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

[lumberlady]

He didn't... But when the moon was full on her twentieth birthday... a host of escorts descended to earth from the moon, and they came for Princess Kaguya. They had sent her to earth to keep her safe from a great war, and now it was over and they could reclaim her.

Kissing her parents goodbye, and apologizing to the emperor for not being able to return his love, she gave him a small vial of the immortality elixir created on the moon... and then returned.

[notimefordreams]

[Aww. Sarah leans back in her chair and blows out a breath. She does honestly look a little sad.]

I really do feel for the Emperor. And for Kaguya too. It can be hard when someone loves you - or wants to - and you can't return that. It was nice that she could give him something in return for his love.

[lumberlady]

She did, but... in the end, he didn't drink it. Even though it would have enabled him to live forever... He didn't want to do that without her.

At least, that's what the story says.

[notimefordreams]

Mm, I can understand. At least in a way. I think if I got the chance to live forever but had to do it without the people I loved - like my little brother, let's say - I wouldn't really want to in the end. Or I'd at least think pretty heavily about it first.

[lumberlady]

Yeah... me, too actually. Living forever sounds amazing and all, but. It also sounds lonely.

And that’s the story of Princess Kaguya!

[notimefordreams]

It's a nice story. Not all stories need a completely happy ending after all.

[lumberlady]

I’m glad you liked it. I hope it helped!

[with... whatever these stories were for!]

[notimefordreams]

It definitely did. I'll be honest, I'm mostly asking for stories because I have trouble sleeping sometimes.

[And here she shrugs a shoulder almost nonchalantly. She hadn't just outright admitted it in the beginning but after sharing a bit she doesn't mind being this honest for the moment. No need to delve into how she can't sleep from a combination of being lonesome and worrying.]

[lumberlady]

Oh, no, really?

[Hmm...]

It might be all the lights in this place... sometimes it's hard to tell it's even nighttime!

[notimefordreams]

[For a brief second Sarah almost notes that where she lives the lights are always this bright. Gotta love New York after all. But this brings rise to another thought.]

Is it not this bright where you're from then?

[lumberlady]

Only the stars and the moon are bright at night. And the fires in people's houses I suppose.

[notimefordreams]

Sounds pretty nice. I bet there's somewhere around here where you can still find that. You may have to travel a bit though.

[lumberlady]

Haha, yeah, out to the outskirts I guess. I go out there sometimes for it.

[notimefordreams]

Oh yeah? Do you know the area pretty well so far?

[lumberlady]

I guess so? I'm better with directions somewhere like that than in this city.

[notimefordreams]

I understand. I live in a city pretty much like this one so I'm more used to navigating here than outside of it. Tell you what, I'll give you directions here and you can tell me the best stargazing spots.

[lumberlady]

I think that could be a good deal.