001 [Action] - Intro

[childofthefullmoon]

 [ Estelle didn't exactly wake up in the most comfortable position. She was sprawled on the floor of the library, face down. Eventually she started to stir and groaned a little before pushing herself up into a sitting position. Kneeling, with her hands folded in her lap, the girl blinked a few times as she began to look around. This was an unfamiliar place, and yet not unpleasant, since she was surrounded by books. Confusion was written all over her features as she attempted to get her bearings. Just where was she anyway? Her mind was foggy and she was generally disoriented. Not to mention she looked a little silly just sitting there, having absolutely no clue what was going on. It finally occurred to her that she should maybe look around. Standing up, she took a few steps forward and peeked around a bookcase.]

Hello?

Comments

[trueknight]

[Sighing at that. He really wishes he could've gotten to Estelle before that happened, but ... Well, she's all right, and Alexei seems to have backed off of harassing them too much in Luceti. It should be okay for now, even if he'll be keeping an eye on things anyway.]

... All right. [... That's right, he might as well tell her that.] Just be careful if you run into him again. He hasn't done much harm here, but he's still Alexei.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Alexei isn't really something she wants to think about too much right now. Her hands fidget a little bit.]

Yes, you're right. I will.

[...]

How many of us are here?

[trueknight]

Aside from him, it's just the three of us.

[... Oh wait, that other girl--]

... Four, actually. You happen to know anyone called "Patty"?

[childofthefullmoon]

[She breathes a sigh of relief. Oh good, no one else is here. Wait. Huh?]

Patty?

[She thinks on this for a moment.]

No, I don't know anyone by that name.

[trueknight]

[Then they're from the same "timeline" in their world ... He's not sure if that makes things easier or harder, but for now, he's just going to not touch on that whole thing.

Regardless! He'll just slap on his usual light smile/smirk as he responds to that, hoping that'll help to make it seem like it's not a big deal or anything to worry about.]

In that case, don't worry about it for now. You'll be meeting her sooner or later today, anyway.

[Do do do, crossing one of the bridges now. The house will be in sight soon enough.]

[childofthefullmoon]

[The smile helps and Estelle perks up a little bit, nodding and smiling in reply. If Yuri says not to worry about it, then she won't. Instead she takes the time to look around as they cross the bridge.]

This village is so lovely.

[For a perpetual prison that is. But might as well look on the bright side, right?]

[trueknight]

Hmm?

[With that, he takes a short glance off to the side, frowning slightly.]

... I don't know. I guess it's all right, but it's still all closed in. It makes it hard to really get out there and do much of anything.

[... Maybe he'll learn when to and when not to sit on people's bright-side related opinions with his overly realistic ones. He means well, though, really.]

[childofthefullmoon]

[Oh Yuri. But Estelle's attempted optimism isn't so easily squashed.]

I think it's beautiful.

But isn't there something you can do?

[Surely they were not expected to just sit and twiddle their thumbs all day? She definitely couldn't see Yuri doing that anyway. Estelle already knew where she was going to spend a lot of her time.]

[trueknight]

There are some things. [A shrug.] I just don't like anyone telling me I can't go beyond certain points here.

[childofthefullmoon]

[She can't really blame him for that. While Estelle had gotten use to being cooped up in a castle... she definitely now preferred her freedom. But she avoided that little bit of negativity.]

Oh? I would very much like to know more about your time here, Yuri.

[Maybe if he tells her all about it, she could get a better idea of what to expect in this world.]

[trueknight]

[He sighs lightly at that. His time here ...? Man, there was just way too much. Not to mention, he hasn't recalled every last thing ... Well, whatever. He figures he'll tell her one or two things after he explains that whole "returning to luceti" thing.]

There isn't a whole lot to tell that's all too interesting ... [Or even remotely nice to hear/talk about, in some cases.] But I guess there's no harm in talking about a few things that might be.

[childofthefullmoon]

[He's doing a lot of sighing. Did she say something wrong?]

That would be wonderful.

