001. [ VIDEO ]

[mechanical_maiden]

[ The camera is pointed sky-ward, briefly. The tops of buildings could be seen, as could the vast blue skies with puffs of pure white clouds that dotted it. The chirping of birds, the sounds of a bustling town could be heard as the camera remains idle. Then there's a soft fall of footsteps, followed by the scraping of a chair being dragged against pavement briefly.

The camera shifts, as it's delicately picked up between two fingers. A girl with blonde hair and bright blue eyes appears, and she looks no older than seventeen. The surroundings behind her shows that she was sitting at a local cafe in Heropa. It appears she's having nothing but a casual day, although she finds herself immensely lost in this place.

A small smile appears on her features, and she finally opens her mouth to speak; ]

Greetings, my name is Aigis.

[ There's a brief pause as she attempts to figure out what to say. ]

This is my first day here, so I am obviously new around these parts. I am making this video in attempts to find out more information than what was given to me... And to perhaps connect with others.

Comments

video;

[homerunning]

A-Ai-chan???

[Junpei had given up hope of anyone showing up here for any length of time by now. With Yukari gone (which was a huge blow) and Minato, Akihiko, and Shinji before her...it was hard to keep going when your time here seems so fragile.

And yet, every time he hears a familiar voice on the feed, he rushes to it like there's no time to waste.

He doesn't bother making this only audio for safety reasons. There's only one Aigis he knows. And it was too close for coincidence.]

Is that really you?

Okay, okay, pop quiz, who am I? Just to be sure.

Re: video;

[mechanical_maiden]

[ Aigis perks up upon hearing a familiar voice call back out to her. She had a decent amount of hope that there would be someone she knew in this peculiar place, and luckily with chance...Her hopes were proven right. Leaning forward just a little, her smile broadens just a tad upon seeing who was displayed upon the screen.

She found herself wanting to ask him plenty of questions, but she figures they could wait for later. After all, he had one of his own! ]

That is simple, you are Junpei-kun. You didn't need to hold a pop quiz, you're very easy to recognize!

video;

[homerunning]

[It really was her--and it's sad that Junpei has to even ask a question to confirm that. But with everything that's happened....wow. Sight for sore eyes right there.

It's hard not to smile, not that Aigis didn't make him smile back home.]

Yeah, you got it!

[A laugh escapes, tilting the lip of his hat to the side to see the screen a little better. If he wasn't happy before, he sure was practically brimming with it now.]

Man...are we in a situation here, though. Can only imagine what kind of questions you've got--it rattled MY brain too when I got here.

Re: video;

[mechanical_maiden]

I have many questions, indeed. I know they gave me a short briefing when I had woken up, but I feel as if it's not enough.

[ She pauses yet again, piecing together her thoughts as she attempts to figure out what to ask first. There was so much to ask, and there was certainly a concern for him. Even if he seemed to be faring well enough. Then again, she hadn't a clue about what happened behind the scenes.

She brushes aside her bangs some with her hand, before nodding her head; indicating that she was going to continue speaking. ]

I would like to know why we are here exactly. I'm aware we are 'heroes', and that we're dealing with the military, correct? They had not mentioned much, so admittedly I have my suspicions, and curiosities. What type of ordeals are we going to be dealing with? Are we to fight in a war? What is our purpose?

[ Upon realizing she was asking too much, she gives him an apologetic smile. ]

I am asking too much already, I apologize; though I have plenty more questions. How are you faring here, and are there others?

[ The girl pauses again, and her expression falters just a little. ]

Are we capable of returning home?

[video]

[timecapture]

Hello, Aigis. My name is Max. What kind of information do you need?

Re: [video]

[mechanical_maiden]

Ah!

[ A part of her hadn't expected a reply so soon, but it's definitely welcomed. ]

There are many things I would like to ask, but I'll keep it short. What do you know about this place?

[video]

[timecapture]

Well, I know that it's an alternate version of Earth, where the Cold War never really ended. We're all given special powers on arrival, and given the choice of whether or not we want to register.

[Gonna have to be a little more specific, there, Aigis. Max will start rambling.]

video;

[amadaman]

[Well what do you know.

Ken's checking his comm after another day of running around player soccer with friends. It's the weekend! They're going all out! (they always go all out) But all thoughts about what he'll have for dinner, about potentially giving Koromaru a bath, and about school coming up go out the window when he sees this post]

Aigis-san! It's me, it's me!

Re: video;

[mechanical_maiden]

[ A more than familiar face and voice.

Immediately, Aigis sits up straighter; her eyes going round in surprise as she sees the other displayed upon the screen. Her smile widens, and she looks more than happy to see the boy. Though it was a tad worrying that he was here. ]

Ken-kun! It's good to see you here!! I hadn't expected you to reply, but it is a nice surprise nonetheless.

[amadaman]

[Ken breathes with relief. Oh, good, she recognized him!

It's been a long time since Ken arrived here. In that time he's grown, and with growing has come some changes. He has to hastily push his hair out of his own eyes as he comes to a stop and moves to the side of the street to get out of people's way. It's been so long.]

Of course I would, I couldn't leave you hanging. Did you say it was your first day? You just got here??

[Video.]

[waywarddreams]

I, too, am new.

[ _{His interest is drawn to her because of her accent-- he sounded like someone from home. Though he could be jumping the gun, he was eager to converse with someone that wasn't English despite her glowing blonde hair and bright blue eyes.} ]

I am not good at connecting, but I tire-- [ _{... Shes a young girl, and he was clearly in armor; being so far forward as to say 'I just wanted to talk to you because you sounded Japanese and I'm tired of English today' was a little rough. His tone changes as his head tilts slightly.} ]

... I'm tired in general. It is nice to meet you; my name is Genji. I am sorry I lack any answers you would seek.

