thesphererp | 01 [video] un:notanancient

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01 [video] un:notanancient

[ Aerith appears front and center with a bright smile on her face. The first thing she does is wave at anyone who may be watching this broadcast. To the ordinary observer she looks as though she's not bothered at all by arriving in the Sphere, but that's not quite the truth. She's pretty freaked out, especially since it appears like she's completely alone. But, she's never let that stop her before and she's certainly not going to now. ]

Hello everyone and anyone out there! [ Her voice is bright and oddly chipper given the circumstances. ] I bet you all get exhausted by how many newcomer questions you get. I really only have one right now, so I'll make this short and sweet! All I want to know is if this place has anywhere that people can grow things. I know we're...under water, but things seem pretty advanced. [ She tilts her head and taps her chin thoughtfully ] So, I was hopeful that maybe there's something. Even if it's not much, I bet I can make it work. Maybe I'll even be able to open a flower shop here...

If anyone would be interested in that sort of thing. Never underestimate how much they can brighten a room up.

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[A new voice, a new face... But far cheerier than some he’d heard upon arrival. For once, his answers are not to bear bad news and he’s rather happy about that honestly.]

A flower shop would be a nice addition, miss... If you’re looking for a place to start though— where we grow things that is, I would recommend the agricultural dome.

[He spends some of his down time there, studying flowers that had been grown before he arrived and learning how to take care of greenery when he wasn’t buried in case work.]

I can probably give you directions?

I figured it might. Things seem pretty gloomy here. [ Maybe that was the result of it being underwater. ]

Oh, there's an entire dome dedicated to it? I'd love to see! [ That was a promising start at least, which was actually pretty exciting to hear about. ] Directions would be appreciated, if it wouldn't be too much trouble that is.

[Llewellyn would definitely say that attributed to it, among other things.] I would recommend getting in touch with the council then, they generally help with business start-ups?

[He waved a hand at the idea that it was trouble.] Trust me, I know trouble, miss. I wouldn’t count giving directions as being that.

[Humming a little, he opened his mouth to speak... Then paused.] Though I confess... Uh— I’m not sure where you are at the moment to get an idea of which way you should go. Do you know what dome you’re in currently?

[Then again, she was new...]

Actually... if you don’t, a description might work better. I could probably find you easier to show you than I could tell you.

The council? Alright. Is there anything I should know about them? [ Anything specifically to look out for or any particular member she could butter up was what she was really asking about. ]

Well, as long as it isn't an inconvenience then I appreciate anything. [ She looks thoughtful for a few seconds and taps her chin as she looks around. ] I think I'm outside a library. I was just wandering around and ended up here. I'm pretty good at getting the lay of an area by myself but it's always nicer to have some insider information.

Mm... They’re there to help, so they shouldn’t be hard to gain a meeting with. There’s Lauri. She splits her time between the council and the hospital though, so I would definitely say going during council hours would be smart... But otherwise you shouldn’t have an issue with her.

Then there’s Max, uh— he’s... [Llewellyn would say Max definitely needs to be buttered up, but he’s never been sure how one could do that. Their interactions have been rather mixed and usually end in him being hung up on.] Prone to moods... But I’ve heard he can be more pleasant depending on the company.

Lastly, there’s my husband, Rhy. He’s newer to the position than the other two, but he’s quite dedicated, and I’m quite sure he’d be happy to help. [Yes, that’s said in a stupidly fond tone.

But her description of the area gets his attention, and he straightens in his seat.] The Library? As luck would have it, that’s where I am. Was doing a little research— just um... just give me a moment or two?

Hmmm... I actually have a good bit of experience with moody people. [ More than a bit, especially lately with Cloud who seemed perpetually prone to moods. ] Which one would you recommend me petitioning first? Maybe your husband? Would you put in a good word for me? [ She smiles brightly at his fond tone, she'll be sad to know she missed a wedding. ]

Oh! That's lucky for me. Take your time, I'll just be looking around out here. I don't want to keep you from research if it's important.

