# video / action

[himemiya_anthy]

[There's a quiet rustle, and the blur of green gradually begins to separate into whites, blacks, browns. An eye fills the mirror, framed by a thin black rim.

Any minute now, the eye will blink.

Any minute now.]

Comments

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

Is everyone here helpful, then?

[What lovely news!]

Re: video;

[jemerite]

In... their own way, maybe.

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

[This is a definition of helpful that suits Anthy.]

I suppose that's all that anyone can ask.

[A brief pause.] I'm sorry, I haven't introduced myself. I'm Himemiya Anthy. It's nice to meet you.

Re: video;

[jemerite]

Hello, Himemiya.

[She seems to struggle with the name, but her general speech pattern is slow and deliberate, as if it takes her a bit of work to order her words just so.]

My name is Zinc. I am... not much help, but my home is open. If people need.

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

That's very kind of you.

Zinc is a nice name.

[This is as close as Anthy will get to asking: how did you end up with such a weird name. Hypocrisy: it smells like roses.]

Re: video;

[jemerite]

[She corrects herself absentmindedly,]

It's what I'm called.

[She had been born Carla, but that woman was dead.]

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

Do you have any others?

[Sometimes people have family names.

It wouldn't do to confuse her with all the other Zincs out there.]

Re: video;

[jemerite]

Not anymore.

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

[A moment's pause.]

That's too bad.

[She has no idea if it is, in fact, too bad.]

Re: video;

[jemerite]

[Zinc gives her a curious look.]

Don't worry about it.

Re: video;

[himemiya_anthy]

All right.

[Anthy is nothing if not cooperative.]

Re: video;

[jemerite]

Nice to meet you, Himemiya.

[Weeeird... but Zinc is never strictly displeased to meet any new guest.]

video / audio

[himemiya_anthy]

And you.

[Without any other warning, the screen -- well vine -- vine screen -- blanks. A few seconds later, Anthy's voice adds:]

Oh, I see ...

[Then silence.]