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[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

[Issei looks... tired, mostly.]

Does anyone here work as a therapist? I imagine if none of us have taken that position, then none of the locals will be able to provide advice on 'I was a normal high school student, and in the space of a month I've fought for my life, awakened a spirit from my mind to help keep my best friend from being stupid, and ended up as Alexander the Great's vassal by accident' without assuming that I'm completely insane.

I'm not saying that I'm not completely insane. I just would prefer if it wasn't assumed.

Help me, someone. Just someone, please understand why it's difficult to go from a life where my most troublesome task is getting the student council to do their work to this.

Comments

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Can't argue that sentiment at all, myself. Even if this place was paradise, it's not home.

Thing is, right here and now? You're still normal. It's just that in Prospero the given value of "normal" itself has changed. You're still a student and are keeping your grades excellent, right? Still following your temple's teachings? Practicing your karate-stuff? Think you said you had some friends around from home too, right?

Guess I'm trying to say that all that's really changed is location, and the common day-to-day... or, night-to-night, events brought on by that location. You're still you, just there's a bit more to you than there was a month ago. If that makes sense.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

That's a very good point. I suppose I need to adapt, but that doesn't change who I am.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

I hate to use such a hackneyed saying, but the best way of dealing with Prospero in general seems to be following the idea of "when life gives you lemons, make lemonade."

Sure everything's weird, different, and even a little scary, but that doesn't matter in the long run unless you allow it to. If anything it's offering you new opportunities, letting you experience new things.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

All of that is true.

...I miss home.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

...We all do, I think. Dunno if it'd help or not, but I know we're able to leave the island. Think about visiting the hometown at all?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I can't afford the trip to Japan, and the area code is unregistered when I try to call.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

[Area code what is.] Makes sense... though, to be blunt, if no one is able to pick up when you call it might be for the best that you can't go visit. Who knows what you'd find?

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

That's a terrifyingly good point.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

That said, I wouldn't warn you away from it fully -- it really is better to know. Just... don't let it eat at you. Focus on the here and now. S'not like you're alone, in any sense of the word.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I know that. Thank you.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Hm... Do you feel like reminiscing about home at all? Sometimes that can help.

[And she's curious about all the other worlds but saying that aloud would be king of rude.]

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I don't know entirely what to say.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

...Y'know, honestly? Just whatever's on your mind. Giving voice to whatever river of thoughts you've got going can be relaxing.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

All right.

This entire situation? This situation is stupid.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Whatever laws govern time and space breaking for a select few people?

Yes. Yes we are fully in agreement on that notion.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Good. I'm glad we have that cleared up.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

[She chuckles.] Personally, if pressed I can almost accept it as an everyday phenomenon. Monsters lurking around, at least. The "extra hour" just makes me want to pull my hair out.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I'm more bothered by the monsters than the violations of time. But that's probably just me.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Level-of-disbelief is different for all of us. We do come from different situations, after all.

[You can almost see the idea form, even if it's not quite a startling epiphany.]

Feel like listening to me ramble and expound on that some? Might take your mind off things.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

Go right ahead. I'll listen.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Ooookay... Though I should probably warn you, you'll have to keep using that good ol' suspension-of-disbelief. Dunno if you're fed up with doing that or not.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I can stand to exercise it a little more.

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Weeeeell, I say I'm more apt to wonder what's up with the time-shenanigans because... well, I guess the only way to say it is that I'm used to having monsters around.

See, back home is a place full of things we call Shades. They're... often pretty violent. Sometimes they attack human settlements, sometimes they just skulk around outside.

I guess I'm not just used to monsters, I'm used to smarter ones. Shadows are kinda dumb comparatively, and limited to only one hour a day to boot. Even if the shadows are still dangerous? It's a nice change, I guess.

[unknownrival.livejournal.com]

I've heard stranger things here. I can believe that.

I probably should have split this up... :V

[skaldssong.livejournal.com]

Hehe... Well strap yourself in, kiddo. For the most part, back home, I'm a bard. My skill at talking about strange and fantastic things, not to mention someone's ear off, is pretty good.

[And, unless prompted otherwise, she begins to speak in earnest, a gentle smile on her face the whole time. Her words paint a vivid picture of a land similar and yet dissimilar to both Prospero and Fuyuki.

A land filled to the brim with verdant fields, the sun shining gently downward upon them every hour of the day. A land where rain falls rarely, if at all. Decorated throughout this land are vestiges of an era long past. What she now knows to be a train's overpass providing shade over a large chunk of field. Yet another providing a barrier of sorts into the largest harbor in the area. A mountain, the "junk heap", full of robotics from the old world.

She speaks of the other townships near to her own; of the Forest of Myth, built around a tree so enormous and simply alive so as to be seen from a great distance away.

She tells tales of Facade, the city in the desert, who's inhabitants follow hundreds upon hundreds of rules that each and every person has committed to heart.

She touches upon the Aerie, so near to her own town, built into the sides of a great ravine with innumerable catwalks to allow movement throughout. Built upon salvage from the old world, and yet still incredibly sturdy, a true testament to human ingenuity.

Seafront is mentioned, so named due to it's geographical location. A bustling center of trade, and prime among the surrounding villages for it's connections to the rest of the world. The focal point of the town, a majestic lighthouse, offers a truly amazing view of the town, the sea, and the surrounding area in general.

Her own home is mentioned. A village with no given name, often referred to as the village of waterwheels, the central village, or more recently "Popola's Village." It boasts the largest library known to the area, as well as unparallelled safety for the populace.

There's a glint of nostalgia in her eyes as she reminisces about the lands she knows firsthand. Not sadness, just fondness. It's strange, compared to Prospero, but it's home.]