Seasons: IC Contact/Continuations

[abnormalizes]

This is Evangeline! Sorry, I'm a little busy right now, but leave a message and I'll get back to you as soon as I can!

Comments

[abnormalizes]

Just because I like it doesn't mean I think it's good.

[roundandaround]

Huh...

[Rinku ponders this like it's a profound observation. She tilts her head.]

What if you don't know if you like it or not, but you can't stop thinking about it? What's that?

[abnormalizes]

That's like, 'compelling'? 'Thought-provoking'? Stuff that makes you think a lot is usually good even if you didn't like it.

[roundandaround]

That makes it sound pretty important. I guess that's why you're so smart.

[abnormalizes]

Well, I am a big nerd who reads a lot, so I guess so?

[roundandaround]

I think so!

[Evangeline knows everything, as far as Rinku is concerned.]

I was trying to study some more of that stuff everyone brought up from when we went to the underground library, but studying makes my head hurt.

[abnormalizes]

It's not for everyone... I don't really have any advice on how to get better at it, sorry.

[roundandaround]

It's way easier to learn something when it's fun... Why is that?

[abnormalizes]

Because when it's not fun, your brain goes 'I'd rather be doing something else right now' and doesn't want to focus.

[roundandaround]

That makes sense. It's really hard when you have to learn this kinda stuff but your brain doesn't want to, though.

[abnormalizes]

It is, yeah. Good on you for trying.

[roundandaround]

[Rinku smiles at the praise. Thinking of the actual research, though, she frowns again.] I do remember the Nightshade thinks the Darkness is made out of souls, though. That was kinda creepy. Do you think it actually is?

[abnormalizes]

It could be? I don't really have enough evidence to say one way or the other. A mass of souls could definitely have the kind of powers the Darkness has, but so could other things.

...I could get something back from Riki's that would maybe let me test it, but I'd rather not...

[roundandaround]

Eh? You have a soul-testing... machine... thingy? Or is it something your work has?

[abnormalizes]

It's a weapon from work.

You know how my scythe damages the body, and the little floating orb I have damages the mind? There are also weapons that damage the soul.

[roundandaround]

Why is everything from your world scarier than the last thing?

[abnormalizes]

I feel like this is less scary than some of the other things I've told you already, actually? But I guess it depends on your perspective.

[roundandaround]

Hm... I guess so. I just don't want anyone's soul to get messed up again. [She bites her lip and hums.] And there's some nice things! Like you. And your parents seem nice, and I don't know One Sin and Hundreds of Good Deeds-san really well, but I know they work hard at their job. And Fragment of the Universe-chan was nice! Their song was cute! I kinda wondered why you didn't bring them back.

[abnormalizes]

Fragment of the Universe is nice and means well, but they also drive people who listen to them insane if they don't have your immunity to mental damage.

[roundandaround]

Ehhh?

[Rinku stares and blinks a couple times.]

No way! Did that happen to anyone else when they were here during that thing at the Mecha Hangar? I didn't hear about that, but I guess I don't hear about a lot of things...

[abnormalizes]

It might have? Nobody told me if it did, though.

[roundandaround]

That's good. [sigh] I don't want anyone to get hurt. They were really nice, too. Most of the monsters that came in back then were just like the other monsters here. ...And also there were mosquitoes?

[abnormalizes]

Just, like, normal mosquitoes? Not even giant ones?

[roundandaround]

Yeah! I know mosquitoes are scary if you're someplace with malaria and stuff, but they're not gonna break your soul or anything.

[abnormalizes]

That's weird! I don't really know how to respond to that.