Re: [Video.]

[mechanical_maiden]

[ Whilst she had been attentive to the comm in the first place, her attention is greatly brought in by the man that decided to show himself to her. He was unlike anyone she had ever seen, and immediately she finds herself curious about him. Many questions were raised, but she refrains herself from asking anything that might seem rude or uncomfortable.

He appeared to be wearing armor, but it was unlike any she had ever seen. Whether it was on television, or in books. He reminded her greatly of an android, but again she couldn't be too sure. Although he wasn't anything like her, the assumption was slightly... Comforting? Realizing she had fallen a tad silent, she bows her head to him in an apologetic manner. ]

I apologize for my silence. It's fine if you are not good at connecting, many aren't.

[ She instantly had switched to Japanese, due to his accent. It was easier on the both of them if she spoke this way anyhow. Aigis offers him a kind smile, before continuing her response to the man. ]

That is understandable, many new people would be tired upon arriving here. I too find myself a bit tired.

Though it's nice to meet you, Genji-san! It's fine if you lack answers, I cannot expect everyone to have them.

Re: [Video.]

[waywarddreams]

I'm always tired.

[ _{He says with a wry grin that cannot be seen which is just as slack as his voice is. Though his vocals had that metallic ringing to them he did sound sapped of energy. He had to get food and sleep and stop worrying about the entire problem of them being here but he just couldn't. He's staring at her intensely for a few silent moments.} ]

... I don't want to be forward, but I believe there is something strange about you.

[ _{Genji-san... aw man. He was definitely going to try now to speak softly, like he would to a child... but the man also says the former words with a hint of curiosity, just because he has a keen eye and is trying not to be awkward. Bringing up peoples appearances weren't weird at all (DEFINITELY not awkward, too!), but he couldn't ignore the blonde haired blue eyed girl with a Japanese accent. He was clearly not good at conversation. This was an attempt.} ]

I don't mean to be offensive at all. I just wonder, that's all...

Video

[penthesileia]

Aigis? Aigis, is that really you? It's Mitsuru. Where are you?

Re: Video

[mechanical_maiden]

Mitsuru-san! It is.

I am currently in Heropa, by a cafe. Are you located anywhere close by?

Video

[penthesileia]

I can be. The porter network makes travel very convenient.

What's the name of the cafe? I can be there in... under half an hour.

video

[scrap_metal]

Is this what new people are supposed to do upon arriving here? Introduce ourselves online?

[ He's new too. And he's puzzled. Oh, he's used to internet and forums, but he's used them to be mostly anonymous. Or semi-anonymous with using different usernames. The prevalence of the video posting here on this network is surprising. And he realizes too late that without specifying how he wants to reply, he does use video as well. ]

Re: video

[mechanical_maiden]

[ The man that appears on the screen takes Aigis by surprise. He was clearly in a way like her, and she never saw anyone that was like her...Even if it was vaguely. The girl's cerulean optics could be seen examining the screen, but she doesn't waste any time in replying. ]

I am not entirely certain. I figured this would be a far more simpler way to get in contact with a vast majority of people.

video

[scrap_metal]

Looks like it worked. Is there any particular reason for it, or is it's just a customary introduction?

[ He's familiar with idea of "heroes", and most of the heroes he knew, preferred to work alone. Generally it was Association job to assign pair or form groups to handle bigger threats ]

video

[khajidont]

[Oh. Oh. Jaime knows that name. He knows all of the SEES members' names, but Aigis' stuck out most of all because of the strange sort of earnest affection Minato's expression and voice took on while speaking of him, subtle, but noticeable enough from his usual bland sort of monotone.

Aigis had a special place in Minato's heart, which means it's Jaime's job to give her a big, warm welcome.]

Hi, Aigis. It's really nice to meet you! My name's Jaime, and I've been here long enough to at least give you some of the information you need. So... what would you like to know?

Re: video

[mechanical_maiden]

[ The others bright demeanor causes the girl to smile a bit brightly, especially when he mentions that he had information to give her as well. She was certainly lucky that her video did get out, and people had been bothered to respond to her. ]

It's nice to meet you as well. I am glad you are capable of giving me information, as I have many questions. Though I will be brief about it.

What do you know of this place? Is there anything I should be particularly aware of?

video

[khajidont]

That's a hard question! There's a lot to know, and what's important probably depends on what's important to you. Though one thing... you've probably already figured out, 'cause I see they've started talking to already.

I hope it's not that weird for me to say that I've, um, heard of you before. A bunch of your team used to be here. Now, it's just Ken, Junpei and Mitsuru, though.

video;

[valuemeal]

[ Well, that's pretty much the most awkward - or maybe stilted is a better word, he figures - introduction he's ever seen. Then again, it's what draws Hyunsoo's attention enough to actually reply. ]

Honestly, the more you hear about this place, the more confusing it gets.

[ .. not that it's a necessarily helpful reply though. ]

Re: video;

[mechanical_maiden]

[ It certainly wasn't the most helpful response, but Aigis doesn't necessarily mind. At least she got a response, which was greatly better than nothing. ]

Is that so? I'm used to confusing ordeals, so I wonder if it is entirely different.

[valuemeal]

"Confusing ordeal" sure is one way to describe this place, so I guess..

[ He pauses for a moment though, clear curiousity in his voice when he speaks up again. ]

What do you mean though, you're used to this? Do you just appear in random places like this all the time?