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In truth, that's still plenty common where -- or maybe when?
[That was something Athrun would have to ponder later. Could they be from parallel worlds, or were they from the same world but at different points in time?]
Um, anyway. What I meant to say is that it's common even when space colonies exist. People who travel between Earth and the colonies do so either for business or for tourism. Myself, I first came to Earth as a soldier.
As someone from the colonies, one thing I can tell you? Everything feels larger than life on Earth. Standing on the shore and gazing out at ocean as far as the eye can see really drives home just how huge our planet really is. And that's with the sea -- I can't imagine what it would feel like to be standing in the middle of the plains or the desert and do the same.
[He offers a weak smile as he finishes talking.]
[That was something Athrun would have to ponder later. Could they be from parallel worlds, or were they from the same world but at different points in time?]
Um, anyway. What I meant to say is that it's common even when space colonies exist. People who travel between Earth and the colonies do so either for business or for tourism. Myself, I first came to Earth as a soldier.
As someone from the colonies, one thing I can tell you? Everything feels larger than life on Earth. Standing on the shore and gazing out at ocean as far as the eye can see really drives home just how huge our planet really is. And that's with the sea -- I can't imagine what it would feel like to be standing in the middle of the plains or the desert and do the same.
[He offers a weak smile as he finishes talking.]
[ Pale purple isn't a bad choice— some flowers definitely have more of a yellow or red smell. ]
It does. [ She sounds almost defeated. The reason for that: ] I just ate so much but this is making me hungry all over again!
[ Ann gives a frustrated pout down to the flower in her hand… and then tucks it behind 6O's ear. ]
Maybe we should keep walking before I eat the entire tree.
It does. [ She sounds almost defeated. The reason for that: ] I just ate so much but this is making me hungry all over again!
[ Ann gives a frustrated pout down to the flower in her hand… and then tucks it behind 6O's ear. ]
Maybe we should keep walking before I eat the entire tree.
[ Of course she was going to drink both!! She had to try one of everything— what if she didn't get the chance to try it again, later? You have to seize opportunities when they present themselves! Ann lets him take the cup, appearing much smaller than it had in her hand compared to his considerably larger one. ]
Oh, cheers!
[ She made sure to gently bump the edge of her cup against his before he drank, then downed the remainder of what was in her own. Bye, wine! ]
How is it?
Oh, cheers!
[ She made sure to gently bump the edge of her cup against his before he drank, then downed the remainder of what was in her own. Bye, wine! ]
How is it?
[ It did feel amazing, that touch to her cheek radiating warmth throughout her entire body. Ann leaned into the touch of his hand, sliding her own around toward his back, pressing her palms against it and splaying her fingers over him. It always felt good, for the two of them to be like this, but this felt even better than usual. She could only imagine what it would do for… other things. ]
That's true. Not that that's been an issue for a while. [ For the past few months, they were usually only doing what they wanted, when they wanted. Quota had stopped being an issue for Ann for quite some time— and for Ryuji, it never had been. ] But I'd still rather not be forced to do anything, even if it's something I would've done anyway. No more worrying about contracts, either.
Yeah… since we're together… things here aren't looking all that bad.
That's true. Not that that's been an issue for a while. [ For the past few months, they were usually only doing what they wanted, when they wanted. Quota had stopped being an issue for Ann for quite some time— and for Ryuji, it never had been. ] But I'd still rather not be forced to do anything, even if it's something I would've done anyway. No more worrying about contracts, either.
Yeah… since we're together… things here aren't looking all that bad.
Is that what you'd call it? [ Time-dilation… she hadn't even known there was a term for what they'd experienced. ] It was like that at the last place I was in before here, too— Akechi was there. But he didn't remember… any of what happened. It was already a surprise that he was… y'know.
[ Not dead. ]
But then he didn't even remember any of it happening! Is it… breaking the rules if we told him? [ She's seen plenty of Sci-Fi movies, but it isn't like they're all consistent when it comes to the rules of time travel. Anyway— ]
There's definitely more. I've met people who were from our past, and people from worlds where humans were entirely wiped out… that isn't even the worst of it.
[ Not dead. ]
But then he didn't even remember any of it happening! Is it… breaking the rules if we told him? [ She's seen plenty of Sci-Fi movies, but it isn't like they're all consistent when it comes to the rules of time travel. Anyway— ]
There's definitely more. I've met people who were from our past, and people from worlds where humans were entirely wiped out… that isn't even the worst of it.
'When' doesn't sound too far-fetched. I guess for me, meeting you is like what it was for some of my friends to meet me? They were from my past, so maybe you're from my future?
