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 Posted: Mon Sep 20, 2021 10:27 am
Be friendly with them, but don't get too close.Commodore Lyndin's instructions were fresh in Fae-Fae's mind as she looked at the first real human she had ever seen in her life. It was the senshi who had volunteered to be her writing tutor. It had been discussed before they landed on Earth: limitations in human technology would make posing as one challenging. In order to communicate without risking their security, it was necessary to learn to read and write the natural way. That meant they would have to trust in a human of Order to teach her. The anticipation of finding that human made her reach for her Source Stone a little more often than usual for a while. The Commodore's command would be easy to follow, though. Mission aside, why would she become attached to someone who would probably be dead of old age in 50 years? Ridiculous! While she believed humans could be kind and reasonable - as demonstrated by the senshi's initiative in the first place - her heart belonged solely to the people of Velencya. So, with a subdued but polite smile, she stuck out her hand. This was the usual human greeting, right? The hand clasping thing?
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Posted: Thu Sep 23, 2021 5:59 pm
Albireo had arrived right on time, a small backpack on over her fuku, and excitement running through her veins. She was going to see Fae-Fae, and help her learn the language better and she had brought tools. A clicky pen that wrote in five different colors, a personal favorite of hers, and a notebook with a bright rainbow swan and cygnets on the cover. Lisa Frank...it stirred something in her. Not a memory, not really...but she liked how fun it was. And it would help her new friend think of her. She hoped.
There were snacks too! Oreos and some chocolate milk, as well as some chips and onion dip, classic Earth foods that….seemed appropriate for a study party.
The senshi gave a bright smile and took the offered hand, giving a much warmer and firmer shake than he had to Lyndin the night before. This alien wasn’t intimidating. She was a friend. “Fae-Fae? I’m Sailor Albireo! Lyndin said you needed a tutor?”
Duh. Why else would she be out here? Why else would they both be out here?
“I’m really excited to meet you!”
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Posted: Sat Sep 25, 2021 8:09 pm
Fae-Fae was quite pleased with herself with her success at the handshake ritual. She spent a couple seconds staring at her hand in wonder, letting it sink in that she had just touched a human in an amicable context. So this is what it felt like to be an ambassador! It was an exciting moment she would have to tell Gavaen and Caelyna about later. So far, so good. And the senshi's excitement was so clear and sincere, it was positively amusing. As Sailor Albireo gushed at her, Fae-Fae couldn't help but break into a burst of bubbly laughter at the sight of it. Were humans always this friendly? No wonder His Highness expressed such fondness for them. " Splendid to make your acquaintance," her ComTech cheerily warbled as she rapidly typed into it. " I am prepared to learn."
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 3:02 pm
Albireo brightened somehow even more than she already was, her smile wide and full of joy and utter excitement. “You too! So, what is it that you want help with learning? I brought you some presents, if you want to go and sit over there under that nice tree? It looks like a good place to learn things…”
It was calm and cool looking, and she just enjoyed the very idea of sitting under a tree with a new friend.
Taking Fae-Fae’s hand, Albireo tugged the cadet to the spot in question and plopped down on the grass without hesitation, drawing the notebook, pen and snacks from her backpack. “These are for you! I figured...everyone on Earth who is trying to learn things needs notebooks to write their thoughts down in! Um, on the front is a cartoon of a Swan, which is what I’m the senshi of! It’s a bird here on Earth! They kind of mostly look like this, but, not as...colorful, they’re mainly just white. Except for the black ones. They’re very graceful birds!”
She shut her mouth with a small pop and chewed her lip, trying to not overwhelm her new friend with too much talking. She could be a lot sometimes. “I’m sorry, I’m just so excited...I’m sure that I’m going too fast!”
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Posted: Mon Oct 11, 2021 6:58 pm
While Sailor Albireo had made a good first impression, Fae-Fae did not like being taken by the hand so spontaneously. She made a small noise of protest and clenched her jaw as she was led to the tree, and when the senshi finally let go, she pulled a small cloth out of her subspace to wipe the unpleasant sensation away. It remained wrapped around her loosely clenched fist for a moment while she tried to follow Albireo's description of the notebook. She was the senshi of swans, and swans were on the notebook. So it sounded like the image was some symbolic way to communicate that it was Sailor Albireo's notebook... but something still seemed off about that explanation. There was much more going on in the image than the presence of the swan-birds. Strange colors and details kept leaping out at her eyes. " If that's your moon, those star positions are incorrect," she responded, quite puzzled, as she pointed at part of the cover. " Is this image intended to decieve?"
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Posted: Tue Oct 12, 2021 4:42 pm
Albireo gave an inward wince at the noise of protest...she had clearly overstepped but...she had been excited. “Ah, I’m so sorry...I didn’t mean to be grabby…”
Her eyes fell to the picture and she gave a small laugh, though looked a little curious. “It’s not meant to be an exact reproduction of the sky...it’s just art! Stylized to look good...you guys don’t have art?” That would...that would be an odd, lonely life. She couldn’t quite wrap her head around not having art. “...Do you Valencians listen to music? Or have plays or anything?”
Perhaps she would have to suggest that they go to an art museum while Fae-Fae was here...or to go to the movies! Oh, the movies would be great fun.
“It simply looks pretty. At least I think it does. The colors are comforting...ah…”
Not that she remembered having such a notebook growing up...but she felt that maybe her heart remembered...either that or it was just…
Designed to be soothing. Which could be the case.
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 4:53 pm
Albireo's explanation confused Fae-Fae so much, she couldn't keep track of all the unfamiliar or strangely-translated words she was hearing. So the cover illustration was inaccurate and exaggerated... on purpose... to be pleasing and inspire comfort? She stared intently at the grotesquely warped bird image, trying to force some clarity to leap out of the rainbow-tinged cygnets. Unfortunately, none came. The mystery would have to be set aside for now. She had other priorities. So, she returned to the question the senshi had asked a moment ago. " I must become literate in English," she said. " You were briefed by my Commodore. Correct?"
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Posted: Wed Oct 13, 2021 5:01 pm
“Oh! Yeah! Yeah I was briefed, yeah!” Albireo gave a little, sheepish smile and drew out a few other books from her bag. A dictionary, one meant for primary school students, complete with colorful pictures beside each word. There were a few simple books, and a few simple chapter books, and the senshi hesitated. “I..Can you read English yet? I was kind of under the assumption that you couldn’t...and perhaps I was wrong, but I...have a few more tools…”
She held out the dictionary, chewing her lip. “I thought this was neat, since it shows an example of what’s written...it should be able to help you. And if you aren’t able to read the language, I have easy books for when you can, and harder books for later...um...and the alphabet…ah…”
Sure she had been briefed, but she was wondering now what she had gotten herself into. She knew English, yeah but Fae-Fae was communicating well, and honestly…
“What do you have the most trouble with?”
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Posted: Thu Oct 14, 2021 4:41 pm
Fae-Fae paused for a moment, carefully considering how to answer the question. How much should she reveal to the human about her situation? Since she wasn't sure, it was best to be cautious. " Proceed as though I cannot read English," she requested, simply. " Our technology translates for me. I must use my own mind instead."
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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2021 1:22 pm
“The alphabet it is then!” Albireo pulled out a basic book with the alphabet, each letter surrounded by items that started with it. The reviews online had said it was a wonderful resource for children learning English or for those who were learning it as a second language, and that seemed as good of a reason as any.
“We’ll start with the first letter, A! My name, Albireo starts with it!” She wasn’t a teacher, that was for sure but...she wondered if maybe she might want to become one.
...it was a strange thought.
But not an unwelcome one.
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