journaler | ✿ OVERFLOW

(( "I'm pretty sure that* was the last one I played" ack sorry-- ))

[Her first instinct is to ask "What does justice look like?" -- which would have probably answered Hinata's question. But instead, she's compelled to answer it directly... and honestly, too.

Lying would be rude.]

Sorry... not really. That was the first time I've ever had my fortune told.

[...then she'll ask.]

What did your card look like?

Mine? It looked like a person wearing robes and a crown sitting, with scales in one of their hands, and a sword in their other one.

[He shifts his posture, holding his hands apart a little as though to demonstrate the posture.]

Each card has their own meanings. [Justice is--] --like mine's meaning would've been justice, responsibility, making decisions...

Hmmm...

[She tilts her head when Hinata starts gesturing, trying to envision it. Context tells her this was one of the other cards she could have gotten... so maybe she lucked out?

In a smooth motion, almost without thinking at this point, she notices a small crowd incoming, and she tugs Hinata closer to get him out of the way. She doesn't say anything, and it's dubious whether she even noticed she did it.]

That's... like the exact opposite of how you feel now, isn't it? [No offense intended.] When the card was flipped over, was it maybe upside down?

[It's hard to say whether or not Hinata even notices the crowd, occupied speaking, so he pauses and gives her a surprised look when she tugs him in. He tenses slightly, even, as though in preparation for a fight...

But then his head turns to watch people pass by.]

--uh. Oh. No, it wasn't. But it really is the opposite, isn't it...? [That's interesting in itself.]

[It's a shame, because that would have made so much sense! But with that brilliant idea out the window, Leia's back at a loss -- not unlike Hinata.]

Well, you would know better than me. But... that's what it seems like.

[Unfortunately.]

If we really are just data though, I guess we would be susceptible to effects like this. It's all very... I don't know. Superstitious?

[...Interesting, indeed. There's the makings of an article here somewhere!]

[His brain is still stuck on that, despite its attempts to encourage him back into uncaring. The lack of care for what's around him... no, he's got to think about it more.]

It's definitely not the same as the tarot. But I wonder what effects others are having after getting a certain card...

[He pauses, however.]

More-or-less it is, it is. Tarot's not something that everybody believes in. I just want to know how...

[The timeline fits. They aren't the only ones acting strangely, even though it hadn't really stood out to her until now.]

Hmm, so do I. I'd love to write about it.

[Said in a tone that almost suggests she was talking to herself. There's a part of her that's happy and content to accept things the way they are... but she's also really excited to be puzzling things out with him.

The smell coming from all the stalls as they reach the food stop doesn't help.]

The technology really is something else here... and I thought Elympios was pretty far ahead already.

Write about it?

[Write what about it?? He looks at her curiously as his steps begin to slow and he stops to look around them. He locates a couple of places with a glance, mouth curving up into a half-smile at one corner.]

The technology's pretty far beyond what I remember from my world, too... though we did have virtual reality that was realistic enough you wouldn't even think it wasn't real.

[Write everything! How it was possible, how it feels... statistics, on how many people got roped into it. The possibilities are endless; but of course, the technicalities of it may very well be way over her head.

...She sounds impressed, regardless, before getting to explain her passion.]

You don't say! Maybe that's a bit like ViViD? I think that's what it was called.

[She tilts her head in thought, but when she spots a cafe not long after, her eyes light up, and suddenly the name of that game isn't so important.]

[Hinata nods.] It's like that, but there's not... so much game elements in it. It feels even more real, too.

[And with ViViD you have the fore-knowledge you're in a game. He plucks a thumb against one of his pockets absently, glancing in the direction she looks once he notices.]

Want to check out that place?

[Less game, more reality... Leia vaguely registers the notion, before she turns to face him again.]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking. It looks like they have a bit of everything.

[There's just enough of a crowd that the place is happening, but not enough to make them decide to eat somewhere else, too. The only way this could get better is if she actually manages to cheer this guy up!

...but she'll see about that.]

So, what was this... uh, virtual reality thing called? Was it popular?

