[video]

[swordthrowing]

[S'up, Ladygardens. Yumeko is currently inside the Spaceship — somewhere in the kitchen, most likely, from the looks of the background. On top of the counter she is standing behind, a number of sugar skulls are lined up. She glares at them. The names written on them don't bother her, but—]

"Excuse me," I begin, sounding irritated. [No, that isn't a sudden switch to first person prose. She's just...narrating her actions. For some reason.] "But could someone explain to me what the meaning of this is? I don't know how I'm expected to make adequate meals for Lady Shinki when all that's available to me are...these." I gesture toward the skulls. [And she does, fairly aggressively.]

I set my hands on my hips and sigh. [siiigh] "There's hardly any food to be seen, no matter how far out I go. And to make matters worse, after going too far, I wound up like this," I explain, placing a hand to my chest to indicate myself. I mean the fact that I can't seem to stop narrating my actions, of course. "Does anyone know what to do? It's not as though I don't have any food stored up, but I'd rather not be stingy..."

Comments

[swordthrowing]

"Hm... Well, thank you for your opinion." I nod. "Though I hope the offer won't be necessary."

[tookupthesword]

But completely expected.

[swordthrowing]

[ughhhh...]

"Do you have anything of actual value to say?" I snap!

[tookupthesword]

Well, if this is annoying you, have you tried writing instead?

[swordthrowing]

I consider. "I suppose it would be less embarrassing, but I think I would still have to narrate my actions to myself." After all, I still felt compelled to do so even when there was no one around.

[tookupthesword]

Yeah, but then no one would hear you.

[majin_fukushou]

Well it's good that I happen to like it when you're this honest about your thoughts.

[notvitiligo]

Good luck.

[loveswaffles]

Wouldn't it be better to just not talk to anybody until it goes away?

[bloomnobly]

What a lovely narration. Have you considered writing a book?

[swordthrowing]

"Thank you, I suppose. What's your name?"

[swordthrowing]

"Well, there's still Shinki-sama, but... I suppose so," I concede.

[notvitiligo]

Oh, sorry. Jessica Boyette.

What about you?

[swordthrowing]

"There's a difference between honesty and having no filter," I sigh again.

[swordthrowing]

"Most likely," I agree, "But even when I'm not speaking with anyone, I find myself narrating my actions out loud, and I still have to speak with Lady Shinki in the meantime."

[swordthrowing]

"I am not in the mood to be mocked right now," I reply sharply.

[swordthrowing]

"Yumeko." Not wanting to bow in front of a mirror, I politely incline my head instead.

[notvitiligo]

Oh, um, no bowing necessary. I'm, uh, just a regular person. (Mostly.) And American.

Good to meet you. Just Yumeko?

[swordthrowing]

"I don't know what 'American' means, but as you wish," I agree. I had only done so out of politeness to start, after all. "Yumeko is my only name, if that's what you mean to ask."

[bloomnobly]

Oh, you must have mistaken mocking for praise.

[notvitiligo]

Oh, uh, that's where I'm from. America. We... don't do a whole lot of politeness stuff.

OK, just Yumeko. Hope your food problems don't get too extreme.

[tookupthesword]

Or you could try sticking something in your mouth, so you can't speak.

[swordthrowing]

"I see. Well, I suppose I shouldn't expect otherwise from outsiders," I say, not bothering with politeness now. It's not as though I can properly filter my thoughts at the moment, anyway. [Irritation leaks into the end of that sentence.]

[swordthrowing]

[...]

Flatly, I reply, "I somehow doubt the end result would be less embarrassing."

[notvitiligo]

Yeah, pretty much.

We can, um, continue this later, when you're not having to announce what you're trying to cover for. That sounds like it's uncomfortable, to put it lightly.