koiwamizuiro | 2nd Dive: Exploration [Action]

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2nd Dive: Exploration [Action]

[Some time has passed since Ai first entered Luceti, and even now she was growing accustomed to life in the village. Slowly, but steadily. It was a much quieter place than what she was used to back in Kibitou.

The draft had come and gone, but the girl hadn't taken part in it, and she was thankful for that. Her recent entrance into this peculiar world was enough to deal with on its own, though she had kept herself as informed as she could as to what exactly was going on.

Today, she had initially tried to simply soothe herself with another walk around the village. It had developed to be a certain routine for her that she often practiced, and the weather was more pleasant than it had been before, warmer. She was wearing a long-sleeved black shirt and blue denim jeans, along with her yellow jacket on top that she had regained possession of upon entering Luceti.

However, curiosity got the better of her and she ended up heading to several places that she had intended on checking out earlier, diverging from her walk a bit.]

Action I.

[Firstly, Ai found herself near the Bakery in the morning, a certain scent inviting her to come even closer and see what was available that day. The girl had wondered whether she would be able to find anything like her favorite Imagawayaki dessert here to buy later (or get, rather), so she would inform herself of what was offered here. Besides, she was also feeling hungry now, so her timing couldn't have been better.

One may find her right at the time she has an inner discussion with herself as to what to get, or they may find her wandering close by later with a croissant in her hand, already eating it contentedly.]

Action II.

[Then, Ai found her way to the front door of the Battle Drome. From what she had understood, this fascinating facility wasn't just a combat simulator, and she wanted to test out its capabilities for herself. She had read about it and already had a few scenarios in mind, but that didn't necessarily mean that she couldn't use the help of somebody around offering to help her understand it a bit more.]

Action III.

[The Library was also a place the girl wanted to check, the last location on her route today, though she didn't have anything particular in mind upon entering it as she simply went on browsing. Maybe there was something informative as to the worlds of the other people she met here? Or perhaps there were different works of fiction made by authors from these other worlds that could intrigue her? Regardless, she wouldn't mind having some reading material to go through before she went to sleep each day.

Ai would spend quite a bit of time here, thinking as to what she would get and what would spark her interest the most.]

Action IV.

[Finally, when the sky has already darkened, Ai would take a small break near the river close to her new come, Community Housing Building #2, and clear her head some with her eyes watching the stars and her body resting on the grass. Anyone wandering around this late would be able to catch her there.]

(OOC: You can stumble upon her anywhere along her route. Reading the reflections post I have linked to is not necessary as it simply shows her initial thoughts and impressions of Luceti right after she gets herself an apartment.)

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[Suki will stumble on Ai at the Battle Dome. She was about to use it, but noticed someone else trying to.]

Hey? Did you need some help?

[Ai had just begun trying her hand at one of the consoles, a confounded look on her face as she worked on trying out one of the scenarios that she had in mind - a basic pool. At least, that was one of the scenarios she thought she would be using the Battle Dome for. She would first want to see whether she would even enjoy it simulated like this, however.

So it was this that she was brooding over when Suki approached her, her question prompting Ai to look in her direction with a puzzled look on her face.]

Oh. I would appreciate it, yes... This is my first time trying out the Battle Dome.

[And so far, it wasn't quite like what she expected it to be.]

[Suki gave the stranger a warm smile. Helping people was kinda her thing, and even though things had been a bit rocky in her life right now, helping others was still something she was able to do.]

Yeah. This place is really confusing. I'm still getting used to it. [All she knew was how to set up her things, but she was learning.] Were you looking for it to do anything particular?

[So perhaps she was a newcomer to this place herself - though surely with more experience at this point than Ai had. Still, it was always comforting to hear that she was not the only one who still had questions about how things worked in the village.

She looked Suki's way and gave the girl a nod, pulling back from the console a bit.]

It is not so much confusing as it is different than what I am used to. [Otherwise, there people around were friendly enough to always help her with questions and there was also the Luceti guide which she had taken advantage of.]

I was thinking of a way to create my own scenario, but it looks kind of difficult... [She looked the console's way again, opened up on the menu displaying what exactly the simulator was capable of doing, but Ai couldn't really get the hang of how to utilize it.]

Well, you're a step ahead of me. There's nothing in my world even close to this, but luckily I had someone show me the basics, so I got some of it down.

[Suki inched closer. Not to push the other girl out of the way, but to show her exactly what to do.]

Now let's see. I'm pretty sure this buttons gets you started, so you can just press it and we can go through the options and get exactly what you want.

I take it that your world has to catch up when it comes to technology, then... You probably do not even have computers.

[Suki saying that made Ai realize just how much more of a shock some of these things could have been to her had she come from much earlier in Earth's history. Compared to somebody who came from a place where technology did not exist, she had it easy.]

