Diary

Diary

Stories of Afternoon

Characters

Aak Ansel Ifrit Ptilopsis Silence Warfarin Guard Operator Chatty Medic Operator Chilly Medic Operator Gossipy Medic Operator Lively Medic Operator Medic Operator Shopkeeper

Backgrounds

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“

Ptilopsis is writing in her diary. She always use the diary as a way to record things she doesn't want to forget. Except now, she would prefer to directly chat with those who she cares about.

”

<Background 1>
Silence	Ptilopsis, you're back.
[Ptilopsis appear.]
Ptilopsis	Yes.
Silence	Thanks for going on that site inspection for me. I'm almost done with this experiment, so I'll be able to do the next one myself.
Ptilopsis	It's okay. I can go next time too.
Silence	...Oh? Did something happen?
Ptilopsis	Yes. I'm going to my room now.
Silence	...Okay.
<Background 2>
Ptilopsis	I think it should be in this diary... No, this one was written at Rhine Lab. So, it should be this one... Yes, this one. This diary is from after I came to Rhodes Island with Silence. Let me see.
Diary	March 21 \ Overcast Today, two new operators came to the Island. One named Hung and one named Aak. They seem to be from the same place as Waai Fu. It is significant that Aak, who looks very young, is said to be a very famous back-alley doctor in Lungmen. But it seems he will not join the medical section. April 2 \ Cloudy Ever since he found out that Warfarin is "Mr. Blood," he has been visiting the medical section regularly. But most of the medical section does not like him. This is because he does nothing to conceal his disrespect for us as his peers. He is clearly highly skilled at healing Arts. Why...? April 15 \ Sunny ...Speaking of Aak, Hung came to take him away after his latest competition with Warfarin. He has since curbed his behavior somewhat. And the medical team is growing accustomed to his personality—at least outwardly.
Ptilopsis	This diary must be from the time of his second "duel" with Warfarin.
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 1>
Aak	Hey, "Mr. Blood," how about a little contest of skill?
Warfarin	Wow, what an obnoxious little wretch you are. Didn't you realize the power differential at work the last time you lost to me?
Aak	Are you serious? You think I lost that? Hey, Miss Feathers, you were there too. Who won that?
Silence	........
Ptilopsis	Silence, he means you.
Silence	I'm Miss Feathers?
Ptilopsis	Analysis determines a 50% chance he is calling me. However, my logic functions have determined I do not want to respond to this form of address.
Silence	Neither do I.
Aak	What are you whispering about? Come on, I didn't lose the last one, did I?
Silence	...Aak, we're busy. Please don't interrupt our work.
Aak	Sure, sure. I'm just asking a question. Give me an answer and I'll leave you to your noble "work."
Ptilopsis	Very well. Accessing system records... According to the records, it is true that, objectively speaking, the winner of the last contest was difficult to determine, due to the unexpected circumstances arising at the end.
Aak	Well, how about that!
Warfarin	Pfft, fine. Let's give you a loss to remember today!
<Background fades out and in>
Chatty Medic Operator	*Sigh*. It's been like this every day since that Aak showed up. I really don't understand why the Doctor would hire someone like that...
Ptilopsis	Despite his abrasive personality, there is no denying that his clinical expertise, as well as his natural talent, is impressive.
Chatty Medic Operator	I know what you mean. But I think he looks down on us.
Lively Medic Operator	Yeah, yeah, that last surgery really impressed a lot of people, and I was kind of sold on him myself. I figured I'd try to make friends. He ended up treating me like garbage. I hate that guy!
Gossipy Medic Operator	Only big boss Warfarin could get along with him.
Chilly Medic Operator	Is that what getting along looks like...? What do you think, Ptilopsis?
Ptilopsis	Searching dictionary database.... Result: birds of a feather flock together.
Lively Medic Operator	Hahaha, that works on a couple levels!
Ansel	What's going on in here? Looks like you're having a good time.
Gossipy Medic Operator	Ah, Dr. Ansel, we were talking about Aak.
Ansel	Oh.... I don't connect well with his personality, but it's nice to have a fresh face as skilled as him.
Lively Medic Operator	Leave it to Dr. Ansel to have nice things to say about Aak....
Silence	All right, even if we didn't have work to do, you can't be chatting it up during work hours. Back to your stations.
Medic Operator	Right—
Silence	You have something, Ansel?
Ansel	Well, I have the report. The results aren't exactly stellar.
Silence	That's more or less what we expected, though. Let's start preparing the next experiment right away. Ptilopsis, you go too.
Ptilopsis	Zzzzzzz.... Oh? Yes, understood.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background 2>
