001; come be the first in line to shake the hand of mine.

[truthvalue]

Who: Souji Seta and ... you???
Broadcast: Network; open.
Action: Marsiva; all over.
When: backdated to Saturday morning, before the Shuffle.

[It's a little unnerving, this idea of being on television - a little too reminiscent of the Midnight Channel. Souji himself never appeared on it, but he saw a lot of his friends in those staticky broadcasts over the past year, back in Inaba, their flaws put on display for all to see. It's uncomfortable, but - there really isn't anything to be done about it, so Souji doesn't.

He spends his first three days quietly aboard the Marsiva, mostly keeping to himself. Time seems a little too linear and solid for this to be Liminal Space, and when he wakes on the fourth day and nothing has changed, he concludes this must be the next Jaunt after all. He's not seen or heard from any of the Travelers he knows, though, and the psychic network seems to be out of reach, too. It's somewhat unsettling - but, he supposes, things could be worse.

Things can always be worse.

Later that morning, he finally turns his device camera on himself to make a proper introduction. The face may be recognizable to some, with one notable exception - a thin scar slashed across his left cheek. He speaks quietly but confidently, with all the poise of a perpetual transfer student. The smile he shows is practiced and polite.]

Hello. I'm sorry I didn't introduced myself sooner - my name is Souji Seta, and I'm new here.

[Words he has spoken so many times he's lost count.]

I look forward to working with everyone. If there's anything I can do to help, please let me know.

[He nods once, then ends the transmission.]

Comments

[video]

[takeabow]

I don't think there's a time limit on introductions...

[ she's got a dry tone to her voice, and it's not a criticism as much as an attempt at some humor ]

[video]

[truthvalue]

[Souji nods amiably.]

It's typically the first thing I do in a new place. It seems rude otherwise.

[He shrugs.]

It's just what I'm used to, I guess.

[takeabow]

"Typically"? How many of these places have you been?

[audio]

[heresyandlace]

[he'll leave the video feed off for now-- though the smirk is very much audible in his voice, of course.]

Goodness, so formal.

How will you ever get ratings sounding like that?

souji gonna stick with video tyvm

[truthvalue]

[He allows a small bit of surprise to color his expression.]

I think people appreciate it when you're polite. It shows respect.

all the better to creepily watch your face with

[heresyandlace]

Sure. But it doesn't make you seem very honest.

...And it can get boring, after a while.

video

[blindoptimism]

[Ah, she vaguely remembers this boy, although they didn't speak for very long the last time he was here. But he seemed polite then and still seems polite now. So she smiles and waves to the camera after he finishes his introduction]

That's a very good attitude to have. Working together is probably the best thing that we can do here to make this place better.

[ah, and since he offered his name] My name is Nunnally, it's a pleasure to meet you.

video

[truthvalue]

Thank you. I like to be helpful.

[Also it's how his parents raised him - to be helpful and polite.]

It's very nice to meet you too, Nunnally. Are you also new, or have you been here for a while?

video

[blindoptimism]

A while. And I'm glad to say that if you can look past the food, it really isn't that bad.

[ah... unless] Unless you find that your crew is being unkind. If that is the case, you shouldn't hesitate to tell someone.

audio;

[feathery]

[This guy looks...almost exactly like someone who was briefly on the Wonderduck. Weird.]

The name's not like. An alias or anything, is it.

[THAT'S NOT A STRANGE QUESTION AT ALL.]

video for souji 8|

[truthvalue]

[His eyebrows arch up in surprise. NO NOT A STRANGE QUESTION AT ALL.]

No, it's ... just my name. The same one I've always had.

[He smiles politely. His answer is mostly the truth.]

Why do you ask?

[feathery]

Oh. Huh.

[He thinks it over only very briefly, before he shrugs to himself and lets it go.]

I met a guy who looks like you a while back. The resemblance is hella uncanny, to be honest; I would have figured you were from an alt timeline or something if the names matched up.

video;

[ino]

[ She looks a little amused -- so polite, newbie! ]

Well, we won't know if there's anything you can do to help unless we know what it is you can do, you know.

video;

[truthvalue]

[Well ... OK. You got him there. Souji nods, and his smile turns a little sheepish.]

People usually ask me to find things for them, or help with a project. Stock shelves. Feed cats. Fold paper cranes. Things like that, but I'm happy to try to help with whatever's needed, even if I don't have much experience.

video;

[ino]

So ... ordinary chores.

