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[anomia]

[The camera flips on to reveal a young girl with long bright blonde hair drawn up in two high pigtails, and a blue and white striped sweatshirt. There’s also noticeably a long, wrapped package slung over her shoulder, in what someone who’s familiar with swords might realize is exactly the right size for a full length katana. There’s a fierce, set expression on her face, and she dramatically points her finger directly into the camera.]

Alright! Let’s not waste any time around here! If we’re given obstacles, then we have to overcome them, right? I’m sure if you’ve all been here for a while, then you’ve gotten a lot more answers than what those unhelpful lackies told me on the ride down… So, fill me in. What's something interesting you've learned since you got here? Just one thing!

[She’s not totally mindlessly determined and naïve, though. Raimei sobers, frowning slightly.] My name is Raimei Shimizu, a samurai. We don’t need to keep any secrets here, do we…? I’ll openly try to achieve my goals with my sword.

[Then she brightens up again, not letting herself think about how dire circumstances are for too long.] Ah, and--! Since I guess I’m not going anywhere fast, what’s all this about a job? Shouldn’t a girl my age still be in school?!

Comments

[oathwalk]

[Richard is incapable of fighting a smile at that kind of enthusiasm, circumstances as they are. But, even with that sword, Raimei is young, only 14, and Richard doesn't really want to just throw the most serious information at her.]

That's an admirable approach to take, Raimei. My name is Richard. It's a pleasure to meet you. As for something interesting, I'm not entirely certain what meets your interests. I've been trying to look into the health of the turtle, but that has not turned up many results yet.

[anomia]

[Raimei would be completely impatient if she knew he had that attitude. The world of Nabari never waited for someone to grow up before throwing things at them. But since she doesn't know, she just grins at him for a moment at the compliment.]

You're not asking about my interests, are you? [she teases.] I guess what I really want to know is why we're here. What we're supposed to do, things like that. But no one gives out that kind of information freely.

[Then she sobers a little, frowning.] The health of the turtle... You mean like the rationing, right?

[oathwalk]

[Richard misses that teasing, though he understands the tone, because what cultural context for that? Nope.] I suppose, if you'd like to talk about them, I am. [This is correct social interaction? Yes, good.

But all right, that part he can answer now, while he tries to assess her general preparedness for bad things. Richard and his friends may have had violent awakenings in their childhood, but that is all the more reason he doesn't want to push something like that onto another. But he knows she will doubtless hear about it eventually, so it's mostly a matter of taking measure of her first.

His expression becomes a little more serious.] The rationing seems to be, at least in part, related to why we are here. As the turtle sickens, so do all things on the turtle. That, at least, is how I understand it. I don't know if that was the Emperor's intended purpose, but one thing that many hear seem to be attempting is to understand the cause of Tu Vishan's illness and exploring alternate methods of providing food for the people here.

[anomia]

[That gets an amused look.] You're kind of oblivious, huh? [Tact, its name is not Raimei.]

[The exposition dump is actually normal to her, because Nabari is an extremely talky series. She listens much more intently and calmly than might be expected from someone this excitable.]

Are we going to get sick, too? If our life force is tied to the turtle, then... [These kinds of barely explained metaphysical concepts are bread and butter to her.] What kind of investigating are they doing? It's not research, is it?

[Cause she's not great at that.]

[oathwalk]

[Richard is not easily offended, and actually smiles when he replies.] I don't think I'd be aware if I were.

[It's nice that someone reacts well with the exposition dump.] It's certainly possible. Most of the investigation does seem scientific.

[And let's slip to—]

[Private, default encryption]

There is another path of investigation that focuses on what is apparently an ancient threat. Some of the people here think that may be the cause of Tu Vishan's affliction.

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[anomia]

[His lack of offense is gratifying, so she keeps teasing along.] Maybe I should help you out by dropping hints until you catch on.

[Raimei's not a tech whiz or anything, but she is a Japanese teenager and she's well aware of how privating conversations on forums works. She's also well used to secrecy and doesn't even question the switch.]

So there's something to fight? [She's gaining momentum and determination.] I wouldn't really be much help with the science side. But if something needs taking on, count me in! People shouldn't just be kept here like this.

[And she's far more upset about it than she's letting on at the moment, completely isolated as she is.]

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[oathwalk]

[He doesn't mind the teasing carrying on. He doesn't have a face that he really needs to maintain, here, and honestly? It's fun.] It would be cruel to simply leave me hanging.

