[Special 003] Body Switch: Usagi-chan

[no_use_running]

[Well! The picture in the journal is most certainly not Mizuno Ami. It is, however, still an Asian girl, but a few years younger, with an unusual hairdo of buns and pigtails.]

I'm Usagi-chan!

[And something in Ami realizes that while some people in Luceti will remember Usagi in blond form from while she was here, many won't, and they won't know

Comments

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[Well. When Robert was worrying about what sort of form changes that his friends might have, them turning into their best friends was not one that immediately came to mind - though in retrospect, it was perfectly logical. Nonetheless, he was more than a little surprised to see the somewhat-familiar face of Ami as something not-so-familiar.]

Ah, Doctor Mizuno, so they have affected you too... And your best friend? That must be... poignant for you. [And painful. Robert doesn't even want to think about how much that might have hurt him if he'd turned into a certain person.]

... Do you perhaps need any assistance, or are you alright at the moment? [Robert was serious when he said he wanted to help Ami if she had a problem. After all, it's the least he can do. She basically singlehandedly stopped him from freezing, taught him to use the journals and gave him a place to live.]

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Advanced? Robert hadn't really thought of it that way.] Oh, well, I suppose so... But it was more of an adaptation of the same principles used for female-bodied people who had trouble carrying children. And there's always the option of obtaining one's own uterus, if one sees oneself as wanting to own it.

[There seems to be something... troubling Ami. It's hovering around her face in a way that's perceptible.] ... Is there something wrong, Doctor Mizuno?

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

No, it's alright. I suppose I'm just a little surprised by how quick the world will move.

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

If you're certain. I just... If there's anything you would wish to talk about I would try my best to be a good audience. [It seems a bit hypocritical, coming from him, when he was ashamed to talk about his own problems... even though, in a way, he sort of wants to.]

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

Thank you for offering that.

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

It's the only reasonable thing to offer under the circumstances. [There are so many secrets that Robert has never shared with anybody before... has never wanted to share with anybody. It almost disturbs him that he's even considering doing so now. He figures Ami might feel similarly, but he still wants to offer the opportunity.]

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

No, I do appreciate it, really.

[Which is a polite way of edging the subject away from them.]

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[It's clear that both of them are uncomfortable. Robert looks down at the ground again, more out of not being sure what to say than anything. He sips some of the tea that he got awhile ago, staring into the dark liquid. It's actually delicious.]

I'd forgotten how tea tasted. But it's quite refreshing... [He continues to look down into the tea, almost studying the little vortex in the middle.] I suppose you drink tea fairly often, then, if you wanted to offer me some?

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

[Crap, she didn't even realize; it's just polite to offer tea or coffee.]

I'm sorry, I didn't know. Is there something you would like better?

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[Robert looks near-apologetic for a moment, as if he's sorry he even seemed to suggest anything.] Ah, no, it's fine! I... I was merely noting that you seemed to enjoy tea... I understand it used to be something of a cultural practise for some Terrans?

[He's still trying to find a topic that they'd both feel comfortable talking about. Obviously he's not doing too great a job. :D]

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

[It takes a bit to wrap her head around just how enormous the differences between them are.]

Tea and coffee are served to guests a lot of times.

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

[The enormity is mostly caused by several hundred years of cultural assimilation.]

It wouldn't be anything I would know much in the way of, admittedly. I haven't had a guest over for... well. If I'm frank I can't remember ever having a guest over at all. [Robert absentmindedly runs a finger over the frame of his glasses.] Still, that would be a good thing to keep in mind if I ever make a habit of having guests over - which may indeed occur fairly often here in Luceti.

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

[She got quite a shock the first time she ever went to someone's house - Usagi's of course - and the mother teased and played with and pestered the daughter. Everyone has things they're out of their depth in.

Like this now.]

If you don't like it, it's really alright to make something else. I meant that.

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

I really do like this tea, honestly. [Robert doesn't know how to sound any more emphatic than he does; he just smiles sheepishly.] And I had been wanting to drink it again at some point anyway. Genuine tea leaves are hard to come by back home, though there are synthetic versions... Tea plantations didn't survive the Great Cleansing.

Re: [Action]

[no_use_worrying]

Then let's have some, shall we?

Re: [Action]

[semper_cogitans]

Certainly! [Robert smiles or at least he would be if I had a smiling icon for him and gets up to assist Ami in fetching the tea.] I must admit... I'm actually enjoying your company a lot.