( 004 | VIDEO )

[bratziska]

( The screen turns on, revealing the face of Franziska von Karma, bright-eyed and bushy-tailed, riding crop in hand. Miss her? )

So, it seems that I have returned after a period of absence. ( The corners of her mouth shift slightly, forming a little frown. ) But honestly, I don't remember being gone at all. It was barely April, and now it's July. I've heard of this happening before, but it doesn't make it any less disorienting. Or any more foolish. I wish they could decide whether I'm coming or going. ( Insofar as there is a 'they'. She doesn't really want to talk about that, so, moving on! )

I've done my best to catch up on recent events, but it's likely that some smaller or less important things that have fallen through the cracks. So, tell me: what's been going on in your lives lately?

( A beat, and she brightens up again. )

Oh, and since I left so soon after my birthday, I'll still be accepting presents even if they're a few months belated. I mean, if you already got me something, I might as well accept it.

Comments

[cartesianspidertank]

[bratziska]

( Glaring... )

If this is your idea of a joke, it's not very funny.

[cartesianspidertank]

It is, and you are incorrect :D

[bratziska]

I don't have the time to waste arguing this with you. I suggest you go do something useful with your own life as well.

text ; id says blue beetle

[khajidont]

[Oh, it's his tiny student. Hey you!]

Welcome back, Franziska. And happy birthday.

text;

[bratziska]

( Oh, hello, it's her flying instructor.)

Thank you.

( See, this is the type of response she'd been hoping for. )

How have you been?

text;

[khajidont]

I've been fine. Thanks for asking. I'd ask you the same thing, but the Porter seems to do that whole skipping time thing an awful lot. If you like I can probably send you a few news articles to get you all caught up.

text;

[bratziska]

Indeed. It's simply bizarre. But other than 'irritated', I feel the same as I did yesterday.

If you're not busy, I'd appreciate it.

video;

[grimreaping]

That's quite a length of time...

If it's not too forward to ask, as it's been something I've been trying to keep track of unofficially, but do you recall being home? Or is there merely a blank that feels as though no time passed?

video;

[bratziska]

It's fine. I don't recall returning home at all, no. I went to sleep here, and then I woke up in the Porter several months later.

Re: video;

[grimreaping]

Interesting; that's the same experience I had, although mine was not for that long. It seems almost equally split between that, and people who actually experience being back in their worlds, but I've yet to find any pattern between the two.

video;

[bratziska]

Oh? ( She brightens up a little at the affirmation that she's not alone in her experience. )

How long were you gone for?

text

[rathercommon]

Hullo, Franziska. It's nice to see you're back. The months you missed were rather awful, so you oughtn't be sour about not being around for them.

text;

[bratziska]

( That's the first time anyone had explicitly mentioned anything bad happening. It causes her to ask: )

Oh? What was so awful about them?

text;

[rathercommon]

Oh, well...A good bit of violence. People rather lost their minds back in June due to some magical influence. And...God, I can't recall; were you here for the Flare plague, or were you gone before then?

text;

[bratziska]

( That certainly does sound like a series of unfortunate awful events. )

No, I must have missed the plague. Do you mean that literally?

Also, has the source of this 'magical influence' been uncovered?

video;

[rassera]

[Because if anyone's going to talk to Franziska, it should be the head of a bike gang and a criminal.]

W-Wait hold on a second, kid--

[Forget your birthday you're like seven.]

You left?!

video;

[bratziska]

(rude)

In a manner of speaking. I didn't - ( she rubs at her shoulder ) - go anywhere, while I was gone. It was merely as though I'd skipped several months into the future.

video;

[rassera]

Dammit...

[Stop cursing in front of kids, Kaneda holy crap did you pick your manners up on the streets yes.]

You had my hopes there for a moment.

[glowsferatu]

Foolish to you perhaps, but I'm sure she finds it hilarious. If there's any one thing that almost certainly motivates her, it's that.

Or perhaps she meant to teach a lesson to a cheater, back to your proper age as you are.

[bratziska]

( Her eyes narrow a little as she's reminded of her previous network post. If only things had remained that way. )

This has nothing to do with that incident. It had already rectified itself by the time I supposedly left.

( And that's all she's going to say, because she doesn't really want to talk about Lachesis or whatever. )

[glowsferatu]

I'm sure it must have, in my experience such matters never keep for long.

[ still, it is a bit satisfying to see her properly younger now. kanaya had to wait for years to get from thirteen to eighteen, she can't abide cheaters. ] Anyone take you up on the birthday celebration?

video;

[lasthugs]

It was your birthday?

[WHO IS THIS EXCITED LADY? Franziska's about to find out. At least she's being politely excited, just wide grins and hands clenched instead of actually squealing around.]

Oh dear -- I just got done baking some cinnamon rolls today. Would you like some, dear? Oh, and welcome back, although this is my first time talking to you.

video;

[bratziska]

( She doesn't even know you, lady, but your offer of free cinnamon rolls is more than enough to put you in Franziska's good books.

But first things first. It's time to clarify the situation. )

Thank you. ( A beat. ) I don't believe I've seen you before. How long have you been here.

( Another pause. )

You wouldn't happen to have any Swiss rolls, would you? If not, cinnamon's fine.

[lasthugs]

Just about a month, I'd say. I got here in June.

[The polite girl gets a bright smile! Cass has her communicator propped up to stand on the counter of what appears to be a kitchen, and she leans over to tug a plate into the screen. Delicious looking cinnamon rolls.]

And I don't have any Swiss rolls on me right now, but it's also been a while since I've made any -- I can make some for you if you'd like, too.