[ Just like Duplicity, it seemed like this place would pluck people from different worlds, different times, and drop them all in the same place. She doesn't stop to think about how that's possible— because in her eyes, descending on a crystal elevator into the inner parts of a moon shouldn't be possible, and yet it's happening as they speak. ]
Space feels pretty empty in comparison, huh? [ She says it like she knows, firsthand— then quickly shakes her head. ] I mean, I imagine it does? It's not like I've ever been there, or anything. [ Ha… ha… ha. Moving on: ] It must have been kind of overwhelming, huh? I've been to a lot of beautiful places, but, the way you talk about it makes me feel like I've kinda taken it for-granted.
[ Just like Duplicity, it seemed like this place would pluck people from different worlds, different times, and drop them all in the same place. She doesn't stop to think about how that's possible— because in her eyes, descending on a crystal elevator into the inner parts of a moon shouldn't be possible, and yet it's happening as they speak. ]
Space feels pretty empty in comparison, huh? [ She says it like she knows, firsthand— then quickly shakes her head. ] I mean, I imagine it does? It's not like I've ever been there, or anything. [ Ha… ha… ha. Moving on: ] It must have been kind of overwhelming, huh? I've been to a lot of beautiful places, but, the way you talk about it makes me feel like I've kinda taken it for-granted.
Something like that. Where we experience more time than others or I theorize when we're returned home we'll be restored to exactly what we were like with no memory of the events. After all I would have told you about this place otherwise even if I had concerns you wouldn't believe me.
[They'd experienced some odd things already being perfectly honest. Her eyes do widen a bit at the mention of Akechi.]
I was worried that might happen. It's fine that you told him though, like I said I don't think we'll remember any of this or if we do it'll be a delayed memory until we're all caught up.
[Which of course means Akechi would never reach that point of memory.]
Wow. So was the place you were at anything like here?
[They'd experienced some odd things already being perfectly honest. Her eyes do widen a bit at the mention of Akechi.]
I was worried that might happen. It's fine that you told him though, like I said I don't think we'll remember any of this or if we do it'll be a delayed memory until we're all caught up.
[Which of course means Akechi would never reach that point of memory.]
Wow. So was the place you were at anything like here?
I mean, it's a part of who we are.
[Makes sense to her.]
I think it's our essence or something. Anyway...that's probably it? Or something similar. Sorry, I can't give you specifics. But, hey, you're from Tokyo as well?
[Makes sense to her.]
I think it's our essence or something. Anyway...that's probably it? Or something similar. Sorry, I can't give you specifics. But, hey, you're from Tokyo as well?
[oh nooo... that's too cute. 6O flushes a pink to rival the flower, while her internal diagnostics alert her to a sudden rise in pulse rate. Critical hit to the dokis. It's fine, this happens all the time.]
Think, uh, think they might be edible? I-I mean, not the metal ones probably, but... [She waves at the cheesecake tree.] You know.
Think, uh, think they might be edible? I-I mean, not the metal ones probably, but... [She waves at the cheesecake tree.] You know.
In some ways. They're kinder about it. And it doesn't have to be sex.
[He hesitates, but she should know.]
But during my moon phase, at least, I'm - always turned on. So it's a little less under our control.
[He hesitates, but she should know.]
But during my moon phase, at least, I'm - always turned on. So it's a little less under our control.
[He tries not to stare at her as she comes out, but he does end up doing it regardless, being in uneasy silent for a few seconds after she's done speaking for his brain to catch up. However, it's probably not for the reason that Ann might think;]
Ahh sorry. I just...It's nice to see you around. I wasn't alone here, but...it's not like when I left and we could send messages to each other.
Ahh sorry. I just...It's nice to see you around. I wasn't alone here, but...it's not like when I left and we could send messages to each other.
No memories… [ She repeats it, face falling momentarily into a sullen expression. They'd been afraid of that when they'd been talking about people leaving Duplicity— wondering if they'd forget everything that had happened there. Ann had been operating on the assumption that they wouldn't, but… what if they did? What if she forgot everyone, and everything that had happened?
The question snaps her out of it. ] —huh? Oh. Um… not at all, really. I mean, it was pretty high-tech, but we definitely didn't wake up on a moon.
There, we were part of some kind of experiment. They said something about trying to figure out how to do something with a gene…? And the way to do that was for us to…… um. 'Fill a quota.'
The question snaps her out of it. ] —huh? Oh. Um… not at all, really. I mean, it was pretty high-tech, but we definitely didn't wake up on a moon.
There, we were part of some kind of experiment. They said something about trying to figure out how to do something with a gene…? And the way to do that was for us to…… um. 'Fill a quota.'
[ Ann lets her head fall to the side to look his way, waiting as he gathers his thoughts and puts them to words. The apology gets a small shake of her head as she pushes against the pillows to sit up straighter. ]
No, it's… it's fine. I totally know what you mean. Being a few prefectures away feels like nothing compared to different world or a whole other planet. [ She hesitates for a moment before sliding a little closer, to bump him with her elbow. ] I don't think I said this, yet, but… I really missed you. At home, too, but… I haven't talked to you in months.