[ Probably not exactly helpful in an emergency, but. Who knows, with this whole situation ... ]

What's your augment, if you don't mind me asking?

video;

[tothefly]

[Natasha doesn't recognize the face as anything but new. Still, an introduction that formal isn't so common, here. Most people aren't that composed, even the ones who are used to being in space. So she thinks maybe he's done this before, and there's nothing to do but go fishing.]

A pleasure to meet you, Souji. Not everyone up here has manners that pretty. Or remembers to use them. Usually too busy being overwhelmed by space.

video; I'VE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS c8

[truthvalue]

[It's weird that he's gone three whole days without seeing someone he recognizes, but here at last, a familiar face. Except she doesn't seem to recognize him - they already met and exchanged these pleasantries, once, in a tower, in the midst of a dangerous flood.]

It's very nice to meet you as well. Um ... your name wouldn't be Talia, would it?

Moi aussi, mon chou <3

[tothefly]

[Her face goes a little still at the name, though her smile remains in place; not quite her first name, not quite, but close enough. Fortunately, she's been through this often enough that it's less of a shock than it could be. She shakes her head, a gentle negative.]

It's Natasha. Sorry to disappoint. Whoever's running this show seems to enjoy bringing in people who're the same, but different. Sometimes two or three of them at once.

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ Holy...!

Yosuke doesn't answer immediately. He just stares, wide-eyed, at the image, while his mind spins in a dozen different directions, all at once, at roughly a mile a second. He looks just like him. But... a different name? And something else is just-- something's not quite the same...?

He's had experience with doubles - sort of. Weird things. The Astral Plane was notorious for playing with its visitors, he's seen it for himself and heard tell of far worse. But that's not possible here. It's not the same. Is it...?

The video finally switches on. Yosuke does his best to remain calm - to not immediately jump to conclusions or to get his hopes up. He tries for a lazy smile, though there's still hesitation. ]

"Souji," huh?

[ He... leaves it at that. For right now. Wonders what the response will be. Maybe he's making mountains out of molehills! Maybe there's an explanation! Maybe this is a weird misunderstanding or maybe this or maybe that or jdsfkls

He's spinning, on the inside. But he's trying not to let that show. ]

[truthvalue]

[What do you want to do ... Leader?

A cold, heavy weight drops hard in Souji's stomach when he hears the familiar voice, sees the face he hasn't seen in a while but couldn't forget if he tried. (And he did try; he did. He tried to forget everything and everyone in Inaba, and he only found himself faced with Naoto and Adachi and himself all over again.)

Push the bastard in.

Souji smiles at Yosuke, and it's not warm and friendly - it's reserved and distant, a gesture made out of obligation. The difference between Souji and any other version of himself is as stark as the thin scar that cuts across his left cheek.]

Yosuke. [He nods, biting back the formality that itches to slip across his tongue, call him Hanamura instead and delineate the difference between them even further.] I didn't expect to see you here.

[cpt_ressentiment]

[ What a greeting. ... Looks like his gut feeling was right. This isn't Yu - or if it is, it's not any Yu he knows. Couldn't be... ]

What, seriously? I've been here! ... I, uh, take it you haven't before?

[ He hesitates for a moment, not sure he wants to ask... But he has to know. ]

What's going on here?

[openhands]

[Well, that's a little unusual. Not that people don't eventually get around to offering to help, most new arrivals do not go out of their way to mention anything along those lines right away.]

You don't have any questions?

[truthvalue]

[Souji shakes his head.]

Not really.

[He's been quietly observing for days, and since he assumes this is another Jaunt, he's guessed there's something he's supposed to be doing, just like before. The Trumps don't hand out instructions; he's about as used to this - being thrown headfirst into strange places and situations - as someone like him can be. At least he's himself again, this time. He's still surprised at how grateful he feels at this realization.]

Is there anything I should be asking about?

video;

[deshabille]

[Her basic response to all of this is "okay . . . that seems fake, but okay." She honestly doesn't believe people are naturally this polite. Still, she's not going to call him on it yet.]

Oh, don't look forward to working with everyone. Some people around here are terrible.

video;

[truthvalue]

[Welp. Souji raises his eyebrows but otherwise keeps his face fixed in an expression of schooled amiability.]

That's pretty harsh, don't you think?