[Audio]

[sakedrinking]

... its on.

Wh-huh? Oh! U-um... I-I have no idea what to say...

I already told you. Introduce yourself.

... are you sure this isn't just some odd dream? Maybe I hit my head back there.

Positive! *inaudible grumbling*

U... um... I'm... Haku... Yowane. Haku Yowane. H-hello. I'm... new... here I guess? Uh. I was kind of hoping maybe... some one's seen my siblings? I was with Neru, my sister... a-and my little brother and sister wandered off to explore the coast-

You're not near a coast anymore, in case you failed to notice.

*silence*

... Haku?

... I need a drink...

Comments

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

Huuuh... w-wait! Um... c-can you explain to me what's going on? And... shot in the dark, but h-have you seen my siblings by any chance?

I thought I did a pretty good job of explaining...

Well... you didn't.

... you're rather infuriating for a cyborg.

Shush! *whine, sniffle. she's started crying* If you're not going to help me then go away!

Oh for crying- *SIGH* Alright. Here. These are her siblings. Just answer her question so we can get on with things...

*shuffling sounds*

[Attached: 'Family' photo of the Vocaloids.]

How'd you...

... you're also not very smart for a cyborg.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

I haven't seen them, but I've been in a coma for the past month. You'll have better luck asking someone else.

Yggdrasil, a pathetic excuse of a worldtree-cum-digital-god, chose to rope in random samplings of people from multiple universes to play cannon fodder and toy soldiers in its war with the Demon Lords. The Demon Lords, not to be outdone, sometimes take these toy soldiers, slap Seals on them, and sometimes get them to do their bidding.

Thus, welcome to hell. You've been forced into a war by a power none of us can hope to find access to. If you're lucky, you'll find a support network to help you settle in and back you up.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

[And cue the nervous breakdown]

Wh... what?! I've been pulled in to WHAT?!

And that was the sound of her brain breaking. Nice job Captain Tactless. I was trying to break her in to this GENTLY.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

As much as I dislike encouraging people into lives of sin, take a few sips of sake, it will help.

People do build up relatively stable lives here, all things considered. Maybe you'll be luckier than I was.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

B-but... my brothers and sisters... *sobs, hiccups*

They'll either be here or they won't. Either way, you still have to look out for yourself for now. And if you don't calm down that's not going to happen. *sound of bottle being pushed closer* Go on. Don't decline a perfectly good gift.

*there's a bit of quiet sniffling, but apparently she does as she was told because when she speaks again she's a bit more composed*

Okay. So... I-I... guess... what do I do now? Any suggestions? ... besides drinking. I can do that well enough on my own.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

You find a place to stay, perhaps a job. If you're lucky, you'll fall into a group of friends.

I recommend Neon City's Hyperion Inn for the long run, it's owned by a friendly fellow named Lorne. In the short term, there are a few rooms at Axoryi's hospital not in immediate use. I can have it arranged so that you're at least looked to for a couple of days.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

I-I don't... what if... nng...

This isn't working, chief. She's about three seconds from cracking. I haven't seen a reaction this bad in... a long damn time.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

Better to have it out and over with rather than let it fest while you still can, I think.

Shall I tell you a tale?

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

... I'm not sure it'll be good for her, coming from you. But shoot.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

Heh, well, you can screen it, then.

Once upon a time, there was a little boy who got lost trying to find his younger brother. He looked all over town for him, but had no luck. He looked for hours, until eventually he was so tired that he retreated to the temple to rest. By the time the afternoon came along, he was napping at the central altar. Then, suddenly, the temple doors opened and Buddha, clad in light, led his little brother to him. Buddha disappeared, but the boy's brother was still very much there.

Faith manages.

1/2

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

*quiet*

Oi. Haku.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

*sniffles, mumbles something that doesn't quite get caught by the microphone, but after another second passes she hiccups again*

Th... thank you... sorry I yelled earlier...

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

People yell at me all the time. I'm really quite used to it.

No matter, though.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

... you don't seem... horrible. I mean that was a little jarring, the way you explained it. But you gave me sake. Can't be all bad.

... so liquor really is the answer to all your problems?

... maybe. What's it matter if it is?

*sigh* Some help this one's gonna be...

HEY! I am perfectly capable of... doing... things!

...

(this is him being completely and utterly deadpan)

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

Don't be fooled, I'm really a horrible ogre who eats the bones of little children.

I think there's still a kid I delivered in Africa, given my name, who apparently exists as a testimony to this.

Re: (this is him being completely and utterly deadpan)

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

...

*nervous laugh* That can't be true. ... *hisses, apparently to Phasco* Can it?

No. He just likes being a jerk. You'll get used to it.

Re: (this is him being completely and utterly deadpan)

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

It's not, but I might as well be given my background as Chosen Child pariah.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

Chosen Child?

Don't look at me. He's the one fielding your questions right now.

You're really not all that helpful, are you?

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

The Chosen Children in my world are much like the tamers in this world: they were chosen to fight a war in another world they were poorly-equipped to fight. These Chosen Children aligned to specific crests which represented their strongest attribute. Courage, Friendship, Kindness, etc. I was Darkness, and because of this, I was barred from ever entering the Digital World because the Powers That Be were afraid of me siding with the badguys and/or Millenniumon. Then I started dating Millenniumon's partner, which made me more of a pariah, then we sort of became the dirty little secret of the Digital World: spoken of in secret but never officially acknowledged, often regarded in fear.

Fortunately, I've apparently been dead in all but one of the other realities, so the Chosen Children in those universes didn't have to worry so much.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

... O... oh. I'm sorry...

I-I... really can't relate. Not completely. But I know what its like to be an outcast from those you're supposed to be with...

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

It's not exhilarating, no, but frees up time to actually construct a life.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

*snorts a bit* I suppose it does, if you're human...

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

This place has cyborgs and robots, too. I don't think you'll be particularly lacking in opportunity for a social life.

[drunkkareoke.livejournal.com]

No. I suppose I won't be. But it wasn't easy the first time around... *sighs a bit* ... you probably don't want to hear about my sad excuse for a 'life', though.

[dr-ichijouji.livejournal.com]

Go for it. It probably beats the pathetic shadow of what passes for my life here.