entranceway | video/action;

Entry tags:

video/action;

[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.

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[ Stefan scoots over when he sees Souji, and hands over that journal and ballpoint pen with zero hesitation. ]

Yeah, sure. [ There's nothing personal in this journal, anyway (so far). ] What're you gonna try?

I want to see if I can write it.

[There are two ways he can do this: try to replicate what he sees and have Stefan spell it out and write it letter by letter. He chooses the former for the moment. Frowning, he starts to draw what the words look like to him--an odd combination of squiggles, blurs, and random characters. When he finishes, what Stefan will see is the correct words--"ghost story"--though they look a bit like a five-year-old wrote them. Souji still sees the scribbledy-gook, though.

He holds the journal out for Stefan to see.]

What does that look like?

[ Whoa. Even without the memory, the word's still moderately legible. ]

It looks like the word. [ A child's version of it, anyway. Stefan tilts his head. ] Is this what it looks like to you?

...It's a weird combination of things. But it's definitely not words.

[He taps the paper with the end of the pen on the page before looking up again.]

There's something else I want to try. Can you slowly spell it for me?

That's pretty thorough of Wonderland. [ But also a good indication of the magic at work, if it can even steal the concept of a word. ] And of course.

[ He nods, spelling it out letter by letter – or character by character, depending on how Souji hears it. ]

[Wonderland is nothing if not thorough about it's odd ways of tormenting people.

Souji writes down what Stefan spells out. The letters look normal at first, but then seem to blur in front of his eyes as they form words and by the time he's done, he's having to trace things out by memory because he can't see what he's writing done. The end product is legible--to anyone but Souji--though it gets pretty wobbly toward the end.

When he finishes, he holds it out to show Stefan.]

That looks like the word too. [ Which fascinates him, considering how the word seems to be wiped from Souji's memory altogether. ] So if you were forced to, you probably could re-create other words too.

Like um, that word for clothing from your home country?

[Souji nods. He's not sure how heartening this is, but it's definitely something to take note of.]

It would probably work, if this did. [He nods at the words on the notebook in his hand.] Do you know that word?

[He knows it's a Japanese word, at least, so he doesn't really expect Stefan or any non-Japanese person to know it.]

I'm sorry, I don't. I didn't spend that much time in Japan back home.

[ As well traveled as Stefan is, some things have still escaped his worldview. He knows what kimonos are, and he might know a yukata if he's pressed, but nothing beyond the two. ]

You'd be better off asking someone else.

Yeah. I know a couple people who know, so I'll ask them to try it.

[Souji hands the notebook and pen over and offers a smile.]

Thanks for this.

No problem. [ Stefan accepts the journal, setting it aside. ] I'm Stefan, by the way.

Sorry, uh - I should've lead with that.

[Souji shakes his head at the apology.]

I could have done that, too, so no worries.

I'm Souji.

It's nice to meet you, Sou -

[ Hold on. Stefan grins, sitting up a little straighter as he holds out his hand. ]

Wait. Do you, by any chance, know a guy named Minato?

[Souji blinks and pauses as he takes Stefan's hand.]

Yeah. We're close.

Huh. Sorry, um – he's talked about you a couple of times. All good things, I promise.

[ But Stefan's positively beaming now. ]

Anyway. Um, I hope that helped you?

[Souji is admittedly surprised by that reaction, but it certainly doesn't bother him, and he smiles back.]

Definitely. I think this is going to be pretty useful.

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