01 - handwritten and voice

[somedaytogether]

[The page is covered with notes on the roses she has been tending – measurements of growth, records of infections and fungus attacks, times of watering – everything that might be useful to the next generation of plants. Rita reaches over and scrawls the number at the bottom of the page, and then watches in disbelief as half the notes disappear beneath a wall of text.

She reads carefully over as many of the old posts as she can, following the links to the FAQ. As she reads, she mutters out loud to herself.]

This is so weird. It seems so impossible, and yet it’s happening. I’m sure it is happening. I haven’t gone mad, though the world might have. And the roses. How do I explain them? Why do they feel so familiar?

[She realizes that this is being transmitted.]

Well that’s awkward. My apologies to anyone who runs across this. I didn't realize how, ah, flexible the system was. And if you are listening, then I suppose I should say nice to meet you.

Comments

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

I have nothing to say to that. I give up. If there was any indication that the water worked like chicken pox I would just drink it and get the pain over with.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

It's not that bad...

Or are you just joking again?

[[Because he was just having fun and it's so hard to tell over text if that's real upset and he's already guessed wrong once...]]

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

I think genuinely grumpy but in a humorous way? Honestly I don't know how to feel. My sense of normality is lying in shreds on my mental floor and I keep remembering how ridiculous this all is and just wanting it to go away.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Long as you don't hit that despair point, grumpy's fine. I think most of us are pretty pissed with this water mess! But you do get used to stuff. And hey, if the flowers do start talking, maybe they'll find a way to fix the water!

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

You're right, of course.

Actually, speaking of plants, I wonder if you'd like to come and see the rose bushes some time? If you're interested, of course.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Sure! Not much on flowers, but anything that strange is a must see!

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

Sounds good.

I'm at home in the evenings after six, and in the mornings before eight, so you're welcome any time you feel like dropping by.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Going to just invite a stranger you haven't even the face of to your house, huh?

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

Well if you want to see the roses, you have to come here. I'm not carrying them around in the open.

But I don't think you're dangerous.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Why do you think that?

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

I refer you to the drawing of plant ninjas. They kind of gave the game away.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

You saying my green ninja aren't scary, huh? [[Have a freshly drawn plant ninja sticking out a tongue doodled next to that]]

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

I'm saying they seem entirely appropriate as the stars of a Saturday morning cartoon.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Or a youtube series.

[[one moment, he's making a note on another sheet of paper to try that for his next animation test]]

But point made, I guess.

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

Seems like a good idea to me. They could fight insect samurai.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

[[New doodle of a bug-man (that looked an awful lot like a certain someone's alternate form) in a fighting stance. It's just twice as big as the plant is the trouble.]]

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

How remarkably creepy. He'll make a very sinister villain.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

Nono, he's one of the good guys! See, the first fight is always a misunderstanding. That's how super teams form up!

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

So he's just misunderstood? A tragic soul, wandering alone, lashing out at anyone who tries to get close because he'll never be able to trust again?

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

[[There's a slight pause.]]

Not quite. Just most people see his appearance and think he's a horrible monster out to do them harm and react that way.

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

Well I'm sure once the heroes accept him his past trauma will just dwindle away.

[Written] if I had drawing talent I would so illustrate so many of these.. :D

[shiromadoushi]

What, you think I'm some sort of hack writer now? [[Doodle of an over dramatically offended looking cartoon tapir next to that now]]

[Written] I know the feeling XD

[somedaytogether]

Just trusting to narrative conventions. Especially when ninja and samurai are involved. I lived in Japan for a year and a half - I watched enough anime to know the inevitable outcomes.

[Written]

[shiromadoushi]

[[oh hey. Swapping to Japanese now. Hope you know some kanji since he's using about a middle schooler's level of it. Because clearly living in Japan for a year and a half means that she learned the written language well, right?]]

Aaa, but even in anime the redeemed hero doesn't always fall perfectly into step with the hero cast! He will always have his own trials and tribulations and side stories where his past comes back to tempt and haunt him!

[Written]

[somedaytogether]

[There is a little pause before she replies, while her brain switches out of English and into Japanese. She practices Japanese more than some of her other languages, because she knows how easy it is to forget, but it's still an adjustment to make.]

True. But as you know, the power of friendship can defeat anything. Even the darkest of evil.