Then you might be up for that challenge. [He responded with a small grin, though he was definitely in agreement that Rhy might be a better place to start. Yes, he was biased, but he also was of the mind that she could probably use another friendly face as someone new to this world. It could be a bit frightening to wake up in this place, and he knew having more people around had helped him.] That said, I do believe Rhy would be an excellent place to start. I’ll be happy to talk to him this evening, though I’m sure you don’t need much talking up.

[He shut the book he was reading and put a stack in his shoulder bag, and tucked a notebook in his pocket for later.] Oh, I have plenty of time for research and note-taking. It’s about time I took a break, anyway.

And I do some of my best thinking when I’m out and around.

[It only took a couple minutes as promised, before the man was exiting the library with a curious pause to look around for Aerith. Ducking his head in a little nod in greeting, he finally offered a proper introduction.]

Llewellyn Watts-Maresh at your service, Miss.

Edited 2021-04-28 14:49 (UTC)

[ Aerith had finally settled on just sitting down off to the side of the library to wait. At first she'd thought of choosing the steps but that just seemed a bit rude, what if she got in the way of someone coming out?

When she spotted him she jumped up quickly and brushed her dress off and waved at him with a warm smile. ]

It's nice to meet you, Llewellyn! [ Her voice remained chipper and welcoming, as if this were somehow a normal meeting and not the result of being kidnapped and dragged into underwater research domes. It wasn't like this was the first time she'd ever been kidnapped and taken to a strange facility. The majority of her young life had been spent in one, so she could almost pretend like it was just something she was used to. ]

Aerith Gainsborough, at your service. Just Aerith will do though, no miss or anything like that.

[The detective had to wonder a little, she really was rather cheerful for someone who’d just woken up in a strange world. Especially one like the Sphere, though in a way her directness and the lack of questions about certain things might have something to do with the world she was from. It seemed like some people found this place less strange than others, and some found it more so.

But they had a small walk ahead of them. There would be time to ask and see if there was anything else she had on her mind. Most people wanted to know something more... So for the moment, he smiled again as she introduced herself.]

While I know the circumstances around our meeting are less than ideal, I am happy to make your acquaintance Aerith. I certainly look forward to getting to know another person who appreciates flowers.

[He gestured lightly in one direction,] And if you’d like to follow me, I’ll show you where the agricultural dome is. And uh... If you have any other questions or concerns, I’d be happy to answer them on the way? I know that being new here is rather a lot to take in.

Oh, don't worry about that. Most of my meetings lately have been less than ideal, you kind of get used to it, you know? [ The cheerfulness in her voice never left and she kept a small smile on her face as she responded. It wasn't untrue, lately everyone she'd met had been under really terrible circumstances but she'd known something about that. Not knowing anything at all was actually a pretty new thing and it was actually weirdly...scary. Maybe that's why she was forcing herself to smile so much. It was better than acknowledging that she was pretty freaked out by the entire situation.

She gave a nod and started to move in the direction he'd gestured. ] I'm glad to know I'm not the only one with an appreciation for flowers here! I think everyone has it in them, they just have to look for it. [ Or maybe she was just that biased towards plant life being the best. ] It's definitely...strange. I guess, maybe, the basics would be a good start. What exactly is the purpose of this place? And us being here?

Mm... Yes, I do know.

[He’s not sure that it’s something someone should have to get used to. And Aerith was just so pleasant. Pleasant people shouldn’t have to get used to it, at least he didn’t think so. In a way... She almost reminded him of someone, but in a good way.] You’re quite right, I think... I believe It’s hard to not find some enjoyment in them. [They had so many uses, from brightening a room to expressing something to someone else.

Her question though gets a quick response, eager to help as they went.]

The basics are always a good place to start. To answer both questions, the Sphere is what brought us here; it wants us to help it figure out the answer to its question by simply continuing to live and go about our days here.

It... hasn’t explained it fully, but the main point is supposed to be to help it figure out how it can bring its people back. They all died rather mysteriously, and it’s been alone ever since.

[And that’s the less scary end of it, the other things... He’d work up to them.]

