Aliens being Aliens

[not_a_prize]

[1]

[Many many things have been happening over the past few days and Peola's a little overwhelmed by it despite not having been personally there for any of the occurrences. Kagura was no longer dead... sort of, a god was killed and a moon had been prevented from falling to the Earth. She really did admire just how much everyone had done...]

-YOU LOSE! PLAYER 2 IS THE WINNER.-

[But with her being off the mission roster for a while she's been spending time with her sister when not on guard duty or training or otherwise being indisposed. Ourania was still under observation but Peola did find a few things to bring in that her fellow security guards figured might help things along. The siblings had literally let their hair down and were bonding by beating the everloving crap out of each other on a screen.]



"... You're really bad at this Peola."

Well I never really ever tried any of these 'video games' before... but it means we can learn together right?"

[Ourania simply rolled her eyes, something of a tiny smirk creeping onto her face.]

"I tried a few of them while I was on Star Rose. I was quite good actually. If anything I should be teaching you."

...What.

"If you're trying to make me feel better though... its working. So I guess you won. A little."

[Peola was so caught off guard by this that she didn't even notice you entering the room. Her sister did though and simply regarded you curiously before giving Peola a shove that had her fall over to regard your feet - upside down - from the vantage point that's the floor. The older princess simply waves at you from where she is.]

Wha- Oh..Hey! When did you get here?

"Are you here to ask me to do something too since the others are? I know this isn't an inn or a prison."

[2]

(a)


"Thank you for your hard work. I really hope you enjoy your meal!"

[Monika offers the person she just doled out a meal to at the mess hall a shy but clear smile and inclining her head politely. She didn't have to of course but if anything she felt that people really did need to be appreciated for the things they do. Having people actually thank her sincerely and being happy for her presence... truly happy did things for the young woman's confidence, even if it was a seemingly minor role.]

(b)


[Salwah on the other hand was awkwardly messing with her own meal. She's had a few incidents here and there. Even if she did prove herself in some combat drills and simulations she was still getting used to Earth technology and more than often tripped herself up with things. Suffice to say Peola wasn't the only one who made a mistake with the bathrooms. She returns a wave to Monika when she is seen by her friend but otherwise she makes a preference to currently find a nice quiet corner in the mess hall such as it is to stew in her embarrassment.]

[Talk with one of them?]

Comments

1

[stupidhonor]

Ah!

[The knight jumps slightly, her presence discovered.]

I was not sneaking, I merely meant to observe...

[not_a_prize]

You can come in if you want. It'll probably be easier to watch if you're sitting down instead of standing in a doorway.



"...So you want to have an audience when I beat you again Peola?"

I'm a fast learner little sister. You aren't going to get the best of me again.

[Ourania doesn't mention that Peola said it three times already, instead planning to wait for the numbers to build up first. The younger princess regards Sielje curiously.]

"You aren't a local are you?"

1

[actuallyselfish]

"Ooh!" Dido says, poking her head in. "Super Slash Magnum! I love that game!"

She plops down by Peola and Ourania. "Mind if I wrangle a controller?"

[not_a_prize]

"Go ahead... if anything you might be able to save my sister from the complete humiliation of me gaining four perfect victories."

[Peola just hangs her head in embarrassment at that.]



Well I almost got a hit on you one time.

[actuallyselfish]

"You gotta remember to block, Peola," Dido says flippantly, calling up an evil, spikey character with the cursed sword, and awaiting the start of the match.

"I always wondered," she asks Ourania. "What sort of games do you have on Magnolys?"

[not_a_prize]

[Peola true to form chose the unarmed powerhouse, while her sister picked the rather silly looking joke character.]

I know how to block! She always manages to find a way around it!



"Nothing like this. Most noble children tend to stop playing and try to do other things whenever I'm around so I don't have much of a clue. I mostly just irritated and pranked people."

