luministi | [001]

[a CAT activates to show a girl with her brown hair tied back in two ponytails under a red scarf, wearing a uniform. someone looking closely might also notice the white flower wrapped around her finger. she is standing in front of the vidscreen in the bedroom where she just woke up, her arms wrapped around herself to fight off the cold as snow, impossibly, falls around her inside the room. but for the moment she's focused on watching the Mayor's message--except, at first glance, she doesn't realize it's recorded]

Luministi? Again!? [she stares. but she swallows her worry and tries to be polite to the figure on the screen] Hey, um, Mr. Mayor? I'm sorry, but I can't be here right now. I can see there's some...trouble...going on. [she eyes the snow] But there's something really important that I have to go do first, so could you send me ba--

[but she cuts off as the mayor remarks that he's not there in person] What!? [surprised and annoyed, she steps up to tap the vidscreen] What is this? Some sort of...radio? With a picture?

[she steps back again, utterly bewildered, and listens to the rest of the Mayor's message, brushing snow out of her face and stamping her booted feet for warmth as she does so. and as it ends, she unwraps her arms and clenches her hands into fists in frustration] But how did I get here? Why am I here again!? I have to go back! Randgriz is about to be attacked!

[knowing that her words are falling on deaf ears, she sighs and whirls away from the screen to head out into the main room of the townhome] Hello? Is anyone here? [seeing the gift basket, she riffles through the contents, mumbling to herself] It's like I'm supposed to live here. But why? Half this stuff isn't even good for winter! [she quickly abandons her search, not noticing as the CAT attaches itself to her uniform. she goes to the door and steps outside, starting to shiver by now]

Fuu? [as she walks away from the townhome, she turns in a circle to look around. cupping her hands around her mouth, she calls:] Hey! I-is anybody here?

How do I get out of here?

[noticing all the footprints on the ground, she frowns at them, bending down to get a closer look] Wait...has everyb-body left already? [she straightens again, calling one more time:] H-hello! Anyone out there?

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Oh! Yeah, I remember that day. It was kinda weird... [Dad showed up, which was the strangest part for Kon.]

Most of us've been here for a few months, though, so I don't think we were part of that group that came in.

[-oh. Not quite what he'd meant, but that's fine! He's a little less enthusiastic about walking through the snow, but hopefully the sooner they get where they're going, the sooner they'll be out of it.]

So… may I ask where you're from?

[she smiles] You're telling me!

You mean everyone else who came here that day is gone, too? But the rest of you aren't? [she frowns; what could cause that?]

[that's okay; Alicia is happy to lead the way]

I'm from Gallia! [and, realising that in this place, that might not be specific enough, she adds:] It's in Europa.

What about you, Hawk?

Not saying we shouldn't go looking. I mean, come on, we know we're going to any way. But if shit goes down and it looks bad just stay behind me and run if it goes south. [Dave waves a hand, gesturing to the area as he draws his sword. The white half sword glows red and is restored to a lobg blade. He trudges on, putting himself at the front as before.]

[she's surprised by that statement] I'll be all right. [and she reaches back to grab her rifle--which she doesn't have. oops. still, she's not a sergeant for nothing--but she does follow him rather than walking beside him] If anything attacks, I'll help if I can.

[the appearance of his sword is nothing short of amazing, though] Wow! Do you have...some sort of power? [she's never seen anyone do anything like it before. really, the closest she's seen is the power of a Valkyria, but she knows this can't be that]

[nodding]

I'm from Navarre. It's pretty much the southernmost country, back home.

[Dave smirks as he keeps moving, pausing only to look back at her. You could say that. I'm just a knight man. Any way, If you need a blade I got plenty.

[yeah, he had a feeling his presence would do that, but he's never particularly cared about putting someone on their guard before. all the better that they're prepared.]

No, I'm not in charge. I am Agent Washington, and I can explain better on the way, but you really shouldn't be left out here. We don't know if there are any surprises left for us in the snow.

[if he sounds a bit ominous, well, it's because he means to.]

Oh. Gallia is in the north, but there are countries that are further north than we are. [she's glad for the conversation; it's helping her distract herself from the cold] What's Navarre like?

[her expression is impressed] Well, that was amazing, however you did it! I'm used to a rifle, but I won't say no to a sword if it's needed.

[now she's just not sure what to make of him. she nods, still fairly certain he must at least work with the people who are in charge] All right. But where are you taking me?

[something else to focus on definitely helps.]

It's a desert country… so lots of sand, interspersed with stone and a couple of oases. And Gallia?

As far as I know, yeah. I didn't think much about it because right after you left, the town messed with our memories and we thought we lived here all this time...

[He shrugs.] At this point, anything's possible.

It's just tech. The blade going longer was all me though. [He stops in the sword to half turn so he can see her.] Long blade or short?

This must be a real change from that! [she shivers]

Gallia is mostly forests, plains, and farmland. But there's desert to the east and coastline to the west and north. I'm from Bruhl--it's a small town, out in the country. [her expression is a bit wistful as she pictures her home as it used to be] So your hometown is in the desert?

[shocked] Wait, what do you mean it messed with your memories!?

How'd you do it, anyway?

Oh, um...long blade. [after all, she's used to fighting with a rifle's range] Thanks!

Haha, it is! I've been to the snowfields in Altena a few times, but it's still… [he shivers, only a little more put on than he feels]

[he nods, listening] It sounds like a good place to live. Yeah, near an oasis.

Snowfields, huh? They sound pretty. Then again, I guess this would be if it weren't so cold!

[she nods, smiling] Nothing beats the smell of fresh soil! And Bruhl had this giant windmill that--well, we'll rebuild it soon enough. [she smiles optimistically]

But what about you? What's best about where you're from?

Mm… it's hard to appreciate when it's this cold, though!

[another nod] Ah… you've seen a bit of trouble, then?

Oh… [he goes quiet, thinking about it.] Well… I've always liked the night. And if you look up at the sky… some nights, it's clear enough you think you might be able to see the other side of it.

Just that it did. [He doesn't sound like it bothers him, even if it kind of does.] I don't know how else to explain it, but for two weeks, we thought we lived here all our lives.

[He selects a long red blade with a frog styled hilt and presents it to her.] Sylladex, something everyone has at home. Just some goofy shit so we can carry around damn near everything.

You're right there!

Oh, yeah. [it's still weird to her to be in a place where people don't know about it] We're at war. The enemy took Bruhl, but we got it back. [she smiles, still comforted by that--even if Bruhl isn't at all like the state it was in before the occupation]

The other side of the sky, you mean? [she giggles] Still, that sounds beautiful. Can you see a lot of stars from there?

That's...wow. [she's not even sure what to say to that] But you stopped what they were doing?

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