I'm sorry you know, it's not really something someone should know. [ There's sympathy in her voice but not pity. Nobody should really have to get used to less than ideal situations, but life happened that way sometimes. She tilted her head and gave a nod. ] Exactly! There's probably something sinister about people who don't like flowers. [ Her voice had an overly dramatic tone to it, like someone telling some sort of overblown ghost story and she had a silly grin to top it all off. In all honesty though, she actually felt there was truth to that. Flowers could tell a lot about someone and sometimes the flowers could tell her a lot about things. They just took a lot of time to get there.

For the briefest of seconds her expression darkened. ]So...it's like an experiment? [ She managed to lighten her tone and force a smile back as quickly as it had changed. She'd had a lot of practice at doing that. Still, finding out she was potentially in another research facility wasn't exactly the greatest thing. ]

Feels like I'm just getting bounced around at this point. [ Again, her tone was unusually light and she laughed a little bit, though there was a hint of sadness in her laugh. ]

It’s not, though I am glad for having been able to meet some of the people I have, even in the less uh— ideal circumstances. [Because without those circumstances, he might never have met some of the more important people in his life. And he certainly counted her among those people he’d been glad to meet now.

Her rather dramatic tone gets an almost comical rise of his brows, if it weren’t for her grin he definitely might have taken the idea more seriously.] Hm... There could very well be, perhaps it’s a sign. [He responded with a little tilt of his head, before lowering his voice and adding with a light smile.] Or they have allergies.

[Which he was very glad to say that he did not, at least not to plant pollen or anything else that he knew of.

Being an overly observant person, especially around those who’d caught his interest, he caught the shift in her expression and tone. It wasn’t unexpected, of course... No one liked to find out they were stuck in an experiment, he certainly hadn’t. So his tone softened a little, and he nodded.] It is, yes. Would I be... correct in presuming you’ve had prior experience with experiments?

That's a really good way to look at it. [ A way she could definitely appreciate, especially since that was generally how she tried to look at things. Even bad circumstances could bring good things and good people. ]

Hmm...allergies, you know I didn't think of that. But, even if they do have allergies, they can still appreciate the beauty. Just from afar, right? [ See, so clearly there's still something wrong with them if they don't like flowers but have allergies.

She hummed to herself at his question and then put her hands behind her back, swaying some as they walked. ] Nothing slips past you, huh? [ She teased in a vague attempt to keep the conversation as light as possible. ] I kinda just got busted out of one. Guess I'm drawn to them. Or they're drawn to me. [ In the case of her world, it was that they were drawn to her. But who knew which it was here?]

You know, that’s actually a good point. [He responded with a thoughtful tilt of his head, still smiling a little.] We’ll have to be vigilant of anyone who expresses an extreme dislike, hm?

[His smile turned a little wry at her next comment, rubbing the back of his is neck lightly at that.] Oh, I assure you, some things do.

But I’m a detective, so I do tend to be observant. [He added, stalling a little while he tried to think of the best way to explain the experiment. Not that there was much of an explanation, but there were some side effects of this world that she deserved to know about before they happened.

He does feel a frown slide across his face though,] I’m uh— sorry to hear that... Definitely not the sort of thing you want drawn to you. [Glancing down at her again, he tried to lighten his tone.] I will say that aside from a few unfortunate aspects to being here... It’s not a bad place most of the time?

It'll be our secret code to weed out the bad seeds. [ Get it? Seeds! It's the best joke ever and nobody will ever convinced her otherwise. She chuckles at her own joke and that's probably a bit sad. ]

Some things slip by us all. [ There's a tiny hint of something off in her tone for just a second before she smiles again. ] Detective, hmm? That must be an exciting job to have. Definitely something that leads to observation talents. [ She gives him a small smile and a casual shrug. ]

Don't be sorry, things happen sometimes and it wasn't really that bad. [ That wasn't quite the truth, but nobody needed to know that. It was easier for her to just pretend it wasn't that bad and it wasn't probably easier for everyone else around. ]

Not that bad. Well, that's good to hear at least. Though the most of the time is a little bit worrisome.

[See, now that’s a joke he actually gets... and appreciates. A small, amused laugh escaped him at it.] Of course, as any good gardener should.

