camellia march

It came as a bit of a surprise to hear that the other had not been cosplaying as the smaller female at initially predicted. She'd seen so many strange costumes in this world – she'd only assumed that was what they were originally for – that it seemed a bit odd that they were everyday clothing.

"Oh, you're not..?" she seemed to still question it considering the other was dressed up in some sort of uniform, but quickly dismissed the idea so as not to be rude. Perhaps they were actually some kind of military officer here or something along those lines. "I'm sorry about that! Ah, but.. that's a little disappointing.."

The inking assistant clicked her tongue as she studied the other. She'd really wanted to get a good sketch of it as a reference for the newest chapters of Nozaki-kun's manga.. maybe she still could if she asked politely. She spared the taller female a smile and gestured to the sketchbook in her hands.

"Do you still mind if I take a quick drawing of you?"

   Tsubaki couldn’t help but frown, if only for leaving her so disheartened. She could understand the confusion--there certainly were a fair number of odd looking and oddly-dressed people wandering around this confusing city. Perhaps it was just culture shock that left her in disbelief that she could be seen as merely a person in a costume.

 The second question was a bit of a shock, though for a different reason.

   “A drawing...?” It was definitely the first time she’d been asked that as well. Tsubaki hardly even noticed the sketchbook, falling silent at the proposition for a moment before she continued. “You draw? I mean, I suppose I don’t mind being your model.” She hadn’t the slightest idea what to do to be a model, but it seemed fair after letting her down.

Ain’t that response adorable? How well she’s trying to mask her reasoning with excuses. Seeing as there’s no one heading that way but them, just how far did she really think of what she had said?

“Like I said, I dun’ really mind. So, don’ let it get ta’ yer’ head tat’ much. Ya’ can freely walk alon'side me if ya’ wanna, pretty lass.”

  “I-I really wasn’t...” It was awfully unlike her to be so flustered, but it was also unlike her to be treated like this by a man. Although, his demeanor wasn’t entirely unfamiliar.

[Koromaru could live without the entire hot dog. Even a bite, something to give him more energy. Granted, if he got even one bite, he’d probably go for the rest of it as well.]

[However, he did as he was told, merely staring at the resting dog as the woman dug through her bag for something else. He glared intensely at the food, ears pressed to his head. The smell was so tempting… just one nibble would be okay…]

[His ears perked up when the woman held up another meat-like item. While its scent wasn’t as strong as the hot dog’s, it was still enough to make his tail wag.]

“Bark bark!” [He let out a bark before clamping down on the beef jerky. It was hard to chew, and he had to lie down just to work on it. This would definitely take a while, but it was worth it!]

  Suffice it to say, Tsubaki didn’t have the most extensive history with animals. It was a mere guess that a dog would enjoy something like simple smoked meat, and there was little chance of there being some lethal additive. Plain, old cured beef jerky. Still, she couldn’t help but be nervous when feeding the first piece.

  She couldn’t help the wash of relief when the dog happily accepted it, either.

  With a sigh she spoke once more. “Oh, thank goodness.” She wouldn’t fully express her gratefulness--it seemed obvious enough by now. Now she could finish her own food with no guilt.

  With the final bite the redhead balled up the foil wrapper, setting it on the bench beside her before leaning closer to the pup. “Did you want another piece?” It really was the first chance she had to spend time with a dog, a gentle smile spreading across her face as she reached to pass another piece of jerky and give a small scratch behind his ear.

“Smugglers and gangs. They might eye you for that dress or take whatever you have. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

   “Hm. How ironic.”

personarf:

immortalbreaking

[Koromaru's first impression was that, despite the whole dognapping thing, this city was a kind place. Sure, it had its problems, but the people he'd met were quite nice to him!]

[But maybe he just had good luck with the first few people. Every person he met afterwards had chased him off, calling him a mutt. Even stores shooed him away before he could get some sustenance. He had money for them, too!]

[As he walked about, he noticed a wonderful smell. He followed it as quick as he could, until he got to a woman eating lunch alone. His ears folded down to his head. It was someone else'... he couldn't steal it. But maybe if he looked sad enough, she'd share?]

  It was pure luck that Tsubaki had any money on her for food, but she would never curse the fact. She had traveled further than usual on this such day and the trip back to her apartment was too long by foot to go back just for food. Thus, she purchased a hot dog and fries from a street cart.

  A nearby bench was her refuge as she ate, napkin set on her lap and gloves removed and set aside to avoid any mess. She ate in modest bites, eyes closed and focused entirely on her food until she heard quick steps that eventually ended in front of her. When she finally looked, she was greeted with the presence of the small animal.

  "Are you hungry?" It was obvious why the dog would approach her over anyone else in the vicinity, though she felt a pang of disappointment in the idea of giving up her lunch. "I don't have anything aside from this-- Ah, could you hold on a minute? Don’t eat this, though. I'll be right back."

