second petal.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

[ video ]

[The mirror opens on a pink-haired girl, standing in a clearing and fidgeting a little awkwardly with her hands. She hurriedly sets them at her side, straightens her shoulders, looks into the mirror, and begins to speak, her eyes shining with determination.]

Everyone, this is Estelle, and I'd like to offer the services of the guild Brave Vesperia. One of its members, Yuri Lowell, has arrived in the Gardens, and he...um, she will take care of your problems. I know Yuri, and--if anyone can find the Queen and convince her to send us all home, it's him! I mean...her.

Thank you very much for listening to me! Please rely on us, and we'll all be home soon.

[She turns slightly and starts to gesture for the Vine to stop recording, then pauses, a faintly guilty expression on her face.]

Yuri...maybe I should have asked her first...

[She hurriedly gestures to close the feed, and the mirror goes blank.]

Comments

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

So I guess you are no longer alone then.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Yes, that's right. Even if she isn't exactly the Yuri I remember...she's still Yuri.

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

Oh yes, let me guess, the Yuri from your world is a male?

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Yes...but she says her Estelle is male! It's very strange.

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

My my. That makes....I suppose two pairs of this sort of alternate world. I wonder if we'll get any more.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

I don't think we need to worry about it, since Yuri will take care of the Queen for us.

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

Yes yes, her and everyone else.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

That's right. Together, we'll solve the mystery of this realm and return to our homes!

[She seems quite oblivious to the sarcasm.]

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

How optimistic.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

I can't just give up. There's too much I still need to learn.

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

Learn what?

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Everything about myself. Who I am. Why...

A monster that spoke told me that--he told me something. I need to find out what it means.

[border-phantasm.livejournal.com]

I thought you said you were a princess. Don't tell me there's more too it...

[mnementomori]

[she puzzles over what to say for a moment, then finally speaks up.]

You really think we'll be allowed to leave?

And, um...what's a guild?

1/2

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

We have to be. We all have purposes to fulfill in our own worlds...even if we don't know what they are yet.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

"The guilds are formed to unite craftspeople, merchants, adventurers, or any other group of individuals with a common interest. They form their own authority and police their own ranks, free from the interference of the Empire."

[mnementomori]

What if...that purpose is over and done with?

[so like the Organization, as far as she can tell. Though she's not sure what "the Empire" is. Of course, this Brave Vesperia's intentions seemed much less self serving.]

Oh. Thanks for explaining.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Is that possible?

I mean--I suppose people's purposes do have to end...

[But it sounds like it's news to her.]

[mnementomori]

[did she say too much? What to do...]

Not that things can't happen after that purpose, but...I-I guess I just meant, it's good for the people who want to go home. But I don't know if everyone does.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Oh...

I didn't stop to think--maybe it would be more complicated. I'm sorry.

[mnementomori]

[she shakes her head hastily.]

You don't have to apologize. I think it's great that you're trying so hard to get everyone home.

[protect-em-all.livejournal.com]

You have a friend from home here now? That's great!

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Yes! Although...she is a little different...

[Cue awkward glance down at her chest.]

But it doesn't really matter. In the important ways, she's the same.

[protect-em-all.livejournal.com]

Sooo, what's this guild thing you're a part of?

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

I'm not actually a part of Brave Vesperia. I'm not sure I could join a guild, since I'm one of the candidates for the Imperial throne, and--

Um...I haven't decided yet...

[protect-em-all.livejournal.com]

...Oh, sorry. I guess it's harder to be a princess than I know. But, um, anyway. What does it do?

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

The Yuri you knew was male, wasn't he.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Yes...

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

Ta madeba! Choubaioxi er bi Queen of Hearts...

What about you? Did the Yuri here remember you as female, or what?

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

She remembers me as a man...and with everyone else we both knew, it's the same way. They're the opposite.

[hotshot-momma.livejournal.com]

It occurs to me that this is the least disturbing explanation for why someone you knew to be male is female here.

[that-one-guitar.livejournal.com]

Oh, you must be that friend Yuri-san mentioned! Which would mean...

[This must be what she meant by "special," because Iwasawa can't imagine this girl being a guy in any universe.]

...Er, anyway, what kind of problems, exactly?

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

He mentioned--oh! I mean, she mentioned me? I didn't realize...

[Looking faintly flustered for a moment there!]

Any problems! Especially injustices. Brave Vesperia fights injustice.

[that-one-guitar.livejournal.com]

[Okay. She's sorry, she really is, but she has to stifle a slight chuckle, what with Estelle sounding like she's trying to be a character in a shounen manga.]

Injustice, huh? You guys some sort of superheroes, then?

[bouncierthan.livejournal.com]

--huh, didn't expect the free publicity.

[readitinabook.livejournal.com]

Yuri!

[Commence awkward staring.]

[bouncierthan.livejournal.com]

Thanks for all the confidence.