video/action;

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji is sitting on the front stoop of the inn, looking around at the snow. His expression, while typically neutral, also shows a combination of excitement and pensiveness. He offers a tiny smile to the video feed.]

I think Kanji and I have to take responsibility for this event. It shouldn't be bad, though. Unless someone else's memories are mixed in, this was just a nice vacation.

[He falls silent for a couple of seconds, distracted, then addresses the network again.]

Would anyone mind helping me figure out what word we lost this time? I need to write it down.

Comments

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji'll let it slide. Kind of.]

I don't know much about what's going on at home for all of you. I've just heard a little about the Metaverse and palaces.

video.

[sketchedout]

Perhaps asking Morgana would be for the best. He's something of an expert on the subject.

[ Passing the buck to Mona? Maybe. But he's usually the one to take the lead on this sort of thing anyway. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

The cat? I haven't met him yet.

[And it is imperative that he do so. Because cats.]

video.

[sketchedout]

It is extremely hard to miss him once you start looking for him. Perhaps try looking near something shiny.

[ Morgana really did like treasure . . . ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Something shiny. I'll keep that in mind.

[A beat.]

Why is it hard to miss him, though?

video.

[sketchedout]

If you can hear him, then he's very . . .

[ Loud. Opinionated. Follow the sounds of the cat cackling and you'll probably find Morgana. ]

Vocal.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Why wouldn't I be able to hear him?

[He practically has cat radar, so even that might not stop him. But still.]

video.

[sketchedout]

[ You know, that's a valid question. And it's one he could answer.

Or he could get distracted by craning his neck at the feed, briefly lifting his fingers in a framing motion as he squints, concentration deepening. It's only after a long pause — just a bit of awkward silence, really — that he seems to realize that perhaps he's waiting on some sort of response from him for . . . something? What was it, again? ]

— I'm sorry?

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[...Huh. Well that was surprising. But he can come back to the issue of Morgana in a minute.]

Did you see something interesting?

video.

[sketchedout]

My apologies. I was merely admiring the scenery.

[ From anyone else, that might sound like an excuse of some sort. From Yusuke though, it sounds genuinely sincere, like he was entranced by the feed. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[Souji glances around.]

It's pretty nice.

[He looks back at Yusuke.]

That thing you did with your hands... Are you a photographer or an artist or something?

video.

[sketchedout]

An artist, yes. You have a good eye.

[ At that, he smiles softly. ]

video.

[eatsyourscience]

[He smiles back.]

What kind of art?

video.

[sketchedout]

Painting, mostly. My aesthetic, however, is ever evolving, but that's as it should be with any artist.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Yeah That sounds about right.

I'd like to see your work someday.

video.

[sketchedout]

I'm hoping to submit a few pieces to the gallery here in time, actually. So that should be quite plausible.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

I hope you aren't here that long, but I'll still look forward to it.

[Normally that wouldn't be a positive sentiment, but in Wonderland...]

video.

[sketchedout]

Thank you. I'll be certain to let you know when they're up.

video.

[eatsyourscience]

Until then, I hope you find some good inspiration.