Diary	Aak joining the medical section was a major upset to the order of things. And while there was some unpleasantness, I somehow did not dislike it...
Ptilopsis	Oh, I wrote, "I did not dislike it" in this one. If I recall correctly, there should be more.... Right, here it is.
Diary	June 10 \ Light rain The reconnaissance operators appear to have discovered a vein of Originium ore in a nearby mountain range, and Dr. Kal'tsit has sent a team to investigate. To be safe, Silence and a few medic operators went along. Nothing else to do today but wait for test results. May 15 \ Sunny Gavial came back from an operation and told us at dinner that she grew so annoyed with the enemy scurrying around that she personally waded into battle and cut them all down. She seems to have forgotten that she is a medic operator. But she did make it sound appealing. May 1 \ Cloudy Today, after interviewing a new medic operator, I talked with Ansel about what we were doing before coming to Rhodes Island. I couldn't reveal much of the inner workings of Rhine Lab to him due to confidentiality agreements, but it was a meaningful conversation.
Ptilopsis	Yes, this is it.
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 1>
Ansel	In other words, you were also half patient and half researcher at Rhine Lab?
Ptilopsis	Yes, Silence has had me on a customized course of treatment from then until now. And Silence herself is Infected, and she has her own course. Such things are not uncommon at Rhine Lab.
Ansel	So Rhine Lab does a few things just like Rhodes Island. I always thought of Rhine Lab as a technology company.
Ptilopsis	Well, it's not a proactive approach to outreach like Rhodes Island's. I can't say more. But it is safe to assume that Rhine Lab cooperates with Rhodes Island in this area due to a shared outlook.
Ansel	Indeed. Then I guess it's my turn. Hmmm.... There's not much to say. My hometown is in Rim Billiton, and since my family was poor, I never had much access to technology, or really anything new. After bouncing around a bit, I stumbled on a job listing for Rhodes Island. I put in a resume just to see what would happen, and here I am. It blew me away when I first got here. I never thought I'd ever get to work in a place like this.
Ptilopsis	Indeed. I did not think of Rhodes Island as a small land cruiser when Silence first discussed the cooperation agreement.
Ansel	But I've certainly learned a lot since coming here, and the remuneration is pretty good. It's a bit of a shame I can't get home to see my family more often though.
Ptilopsis	Family....
Ansel	Um, did I say something I shouldn't have?
Ptilopsis	No. I'm just recalling my family from the database. Load successful. So that's them. I had forgotten.
Ansel	...It's hard, not seeing your family.
Ptilopsis	It isn't.
Ansel	Huh? It's not?
Ptilopsis	It's not. Never mind. Please, continue with your story, Ansel.
Ansel	Oh, um, okay, I guess I can tell you about Rim Billiton.
Ptilopsis	Okay.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background 2>
Diary	Ansel spoke a lot about his homeland: the look of the mining town, his family, his sister, why he chose to become a doctor, and other such things. I don't know why, but it felt a bit distant to me, like a memory of what my parents looked like...
Ptilopsis	Yes, everyone in the medical section talks about themselves on a regular basis. I am familiar with everyone's past. But for me, it is always a very distant thing. Until then, I had thought it a very normal feeling. However, this is a problem that does exist. Now then, it's time to write today's entry. It may be longer than usual this time.
Diary	MM DD \ Overcast I finally returned to Rhodes Island after a rather long trip. Although I occasionally travel with small teams, this time there were some additional circumstances that caused some difficulties. Yes. Difficulties.
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 3>
Ptilopsis	Zzzzz....
???	........Excuse me, Ptilopsis?
Ptilopsis	.......! Was I sleeping?
Guard Operator	Yes, I just need to tell you that we ran into a bit of a situation with the extraction and we need to recalibrate our tools.
Ptilopsis	Do you need my help?
Guard Operator	No, thanks. You've been a great help so far, Ptilopsis. It's a purely manual recalibration. No need to bother you. The captain just wanted you to know that the calibration may not be done today. If you're bored, there's a Kazimierz village not far from here, you could go for a stroll. It's the only mobile village in the area. It's not that small, and the scouts say there's a fair on today that might have some fun things. Of course, if you want to keep resting here, that's fine too.
Ptilopsis	...Yes. I want to see it.
Guard Operator	Sure. Here's a map, and some petty cash for you. Sorry, we didn't really plan for this situation, so that's all the Kazimierz coinage we have.
