koiwamizuiro | 1st Dive: Beginnings [Action]

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1st Dive: Beginnings [Action]

[A quiet and peaceful slumber after a long, tiring day in high school for Ai Nanasaki ended up with her waking up in the middle of a forest, her body on the ground surrounded by leaves. Not that she thought she was waking up at first, but that she was in the middle of an odd dream, rather. A particularly vivid one.

It was a bit cold - certainly colder than her room had been - and her body didn't feel as relaxed as it did on the comfy mattress. And she was lying on something else other than the ground.

As Ai leaned forward, her eyes inspected her surroundings curiously, her head feeling a bit dizzy. It resembled the hill her grandfather owned, but... there was something off about it. She wasn't on the route she usually took, either - there wasn't one to begin with.

Still feeling something on her back, she reached over her shoulder and touched what felt like a wing. Also, she seemed to be wearing a peculiar white sundress and not the pyjamas she had gone to bed with.]

Huh...

[This was so strange. And it felt real. It didn't feel like a dream.

Ai continued turning her head around, and it wasn't until her gaze landed on a book right beside her when she stopped doing so.

The girl reached out and inspected both covers of the peculiar object with curiosity in her eyes.

Standing up with the book in her hands, she opened it up, trying to make sense of what was happening. But what was inside of it just seemed to confuse her even more at that point.]

Where am I...?

[Her voice sounded as confused as it could be. It was a good question. And why did it feel like she had wings on her back?]

(OOC: Ai will be walking around the forest while inspecting the book, trying to either find anyone who could help explain what was going on or a sign of civilization. You can catch her there.)

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

It is. Things happen slower here than in cities. I spent a little time in Niigata, studying at a mountain retreat and it was like this a bit.

Nobody gets truly comfortable, but it doesn't happen every day, or even every week.

[Rei gave her a reassuring look. Or what she hoped was one]

What are your hobbies?

[Studying at a mountain retreat honestly sounded appealing to Ai. Quiet and isolated, relaxing... She would be able to clear her thoughts easier and study better, too.]

I am afraid I have not had such an experience. I have been living in a city almost my whole life, so it will be a change of pace for me.

[Hearing herself say that was amusing to her. That was insignificant in comparison to the fact that she was now in another world, one that was filled with unearthly creatures and people trapped along with her.

She didn't have to think about the question regarding her hobbies, answering almost immediately, with a smile creeping up on her face.]

Well... I love swimming, most of all. I took up classes in high school and I became a captain of a swim team. I was looking forward to being a coach to my class in my senior year, too...

[That was another thing she would start worrying about right now if she hadn't seen the note saying that time had stopped back home. She could only hope that was the truth...]

Edited 2013-03-16 20:32 (UTC)

Swimming? Well, there's plenty of chances for that, Nanasaki-san.

[Rei smiles over at the girl, a possible new friend, and then nods towards the edge of town that's now coming into view.]

My housemate, Ami Mizuno-san loves to swim too. You should look out for her, I'm sure she'd love to have a partner.

There are?

[Ai's voice gained no small degree of relief when she heard Rei say that she could swim somewhere here. She was even excited.

Her eyes immediately went to glance back at the book in front of her, taking particular note of the fact that there seemed to be a section called "The School" and another one named "Notable Facilities". Perhaps there was a pool somewhere there?]

Oh, I would like that, Hino-san.

[Though swimming was an activity Ai loved doing whether she was alone or with others for different reasons, she had gotten used to having her team with her sometimes as well. It'd be nice if she wasn't the only one who shared that passion here, either.]

There is a simulation chamber that can make nearly anything. And a hot spring, yes.

I could easily teach you how to make a nice pool.

[A simulation chamber capable of almost anything was the most advanced piece of technology Ai had heard of existing before... This new information compelled her to ask how such a thing could be real, but then again, she remembered where she was - Luceti, a place where magic clearly existed. It wasn't technology that made all of this possible.]