[But bell rings in Richard's head. It's the bell of, 'oh, enthusiastic fighters.' He knows a few of those. He almost expects her to use 'protect' somewhere in the next few sentences.] Unfortunately, we don't entirely know what we're supposed to fight, or what form it will take. I assume it isn't here, but we don't know that either: only that it exists, and it will come. You can imagine how frustrating that has been.

[He can imagine that she may be frustrated by it in upcoming months.]

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[anomia]

Maybe I'm a little cruel! It's the best way to learn!

[Raimei is at least not mindlessly enthusiastic. Just... incredibly energetic. She takes in the rest of this explanation as intently as she had the exposition earlier.]

Definitely frustrating, but it sounds kind of like a ninja war, to be honest. You don't always know who the enemy is or how they'll strike. But that just means we have to be extra prepared! And we have to gather information!

We should assume that it's already here and informing itself about us, too. That's the only smart way to approach it.

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[oathwalk]

[So she is prepared for this kind of thing. With a nod, he agrees to her point. (No, he does not see anything weird about assuming it's like a ninja war. It seems legitimate to him.)] That is indeed likely. There is the obvious possibility that it is already here among us Foreigners.

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[anomia]

[It's great that he has no problem with ninja wars, because that's Raimei's entire frame of reference.

She grabs her sword and holds it dramatically in the air, a determined look overcoming her face.] Then we need to seek it out! I, Raimei Shimizu, am on the job! I'll look high and low and--

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[anomia]

[She screeches to a halt.]

... What am I looking for again? [Ugh, she'd really been trying not to go off harebrained anymore.]

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[oathwalk]

[Richard can't help his smile. Raimei is just too enthusiastic not to smile at.]

An unnamed threat that, it seems, can take any form, and which may be responsible for the decay.

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[anomia]

I got that part, but-- [She's trying not to be impatient and failing, because she wants something to do.]

But if it can take any form then how are we supposed to look for it? Don't we have any leads?

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[oathwalk]

None that I know it, save that it has been here before, and others like us lost to it.

[So Richard has definitely decided not to shield Raimei.]

At present, we're searching for more information blind.

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[anomia]

[She'd appreciate that if she knew of it. Raimei has some issues with others trying to protect her.]

Others like us?! So they tried and they failed, and we're round two? [That's pretty alarming.] Do we know how long ago that was? Maybe some of the locals still remember that.

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[oathwalk]

[He frowns and shakes his head.]

I'm told it was found in an old book, and conversation with the kedan has turned up little. It may be beyond living memory, except perhaps for the Emperor's.

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[anomia]

An old book... Duh. [Raimei sighs and sulks a little. She really should've expected that given how much important information was contained on scrolls back home.]

Has anyone questioned him? Wait, I mean, her? Doesn't she have anything to say for herself on it?

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[oathwalk]

It seems many have, but that she is particular with who she chooses to answer.

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[anomia]

Did you speak to her?

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[oathwalk]

She has yet to hold an audience this month. From what I understand, that is the only time at which we may speak with her.

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[anomia]

But you're probably planning on it when you can, right? [she persists.]

What are you going to ask her?

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[oathwalk]

I'd like to ask her why she is so secretive and yet selectively informs us. I'd also like to attempt to formulate a method by which we can more easily share information and propose it to her. Despite the circumstances, I would like to cooperate with her.

[He is a king. A king should always seek compromise and negotiation. A king should attempt to understand others and seek to meet their needs. A king should offer aid and build trust so that all can work together for the greater good.

He needed more people to tell him 'a king should just do what he wants' as a child.]

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[anomia]

You think we should cooperate...? [She's frowning in thought.]

We don't necessarily all need all of the information. We just need someone who knows all of it who we can trust to direct us. But... how would we know who to nominate?

[Raimei sighs. This is all too complicated for her.] I don't want to follow anyone I don't know. [Not after what'd happened with Koutarou.]

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[oathwalk]

Indeed. With the way new people are brought in, and others disappear, it is hard to create a coherent community from which clear leaders, known and trusted to all, can be chosen.

But I do believe that, though I don't entirely trust the Emperor, cooperation is our best bet in developing an effective way to counter what threatens us.

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[anomia]

Yeah. If she's the only one that knows everything, we don't really have much choice, do we?

[She shakes her head.] We can at least assume she'll protect her own people. [Not necessarily, she knows, but she'll operate on that assumption for now.] As long as we're living with them, that'll have to be enough. Charging in blindly without knowing what's going on, thinking you can fix things...

[Suddenly more pensive.]

That won't solve anything.