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.

1

[itbelongsinamuseum]

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

How would she even do that?

[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.

[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.]

[stupidhonor]

[Sielje looks up and down Lenore.]

I am rather sure I do, yes.

[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!

[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.]


....

[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.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

You actually did that?

...What kind of superpowers do you have?

[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.

[holdthefuture]

Well...I'm not human.

[Those ears of hers droop as she says this. It's clearly not just a costume.]

[itbelongsinamuseum]

...Should you really say it like that? Most people would be rather worried hearing that somebody who isn't walks among them.

[holdthefuture]

But it's useless to hide it when I look like this.

There is always someone asking...

[itbelongsinamuseum]

You could try to say it's a costume. Like that police officer thought.

[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...

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]

R-real armor...

...Wait, you know someone who looks like me?

[holdthefuture]

That would be lying to a law enforcement officer.

[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...]

[stupidhonor]

[Nod.]

Real armor.

And yes. I met her many years ago...

A person with horns. And a tail.

[itbelongsinamuseum]

It's not like you were in court or facing criminal charges.

[holdthefuture]

...When was this?

Was it around here, too?