i_am_not_cute | ⚡ 15th zap | video/action ✼ back-dated to the 27th ⚡

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⚡ 15th zap | video/action ✼ back-dated to the 27th ⚡

[In the late morning hours, the face of an androgynous-looking girl appears over the journals. Despite the bruises and scratches marring her face and exhaustion weighing down her eyelids just a tad, she's smiling brightly at the camera from somewhere outdoors. She does sound distracted, though.]

Hey, everyone! I guess I'm here again. Geez, I wonder how long it's been...

[She doesn't specifically remember what her last month here was. All she has is a general impression that it was chilly then, which is no help.]

Maybe it's been so long that no one here knows me anymore, huh? In that case: my name's Pao-Lin and it's nice to meet you! Hope things have gotten better since I left.

[The cheer fades from her countenance a little as thoughts of elsewhere stain her slowly returning memories of Luceti. She shivers a little, though that's related more to the cold than to her mental tangles.]

Well, I'm gonna go get some clothes. I'll be in the plaza if anyone wants to talk. I really wanna see everyone again!

[She really hopes that there's at least one of her old friends around. Normally she'd be okay with being by herself, but...not right now.]

***

[After Pao-Lin finds clothes more suited to the cold, she shuffles to the clinic to get her injuries checked out and properly treated if need be. Once that's dealt with, she visits Seventh Heaven to answer any replies she might have received while wandering around. (And to get a couple of bites to eat, of course.) Finally, she'll check that her old apartment at CH7 -- whoops, the Heart Building -- is still free. (Whoah, there's an elevator now?! Thank goodness. After the beatdown she received while fighting that old NEXT geezer, she really doesn't feel like walking any more than she has to.)]

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Pao-Lin?!

[There's an audible squeak of excitement in the background, and the sound of a dog barking.]

You're back!

Saori! I'm so glad you're still here!

Er, I didn't mean it like that...

Oh don't worry, I'm happy to see you too.

[She is a lot less angry about confinement, really. She's had 3 years, she's adjusted.]

How long has it been since I left?

Two years...maybe? I don't remember dates well.

[That's okay, Pao-Lin's bad with dates too.]

Wow! I really must've missed a lot then, huh?

Yes. Yes you have. More than a lot. Honestly, more than I think would be right explaining on the network.

Can I come meet you? I'd feel better doing that.

[She nods.]

I'm at Seventh Heaven, in the back.

Then I'll be there shortly.

[She had already guessed. The tiny god demanded tribute, after all.

And a few minutes later Saori wanders in, looking around for a mountain of empty dishes...or something that might point her towards Pao-Lin.]

[Saori probably might not spot Pao-Lin at first, because there's a waiter standing in front of her table trying desperately to clear her pile of empty dishes in one trip. Once the waiter is gone, though, Pao-Lin spots Saori and waves her hand in the air to catch her attention.]

[And over she does come! Beaming all the way, too.]

Goodness gracious, all that food and you haven't grown all that much. Where do you put it all?

[She laughs and scratches the back of her head.]

Ahahaha, I guess I burn all that extra food whenever I use my lightning! [Being active certainly doesn't help curb her caloric intake needs.]

Oh...well I didn't know you had to use food-energy for that.

[She is a little monster is what she is.

Either way, Saori sits.]

And are you full, dear?

[Headshake.]

Nope! I just ordered dessert.

Oh? Good, that gives me a chance to eat too.

[And she orders something, waving down a passing server. A hint? It's eggs, it's always eggs when she's eating out.]

So, how long have you been back? Just today?

[Nod nod.]

Just this morning. [She rubs at her temples a little.] I think I remember most of what happened the last time I was here, though.

That's good. A start, anyway.

[She shrugs.] So, do you want to know what's happened since you've been gone? Or would you prefer blissful ignorance?

[Pao-Lin pauses in the middle of lifting a forkful of food to her mouth.]

Was it really that bad...?

No, dear. But it's complicated. Extremely so.

Well, it's not like I'm going anywhere soon. I mean, unless I get sent back home again suddenly.

Then, I guess the question for you is...what is the last you recall?

Umm, well...I don't remember what I was doing before I got sent home, but I know it was Yotsuba's birthday around that time, and then...something about the tunnels. There was a new section in the tunnels, right?

[She doesn't remember what was down there though.]

Hmm. Well, that was a while ago. I guess what's worth noting about that is we found a device that's able to use Shifting to keep people from resurrecting. It seemed like it'd been there a long time, too.

[She will pass on the morbid files, tbh.]

What? Really?

Really. It's still down there, as far as I know. But that's just the tip of the iceberg. You missed a draft, two in fact. But going in chronological order, it was a draft. Not too different from any other.

The next major event...well...were you around for Luceti Valley? Or have you ever heard that name?

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