  The redhead set the remains of her meal aside before heading back in the direction of the cart. She had little money left, but there was at least something she could offer. Within a few minutes the woman returned, ripping open a small bag as she sat back down. From its contents she pulled a piece of beef jerky and held it out for him to take.

inkerdot:

immortalbreaking

It'd been nothing short of a few days since she'd first arrived to this overpopulated metropolis, but Chiyo was already finding herself becoming quite accustomed to the growing chaos. It was still a strange notion to believe that she was assigned a role here as part of an ongoing social experiment, though she was doing her best to look on the brighter side of things.

There seemed to be plenty of interesting characters, though she couldn't be so sure as to who might be interested in playing the part in an upcoming shoujo manga. There had been a few people she had tried to get to know in order to recruit new ideas and jot down characteristics, but everyone seemed less then willing to participate.

And those who were dressed in strange outfits seemed even less willing to take part in her pursuit! It was strange considering they were all dressed up -- did cosplayers in this city not really like attention?

"Nozaki-kun would be pretty surprised with all these people here," she commented upon entering a newly discovered district, palatinate hues scanning over the many citizens who assigned themselves against the trees of the park in District oo6. "Maybe I should write down some ideas for him?"

Chiyo gently shrugged her shoulders, deciding it would be best to just try and press on with her usual routine. She searched the surrounding area for a few moments before she caught sight of someone walking ahead of her.

"Hi there! Would you mind telling me what show you're cosplaying from?"

  Being questioned when out and about was nothing unique to Tsubaki, but being called out to in this city's boundaries never failed to make her falter. She had no status in this place, and her uniform no longer was a sign of position to others--there simply was no reason for anyone to accost her.

  Which was why, when a young voice called out in her direction, she turned with only an expression of surprise. And furthermore, confusion for the question itself.

  A finger pointed as herself to clarify that she was actually the target of the girls words. "What... show?" 'Cosplay' sounded somewhat familiar, but it was beyond Tsubaki's grasp. With a slow shake of her head she continued.

ϟ ( immortalbreaking )

(There is no sense, no feeling to understand. Nine was devoid of capabilities alike to Trinity’s, that is analysis from mere sense, while Nine on the other hand would have to evaluate through observation and display of skills. Thus, she could not sense whether or not those who should have existed after her should exist within her period of existence, if Trinity could not.)

With an expression so serious and cold, expressing the maturity held by exterior, she approached the red-haired girl standing before her.

“Excuse me, but do you think there’s a map of this city? At all?”

  “Oh?”

  The thought never occured to Tsubaki, though it was to be expected considering her own personal situation. A map–it would only make sense that a city of this size would have them available somewhere, but, again, Tsubaki had never before thought to seek one out. There was always a first time for everything, supposedly.

  With a downcast glance she shook her head, more to signify that she had no immediate answer. “I don’t have one, nor have I ever seen one, but I’m sure they can’t be hard to come by. I’d be glad to help you look.” The woman would probably be a bit too intimidating to deal with to others, but Tsubaki found no fault in her demeanor, and strangely enough she seemed incredibly familiar for some reason.

“Ya’ can deny followin’ me all ya’ want. I ain’t complainin’. It’s fine.”

  Not that she was following anyone on purpose, but being called out on it was enough to fluster her for just a moment.

  “I assure you, I wasn’t! I’ve no reason to be following you or anyone else. Traffic tends to flow the same, so I assume if you have a problem with me, you have a problem with anyone else heading north, as well.”

hrphnt:

immortalbreaking

"If you're here to just wander about, there';s no fashion show here. Go home, kid."

  "I wasn't aware fashion shows were a necessity when merely taking a walk. Is there any legitimate reason I shouldn't be here?"

     “I’ve heard there was a massive heatwave here recently…      Was that all there was to it?”

Sakura is mostly trying to see what had changed since she left. Maybe it’s because her perception of the city is nothing but a violent mess, but she was expecting more to the heatwave. Like everything being on fire or something like that.

  Tsubaki han’t been in the city for an exceptionally long time, but the mention of a heat wave didn’t seem unfamiliar. It was summer after all; it’s not like high temperatures were unheard of in the summer months. The question was the most perplexing part of it, however.

        In a city as large as the Hive, expecting to travel from point A to point B without any sort of bump in the road is far too hopeful. Jin has lived here long enough to know the gist of what to expect from Sector Five’s numerous hotspot for shopping and entertainment. Amidst the crowds were pockets of space where traffic isn’t as heavy as on the main streets– those were the streets of which Jin Kisaragi preferred to travel. They are not, also, without incident from the occasional rude passerby. Like the soulless creature refusing to offer a word of apology to whomever they had collided with, Jin silently passes by. 

        This familiar case of hit-and-run stands out from the rest.

        Something had told him to simply shrug it off and continue onward. Something else had told him to stop and snap at the other who had clearly not watched where they were going. He chose to listen to the lattermost demon and stop dead in his tracks, his body pivoting and his lips parting in preparation to speak.

        But, he did not say a word.

        A curtain of red trails on. A weight on her shoulders staggers her walking speed. Bearing witness stalls time itself. Before his eyes, the WORLD drifts away. There, the very being that Jin would sooner allow this very universe to collapse than see this individual suffer any more. Before he dares even consider breaking an ages-old promise.

