1st Rain [Video]

[rabbitintherain]

[Everything was still kind of a blur for Yoshino. She remembered that odd dream about that man in the mask, and hearing something about a city in danger, but that certainly hadn't prepared her for this. Where exactly was she? This obviously wasn't Tengu City, nor anywhere else she might have recognized. It was at least an hour before she decided to try and find some help.

Somehow, she managed to turn on the camera function of the COMP. How? She has no idea. She just did. A girl with blue hair is kneeling there on the ground, sniffling like she's been crying. It also looks like its been raining, at least in an area around her. Yoshino is sad, and lost, and confused. She's not sure what to do. The only thing that really sticks out about her is the strange puppet on her left hand. It looks like some sort of rabbit with an eyepatch. And it's the puppet that talks first.]

Oh, it's recording now, isn't it? Good!

So, here's the scoop. We have no idea where we are! There was some strange dream and then...poof! Here we are. Anyone know what's going on?

[And while Yoshinon talks, Yoshino continues to be absolutely silent, save for the occasional sniffle. Yoshinon would know how to handle the situation.]

If anyone's got answers, let us know. Or if you've seen our friends, Shido, Reine, Tohka, and Kotori, send 'em our way!

Aaaaand I think that's it.

[Yoshinon starts to say something about turning the camera off, but it's cut off by the feed turning off.]

Comments

[video]

[a_gentle_boy]

Oh...

[Lucas looks for a moment, as if he can't decide whether to address the crying girl or the cute puppet before -- ]

Are the two of you OK? ...Um. You've ended up in Hinoto-Ri, and that's... sort of how most people come here. It's not very easy to handle at first...

[video]

[rabbitintherain]

[Yoshino actually seems to shrink back a bit as he begins speaking. Even though she'd been hoping for some sort of response, it still didn't help her any. Now, if it had been any of her small group of friends, it would've been a different story, but she's already starting to suspect that they aren't here.]

...

We're okay, just a little lost. Hinoto-Ri? Never heard of it before. Is it in Japan?

[a_gentle_boy]

[Now Lucas seems lost.]

No, it's... It's a little hard to explain, actually. There's nothing else outside of Hinoto-Ri. It's just.... this one city.

[rabbitintherain]

[That doesn't make a whole lot of sense to her. How can there be nothing outside of the city? Surely there were other cities, or mountains, or forests. Something.]

There's...nothing?

That can't be true, right? A city can't be all that's here! What about the rest of the world?

[a_gentle_boy]

Well... We can't actually see it ourselves, but there's this big barrier around the city. And they say that outside it's all sort of... gone.

[Lucas looks vaguely apologetic as he says this.]

We're here to save the city, I think. Maybe the world, too.

[rabbitintherain]

All...gone...

[Give her a moment to try and wrap her head around that. Or try to. Everything is gone? She just sort of stares blankly for a few seconds and...let the waterworks begin. She's both crying and it starts raining over her.]

[a_gentle_boy]

O-Oh...!

[Whoops.]

Um. I-It's not your world! I mean. ...It's not that much better, since there's still a place that's like this, but if that's what you were afraid of...

We just have to do what we can to make it better...

[unbroken_chain]

Okay, this one obviously requires a level of tact and delicacy.

"Hello. My name's Kotoha, and it's part of my job to help newcomers like you two. Is there anything I can do for you?"

[rabbitintherain]

Yes, yes she does. Well, somewhat. The puppet's still doing the talking for her.

"Hi there! Newcomers? We shouldn't be here. Can you tell us how to get back to Tengu City?"

[unbroken_chain]

"Well, I think the Shining Trapezohedron can send people back to their worlds, but I don't actually know how it does that. I know where it's kept, but the staff there is kind of overworked so it...might take a few days to get you there?"

[rabbitintherain]

Yoshino looks kind of confused, and even Yoshinon seems to have a look on its face that just says 'wut'.

"Shining Trapa-what? Is that like the Fraxinus? That's a big ship that can teleport people around."

There's a pause, as Yoshino considers the second part of that. Could it really just send her back like that? She hopes so.

"A few...days...?"

Yes, she actually spoke!

[unbroken_chain]

"No, the Trapezohedron is some kind of weird magic crystal."

Oh hey she spoke!