[Her attempt at being positive about it was apparent, and he couldn’t help but feel a little sad about that. Bad things happening to good people was very frustrating to him for a few reasons. It was never the other way around... He had a tendency to get too caught up in trying to make things better, so he couldn’t help but still feel bad for the woman.

Looking ahead as they approached the agricultural dome, he fumbled a bit with how to explain ‘most of the time.’]

Yes... There’s the occasional inconvenience. Ah— side-effects you could say, to the device the sphere implanted behind our ears for communication. [He gestured at the device for a moment before continuing,] It sometimes mm... I’ve heard the term glitch used? Anyway, every few months or so, personal memories are broadcasted across the network. They’re not all bad things, or things we wouldn’t want shown, but sometimes... [His shoulders rose in a small shrug,] Then there’s also the odd month that things we fear, nightmares you could say, manifest in the physical world.

[ Aerith stopped in her tracks at his further explanations of the place and she turned to look at him, blinked, then put a finger up. ] You know, you were doing a really good job of selling this place as not so bad until that. [ But that? That sounded pretty bad. Especially for someone that liked to keep their secrets like she did.]

How could something glitch and share our memories? Memories are...[ she shook her head. ] special to each person. They shouldn't be shared like that. [ But that's pretty much a given-in and she's not sure she wants to talk too much about these thoughts. Her shoulders slump and she lets out a tiny huff of a sigh. ] How does it know what we fear?

[His posture sagged a little at the comment, casting an apologetic expression her way.] Er... Yes, I suppose I could have led with the bad rather than end with it... But these things do only happen once every few months usually, and I’ve found a surprising amount of people are more apt to support one another than leave someone to deal with it alone.

[The how was something he didn’t fully understand himself, but he tried to explain it the best he could based upon what others and the sphere itself had said.] Well... From the way it’s been explained to me, the communication devices implanted behind our ear don’t really mesh properly with our biology? They’re connected to our brain... I think... [An uncomfortable frown, it’s really a weird thing to think about and he doesn’t like it even now.] So presumably the technology accidentally pulls from our minds when we’re not using almost as though we were.

[A hand gestured slightly as he continued,] And it seems that if it has direct access to our minds, it likely can work out what we fear.

[His smile is amicable, even if his eyes are a little weirder than she's used to.]

Oui, I know a place or growin' things. Gardening dome, where they grow our food. I doubt anybody'd mind plantin' some flowers out there.

[He's known a few people with the same tendency, too, so he's gotten pretty good at recognizing someone who's being happy to cover up being something else, not that he's going to comment on it.]

Settlin' in okay, then?

[ She takes a minute to look at his eyes, they're different but kind of pretty in their own way. ]

Someone else mentioned an agricultural dome, I guess I'll have to check that out first. As long as nobody minds I can handle taking care of them myself.

[ She gives a quick nod. ]

Well enough. I just arrived, but I'm pretty good at adjusting to things. [ Or pretty good at pretending. ]

I don't think anybody's gonna mind, no.

[He shook his head.]

Garden's are the sorta thing that need somebody who cares for 'em, non? Even ones underwater.

[He nodded at that.]

That's obvious, petit. Something to be said for adaptation, but just between you and me, [And his voice took on a quiet, playfully conspiratorial tone.] it's okay to be a little spooked, too.

You're looking for the Agriculture domes, there could be space there. And you should totally open a flower shop. Maybe you can grow some sorts my pet can eat.

That seems to be the suggestion I'm getting. Guess I'll have to check it out. [ A beat ] Hmm, maybe I could. What kind of flowers does your pet eat?

Well, uh... mostly tropical flowers. I've got a book on what he can and can't eat.

Give me the book and I'll see what I can do. I have a knack for getting things to grow. What's your pets name?

His name is speedy. And uh, where are you? I could show you the book.

Speedy is a cute sounding name. [ She pauses for a moment. ] I thiiiink I'm in a market.

He's a sloth. It's ironic.

[Market, huh?]

What part of the market?

A sloth, hm? I don't think I've ever seen one of those. [ She pauses for a second ]

Near the entrance, I just got here.

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01 [video] un:notanancient

Video - UN: Det.W-M

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Video -> Action

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video; un: gambit

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Audio | UN: SpeedofThought

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