        That world’s name spills from Jin Kisaragi’s lips with absolute certainty.

        “Tsubaki.”

        He would not allow her to simply walk away. He can’t. Quickly, he turns heel, stopping only to cut her path off, to allow the girl to at least be aware of who exactly she bumped into and passed by without a word. 

        ‘Stop. Look at me.’

        “ Those scientists don’t discriminate, then. …  Tsubaki.” 

  Tsubaki had no reason anymore to care about the world around her. To think she was once the most alert, able to spot her bounties from miles away. Major–the title that brought her pride once upon a time, when she was nearly someone else. The title that once upon a time didn’t make the person she was nauseous when the memories of her actions surfaced with the thought of it.

  A time before the mess she was nearly convinced led her to this place.

  Had her path not been blocked so suddenly, she would have never realized she ran into anyone. She would have never realized anyone had said her name. Even if she would have liked to believe that his voice was the one that could reach her no matter what, like it did every time before. She looked up, freezing for moments too long before she could speak.

  "…Jin?“

  That was all Tsubaki could mutter, the kind of dumbfoundedness that came with seeing something that almost seemed impossible. Even with her vision blurred she knew him when she saw him, like technicolor on muted gray in her eyes. Unendingly warm to her. The feeling of returning home.

  The redhead heard him this time, but astonishment made it harder to process. More seconds ticked by, Tsubaki’s eyes finally blinking before rushing back into consciousness.

  "I… I suppose…”

  It was a half-baked answer fitting of her cluelessness, of the fact that she didn’t really care about the scientists’ discretion. In theory she should–especially if Jin was here–but that was something she could easily ponder later; she was much too preoccupied with the  fact that he was in front of her to begin with.

     Pausing as the other caught his attention, a small, slightly embarrassed, albeit friendly smile grew onto the boy’s features as Tsubaki spoke up.

“No, it’s no mere costume at all. But, thank you, miss.”

“… I must admit, you’re not the first to doubt the authenticity of my garb. I suppose it is unusual compared to what everyone else here wears, isn’t it?”

  An attentive stare sprung into surprise; somehow not being the first person to accost him over something so trivial made her feel sillier about asking. Though, if she wasn’t the first, that only meant it wasn’t that outlandish to think he looked particularly unique.

  "I guess so, but thinking about it now it’s not like my street clothes are so common. Ironic, considering they were standard uniform back home... But you–you’re a knight, correct?” Her last line was nearly bubbling with excitement at the prospect of meeting a real knight!

     ♚ It was quite a strong gust of sudden wind, but the Twili couldn’t help but think it didn’t compare to the city in the sky where she came from. Those were true strong winds, and would pretty much blow you off if you weren’t careful. Hearing someone near start coughing a small chuckle couldn’t help but released from her. Perhaps she caught the dust that came along from it.

     ♚ “ Try facing your back to it, might do some good anyway. “

  Though Tsubaki heard the stranger she could only respond after another several seconds of coughing.

  "That’s an option, but…" On top of not exactly knowing her surroundings to begin with, she didn’t exactly want to admit that her vision (or lack thereof) made her more apprehensive than anything. Plus, the image of her walking backward through the storm was simply just embarrassing.

  "I’ll just have to make do, I suppose." With a sigh she grasped at her cape and pulled it over her mouth before another heavy gust hit, this time launching her hat into the air before she could brace it.

   The Monkey’s Paw was a tale Tsubaki knew well, a foreboding tale of misfortune caused by interfering with fate itself. Make a wish, it is fulfilled in the worst way imaginable.

   Tsubaki could only think of this story as her vision fell on a landscape she knew wasn’t any place she was familiar with. Even through clouded eyes she had no doubt. Although, the fact that her Izayoi was missing was a good indicator of things. She had wished, among other things, to no longer serve for that corrupt Imperator, but to be away from her home was not the way she would have resolved things.

   Especially when her other wish was to remain with her friends.

   A hand reached up for the hat–the only remaining piece of her weapon–clutching at it as a reaffirmation it was still there. Tsubaki’s head remained lowered as she continued forward; there was no point in staring at the muddled shades of dull concrete that made up this cityscape. She just kept walking, as if a solution to her problems would bump shoulders with her.

   “Ah–” Wind was not one of Tsubaki’s favorite things to deal with, adding dust to the mix didn’t help things in the least. Even after shielding herself from a blowing cloud she couldn’t help but inhale, resulting in helpless hacking and coughing.

   “—Oh!”

   Tsubaki only let out a yelp as she tripped on whatever it was that slipped her up. The small bag of groceries she held fell to the ground, fruits and snacks rolling to the feet of an unfamiliar woman.

   The Mad Dog, was it? Tsubaki recognized him well enough from reports she thumbed through during her time at the Librarium, though she’d never been so privileged to meet him in person. Her tongue itched as if she needed to detain him as he would be back home–but this was no longer home, and she no longer had that right. Not to mention she had no means of subduing the man.

   For now all Tsubaki had was the ability to remain staring, uttering his name under her breath.