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]

[... Yep, definitely from after the events of Zaude. Yuri puts his hands up in a sort of "stop" motion as he replies.]

I'm fine. I know what you saw looked bad, but you've got nothing to worry about.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Sensing that Yuri wanted his space, Estelle politely backed off a couple of paces and folded her hands.]

Oh, I'm so glad.

[She smiled, but it soon faded as she put a finger to her chin, looking down with a troubled expression.]

[trueknight]

[... Hm. She seems troubled somehow ... Well, Luceti was kind of a troubling place to suddenly end up in, but. Hrm. Maybe ...]

... I'm guessing no one really told you much about this place just yet?

[childofthefullmoon]

[She looks up again.]

Oh, no, I have actually learned a great deal. There were some very helpful people in the library.

But... Yuri, how long have you been here?

[The things she had read were coming to mind again now that she had calmed down.]

[trueknight]

Huh?

[... Oh. The last time was-- ... Nah, that would make it too complicated. So instead, Yuri goes for the easiest answer.]

I just got here yesterday, actually.

[childofthefullmoon]

[She nodded, but obviously still troubled.]

I see.

I arrived just today, but...

[A pause.]

Someone told me that I was here before.

[trueknight]

[Then that's what it was ... Yuri sighs lightly. He already was pretty certain she didn't remember Luceti judging by the way she hugged him earlier, and what she said to him, but hearing that just made it that much more definite.

But this was still Estelle. So to him, loss of Luceti memories means almost nothing.]

... Yeah, you were. [ ... ] So was I, actually.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Estelle had not been expecting this answer. Yuri's confession drew a shocked look.]

What?

[It took a moment for Estelle to realize what this meant.]

So you remember, Yuri?

[How come she didn't?]

[trueknight]

Yeah, I do.

[ ... ]

We should probably talk about this somewhere a little less ... out in the open, though. [With that, he'll half-turn away from her.] Come on. We've got a house out here, so we might as well continue this there.

[childofthefullmoon]

... Yes, you're right.

[She was about to follow until she remembered.]

Oh!

[Estelle hastened over to where she had dropped the book and then came back with it, following Yuri.]

[trueknight]

[Yuri starts to walk, but stops short when he sees Estelle run back to pick up her journal. ... Sigh. Same old Estelle. When she's collected it, he'll go back to walking.

When she's more or less caught up with him, he glances over at her for a moment. ... Man, that stupid tacky dress. She's probably not a fan of it either, so he might as well mention something else.]

There's probably some old clothes left over in the house for you, so you can change out of that thing when we get there, if you want. Not your usual outfit, but you can pick that up later.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Estelle falls into step next to Yuri, her smile having returned. Having Yuri around made things so much easier. She felt better now that she found him. And no, truth be told she wasn't a fan of the dress.]

Yes, I would like that.

Mr. Hazama told me that my clothes would be in a store?

[trueknight]

[Hazama ... not a name he knows. But that's not important right now anyway. So! Nodding once in response to that.]

Yeah, they should be.

[And time to stop walking for a moment!]

If you'd rather take those now, we can just head over and take care of that. It's not like it'd take too long, anyway.

[Really, if he didn't have "I'll need to explain the whole 'people being here and sometimes not remembering' thing to Estelle" in his head, he would've done that automatically. That's what being an impatient guy does to you.]

[childofthefullmoon]

[She stops walking too, turning to face Yuri as she does so. Holding the book lower, she shakes her head.]

No, I'm fine. I can come back for them later.

[She isn't in that much of a hurry to change her clothes, and right now Yuri is more important anyway.]

[trueknight]

All right, suit yourself.

[Welp, he'll just go right on back to walking. Thankfully, the house their group lives in isn't very far from where the library (and at that, the plaza it's in) is - about five to ten minutes away, if that - so their walk won't be a very long one, at the very least.

But regardless, might as well make some kind of small talk while they go. Not that he's Mr. Chattykins, but there wasn't much point to walking in silence with Estelle.]

So, who did you run into so far, anyway?

[childofthefullmoon]

[As they walked, Estelle watched Yuri quietly. She was use to him being this way, but there was something... not right. He hadn't smiled, not even a little. His question though broke her thoughts from that.]

Well, there was Mister Hazama, and a very nice lady named Syre. Oh, and I found Raven! And... Alexei.

[The latter name is said much more quietly.]

[trueknight]

[Hearing that last name doesn't do much more than wipe off whatever semblance of a smile Yuri had on his face at the moment.]

... I see. Sorry you had to find out about him being around here the hard way.

[childofthefullmoon]

[Again she shakes her head.]

It's okay.

[Really it could have been much worse.]

[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.]