Post 'Rebirth In Flames' (Locked from Astara)

[holdthefuture]

So at the end of that fiasco, the mysterious horned girl escaped. The surrounding area is vast, even if she possesses unusual physical characteristics, it can't be too difficult to flee.

But, you should know your Kijin better than that, right?

Wandering the city not long after the mission may lead you to an encounter with the girl in one of a few situations...

-


1. [A vending machine looks like it has been run over by a vehicle, and an unhappy policeman is giving the girl a scolding. She stays where she is and listens.]

Yes...I understand. I'll be more careful next time...

But for now I have to...

[Unfortunately, the officer, thinking that she's one of the district's cosplayers, continues his lecture about respecting public property...

So much for a flawless escape.]

---


2. [Towards the end of the day, a bench in a quiet park is where she sits. Staring into space and looking not only directionally challenged, but also troubled.]

I did that much to her, and she just shrugged it off.

She isn't a normal Kijin...

Comments

1

[stupidhonor]

No, that is not how you do it.

[A strange woman joins into the lecturing. And now she moves over to the destroyed vending machine and inserts a coin.

With a sad whirr, the machine shoots out a dented soda can.]

There.

[holdthefuture]

...

[Both the policeman and the horned girl are rendered speechless by this display...albeit for different reasons.

While the stunned girl watches quietly, the silence is broken by the officer, who looks exasperated.]

...Yes, that's how you use it.

In any case, do you know this girl, miss? People with this hobby tend to stick together, after all.

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje looks up and down Lenore.]

I am rather sure I do, yes.

[holdthefuture]

That's great. Can I trust you to show her the way home then? The city is still on edge after that battle, so we don't need more problems on the streets.

[The man's radio blares with transmissions from policemen elsewhere in the city as emphasis.

Meanwhile, the horned girl stares curiously at Sielje's armor.]


....

[stupidhonor]

I will take care of it to the best of my ability.

[Sielje nods seriously and waits for the policeman to go away. She turns to the strange person.. only to meet a stare.]

What... is it?

...

Wait, what could he have meant by "this hobby"?

[holdthefuture]

I believe it's called: 'cosplay'.

[She points at some others wearing ridiculous anime costumes around.]

But yours...looks very real.

[stupidhonor]

Of course it is real. It is worn for protection... though I see many others wear a variety of outfits.

[If the situation was not so serious, maybe Sielje too would...]

You remind me of someone. A long time ago...

1

[itbelongsinamuseum]

[There's a rather surprised girl near Lenore who has been watching for a while.]

How would she even do that?

[holdthefuture]

[The policeman places a hand on his hip as he explains.]

She ran past me and around the corner. There was a crash.

Some of the witnesses said she ran into it, others said she picked it up, shook it and accidentally dropped it.

I don't know what happened, but what I do know is that the responsible party is right here.


I'm sorry. I really am...

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Sounds pretty unlikely to me. She'd have to have super strength to do that. [And clearly the woman with the power of a Sumerian god can tell that that kind of thing is just fiction.]

[holdthefuture]

Even though no one else was around? She even admitted to it herself.

[The officer sighs. He has enough of a headache to deal with. This whole thing cuts his lecture short.]

...But I'm going to let you off the hook this time. The city's a mess after what happened earlier, and I'm needed elsewhere.

Just make sure you don't do it again.


...Y-Yes sir!

[itbelongsinamuseum]

Very good.

[Once the officer is away, she turns to the mysterious, horned girl.]

...So what actually happened?

[holdthefuture]

...

I ran into the machine...

When I tried to put it back like it was, I dropped it by mistake.

2

[pulledplug]

[Roy'd just been hitting the streets to get a grasp for the night life outside of Sakihama. Who'd have thought that chance would reunite the two again.]

... It's you!

[holdthefuture]

Ah!

[This catches the girl entirely by surprise. But as she looks in Roy's direction, her expression shows nothing but confusion.]

...Me?

[Well, he was in Wagner throughout that battle so she never really saw him. The voice does sound familiar though...]

[pulledplug]

Yeah, you!

Next time you want to go struttin' around and mucking up a crisis like when some freaky firebird came trying to burn up the place, at least wear a mask if you're not planning on leaving quick!

That enough of a reminder or you want me to go on?

[holdthefuture]

Oh...now that I think about it...that makes sense.

Thanks, I'll remember it next time.

[pulledplug]

Not gonna be a next time, believe me! And even if there were, you still got these-

[And then he suddenly reaches over, grabbing at Lenore's horns.]

-to make you stick out!

[holdthefuture]

Kyah!

[At which point she starts flailing.]

H-Hey! Where do you think you're touching...?!

Someone, help!

2

[cloningblues]

[Asagi passes by with his bike (at least he's not on it) as if nothing happened, before double-taking.]

It's you!

[holdthefuture]

!

[The girl's ears are raised as she snaps to attention.]

...Y-yes?

[Unfortunately, she doesn't recognize Asagi right away.]

[cloningblues]

You're the Kijin that attacked Astara. Don't act like you're not. Few people with horns and tails around.

[holdthefuture]

I wasn't trying to act.

...

...But, who are you?

[cloningblues]

It doesn't matter. What matters is why you did that. During the fight you said a lot of cryptic stuff that's not very helpful for those who are not in on the mystery.

[holdthefuture]

That's because none of you need to know...

I didn't want to get anyone else involved, and I still don't want to.