tushanshu | ➢ 004

[You may be pleased to know, certain residents of Keelai, that Aya had no intentions of offering another long-winded highly detailed technical analysis of...whatever it is she's up to at the moment. In fact, her latest message is surprisingly simple:]

It has been brought to my attention that my choice of vocabulary and diction is considered...unnecessarily formal by some.

[To put it mildly.]

I have made several attempts to alter my speech patterns, but have realized that I still lack a more concise understanding of what precisely entails formal versus familiar speech. Therefore, I am seeking any an all information regarding more colloquial expressions or terms that may be used in everyday conversation, which I will do my best to learn and subsequently employ accordingly.

Thank you.

((PRIVATE TO: HAL JORDAN (2011) - 100% AYA ENCRYPTED))

[Her eyes narrow, however, when the following message is delivered. Anger was not quite an accurate assessment of her emotions at that particular moment...but annoyance wouldn't have been a stretch.]

You did not follow through with your agreement to meet with me last month, and have since done nothing to rectify this error.

I wish to know why.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[As he recalls Aya began as a navigational program, the people she's speaking of must be the ship's crew.]

It's pretty normal for people to gravitate toward others like them, whether it's because of similar interests or behavior or whatever.

The person you ended up closest to... What are they like? I mean, if you don't mind me asking.

No, I do not mind.

[The corners of her lips twitched upward, although there was a mixture of pleasantries and sadness to the expression. Happiness at thinking of him, but sadness at some of the memories that came with it. Including recent events.]

Razer is...complicated. He has a past. A past that has caused him great pain for far longer than I have known him. But, when last we reunited, he had been making great strides in learning to control his Anger and make restitution for his prior actions.

Real anger management issues, huh?

What about the other two you mentioned? What are they like?

[These inquires aren't just questions for the sake of conversation. He'a actually interested in what sort of people Aya is drawn to and how they've affected her development, which in turn gets back to her questions about formal versus casual speech patterns.]

[That was...putting it mildly.]

Sergeant Kilowag is a seasoned warrior, whom has guided me for much of my journey as a rookie. He is very strict and takes pride in adhering to as much of the rules as possible, while still understanding that there are moments when guidelines are little more than just that. He did not appreciate my existence at first, but we have grown to be very close allies as time went on.

[He couldn't help adore her after a while.]

And Hal Jordan...[Here, her expression softens greatly. It was similar to the look a little girl would give to the father she loves and admires.] His was the first voice I can remember hearing. In many ways, he has inspired me even more than Sergeant Kilowag. He taught me what it means to be a Green Lantern, and even gave me my name.

["Aya. Pretty name for a pretty girl." It was corny, yes, but she still appreciated it.]

It...pains me to know that, while there are others who bear his name, he is not here with me, now.

[For a brief moment, Rex is struck by how well he can relate to some of what Aya is talking about. And, for the first time, there's a little pang of guilt at having judged her so quickly.]

I feel you on not having people here that you're familiar with. I appreciate having my own living space and all, but even though I haven't been here long, sometimes it feels too empty without other people around who I know well.

[Of course, there's also that part about people not appreciating one's existence. Rex has experienced that, as well, but he'll keep that to himself for the moment. That and being close with the person one has first memories of...]

So what was the Sergeant's deal? Like, why the lack of appreciation to start with?

[Were Aya more familiar with the action, she may have offered a shrug at the question.]

To this day, I am not entirely certain why he displayed such hesitation at my presence, although his precise phrasing referred me to a mythological being known as a genie, and implied that I should be placed back inside some bottle.

This was, of course, soon after I first emerged from the ships computers and created my own physical form.

The saying about letting a genie out of a bottle... It basically refers to the idea of letting something out that can't be put back where it came from. So what's done is done. And since he said it after you first got your physical form, Kilowog probably figured that once you had that freedom, you'd never want to give it up.

[You did ask earlier about expressions, Aya, so there's one for you right there with an explanation.]

If that is genuinely what he implied...then he was not wrong in his assumption.

[She smirks a little at that, both out of pride at the memory and at having learned a new expression. One she would certain take note of for the future.]

It's a fair assumption to make, really. I mean, who actually enjoys being confined?

Though could be he also thought you might cause trouble once you were out, since sometimes that expression implies that, too. You might've been an unknown factor that Mr. By-the-Book wasn't sure how to handle back then.

[Despite being unsure of Aya, himself, that thought does get an amused smirk out of Rex. He's definitely caused his share of trouble for strict rule followers and authority figures.]

['That would depend upon your definition of Trouble']

[Because, yes, Aya has been known to disobey an order or two, but only when logic dictated that the order given was wrong. Such as to abort a mission simply because of the possibility that harm would come to her, or she would fail. To remain aboard a ship when the safety of her crew were called into question.]

Actually, one might argue that Hal Jordan caused far more trouble than I ever did.

Well, you did also say that Hal inspired you a lot. Following that line of logic, maybe Kilowog figured he was really in for it with the two of you around.

[And now that smirk is more of a mischievous grin.]

On the whole, sounds like you've got a pretty interesting family back home.

This is true.

[One of the many reasons she was so proud and stubborn.]

Yes, interesting would be a very accurate description of them.

➢ 004 | VIDEO

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