voice; un: lookingforshinsengumi (cw: losing senses)

[tealeafs]

Everyone.. good day.

[ Chizuru's voice is gentle, like the last times she spoke over these devices. But unlike those times, this time she isn't actually visible, speaking over an audio-only feed. ]

So.. it seems that there are at least a few people dealing with losing senses, right? I heard some people talking about it.. And it seems that I'm one of the affected people as well. [ There's a vague hint of worry in her tone that the girl can't quite suppress. Losing a sense had been terrifying when it happened, but it's at least a faint relief it's not just something that's happening to her. ] I haven't been able to see anything for a few days now..

Which is why I wanted to ask.. is there anyone who has found a good way to deal with it yet? Or maybe someone who's used to not seeing anything.. I've had some help from my Omen, but it's been really tough to try to do the things I always do like this.

[ This is the closest Chizuru would ever come to admitting she needs help. Clearly the only way she can do it is by toning it down and only ask for advice rather than direct help. Because god forbid she's a burden on anyone. ]

Or does anyone know how long this will last? This entire month, or.. maybe longer than that? I guess no one can know for sure, but maybe someone has a good guess. I know there are a lot of smart people here..

[ Her voice trails off. The girl clearly sounds troubled at this point, but maybe that's why she just quickly wraps it up with: ]

Thanks to everyone who listened to these questions.

Comments

Voice | un: Shadow_Puppet

[stoicsilhouette]

[ Well it's not exactly what he's been experiencing, but...]

My guess is it'll clear by the end of the month. That's always when something "new" seems to happen.

[Hoping to be wrong but not optimistic]

[tealeafs]

I hope that's the case.. It'd be really inconvenient to have to continue like this. [ Which is putting it mildly, isn't it. Very, very mildly.

But Chizuru can't help but want to downplay it a little bit, since she doesn't want to bother anyone else too much with her problem. ]

I wish there was some way to know for sure though.. Do you think maybe we could ask a Pthumerian about it? I don't know if there are any around this month..

un: kickflips (private, voice)

[strongroots]

[ Is that a username that means anything to Robby? No.

Is that a voice he recognises? Yes.

And that's the important point here, along with what the post is actually about. It was just a few days ago that she was helping him learn his limbs - and now, she's having problem with her sight? There's probably other ways to help in weird magical blood town, but Robby decides to send off a message in audio, figures he might as well: ]

Hey. Chizuru, right? It's Robby, the guy you helped the other day. [ Unless she helped multiple Robbies, she might remember the one. ]

Thanks again for that, by the way. You need a hand getting around while this is going on, send me a message; I'm not doing much. I can help with groceries, or - if your friends are busy.

[ You can hear the shrug in there, all casual, the not-a-bother display. An alternative, if nearer and more well-known faces aren't around. A last option.

And that should be plenty enough, so: ]

Hope your sight gets better. G'luck.

[tealeafs]

[ Chizuru - off-feed, at first - gasps to herself when she hears the voice. Sure, she might not be able to see anything, so there could be a video that she can't watch for all she knows. But that voice.. it might be relatively new to her, but she recognizes it. Of course she does. She always wonders how people start settling in after she helps them on the beach.

So she quickly urges her Omen to help her reply to that one, and when she's sure the feed connected, there's actually a bit more pep in Chizuru's step - or, well, voice in this case - when she speaks up. ]

Robby..! It's so good to hear you!

[ Even if it's.. only hearing him this time around.. But Chizuru sounds like she genuinely means it. It's like her smile is audible in her voice. ]

Did everything go alright after you left the beach? Have you been settling in alright? [ ... maybe she'll get back to what he actually said in his message after a moment.

But apparently this is so important to Chizuru that she must know it first. Clearly more important than her current and very pressing problem. ]

[strongroots]

[ The clear raise in her voice - it could be natural politeness, but it brings a smile to Robby's face, unseen. The following questions and the genuine quality in them.

It's nice. And hey, he can appreciate that quality about her more, this time. ]

Yeah, I'm doing fine. I met up with a friend, and I'm getting a hang of the town. Been helping out with the nets - [ a small laugh in his voice, ] takes forever, but no one cares as long as they get made.

