One Knitted Sweater

[grimmdark]

A. Phone. Early Morning. Unfiltered.

[It's not that Rose is an early bird. She's a rather regular bird, if the metaphor lends itself for such uses, but she wasn't supposed to be sleeping. Dave was supposed to be sleeping and waking up later, as per the effect she expected to cause after that yarn ball throw. Still, she was the one waking up in a place that was most definitely not Derse, unless they had suddenly populated the place with a completely outdated series of identical suburban houses.]

I seem to find myself in quite the predicament. On one hand, I have the imperative necessity to return to my duties, as they played a rather critical role yet to be defined. In the other hand, though, I am called by the Great Outdoors, as this new locale pleads to be explored.

But before I devote myself to that enterprise I would like to ask for further instructions regarding the nature of this place.

[For the record, Rose sounds as if someone had done something of the magnitude of using all the sugar in the kitchen, not displacing her through time and space. She's really playing it cool here.]

B. Streets of Mayfield, Afternoon.

[And so Rose traverses the streets, sometimes silent, sometimes barely humming a tune, but always keeping an eye on everything. She doesn't even bother with the drones, leave alone the adult ones, but rather focus on those that have a certain shine in their eyes the canon fodder lacks. To them she gives more examination time, although she won't really engage in a conversation by her own initiative. Not until she has managed to get the upper hand in this place. Or in its default, to have lost her patience, whatever happens first.

But yeah she's wandering around, go bother her.]

C. Mayfield High. Fashionably Late.

[Like the coolest teenager, Rose arrives late to school...and goes directly to the yard, where she sits somewhere calm and with shade. The day has been too exciting -or rather, mildly exciting- to enter the classrooms; she'll have time to do that later. But it's a good time to have a chat with her fellow classmates, perhaps?]

Comments

B

[chastesaw]

*Rose isn't the only one wandering through the streets of Mayfield in exploration, either. There's another girl doing the same, though she seems to be looking at practically everything in either surprise, befuddlement or wonder (or some combination thereof), since it's all a bit unfamiliar.

But that's nothing compared to the look of disbelief that a certain blonde human girl gets when she catches Kanaya's eye.

Since while Kanaya looks just like a tall and willowy girl with dark hair, Rose looks exactly like she is supposed to. And Kanaya has no idea what to think about that.

Sorry, Rose. She's staring.*

[grimmdark]

[Well, considering Rose didn't have anything to look back like, she's lucky enough to be stuck with her own looks.

Truth to be told, though, she hadn't been stared up as much as she is up until now. That black haired girl is shamelessly poking her at the distance.]

You seem to have spotted someone you were not expecting to. Are we acquainted?

[chastesaw]

*Oh, she was staring. Kanaya looks away hurriedly - how rude of her - but she's caught anyway.

So that's what her voice sounds like. How strange, to hear it like this for the first time.

She looks back up at the other girl.*

It... is possible that we are, in fact. If you truly are Rose Lalonde, as you appear to be.

[grimmdark]

[The plot, she thickens. Who is this person she doesn't know? Living an isolated life with her Mom proved sufficient when it came to friendships, so she would definitely remember this girl.]

I am Rose Lalonde, and not only appear to be. And who would you be, and maybe appear to be as well?

[chastesaw]

*Yep, that way of speaking is unmistakable. It might be a bit harder to keep up speaking normally, though.*

I am who I am, and you know who I am, but you do not know who I appear to be. In all fairness, neither do I.

*...She's missed this verbal jousting.*

You evil person making me write this before falling asleep

[grimmdark]

[That's...a rather interesting answer. She doesn't know that many people that can retort in such way, and while a name starts to surface, Rose considers what she knows.]

So you assume that I would know who you are, just as I would know how you would appear to be, rather than the way you currently are. Yet I have no valid reason to believe you should appear in any other way, despite the fact that a past claim regarding who you should appear to be would be enough to back your claim.

[Well, she better try and get it wrong than shut up and let the chance slip.]

...Kanaya Mayram? Is that really you, or just who you appear to currently be you? Furthermore, you should probably divide your answer as to keep the two questions properly separated.

[Is that you? And you say you don't look like that all the time? Yeah, maybe some people might want the translation to Enligsh.]

GO TO BED I WILL BE HERE IN THE MORNING

[chastesaw]

*At Rose's answer, she can't help but give a little smile.* Ah, that was fast. Was my enigmatic introduction not sufficiently so?

As for your other question, I rarely look so... *Holding up a light-skinned hand and frowning a bit.* ...human. Rarely to the point of never, to be precise.

:3

[grimmdark]

On the contrary, I do believe its cryptically was such that I could easily rule out most of the usual suspects.

[And seeing how Kanaya moved from "strange girl staring at me" to "someone I have have several interesting conversations in the past/present/future", Rose closes a good chunk of the distance between them in order to talk more comfortably.]

So you must insist on you usually looking...grayer and horned, correct? I still find it hard to believe but I lack any evidence of me being right, so I will have to believe you.

[chastesaw]

Oh. Then my attempt at obfuscation was what gave me away at all. How interesting.

*She's still sort of looking at you as you get closer, Rose. No offense - she's never met a human before in person before this.* It is not that I insist so much as it is that I simply am.

...would you be satisfied if I were to provide you with some information that I could only know if I were in fact myself? Perhaps immediate recognition of you is not enough.

[grimmdark]

It was a refreshing exercise none the less, so there is little to lament about that.

[Well she rarely sees other people as well, so there.]

Yes...you do seem to be very honest about it. What sort of information would that be? Although immediate recognition surely plays as convenient strategy to you, considering you trolls made a point of having been spectators to the things that came and past in our lives.