Ptilopsis	Kazimierz... coinage?
Guard Operator	Ah, well, while most places accept Lungmen dollars, they're not universal. Especially these villages outside of nomadic cities. They usually only take local currency.
Ptilopsis	...Yes, that sounds correct. There is some corroborating information in the database.
Guard Operator	All right, let's get going.
Ptilopsis	Oh. Are you going too?
Guard Operator	Well, yes. This is a small operation, so we didn't establish a base camp, the main point being we can't use our communications equipment. That means, when somebody without combat capability wants to head out, she'll need an escort. Not to mention, we all know your physical condition. You definitely can't be allowed out alone, for your own safety.
Ptilopsis	This is the first time I have encountered this base camp information. Database update required.
Guard Operator	Oh, you didn't know that?
Ptilopsis	No, I rarely go out.
Guard Operator	Oh, err, right. I shouldn't have brought it up, sorry...
Ptilopsis	Why are you apologizing?
Guard Operator	Nothing. Never mind. Let's move out.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background 2>
Ptilopsis	In retrospect, he apologized to me because he felt he hadn't properly considered my health and had said something that could have hurt me. In fact, I didn't think of that at all at the time. And....
Diary	Here, I encountered my first problem—It seems I do not know many things that others take for granted.
Ptilopsis	No, it's not that I don't know, exactly. These things are in my database, but I have forgotten them because I haven't used them for so long. Yes. I should adjust the wording. Then, my second problem.
Diary	Kazimierz's scenery is quite different from Columbia's, or the view from the bridge of Rhodes Island. The air is clean, and vegetation plentiful. Most of the villagers were Kuranta, but there were some of other races as well. The village fair was much busier than I expected. After a meeting with a logistics operator in charge of procurement, he showed me around and asked if I would like to buy anything. I thought perhaps I could bring gifts for everyone in the medical section.
<Flashback starts here>
<Background 4>
Shopkeeper	What can I get you, Miss?
Ptilopsis	........
Shopkeeper	Hello, Miss?
Ptilopsis	...I don't know.
Shopkeeper	Huh? You want to buy something but you don't know what it is?
Ptilopsis	........
Guard Operator	Ah, sorry, my companion is easily distracted. We want some local Kazimierz's goods.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background 2>
Diary	At that point, I realized my second problem. I do not know what everyone in the medical section enjoys. That isn't to say we don't have a good relationship. On the contrary, Dr. Silence and I should be good friends, according to the broad definition of the term. We've worked together extensively since our time at Rhine Lab, and she's the one who invited me to Rhodes Island.
Ptilopsis	My relationships with the rest of the medic operators are amicable as well.
Diary	But I don't know what they like. I never thought about it. After that, we headed back to camp, and the rest of the expedition proceeded without incident. But on the way back, I began to think about something I had never realized was wrong.
Ptilopsis	Well.... Of course, I actually slept about half the trip. On the way to the village, I even fell asleep in the middle of the road. But to make for an easier read, I will omit those details.
Diary	Since joining Rhine Lab and transferring to Rhodes Island...?
[Someone knocks the door.]
???	Ptilopsis, open up!
[Ptilopsis opens the door and Ifrit enters the room.]
Ptilopsis	Ifrit, what are you doing here?
Ifrit	Silence is busy in the lab. I heard you were back so I came to see you. It's like, since you're pretty much always here, it was a lot weirder to have you gone. I'm used to Silence being out. I'm so glad you're back!
Ptilopsis	Indeed, I rarely go out. ...Indeed, I rarely go out.
Ifrit	Why'd you say that twice, Ptilopsis?
Ptilopsis	It just occurred to me that I don't actually go outside very often.
Ifrit	Huh? Did you hit your head out there?
Ptilopsis	No, it was just some unknown error in the system. It has been fixed. I bought some Kazimierz goods. They're over there.
Ifrit	Really! Let's see.... Wow, this is a cool wooden sword. Hya! Whew! Shwing! Check it out. Don't I look like one of those flippy Kurantas?
Ptilopsis	No.
Ifrit	Eh.... Whatever. I still want it!
Ptilopsis	Good. There is a storybook on the shelf. You can read it over there. I'm going to write something.
Ifrit	Sweet!
Ptilopsis	Phew.... Now then.
Diary	It's been a long time since I joined Rhine Lab and moved to Rhodes Island. I'm completely used to the way things are now and subconsciously consider it normal. But this trip made me realize that's not the case. Not that I reject the life I lead. I have just suddenly become aware of this problem. That is, I am myself quite far from normal.
