[Video]

[cutejustice]

[Well. Maya had gotten settled, such as it was. She had found a place to live for the time being. But so far not really doing much of anything was driving her up one wall and back down the other. So, it was clearly time to change that.

The screen flashed on. She at least had figured out how to access the network. Though it had taken many questions (sometimes asked more than once!) of her long suffering robot buddy, Helper.]

Hi! For those of you who don't know, I am Maya! I know there are a lot of people and robots and stuff I probably haven't met yet!

Anyway, I was wondering if anyone needed a lawyer around here? Or a spirit medium/ghost talker type person? Don't think it's weird that I'm mentioning the two of those things in close proximity. You'd be surprised at how often the two intersect!

[Robots could get into trouble, right? Besides, there were human people around. Besides... Maya didn't want to know know about the existence of robot ghosts, thanks. Though she had a feeling she might find out before she got to go home.]

Comments

[10_20_15_5_50]

To understate! [Sam's surprise is milder this time, but the exclaimation's authentic; she spreads her hands.] If I see see a ghost, especially if it isn't attached to anyone alive, the aura's most of it. It's like... all the emotion I'd expect off a person, on its own.

[It's the sheepishness as much as the story which prompts a look of sympathy.]

Ohh, no, poor you! At least it's pretty nice here, weather-wise...? And generally, the situation aside. But it's what, something like seventeen C?

[That's acclimatization speaking. It's more like 15 C during the day, and 10 C after dark, but Sam's given to overestimating the temperature on account of arriving fresh out of February.]

[cutejustice]

See... I see auras as colors around a person. Ghosts... generally don't have that. I tend to see ghosts as a slightly more transparent version of how the person used to be. Of course... that's if I'm not channeling them.

[That's when things really tended to get weird.]

The lake was a little colder than that, but maybe not too much. I don't know. I didn't have a thermometer. At least it wasn't a freezing cold waterfall. So there was that at least.

[10_20_15_5_50]

I'd say 'weird,' but prior to this I've had only my own experience to go on... and if I'm going to call it anything, I'm going to call it 'cool.' Speaking of my own experience... I've never been able to see my own aura, and the opportunity to ask somebody about it is something I never expected I was going to get. D'you wanna meet up, talk some shop face-to-face?

Point.

[cutejustice]

Talking shop might be neat. I've never really met anyone aside from other people from Kurain that could see ghosts or anything. Maybe we could get something to eat? I'm starving!

[Feys were always hungry. Being a spirit medium required huge amounts of spiritual energy, which generally translated into huge metabolisms. So Maya could easily eat like she had a black hole in her stomach.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Sure, sure! Where are you? I can come pick you up.

[cutejustice]

I'm at my place. I can give you the location.

[Maya looked at her drone.] You can send her directions or at least an address, right?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Good deal.

[The video shifts as Sam heads for her ride, confident that the directions'll go through---she figured out how to send directions alright, and the only tech she has a whole lot to do with is her phone.]

Hopefully I'll see you soon.

[cutejustice]

Hopefully. Don't get lost!

[Maya was bad at technology, and not that great at getting around yet. This city? Was big. And when walking it was your main way of getting around, that sort of thing could take some time.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[So it takes a while.]
[A fair while.]
[But, eventually Maya will hear an engine approaching, and see someone---a helmeted Sam--driving what appears to be a snowmobile with wheels where its skis once were. She stops the streetdoo, and waves.]

Hey!

[cutejustice]

[Maya had been looking out the window when she saw Sam pull up. And then her eyes went wide.]

Oh wow! What is that? It's not a motorcycle!

[But it looked neat all the same.]

I'll be right down!

[10_20_15_5_50]

The streetdoo!

[She's laughing as she answers, and waves in acknowledgement.]

Righto!

[cutejustice]

[Maya got the apartment locked up, before joining Sam down on the street.]

The what now? Did you make this thing? It's awesome!

[10_20_15_5_50]

The streetdoo, and no, no, no---though I wish I did, cause it is awesome.

[She'll take her helmet off and tuck it under an arm, standing up to stretch a little.]

One day, I went and I was talking to Wheeljack---he's the Chief Engineer--about some transportation, since I'm so slow on foot. He took me to look through the vehicle storage section of the warehouse, and I saw this.

[Sam gestures towards the machine, with great affection.]

Similar to my little Arctic Cat at home. I said so, and he offered to make it street-worthy. So, it ceased to be a skidoo, and became a streetdoo instead.

