ellipsanet | 002: Lanterns and Research (Video; un: flyer)

[It was only the second time Rider had addressed the network. Getting questions out publicly like this was well out of her comfort zone, but for at least half of her inquiry, she needed to expand her field of questioning beyond her regular contacts. So here she was, lurking in a quiet cafe near the Dayrise Colosseum.

The whole thing was uncomfortable and awkward as always for the introverted woman- even before the latent anxiety that someone would recognise her from that whole 'giant snake monster' quest not too long ago.

Sigh.]

I wanted to ask something...does anyone here work with the Research Center, or has anyone asked them to assist with developing items, equipment or other things?

Things that would help mitigate problems from home, I mean.

[Nice and vague! But as it was, she wasn't particularly happy to just explain exactly what she was looking for to everyone, even as she floated the question. Still, wasn't this asking people for information that was too personal? She should have thought of that.]

...Do not feel obligated to share anything private.

...

It seems as if, with the current festivities, the locals are being more... difficult than usual. They have been unusually accommodating and generous toward me since last night, but I dislike the extra attention. I am certain it will only start again when I try to go home.

Is this normal for this event in particular...?

[She'd not yet taken her blindfold off, so had absolutely no idea that she was glowing. So to Rider, it all seemed a little sudden and very excessive. Looks like she'd have to use her spirit form if she wanted to travel home unaccosted!

But whilst she wouldn't necessarily admit it, she had slept more peacefully last night than she had for a long time- receiving a comforting message from her beloved big sisters in her dreams.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I work at the Research Center! If there's anything we can help you with, let me know and I'll pull all the strings I can to get people on it!

[Obviously that needs to be said first. But as for the other part-]

You're glowing a little. You lit a lantern, right?

[...Ah- it struck her, then, that this was information she really should have known sooner- they were good friends, weren't they? And yet she'd never even asked where she worked before now! Another little reminder that she still had a lot of learning to do, when it came to communicating with other people. Rider couldn't help but look a little guilty about that.]

I-...should have thought to ask you beforehand...my apologies.

...Mm. I did light a couple. So it made me glow? That is- why would-

[That certainly would explain some of the unnecessary attention!]

No, no, you have nothing to apologize for!

[Asking people directly for help is hard, even if they're your friends.]

Well, it's a festival for honoring the dead... So apparently people who have died before who light a lantern get a 'blessing of protection' or something like that?

[Asking directly for help is very hard! Still, the reminder of her own death didn't seem to particularly concern Rider- she lightly absently at her choker, but that was about all the reaction that thought got.]

...Well, all of us Servants have died at one point, so that must have caused it...I wonder if any of the others are having this problem, in that case?

[For some of them it was more complicated than that, but she was none the wiser to the various weird edge-cases- and even if she was, that would have been far too complicated a conversation for now.]

Blessing of Protection or not...I do not see why the locals cannot just leave me alone.

I think they're trying to be nice. Have you asked them directly not to bother you?

[Is she struggling with expressing her wants again...]

... ... ...

[Bingo!]

I...dematerialised and came to hide here, the last time.

[called it!]

Maybe next time you could try asking them to leave you alone...? I don't think they'll know how uncomfortable you are until you say something.

I wonder if that would work… there is only so much I want to have to tolerate it.

[You won’t know unless you try, Rider, hard as that is.]

…As for the other matter, it is nothing urgent, but I was curious what sorts of items could be created with the magic and knowledge here…and, well, what the criteria would be for bothering them with things like that.

[They no doubt had a long list of much more important things to do than humouring her requests, after all, but there was no harm in asking.]

The criteria for me is that you're my friend and nothing you ask for could ever be a bother. What do you need?

Well- um- …thank you.

[The resolve in Evangeline’s tone- and the complete lack of hesitation- definitely took Rider by surprise, and left her looking a little embarrassed.

Just holding down a button on her phone, giving it a verbal instruction to lock the call before she continued. Certainly, with Evangeline involved, she felt more at ease about this entire arrangement.

She trusted her.]

…I wanted to find out if there was something else I could use to seal the petrification power of my eyes, without having to block my sight as well.

It is not a problem when I am fighting and I can take care of myself well enough in the city, but… it would make things more pleasant.

[It was an unnecessary luxury, she’d told herself, but maybe it would make things easier on those around her?

…Or maybe, just maybe, it wasn’t so bad to want something for herself for once.]

[Rider is a dear friend, and also someone who came to save her when she thought no one would. Of course Evangeline is happy to help her out.]

So something like magic glasses, like mine? That shouldn't be too hard. I'll start asking around.

[A small, relieved smile came into her face.]

Yes, exactly like that, if that is possible...I admit, yours did make me first think something like that could work.

[At the time, though, she was more focused on recovering from her Gorgon transformation. An improvement on the situation with her sight wasn't the first thing on her mind.]

Just let me know what you need from me.

...I admit it makes me feel a lot more comfortable knowing that you are involved.

We'll definitely need you to test it out to make sure it works, but other than that you shouldn't need to do anything.

I'm glad I could reassure you. This is the kind of work I really want to be doing - scientific research that's focused on helping people, instead of on making a profit like at home.

Of course. I would be fine to stay on hand for a few days if you need to test anything out.

[She had no idea what he process would be- if they would need to carry out measurements on the power of her eyes first, or how many samples they would need her to try out. And whilst she wasn't thrilled at the idea of them running too many tests on her, she trusted Evangeline.]

...This sort of thing suits you. You are...kind, even to people like me.

I think it's more 'especially to people like you'. I'm pretty awkward when it comes to normal humans.

[She has a couple of human friends here, now that she isn't worried about something happening to them, but she still ends up with her foot in her mouth on a regular basis.]

002: Lanterns and Research (Video; un: flyer)

un: abnormalitylover, video

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Such an antisocial snek

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> Private

private forever

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Awkward snek continues to be resoundingly awkward.

cutie