⚡ 4th zap | video/action ⚡

[i_am_not_cute]

[The video feed shows Pao-lin sitting cross-legged on her bed, her hands resting clasped on her legs. When she speaks, her voice is a bit trembly, but she makes up for it with a big -- though apologetic -- smile.]

Um...to everyone whose things I might've broken or messed up during the experiment...I just wanted to say I'm really sorry. If you want or need my help in fixing things, I'll be glad to make up for the trouble I caused.

[Later in the day, she can be found at the tea shop, drinking tea while reading a novel she borrowed from the library, or at the Battle Dome, further testing out her own capabilities as well as those of the Battle Dome.]

---

Originally found at: http://lightningcute.livejournal.com/3172.html

Comments

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

It's okay. I know most people my age don't drink tea. But I used to drink it a lot back in Hong Kong before I moved to Sternbild, so I'm used to it. [As if to illustrate this, she takes her mug of tea in both hands and drinks deeply from it. It's only slightly hotter than lukewarm at the moment, having been forgotten while Pao-lin was engrossed in her novel.]

[action]

[justicereigns]

Hong Kong? Is that common there? [Softer expression, more focused on listening.]

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

Yeah. My parents brewed it for breakfast and lunch and sometimes dinner, and most restaurants we went to served tea when you were seated. I was a little surprised when they didn't do anything like that in most places in Sternbild.

[action]

[justicereigns]

Huh. Why didn't they?

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[She takes another sip of tea.]

I guess most people in Sternbild just prefer coffee...

[action]

[justicereigns]

[Grins.] Now that's a reason I can understand.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

You don't like tea at all, Mr. Smoker?

[action]

[justicereigns]

It's not strong tasting enough for me.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

Oh, I see. [Not quite, but hey, everyone has different tastes.] What's your favorite kind of coffee, then?

[action]

[justicereigns]

East Blue; pure black.

Heh. I guess it's like alcohol, the kind from your home always tastes best to you.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

Ah...I'm too young to drink alcohol...

[She's not sure she ever wants to, after remembering what happened the first night she had to stay over at Barnaby's apartment and look after Sam. Why did adults drink that stuff? Alcohol doesn't even have the benefit of smelling good, like coffee!]

[action]

[justicereigns]

That's a good attitude to take. It's got a different taste for adults and kids, and different effects. Beats me why pirates always end up drinking young.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

In my world, you can't even buy alcohol unless you're 21 years old. Well, at least in America. In Hong Kong you can buy it when you're 18.

[action]

[justicereigns]

Tsk. In my world it's not so much a matter of buying as acquiring.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

...oh. I see.

Do you drink a lot of alcohol, Mr. Smoker?

[action]

[justicereigns]

For pirates I mean. Everyone else buys.

[A small shrug at the question.] A fair amount I guess. A lot less here actually. I don't pirate hunting in bars here so there's less occasion really. [Plus his best friend kept getting drunk the point of getting sick so he wanted to make it easier for the guy to cut back.]

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

You hunt pirates, Mr. Smoker?

[this mun Pao-lin can't remember Smoker ever talking about that before.]

[action]

[justicereigns]

Yes. That's my job. [Shows off the back of his jacket.] Justice.

[action]

[i_am_not_cute]

[Pao-lin widens as she recognizes the characters on the back of the jacket.]

Ah...you have hanzi in your world, too?

[action]

[justicereigns]

[Head tilt.] If that's a form of writing, yes.