video

[notimefordreams]

And now that all of the sprouting ears and tails business is over with...

[Among many other effects but whatever. She's adjusting and perhaps at a pace far more speedily than she really ought to be in all the wrong aspects. Ears and tails? That's okay. Thinking about not seeing Toby again for a long while? That's harder. The video tilts and moves a bit as Sarah settles her device a good enough distance away that she can more or less talk to it somewhat casually.

Once she's finally happy with that she leans back in her chair, bearing a mug between her hands. Steam rises off of it just a little and she completely looks like she's settling in for a nice chat with a friend here.]

So I'm not exactly well versed in video over networks and things like that but if I'm going to be here a while, might as well jump straight in. So in an effort to just get to know some of you and maybe satiate my curiosity at the same time, why don't you share a story with me?

[She pauses a moment to blow across the top of her mug, scattering the steam out of view of the camera for a second or so before she elaborates further.]

It can be anything you like. A personal story, a fairy tale, something you heard here or elsewhere, whatever. I'm not picky here.

[Maybe she will be in the future but for now she's feeling somewhat lonesome and stories have always been a way for her to outrun that particular emotion.]

Comments

[asaqueenshould]

There is. That's a bit more plausible, as we have no particular reason to assume he wouldn't have led a normal life before what's documented in the gospels took place, it doesn't require him uprooting his life halfway across the globe, and it doesn't completely upend the purpose of the crucifixion to begin with. I don't know that I'd put any particular stock in that theory either, but it holds together with fewer logical leaps.

[notimefordreams]

That's true. It is interesting food for thought though. It's pretty easy to just look at someone like that, a hero or martyr or even someone just vastly influential, and forget that they probably had a normal life outside of the things they did.

[asaqueenshould]

Thanks to my mother trying to shove me into the spotlight, I've learned to remember it for modern-day celebrities, at least. Historical figures are something of a fuzzier area, admittedly, but that's because we're not necessarily taught the day-to-day aspects of their lives.

[notimefordreams]

Oh yeah? That's rough. I did some acting when I was younger and sought the spotlight too but no one else was shoving me into it thankfully.

[She does genuinely seem to feel bad for the other woman. The girl on the end can't be much more than a teenager, at least by Sarah's estimation anyhow.]

[asaqueenshould]

My mother wanted to live out her lost dreams of stardom by making me do it instead. She's since been dissuaded.

[notimefordreams]

I'm sorry to hear that. It's good that it's stopped though. Do you still do what you did before?

[asaqueenshould]

After a fashion, yes. I want to play professional shogi - it's similar to chess, but has a bigger board, a few more pieces and different rules regarding captured pieces - and while I've had to dial my plans back thanks to her meddling, I think I'll be able to build my own reputation.

[You know, whenever she gets home, but at least here she can teach other people and stay in practice.]

[notimefordreams]

Who knows, maybe you can give it a shot here in the meantime. Not that this place is ideal perhaps but it's better than waiting.

[asaqueenshould]

I don't think there are enough people here who know how to play for a professional league to be worth starting. [She doesn't look or sound too upset about the prospect, though.]

I have found some playing partners, so I'm at least keeping in practice.

[notimefordreams]

Guess you've got a point there. How do you feel about teaching new players? I know how to play chess but shogi is completely new to me.

[asaqueenshould]

I've had to teach several people here, as well as a friend at home, before we arrived.

So long as you're prepared for the fact that I won't go easy on you, I'd be happy to teach you as well.

[notimefordreams]

Teaching anything isn't about going easy. Just don't make me cry too much.

[There's clear amusement in her tone of voice.]

[asaqueenshould]

I wouldn't dream of it.

[Given her tendencies toward narrating games as epic anime battles, Hifumi's more likely to make an opponent laugh than cry.]