[And not long after the level and character introduction Peola is rushing right at her sister, only for Ourania to jump right over the charging attack to retaliate with what essentially amounted to a shove... which was enough to trigger a ring out and a very loud splash as the battlefield was a giant raft, leaving Dido and Ourania as the sole combatants until the start of the next round.]

OH COME ON!

[stupidhonor]

No... no I am not. How were you able to...?

[Sielje walks in forward, glancing towards the game.]

What is this?

[not_a_prize]

"Its a 'Video Game'. We give instructions to the images on the screen and they act."

[And the moment the next round starts Ourania is rapidly overwhelming Peola's character with exceedingly casual presses at her controller.]



I'm not going to lose this-

[And then she's thrown out of the ring.]

-time... you really like doing that don't you.

"Yes. Yes I do. As for your other question. Call it a talent."

Everyone on Magnolys can sense emotions... though its not a perfect ability. A person can get distracted or confused enough for them not to pick up on anything.

[Ourania's next statement was rather deadpan.]

"Or maybe they just tend to be too dense sometimes."

[stupidhonor]

Sense emotions... it is as if secrets of other peoples' hearts lied open in front of you.

[Sielje is not sure if she likes the sound of this.]

So these are like a simulator. I see.

[not_a_prize]

Not really...

[Peola gives her little sister a bit of an apologetic look. The blonde pretends not to notice.]

People aren't really books to be read. Unless an emotion's been put out with great intensity the most we can feel is what's on the surface... anything deeper needs contact and even then its difficult.



"'Like' is a word for it. Like a songbird is to a hunting bird."

[stupidhonor]

Still... in the heat of a challenge, an emotion can be read. And with it, your opponent's intent.

I see now. By doing this, you practice your ability to read the foe in battle.

[not_a_prize]

That isn't- I mean that's actually a really good idea for training! I was just doing this to try spend time with my sister but that's a good thing too!



[Ourania lets out a scoff here.]

"Well that's one benefit for us really."

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje just nods, looking serious... and rather happy with herself, too.]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido sticks her tongue out. "Betcha that wouldn't have happened if you blocked," she said.

She attacks Ourania with long, swinging strikes from her character's demon sword. "Rah!"

[not_a_prize]

... Uuuugh... okay. Lets see you do it then.



"I'm sorry, but I think its time I un-rah-velled your attack."

[Ourania's character jogs and flails away from the swings before running and tripping at the slashing spiky evil dude!]

[actuallyselfish]

Dido's bad-guy character gets knocked down and frantically rolls away. "Oh-yeah?" Dido says. "Well I'm gonna send you on a trip...to the sky!"

She does a wakeup attack involving a rising crescent slash, launching Ourania into the air.

"So you were a prank-iando," Dido wonders aloud. "What was the coolest prank you ever pulled? And did it involve whipped cream?"

[not_a_prize]

...Pranknado is more like it... I swear the servants in the palace start to go on their tip toes if Ourania's been in a room for more than three minutes.



"Please... I'd need five at most for something for them to really be scared of."

[Ourania's character flails in the air before trying to recover. Her character fumbles it due to their nature and makes a dent in the raft.]

"Whipped cream and dessert pranks are for when I feel like doing uncomplicated things. As for my best... well... Father was quite surprised when the court he called was adjourned quickly due hordes of spiders suddenly appearing under the seats of all the major guildmasters and nobles."

[There was a grin on her lips as she said it.]

2-B

[a_monetized_mind]

[You gonna get sat next to.]

Hey Salwah. What's up?

[not_a_prize]

"...Its really weird. Earth is weird... I'm glad Monika's happier now but its like she switched places with me. She knows what she's doing more than I do!"

[a_monetized_mind]

Hmmm...

...Maybe she's just less worried about messing up.

[not_a_prize]

"That's-"

[That would actually make a lot of sense. With the fact that its not a life or death situation and she doesn't have to impress anyone Monika would have much less weight on her shoulders. Making it easier for her to adapt.]

"... Maybe. I'm just not used to being the one out of their depth with the two of us.

