002 | text | post-event, pre-Sanguis cycle

[asaqueenshould]

A shorter-term question is bothering me this time, and it's one that may affect others.

As far as I can compare the local calendar to the one I'm familiar with at home, my birthday is coming up soon. On the other hand, when I arrived here, I was expecting my birthday to be a good five months off.

Should I mark it now, or wait another three months? I can't decide which would be easier to remember. How are others grappling with it?

Comments

[lightthedarkness]

AH! You're from Japan? Me too!

[asaqueenshould]

I am. I only know of one other person who's definitely from my world and time so far, as well as a few others from a few years behind us.

[Naoto can say what she will about slight timeline variations, but Hifumi needs the consistency, or she's never going to want to go home.]

[lightthedarkness]

I have someone from home too! Her name is Rei Hino, if you ever get a chance to meet her, you'll know her immediately because she's absolutely stunning.

What year is it for you?

[asaqueenshould]

Is that so? I think the same could be said for a lot of people here, really. [On an intellectual level, Hifumi would even include herself in that number - there's a reason her mother tried to push her into idolhood. She just prefers it when people can also see her mind.]

2016, though my friend has edged past me into the new year. What about you?

[lightthedarkness]

I know right? It's great! I wonder if this place just tries to pick lots of beautiful people.

Nowhere near that, it's the 90s for us. Well, I mean, it's not AS far away as like, if it were the 1800s or something or Ancient Egypt, but you're definitely way ahead.

[asaqueenshould]

So far as there's any conscious mechanism, and at the moment I'm not sure there is one, I wouldn't be surprised.

It isn't as distant as either of those, no... but I was born in 1999.

[lightthedarkness]

Maybe the planets or moons are picking us. [After all, back home, the planets and moons select planetary guardians.]

Maybe I'll see you around then.

[asaqueenshould]

I believe everyone's arrived on the same moon so far, and then there's the matter of this blessing business... you may not be far off. All I know for sure is that the locals were too surprised by the first wave of us for them to have brought us here deliberately. [Maybe that'll come after some extensive research, but Hifumi doesn't see that time coming for a while yet.]

Maybe, but it's hardly as though I would recall you at that point.

[lightthedarkness]

Oh wow, really? Have long have people been showing up?

Maybe! We have no idea what the future holds when it comes to people we pass on streets, right?

[asaqueenshould]

This last wave was only the second.

I suppose so, if you're still there 20 years along your personal timeline. Or assuming we're talking about the same iteration of Tokyo.

[lightthedarkness]

That few! It felt like they've been doing this forever seeing how much they took care of us and everything.

I didn't even think about there being different Tokyos.

[asaqueenshould]

That few. I'm glad they took the tack of making us comfortable; if nothing else, it makes the adjustment a bit less jarring. [You know, give or take those examinations.]

Well, it's not often any of us would have reason to, but there's enough of us who aren't from Earth at all that it stands to reason multiple timelines could be in play. I suppose we could compare events - I would at least have read about some of the things you remember, if they're common occurrences.

[lightthedarkness]

Yeah, could you imagine if they were pissed off about us being here?

Hmm... um, let's see. I guess, let's start with um, oh I know! Did your Japan have the Edo and Meiji periods?

[asaqueenshould]

We'd probably be getting acquainted with that underground prison.

It did, yes.

[lightthedarkness]

Urk... no... thank you. [The horror stories from Rei, Ami, and Makoto about the one on Nemesis were enough for her.]

Kay, let's try something more modern.

Do you have video games?

[asaqueenshould]

Oh, we absolutely do, though I prefer shogi.

[lightthedarkness]

Okay, you have video games... Do you have Mario?

[asaqueenshould]

Is that the guy with the mustache and the red overalls?

[lightthedarkness]

That's him! So I guess you have him!

[asaqueenshould]

I guess so.

Video games aren't my area of expertise... I know there's a classic one about Goemon that should be vintage but recent to your time, if your world has it.

[lightthedarkness]

I know Goemon! Not my favorite but I definitely played it!

Hmm... okay, so let's try something other than video games. Let's try something more specific in my time. Um, have you heard of the Sailor V or Sailor Moon? They're both famous heroes in my world.

[asaqueenshould]

That sounds like something from a manga - definitely nothing I've heard about on the news.

[Then again, 'Phantom Thieves of Hearts' sounds like something from a manga, or maybe a video game.]

[lightthedarkness]

[That's a no then.]

Ah, yeah... actually Sailor V has a manga and a video game!

[asaqueenshould]

I can't say off the top of my head whether I've encountered those or not.

[lightthedarkness]

Well, that's okay! It's still nice to meet another person from Tokyo!