[She does believe her, but Rose isn't about to decline extra proofs.]

[chastesaw]

Naturally I would volunteer something known to you as well; it would do me no good to simply say something anyone could know just from watching you.

Hm. *She's thinking for a moment, and then--* The first conversation in which we were temporal equals was our eighth. Does that suffice?

[grimmdark]

[Rose blinks, this time truly surprised.]

Well that should suffice more than enough. This is interesting, considering you and the rest of your party were secluded and protected from most harm, weren't you?

And there is also the interrogation behind your...human shape, if it can be defined as so. [She tilts her head to a side, inspecting her. Well it's not like Kanaya is suddenly going to grow horns or anything right?]

Would you say that your appearance has chanced much, sans the obvious lack of horns and skin coloration?

[chastesaw]

In a sense, yes, but we all knew that the only entities capable of finding us were those capable of killing us as well. *A pause.* Even so, it still seems so strange to have been brought here from our shelter in the Veil.

*Kanaya feels a bit self conscious as she's inspected, reaching up to her mouth and poking at a canine.* It is odd, speaking without fangs, for one. Otherwise my appearance is not wholly unlike my normal one, though I feel that troll sensory complexes *Indicating her face here* seem to be more angular than humans'.

[grimmdark]

This doesn't seem to be the case, as Dream Bubbles aren't this...alien, even if they are usually prone to swing the dreamers around. The presence of people that hail from other parts unknown to us make it even less believable. So we are most likely alive.

[She listens with interest. Rose hasn't seen a troll yet.]

May I?

[And almost immediately she extends a hand, although she doesn't go all the way to poke Kanaya's face...although it's evident that's what she's asking permission for.]

[chastesaw]

That is one of the options, yes. Others that I have considered include a particularly vivid afterlife or a fevered dying hallucination.

*But she quiets at Rose's question, her eyes flicking back and forth from the girl's hand to her face and back. Her cheeks tinge - an unusual red, rather than their normal jade flush.* Ah... if you would like, though I assure you I am very much human and not at all a troll right now.

[grimmdark]

Maybe I did manage to get to the Green Sun, and this is the afterlife. It would be a shame to have needed to die in order to meet you though. [Although being dead wouldn't change much things though.]

[Without further ado, Rose pokes Kanaya in the cheek. Besides the fact the other girl's skin is rather soft and nice to the tact she doesn't find anything particularly interesting. She also gives no thought to the blushing.]

Well, there isn't much to it, I suppose. And sorry for intruding in your personal space. I would offer you to retaliate and poke me back, but I don't know if that's something you would do willingly.

[Something tells Rose she should be careful not to accidentally touch her.]

[chastesaw]

*Flush aside, her expression falls slightly at the mention of the Green Sun.* I can think of no reason to not do it, but similarly I can think of no particular reason to do it, either.

*Kanaya hesitates.* I would not want you to have to perish to finally meet in person like this, either ...but I am not sure I want to know what intentions you had with the Green Sun. Or rather, I am curious and do want to know, but am concerned by the answer you would give.

[grimmdark]

As someone who has grown tired with our situation, I'm willing to break the rules to save as many as I can. [She shrugs.] It simply seems like the most straightforward way to act.

I believe you already know what I want to do with it.

[She's strangely upbeat about the whole thing, even if it means certain death for her.]

Alas, those plans have been put on hold, so there is no need to concern ourselves with that for now. Where you going somewhere? I wouldn't mind a partner for the time being.

[chastesaw]

I told you that those plans were dangerous, Rose... *And so was she.* There is no way to determine the result of drastically breaking the parameters like that. You may inadvertently harm far more than you seek to protect.

*Kanaya looks very serious, but then her expression softens.* But... I do not think that conversation is one we need to have here, in this place and at this moment.

I was only exploring.

[grimmdark]

That's why the only way to know is to try...but yes. We will just keep going round and round without truly reaching any useful conclusion.

[The mood lightens. Of all the trolls, Maybe Kanaya is one of the ones she doesn't want to get angry at without reason.]

Would you mind if I join the explorations?

[chastesaw]

No, I would not. Perhaps you can explain to me some of your human constructs.

*And here, Kanaya looks away, almost shyly.* I... had always wanted to meet with you in person, Rose Lalonde.

[grimmdark]

With pleasure. Although some of this things had ceased to be by the time I was born.

[She's just going to blink...and now it's her time to blush. She can usually take compliments with a poker face, but her defenses were low right then.]

Oh...I hope I am on par to your expectations. I also wanted to meet you in person, Kanaya.

[Oh BOY isn't it awkward now?]

[chastesaw]

You would still be more familiar with them than I.

*That is an... endearing expression that Rose made, just there. Yes, that is the proper human term for it.* Did you? I think I should feel flattered.

Thus far you seem to have met my expectations indeed.

[grimmdark]

True enough. So just point to whatever calls your attention and I will see to explain it to you in the easiest terminology I can muster.

[Did she just make a joke? Anyway, Rose brushes the heat on her face -or tries- with a hand movement before starting to walk. AND THEN SHE JUST KEEPS TALKING. Rose is going to try to hide her face but her hair is too short.

FAIL.]

I do what I can. As far as I'm concerned you have done a great deal of things worth of praise yourself.

[What else can she do but counter the flattering?]

[chastesaw]

*No don't hide Rose it's endearing. But she starts to walk beside Rose, looking around at all the strange human constructs.* Have I? But that was all before making your acquaintance here, which would make it more difficult to live up to those expectations in reality, would they not?