[a_monetized_mind]

Well, it'll take some getting used to. But I think you'll do fine.

[not_a_prize]

"...Thanks. I know that we didn't really meet on the best terms and... our last talk was embarassing... but I really appreciate it."

[Salwah takes a deep breath and sighs, finally getting around to eating her meal and muttering to herself softly.]

_{"Really helps you're kinda beautiful... why'd you have to be..."}

[Her cheeks flush scarlet.]

[a_monetized_mind]

Yeah, that was...not great.

[Jen picks at her food quietly as well, until she notices Salwah mumbling.]



-Oh? What was that? I'm afraid you'll have to speak up more if you want to be heard.

[not_a_prize]

[Well Jen, you're about to be treated to a side effect of a species having empathic abilities. Far too much honesty. Salwah bites the inside of her lip before quickly rushing the words out.]

"I said it really helps that you're kinda beautiful. I mean we already agreed to not say anything about what you do in your own time but its in my brain and it really makes it hard to talk to you! I don't know how the Princess and Monika can manage!"

[The scarred young woman gesticulates wildly with her utensils, that radiant blush on her face still present.]

[a_monetized_mind]

...You know, if I didn't know better, that almost sounds like you're trying to flirt with me.

[not_a_prize]

"F.. Flirting?! I'm not doing that! You're the one flirting!"

[Except that makes no sense at all seeing as Jen had yet to say anything that can be construed as flirting.]

"I mean being like that you've probably flirted with everyone here once and thought about... things!"

[a_monetized_mind]

[A sigh from Jen.]

...You know, I'd appreciate it if you didn't talk about me like that...

[not_a_prize]

"Well... "

[Salwah isn't sure how to counter and simply sighs, returning her attention to her meal.]

[a_monetized_mind]

Well, what.

[Definitely not getting away that easy.]

[not_a_prize]

"Well I just-... ugh... I don't know. Its weird..."

[actuallyselfish]

"Whew," Dido says, colored impressed. "That's leagues beyond what my bro and sis did...and they once bribed private security to tag me with laser pointers from the skyscraper across the way..."

Dido's character rushdowns her way in, trying to coup-de-grace Ourania's avatar off the raft with a stomping kick!

"Hopefully this doesn't offend you," Dido says suddenly. "But it sounds liek you're father was kind of a neglectful butthead..."

[not_a_prize]

"He's a good king... and a terrible father. Simple as that."

[Ourania has her character roll away... which incidentally due to her landing ended with Dido breaking the raft and all but sending all parties involved into the drink.]

-RING OUT. DRAW.-

"As for your siblings... they're rather incompetent and lazy. No offense meant. Better to annoy others with your own work rather than have someone else do it for you. Takes the fun out of it."

[Peola mumbles something along the lines of "Please don't have her start an interplanetary prank war Dido."]

[a_monetized_mind]

Right, well, sorry for subjecting you to my weirdness.

[Jen takes that food tray and storms on off-stopping only for a moment.]

Oh, and, though it's not like you'd know, the number of people I've flirted with here can be counted on one hand. So thanks for assuming I'm some kind of sexual predator.

[actuallyselfish]

"Keep in mind contract killers have gone after my family from time to time, and you'll understand why those laser dots made me nervous..." Dido points out.

"But let's not talk about family!" She adds, adjusting her controller grip. "Not when they're so far away...let's talk about how I'm gonna BUST YOU BOTH in the next round!"

As the stage resets, Dido's demon swordsman swings it's jagged rusty blade around. "Tremble in the Fear... of my Abyss!" It proclaims.

How do the Nefless sisters respond to this challenge?

[not_a_prize]

... You know its probably not a good idea to play this game around Mizuki.

[Peola glances at her sister.]

Truce?



"... Well... Alright."

[Ourania has a small grin on her face as both sisters characters rush the demon swordsman, Ourania's jester leaping into the air and flapping his arms like a bird as he seeks to divebomb Dido's character while Peola just settles for an outright charge!]