SWITCHBOARD

[transmittable]

If you'd like to ask the Transmitter something over the phone, go right ahead! The Transmitter will answer the phone as soon as she's available. Leaving messages is impossible, given how old these phones are, but you should be able to reach her at almost all hours.

Comments are screened for privacy; all Patients are offered confidentiality, didn't you know?

Comments

[heritrix]

...Are your goals different from theirs?

[transmittable]

They line up.

[heritrix]

A mutual alliance, then, until one you has outlived your usefulness.

[Sort of like alliances in the Holy Grail War. They're temporary things.]

[transmittable]

Yeah... Yeah, you could put it that way.

[heritrix]

Are you prepared for that?

[They can apparently bodyjack you at any time.]

[transmittable]

...I'm incredibly prepared for it.

[heritrix]

Good.

[There's the sound of a chair dragging, as Rin adjusts her position.]

I don't know yet if our goals align, but... Well I'm satisfied, I suppose, to be dealing with someone competent.

[transmittable]

[ It sounds like the Transmitter's shifting too. ]

Uh. ...Thanks, I guess. ...I wouldn't call me like...competent, though, that's an exaggeration.

[heritrix]

Why would you say that?

[transmittable]

...'Cause it feels weird to think of myself like that.

[heritrix]

If you don't have confidence in yourself, you'll never be prepared. You can have the perfect plan, but if you doubt yourself even once carrying it out you can't succeed.

[transmittable]

Eh... Yeah, I guess so. It's just weird. Like. I dunno. Some days, I just feel like a teenager.

It's...not a bad feeling.

[heritrix]

[...]

That's different.

[But Rin still knows where the Transmitter is coming from. She felt the same way just a few minutes ago, when she felt like a normal high school girl for once, teasing a friend about a crush.]

But it is a nice feeling, yeah.

[transmittable]

Do you...get to feel it often? Back home, I mean.

[heritrix]

In patches.

[Her laugh is light, like a bell.] I chose to attend high school solely so I could have a taste of that experience. It's been worth it, don't get me wrong. But I always have to hold back.

[transmittable]

Because you've got so much more to do...right? You have duties, responsibilities...

That life's always seemed sad to me. Do you- is it?

[heritrix]

You know a lot about me, don't you? I'm surprised, because somehow it seems you've misinterpreted my motivations.

[This conversation is going to be ironic tomorrow.]

I've never done something just because I was "obligated". I'm a hedonist, at heart. It's a duty to succeed my father, as the head of the Tohsaka, but I wouldn't do it if it wasn't fun.

I won't lie and say being a mage isn't difficult, but this is the life I chose for myself. The laws I have to adhere to, and the things sacrifices I have to make? I can accept all of that, because by doing so I can continue doing what I love. You could say the hardships are the payment for that.

[transmittable]

Hey, you try having info about thirty different people swimming 'round your head, along with the Risen tapping at your skull- it gets hard to keep everything straight, facts and motives and all.

[ She doesn't sound confrontational, though, more casual, like this is just how things are. ]

But, that... Okay. That I get. It's a hard path, but it's not that someone's gotta do it, it's...you want to do it. It... That actually does sound nice.

[heritrix]

Sorry, sorry. [But they really just zapped it into her head? That's interesting.]

But yeah, that's exactly it. Do you have anything like that in your life?

[transmittable]

Uhh... Hm. Probably not? There's...stuff to do that's hard to get what I want, but it's not stuff I'd say I want to be doing, to get that...stuff.

Eegh, I am so not wording this right- no, I don't think I do.

[heritrix]

[Rin has to hide her disappointment.]

We have very different occupations, so I can't be annoyed by that. I don't even know your background. But is there a reason why you can't have that?

You'd be surprised how far one moment of happiness can get you, when you want to give up.

[transmittable]

I mean... I do want to live like that. Enjoying myself, you know. But...in the position I'm in, it's kind of impossible.

One day, it'd be nice...but even then, I can't think of something difficult to follow through on, like- like you being an heir, that'd bring me that. I'm just...I dunno. A simple girl at heart.

[heritrix]

It doesn't have to be difficult. That's sort of what I was getting at: the simple things matter too.

[She had a conversation with Lovecraft about it, a few weeks ago.]

What do you like?

[transmittable]

Uhh... I dunno. Going to concerts, seeing shows.

My family.

[heritrix]

[She thinks about suggesting CDs (Rin, we're in the age of iPods now), but recognizes the flaw immediately.]

You're an extrovert, huh? Or at least someone who likes to get out, and enjoy authentic experiences.