[It's a little awkward for her to get through the city, with the cold and the people, but she's bundled up, so the lattermost isn't as big of an issue as it could be, at least. So she grits her teeth and ignores everyone's eyes (primarily her imagination anyway, what with the NPC natives) on her and, with quick strides, makes her way to the location indicated on the map. She's not really sure what use she could be for this mission, but she also doesn't know what it is -- it must be something important if Kano didn't tell her -- ?
But when she gets there, she can't find him anyway. No way of knowing.]
[There's no answer, of course. Because Kano isn't there. In fact, he's nowhere near the area he sent Mary to. He didn't send her to one of the more dangerous districts, where the natives would be violent towards her. Nonetheless, for someone who's spent years holed up inside her home... ah, it must be pretty scary right now, huh?
That's what she thinks to herself as her tablet makes its usual ding for text notifications. If it's Kano (it is) something must have come up. He enjoyed teasing her, but he'd definitely never do something so awful as giving her false directions.]
I'm here. Where are you, Kano? There's no one here. Am I early? Did something happen?
[He told her to come as soon as possible so she can't be early, he must be late or maybe the location changed and he just forgot to tell her or?
[At one point, she accidentally makes eye contact with one of the natives, and although her eyes immediately dart back down to her phone, that one glance makes her realize something. It's not the case in the district where she lives, long since used to seeing all sorts of strange people on a monthly basis, but the people here -- are all definitely regarding her as something odd.
Long white hair, and pink eyes. Isn't that somehow a strange match-up?
Off the top of her head, she's unable to remember the last time someone looked at her like this. It's -- frightening. She wants to cry, but that's no way to get better, is it? She can't let the rest of the dan arrive to her with tears in her eyes, not here. So she tries a few breathing exercises and actually reads what's on her tablet, instead of using it to avoid everyone's gazes.
... This is the right place?]
There are a lot of people. Where are you? Aren't you coming, Kano? Are you late?
[What? So he's just not coming? He didn't answer her question.
She keeps moving according to that order though, with her head held low so as to avoid drawing attention to her eyes. ... Stay calm. She forgot to punctuate that last sentence; she has to stay calm.]
Everyone else is here? Then where are you? Are you on a separate mission?
I'm in the area! I'm handling some business first before I come to get you (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ So, just relax and focus on the mission. Can you do that, Mary? You can, right?
[... Ahh. That made sense. That's okay. It's okay. He's here, he's not bullying her, he's just taking care of something first. He can't hear it, but she lets out a sound somewhere between a relieved sigh and a low whining noise. Got to sound cheerful -- ]
[Why wouldn't she trust Kano? He was rude and occasionally went a little too far, but it wasn't as if he'd ever do something to hurt her this badly intentionally -- they were friends. Even then, this still wasn't the worst thing that'd ever happened to her --
So the fact remained that she didn't feel like she had any reason to distrust him. But what's he talking about now?]
[Which is a lie. She's terrified and she wants to go home but her feet won't move very well and she can still feel everyone's eyes on her and she's going to cry and what's wrong with Kano he's never been this mean is he feeling okay - ]
Kano, are you sure you're all right? Where are you? I'll tell Kido!
[But there's no answer. From his end, the texts keep coming.]
It's been a while since you've been in a crowd this large alone. It must be terrifying. Can't you see any place to hide, Mary? Won't you feel better if you find a nice warehouse or something to stuff yourself in~?
[ -- A warehouse. That's right, she'd be safe if she found a warehouse. She could hide from everyone there and wait for someone to come get her.
... Today's experience made for a sobering mistake. Not trusting Kano (which, she would probably admit later, was a mistake here at least. She should've noticed the warning signs.), but thinking she could get past this so quickly and easily. She didn't know what was wrong with him -- maybe that wasn't him on his tablet -- but hearing those words and reaching that realization hurt.
She's still as weak as she's always been. She can't trust Kano at the moment -- or whatever is using Kano's tablet, and she can't trust the people in these crowds. But all she sees is crowd -- is there a warehouse anywhere? She can't ask not-Kano. What did she do to end up so trapped in this situation?
At any rate, she does what any trapped animal -- mouse, rat, bunny, human, snake -- would do. She can't think like this; it wasn't a mistake, but her Eyes are activated despite what she would have done if her mind were clearer. When she realizes what she's done, there's a moment of blatant fear at being seen as even more of a monster before she breaks into a sprint, tears forming in her eyes.
[He doesn't get a reply until a minute or two after sending his original text. She has to be quiet, or she'll be found -- hide yourself well, Miss Medusa. That means no noise from the tablet either, but she muffles it using her coat.
