video

[consumeation]

Thank you, those of you who helped me when I first arrived. I don't think I caught any of your names, or I would contact you personally.

[Kei looks much calmer, his hair neatly combed, every visible piece of his suit in place. That said, there's a barely detectable waver in his voice.

The use of video is very much intentional - he hadn't been in a state of mind to give his name to anyone when he'd first arrived in Aifaran, and he wants to be recognized.]

Comments

[corundrum]

I'll admit I wasn't sure what was wrong with you. I'm still not very familiar with the anatomy of soft creatures, but at least they could help in the end, huh?

[He seems a lot happier in mood than he had been last time they spoke, but something about it strikes Padparadscha as a little off. A not quite genuine smile, and a wish not to have the conversation overheard - they wonder what it is he's decided on, in the absence of that person he seemed so attached to.]

[consumeation]

"Soft creatures"... you're not human either, are you?

[It's more noticeable now in the video than it was when they'd first interacted - Kei barely even recalls the actual content of that interaction. And there's no point in concealing that he's not human from someone who saw him dissolving.]

I was dying, again. I must have been revived somehow upon arriving here, as I'm sure I was already dead where I come from.

[The smile slips, then. So much has happened, and right now even Kei can't keep up that facade long.]

[corundrum]

No. I'm a gem, but I was wondering a little about you. I'd never seen a human do what you were doing. [It was...unusual, and presumably to do with his ill state if he's not doing it anymore. Interesting, but odd.

The remark on dying explains it, though, and Padparadscha lets out a bit of a hum.]

Well well, you're lucky then, as I understand it. "Death" is supposed to be a final thing, isn't it? But you don't seem at ease.

{It's hard to miss that slip.]

[consumeation]

I'm from the planet Sturm. If I'd been left like that, I eventually would have vanished. [It doesn't seem to matter much if he says that, here. There are so many varied types of people from so many different places.]

I suppose I should feel lucky, shouldn't I. [But he doesn't, and he has far less reason to keep up the facade here than he did at home. Particularly with someone who's already seen him at his worst.]

[corundrum]

Ah, so you're from a different planet. But I don't think it makes much of a difference to the people here. [It does mean some of them are very different in anatomy and form, but just the fact of them being different doesn't seem to do much to opinions here.]

Well, you don't have to. And I think you have a reason not to when you're making a face like that.

[consumeation]

It's seemed that way so far, yes. Much as I look human, it's a pleasant change.

...Thank you. [He's dealing as best as he can, really. So much has happened in just the past week.]

[corundrum]

I'd never met a human before to be surprised how much I look like one, but it was a little funny to find out.

[Courtesy of their leader, they imagine. Their history stretches back much further than the gems themselves.]

Ah, and I didn't introduce myself last time, did I? Padparadscha.

[consumeation]

Kei Fukuide.

[He smiles slightly, a tad lopsided.]

I might not have remembered, with the state I was in. It's better we introduce ourselves now anyway.

[corundrum]

No, I'm not sure you would have. [Even Padparadscha had been able to see that with their lack of familiarity with how living creatures work and think.]

It's harder to remember things when you're broken for us as well, so I suppose that's one thing we have in common.