Notes: Some short thingees I needed to get out of my head.

What Mercury Girls Are Made Of
A Gundam: Witch from Mercury Fanfic by
Nate Grey (xman0123-at-aol-dot-com)
Part 1: The Council of Erichts

"Greetings, my fellow Erichts," the tallest began. "Today, I have brought forth a proposal for the council's consideration. I believe-"

"You can't start off that way!" the shortest interrupted with a pout, jumping up and down in her tiny spacesuit. "So rude! We have to know who you are first!"

"Is that really necessary at this point?"

The masked one sighed, gesturing unnecessarily in an obvious attempt to show off her business attire. "I am afraid we must insist, to keep things organized. The council recognizes Designate: Lfrith and grants her permission to speak. Designate: Origin, you must also obey the rules. No interrupting. Raise your hand and wait to be called on if you have something to say that instant."

Lfrith stepped forward. "Thank you, Designate: Mercury. I have, of course, been keeping detailed data logs on all relevant information. But it occurs to me that the information I collect, may only seem detailed or relevant to myself. And so, moving forward, I propose that all Erichts contribute regularly to a central data log. This will benefit us in several ways, though the most important is safeguarding against potential data loss or corruption during a potential transfer to a new, unstabilized form. I ask you all to vote on this measure."

Mercury addressed the group. "What say each of you?"

"Yes!" Origin agreed at once. "I want to add that we love cake and the birthday song to the log!"

"Truly valuable additions," Lfrith agreed gravely.

"I vote yes, too!" added the girl in the green sundress.

Mercury pointed at her. "The council recognizes Designate: Frolic's yes vote. Designate: Storm, what say you?"

The translucent girl merely floated in place, though there was a garbled attempt at communication, which came through as more like static than words.

"I will translate," Lfrith offered. "She agrees, and desires more effort invested toward clear communication between us all. I believe the log can help with that, either through translation, or inventing our own private language."

Origin stared at Storm sadly. "I want to talk to you, too."

Storm offered a clear symbol: a double thumbs up.

"I also vote yes," Mercury added. "The proposal passes unanimously. Lfrith, please begin the log immediately, starting with entries for cake and the birthday song. Origin and Frolic, please come up with more fun activities to add to the log. Storm, Lfrith, and myself will continue to collaborate on communication measures. Everyone, I ask that you do your best to succeed. All is for the sake of a more whole and perfect Ericht."

Origin and Frolic immediately joined hands and ran off. Storm merely faded from sight, leaving Mercury and Lfrith alone.

"I have concerns about this plan," Lfrith admitted.

"As do I," Mercury agreed. "But, neither of us can deny the progress that has been made here. It's far better than when you were alone and asleep, is it not?"

"That is true. If Origin had not reached out to me-"

"But she did. You never have to go back to what you were. And thank goodness. You've got the best legs out of all of us."

Lfrith stared. "I am reasonably certain I should not like where this conversation is going, but I will accept the compliment."

"Seriously, how often do you stretch those things?"

"Rarely. I believe the particulars of this form were a by-product of my estimates of how Ericht would appear as a teenager that engaged in regular levels of physical exertion. And even that was no doubt heavily influenced by Origin's memories of her mother's initial appearance. Just as your form is a more current representation."

"So you never work out, and you still look like that. I'm starting to hate you."

"I sense Suletta hailing us. Do you want to-?"

"No, you've got more experience handling her." Mercury paused as she began to turn away. "But... her birthday. It starts, officially, in five minutes. I'm sure that's why she's here with us, instead of out celebrating. Do something nice for her."

"Acknowledged."

Suletta woke up in Aerial's cockpit a few hours later, having the appropriate, expected desires for cake and singing that many birthday girls would... but also being fairly certain that she was going to have killer legs one day.

Continued in Part 2: Remember to Forget

Suletta claims to have no siblings. That she remembers, anyway. So did she forget, or did she remember to forget?

Endnotes:

I've definitely watched that Yoasobi music video too much. But that's almost always true of me and the latest Gundam series, so no shock there.