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[beshackled]

[It's that fellow with the glowing red eyes again. And this time, he looks... tentatively happy? Quite the reverse of some of the general sentiments being posted in the most recent of days.]

Greetings. Pray forgive my neglect of checking these devices as of late. I ought to have checked more frequently... but, I confess, I became so absorbed in assisting with the matter of housing that I did little else this past moon.

On that subject, I am pleased to say that a number of small houses have been completed. Those we brought back from the desert worked hard on them, so I am sure they shall be pleased to see them put to use.

Ah... on another subject, I have yet to check over much of what I have missed, but did anyone else have an unrelated transmission involving mysteriously-appearing tattoos come up when they activated their charm?

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[beshackled]

The background looked to be a desert. Could it have something to do with the place we searched...?

[He... may be pondering out loud.]

[entreats]

Probably. I also had a weird vision like that over these things, and it looked like they were in the desert out there as well.

[ It's not too strange of an idea, considering it had seemed like people had been living there.. Even if it didn't seem to end up very well for them, huh. ]

Except the people I heard were discussing stuff people like us might have discussed. People who came from other worlds. I guess it means there were probably groups like us in this place, and probably lived there, even if we haven't heard a single thing from them since we showed up.

[beshackled]

…why begs the question, what happened to them? What caused the spread of the marks, and where did the population go? Did that which marked them eventually mark all that dwelled there? Did any escape? And where might they have gone?

[This is Erichthonios, on track to become the man who asked the most questions ever.]

Mayhap those in other settlements might have some knowledge of what transpired…

[entreats]

[ At least the girl isn't bothered by the sheer amount of questions here in the slightest. If anything - she prefers it over the people who don't ask questions at all, who just accept this place without really thinking about it.

So she's willing enough to think about it right alongside them. ]

I wonder. It's not like there were that many of the marked out in the desert, right? I feel like there were less than the amount of people we have here. [ Though she could be wrong about it. Ange is willing to admit as much to herself.

Things sure were hectic out there, after all. Not really prime circumstances in which to count the amount of people. ]

Some could have escaped beforehand, even if I have no clue where they would've gone. But I've never been outside town either. [ Other than their little desert trip, but it's not like Ange went all the way over there by herself. They were all brought there. ]

[beshackled]

[Outside of town.... Yes, they would likely need to physically venture out of the immediate area to acquire more information. Communication between settlements, he has noticed, seems to be... somewhat lacking.]

...My friends and I plan on travelling a bit. Should we chance across any information, I shall take care to make record of it.

[entreats]

[ .. Friends, huh. Well, she did see someone else mentioning going out of town.. So of course her thoughts immediately move towards Yuja. ]

You mean that person who was looking for a map last month? [ Look, Ange is-- she's just not good with names, clearly. ] Are you friends with her?

[beshackled]

'Tis likely that I am, for my friend was going to look for just that once she was released from the clinic.

[He'd missed her communication over the charms, however.]

[entreats]

I didn't realise you guys came from the same world.

[ A slight pause, and then Ange adds: ]

Though I do suppose it explains a thing or two.

[beshackled]

It does?

[There was a thing in need of explanation...? Yuja seems a straightforward enough person to him...]

[entreats]

Yeah. You're all kind of weird.

[ SO STRAIGHTFORWARD...

And yet it doesn't even sound malicious? When Ange says 'weird', it sounds like an objective descriptor, like 'blue' or 'cold'. ]

I guess apparently everyone who comes from you guys' world must just be that way. It's got to be one strange place.

[beshackled]

...mayhap it would be, to you.

[For one, the way in which they speak is... different, he has noticed.]

What is your star like?

[entreats]

I'd say 'normal', but I realise that's almost hilariously biased. [ And, honestly.. Ange did fairly recently find out that her own world actually isn't really that normal at all. ]

Though I still find it hard to describe without anything to compare it to. I guess I could say it's very different from this place. We don't have weird monsters running around outside cities, and our cities are way bigger and have cars in them and all that.