[cutejustice]

It's totally awesome. It's like a motorcycle, only better. Do you know of any place to get burgers, coffee, or tea?

[If they were going to be talking shop, Maya was not doing it on an empty stomach.]

And Wheeljack, huh? I'm pretty bad with technology, though having a way to get around this place wouldn't be a bad idea.

[10_20_15_5_50]

I couldn't agree more. I've never driven a motorcycle, but this thing is nigh-impossible to tip on anything except some serious incline, and since thin ice is no issue, I'd say it's safer. Even so...

[She'll hold the helmet out to Maya, with a smile and a little shrug.]

Person at back's most likely to go off if there are any bumps, so you should have this, just in case. There's a restaurant I was thinking we could hit up? During my first month here, I was busy, so I ended up eating a lot of take-out.

He could probably set you up with something. Couldn't hurt to ask, and I doubt he'd mind at all.

[cutejustice]

[Maya puts the helmet on and climbs on behind Sam, holding on tight.]

Hey, I'm game. I love food. You drive, I'll hold on tight. You just get us there in one piece, okay?

[And Maya would try not to crush Sam's ribs in the process.]

And maybe I can hit up Wheeljack after we eat.

[Because food was definitely a priority.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Deal.

[Sam settles herself, and they're off! The streetdoo really is a nice alternative to a motorcycle, since a second body doesn't affect its balance at all, and although it was on the smallish side while still a skidoo it fits two people easily.]

[Even though Sam drives at a reasonable speed, it takes only a short time to arrive at the restaurant. She stops the streetdoo out of the way of any traffic, waving towards their destination.]

Good news; they make a pretty good pizza.

[cutejustice]

How are their burgers?

[Though Maya wasn't to picky. Pizza, burgers, steak, ramen, she'd eat just about anything. Sure, she had favorites, but she right now, she wasn't going to be too picky.]

That was actually a pretty fun ride.

[She got off the streetdoo and handed the helmet back to Sam.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

Oh, their burgers are good! Better bison than I've had in the last year. Moved to Manitoba from Alberta a year ago, missed it ever since.

[Sam nods, grinning, and takes the helmet to tuck it into the storage space beneath the streetdoo's seat.]

Glad you thought so.

[cutejustice]

All right! Good burgers! Sounds like we're in business!

[Truly the way to Maya's heart was through her stomach.]

I'm starving, you're starving, what are we waiting for, let's go!

[That declared, Maya practically bolted into the restaurant.]

[10_20_15_5_50]

[Laughing, Sam followed at a much more leisurely pace.]

So tell me, Maya! Are you a fries or onion rings kind of girl, or all about the burgers?

[cutejustice]

Fries aren't bad, but burgers are the main attraction!

[Maya had a second stomach for burgers after all! (And a second stomach for ramen, and a second stomach for steak... the list just went on and on!) They were seated relatively quickly, at least.]

So... have you always been able to see ghosts, or did this start happening to you more recently?

[10_20_15_5_50]

Y'wanna split a side, then? I won't have room for a burger and poutine, but that doesn't stop me from wanting both.

[Yeah, the service at... well, every establishment in Haven was pretty good. For an obviously-underpopulated city on an alien planet, it was a surprisingly pleasant place to be marooned.]

To the extent that I'm able, always. Auras always, too, but I've gotten better at picking stuff out since I was a kid. What about you?

[cutejustice]

Sure! I don't think that I've ever had poutine before!

[That didn't mean that she'd turn it down! As to Sam's second question, Maya considered it, looking over the menu a little, before answering.]

Well... I'm from a town called Kurain. The women of Kurain are generally spirit channelers. The most powerful family is where the Master comes from. Technically, I'm the Master of Kurain right now, since my mother died. I've never been the best spirit medium, but I've been able to see ghosts and auras since I've been little. I've gotten better at it as I've gotten older.

[10_20_15_5_50]

If you like fries, you'll like it---unless you hate gravy. It's pretty much just fries with melty chunks of cheese mixed in, topped with gravy, but the whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

[Arms folded on the tabletop, Sam leaned forward, absolutely fascinated.]

Wow. I---

[Wait. Priorities.]

I'm sorry about your mom.

Generally, for the entire town? Multiple families practicing? That's...

[She opens one hand beside her head; mind blown.]

I'd wondered off and on if I'd ever actually meet anyone else who saw any of this stuff, y'know? Read through so many parapsychology books growing up, trying to find something that meshed with my own experience, but never turned up much of anything.