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

[takeabow]

The constant machine noise and recycled air, mostly.

[truthvalue]

Mm, it's probably not too healthy.

[Better recycled air than none at all, though.]

Is there anything you do like?

[takeabow]

So far, the people aren't too bad.

[truthvalue]

That's good.

[His smile widens a little, warms a touch.]

The people can really make or break a place, especially when you're new.

[takeabow]

Hopefully I haven't made too bad an impression so far.

What's your world like?

[truthvalue]

I think you're doing just fine, Nova.

[Souji takes a minute to think before answering her question. It's not something he ever really considered, how his world may have been different. Sure, there was a world where he was a girl, and one where Adachi and Kanji were each Wild Cards, but all things considered, that wasn't a huge divergence from the life he knew and lived.]

It's probably pretty boring ... I'm from Japan, on Earth, originally. There's not a whole lot to tell - I just finished second year of high school.

[And did a stint as an amateur monster battler and murder investigator, but - there's no sense talking about that.]

What about you?

[takeabow]

Oh. Well. It's not great. Pretty different from a lot of other people, from what I understand. We don't have a lot.

[truthvalue]

Ah. I'm sorry to hear that. We have places like that too, but ... I guess I'm lucky.

[takeabow]

I doubt it's very similar. Two kids from each District are picked every year and put with the others until one is left alive.

[truthvalue]

[... ?!]

Do you mean you have to fight each other? That's ... [alarming. Souji shakes his head, eyes wide with shock.] "Awful" doesn't seem strong enough.

[takeabow]

I know. But it's part of where I'm from.

[truthvalue]

[Souji has quite a lot of feelings about that, but he keeps them under wraps, for the moment, choosing instead to focus on something more immediate.]

There's nothing like that here, is there?

[takeabow]

Not so far. Just the reality show aspect.

[truthvalue]

Mm. [He nods.] I don't mean to disrespect where you're from, but it sounds like it might be a good thing you're not there anymore.

[takeabow]

I'm going to go get my sister. That's what I thought I was doing when I ended up here, and then I'm going to take her somewhere else entirely.

[ she's serious about this, and a bit withdrawn, but with fierce determination ]

[truthvalue]

[Something in his expression goes cold at the word sister, like being suddenly shocked with a soaking of ice water. It's a subtle shift, but undeniably there.]

Your sister is still back there? Where you're from?

[takeabow]

[ there's probably more emotion in this conversation than there has been to this point ]

Yeah. I didn't mean to leave her, but it's not like I can control this stuff. So I'm going to get her.

[truthvalue]

Oh - I didn't mean to imply you did, I'm sorry if it sounded that way.

[His lips press together in a thin line, and his gaze drops from the camera.]

I hope you do. Family ... you take care of each other.

[Supposed to, anyway. Souji hasn't done a very good job of it. Big Bro, she called him, but in the end, he wasn't able to save her.]

[takeabow]

No... it's fine. I didn't think you were implying that. I just have to remind myself, sometimes.

[ she pauses. this conversation is awkward, and even she can tell that it's hard for him as well ]

We... try. My mother wasn't... always there when we needed her, so I did most of the raising with Prim.

[truthvalue]

[That too hits a little too close to home, enough to make Souji inhale quickly, sharply - not quite a gasp, but not far from it either.]

Your sister is lucky to have you.

[takeabow]

Thanks

And...Sorry. This seems like a sensitive subject.

[truthvalue]

Mm, it's all right.

[He shakes his head; the smile clicks back into place, polished, practiced, perfect. He considers, for half a moment, explaining to her what happened with Nanako - it's not exactly a secret, after all, or at least it wasn't in Inaba - but he decides against it. This isn't Inaba. They've only just met; there's no need to give her a part of this burden.

Time for a topic change.]

What do you do on your ship?

[takeabow]

[ she can tell that it's forced but she's not going to press it ]

I'm still trying to figure out what to do with my time, I guess.

[truthvalue]

[And he's pretty grateful for that - not being pushed. So many of the people he's met since he left Inaba haven't seemed happy unless they were pulling him apart from the inside.]

I guess if you're pretty new, you still have time to figure that out.

[takeabow]

Yeah. I spend time with the guy I'm seeing, and just talk to people mostly.