ellipsanet | backdated to 1/4; text; UN: Traditionally

[While it isn't the first time a world has needed her -- after all, she's a soldier, a Seraph Squadron member -- the idea of touching others as part of the process is... it's certainly something else entirely. Personal space is something she doesn't exactly like invading unnecessarily, and the thought of her doing that with anyone she's familiar with...

...m-maybe she shouldn't think too much on it for now. The idea of doing that with her, in particular, is only going to make her short circuit.

Once she's settled in her temporary apartment, she puts something forward to Ellipsa's network.]

Hello to all in Ellipsa. My name is Miya Kiryu, and I have only recently arrived here.

I realize this sounds like a rather silly question, knowing what I was told by those who welcomed me here, but I cannot help but ask, regardless. Is physical touch really the only way we can keep ourselves rooted to this world? I would think there was at least one person that has tried developing alternatives to such an issue, and while I do appreciate that there is medicine in case of emergencies...

[She doesn't finish that, if only because she wants to believe they've got best interests in mind.]

In any case, I don't feel putting this off is the best idea. I'm not the only one, am I?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

hi miyu. or uh, i guess kiryu-san? i'm izuku midoriya. i'm not sure i've really looked into alternatives, since i get plenty of physical touch with a couple of my friends being here and how often we tend to spar together and stuff.

i don't know if it would be easier with someone you know or not? but it really doesn't need to be anything that uh, intimate? do you have any friends from home here, do you know? it can just be holding someone's hand, or touching their shoulder or something.

It's nice to meet you, Midoriya-san.
Kiryu is fine, yes. Most of my peers call me that as well.

[Miya's follow-up response doesn't come for a bit, as something else catches her attention -- namely, Megumi messaging her.]

I do know someone from home, at least; I wouldn't call her a friend, but we have worked together at least once. Still, it is reassuring that I don't have to go that far.

[She is very, very glad she did this in text; Izuku would be able to see the heat rushing to her face for a moment if she'd used video...

Heavens, she just had the thought of holding hands with her leader crossing her mind, why did some have to bring that idea up directly-?]

kiryu-san, then. but that is good that you aren't alone. i have a couple of classmates, friends, here from school, but it helps having any sort of familiar face in all this. i'm glad you have her here, maybe you can get to know each other better while you're here together.

[Yeah. He's oblivious. But it isn't like he is much if any better in regards to intimacy and awkwardness.]

Yer here now too?

If ya really need the help, ya can ask me. This is Aikawa Megumi, by the way.

Aikawa? You were brought here as well?

[She breathes a sigh of relief before adding to her reply.

Whether it's Yuina or any other, a familiar face is still good to see.]

I'll take all help you can offer, seeing I just arrived here. Are you nearby?

I'm doing a bit of packin' fer tomorrow's expedition so I'm at the starter apartments right now. I can meet up with ya wherever yer at, I'm more familiar with the place.

That shouldn't be too difficult to arrange. I have not gone too far from the temporary apartments, and if what I spoke of with our hosts is true, there are teleporters here.

I can head to the lobby area, then.

It'll be easier so ya don't have ta run into everyone singin'.

No, you are not the only one. It's not too difficult a thing to endure, but I would much rather find a way that I did not have to touch anyone at all while I am here.

[ Aaravos fully intends to go back to Xadia in seven years when his stars align again. ]

[Miya stares, for a moment, before turning on the video in kind to match; on Aaravos's screen, he'll see Miya wearing a fox mask over her face.]

If it isn't too much to ask, why avoid touch entirely? Surely you were told about the side effects of not doing so for an extended period...

Edited (oop, forgot a word) 2026-01-08 19:33 (UTC)

[ He prefers using video because he prefers seeing who he is talking to. ]

I have an aversion to being touched in the first place. I can deal with this since it's mostly personal preference, and while I was informed of what could happen, I still don't particularly like needing to touch a stranger

[ For Aaravos, it felt too intimate most of the time. ]

You can get by with stuff like handshakes, so it hasn't been a major priority for research. Our records suggest that an otherworlder turning into a statue has happened really rarely over the last three years.

It's that rare for someone to be starved of touch for that long?
How certain are you of this? I don't doubt you; you sound like you've been here for long enough to tell. I just wish to confirm.

A week is pretty generous, I think? A lot of people make arrangements for regular handshakes and such. I work in the Research Centre, so we keep records about this kind of thing.

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