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Open!

Who: Vivienne and YOU
When: Feb 7-11
Where: Around Caissa
What: Festivities are never easy. Pickpockets are even worse.
Rating: PG-13?

A: Feb 7

[Another festival? As she understood it, weren't they brought here to fight? To win a war? Why, in such dire times - dire enough that heroes need be called - is action not being taken?

Thoughts similar to those are what's circling Vivienne's mind as she helps one of the stalls perform their final set up before the festival truly begins. It seemed an easy enough task when she first read about it at the Town Plaza, but that was before they mentioned anything about food preparation. Following recipes is one thing, but some of these are extremely tedious and delicate, and patient as Vivienne can (selectively) be, she has a limit.

Which is why the stall owners have allowed her a break, and a small tray of dumplings, which she's now sitting with out the front of the stall. Should anybody curious walk up, Vivienne will tiredly murmur:]

They're not open.

[Except it probably isn't too convincing since she's.. you know, holding food.

Alternatively, feel free to catch her mid food prep!]

B: Feb 9

[Vivienne isn't the type to believe in things like fate, or destiny, and so the idea of a fortune is equally unreliable in her eyes. That's why she almost deadeyes the little slip of paper her Carrier - who she has finally named Gideon - insisted that she have. How it managed to get its little hands on it, she has no idea (though it likely just picked it up off the ground, as it's taken to doing), but she shakes her head as she reads it.

Unstable foundations forge stronger bonds.

It's nonsense, honestly. How can mere words on a slip of paper possibly foretell any coming event? It's impossible. Absolutely impossible, she thinks, as a slow splintering crack begins to fill the air. One of the wooden support beams at a stall begins to sag to one side, before giving way entirely and crashing down into the counters below, sending an array of fresh ingredients, hot cooked food and splintered wood into the air.

Some of the debris is heading Vivienne's way, and while she's normally much more alert, she's still thinking about unstable foundations and impossibility. Someone please yank her out of the way and tell her not to stand around like a deer caught in headlights. Though maybe not in those words - she won't have any idea what that means.]

C: Feb 11

[Recovering a lost item is a good way to not only make colle, but also to give herself something to do in her uneasy, restless state, and perhaps most importantly, properly acquaint herself with Caissa. The capital may be large, but she has to start somewhere. And the woman's request - "please bring back my pendant, it's a family heirloom! - sounded simple enough. But then the woman mentioned the culprit ran in the direction of the docks, which presents two problems:

1) Vivienne has no idea where the docks are in relation to her current location and 2) she can't swim. So if the pendant somehow managed to find its way into the water (and knowing her luck, it has), she's low on options.

Help a gal out? She's currently borrowing the ledge of the fountain in the Entertainment District, having unrolled a map of the capital she purchased, chin in hand. It's markings are smudged, and the roads seem unclear, but for only 15 colle (negotiated down from 25), you get what you paid for.]

[If you'd like to hash out any of the prompts with me beforehand, or come up with something completely different, feel free to contact me via PM or through plurk at

paako!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[ There's a gasp from Maki, her hand moving over her mouth as she watches the debris fall, nearing hitting the woman. Worse, that water that splashes on her looks like it must hurt, making her feel all the worse that she couldn't do more to help.

Unsurprisingly... her legs are like concrete on the ground. She's not used to dangerous situations, despite the role that she's been brought to this world to play. ]

You don't have to thank me! You must be hurt, that water looked boiling! [ The smaller girl, redheaded, about 17, is already looking around, the guilt clear on her face. ] I'm sure we can find some aloe vera or something to put on it.

[This sort of vitality? ...Energy? Vivienne doesn't quite know what to call it, but it's a personality she doesn't often see, much less usually interact with. It isn't awkward, just... maybe a little jarring.]

That isn't necessary. I'm- ["not hurt" she wants to say, but using her other hand to touch her shoulder, it... well, she supposes it does sting. But definitely not to the point it would require immediate medical attention.] It doesn't appear to be a serious affliction.

All the more, if you had not called to me... [With a tilt of her head, she regards the broken stall.] I loathe to think what may have happened.

[ Maki has plenty of energy and vitality, she's an idol, used to being up on stage and singing and dancing her heart out for crowds of fans. She even went to America and performed in Times Square! But in her usual sort of life she is much quieter and aloof as she is right now. ]

If it's a burn you still need to get it checked out. It could get infected and you'd be very sick. [ Does this world even have antibiotics? She isn't sure. Probably magic of some sort... but she doesn't know much about that yet. ]

I guess it could have been a lot worse.. I wonder why it all just came down like that. Someone should be held responsible.

An infection? From such a minor injury?

[Aside from the most basic forms of first aid, Vivienne doesn't... actually know much of anything. Where she comes from, injuries, and even illnesses are given a special one-time treatment, and then they're back on their feet.

She'd better look this up later--]

Ah- yes. I'm not certain, but- [And here, she holds out her hand to reveal the fortune, though now rather crumpled and damp.] Though I'm not sure I'm willing to believe it.

Burns can get infected very easily, they take a lot out of your immune system just trying to repair the damage.

[ Her parents being the doctor's they are, she's picked up a little information here and there. She can believe that not everyone worries the same way she does, but it's still best to get it checked out, she thinks. ]

H-Huh? [ Maki accepts the crumpled fortune and reads it over to herself a few times, before looking back up with a look of disbelief. ] Did you really get this randomly?!

You know quite a lot for someone so young. It's impressive.

[Despite how it sounds, that's actually a compliment.]

But strictly speaking, no. My Carrier picked it up. [Speaking of which, where is he? She lost track of him in all the commotion and-- ah, nevermind. Feeling a tug at her trousers, she relaxes somewhat. She doesn't need to look down to know it's him.] He would not leave me be until I accepted it.

Still, the coincidence is enough to leave chills.

I-I mean... it's... my parents are doctors and I just happened to learn a few things hanging around the hospital they run!

[ She's really bad at accepting compliments. But she definitely recognizes it as one. Nevermind that her face is red. Luckily for the both of them (particularly for Vivienne's eardrums) Maki doesn't notice any sort of zombies on the ground to set her off screaming. Instead she merely tries to help herself from being embarrassed, twirling her hair like she does. ]

It must.. just be a coincidence. It's not like fortunes really come true like that...

Regardless, it is something to be proud of. Hold your head high.

[Ah... yes, her Carrier does tend to incite that sort of response. It's largely harmless, save for the odd prank or two, but that doesn't really excuse its tiny, mangled face.]

Hm, strange. I'd have thought you'd have considered the possibility.

[Yes Vivienne, because all children were overly imaginative like you. That's totally it...]

[ For a girl who goes to a normal high school where the craziest thing is that they have alpacas on campus, seeing a weird half-zombie thing is likely to spook her. And boy can the girl scream, she's a talented vocalist after all. ]

It's not like I plan on becoming a doctor or anything...

[ That's a lie, or at least, she knows she doesn't have a real future in music as much as she might like to dream about it. ]

Eh? Why would I?

Even so, it has helped me here today.

[Her reliance on that special blood from her world has... spoiled her, for lack of a better term. First aid grew to be an increasing rarity. Something she'll need to remedy here.]

You are young, are you not? Do children not often take a liking to the fanciful?

[ Maki would do about as well with magic blood as she would with half-zombies. She's still not quite come to the realization that the world is much bigger and stranger than she could have ever have thought. ]

I am not a child! [ Her cheeks puff up as her voice raises a pitch. Just like a mature adult would do? She not completely aloof. She knows how silly that sounded just as quickly as she says it. ]

I-I mean... I'm going into my third year of high school.

[Ah, that defiance ought to have been an indication. She doesn't laugh, doesn't smile, those aren't things she offers freely, but there is a sense of amusement she feels.]

High school?

I take that is a form of higher education?

[ It's not a surprise really. Maki might be expressive and aloof, but she is used to people who aren't. ]

No... high school isn't compulsory in Japan, but it's still something expected of people my age. I--

[ Maki stops herself, bringing her hand to her mouth for a moment, clearly thinking. ]

..You're not from... Earth, are you?

[Ah.. there's that "Japan" word again. Seems that a lot of Heroes are from that place.]

No. But... is that truly the name of your world? [Genuine surprise.] I am from Erde. It's strange that they sound so... similar.

[ooc: sorry just a quick note to say Bloodborne's planet is unnamed, so I just... came up with something. Sorry!]

[ Maki knows of a few, including her best friend, who's here from Japan. Not that she sees it as anything strange though. ]

It's the name of the planet that I'm from. I didn't think it was actually possible before for people who aren't from there to even exist.

[ There's a small, exasperated sigh. The sigh of a girl who's dealing with far more than she's ever thought possible, while worrying everyday of how to get home and do her best here at the same time.

She suddenly realizes something though, raising up her hands in front of her in apologetic defense. ]

N-Not that I don't think you exist!

Edited 2016-03-09 18:51 (UTC)

[A gentle shake of her head; an unspoken gesture for "no offense taken".]

Perhaps I also would have thought something similar. [If she had any good reason to consider the possibility before now.] But I've come to learn of many... worlds since my arrival here.

Strange that a higher power shall prove you wrong when you think you've seen it all.

Yeah... me too. They really didn't just pick one type of person either. I'm just an idol and student, but they brought plenty of people who actually would be good at this kind of stuff..

[ She's never had to defend herself or anyone else once in her life. She's spoiled, though not rotten, and can't help but question why she is here at all, useless as she feels. ]

...A higher power?

[She shakes her head.]

Just an expression.

[Rather, just things she doesn't want to trouble young minds with. To be honest, she isn't quite sure of her understanding of the "high powers" she speaks of herself.]

But you're right. There are too many here that do not belong in a war. [Speaking of which...] What do you intend to do?

O-Oh. Right... [ Given how much strange stuff has been happening to Maki since coming ot this world, she almost had to think for a moment that the other had met god or something. Now she just feels silly for asking!

To that second part, she meekly blinks a few times. Yeah, she can guess that the other woman is talking about her, but doesn't know how to respond to that. ] I-I am just trying to figure out how me and Nico-chan can get home right now..

[ That reminds her... ] I'm Maki Nishikino, by the way. It's nice to meet you. [ Polite as she is she makes sure to bow her head a little. ]

Edited (word) 2016-03-11 19:13 (UTC)

You simply want to return home. I understand. [Oh boy, does she. She, and everyone else here. This isn't their war...] Though some believe the only way we will be able to return to our homes is to fight and win.

[And that's honestly where she's a little uncertain. Not only is there no guarantee, but she's also not find of the idea of dying here. But that aside.]

My name is Vivienne. [And here, she bows also, her back straight, and hands folded neatly in front of her.] A pleasure.

[ It's definitely not Maki's war... she's a student with little interest in fighting at all. ]

R-Really? I didn't think of that... It's still not right expecting us to put ourselves in dangerous situations... People could get hurt..

[ And Maki knows it's probably her or Nico who are going to get hurt. She's seen others here... others who look like they'd be fine in a fight. But her and Nico are idols, and high school students at that, they can't fight! Can they? ]

She appreciates the politeness from the other woman though, a small smile working over her lips.

Y-Yeah, it is. Are you sure your shoulder is alright though?

Hurt, yes. But perhaps worse things still. I have no experience in war, but I have my share of experiences elsewehere, and even there, on such a smaller scale, people would die. I cannot say that all who participate in, for example, a battle, will live. [Oh my god, you can't just say that to someone so young, Vivienne stop... Though as if realising this, she shakes her head.] I apologise. That was perhaps inappropriate to have mentioned.

But I believe I will be alright. [Though to be sure--] There was something you mentioned applying to it earlier. What was it?

[ That... hurts. The thought of her best friend, hurt or worse, coming to mind makes Maki want to cry. She would never tell Nico that, but she wouldn't ever be able to move on if something happened to the other girl. It's what makes her want to get stronger, at least, it's a small push in that direction for her. ]

N-No, it's fine I just... It's fine. [ It's really hard not to take that to heart, but Maki wants to be strong, or at least appear strong in front of this person she just met... ]

Oh. Um. Burn cream. It's an antibiotic that keeps burns from getting infected! But.. I don't know know if they have any. M-Maybe they have aloe vera.. [ She's mostly thinking out loud now. ]

[It wouldn't be the first (or last, even) time Vivienne saw someone put up a brave front. Valiant an effort as it is, there's only so much one can do against this knowledge. And yet, it's a start, which is why Vivienne doesn't address it. Fear is a necessity. It means you want to live.

That's how she sees it anyway.]

What is aloe vera?

[Maybe steering the conversation in a new direction will be better off--]

[ Maki is all about brave fronts. She's a ball of embarrassment sometimes, except apparently when she's on stage. Then she's a natural being in the spotlight. ]

Aloe vera is.. a tropical plant. You can use the extract inside to sooth burns and things. It's green, and has sharp little ridges...

[ They must be near a market or something, Maki is certain she could find it if they even have it here... ]

Open!

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haha its cool i hadn't even realized that!

Nah all good! I really doubt it'll happen, but I'm sorry if I need to retcon this later!

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