Her heart almost leaps out of her throat when she sees the name attached, though. She'd said she'd tell Kido, but she didn't even think to tell anyone where she was, did she? Not even Seto -- Was he worried? She'd made him worry.
She sends him the same map Kano sent to her.]
I'm in a warehouse in the northern part of that district.
[She's.... so Kano was right after all. Has she been kidnapped?! There's no time to know the details; he's already turned back around and begun running in her direction.]
[And she does just that. When Seto makes his way to the warehouse, she's tucked away in a corner, behind some crates. When Kano told her to hide well, she understood -- her entire life made it easy for her to understand what would happen if she were caught, especially having used her eyes. At first glance, the room is completely empty.
But if he listens hard enough, he can hear the sound of sobbing, slightly muffled but still familiar, coming from the very back.]
[Upon arriving and realizing that the warehouse is empty, Seto does what anyone would do: call out Mary's name. His voice echos throughout the room from one wall to the next, but it's only upon the noise dying down that soft, familiar sobs reach his ears. The warehouse isn't that big, but he's running anyway, and kneels down on the floor in front of Mary the moment he spots her.]
[To say all her worries disappeared at the moment she heard his voice wouldn't be inaccurate (because even if there are people outside, Seto would protect her, even if she's totally failed her little personal mission but that was a matter for another time), but she's still incredibly frightened and her mind isn't -- totally clear -- so it doesn't really cross it that she may not want to implicate Kano in being responsible for her current situation. She doesn't, because she has faith in him, but the words that first come out as she slumps against Seto's chest are still ]
I-It's... not Kano's fault... I wasn't -- paying attention, a-and then I -- was frightened, s-so -- I, um -- on the people... out there --
[Honestly, Seto doesn't have time to comprehend the whole situation right now. He's always been like that; focus on the immediate problem first, and then work out the details later. All he can do right now is listen and try to calm Mary down, so he places a hand on her back and pulls her a little closer. This had always seemed to comfort her before, so it's the best option he has.]
[It's again slightly slow to help, with too many thoughts swimming through her mind at the moment she failed she failed she failed she failed she just wanted to be useful to everyone but now these other people know what she is, but it doesn't not work. Her tears start to flow more gently and her breathing and hiccuping gradually cease, until she's just clutching his shirt and sniffling. She nods.
Seto wouldn't be ashamed, but what about the rest?]
Hey, it's alright. Everyone that was affected is back to normal by now, y'know? So there's no need to be sorry.
[As different as the situation may be, he can't help but be reminded of the day they first met in the forest. While he was young then, it actually wasn't as long ago as it feels, was it? He only pulls away slightly in order to remove his hoodie and drape it over Mary's head and shoulders. It's white and vaguely resembles the one he gave her that day, but it's the colour that suits her best, after all.]
[It comes out as a low, fearful mumble. They were already staring at her because of her hair; what would they think after learning she could do something like that? They'll remember her face.
What then?
But her peripherals fill with white and she knows it isn't her hoodie (Seto's hoodie that she tailored for herself), but it carries a similar familiarity and smells like him and it's just nice. She dries her tears on it.]
You don't need to apologize for things that aren't your fault. [How many times has he told her those same words? He isn't sure how much it helps, but it's the truth.]
C'mon, let's head back. What d'you say? [Seto gets up from his kneeling position to crouch down with an extended hand and a smile. Right now, the best thing he can do for her is bring her back to their room.]
[Right. This wasn't what she wanted. She still failed to handle herself independently, but as long as she's alive and uninjured, she can try another time.
Not to mention, there's still the issue of what to do about Kano. There's clearly something wrong, so shouldn't she be more concerned with him?
So she manages the tiniest smile and takes Seto's hand.]
[He pats her head with his free hand after helping her up, and turns around and kneels down again so she can climb on his back. It's dark, but he can definitely find his way back. They'll have to have cocoa after this for sure.]
[A handwritten letter arrives for Mary. The writing is flowing but legible cursive, but the writer periodically switches between red and green ink, and it is decorated with drawings of famous statues.
It's a Christmas greeting, all right.]
Dearest Mary,
You are most cordially invited to a celebration of family, friendship, forgiveness, and estrangement on December 17th from 3:00PM, or earlier, until whenever we feel like stopping, at [the address for the warehouse]. This season mustn't pass by without a grand affair full of of food and gift-giving, in the best of Christmas traditions.
