Operation Awesome First Impressions [video]

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

[Video connection! The feed cuts in to the face of a girl who seems to be staring distrustfully at whoever's reading it, mainly because she's staring distrustfully at the comm unit.]

[Her attention seems split between the comm and someone off to the side of the camera frame.]

This feels so stupid... My name is Zakuro. Nice to meet you all.

[Then, to the off-screen person, who the mic isn't picking up:]



Okay, what else should I say?

I don't care about any of that! I just need to know what to say!

Argh! Whatever!

[Back at the screen! She clears her throat, and bows.]



I'm from the Ministry of Youjin Affairs, in Japan. On Earth.

I look forward to working with you.

[Off.]

Comments

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

What would you call them?

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Well, I suppose that depends on if we're discussing the same thing. For example, I see from your appearance you have some kitsune in you, am I right?

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

Huh? Yeah, my mother was a kitsune.

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Oh! Like the Abe no Seimei! What a remarkable lineage. Well, at any rate, in Gensokyo, we simply call ourselves "youkai."

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

Like-- wait! You use that word yourself?!

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Is there a problem with it? It is what we are, after all.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

It's insulting and degrading! It calls up images of heartless child-eating demons that human parents tell stories of to frighten their children! Is that the kind of barbaric image you want to maintain?

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Um, the word really doesn't bother us that much in Gensokyo...

*Oh my.*

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

I've only ever heard it used by old humans who thought I was going to put a curse on them if they looked at me the wrong way.

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

It is not as if youkai have anything to prove to humans where I come from. Ah, but if it bothers you so much, I will refrain from using the word in your presence.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

I never imagined that this would be an issue...

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

All worlds are different, I am afraid. It is certainly something we all have to become adjusted to.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

I'll just have to pretend I'm hearing a different word. You'd better not say it if you go to my world, though.

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Duly noted. My apologies, I meant no offense. I am Tactical Commander Ran Yakumo, shikigami of High Councilor Yukari Yakumo. It will be my pleasure to work with you.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

And unless I miss my guess, you're a kitsune, right?

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

A nine-tailed kitsune, yes.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

Nine tails? I didn't know there was anyone so renowned here! Please forgive my earlier familiarity.

[faithfultenko.livejournal.com]

Oh please, I'm hardly anybody special. No need to be so stiff around me.

[childoforacles.livejournal.com]

Actually, I guess Kushimatsu hides her tails, so she could be a nine-tail kitsune, too...



...anyway, I look forward to working with you.