[ Whatever Roxanne is doing or where she is, she will suddenly have images of blocks of tofu sent in her head. There's so much tofu it could fill the entire city. And then, a familiar voice: ]
[ She's definitely more at ease with her sense of humor without face-to-face interaction. Roxanne is currently just napping at the room she's currently using, cracking an eye open as she responds to Akashi's accidental thought transfer ]
Akashi? What's up?
[ She wanted to ask why he's sending her this and why tofu, but she didn't want to ruin the opportunity. For all she wishes, this could be a date invitation! ]
[ Roxanne had a plain expression on her face until she heard this message, then her features contort to one of stunned confusion as she walked. Just when she was looking at a cute boy too, so he felt weirded out by her. Roxanne cursed her awful luck; but that wasn't anything new so she tried to focus on something else and sate her curiosity on this toothbrush fiasco.
Ruby mentioned "again", so she can't help but be curious. ]
[ Roxanne unfortunately is still to catch on to Akashi's lack of ability to get cues. She gets so wrapped up in her own mistakes that she doesn't notice others' ]
...Maybe eating some tofu?
[ Seemed like the proper way to get the cravings dealt with ]
If tofu even exists here. That's probably why you're craving it, right?
D-Don't ask me! I just heard you in my head without even hearing a ping!
[ Roxanne doesn't know if it's just her own laziness that she found the extra effort to go to the attic just to brush one's teeth and look at the view, but it must be nice. Verens does have that surreal, scenic view that only exists in her video games ]
[ Her inner self exclaimed, but was immediately drowned out by clearing the throat of her inner voice. She tries to save her slip-up by simmering her excitement down and going back to her usual soft-spoken tone ]
What I meant was, I can definitely make you some. I'm dying of boredom here and I used to cook a lot of tofu dishes back home. You don't have to leave your office! I-If only you want to, that is.
This is super weird...I know sometimes people share their thoughts on accident, but this has never happened to me before! Are you hearing anyone else's thoughts?
[ Maybe it's Roxanne and not her. She'd like it to not be her... ]
[ An excited chuckle escapes her, but she remembers that thoughts are not filtered so she manages to stop any from forming aside from her obvious glee. Which she can just chalk up as being happy with the idea of money ]
That's a deal! H-How do you want it done, exactly? I saw a lot of different types of tofu meals in your mind.
[ She groans, not looking forward to more random thoughts flooding her mind in the future. She feels like she never got to escape the evil clutches of Twitter with the random thoughts ]
I heard about this telepathy we're suddenly given being a network like the internet? I wonder what's up.
[ That was actually a thought she didn't mean to share, but here we are. Roxanne would join the excursion to the mountain later once she finds out about it ]
[ She replies, getting really tired of these random thoughts popping in her head when she's trying to concentrate on something. But she dialed back the self-deprecating sass and sighs, actually recognizing her sympathy for this person who she's unaware she's already met ]
[ And his favourite food in general. His mother used to make tofu soup for him all the time and it made him happy! Whenever he makes soup of his own, the tofu pieces are blocks rather than chunks. :') ]
I would be very happy with anything else, though. I'm not very picky.
[ She sighs, just really glad she's not reading something embarrassing right now since she likes to read those aloud in her mind. The bird image got a quirk of a brow from Roxanne ]
[ "Very happy" he said. That made her feel very happy too, even for a moment. She blushes slightly, getting energized to get out of bed. This almost felt like cooking for her sister too. ]
Alright! I'll bring it to you in a jiffy! Just tell me where you work and give me an... hour? Hour and a half, tops?
[ Already having a good idea of how to approach this, Roxanne's thoughts transfer with images of previous tofu dishes she had in her world, showing her world in the background as a futuristic version of Los Angeles, and a longer haired girl who looks like her. ]
I still don't know where tofu is being sold, exactly. But I can ask my host family. We're lucky the parents are home.
[No, forget about it. But before Sonia could repeat that again, she hears her own actual robotic voice repeated through the connection. Well, scrap he screwed up more than he realized.
There's probably an explanation he could come up with, but then again he doesn't care too much to keep the lie up. Just a little to make it a surprise for anyone. That said-]
[ Roxanne is a very supportive person. She does so partially since making people happy gives her a sense of purpose; that she's doing something right with her aimless life. So her excitement in making Akashi happy brightened her face, and literally her skin too if only for a moment.
