caughtinanetwork | eins # video

[Appearing on screen is a redheaded teen, eyebrows drawn in frustration. Still, there's not the outrage that could be coming from her, which is better for all around. She's also gotten herself some regular clothes by now, meaning she's not in the plugsuit she arrived in.]

Since I haven't found a way back yet and whoever's in charge is too cowardly to contact me, I guess I should ask some questions for the time I'm here. It's January here, right? How am I supposed to count that? It wasn't even my birthday yet in my world, but you're all convinced that's the right date here, so am I just supposed to count myself older? Some birthday, in that case.

But more importantly.

[She crosses her arms, expression turning sterner.]

How does time works outside this place? Someone tried to tell me it stops while I'm here, but her story was so sketchy that I don't know if I can believe her. It would be better if it were true, but I'm not going to buy into it just based off my own hope. I'm not that kind of idiot, so if you're going to try to explain it one way or another, you better have backup!

And one last thing: I've looked through the list of names on this thing and I don't see anyone I know. I haven't seen them around town either, and while First is so quiet I wouldn't be surprised if I missed her, I probably would have spotted someone by now otherwise.

[Not all she has in mind are faces she'd want to see, but that's a little beside the point right now.]

But that's it. If you have information, I'm listening, but otherwise don't bother me. I don't have time for idiots, you understand?

[And with that, the video ends.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Angels. You know, the prissy, love-preaching idiots from Celestia? Or "Heaven," whatever you humans are calling it these days.

That's not even close to how it is where I'm from.

[By contrast, that sounds downright bizarre. Or okay, maybe not in light of the cheerier religious image some hold, but that's a different subject.]I've seen are big, horrifying monsters who want to destroy mankind. They don't preach about love, or about anything, because they're beyond all communication and reason.

...

And some genius decided to call them angels?

[She frowns.]

I'm not the one who decided on the name. There's probably a reason there somewhere, but that's not the important part as far as I care.

Right, well. [Laharl waves a hand dismissively.]

I'm sure I could beat the crap out of your "angels," too.

[And the frown morphs in a smug smile.]

I'd like to see you try. Not that you could when they aren't even here, but it takes more than a little guts and bravado to defeat them.

I'd be happy to give you a demonstration, but I might kill you by accident. It's tough going easy enough for a human.

What are you, stupid? I'm not going to fight you. I have no reason to. The battles I fight are at home, to defeat the Angels, not to let some kid who says he's a demon show off to me.

So you're telling me you don't enjoy it.

What I enjoy fighting is Angels, because I'm doing something great then. I'm not some moron who just throws her life on the line to challenge all comers. If I'm going to risk it, it's going to be to defeat real threats.

[Laharl's expression is skeptical, but whatever. Humans kid themselves like that.]

I could say I was planning on invading Earth. That'd be more of a threat than your angels.

[And she looks skeptical right back. Who cares about his doubt? She knows what she's capable of.]

I doubt it. You don't even know what the Angels from my world look like, what powers they have, or how strong they are. I can tell you already you're way too small to take one on, and that's just judging by scale.

[He's not doubting her ability, actually. He's doubting her reasons for fighting.]

Quit judging by appearances. I've defeated demons whose toes were bigger than me.

Besides, if you can beat them, how tough can they be?

[In that case he'd be right to, but she's not about to explain the whole issue. The topic's drifting away, anyhow.]

Most of the ones I've fought look so strange they don't even have toes. I'm not talking weirdos like you, I'm talking about otherworldly monsters from who knows where. They defy sense and logic, and it's pointless to even try to speculate why they're attacking.

Besides, conventional weapons don't work against them. You don't think I fight them just like this, do you? They take the right kind of tool, the sort of weapon that's been designed from the ground up to nullify their strengths and withstand all attacks and environments. They're mankind's greatest achievement, and even then, only certain people can use them.

You're not talking about giant robots, are you? This is starting to sound like one of Flonne's animes...

[Asuka blinks, stares for a moment, then speaks again.]

Yeah, actually.

[Barring some technicalities, but she hardly knows the full secrets of the Evangelions.]

Have they destroyed Tokyo or New York yet?

An Angel didn't attack it directly or anything, but Old Tokyo's been mostly flooded for years. Tokyo-3's been built to withstand battles, and Tokyo-2 hasn't been hit by anything. Why?

Edited 2013-01-15 17:01 (UTC)

I just think it's funny your world's working like some Japanese monster movie.

[She frowns pretty sternly at that.]

It's not some monster movie; it's my actual life. One that I want to get back to as soon as I find out how. And until then, that's why I'm asking about how time works between here and there.

Sure.

I probably wouldn't help you get back if I could, but if you're ever itching for a fight, let me know.

I already told you, it's not going to happen. Go bother someone else if you want to fight so much. I'm sure someone around here is hotheaded enough to take the challenge.

And I wouldn't need your help even if you were offering any. I'll find my own way back, just to show that I can.

We'll see how long that lasts.

[She waves a hand.]

Is that all you have to say? I don't need any confidence from you to begin with, so if you're done talking, hurry up and shoo.

[...wow, that's a lot like how he ends conversations.]

Hmph. I'll catch you later, brat.

[Video]

antabaka - 2013-01-15 17:43 (UTC) - Expand