First Light [Action; accidental video; video]

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[A bright, blinding light fills the gardens, emanating from the new arrivals' clearing. It is strong enough to hurt one's eyes, but it has no other ill effects. After the initial flash, the Vine starts recording, so the mirrors, too, fill up with the light as it shines and then fades.

When it has grown dim enough, a figure is revealed, lying on the ground, dressed in the familiar white shift of a newcomer. She stirs at once, leaping up. Her eyes are wide, her face distorted with alarm and confusion as she cries out.]

Wassily--!

[She is about to say something else, but the light flares again, and the Vine takes this as a sign to stop recording.

A few minutes pass, and the woman reappears, facing the mirror, dressed plainly in black. The light from before is no longer in evidence, and she can be seen clearly. She is perhaps in her early thirties, with long blond hair. She is much calmer, and smiling, though she still shows signs of strain. She seems to have become aware of her surroundings and the situation, and her concern now is for those she is addressing as she speaks in a quiet voice.]

Hello--all of you. My name is Epsilon. Are there many of you here? Are you all right?

Comments

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

[Her eyes are still kind of burning when she looks back to the vine, and sees a woman in the mirror. Respectful time.]

It's nice to meet you, Epsilon-san. My name is Hikari, and I'm doing alright.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Hello, it's very nice to meet you as well, Hikari. [She smiles.]

I'm so glad you're all right. This place is certainly--unusual. I was surprised to find myself here.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

[looks a little bemused and embarrassed at that. more than usual, since she's coming down from Strawberry Creme, and is freaked out by the feelings.]

Yes, well, this is a definitely unusual place to be. It's called the Gardens.

Um, if you mind me asking, did you see a blinding light a couple of minutes ago?

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

Yes, I've been reading about it. It's quite unlike anywhere else I've seen.

Oh, and I apologize. That was my entirely my fault. I was taken from--where I was--by surprise. I had no idea the light was being transmitted.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Oh, I see.

[the second part she did see since her eyes hurt, but not the fact Epsilon made it. SURPRISE.]

You did that, Epsilon-san? Wh- How did you-?

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[She nods, still smiling. She's used to being recognized, but since Hikari doesn't know who she is, it's not surprising that she might mistake her for another human.]

I'm a light-powered robot. I can emit light, if necessary. Though I usually don't make it so bright if there are others around, so you don't have to worry about that happening again.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

[Robot? Oh my-]

You're a- robot... [Pauses, her hand on her mouth and looking off to the side. She relaxes after a little while.]

I apologize, I've never seen a robot... that looked so human before.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

[She takes a moment to consider that. Humanlike robots are a relatively recent technological development, but everyone in the world--her world--is familiar with them.]

You must be from somewhere very different from my home.

That's all right, Hikari. No need to apologize. I imagine it would be confusing, if you haven't seen robots like me before.

Where are you from, if you don't mind me asking?

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Oh... Okay. There are honestly lots of things I haven't seen before I came here.

[Her eyes widen a little when she asks that question, but she smiles, even if it seems a hint of sadness is present.]

I'm from Earth. Tokyo-3, Japan, to be exact.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

I feel much the same as you do. There are so many things here that are unfamiliar to me.

[She nods.] I thought you might be from Japan, because of your use of the honorific. But it sounds like it's a very different Japan from the one I know. I know Tokyo, but not Tokyo-3.

I'm from Earth, as well. Australia.

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I haven't really met that many people that have a Tokyo-3 in their world. Besides the few that used to be here from my world.

[blinks at that.]

Wow, Australia... That really isn't a livable place for people, in my world.

[lovelikelight.livejournal.com]

There were others here, from your world?

Australia is where I was made. I've always loved living there. It's difficult for me imagine it being uninhabitable. [No, she can imagine that, very easily, but she doesn't wish to. She also doesn't wish to touch on a possibly painful subject, so she does not press for more information about that aspect of Hikari's world.]

[orderlybento.livejournal.com]

Mm, my classmates were here once. One of them is my best friend.

I guess that's another way our worlds are different from each other. Australia sounds like home for you, to me.