✿ OVERFLOW

[journaler]

WARNING. SYSTEM OVERLOAD.| A problem has been detected and the device has been shut down to prevent damage. To prove that you are human please░░░▒░▒▒░░??░▒cont▒nue. How m▒ny?body░parts a??▒list▒d▒░░head░▒▒eyes

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[journaler]

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[ ...Hm. Not at the moment, he says. But Leia will take the answer for what it is, her curiosity satisfied for the most part. The chuckle is a bit contagious, besides.

In her defense, though, she never said wolves were terrible. ]

Can't argue with you there. I thought it was a part of a costume at first.

Back home... I mean, where I'm from, there are lots of little trinkets like that.

[sewayaku]

... Trinkets? Like fake rabbit ears?

[ he looks fairly confused by this. It's not as if such things don't exist in Weblin, but... they can verge on offensive, and so, he doesn't expect them to be in high numbers anywhere. ]

Well, I assure you, it's no costume. I was born this way.

[journaler]

Oh-- [ The confused look throws her off a bit, particularly over something as simple as rabbit ears. She's a bit hesitant suddenly, but still cheerful when she responds. ] No, I... I believe you, really!

But you're exactly right. They're attached to headbands that you can put on your head, just for the fun of it.

Not just rabbits, either... cat ears, too. [ and more ]

[sewayaku]

[ okay, wearing fake cat ears would definitely be considered offensive. Zara raises an eyebrow in nigh-disbelief. ]

That's... unthinkable, I have to say. The cats would be offended, I'm certain.

[ which probably sounds ridiculous, but makes sense when you live in a world where cats are usually upper-class citizens. ]

[journaler]

[ Since... she doesn't know that, she is just going to ask, seeming honestly baffled. ]

H... How come? The cats in Elympios and Rieze Maxia didn't seem to have any problems with it... [ but then again they weren't humanesque, either. Nor upper-class citizens.

Except Rollo. The Cat Emperor. (Don't ask.) ]

[sewayaku]

Well... In Weblin, most members of the upper class are cats. Wearing a headband like that would probably be seen as mockery, and offending the royalty isn't a good idea.

[ Auger would definitely have you killed for doing it if he was particularly bored that day, Zara thinks. ]

[journaler]

Hmm. You've got a point there.

[ Pissing off Gaius is pretty low on her list of things to do in life, and he's pretty much her go-to as far as royalty goes. Royals can be pretty scary.

... ]

But they're not here now! Are they?

[sewayaku]

Not that I'm aware of. [ the "thank goodness" isn't vocalized, but it might be implied if she listens hard enough. ] Still, I might avoid wearing things like that. I'm not sure how I'd feel if I saw someone wearing fake rabbit ears, to be perfectly honest.

[journaler]

[ What a strange little culture barrier she's found... She realizes now meeting it head on isn't really going to work, so rather than force it, she just accepts his words.

Those things are childish anyway... right? ]

Maybe you won't have to find out. [ She peers up at his ears again, seeming thoughtful. ] They really don't stand out as much as you'd think they would, actually... but maybe I just need to pay attention more.

[sewayaku]

No, you may be right... For the most part, I seem to blend in just fine here, and mine are the genuine article. Although many of the humans here are surprised when they realize that.

[ something which he seems gently amused by. It can be a little tiring to keep explaining, but he can't hold it against them - it would be foolish to be annoyed with them for not knowing about something that didn't exist in their homes. ]

[journaler]

Can't really blame us for that.

[ Which is basically what he's thinking, in a few words. Leia's chuckle fades as quickly as it had come, and after a pause...

Well, she just has to satisfy her curiosity. But she's going to be polite about it, because manners. She has them. ]

Um... so, would it be weird if I touched them?

[sewayaku]

[ Zara should have been prepared for this question eventually coming up, considering how his ears were apparently such a point of interest to others.

But it's such a personal and even intimate thing to ask that he supposes he just couldn't believe anyone would actually ask. For a moment, he looks quite shocked; then, flushing just slightly, he nods his head. ]

Er -- yes. I'm sorry, that's not really something you ask strangers...

[journaler]

[ Ah... she'd be lying if she said she wasn't at least a little disappointed. Even with the effects of the Sun, she falters a bit like she's made some mistake, or some kind of social taboo.

But she tries her best to let it roll off her back, laughing a bit. ]

You got me there, I guess!

Um, but since you just brought it up and all... the name's Leia. Hopefully we won't be strangers for long.

[sewayaku]

[ and he hopes that hope isn't just because she wants to touch his ears. Still, Zara responds with a cordial smile, giving her a shallow but well-mannered bow. ]

Of course. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Leia. I'm called Zara Skeens - just Zara is fine.

[journaler]

[ THAT'S NOT HOW SHE MEANT IT...... though the temptation is still there, admittedly. She ignores it though, grateful enough that Zara's decided to drop it, in a "Let's never speak of this again" kind of way. ]

Just Leia's fine for me, too. The pleasure's all mine.

[ She quietly sighs, feeling relieved. ]

I hope I'm not holding you up.

[ He didn't seem to be in a rush but... ]

[sewayaku]

[ he gently shakes his head, raising a hand dismissively. ]

Not at all, Leia. [ in the back of his head, he wonders if she's going to come out and reveal she's a princess, too - that seems to be the theme among people who ask him to call them with fewer titles instead of more, against all common sense. ]

I've already done most of the shopping I need - this is just something extra.

[journaler]

Oh, I see.

[ Leia peers over his bags, which she supposes must have been there all along. She's so airheaded... she should have offered to help carry them.

But maybe it's not too late. ]

Then we can think of it as... a bonus round! I can help you carry stuff!