tushanshu | [Console: Video]

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[Console: Video]

[The feed kicks on to an empty chair. The video is streaming, but there's no sign of Makoto anywhere. She may or may not be sitting on the floor, out of view.]

Alright, real talk.

I have something super important to ask you all, so listen up.

[She actually sounds pretty serious here too.]

How uh... How many of you know baseball?

[Home is far away and out of reach, so she's on the hunt for common ground.]

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I know baseball pretty well. I kind of have to - Yankees or die, it's like a family prerogative or something. Or maybe just a New York prerogative. Whatever.

[In any case, yes, she's a sports fan. You should see her at Academy basketball games.]

[Somewhere out of view, the girl is smiling at that statement. She sounds a little less hopeless in her reply.]

Did you ever go to a game? That'd be pretty awesome. My friends and I would go to night games whenever we could.

Yeah, I've been to a few. Usually up in the nosebleeds, but sometimes dad gets good tickets from one of his buddies at work.

What's your home team?

Pfft yeah, that's where my buddies and I usually end up. Unless it's like, a present from someone's folks or something.

[But, it's better than not going at all.]

I back Yomiuri Giants. They're Tokyo's main team. I mean, there's a few others, but the Giants get all the love.

It's still a seat at the ballgame.

[Which was all that really mattered - hanging out with friends and family just having a good time.]

Oh, I'm not super familiar with the Japanese teams. We've got Giants in San Francisco, though. Are you asking about baseball because you wanted to set up a team or something?

No one here seems to be, but that's okay.

[There's a pause while Makoto moves from the floor to her chair and thus into view. The camera gets a small, apologetic wave. No more hiding. It's time to face this like an adult.]

Hi. Um.

[She shrugs.]

I dunno, really. I was kinda just... trying to find something familiar. People to play ball with would be really, really great though.

[Pepper smiles broadly when Makoto finally appears.]

Hey. Good to know you're not invisible.

[She understands the impulse to find something familiar in a very strange place. Adjusting to Keeliai could be challenging at times.]

Yeah, I totally get that. You might be able to get a group together just for fun; maybe not enough for two full teams but it's not hard to set up four bases and hit a few balls around. [Heck, the kedan might even get a major kick out of it.]

Sometimes I wish I could be. Kinda on a downer this past few days so...

[She shrugs. The baseball talk is helping to pep her up though.]

Would you want to play if I did that? There's been a few others say they like the game. If might not be so hard to organize!

[Organization is not her strong point, but she's a very determined girl. Her methods might need a little guidance, but she'll make it happen. Somehow.]

You haven't been here very long, right? It's hard, especially at first. I get it. If you... want to hang out sometime you're always welcome to come over to our house.

[Pepper smiles sympathetically. It's still hard, but having friends to lean on helps.]

I dunno, maybe. I've never played outside of gym but it could be cool, just for fun.

You mean that?

[To both offers.]

That'd be really great. Both things. People to hang out with are kinda in short supply when you don't know anyone.

[Makoto offers a small smile.]

Yeah, totally. We live in Sky Sector if you ever feel like dropping by, or we can meet up somewhere.

And I bet we can find a few more people who wouldn't mind hitting a ball around for fun.

We? Who else do you live with?

[She hopes that's not asking too much. Makoto has a terrible habit of speaking first and thinking later.]

Would they play too, do you think?

Tony Stark and Gene Khan. They're friends from home.

[It's not as though that isn't public knowledge, so she has no concern sharing.]

Tony might. I dunno about Gene; sports aren't really his thing. But there's no harm in asking.

Aw man, you're so lucky.

[The things she would do for her buddies from home to be here. Makoto smiles but there's a hint of sadness in it.]

Ask them, see what they say. It'll kinda be a trial run at first anyway so even if they decide it's not their thing, that's alright. Really I'm just happy people are interested in giving it a go.

It's meant a lot to have them here.

[That's why she's more than happy to reach out to others who don't have friends and family here already.]

I'll let you know. Weather's not great for it, but it's just for fun so that doesn't matter so much. Never a bad time to have fun.

Yeah, the weather is kinda bogus. Does it stay like this for long?

[Makoto appreciates this, Pepper, more than she'll ever say.]

It's gotta clear up eventually, right? Besides, it's gonna take me a bit to find all the stuff we'd need for a game.

Normally it wouldn't stay cold, but we're anchored to Tavimbi right now while we try to wake the turtle up. Seems like we might be getting somewhere with that problem, so hopefully we can head for a warmer climate soon.

I hear the edge of the turtle is a bit dryer anyway; we could try a beach game if we're desperate.

[Her face lights up at the mention of the beach.]

Beach! I still haven't got there, which is kinda stupid considering how close we are to it. Then again, it hasn't really been the weather for it so no wonder I forgot.

[Babbling is her specialty.]

But that's a good idea! And... why's the turtle asleep?

Yeah, it's not exactly sunbathing weather is it? I haven't gone out there in a while anyway.

[They can babble together. Her smile dims just a little at the question.]

Uh, well, he was possessed by an evil being called Malicant for a really long time. The Foreigners got rid of it, but it did a lot of damage to Tu Vishan. We're working on it.

[Just like that, Makoto sobers. A moment passes and she gives a nod.]

What exactly can we do? I'd like to help if I can. It all sounds pretty bad.

There's been a couple of tries to reach him - he's in a coma but he's alive. I know Klaus has been doing a lot of work on that, so if you run into you can ask. Big guy, red hair, tusks - very polite, always happy to have help.

Okay. I will.

[Makoto has no idea what she can do, but she'll put up her hand and have a go at whatever is needed of her. She scribbles the name down for reference.]

Have we been uh, anchored for long?

About half a year. We moved Tu Vishan here when we figured out he was starting to sink. It was kind of a big deal, getting him to Tavimbi. Hopefully we can actually wake him up.

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[Console: Video]

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