No, it's… it's fine. I totally know what you mean. Being a few prefectures away feels like nothing compared to different world or a whole other planet. [ She hesitates for a moment before sliding a little closer, to bump him with her elbow. ] I don't think I said this, yet, but… I really missed you. At home, too, but… I haven't talked to you in months.
Actually having sex stopped the feeling for about fifteen minutes... after the third time.
But different people are affected a little differently, so it might not be as bad for you?
[He sounds pretty resigned to it.]
I'm not sure what it really was there, but here it's like a power plant for everything in the city. Even touch powers things a little, but sex...
But different people are affected a little differently, so it might not be as bad for you?
[He sounds pretty resigned to it.]
I'm not sure what it really was there, but here it's like a power plant for everything in the city. Even touch powers things a little, but sex...
[ Souji… ]
The third time?! And only fifteen minutes?
[ Don't get her wrong here— sex can be great! She enjoys it! But— ]
And it's like that every time?
[ He might be resigned to it, but she needs a moment to be properly scandalized, here! ]
I guess that makes a little sense. If touching someone is a little power, then touching each other a lot is more power. Right?
The third time?! And only fifteen minutes?
[ Don't get her wrong here— sex can be great! She enjoys it! But— ]
And it's like that every time?
[ He might be resigned to it, but she needs a moment to be properly scandalized, here! ]
I guess that makes a little sense. If touching someone is a little power, then touching each other a lot is more power. Right?
[Seeing Ann's sullen expression made her scramble.]
B-but that's just a theory that we'd forget everything for good. It might only be until everybody catches up. We can figure out the nature of what brought us here together.
[Then Ann brought up being an experiment and that made Futaba grimace. She could tell from the way Ann was talking that it wasn't a happy memory.]
You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to.
[After a brief moment of hesitation she walked faster to be right beside Ann and grab her hand firmly.]
No matter what I'm here for you though. Ren and everyone else too!
B-but that's just a theory that we'd forget everything for good. It might only be until everybody catches up. We can figure out the nature of what brought us here together.
[Then Ann brought up being an experiment and that made Futaba grimace. She could tell from the way Ann was talking that it wasn't a happy memory.]
You don't have to tell me anything you don't want to.
[After a brief moment of hesitation she walked faster to be right beside Ann and grab her hand firmly.]
No matter what I'm here for you though. Ren and everyone else too!
For five days each out of the last two months. I couldn't leave the apartment, or I'd get so distracted I got lost.
[He trusts her to be able to read into that statement without having to explain more.]
That's how it seems to work. They say it's not something they're doing, but... maybe they're just trying to avoid a rebellion.
[He trusts her to be able to read into that statement without having to explain more.]
That's how it seems to work. They say it's not something they're doing, but... maybe they're just trying to avoid a rebellion.
I don't trust them yet, and I want to investigate... but they have been trying to protect us from the worst of it. When all three moons came out at once, they had bracelets to suppress the effects.
[ That strange warmth courses through her veins again, and she gently squeezes Futaba's hand in return. The few days they'd been waiting for transport to Lunatia had felt so cold and impersonal— it really is nice to be near a friend again. ]
I think it's probably better if you knew.
[ She can spare her some of the ugliest details; about the executions, about the reprogramming centers. But everything else… it's always better to have information, isn't it? ]
To fill those quotas, we had to… y'know… [ Augh, this is embarrassing. She gets a little closer, to whisper. ]
Have sex.
I think it's probably better if you knew.
[ She can spare her some of the ugliest details; about the executions, about the reprogramming centers. But everything else… it's always better to have information, isn't it? ]
To fill those quotas, we had to… y'know… [ Augh, this is embarrassing. She gets a little closer, to whisper. ]
Have sex.
So they could either be helping us to get us to let our guards down… or helping us because it really isn't their fault. Is that what you mean? [ Both seem entirely plausible… but… ]
Unless there's something we can do to keep from helping them with gathering Chroma, doesn't that does seem like a lot of effort to go to? We wouldn't have any choice but to participate, so there isn't really any need to trick us… but that seems too good to be true, too.
Unless there's something we can do to keep from helping them with gathering Chroma, doesn't that does seem like a lot of effort to go to? We wouldn't have any choice but to participate, so there isn't really any need to trick us… but that seems too good to be true, too.
Since our Personas work in the regular world here, we could still damage a lot of real estate if we thought they were working against us.
[Just because he's quiet and calm doesn't mean he wouldn't drop Megidoloan on the Moon Knights if he had to.]
[Just because he's quiet and calm doesn't mean he wouldn't drop Megidoloan on the Moon Knights if he had to.]
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