An hour had passed and Roxanne arrives at the destination. She tried to keep her thoughts in check, thinking of cute cats and puppies while she zens out during the cooking process. Now that Roxanne thinks about it some more, her sister back home works at a health food grocery store and she sometimes brings home some tofu from it whenever there's a discount. It's all they could afford, so they took every discount they could get. She arrives at the bank just in time for a late lunch, carefully holding a metal lunch box containing the freshly made tofu meal. ]
This bank is smaller than I pictured... Oh, uhm, I'm at the lobby. I don't know if you have a break room in the back or something.
[ Roxanne snickered. Ruby's thought process is an amusing one ]
That's an interesting thought.
[ Roxanne says as she looks out the window to check the crystal, but it was obscured by the other houses. She sometimes hate how disorganized Verens is ]
Wanna check it out in person? See if there's actually a bird on it?
Of course! But... Are you sure you want to spill that secret with what's going on? This isn't the first random thought I heard today and someone else might hear it.
[ She's not even sure if these telepathic thoughts can only go to one person, or if multiple people can hear it. She still wants to hear what Sonia had to say, but she also cares for her secret not to end up on someone else's mental ears. ]
[Not a thought she intended to go through, but it's a legitimate question all the same. She's not even aware of it until Roxanne brought it up.]
Hm. Meet me at my house...
[It's safer there. She'll be waiting outside. When Roxanne arrives, she will see an armored vehicle, definitely not from this world's era, parked outside Sonia's front garage. The driver seat is occupied by none other than Sonia herself.]
Oh, sure! If you want to. I don't know if we'll really find a giant bird, but there must be some reason this is all going on. We'll get to the bottom of it!
[ Ruby and Roxanne are on the case! Never mind that she's not much of a sleuth...but it sounds like fun! ]
[ Roxanne arrives via the air, which by now is not a surprise to Sonia. Making a soft landing, her eyes were drawn to the vehicle that's definitely not from this world. ]
Sonia?
[ She sees her friend on the driver seat, not bothering to hide her curious awe ]
[ They do indeed have a breakroom, but Akashi decides not to use it because he can't exactly invite Roxanne there. It's for employees only! It's why once he gets the message, he leaves his boss' office for his lunch break and heads to the lobby.
Akashi looks a little out of place. He's still just a teen, after all. Compared to the other employees in the bank, he's far too young, but he definitely looks very sharp in his blue pin-striped dress shirt, sleeves folded up to his elbows and tucked into his black trousers. A dark grey belt keeps everything in its place, and he has a black jacket with gold accents. ]
Roxanne, thank you for coming. There's a patio outside. We can go there, if you'd like.
[As usual there's no change in her expression but what Roxanne asked elicits a bit of cringe from her. That lasts for only half-a-second.]
No. I wasn't built in the first place.
[Yes, she knows what she just said.]
You may want to stand back a little.
[That's the only warning she gets before Sonia's entire being fizzles out of existence. Then, without giving much time to react to that properly, the vehicle comes to life on its own, engine rumbles, metal plates instantaneously shift and slide until a giant mech humanoid form, standing at his full 7'5". The mech's visor light up and glow bright red followed by the last couple of metal plates settling in place.]
I suppose this is now a proper greeting. [And, yes, that is the same robotic voice she heard earlier.]
[ She gives a chuckle at Ruby's confident statement and amusing mention of the giant bird again, but Roxanne was gearing up to leave her current position to the big crystal ]
Alright! I'm heading there now. I'll see you there!
[ Roxanne "drops" the call, unaware that even doing so doesn't cancel it. She uses her yellow gem to fly in short bursts, leaping from building to building to save up on energy ]
Whew, even if I can fly but it would be pretty dope to ride on a giant bird. Or those wyverns I saw in the blind date party...
[ She mentally screeched a bit. But knowing herself, she knew that would be followed by romantic imagery that she can't let anyone see. But with her brain power already reserved in keeping herself in check, she just gives him a nod in response to his offer. She'll follow him out to the patio, zipping up her hoodie since it's still a bit nippy for her outside. But she doesn't want to just be quiet! She fiddles with her fingers, resorting to the most common topic for starting awkward small talk: the weather ]
So it's really cold today, isn't it? I-I mean, the patio is good. But I'm still getting used to the cold weather again... aha. I'm from Canada, you'd think I'd be used to this weather...