Oh, but you don't have to bring gifts. There won't be any set gift-giving time. Besides, do you really want to give your friends presents so early? It's far better to make them wait until the 25th. Patience is an important quality to learn for the winter months. Of course, I'll prepare the food, unless you wish to contribute some. Please keep any amount of arsenic in food below fatal levels for human children!
In the spirit of Christmas and all ritualistic holidays designed to prepare communities for defence against a harsh winter of dangerous weather and low quantities of food, you are invited to bring anyone you feel like. While more people is a greater strain on resources, the contribution of any individual to the group balances that out with the warmth and love provided. Let's gather together and avoid a cruel death in the months to come.
Hoping for your presence and survival, your friend, Christopher Chareau de Red
[post is here, tag in at your leisure or handwave or excuse yourself however you like!]
[At some point between the beginning of the 24th and the end of the 25th, Christopher delivers (handed off in person or left at a doorstep) a Christmas gift: a big fluffy fuzzy hat that can be pulled down to basically hide your entire face if you're scared. It is given with all the best Christmas wishes from a friend.]
[A mysterious box has been left at Mary's door in the early hours of morning. Opening it reveals this, this and this charming souvenir tucked beneath it all. There's even a card!]
Merry Christmas!! Stay warm and close to Seto, okay?
![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
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I have a reeeeeally important job for you!
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What is it, Kano? I'll help if I can.
text
text
["Home" seemed like an odd word to use, but, well.]
If you need Seto, why did you send this to me?
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Have you been going out lately?
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I've been trying really hard! I helped Kido with recruitment the other day!
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In that case, it's better to practice more while you still have the courage to. Yeah? (ﾉ´ｰ`)ﾉ
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[Which doesn't sound resolute enough to her, so after a moment she adds ]
I'm not going to be afraid this time.
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She doesn't know the city well though, does she?
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No, but I can ask Seto to help when he comes home!
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I drew a map for you to follow~ It's reeeeally easy.
So, if you get lost, just call me~~
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But I can't say it over the network. So please come as soon as possible, Mary.
[And with this reply is an attached map.
He won't be at the location it's marked with.]
action!!
But when she gets there, she can't find him anyway. No way of knowing.]
... Kano...?
... H-Hey, is... there anyone here...?
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Buzz buzz.]
Are you there yet, Mary???
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That's what she thinks to herself as her tablet makes its usual ding for text notifications. If it's Kano (it is) something must have come up. He enjoyed teasing her, but he'd definitely never do something so awful as giving her false directions.]
I'm here. Where are you, Kano? There's no one here. Am I early? Did something happen?
[He told her to come as soon as possible so she can't be early, he must be late or maybe the location changed and he just forgot to tell her or?
?????????]
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Tell me... what do you see?
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Long white hair, and pink eyes. Isn't that somehow a strange match-up?
Off the top of her head, she's unable to remember the last time someone looked at her like this. It's -- frightening. She wants to cry, but that's no way to get better, is it? She can't let the rest of the dan arrive to her with tears in her eyes, not here. So she tries a few breathing exercises and actually reads what's on her tablet, instead of using it to avoid everyone's gazes.
... This is the right place?]
There are a lot of people. Where are you? Aren't you coming, Kano? Are you late?
Everyone is lookingat me
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Don't worry, don't worry. Just keep walking straiiiight ahead.
Okay?
You'll meet somebody soon!
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She keeps moving according to that order though, with her head held low so as to avoid drawing attention to her eyes. ... Stay calm. She forgot to punctuate that last sentence; she has to stay calm.]
Everyone else is here? Then where are you? Are you on a separate mission?
No one answered when I called. Where are they?
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So, just relax and focus on the mission. Can you do that, Mary?
You can, right?
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Yeah. I can do that!
What is the mission? I still don't know.
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I thought it'd be something Mary'd want to know more about.
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[Why wouldn't she trust Kano? He was rude and occasionally went a little too far, but it wasn't as if he'd ever do something to hurt her this badly intentionally -- they were friends. Even then, this still wasn't the worst thing that'd ever happened to her --
So the fact remained that she didn't feel like she had any reason to distrust him. But what's he talking about now?]
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[But this is around when she starts to wonder if, just maybe, there's something up -- he wouldn't speak to her that derisively.]
Are you okay?
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Hey, isn't it scary all by yourself out there?
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[Which is a lie. She's terrified and she wants to go home but her feet won't move very well and she can still feel everyone's eyes on her and she's going to cry and what's wrong with Kano he's never been this mean is he feeling okay - ]
Kano, are you sure you're all right? Where are you? I'll tell Kido!
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It's been a while since you've been in a crowd this large alone.
It must be terrifying.
Can't you see any place to hide, Mary?