[She approaches the cafe, leading the way as she has been so that she can pave the way and make it safe for Hinata. She holds the door open for him as they make their way inside.]

Not popular... it wasn't actually finished, to be honest with you. It was meant to be a program for rehabilitating people.

[Don't worry! He's at least distracted, which is... honestly, better than he could have asked for. He's the type to brood and mull over things again and again when he's on his own, to just have another presence and another person to talk to...

It doesn't escape him the way she goes ahead of them, though, so far as to hold the door open for him, and he sorta smiles at it.]

Huh... a program for fixing people. [Leia sounds intrigued, though at the same time, the smell they're greeted with in the cafe distracts her momentarily. She sighs, feeling content, but returns Hinata's smile when she turns and notices it.

It's probably the most color she's seen on his face this whole time.]

It's too bad ViViD can't do the same, or I'd take you there right now.

[Hinata shakes his head with a small chuckle.] I appreciate the thought, but I'll be fine. [He sounds as though he's trying to convince himself just as much, but that aside...

He heads over to one of the tables, nudging out a chair for her to take a seat.]

Anyway, I'm okay with keeping my experience with rehabilitating virtual realities to just one.

[She sits in the chair without much thought, though it's clear that she appreciates the gesture. She chuckles back at him, expression bright.

Of course this means he's been rehabilitated before.]

One must be tiring enough. So let's see if we can't make this go away on its own.

[As if she'd been listening, a waitress comes by at that moment with menus!]

[Hinata accepts one of the menus, looking it over curiously.]

Yeah. That's the best course of action, I think...

[Even if he doesn't know how. And he thinks he might end up succumbing to it sooner or later.]

[They seem to be on the same page, which is a good thing! And speaking of pages, Leia's turning the ones in the menu, until she suddenly spots something and perks up. She turns the menu around suddenly so Hinata can see... even though he definitely has his own.]

Oh, look! There's almost an entire page worth of smoothies.

[He did say he wanted a slushy drink, and she definitely does now, too. Everything's really colorful, not to mention delicious and refreshing-looking.]

Perfect!

That... makes it hard to pick.

[He looks at her menu uncertainly before looking back at his own. He spies a matcha one soon enough, pleased, and shuts his menu and sets it down.] Luckily I had something in mind already. What are you going to get?

[This situation is so absurdly normal, he thinks as he props his chin on his palm. How long has it been since he's done something like this... wait, has he ever done something like this? Not with someone he's just met, that's for sure.]

[At that, Leia turns the menu back around and looks contemplative. This decision could totally affect the rest of her day, and she needs to choose carefully!

...

......]

The strawberry!

[She nods, happily flipping another page.]

Hmm, and maybe something sweet to go with it...

[Wait.]

But I should probably get a sandwich first if I want one, huh?

[Not that she minds the idea of skipping right to desert, but... health is a thing she thinks about, as a former nurse. And she hasn't had a proper meal yet.

She starts to flip the menu back a couple pages.]

Uh--

Yeah. A sandwich would probably taste strange if you eat it right after something sweet.

[It's so normal, this conversation...

Not for the first time since he's come here he thinks that. He's sure he'll think it again, and again...]

You should have one, too! Even if you're not hungry, you can always take it home.

[She hums thoughtfully as she skims through their selection, and picks something simple, yet meaty club sandwich that anyone might be able to appreciate.

Before Hinata can object, she'll order two of them, and their choice of smoothies, too.]

I'm really not--

[And there she goes. Ahh. He was completely too late.]

--sure I'll eat it later, but I'll try. I don't like wasting food...

[Oops. Leia doesn't look too bothered, though, and seems confident that it won't be wasted. He'll be hungry eventually, after all...! Even if she isn't sure how well the sandwich will hold up...

...Ah, well.]

It's okay. I'm sure it'll be good!

[Which probably wasn't the issue, alas.]

Besides, I don't like wasting food, either. That was the worst part when I helped out my parents at the inn... [That, and when she'd trip or almost trip with a customer's food, but Hinata probably doesn't have to know about that.] Throwing away that much food should be a crime.

✿ OVERFLOW

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

1/2

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject