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?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Nah. Less people than when we were all downtown. [He gestures with one hand and walks long the foot prints.]

Dunno, but someone seems to have an idea. [Dave points down at the foot prints.] Can't hurt to take a look.

Oh. [relieved] Well...that's good news. [although she's still not sure what to make of the fact that she's here]

I guess not... [she follows him, still a bit uncertain] Sorry, but what was your name?

My name? [He thinks about it because really he could do a lot with that. Instead he shrugs and keeps going.] Dave Strider. Yours?

[This is slightly awkward. Asking for names in the freezing cold.]

Alicia Melchiott. [she has a feeling the title wouldn't mean anything here, so she leaves it off. for her, the conversation is a way to keep her mind off the cold] Any idea where these footprints might be taking us?

Yeah. We're not too far from the observation deck. [It is a good way to keep his mind off the cold. He trudges along, like a bright red flag to show the way.]

[thoughtful] Maybe there isn't any snow there. Why else would everyone go there?

Because we all had this magical reason to follow footprints? I've been wondering at it. I mean, foot prints in the snow would seem to be a bad thing. Do we even know who went waltzing off? Probably not.

Yet here we are.

[she's surprised by his suspicion] Well, it's not exactly magical to want to know where everybody else went, is it? [she shivers] And it's no good staying out here!

Anyway, if it winds up being worse than this, we can always come back. And there aren't any footprints to show that anybody else thought they needed to leave. I'd say there's enough evidence that the observation deck is worth checking out!

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]

[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.

[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.

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?

How'd you do it, anyway?

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

[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.

[she accepts the blade, though she's holding it a little uncertainly. also, she has no idea what he meant by that, but she's just going to accept it] Right. Well, let's keep moving!

[Dave leads the way, trudging through the snow without complaint. It's too cold to rant or rave about it. At least their destination isn't far now.] Just through the Mayor's house here. [He points and pulls the mayor's door open before stepping inside and holding the door open.]

[001]

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