Ptilopsis	Is "normal" the correct word here? Is it my life that is abnormal? ...Broadly speaking, I suppose it is.
Diary	And I simply forget. Even I have a hard time describing what Oripathy has taken from me and given to me. I can manage that once Silence worked out a treatment plan for me at Rhine Lab, research and sleep gradually took over my entire life.
Ptilopsis	My body doesn't allow me to do time-consuming work, let alone leave the facility. I am self-conscious about my condition, so even on the rare occasions that I do go outside, I do not move about so freely.
Diary	For as long as I can remember, all my knowledge of the outside world has come almost entirely from the descriptions of my colleagues, various documents, and the unchanging view outside my window. Now that I think about it, it's only natural that I would aspire to be like Gavial and Ansel. But before today, I did not realize why. Because I can't help but compartmentalize myself when people discuss their lives. I can engage with their topics, but I subconsciously think I don't belong in them.
Ifrit	Ptilopsis, what are you writing? Doesn't look like a report to me.
Ptilopsis	A diary.
Ifrit	A diary? Oh, Silence told me to keep one, but it was a huge pain!
Ptilopsis	True, it is a lot of work to write every day, but it is necessary for me.
Ifrit	Why?
Ptilopsis	To keep myself from forgetting.
Ifrit	Why do you forget?
Ptilopsis	Because I am forgetful.
Ifrit	Um.... Don't get it.
Ptilopsis	It is better if you don't.
Ifrit	Oh.... Can I see it?
Ptilopsis	You can. But it is all text. I don't think you will like it.
Ifrit	Yeah, screw it. I'll go back to my storybook.
Ptilopsis	Right. Now then, where was I...?
<Flashback starts here>
<Background fades out and in>
Silence	........
Ptilopsis	Silence, what's the matter? Something wrong in the lab?
Silence	Huh? Ah, no. I'm just trying to figure out what to get Ifrit for her birthday. It's coming up.
Ptilopsis	A birthday present?
Silence	Yes. It needs to be fireproof, and it needs to be something she likes. Ugh, a child's mind is so unpredictable. I should just make something myself.
Ptilopsis	........
Silence	What?
Ptilopsis	Nothing. I was just pondering how even Silence thinks about such things.
Silence	Is it that strange? Well... maybe it's a bit unlike me. But since I decided to take Ifrit with me, these things are my responsibility.
<Flashback ends here>
<Background fades out and in>
Ptilopsis	Even Silence, who can bury herself in her work for days on end, has such a side to her.
Diary	I understand that this is my own problem. Or should I say, it was not a problem to begin with. I don't feel so bad, because I do not dislike this researcher's life.
Ptilopsis	On the other hand, if I hated research, I wouldn't have joined Rhine Lab at all.
Diary	Whether at Rhine Lab or Rhodes Island, I have seen countless people more miserable than I. And I'm lucky compared to them. And I believe that the research I'm doing is something meaningful.
Ptilopsis	So, I'm not writing this as a lamentation, or to say that I've suddenly realized that I've been living the wrong kind of life.
Diary	I just remembered the purpose of my diary. I hear strange noises from time to time, metal scraping, crashing, shouting, explosions. It's like these voices are coming from deep inside me, haunting me. Sometimes when I wake up, I find myself in a sort of trance and I forget where I am and what I'm doing. Of course, I don't really forget, but there's no denying that I'll need more time and energy to remember than a normal person would. I started this diary just to ensure I did not forget something important.
Ptilopsis	Something important....
Ifrit	Ptilopsis, why are you staring at me? And what have you been mumbling to yourself all this time?
Ptilopsis	Nothing.
Ifrit	Did you get yourself into trouble? Do you need me to talk to Silence for you? I'll help you once, 'cause we're friends. You better not have done anything too bad. I don't need a spanking from Silence.
Ptilopsis	Hehe, don't worry.
Diary	Today's encounter made me realize something. When it comes to the important things, just trying not to forget them isn't enough. Rather, I wish I could do more to understand the people I care about.
Ptilopsis	I don't want to regret anything.
???	Ptilopsis, is Ifrit with you?
Ifrit	Hey, it's Silence!
[Silence enters the room.]
Silence	Ifrit didn't give you any trouble, did she?
Ptilopsis	No, she was very good.
Ifrit	Hehehe.
Silence	I'm glad. And are you okay? You seemed a bit off when you came back today.
Ptilopsis	I'm fine.... But, yes, I was just about to go looking for you.
Silence	For me?
Ptilopsis	Yes, I'd like to talk to you.
Silence	Talk? Don't we always talk?
Ptilopsis	I'd like to... discuss a few things I've never thought about before.