"Yeah, a lot of stuff happened recently and we're still in the middle of rebuilding. I can't promise you can get in right away, but I can make an honest effort to get you in. If it helps, I've traveled using the Trapzohedron before, and it sends you back not just to your world, but the same instant you left, so your friends won't even know you were gone."

[rabbitintherain]

"That sounds too convenient to me!"

But it also sounds useful, especially if it is true. Yoshino blinks, apparently surprised that this girl wanted to help her. This girl that didn't even know her. She reminded Yoshino a bit of Shido. He'd wanted to help her, no matter what. She seems a bit hesitant, but she speaks again.

"You would...really do that?"

Video

[all_wound_up]

Hello! Maybe I can help!

[And here's a shark shaped hand puppet answering the feed on Nano's end. She's using a slightly lower pitched voice and trying to add a sort of growly quality to it.]

Video

[rabbitintherain]

[Give Yoshino a moment to try and comprehend this. She's not sure whether this is someone who's like her, or whether she's being made fun of. Hopefully not the latter. Still, she responds via Yoshinon.]

Ohhhh? How can you help?

Video

[all_wound_up]

I've been here for over a year, so I can answer your questions!

Video

[rabbitintherain]

[Yoshino seems to freeze for a moment at that. That's...not something she really wanted to hear. Does that mean she'll be stuck here that long too?]

A...year?

Why so long, huh? Can't you just leave?

Video

[all_wound_up]

[The shark droops its head a bit.]

It's not that easy. I don't really know how.

Video

[rabbitintherain]

That's not very helpful, you know!

[But at least the shark puppet seems sincere?]

[Video]

[angryyoungvamp]

[Okay. Talking through a rabbit puppet. Where Maugris is from, this does not necessarily disqualify one from being competent... though it does rather imply one is less than stable.

The fact that the person with the puppet is a sad little girl is rather more worrying. But maybe this is just how she copes. In any case, there's a rather pale twenty-thirtyish man replying.]

I'm afraid your friends' names don't mean a lot to me, but it's a big city. It could be they're here and I've just never met them. Or they might still be in your world.

Looks like you've gotten the welcome speech already. That's good. I usually seem to just confuse people when I try to do it.

Anyway, uh. I'm Maugris. [He pronounces it "Maw-gree".] Things are kind of a mess in the city right now. But the apartments are pretty safe, and if things are up and running enough in the government you should already have one assigned. You should be able to find out where you're rooming at either building, and there's a portal that links between them, so that's okay. I man, assuming you haven't found it on your own already.

[Video]

[rabbitintherain]

[He would certainly be correct in assuming that Yoshino isn't completely stable, and that it's part of how she copes. This isn't the first new world she's found herself in, so that isn't the bad part. But everything that she'd gotten used to is gone. Again.

Even though she's upset, scared, and confused, she still listens carefully. Just in case there's something important that can help her out. He seems to give her a little hope. It is a big city. They could be here. Maybe. That bit about apartments catches her interest in particular.]

Apartments? Where are they? They could be there!

[Yeah, that bit about the city being in a mess went right by her.]

[Video]

[angryyoungvamp]

Um... let's see here, just a second, I'll send you a map.

[After a moment, Yoshino will get a file. Opening it up will reveal a map with the locations of the two apartment buildings marked on it.]

They're big apartment buildings, so they kind of stand out in the districts they're in. I'm not sure where you are in the city... any landmarks nearby? Can you see the river from where you are?

[He's going to at least try to help.]

[Video]

[rabbitintherain]

[She'd think it was one of the strangest maps she's seen, but she's only seen a few, so she doesn't have a whole lot to compare it to. Yoshino still looks sort of confused though. She's not sure where she is in the city.

She starts to shake her head in response, but stops mid-shake.]

I think...

We saw a big clock tower not too far from here! Does that help?

Re: [Video]

[angryyoungvamp]

Clock tower... only one I can think of is right in Pisces District. Heading west from there should get you to the apartment building. If you can see an overhead tram line, try to follow that - I don't remember whether they're working at the moment but it'll still lead you there. It's a big set of tracks on tall poles.

[Video]

[rabbitintherain]

[Okay, the word tram wasn't familiar with her, but at least he gave her a description. That certainly helped. And she's gonna get right on trying to find the apartment building.]

...thank you.

Yeah, thanks! Otherwise me might've gotten lost or something.