[ From that wince to the transformation that happened before her very eyes, Roxanne felt her jaw drop lower and lower until she was just staring in shock at Soundwave's robotic form from the distance she backed away to. ]
...
[ She uttered a croak, unable to really pick one of the hundreds of thoughts in her mind. It's so many that they overlap and become incoherent to anyone listening. ]
You... How?
[ She's just gonna blue screen here for a bit. Give her a minute. Or thirty ]
[ So eating outdoors would be a little too cold, then? Akashi doesn't mind, himself, but he's not sure where else he can bring Roxanne. The office he stays in is a room shared with the owner of the bank - he can't exactly bring a stranger there. ]
The pantry, then? We'll have to eat with other employees, if you don't mind.
[ And Ruby doesn't even notice that Roxanne has tried to "hang up" the call, instead just going on her merry way towards the main square in town, thoughtfully responding like they're just keeping up their conversation: ]
Oh, you went to the blind date party? Me too! My date and I competed to see who could fit more cookies in our mouths.
[ Just, you know, normal things people do on blind dates. ]
[That's quite a reaction. He expected surprised, but not to the point of this... incoherent mess? It left him speechless for a moment and his visor somehow expresses bewilderment at her.
His head tilts slightly. How? That's an easy question to answer but before that--]
... Take your time to calm down and ingest this first.
[ Oh no, other people. She didn't want anybody getting the wrong idea, even though a part of her does. But her fear of socialization and gossip overrides her hesitance to endure the cold that she immediately waves her hand in front of her ]
Ah no no no, that's not necessary. I can handle a bit of cold!
[ Better than than having to endure people barging in conversations and getting all friendly with them. Roxanne interlaces her fingers, and takes a few steps aside, letting Akashi lead them out to the patio ]
[ She snickers. She didn't think it was weird enough for her thoughts to transfer through to Ruby. It was, but her mind was also distracted by thinking of how to get to the crystal. It took her some time, resting in between as to not overwhelm herself so Ruby would likely get there first ]
I'm getting close to the crystal. Didn't know there's a bakery in this little alley on the way, huh...
[ Akashi leads the way to the patio. It's not that cold, but he stops by the entrance anyway to shrug his jacket off. Then he offers it to Roxanne, his arm stretched out and the jacket folded over the length of it. ]
I lost...but it's okay! I've been practicing for our next match.
[ Because of course there will be a next time. Ruby is getting close to the square now, glancing up to where she can see the crystal. She can't see any birds on it from here...but she can't see the whole thing yet! ]
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
misfire!
I'm hungry.
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[ She's definitely more at ease with her sense of humor without face-to-face interaction. Roxanne is currently just napping at the room she's currently using, cracking an eye open as she responds to Akashi's accidental thought transfer ]
Akashi? What's up?
[ She wanted to ask why he's sending her this and why tofu, but she didn't want to ruin the opportunity. For all she wishes, this could be a date invitation! ]
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Did I accidentally send you my thoughts? [ He was thinking of eating a city's worth of tofu, too... How embarrassing. ]
You saw nothing.
2/21 misfire;
[ Again???? ]
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Ruby mentioned "again", so she can't help but be curious. ]
Why would you leave toothbrushes on the roof?
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[ Roxanne sits up on her bed, grunting in her mind ]
But now I'll have nothing but thoughts of tofu and you for the next hour or so.
[ . . . ]
Thoughts of tofu because of you. That's-That's what I meant. Yeah.
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[ WAIT ]
Wh-what's going on?! Can you read my thoughts?!
[ She definitely didn't broadcast that! ]
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I'm sorry, my thoughts have become a distraction to you. I'm not sure how to remedy that.
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...Maybe eating some tofu?
[ Seemed like the proper way to get the cravings dealt with ]
If tofu even exists here. That's probably why you're craving it, right?
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[ Roxanne doesn't know if it's just her own laziness that she found the extra effort to go to the attic just to brush one's teeth and look at the view, but it must be nice. Verens does have that surreal, scenic view that only exists in her video games ]
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[ He doesn't want to take a break just because he's hungry! ]
I'll just have to wait until it's time for lunch.
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[ Her inner self exclaimed, but was immediately drowned out by clearing the throat of her inner voice. She tries to save her slip-up by simmering her excitement down and going back to her usual soft-spoken tone ]
What I meant was, I can definitely make you some. I'm dying of boredom here and I used to cook a lot of tofu dishes back home. You don't have to leave your office! I-If only you want to, that is.
