(open) is there nothing left

[consumeation]

Characters: Kei and you
Date: Throughout April
Location: Dreaming Bridge, other parts of Aifaran
Situation: Daily activities, healing wounds, and affinities
Warnings/Rating: None yet


A1. Library

Having exhausted the slim quantity of ebooks available on the yimo, Kei's decided to go to the library. He's most likely to be found in the sci-fi and fantasy sections, but Aifaran classic novels are also of interest to get a deeper grasp of the conventions.

A2. Dreaming Bridge, Breakwater Wing

Back at the Dreaming Bridge, Kei can frequently be found reading one of the books he's checked out. Once or twice this month, he can be found painting his nails, as after two months in Aifaran he's finally picked up nail polish to redo them.

B. A cafe (Crime 4)

Kei only opened the letter that was handed to him by a stranger after he'd found a quiet spot in the back corner of a cafe, where no one would be able to see the contents.

It had an intriguing offer... from a certain perspective. Certainly, Kei was fully capable of helping commit a crime, even missing the bulk of his powers. Clearly someone had noticed that, though there wasn't much to be surprised about after his memories had taken form.

Money was such a cheap reward, though. Crimes committed for the sake of acquisitions had nothing in the way of ideals or passion. Doing something like that without a larger purpose behind it would be an empty act. He was empty enough without that.

He might make an enemy by refusing, but he's had enemies before.

C. Hospital

One of the researchers working on Kei's case made a breakthrough - they might be able to restore his missing inversion organ, though they weren't sure how much time it would take to restore it fully. He'd have to continue with the treatment he was already receiving, for now, but they could begin at any time. Consequently, Kei can be found in and around one of the hospitals more frequently than he was before.

D. Anywhere (mid-month onwards)

There is now a bibiru following Kei around where there most certainly was not one before. He acts like it's not there most of the time, but still feeds it and leans down to pet it if it peeps at him.

Comments

A1

[spoilsfun]

Conan was precariously perched on the back of a chair near one of the shelves in the library, having climbed up as high as he could to reach a top shelf. The book he was eyeing was still just out of his reach. Carefully, he shifts his balance on the chair as he tries to stretch just a little higher.

Things like this could be difficult when you were only three feet tall.

[consumeation]

Kei almost walks right by him, but thinks better of it. His image may have been partially ruined, but that doesn't mean he can't build a new one.

"Do you need a hand?

[spoilsfun]

"That's okay. I can do it by myself." Conan gives his answer without even turning around.

Of course that is the moment he leans too far and overbalances the chair, he clutches at the bookshelf in an attempt to balances himself, only to pull down several books on top of himself as he starts to fall.

[consumeation]

The books fall to the floor, but Kei catches Conan, the personal being more important than the immaterial.

(Isn't that perspective strange? part of Kei questions, but it's normal enough for the planets he's been on, normal enough for Earth, normal enough for here.)

"Clearly not." There's no sarcasm in it. "Everyone needs help sooner or later." Only the slightest of senses that he might referring to himself gets through. He wouldn't allow any more.

[spoilsfun]

"They were just books," Conan points out grumpily as he tries to back down to the floor. "This has happened before and I was fine."

A1

[annihilist]

Devin is still familiarizing himself with all the libraries have to offer; the collections of books from Dreamfolk worlds are much larger here than in Keeliai, on top of the combined knowledge of the Alliance races.

He sees Kei perusing the shelves as he's returning some books to their homes, slotting them in place. "Looking for something in particular, or just browsing?" Devin asks casually, glancing over at him.

[consumeation]

It's difficult to tell what books are native to Aifaran and which have come from other worlds, particularly without experience differentiating the two.

Kei looks at Devin when he's spoken to, considering. He also looks likely to be a Dreamfolk, but nonetheless... "I don't suppose you'd know of any particularly influential novels?"

[annihilist]

The smile Devin offers is wry. "I know a few; I haven't worked here long enough to read through many of them, but the popular selections have high demand."

He kneels to replace the last few books, rearranging one or two that are already on the shelf but out of order. "Is there a specific genre of novel you'd be interested in, or will any influential piece do? Aifaran's philosophical canon is quite different from it's fiction, but there's some overlap if you like that sort of thing."

[consumeation]

"Philosophical fiction would be preferable; I tend towards science fiction and fantasy, but I fully understand that the standards here are different than they would be in my world. I'm looking to learn about what's understood here." Not necessarily what's "normal"; there's never been anything generally recognized as such so far as Kei is aware.

A2.

[denyamenti]

Bakura moves through the public areas of the Bridge, gathering abandoned dishes from people who've taken them from the cafeteria and not bothered to return them. He looks a little grumpy with how many of them he's collected into a tub under one arm.

"Hey," he said, nudging Kei's leg with a frown and nodding at an empty cup and plate which had been left nearby. "Are those yours?"

[consumeation]

The touch startles Kei, absorbed as he is in his book. It's clear in the way he looks at Bakura, though he quickly regains his composure.

"Ah, yes. I meant to return them when I was finished." It's likely he means the book, rather than eating.

