i_am_not_cute | ⚡ 11th zap | action ⚡ forward-dated to morning of May 5th

[There's a familiar young woman stalking the streets of Luceti today, newly returned from her mallynapping a week ago. But those who know her will quickly realize that something is...off.

There are the physical differences, for one. She's slightly taller, wears her hair longer, and carries herself a little tighter, like a coiled snake ready to strike as needed. Her expression is intense and wary, not cheerful like it usually is. And she carries a katana with her -- a strange choice, considering her trademark weapon as a Hero (and the fact that she never walked around armed in Luceti).

Ah...Heroes and HeroTV. That's where things get interesting with this one. She remembers a certain event from her world rather differently from before, and as a result she's a girl with a mission now. Her purpose in Luceti is to rest a bit from her earlier ordeals and to learn enough to get her where she needs to go; she doesn't intend to stay any longer than she has to. After all, there's nothing that anchors her here aside from unfortunate circumstances. Friends? Don't be ridiculous -- she lost all her friends four years ago. It's the whole reason she's even stuck here in the first place.]

((OOC: Replies to come from

lightningbride! You can find Bride-Lin practically anywhere in Luceti during the daytime as she scopes out the village and tries to gather information. Evening is reserved for other ridiculousness...))

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Really? Who's your caretaker?

[HEY HEY HOLD ON A MOMENT HERE.]

And you still haven't answered my question! So do you remember me?

[Pao-Lin actually accepts this change of conversation, if only because she doesn't really want to talk too much about her past at this point. Too many bad memories associated with that, now.]

I don't, sorry. Where did we meet?

Right here! In Luceti! It was months ago!

I don't see how we could have met, then. I've been in a coma for the past four years, and just woke up from it a few days ago. [Or so she believes.]

[Yep, definitely a Malnosso kidnap.]

[Unless Pao-Lin got sent home and this is a different version of her...?]

You were in a coma? Why? Are you okay?

I'm fine now. [Physically, anyway. She lowers her voice slightly.] I...almost got killed a few years ago. I've had to rest since then. [Not that she had much choice in the matter.]

Wh-what? No way...

What happened? Why were you...?

[Is there someone she needs to murder in the most bloody way possible]

[You can save your energy, Anise. If anything, it'll be Pao-Lin doing the murdering -- though she still hopes it won't ultimately come down to that when confronting Maverick again.

At Anise's questions, Pao-Lin just shakes her head.] Mmm...it's kind of a long story. [And one that she doesn't feel like telling right now. It's certainly not one that a little girl has to hear.] So, how long have you been in Luceti for?

[Now you're just making her more curious!!!]

[But this sterner Pao-Lin intimidates her a bit, so she saves her questions.]

A couple of months! I think I got here at around...July? [The names of the months are still a bit strange to her.] Some people have been here for way longer than that though!

Do you know who's been here the longest? [Because presumably they'd know the most about the place.]

No...Not really. But a lot of my friends have been here for awhile! [Oh hey here's an idea.] Do you want to come over to my house? They might not be back yet, though.

[Nod.] That sounds fine. Lead the way.

Come on then! [A pause.] Ummm, do you have a place to stay?

I'm staying at the Welcome Center for now. [At least until she can figure out a way to get out of here.]

What's it like there? My friends found me as soon as I got here, so I haven't really been there before...

It's nice. [Nicer than she expected, and nicer than staying out in the forest.] The place certainly makes you feel "welcome".

Are you sharing a room with anyone?

[She shakes her head.]

I'd rather be by myself.

[Practical reasons. She can slip out whenever she needs to and doesn't need to report to anyone. She's also not interested in befriending people unless it means that she can get somewhere with her ultimate mission -- a stark change from her younger self.]

Ohh...Doesn't it get lonely?

[She's worried about you brosis]

...a little. [She straightens her shoulders.] But I can deal with it.

[She has to. She has no choice, now that she's alone.]

I guess... [She lets out a little sigh. This new Pao-Lin is so strange, and sad too.] You're welcome here any time, okay?

Thank you. That's nice of you to say. [Her voice is genuinely warm, but there's a distractedness to it too -- like she doesn't believe what Anise is saying. It's not that she doubts the girl's sincerity or anything. It's just that she's not sure if she herself will ever feel truly "welcome" anywhere ever again.]

It's the truth!

[It's not a truth that Pao-Lin can put any stock in right now. She's not sure it's one she can afford to put any stock in. She supposes it's good that she might have Luceti as a hiding place, but it won't do her much good once she gets back to Sternbild. And what then, if Maverick or anyone working for him finds out Luceti could be a safe haven for her? Who else would get hurt in the crossfire?

Excuse her a moment, Anise, Pao-Lin's just going to brood and muse for a little bit, so she might not be that talkative on this walk.]

[Sensing that Pao-Lin doesn't want to talk, Anise kept quiet too, worrying over her friend. Luckily for both of them, it only takes a few more minutes to reach the house.]

We're here!

[action]

lightningbride - 2012-06-14 05:44 (UTC) - Expand

failguardian - 2012-06-15 12:34 (UTC) - Expand

lightningbride - 2012-06-17 05:17 (UTC) - Expand

failguardian - 2012-06-17 11:57 (UTC) - Expand

⚡ 11th zap | action ⚡ forward-dated to morning of May 5th

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