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I know we've only just met, but that sounds like an offer I can't refuse. Please don't worry, I can pay you for you for your time and effort.
misfire
... I wish I could hold her hand again.
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[ Maybe it's Roxanne and not her. She'd like it to not be her... ]
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That's a deal! H-How do you want it done, exactly? I saw a lot of different types of tofu meals in your mind.
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[ She groans, not looking forward to more random thoughts flooding her mind in the future. She feels like she never got to escape the evil clutches of Twitter with the random thoughts ]
I heard about this telepathy we're suddenly given being a network like the internet? I wonder what's up.
[ That was actually a thought she didn't mean to share, but here we are. Roxanne would join the excursion to the mountain later once she finds out about it ]
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[ She replies, getting really tired of these random thoughts popping in her head when she's trying to concentrate on something. But she dialed back the self-deprecating sass and sighs, actually recognizing her sympathy for this person who she's unaware she's already met ]
Sorry... It must be tough, huh?
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A sudden burst of embarrassment flows into their telepathic link when he realizes it had indeed gotten through to someone.
The voice replies... This time in a voice Roxanne's should be familiar with- Sonia's.]
Roxanne? That... That wasn't intentional.
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[ And his favourite food in general. His mother used to make tofu soup for him all the time and it made him happy! Whenever he makes soup of his own, the tofu pieces are blocks rather than chunks. :') ]
I would be very happy with anything else, though. I'm not very picky.
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That's kind of what it's like. Maybe...it has a virus? Or there's something interfering with the signal that's making it go all haywire.
[ She pictures a giant bird roosting on the giant crystal in town. Roxanne will get a glimpse of it, too. ]
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[ Roxanne sounded exhausted, but only for a moment before her curiosity took the wheel again. Then comes the reply in a different voice ]
Wait... Sonia? Is this some three-way conversation right now?
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[ She sighs, just really glad she's not reading something embarrassing right now since she likes to read those aloud in her mind. The bird image got a quirk of a brow from Roxanne ]
What's with the giant bird?
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Alright! I'll bring it to you in a jiffy! Just tell me where you work and give me an... hour? Hour and a half, tops?
[ Already having a good idea of how to approach this, Roxanne's thoughts transfer with images of previous tofu dishes she had in her world, showing her world in the background as a futuristic version of Los Angeles, and a longer haired girl who looks like her. ]
I still don't know where tofu is being sold, exactly. But I can ask my host family. We're lucky the parents are home.
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[Sonia sounds confused.]
I don't know what's going on... But what you heard before. Forget about it.
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I work at the bank. I will send you the address.
[ Which he does right after, and he even provides directions if she's coming from the town square! :) ]
I'm sure you can find tofu at the local marketplace. I'm sorry for the trouble, but I have to say, I'm also looking forward to this.
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I was just thinking about something that could possibly disrupt the amulets...like when a bird makes a nest on a satellite dish!
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[ She responds, but not intentionally. Her thoughts projected through the amulet about that robotic voice especially ]
What was that voice? It sounds really uhm, robotic...
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There's probably an explanation he could come up with, but then again he doesn't care too much to keep the lie up. Just a little to make it a surprise for anyone. That said-]
Roxanne... Can you keep a secret?
Action
An hour had passed and Roxanne arrives at the destination. She tried to keep her thoughts in check, thinking of cute cats and puppies while she zens out during the cooking process. Now that Roxanne thinks about it some more, her sister back home works at a health food grocery store and she sometimes brings home some tofu from it whenever there's a discount. It's all they could afford, so they took every discount they could get. She arrives at the bank just in time for a late lunch, carefully holding a metal lunch box containing the freshly made tofu meal. ]
This bank is smaller than I pictured... Oh, uhm, I'm at the lobby. I don't know if you have a break room in the back or something.
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That's an interesting thought.
[ Roxanne says as she looks out the window to check the crystal, but it was obscured by the other houses. She sometimes hate how disorganized Verens is ]
Wanna check it out in person? See if there's actually a bird on it?
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[ She's not even sure if these telepathic thoughts can only go to one person, or if multiple people can hear it. She still wants to hear what Sonia had to say, but she also cares for her secret not to end up on someone else's mental ears. ]
Maybe we can meet?