[denyamenti]

The sedate and polite reaction is hard to rail against, so rather than a cutting scold, Kei gets a long-suffering sigh, since he was likely not the person who'd been leaving days-old containers around, with that attitude.

"Someone around here has been lazy about it, that's all."

[consumeation]

"That's terribly unfortunate. I'd help with the cleanup, but I haven't quite noticed anything of the sort." It's plausible enough, with how little he seems to realize others have been less considerate, that he just outright hasn't noticed someone leaving their things around.

[denyamenti]

Bakura suspects that part's true enough, given how absorbed in the book Kei had appeared before the thief had interrupted him. "Is whatever you're reading that captivating?" he asks dryly.

B

[amaskofmyownface]

Handsome Jack had an eye for suspicious activity, and something was definitely happening with that Japanese guy and another shady character through the cafe window. He followed them in the periphery of his eye until the Japanese guy entered the cafe and sat at the back. Whatever the contents of the letter the bandit gave him, the guy didn't seem convinced. Jack didn't know much about the context of what just happened, but he knew an opportunity when he saw one.

Jack gave the barista he was flirting with a smile and a poke on the nose. "I'll talk to you later, sweetheart."

"As long as you come 'round again, Handsome."

Jack took his coffee and sat across Kei, not even asking if he could sit down. His posture wasn't threatening, though. It was casual even. "You know... bandits like that always think other people are like them. As if the world's ran by nothing but lust and greed and hatred. It's so cynical! You see one, you've seen them all. There's no point in even bothering." He was totally just guessing here, but he hoped the guy would bite. He leaned in, meeting Kei in the eyes and flashing him a million dollar smile. "But... you got me curious. What would convince a guy like you?"

[consumeation]

Kei's eyes narrowed when someone sat down across from him, not even asking first. He'd hoped that no one would have noticed how suspicious that was, but no luck.

Something about the way Jack spoke, having that good an idea of the circumstances and what Kei was thinking... and that face which had clearly been through something... perhaps Kei could be a little more honest with him.

"It was that clear, then?" He watches Jack closely for his reaction. "Ultimately... A reason for my existence."

[amaskofmyownface]

He got him. He made a guess, and it paid off. Now to dig deeper.

"Not to others, no. But I've got an eye for these things." Jack tapped the side of his eyes. "What kind of purpose are you looking for, hm? What do you believe is worth living for? I've got big goals, myself. I wanna see if ours can align."

[consumeation]

...Interesting. Kei smirks, doubtful that this guy could actually have anything as big as what he'd followed at home. It's not just the ideals. It's the person and whether they have the power to change fate.

"You couldn't match it."

[amaskofmyownface]

You couldn't match it.

Jack's eyes flashed dangerously, all attention honed in on Kei. He shifted in his seat, a hand gripping the arm rest. All at once, his presence felt bigger. He owned the most powerful corporation in his universe. Several planets, corporations, living people, and even a living horse made of diamonds. Handsome Jack was a lot of things, but inadequate wasn't one of them.

"I've never failed anything I put my mind into," he said, voice low, jovial tone gone. It was, technically, true. "I've wiped out bandit tribes. Tangoed with aliens beyond comprehension. Built cities. Mobilized armies. Bought planets. Destroyed competition. I had the power to create and destroy anything I wanted. From where I came from, I was the most powerful man in the universe. And I can't match that? What, was the person you were working for God?"

D

[ilda]

When Kei comes into their room followed by a bibiru, Ilda squeals. Loudly. Like she’s seen the cutest thing in the world ever and she’s so happy she could die.

“EEEEEEEEEEEEEEE! Holy... THAT IS THE CUTEST THING IN THE WORLD EVER! I’M SO HAPPY I COULD DIEEEEEEE!”

Then she starts fumbling for her yimo. She must have a selfie with it!

[consumeation]

That was... unexpected. And loud. Kei looks from Ilda to the bibiru, which, seemingly realizing this was where Kei lived, has begun exploring curiously.

"There are quite a few of them here. This one seems to have taken a liking to me."

[ilda]

Ilda follows the bibiru around, even getting down on all fours to do so. So cute! Now she wants one, too. Why hasn’t she been followed home? She’s been exploring the city an awful lot.

When the bibiru finally pauses long enough, she lifts her yimo to try to take a selfie. Or two. Or three. Oh what the heck, she takes all that she can, making faces at the screen as she does so.

Then she sits up, crossing her legs and looking up at Kei. “Can we keep him?”

[consumeation]

Ilda is... very excited about having a bibiru. Kei's bibiru... if it was going to follow him around it might as well be his now.

"We might as well. I don't think it'd leave on its own."

[ilda]

“Do you know if this one’s a girl or boy?” Ilda asks as she pets the cute little thing. It may be Kei’s bibiru, but it doesn’t mean she’s not going to nickname it.

[consumeation]

"I'm not sure how to find out." It's an honest answer, and it's not just from being unaccustomed to bibiru. People from different planets had different biology, and there wasn't any way to be sure that what Kei was used to would hold water here.