tabularasa_rp | (no subject)

Who: Espio + anyone
What: One very belated intro
Where: Here and There
When: "November", if November exists
Content Warnings: Likely references to him being from a sex-or-die CRAU in the tags.

1. The Sky

[Why, you might ask, is there a short man with a lizard tail standing on a rock, arms spread wide as he laughs almost maniacally at the sky? There must surely be a reason, right?

Before he can be interrupted, he notices whoever approaches him and his laughter trails off as he turns to face them.]

Look at that! Five years, and they give me this - it's like going home! How long's that been like that?

[He jabs a thumb towards the sky behind him, where shapes are twisting and coiling just like in the weird part of the Special Zone. It has been so long since he's seen a sky as colourful as the one he was once used to that the little taste of home actually makes him feel slightly ill... still, seeing it, all he can do is laugh, even if it's not a happy laugh.]

2. How to Be Social

[Still convinced this is only an illusion, just like the countless illusions he's experienced in the past several months, Espio has not been particularly inclined to socialise. The problem with that is that while he does not want to go through meeting and greeting new people who might not even be real, being alone is... well, it's lonely! So while he has mostly been steering away from more obvious social hubs and has instead wandered what feels like the entire habitable area for he doesn't know how long, eventually he gives in and shows his face somewhere with people. What few people there are in this place, anyway...

The Heavenly Blanc is as good a bet as any, but he can also be found somewhere in the Underground Academy. Either way, his idea of a greeting is questionable:]

Still haven't seen anyone I know. How 'bout you?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Well, there's lots of theories about this place. My... [ ...boyfriend? She's not sure what to call Seto right now, so: ] friend thinks that this is all a computer simulation. I'm not so sure about that, though... but who can say?

[ Ann stirs her coffee slowly, leaning back in her seat and offering the poor young man another small smile. ]

Regardless, it's nice to meet you, Espio-san. Though I'm sorry that you're stuck here now, too.

Don't be. I'm used to this sort of thing. It happens a lot.

[He rocks his chair a little on its two back legs, knocking the front ones against the floor.]

I heard the 'computer simulation' theory and it doesn't hold up well. Not out of the realm of possibility, but for me it's been five years since I was dragged out of my home reality... that's a long time to keep someone captive in a simulation.

Even still... that sucks. I'm sorry.

[ She's no stranger to things like this either, in a way. Sort of. The Metaverse is a weird place, and from what she's been told by Ren, her own view of reality at home is not what it seems. Not quite the same as poor Espio's situation, though. ]

Yeah, that is a long time. You must miss your home and friends terribly.

[Espio makes a small, grumbling noise, starting to wish he'd kept most of it all to himself. He's never handled sympathy very well - ot makes him uncomfortable.]

Can't do much about it except suck it up and carry on. Best not to get lost in thinking about it.

[ One of those types, is he? She knows quite a few guys here who are of the same mindset as poor Espio. ]

I guess so.

[ She gives her coffee one more stir for good measure, considering. ]

Since you're all on your own here, I guess that makes us friends now.

[ Because THAT makes sense, doesn't it? ]

[Oh, she’s one of those types... he’s familiar enough that there is the smallest hint of a smile tugging at his mouth that soon vanishes.]

That’s not how it works!

[ She sure is, Espio... she flashes him a bright smile in return, even if his fades. ]

Yep, it is! Sorry, that's in the rules, you know? Didn't you read the fine print?

This place has rules? Could’ve fooled me!

[Place is even more off the rails than the Special Zone, and that’s saying something!]

It does. It was in the contract you clearly don't remember signing upon arrival.

[ Poor Espio... she knows what it's like, at least, to be alone. Before she'd met Ren and the others at home, that had been her existence for the most part. She'd only had one other person on her side for years... and she's not about to let Espio go without a friend or ally, because she knows what that's like. Especially in a place like that. ]

Sorry, Espio-san, but you're stuck in this friendship now~.

The contract is void! I was clearly under the influence.

Besides, I already forgot your name.

[He’s lying.]

Too late! You didn't read the fine print well enough, clearly.

[ At that, Ann feigns a pout and 'tsks' in a feigned disapproving tone. ]

That's not nice! Already forgetting your new BFF's name like that, I can't believe it!

[ She's kidding, of course... ]

...Takoyaki?

[Gotta test how easy she is to wind up. Very important - if someone's going to be a pest, he needs to be a pest back.]

God, now you're just making me hungry... it's been forever since I've had takoyaki....

[ UGH this place... ]

...takoyaki... or crepes. I miss crepes the most.

[ Life is DIFFICULT without her favorite food, okay. Also, she's getting off track now that the subject has been placed on food. She clears her throat. ]

I mean, close enough! Takamaki, takoyaki, same thing, right?

[Skilled cook Espio files that away for later, with only a slight nod to say he gave it any thought whatsoever.]

Sure, close enough - if you say so!

...at least food seems fairly easy to come by, around here... and it's probably real, too. That's a plus.