accretive | ic inbox (duocaeli)

From DUONET ID: forbiddenfruit

So this is how the DM system works here? It's just standard SMS? Not too bad.

Hello.

[ the reply takes a little while but not too long. ]

Hello. Are you testing random things by messaging random people?

Is it easy to get used to?

No time like the present to try to figure everything out, right?

It hasn't been too bad so far. Pretty intuitive, if a little archaic compared to what I'm used to. Seems like you've gotten the hang of it just fine too.

Archaic? You must be from some place very technologically advanced.

I'm still learning the ins and outs of the device, but as you said, it's pretty intuitive. It'd be embarrassing if I were trying to reach someone and hit the wrong button or something.

You could say that.

And I bet you're not the only one in that boat, at least. If it happens, just play it off like you're taking a survey about something or something like that.

[this is not great advice]

[ .... ]

Is that what you'd do, if it happened to you?

Nah, I'd probably be honest about it, but I don't get embarrassed by much.

Oh, I wish I could say the same. It is admirable to have that kind of confidence.

You think so? I don't feel like it's something I can take credit for when it's just how I've been.

[Maybe it was programmed into her, she sure as hell doesn't know.]

You're not a confident person?

Shouldn't you be able to take credit for how you are?

[ she doesn't know ringo is a robot(?), but even so. ]

I'm more confident than I used to be.

Hmmm... maybe! I'll have to give that one some thought and get back to you on it.

[It's an interesting question, one she hasn't thought about before.]

That's great, though! If you've already changed that much, then I'm sure you can keep becoming as confident as you want to be eventually.

Take your time. I'll listen whenever you find your answer.

[ even if you fake it until you make it, you should still be able to take credit for that. ]

I want to be aware of my limits without holding myself back. I don't know where that will leave me.

Alright then. Once I'm sure of it, I'll text you again.

That's admirable. What do you mean, though? That you don't know where that will leave you?

I'll look forward to it!

I mean... it's hard to say how the future will turn out and whether I can actually be that kind of person.

True, true, but the kind of person you become is the one thing that's under your control, right? At least, way more than the future as a whole is.

I believe in you!

[Roland wanders Dodo with a pink-purple bouquet that includes calla lilies, pink carnations, and purple columbines in his arms. When he spots the familiar head of gold, he perks up and approaches at once.]

Greetings, Athanasia. Might I have a moment of your time?

Roland! Hello. Of course you can.

[ athy glances at the bouquet with some curiosity. ]

What do you need?

[He holds the bouquet—not extravagant but lovely still—out to her by the ribboned stems.]

'Tis the season for flowers. I discussed their meanings with the vendor, and we gathered these for you. Will you accept them?

[ her blinking is comical before her eyes widen. it's not that she's never ben given flowers before or that she doesn't like them. she loves them; her father had four rose gardens built for her because she loves them so much, but this is entirely unexpected. even with the month's festivities going on....

she takes the bouquet gingerly. ]

Thank you. I was going to ask you who they were for. [ if he somehow found some romance with all his memories gone. ] But my guess was really wrong.

[ she lets out a small sheepish laugh, but she looks happy to receive flowers. her jeweled blue eyes sparkle as she looks down at the pink and purple blossoms. ]

As much as I love flowers, I haven't studied the language much.

[He'd be surprised, too, if someone approached him with a bouquet out of the blue. But he's confident in his belief that Athanasia deserves this much. The look in her eyes tells him that he did the right thing, even though he hasn't a clue as to what her guess was.]

It was most enlightening to learn what each flower symbolizes. To think even the color could change its meaning entirely . . . I did not wish to offend by choosing based on appearances alone.

[He gestures to the flowers.]

Altogether, they speak to you of my promise. But the calla lilies are for your eyes.

[ oh. warmth washes over, and she glows with the knowledge of the meaning of this bouquet. ]

I hope it takes a long time for these flowers to wilt.

[ so his promise can never die. she knows he probably means her eyes are beautiful, but she thinks it won't hurt for him to know and to learn the meaning behind why they're so blue and why they look like jewels. ]

My eyes are a sign that I'm part of the royal family. The magic energy that royal family members have make our eyes look this way.