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[Not a thought she intended to go through, but it's a legitimate question all the same. She's not even aware of it until Roxanne brought it up.]
Hm. Meet me at my house...
[It's safer there. She'll be waiting outside. When Roxanne arrives, she will see an armored vehicle, definitely not from this world's era, parked outside Sonia's front garage. The driver seat is occupied by none other than Sonia herself.]
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[ Ruby and Roxanne are on the case! Never mind that she's not much of a sleuth...but it sounds like fun! ]
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Sonia?
[ She sees her friend on the driver seat, not bothering to hide her curious awe ]
Wha-What is-- How did- Did you build that?!
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Akashi looks a little out of place. He's still just a teen, after all. Compared to the other employees in the bank, he's far too young, but he definitely looks very sharp in his blue pin-striped dress shirt, sleeves folded up to his elbows and tucked into his black trousers. A dark grey belt keeps everything in its place, and he has a black jacket with gold accents. ]
Roxanne, thank you for coming. There's a patio outside. We can go there, if you'd like.
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No. I wasn't built in the first place.
[Yes, she knows what she just said.]
You may want to stand back a little.
[That's the only warning she gets before Sonia's entire being fizzles out of existence. Then, without giving much time to react to that properly, the vehicle comes to life on its own, engine rumbles, metal plates instantaneously shift and slide until a giant mech humanoid form, standing at his full 7'5". The mech's visor light up and glow bright red followed by the last couple of metal plates settling in place.]
I suppose this is now a proper greeting. [And, yes, that is the same robotic voice she heard earlier.]
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Alright! I'm heading there now. I'll see you there!
[ Roxanne "drops" the call, unaware that even doing so doesn't cancel it. She uses her yellow gem to fly in short bursts, leaping from building to building to save up on energy ]
Whew, even if I can fly but it would be pretty dope to ride on a giant bird. Or those wyverns I saw in the blind date party...
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So it's really cold today, isn't it? I-I mean, the patio is good. But I'm still getting used to the cold weather again... aha. I'm from Canada, you'd think I'd be used to this weather...
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...
[ She uttered a croak, unable to really pick one of the hundreds of thoughts in her mind. It's so many that they overlap and become incoherent to anyone listening. ]
You... How?
[ She's just gonna blue screen here for a bit. Give her a minute. Or thirty ]
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[ So eating outdoors would be a little too cold, then? Akashi doesn't mind, himself, but he's not sure where else he can bring Roxanne. The office he stays in is a room shared with the owner of the bank - he can't exactly bring a stranger there. ]
The pantry, then? We'll have to eat with other employees, if you don't mind.
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Oh, you went to the blind date party? Me too! My date and I competed to see who could fit more cookies in our mouths.
[ Just, you know, normal things people do on blind dates. ]
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His head tilts slightly. How? That's an easy question to answer but before that--]
... Take your time to calm down and ingest this first.
[He's patient.]
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Ah no no no, that's not necessary. I can handle a bit of cold!
[ Better than than having to endure people barging in conversations and getting all friendly with them. Roxanne interlaces her fingers, and takes a few steps aside, letting Akashi lead them out to the patio ]
After you!
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[ She snickers. She didn't think it was weird enough for her thoughts to transfer through to Ruby. It was, but her mind was also distracted by thinking of how to get to the crystal. It took her some time, resting in between as to not overwhelm herself so Ruby would likely get there first ]
I'm getting close to the crystal. Didn't know there's a bakery in this little alley on the way, huh...
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[ She almost wants to laugh, but her confusion overpowers whatever force is making her want to at least chuckle ]
So I've been talking and hanging out with you, this whole time? Sonia... was like an avatar? What's your real name, then?
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[ Akashi leads the way to the patio. It's not that cold, but he stops by the entrance anyway to shrug his jacket off. Then he offers it to Roxanne, his arm stretched out and the jacket folded over the length of it. ]
Take this. It should keep you warm.
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[Not exactly surprising since their friends, but... Does he even want to know what Michelle was thinking about?]
Soundwave... And yes, 'Sonia' was an avatar- a solid light hologram, to be exact.
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[ Because of course there will be a next time. Ruby is getting close to the square now, glancing up to where she can see the crystal. She can't see any birds on it from here...but she can't see the whole thing yet! ]
Ooh, what bakery is it?
[ Inquiring minds would like to know. ]