TWO ☰ VIDEO;

[candystriped]

[ The video feed starts aimed not at Stocking but at a gorgeous exotic bird perching on a stand, preening itself. Despite that it seems a little lackluster, as though its feathers could be a little more vibrant and its movements a little more energetic. Then the angel girl takes her seat in front of the console again, her lips pursing briefly in thought before she addresses the screen. ]

Has anyone had one of these before? I ran out of the floating fruit from where we were before and it won't eat anything else I've bought it.

Comments

[candystriped]

I don't want to let it go.

[ thinking ]

Maybe I can get a bird leash.

[neoguardian]

A bird on a leash...well I guess stranger things have happened, but you could always get help catching him too.

[candystriped]

From who?

[ It doesn't occur to her to ask for things like... help. ]

[neoguardian]

Well...since I opened my mouth, from me. I can freeze things in time.

[It's generous of her, right?]

[candystriped]

... seriously?

[neoguardian]

Yup, seriously.

[candystriped]

[ Well that's... actually kind of interesting. ]

How do you manage that?

[neoguardian]

With Chaos Control, I can do all kinds of things with Chaos Control.

[candystriped]

Like what? Can I see it?

[neoguardian]

Yeah...well I don't know if you'd get the full effect over the video or not...

[candystriped]

No, in person. Where are you?

[ This is seriously the most interesting thing she's heard since arriving here, and it's even prompting her to be (gasp) kind of polite about it. ]

[neoguardian]

Hanging out in the Water Sector for the time being. I don't have much to offer, but come on over if you want. It's WA-2C.

[candystriped]

[ Some requisite grumbling about how that's a whole Sector away and why are you making her leave her glorious candies but they're mostly just for show, and it actually doesn't take too long at all before Stocking is knocking on Lara-Su's door, her stuffed Bone Kitten over one arm. ]

[neoguardian]

[The grumbling is just...the tiniest bit awkward, but hey, Lara-Su's going to have a visitor, time to make the place look visitor friendly.]

[candystriped]

[ Thankfully she works all her grumbles out before reaches the aforementioned apartment, Bone Kitten draped over one arm, knocking. ]

Hey... it's Stocking.

[neoguardian]

[She's quick to open the door. Don't be too surprised to find an 4'0" echidna standing right in front of you.]

Hello Stocking...um...my name is Lara-Su if I forgot to mention it.

[candystriped]

[ Stocking does pause at Lara-Su's appearance, but it's not in shock or fear so much as just needing a moment to process it. Then she seems to shrug and get over it. ]

You seem a lot more helpful than most people around here.

[neoguardian]

I try to be? Would you like to have something to eat before we go? I can demonstrate a little better outside.

[Though inside is okay too. When she summons some of the fruit their way...she managed to stock up when things were plentiful. Both pieces of fruit were encompassed in a green light that she dismissed once they were in her hand.]

Or...well this is an example of time freezing...in order to hang on to the fruit and keep it fresh I froze it in time.

[candystriped]

[ Stocking takes the fruit, turning it over in her hands as though searching for a physical sign other than its ripeness that what Lara-Su claimed had actually happened to it. ]

And this is like a thing where you're from? People freezing time?

[neoguardian]

Well...certain people. [Lara-Su corrected before taking a bite of her own piece of fruit.] Not many people where I'm from can do it...only those who are capable of Chaos Control...and stopping time is just one trick. Would you like to see some more?

[candystriped]

[ Stocking nods, her usual acerbic tongue curbed by actually enjoying learning something new. She's known that people are from worlds not at all like her own but this is so different that even as an angel, she's a little floored. ]

Still, that's a hell of a trick. Defeating Ghosts would be a snap if I could do that.

[neoguardian]

You fight ghosts in your world? [Lara-Su is constantly surprised by everything that she hears, probably because most of the people on the island come from Earth and she only...sort of...comes from Earth...which is difficult to explain. Sometimes things just don't make sense.] I could probably teach you how to use Chaos, but there are no Chaos Emeralds around...Emeralds act as a kind of medium in our world for those who don't have a special connection to the Force. Time manipulation is only one trick though...Chaos Force can bring people back to life...you can even jump dimensions with it.

[candystriped]

[ Something darkens in Stocking's eyes at that though. ]

You'd better not be going around bringing people back to life, got it?

[neoguardian]

That's a pretty big assumption to be making don't you think?

[Lara-Su looks mildly irritated by the accusation or that she would abuse her power...or that she should be told what to do with it in a manner that came off as threatening.]

[candystriped]

No? All I know so far is that you stop time to reduce how often you grocery shop. How should I know where you think your limits are?

Don't take it personally, it comes with the job description.