[ it's very hard to fake being an illegitimate child this way, but it makes it just as hard to hide who she is at home without magic. ]

[Roland's expression takes on the wide-eyed look of awe more than surprise (odd) at the unexpected factoid. Athanasia's eyes suddenly seem to shine brighter as he peers into them, his voice breathy.]

I had no idea.

[ . . . Whereas anyone from her homeland would have recognized her on sight. What a novel thought. He wonders what it's been like for Athanasia here, presumably going without recognition on most days.

Speaking of.]

Your country . . . is the Obelian Empire, is it not?

[ No one would know her on sight until her debutant or coronation ceremony. They would only know she had royal blood in her. She kept to herself and her father kept her sequestered in the imperial palace before then for one reason or another that changed as she grew older. ]

It is.

[ Wait. ]

You remember?

It seems my memories are not entirely lost. I've begun to recall moments of days recently past . . . though they are fleeting more often than not.

[He shakes his head. Inconvenient though it may be, he won't look a gift horse in the mouth.]

Perhaps the impression left by that memory is why I felt your eyes befitting of you.

Is it coming back naturally?

[ Or did he do something to trigger some of them returning? Is there an impetus that isn't hitting him hard on the back of the head? ]

Some memories coming back is better than none. [ However fleeting, however miniscule. ] ... It took a while, but I'm more comfortable with my eyes and what they signify now.

[ She doesn't know Roland is royalty, but she could tell he was at least nobility by the way he speaks and carries himself. There are marks you can't get rid of no matter what you hide and no matter what you forget. ]

I wasn't going to pry into your past, but I did wonder about it.

[Is she perhaps sensitive about her eyes? What he finds beautiful may not necessarily be the same for others, though he's glad to hear that she's more comfortable now. He'll have to bear this in mind until he learns more about her, if she's willing.

For now, he nods at her question and takes solace in the fact that he's remembered anything at all.]

I remember precious little of my past. I do, however, recall a castle. Fukawa suggested that it could have been a childhood home . . .

[ They find the light novel that's about her life, and he can find out that way (no) (unless...?)

A castle is a bit at odds to how much of a hobo he looked like, but it's not too surprising. ]

I wonder.... if you had to leave that castle for something. You behaved in a way that hinted at it even if you didn't say it.

[It's time to visit the library.

Athanasia's eyes must be as sharp as they are radiant. She's the first to raise this thought, though it might've been courtesy on the others' part. He's a strange character—elusive, most of all.]

You may be right. Whatever the case, I doubt I've set foot in Whiteholm Castle for some time now.

[He pauses. That's a name.]

[ Hello? ]

Did you remember something else?

[ This is a good sign, she hopes. ]

There was a time I couldn't set foot in the imperial palace because I was in danger.

[ If sharing a small secret can help him, she'll do her best. ]

[All thoughts of Whiteholm go out the window at her little secret. Roland takes an alarmed step toward Athanasia.]

Does that mean you're safe now?

[ Boy. That's not what she meant to happen. She smiles, as reassuring as she can make it. ]

I'm safer at home than I've ever been. Safer than here, even. It was all in the past.

[Every expression she makes is sweet. He'd hate to think that she were unsafe.]

That relieves me to hear. [Speaking of:] How have things fared here?

[ unfortunately, a common denominator of so many isekai webtoons are how the main character is unsafe in some way and they are doing their best to not raise a death flag. ]

... It's a little strange, but it's not so bad.

[ it could be worse, but the dungeons..... the dungeons have not been great. she's not a soldier type. ]

That is good news.

[Everything about either world is a touch strange. He doesn't blame her for feeling that way.]

If there is aught with which you need help, call for me, and I will do everything in my power to offer it.

[ Even from the few times they've talked, she thinks maybe he should help himself a bit more, but she won't turn down anyone offering ot help it. It's vestiges from memories of a life when no one would help her.

It's still a little strange, and it's still something she can't fully grasp of people who haven't known her for years, but.... ]

I'll do my best to remember to call for you. I haven't run into too much trouble yet.

[ But maybe that's because she's been lucky for once. ]

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