Yes, that is what I suspected. [She nodded, looking at Suki messing with the controls some, giving her a bit more space as she stepped sideways.] I was thinking of recreating the pool that I used in my high school, but... if that is hard to do, then any pool would also do.

Nope. We do have airships though.

[Suki looked at the girl, a bit confused.]

Um, I'm not exactly sure how a high school is supposed to look, but I can get some water in there. It isn't too difficult. Getting it to look the way you want is the hard part. So if you press this over here, you can get a lake. And over here is where you can reshape it.

[On top of all sorts of magic, but Ai had yet to make the connection that the world Suki came from was the same as Aang's.]

I see...

[It seemed like the templates, the pre-made scenarios and the elements within were something that could be more easily recreated. Doing something new, however, such as reshaping them? That looked more difficult.]

It appears that I would need some programming skills if I wanted to shape it exactly the way I want. Or recreate the entire room in general.

[Suki couldn't be a programmer though, given that her world didn't even have advanced technology, so perhaps it wasn't needed or she learned it here.]

...Or is it easier than that?

[It's like she saying words, but they're all going right over Suki's head.]

Um... maybe? I'm not sure what programming skills are, but you can recreate rooms. [Duh! That's what you're doing.] I was able to recreate a room from home. Well... not me-me, but past-me.

[Ai nodded her head a little bit, more for herself than for Suki as she remembered that the other girl probably wouldn't understand most tech terms, though she would've certainly picked some up while in Luceti.]

"Past-me"? [She lifted her brows slightly in curiosity, knowing that this could've meant a number things in Luceti, mostly related to the various different timeline in people's worlds.]

Yeah... Well. Okay. So I was here before, but got sent home. Then, I came back, but don't remember being here. I really don't know what to call myself, from when I was here before.

I... I really wish I had memories from then, but I've never gotten them back.

I see. [She nodded, aware of such occurrences being possible as she had been told and read in the Luceti guide, yet another strange thing about this place, since apparently people could sometimes retain their memories as well.]

It is probably a strange feeling knowing that you were here before. I would like to have recalled what had happened in your place myself. All the people you have met here remember you from your past time here, but you cannot remember them. [And that would be a sad thing not for herself alone, but for pretty much everyone she knew.]

Yeah... [She gets a bit distant.] It's difficult, and I can't help but feel guilty. I wish I could remember things, remember people, but no matter how hard I try, nothing. I just get nothing. I'm always scared that I'm going to ruin something because I don't remember. [A fear that actually happened, seeing how she's no longer with Sokka.]

[Ai blinked a couple of times as she looked at the girl and saw the ruefulness in her expression and voice. To have something like that wreaked upon her was not something she would ever look forward to if she came to be brought back here again.]

Your friends here have probably helped you learning more about what you have done, but it is not the same as the actual memories. [She then tilted her head with sympathy as she tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear.] I am sorry about that.

It's fine. [A weak smile.] My friends did help me though. And no one was upset that I didn't remember who they were. They were actually really supportive. I guess, for some, they've grown used to it. It's an awful thing to get used to, but I happens here.

It would not have been fair if they were upset with you... That would be like being mad because somebody was kidnapped by the Malnosso. [And from what she had been hearing, avoiding a kidnapping when a person already had a target on their back was not an easy thing to accomplish. For people who could actually fight and stand their ground too.

In a brief lull in their conversation, the Japanese girl bowed her head a bit as she introduced herself, not wanting to be thought as rude for not having done so already.]

I am Ai Nanasaki. It is a pleasure to meet you.

No, it wouldn't. [But she still felt guilty.

Suki returned the slight bow.] I'm Suki. It is very nice to meet you Ai.

[Aside from her initial curiosity as to Suki's world that was there to begin with, the returned bow added even more to it, as not everyone in Luceti followed the same custom of proper introductions.]

What world are you from, Suki-san? [She tilted her head a little as she inquired and crossed her arms behind her.]

Have you met anyone named Aang, Katara, or Ikki before? [She would normally mention Sokka, but she's mad at him.] I'm from the same world as them, from the Earth Kingdom.

Oh, yes, I have actually met Aang-san. [The girl's features brightened up at the mention of the Avatar who she had already acquainted herself with and spoken to a number of times. He was a good person with a burden far too heavy for him to bear, especially at his age.]

He told me a lot about your world, and it sounds fascinating... though the war that is taking place there is an unfortunate thing. [Her face just momentarily fell before her lips pulled into a smile again, deciding not to leave things at this sour note and instead asked something that she was immediately curious about.] Are you a bender as well?

[Of course it was Aang, and Suki was grateful for that. She didn't want to talk about Sokka, nor did she want that to be her connection with other people. Aang was sweet. She was alright with having connections because of Aang.]

I am not. I'm a warrior though, and I can hold my own against a bender.

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2nd Dive: Exploration [Action]

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