[ It's relaxing though, in its own way. Almost peaceful, even with the people coming and going. ]

But your problem - [ because this is what this is supposed to be about!, ] - You got anyone you live with? Someone to help out?

voice: un: vi

[faceblocks]

Hey. I don't know much about all the stuff you asked about other than yeah, it's happening, and it sounds ...scary and unpredictable and it sucks. But. If you need me to bring you anything, or take you somewhere, I can do that, no problem at all. I kinda owe ya, but it's not just that.

Or I can just listen.

[tealeafs]

Oh.. thank you.

[ Chizuru's voice is a little soft as she speaks, because the gentleness at the edges is now fully taking over her tone. It means so much when people go out of their way to offer to help her like this.

Not that it's very surprising coming from Vi. Chizuru already got the impression that the other was very kind from their past interactions. ]

Are you sure about that though..? I mean.. I just wouldn't want to be a bother to you if you have a lot of other stuff to do too, you know..?

[faceblocks]

Don't worry about me, just let me know what you need.

[she's been a hired bodyguard before, walking people from place to place during that shitty month of anger, so how different could this be? it isn't, really.]

I've always got stuff, but sometimes this kind of thing is my stuff. What are the things you're having trouble with getting done?

voice; un: yuuki

[siriusly]

You lost your sight? [oh no...] D-do you need help finding your way around?

[tealeafs]

Ah..

[ The answer is definitely yes. Obviously yes.

And yet Chizuru doesn't give that answer so quickly, despite how easy or obvious it is. Even though she did manage to convince herself to send this message out to everyone, she still feels a little bad about asking for help so directly. ]

Well, it's just.. [ Her voice trails off before she continues. ] .. it's been hard. I've been trying to get around by myself, and my housemate has been helping me a lot, but.. It'd be so much easier if I could do everything again without having to put a burden on someone else.

[siriusly]

[he makes a faint, uncertain sound.]

Have you gone to one of the ministers or Sleeper healers yet? Just to see if anything can be done to help get your sight back.

Video | 1stStrike

[strikefirster]

Shit. I've been going through the same thing.

Here's what you do, kid.

You starting swinging whenever you go to walk somewhere.

Anyone gets in your way and it's their own fault.

[tealeafs]

...

[ There's a pause.

Not even necessarily because Chizuru immediately thinks this idea is ridiculous, mind you. No, she's trying to think it through over here. With some genuine serious thought. ]

Ah, sorry if this is a dumb question, but.. what is the swinging part for then? I wasn't planning on getting into any fights..

Action?

[cuddlery]

[Scorpia softly knocks on the door to her room at one point in the afternoon.]

Chizu? Are you awake? It's me, Scorpia! Your roommate and super strong friend! [Scorpia says, as if her lack of sight will keep her from recognizing her voice somehow.]

[tealeafs]

[ There's no way Chizuru would recognize Scorpia's voice or even her name unless she describes herself as the super strong friend, clearly.

Thankfully she already figures it's got to be the other at her bedroom door, so Chizuru calls out without hesitation. ]

It's okay, I'm awake. You can come in.

[ Like she's ever going to mind. Though Chizuru does admire the other's manners in this moment. It's sweet.

Once she hears the sound of the door opening, the girl smiles faintly. Not.. directly in Scorpia's direction, since Chizuru obviously can't see a thing, but she's making a valiant attempt over here. She doesn't want the other to have to worry about her too much. ]

Did you need me for something..?

[ Please, Chizuru. You're the one who's blind. Scorpia has already known you're blind!

But she still can't help but act like things are normal, despite both of them knowing about Chizuru's condition. It feels easier to not be a burden that way. To just.. try and do her best. ]

voice; un: dovahkiin

[fusrodaaaah]

I'lllookforapotion!!

[The words come out in Melius' signature panicked rush. He hasn't been afflicted like this - so clearly he needs to rectify it for his friend.]

[There has to be something.]

[tealeafs]

[ Oh, gosh.

It's a good thing that Chizuru is pretty used to the other's panic by now, or she might not even have been able to tell who was talking to her just from that rushed answer.. But she's pretty sure there's only one person who'd react with such panic. ]

Ah-- M.. Melius!

[ Chizuru's own answer sounds a little squeaked, but it's mostly since she feels bad for making him fuss so much. ]

It's okay! Um.. I mean, if this is something this place is doing to us, then it probably can't be fixed with a potion, right? I don't want to make you look [ and worry, and panic, and rush ] for nothing..