[ A slight pause, and then she apparently finds it fitting to add: ]

And if anyone were to ask someone else what their star is like, they'd just get really weird looks in return. It's something we don't say. Unless you're an astronaut meeting an alien or something like that.

[beshackled]

[There are... a few words in there that he does not have enough context to fully understand. Cars, for one. Astronaut. He thinks he might have a slight understanding what she means by monster...]

Ah, 'tis likely the languages we speak evolved in different ways.

[entreats]

Or you're just an alien.

[ There's a pause, and then something - finally - seems to hit Ange. It's not some world-shaking realisation or anything, more just.. a faint one, since the idea doesn't seem so strange to her anymore at this point, honestly.. ]

Do they have the concept of 'aliens' in your world? [ Maybe not. Especially if he is an alien, and it's just normal there. No need to use the word in that place then. ]

[beshackled]

[He... somehow gathers the impression that she isn't referring to a creation when she uses the word concept.]

I am not certain if we do... Define it?

[entreats]

[ Ange huffs. ]

Honestly, that tells me enough all by itself. [ His reaction is practically the only thing she needs here to be able to tell.. ] In that case, an 'alien' is a person from a different planet than your own.

[ To put it in terms she figures he might understand, rather than defining it from an Earth-centered point of view like most people would. ]

[beshackled]

In that case... you would be an alien to me, and we alien to here? Hm...

[Although he can... mayhap see a point to the existence of such a word, Erichthonios cannot help but wonder why it exists.]

If you've such a terminology upon your star... your planet, would that mean that you oft receive visitors from others?

[entreats]

Oh, no.

[ Erichthonios may be thinking very logically here. It makes perfect sense what he's saying there, really.

And yet Ange shoots the question down so quickly. ]

We've literally never had even a single alien visit. We don't even have concrete proof that life exists on any other plant than Earth. Some people are just wildly obsessed enough with the concept to constantly talk about aliens anyway. [ Welcome to Earth and its wild ways, Erichthonios. ]

[beshackled]

Ah... So those upon your star are fond of indulging in the exchange of theories?

[What manner of people might they be, he wonders...]

[entreats]

[ Shamelessly, without missing a beat: ]

It's pretty much all my life consists of by now.

[ Thanks, extremely weird way her life turned out. ]

.. not about aliens though. [ FOR CLARITY'S SAKE..!! ]

[beshackled]

[For clarity's sake... and yet Erichthonios feels somehow even more lost with the statement.]

Truly...?

[What other subject could they be so passionate about that they would draw someone else into it...? She does not seem all too enthusiastic about her circumstances.]

As fond as the people of my star are of exchanging theories, they do make time for other things...

[entreats]

Oh, yeah. The people in my world are really nuts.

[ Still no hesitation. Apparently there's so much Ange can say without any trouble whatsoever.. Sorry, Erichthonios, she doesn't even seem to think about how strange all of this must sound. ]

If it wasn't for the fact that I have to go back there as soon as possible to finish up some matters, this would almost be like a vacation away from all that.

[beshackled]

A vacation...?

[Well. That choice of phrasing is certainly... worrisome. Very worrisome.]

It sounds as though you've a weight upon your shoulders there... Will you be alright?

[entreats]

[ There's no direct answer this time.

It might stand out a little, given how quick Ange usually is to speak up. A whole lot of wit, and sometimes seemingly not a whole lot of shame, just letting her speak her mind.

And yet she doesn't do that right now. There's a slight pause, and when she speaks up, she sounds a little more apprehensive. ]

Why are you asking?

[ It doesn't sound unkind. Maybe a touch defensive, sure, but it mostly sounds a little uncertain. Like the girl somehow genuinely doesn't get why he's asking her that. ]

Unearths this from my inbox I am so sorry for the wait

[beshackled]

Because... even though we are but strangers, I care what happens to you.

Though I know not if I can offer anything more than wishes and prayers, I hope you will be alright.