video - no melody will soothe this outrage

[digophelia]

[ Here is Alice. Here is Alice trying to tune her lute and after a few strokes, Alice manages to remember a melody. ]

Ah, it surprises me, even now, I remember how to play it. It's been a few months.

[ It does sound a bit better after she's tuned it a few times. Maybe it was that out of tune? ]

And how the piano lessons I had as little girl have never really faded away. String or piano, music notes and scales are hard to forget. It's odd to think how much I used to loathe piano lessons as a little girl.

[ That's fine. Alice treasures them more as an adult, now. Especially this lute. ]

I recall some faces here in Osaka, but others... not so much. I do hope some of you have stayed out of some trouble, yes? I'm certain that some of you are already dreading the inevitable fussing from me.

Tell me, then, if you remember me... what did I miss?

[ That's her strange way of saying she misses some of you. ]

Comments

[assent]

That is true, it seems every place has something new. Though that is quite lucky, I would say.

[ Though the way she finishes that has Sonia tilting her head. ] Unless... "in a way"...?

[digophelia]

Well, it was another world.

[ She starts off slow, wincing as she recalls the details of the fireballs crashing into earth and how she was so frightened by it, she decided to hide behind Koltira's ice shield. ]

It was... how did they put it? A false reality. To test us.

[assent]

[ Her head tilts slightly at that, a little confused and also a little afraid to hear of what the answer may be. ]

A false reality...? Like a training program or something else?

[digophelia]

To my understanding, yes, that is what it was intended to be. They wanted to see how we worked together as teams.

[assent]

I see. While it may have been problematic, how did the teams work together?

[ She's mostly asking because she's had mixed opinions on this. ]

[digophelia]

Somewhat begrudgingly, I suppose. We're not always bound to agree and there have been a few instances some of our impulsive actions have caused more harm than good. I agree that we need to work together, but that was a bit much.

There are children among us, it's unfair to subject them to such a cruel environment.

[assent]

I suppose that makes sense. Many here seem to be the "lone bear" [ she means lone wolf... ] type so they may struggle with that concept.

Also that.

[ It's an offhand thing for her though, because it's easy for her to forget that not many children have her country's style of upbringing where elementary kids are taught a course on warfare. Sweats. ]

[digophelia]

Ah- [ She's about to point that out. ] That may be true and, sometimes, for good reason. Then again, we have some people who don't always mean well.

[assent]

I have not met many of those, but I have heard in passing.

[ That or she's just too naive to notice tbh. ]

[digophelia]

So, then it means that you've managed to stay out of trouble.

[assent]

I suppose you are correct. [ Her smile strains slightly. ] I do not recall having any problems outside of the expected, anyway.