who truly believe that you are some manner of damsel in distress, people who have not bothered to take the time to even get to know you, well...you can always tell them that there are princesses fully capable of being their own knights.

[Is he thinking about Alisha when he says this? Of course he is. When is he not?]

I believe you are strong and capable enough to consider yourself one, Inaba.

[dereban]

[ Clearly, Faize, all you have to do is ask. It's not as if the abbreviation is a secret. Nevertheless, Inaba listens with clear intent before frowning, interlacing her fingers together.

Also goddamn it. The name being cute is totally a problem! She's not cute! Her name completely clashes with her image! She's supposed to be cool. ]

...

[ Dark eyes gaze away as she finds herself deep in thought as she shifts on her heel grabbing at her arm as nails dig into her sleeve, teeth grazing across her lower lip. ]

I never understood that, not really. No, I get the concept, don't get me wrong. But I... just can't fully comprehend why people would actually bother caring. Like, what part of me is so important that I need to be protected?

[symbologic]

[Ugh, maybe he will in a bit. This other stuff is more important than abbreviations! Also, you're cute, Inaba?? Accept it.]

If someone truly does care for you enough to want to protect you, it is not because of one singular part of you. But rather, Himeko Inaba as a whole. All parts of you are important. Though, I suppose, someone might find a particular trait or aspect of your being to be especially precious, but not more important than the whole. I'm afraid there is not much I can say in that regard, as that is a matter of personal opinion and I cannot speak for everyone who cares for you.

But...you care very deeply for your friend Taichi, do you not? You want him to be safe and happy, no matter the cost. And not just him, but the others in your club as well, correct? Why is it so hard for you to believe that others might feel that same way about you?

[dereban]

.... Of course I care about Taichi. I care about a lot of people, but I don't really like showing it.

[symbologic]

Mmm... [Somehow, he is not surprised at all to hear this.] I suppose I can understand why you wouldn't. To a certain degree, at least. However... that doesn't answer my question, Inaba.

[You're avoiding it, aren't you? Stop that.]

[dereban]

...Maybe I don't want to give an answer.

[symbologic]

[w o w]

That is incredibly rude, you know. [He doesn't actually sound all that offended, though. If anything, he looks vaguely amused.] But I suppose that's alright, as I can now assume whatever answer I please. And it will be correct, as you have failed to give me one of your own.

[The sassy pants are on, apparently. Because holy hell, that is not how that works, Faize.]

And I believe that the reason why you are avoiding my question is because you do not have an answer. Because there is no reason why it should be hard to believe that others might feel that same way about you. That, truthfully, there is nothing about you that makes you undeserving of the care of others. And I think you know this, yet you stubbornly hold yourself to a different standard anyway. A wholly incorrect standard which says that there is nothing worthwhile about Himeko Inaba.

[dereban]

...

[ She's quiet at first, as if taking it all in. ]

That's wrong, you know. I just... don't like answering that about myself. The ugly part of me. I mean, who would like talking about it? About something like that...?

suck my dick, internet explorer, oh my god.

[symbologic]

[Faize puts his hands out, palms upturned in a slightly apologetic shrug. Of course, he knows that's not actually how it works. But there's just something about tsundere girls that brings the intentionally rude sass out of him.]

[Probably because that's the only method that actually gets them to STOP DODGING THE ISSUE.]

Of course I know. Forgive me, but it seemed the only way to get my point across. A rather cheap tactic, I will admit. But I will not pry further into this "ugly part" you possess, as even a vague admission of the issue is enough.

[So don't worry, miss tsun, you can keep that to yourself!]

Everyone has flaws, Inaba. That's what it means to be human. And I sincerely doubt that your negative qualities, whatever they are, outweigh your positive ones to the point of negating them entirely. So, my point still stands: there is no reason for it to be so unthinkable that others would care for your wellbeing and even desire to protect you. Because if someone truly cares for you, they care for all of you. The good and the bad.

A+ tagging, katar.....

[dereban]

[ Slightly apologetic? He doesn't seem like it, really... but whatever, fine. Inaba puffs out her cheeks ever so slightly as she speaks. ]

You're an idiot, you know. [ Inaba brings her fingers up, her thumb and middle finger together almost as if to flick him before bringing it down. ]

But fine, I won't say anything more about it. ... Thank you.

LISTEN...that was all ie's fault. showing me the wrong icon browser...how dare.

[symbologic]

[He is! He doesn't really like that he had to pull such a cheap move but...again. Whatever works.]

[Faize just gives a quiet huff of slightly self-depreciating laughter.]

I am well aware. [GESTURES TO. EVERYTHING. THAT HAPPENED THIS PAST WEEKEND. Bill's entire murder has made for a very striking exhibit in the museum of Faize's idiocy. Or, at least, Faize thinks so.]

[The near-flick and all that comes after it, however, just gets a gentle smile.]

You're welcome.