[005: Video]

[fuckinghysterical]

[No Octopus suit for you this time, Tranquility. Instead, LB is in her typical silver plug suit looking down at the communicator, set on her bed. Hell yes, she was bored, but at this point, she was smart enough to not explore very far without supervision -- and supervision would make it all pointless anyway.

But hey, it's been a while since she's said anything on the network anyway -- odd, considering she felt more at ease on the network than dealing directly with people -- might as well have a little fun with it.]

Heheheh... so I've been here probably about a year? [Because with everyone apparently missing a jump, who knows how much time had really passed.] But I still never really get used to how peaceful this place is, compared to where I came from.

[Yes, really.]

That got me thinking, though. In my world, nearly every soldier was named after an animal their superiors felt represented them. Like -- eheheh -- someone who was swift and efficient might be called "Eagle" or someone who eats a lot would be called "Pig". Or if you were a really useful, sometimes they'd add something you're famous for before your title. Like, uh, Sniper Wolf and Vulcan Raven were legendary soldiers, were I was from. And me? I somehow got two with Laughing Octopus and Laughing Beauty.

[Her shoulders raise up in a shrug.] Don't ask me why they thought the second name was necessary -- eeheehee -- I'm not really sure myself.

But, anyway! If you had to choose your own name, what do you think they'd choose for you?

[LB sometimes liked to think of names for other people she knew, but she might as well open the floor to everyone else; get to know more people in the process.]

Comments

[thebreakingwave]

It's not your fault. I've been thinking about it a lot lately and whether or not I'm just too sensitive.

[fuckinghysterical]

Do you think you're too sensitive? Because that's all that probably really matters.

[thebreakingwave]

Not really? I think I went through a strange time and I...well, I should be allowed to be unhappy about it. I've tried, but I can't just ignore it or turn it off.

[fuckinghysterical]

No one can tell you how to fell -- heheh -- but sometimes you just have to smile through it to convince people that you're happier than you actually are. Heheheh...

[She shrugs, demonstrating one of these particular kinds of smiles. Of course, this kind of thing was naturally easier for her.]

[thebreakingwave]

I've more than enough practice grinning and bearing, but it's really good to, I don't know, hear that it's a common thing to do.

[He's smiling, but it's a bit lopsided and weaker than it could be.]

[fuckinghysterical]

I can't say what's common or not, to be honest. Heeheehee -- before coming to this place, I was traveling from battlefield to battlefield.

I, ah, wouldn't take my word on these kinds of things.

[thebreakingwave]

Before I came here, I'd've said that's common as well, but I'm starting to realize that the battlefield isn't normal for everyone.

[fuckinghysterical]

It took me a long time to realize that about other people here as well. Heeheehee -- they're kind of at a disadvantage, aren't they?

[A sigh passes, followed by another forced smile.] But I'm still a little envious, in a way.

[thebreakingwave]

[He rechecks that this conversation is locked. Anyone with basic decryption skills could open and read it, but he feels better knowing that it's not instantly visible for everyone to see.]

I feel the same way. I wonder if the people who grew up without war are ever envious of what we can do or survive.

[fuckinghysterical]

[She still hadn't revealed anything too personal, so she wasn't as worried about people hacking into this. Still, better safe than sorry.]

Given how anti-violence a lot of people are here? Eheheh? I wouldn't think so.

[thebreakingwave]

Their loss.

[His smile is lop-sided, but sincere.]

We know we can survive.