Voice | un: mister_hatter

[payingfordeliverance]

[Ahhh. So that's a thing this month, is it? Poor girl. The world certainly isn't unlivable in such a state, but to have this sort of thing strike one abruptly and unexpectedly isn't an easy thing.]

If there are many people discussing it, I imagine that -- it's simply one of this month's bouts of Trench nonsense, and that it will resolve itself by the end of the month. Mm, in the meantime...I have spent time without my eyesight in the past, including here in Trench. If you'll tell me the sorts of things you're having trouble with, I may be able to give you some ideas.

[To simply begin rattling off a list would be a waste of time. She may have already figured out this and that, and what helps a blind swordsman may not be applicable to a young lady.]

[tealeafs]

[ .. this is a voice she doesn't recognize, Chizuru thinks. She asks her Omen to read the username to her, but that doesn't seem like anything she recognizes either..

It must be a helpful strange then, she thinks. One who - apparently - has experience with this sort of thing as well. As difficult as this siutation is just for herself, it tugs on Chizuru's heartstrings to think of how many people might have suffered it too. ]

I'm sorry to hear you've had to deal with the same thing.. [ She says, her voice soft, but audible. ] I guess some people might be able to deal with it a little better [ including him, maybe ] but I find it's.. really hard to deal with.

[ It sounds a little like she's holding back as she says it. Like she's worried about pouring out the complete content of her worry and burden over someone else. ]

My housemate has been doing her best to help me when I'm inside, but.. I find it really difficult to go outside by myself. Even with my Omen helping me, it's hard to not run into something..

Text to Voice

[threelayers]

[Ok, this was going to be very tricky, but she could do this. Switching this to an audio feed, she turned on her text to voice function, causing a tinny voice to speak up. It wasn't natural sounding and she never liked it, but it was the only way to talk to Chizuru right now.]

This is Neopolitan, sorry about the weird voice. I don't know how long it will last, but it should not be longer than the month. Nothing we've seen has lasted that long.

Do you need any help right now?

[tealeafs]

[ The voice is definitely surprising. Especially since Chizuru hasn't often heard this function being used, so it means that she freaks out - did she do something wrong?! - for a brief moment until she hears the name and realises who this is, "speaking" to her.

.. At least it immediately makes more sense to her. Right, Neopolitan always communicated with her through text, and that isn't exactly possible when Chizuru can't see a thing.. Is she making this device read everything for her? Is that why it sounds so odd? ]

Neopolitan..

[ Chizuru's voice is soft. And even though she's been trying to hold back her emotions while talking to a lot of other people, some of it starts to spill out now. Mostly because the sound of this odd voice made her realise something. ]

I-- I really hope it doesn't last that long. I mean.. Just think about this. I almost wasn't able to talk with you anymore..

[ And that's upsetting, since Chizuru does consider the other girl a precious friend. Someone who's always been kind to her.

It makes her voice shake with sadness as she speaks. ]

That would've been so awful..

voice (un: FLYHIGH)

[asas]

Miss Chizuru–?

[ he does not!!! like the sound of this!! ]

What’ve you been doing for food?

[tealeafs]

My friend has been helping me. She lives here with me, so.. [ It's the most convenient option. Especially when Chizuru hates to go out of her way to ask for a lot of outside help - and it's been hard to really hide her current stare from her housemate, considering she basically bumps into a wall every now and then.

It just happens. ]

I've been trying to keep cooking myself though, since I really like cooking for us both, but.. it's been tough. [ OBVIOUSLY. ] Especially when I have to use a knife it gets pretty nerve-inducing...

[ Just.. casually throwing that out there.

Sorry, Shoyo. ]

voice; un: idoloflove

[loveandduty]

Oh, you lost your sight too?

[The morning it happened was perhaps not the most fun of times honestly. Falling out of bed because you can;t tell distance and hurting yourself... yeah not fun.]

I have learned to get help when needed and remember odd's are this will only last this month.

[tealeafs]

.. you think so?

[ It's not like Minako is the only one saying it - that this will only last for this month. But Chizuru feels like you can never be too sure about those things in a place like this. ]

I mean.. Whatever has blinded us must be really powerful, if it could even blind a goddess.. [ You know.

Said goddess being Minako, of course. ]