Return to Tokyo-D

[opening_act]

[ You step through the portal into a place where black coats your vision— a solid, glossy coating of darkness that blocks out all light. For a moment, it is as though you've been been blindfolded, and all light is lost from your reach.

The light does not return.

But colors, in impossible neon hues hew through the dark and spangle newly across your vision. The city is drenched in kaleidoscopic light, the skyscrapers spiral to the heavens. At street level, it is Tokyo. Above that, stars move out of their orbits in dizzying motions. Other forms crowd the street with you— shiloettes of people drained of all their colors like it's bled into the city instead move about, not quite tangible but still giving off body heat. Monochrome figures also move through the crowd, a few demons, and

One demon that maybe some of you will recognize? Or not?

There's a girl with big puffy pigtails in full color with a bag full of groceries slung across her shoulder, heading somewhere. ]

Comments

[opening_act]

[ her eyebrows raise higher and she smiles, amused.

she pockets the sachels of tea, apparently accepting it ]

Communications. We keep the line going with Belhor's people for keeping Tokyo-D up to date with broadcast tech.

[letgrow]

That's amazing. Is your office near here? Are you working on anything new?

[opening_act]

Not on my lunch break.

[letgrow]

....this is very bold of me, but...if I were to come by once you were off your lunch...could we talk more? Your work sounds really fascinating.

[opening_act]

[ she seems amused. ]

How about this? You make me a good cup, and we'll sit and chat. You take my time, I take yours.

[letgrow]

Very well. That's more than fair.

[opening_act]

[ she calls out to the guys to order her usual, to go, and guides Camellia into a nearby office building— looks like she had just left on her lunch break. The building is narrow, and in the elevator they're standing side-by-side. She shows a badge and gets let in, the office front-desk secretary another damned in black-and-white.

In the office breakroom, she gestures to the electric kettle and fishes out one of the tea sachets from her white blazer pocket. ]

So.

[ She says, smiling, as she pulls a chair out for herself and sits down. Her teeth are distinctly feline, as well ]

[letgrow]

[Setting the kettle for 70c since its a white tea, before looking through the cupboards for the best cup]

I'm sorry, I really couldn't help myself. Communications is interesting, so I was curious what projects you have coming up.

[opening_act]

Honestly? My main job is figuring out what the hell Belhor's people have made and then figuring out if it's any good to us. The Trangressors are a pain and a half to work with. I might as well be working with lines of code.

[letgrow]

It sounds frustrating... Ah...Trangressors?

[A properly thin tea cup is located, bringing it out of the cupboard carefully]

Do you prefer your tea sweetened?

[opening_act]

Belhor's people. Like we're Liars.

[ she taps her fingers against the table, deciding, and then nods. Yes, sweetened ] You new to this hell?

[vitainmorte]

[ sort of hovering near the cabinets where Camellia's making the tea, but at least gets down the sugar for her.

Ignoring the latter question, though. ]

Do you work with many people beyond them, or is that your main focus?

[letgrow]

[Nods in gratitude for Cypress' help, spooning the sugar in]

Do they just like being difficult?

[opening_act]

We're a comms company, but why develop what they've already got?

[ She leans back into her chair, heel tapping against the floor as her head lolls back lazily, gold wax dripping onto the floor from her eyes. ]

They're not people. Not like we are.

[letgrow]

[Setting a timer on her phone and steeping the tea]

What...are they then?

[opening_act]

Post-linguistic? Pre-linguistic? [ she raises her arms above her head, stretching, and then rolls her shoulders ]

At least the ones I work with, I know they make AIs more human than they are. But me, I'm in charge of negotiating with things that don't use words. It's a hell of a job.

[letgrow]

[Laughs at the pun, setting the tea infront of her before having a seat]

[opening_act]

[ she takes the tea in a hand, gauging if the temperature will burn her before taking a sip. ]

[letgrow]

Well? What do you think?