Won't you feel better if you find a nice warehouse or something to stuff yourself in~?
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... Today's experience made for a sobering mistake. Not trusting Kano (which, she would probably admit later, was a mistake here at least. She should've noticed the warning signs.), but thinking she could get past this so quickly and easily. She didn't know what was wrong with him -- maybe that wasn't him on his tablet -- but hearing those words and reaching that realization hurt.
She's still as weak as she's always been. She can't trust Kano at the moment -- or whatever is using Kano's tablet, and she can't trust the people in these crowds. But all she sees is crowd -- is there a warehouse anywhere? She can't ask not-Kano. What did she do to end up so trapped in this situation?
At any rate, she does what any trapped animal -- mouse, rat, bunny, human, snake -- would do. She can't think like this; it wasn't a mistake, but her Eyes are activated despite what she would have done if her mind were clearer. When she realizes what she's done, there's a moment of blatant fear at being seen as even more of a monster before she breaks into a sprint, tears forming in her eyes.
Need to find a safe place to hide.]
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(•ㅅ•)
(o o)
o o
Please be sure to hide yourself well, Miss Medusa.
[It doesn't matter if she replies or not. This is the last message she'll get from him.]
text
text
Her heart almost leaps out of her throat when she sees the name attached, though. She'd said she'd tell Kido, but she didn't even think to tell anyone where she was, did she? Not even Seto -- Was he worried? She'd made him worry.
She sends him the same map Kano sent to her.]
I'm in a warehouse in the northern part of that district.
Sorry, Seto.
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i'll come get you
just wait there. it'll be ok.
action!!
But if he listens hard enough, he can hear the sound of sobbing, slightly muffled but still familiar, coming from the very back.]
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Mary? What happened to you?
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I-It's... not Kano's fault... I wasn't -- paying attention, a-and then I -- was frightened, s-so -- I, um -- on the people... out there --
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You used your eyes?
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Seto wouldn't be ashamed, but what about the rest?]
... S-Sorry...
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[As different as the situation may be, he can't help but be reminded of the day they first met in the forest. While he was young then, it actually wasn't as long ago as it feels, was it? He only pulls away slightly in order to remove his hoodie and drape it over Mary's head and shoulders. It's white and vaguely resembles the one he gave her that day, but it's the colour that suits her best, after all.]
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[It comes out as a low, fearful mumble. They were already staring at her because of her hair; what would they think after learning she could do something like that? They'll remember her face.
What then?
But her peripherals fill with white and she knows it isn't her hoodie (Seto's hoodie that she tailored for herself), but it carries a similar familiarity and smells like him and it's just nice. She dries her tears on it.]
... S-Sorry, Seto.
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C'mon, let's head back. What d'you say? [Seto gets up from his kneeling position to crouch down with an extended hand and a smile. Right now, the best thing he can do for her is bring her back to their room.]
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[Right. This wasn't what she wanted. She still failed to handle herself independently, but as long as she's alive and uninjured, she can try another time.
Not to mention, there's still the issue of what to do about Kano. There's clearly something wrong, so shouldn't she be more concerned with him?
So she manages the tiniest smile and takes Seto's hand.]
... Can you carry me this time?
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[He pats her head with his free hand after helping her up, and turns around and kneels down again so she can climb on his back. It's dark, but he can definitely find his way back. They'll have to have cocoa after this for sure.]
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It's a Christmas greeting, all right.]
Dearest Mary,
You are most cordially invited to a celebration of family, friendship, forgiveness, and estrangement on December 17th from 3:00PM, or earlier, until whenever we feel like stopping, at [the address for the warehouse]. This season mustn't pass by without a grand affair full of of food and gift-giving, in the best of Christmas traditions.
Oh, but you don't have to bring gifts. There won't be any set gift-giving time. Besides, do you really want to give your friends presents so early? It's far better to make them wait until the 25th. Patience is an important quality to learn for the winter months. Of course, I'll prepare the food, unless you wish to contribute some. Please keep any amount of arsenic in food below fatal levels for human children!
In the spirit of Christmas and all ritualistic holidays designed to prepare communities for defence against a harsh winter of dangerous weather and low quantities of food, you are invited to bring anyone you feel like. While more people is a greater strain on resources, the contribution of any individual to the group balances that out with the warmth and love provided. Let's gather together and avoid a cruel death in the months to come.
Hoping for your presence and survival, your friend,
Christopher Chareau de Red
[post is here, tag in at your leisure or handwave or excuse yourself however you like!]
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on christmas day
Merry Christmas!! Stay warm and close to Seto, okay?