[Even if its none too pleasant, she still wants to know what Yuri has been up to. Without prying of course.]

Is this the house? [Asked once they cross the bridge and are practically upon the building itself.]

[trueknight]

Hmm? [Looking over, and ... yep. He nods and starts heading for the front door. It's a fairly large house, too, with a rather sizeable backyard to it. There's even a tire swing attached to one of the larger trees outside of the place.] Yeah, this is it.

[childofthefullmoon]

[It wasn't the castle, but it was still impressive. Definitely larger than many of the inns they had stayed at during their journey. Estelle steps forward to open the door and walk inside. Once they're both in, she sets down her journal and turns to Yuri. Holding her arms to her chest, large green eyes look at him imploringly, with as much seriousness as she could muster.]

Please, Yuri. Tell me everything.

[trueknight]

[Once he closes the door behind him and hears what Estelle has to say, he gestures at the couch.]

In that case, you might as well sit down, 'cause there's an awful lot to say.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Well then. Estelle walks over to the couch and gracefully sits, placing her hands in her lap. She looks to Yuri patiently, but expectantly. She's ready for this.]

[trueknight]

[Normally, this would be where Yuri picks a spot on the wall and leans against it, but ... well. He really wasn't kidding when he said there was a lot to say. So, he's taking a seat as well.

... However, "everything" is really vague, especially for a guy in his position. So, he'll just start with what he originally wanted to tell her about - the whole "memories" thing.]

Guess I'll start with the easier topic first. [A small pause, then--] Did anyone tell you how long you were around the first time you came here, or did they all just say they knew you somehow?

[childofthefullmoon]

No, many people just claimed to know me.

[Which was more than a little unsettling to say the least. Those people didn't really go into detail either about how they knew her. Probably to spare her even more confusion.]

How long was I here?

[trueknight]

I wasn't around when you left that time, but ... it was definitely over two years, at least.

[childofthefullmoon]

That's so long.

[A lot can happen in two years, and to think that she didn't remember any of it. It made her sad, especially when thinking about all the people who knew her. She didn't have any memory of them. No memory of the friends she made or the things she did here. She had promised Raven she wouldn't let it get to her, but it was such a downer.]

[trueknight]

It's probably longer than that. Honestly, I can't really remember this place as well as I'd like just yet. [Really, he's getting the feeling he might be off by an entire year.] Anyway, your case is actually the more normal one between us - most people come here, leave, and come back not remembering a thing about Luceti.

[ ... ]

... So, don't worry about not remembering anything, or anyone. No one's going to hold it against you.

[childofthefullmoon]

[It was kind of a relief in a way, but she wanted to remember. There wasn't any helping it though.]

But Yuri...

[And yet...]

What does that mean for you?

[trueknight]

Huh? ... It just means I remember things, I guess. It's not as special as it sounds, really.

[Sorry Estelle, he's not entirely sure what you mean by that.]

[childofthefullmoon]

[There is a pause and she looks at him with concern.]

Yuri... you're sad. I can tell.

[She doesn't know how or why, but he's seemed off the entire time they've been talking. Perhaps its because they were here, but it seemed... more than that.]

[trueknight]

[Yuri goes quiet at that for a moment or two. Sad? ... Maybe a little. All of yesterday and today had been full of old memories that (while not all of them were terrible or gloomy) he really was not keen on recalling - deaths of those he was close with, memories of people he felt attached to who definitely weren't around anymore, amongst various other hardships Luceti brought him. Not to mention a few other things that he knew were big deals, but he couldn't quite get himself to remember right that second ...

... So maybe he was a little sad. Maybe he wasn't doing as good a job keeping that hidden as he thought he was. But Estelle just got here, and the last thing he wants to do is bog her down with stories of how downright painful Luceti could be sometimes.

So he just closes his eyes and smiles lightly.]

I don't know about sad ... Maybe a little tired. I've been remembering an awful lot of things lately, after all. But they're just memories - it's nothing you need to worry about, Estelle.