Video

[mangata]

[ The number on the network seems to be the same as a certain Marina Santana that people know - including a few newbies now. It's taken from a low-quality camera phone, and the background seems desolate, and the blue-haired girl the video is looking at has shorter hair than Marina and, quite notably, has both of her eyes intact.

She sighs, and waves at the propped-up camera. ]

So it looks like we're getting new additions to this network for the first time in a while - and from what I've caught looking over the network, it coincides with a new wave of oddities.

[ Not-Marina leans in closer, eyes narrowed. ]

To everyone new, if you notice that I look identical to a certain Marina Santana, there is a good reason for it. Over a year ago, our planet created copies - doppelgangers - clones - what have you, of some of the reincarnations. Mirrored selves... and some of us are still alive. You may call me Umi Ryuuzaki, the name of Marina's past life, because I was in a hurry to be my own person and the name stuck well enough.

[ Yeah Marina, she doesn't really care how you feel about people talking about your past life. Just sayin'. ]

To everyone else, if this trend of strange occurrences continues, you'll be hearing and seeing more of me than you have for the past year or so.

It's... a pleasure. Goodbye. [ Although she'll chat with anyone who wants to.

Comments

[dictator_ko]

[Mina had a whole script in mind. She'd offer, Umi'd accept and she'd have a new cute friend. So she's taken aback at the refusal.]

Why not?

[mangata]

[ Sorry for ruining your everything! ]

I have plans.

[dictator_ko]

Plans? Well, can we at least hang out sometime?

[mangata]

[ Sigh. ]

If it is convenient.

[dictator_ko]

[Was that a brush-off? It feels kinda like one. Well, she'll leave it be.]

Anyways, I hope your plans go well!

[mangata]

Thank you.

[ It is a brush-off, because wow too perky, but it's also a matter of Umi being off in the middle of a wasteland. ]

Once I have gotten along with them, traveling and visiting might be easier.

[dictator_ko]

[Yeah, Mina tends to be on the perky side when she's not upset or in a rage.]

That's good. The wasteland isn't a place for you!

[mangata]

So you say... I can't really disagree, but I have survived it.

[dictator_ko]

You deserve better than just surviving.

[mangata]

I'm young, give me some slack.

...frankly, there was a point where I was not sure if even that was a priority of mine anyways.

[dictator_ko]

That's too sad!

[mangata]

Is it? Do you think I didn't notice?

[dictator_ko]

I just meant...

[She pauses. She was just expressing her most immediate reaction, really. But she thinks up an explanation.]

To express sympathy.

[mangata]

For all the good it does me.

[dictator_ko]

Can't you just accept a little goodwill when it's offered?

[mangata]

It is wasted on me.

[dictator_ko]

It's not! Listen, I don't know what it's like to be a copy and not have a life of my own and all that stuff you talked about. But I don't think that doesn't mean you don't deserve stuff.

[This is not something she would say to someone who wasn't as good-looking as Umi. She's biased like that.]

[mangata]

[ She oughta learn to take advantage of those good looks. ]

I just... feel more pitied than anything.

[dictator_ko]

Oh.

[She isn't sure what to say now.]

Well, I just think you deserve better.

[mangata]

...just... wish me good luck and leave me alone, for now.

[dictator_ko]

Good luck...

[And then she does as requested.]