001; video

[fussing]

[Aizawa ditched her Tokkei uniform almost immediately after she made it to her home within her designated district. She made that decision as soon as she got her hands on the communications device - one that would immediately put her name and face together for anyone possessing one. Knowing little, and with everyone being so vague thus far - to be safe, she stashed her hat, gloves and coat. Until she knew who she was dealing with, she didn't want to risk the chance that her uniform would be recognized; and her identity compromised.

That said, the next step would be to ask some questions. Still dressed in her crisp white button-up shirt, tie and skirt, she flipped on the device.]

No one else seems to want to answer my questions - maybe someone on here will. [She huffs, pushing down her irritation.]

I want information about this place - who the people are who brought me here and where this is exactly. And I also want to know just how many of you - of all the people in this weird place - were taken away like I was.

[She wants to understand. And she wants to know who to direct her anger at. The people who were kidnapped like her - weren't her targets. If anything, they could be helpful allies. And those who were just as confused as her - well those were the kind of people she'd want to help herself if she could.]

Comments

[fussing]

[ Much better. She nods, her anger dissuaded and considers his words. ]

It's frustrating... [ Then, she blinks and tilts her head curiously. ] You think I'm someone of importance?

[ He has no reason to know what she does, or who she really is, does he? He shouldn't. So she has to wonder what he's getting at. There's an accusatory edge, but it's covered mostly by curiosity. ] I don't think I'm anyone of any particular consequence in this world or the next.

[ But the rest of his comments, she has to admit are very thoughtful and also very true. His analytical and deductive abilities are fairly impressive for a stranger. ]

[nightraysewerat]

Have I misjudged something, Miss Aikawa? If so, I do humbly apologize.

[He wonders if it's true, but honestly, he can't imagine it. Not that she is probably any more important than any other woman, but ... he can't imagine someone who looks like that not thinking so. Even that were true... oh, well, such low opinion of herself would be useful... he'll have to tread carefully and see.

So he'll feed her a little truth, for now.]

I'm afraid I've made an assumption based on the economic and cultural climate of my own world, and it might not be accurate. Your beauty and the level of education obvious in your speech would denote nobility, where I am from.

[fussing]

[ Oh. That's what he meant. Well, it didn't touch on anything she was worried about. So worrying seemed no longer necessary. On the other hand, that made her next reaction to stutter and blush. ]

N-Nobility?!

[ Perhaps she's shouting a bit, but it's more flustered, than angry. ]

That's not it at all!!

[ Clearing her throat, she composes herself a little, though her face is still tinged a light pink. ]

I'm not saying I'm someone to underestimate, but-!! In that way, I'm pretty average.

[nightraysewerat]

[He can't help but be amused by this reaction. Even women who are of some status, even women who can be so defensive about being called 'lady', well, they just fall to pieces when you call them beautiful. Lose all their composure, let their walls fall.

It's just too easy.]

But of course, Miss Aikawa. As I said, I don't have enough information about your world to make a proper guess beyond using what I can see. But... the point stands that you are not someone to underestimate, which points to a certain amount of power in those who kidnapped you.

[fussing]

[ How irritated she'd be if only she knew you thought that way. But not knowing that, rather, she thought about it. She'd never had to wonder how to describe the world she knew... to those who'd have no way of knowing. ]

It's... we don't really have nobility. Instead of lords or ladies, we have a Prime Minister, and government... politicians. Other than that, you have the police force...

[ She simply leaves out the Tokkei. ]

...it has a lot of twisted people, but also a lot of good ones. People aren't allowed to do what they please. If great criminals are proven guilty, they may never even see their day in court.

[ It was her way off saying sorry - to describe it to him. ]

[nightraysewerat]

Ahh, I see.

[Vincent pauses to consider it for a moment, and then nods slowly.]

That sounds quite different from my own country, which is very dependent upon social class. We have a law system as well, but... I have to admit that it's very corrupt. I find it quite distasteful the terrible things that are done by certain people to stay in power.

[Have a little shudder here.]

Such matters aside, the fact that we're from such farflung places says something about the vast power wielded by our captors, does it not?