Oh! I can make a pool in the simulation chamber?

[Just how close to the real thing would it be, though? Would she feel the same sensations swimming in something made out of the simulation chamber? How was the water going to be like?]

Would it feel any different than a real pool?

[A hot spring sounded great though, yet another relief to hear that there was one in Luceti - she'd certainly go check it out when she could. It looked like she'd have most of the amenities she had and enjoyed back at home, too...]

You can. Even the pool from your home, if you like

[She shakes her head. She understood the questions, and they were all pretty common.]

Not at all, it feels the same. And in the summer, there is a beach.

[That was fascinating to hear - she could bring places from her home here easily with this, and doing so with the pool was a good idea.

Ai imagined one of her first trips would be going to that simulator, after she settled in. That hot spring, too. She knew she could certainly use the time to collect her thoughts.]

Looks like I will be doing a trip around Luceti soon after I get there...

[She said so with achuckle. Indeed, all of this information reaffirmed Rei's statement that being in the village wouldn't be as dreary as Ai initially feared. She hadn't gone to the beach too often at home either, so having it close by during the summer would be another nice opportunity for her to take advantage of. If she stayed here for that long, that is.]

[Rei nodded again as the village came into view]

First, let's get you some real clothes, then we'll find you an apartment.

[Ai noticed that they were finally nearing the end of the forest herself, and parted her lips a little at the sight of the village. So this was where she was going to meet the talking ponies, the Godlike creatures, the spirits and knights.

It was quite an intimidating thought now that they were finally close, and it just hit her like that.

She then turned her head in Rei's direction curiously, realizing something that she could probably get an explanation for in the guide, but she spoke first regardless before checking it for answers.]

Um... can I get either of those without any money?

[It was probably obvious that she didn't have anything on her right now. Even if she did, she doubted any amount of yen would do any good here.]

[Rei's smile was more than a little telling. That was one of those questions that got asked every time too. No shame in it, but it always amused her how honest people were. And how they were worried about paying for things, even in such a strange situation. It spoke volumes about societies.]

There's no money here. The Malnosso provide the basics for food and housing. And the clothing, too. Though you'll probably find that they brought in your things from home. They just show up in the shops first.

I don't know why, but that's how it is. It's...odd.

[Ai nodded in surprise upon hearing this new piece of information, and stood silent for a bit while she processed it.

That meant everything was free, didn't it? The people of Luceti hadn't established any form of currency, then. Well, she'd have an easier time getting used to that, but it was a curious thing that the Malnosso were the ones that provided them with it.]

The same people who abduct and perform experiments on us give us all of that?

[It wasn't something that she was going to complain about, surely, but it was becoming harder to understand what the Malnosso's agenda was, exactly.]

Well, they are not exactly shops if there is no money here, then. I do not know what they should be called, but at least I do not have to pay for my own things.

They do. And I wish I knew why. But it's just something we have to accept.

[She shrugs]

Shouganai, Nanasaki-san.

[If that was all Rei knew on the matter - somebody who had been in Luceti for a time much longer than Ai - then she would drop the matter while she settled in. To take advantage of this opportunity, at the very least, regardless of who gave it to her.]

As for the housing... Um, is there a map in this guide?

[She quickly looked through the contents of it, but found nothing containing an actual map.]

Do I have an apartment already somewhere, or can I choose where to live? I mean, if it is free as well.

[If she could choose, then she would've definitely liked to see the layout of the village first and where her home would be and what was going to be close to it.]

[Rei shook her head.]

Not that I'm aware of, but if you give me a moment, I'll sketch you one.

[She takes out a pencil and spent a moment giving her a rough map of the village on one of the note pages.]

You choose where to live, though. Nobody really checks over your shoulder.

Oh, thank you.

[Ai took the map and inspected it thoroughly in silence while the two of them walked side by side. The village was actually smaller than she thought it would be, but that actually made the decision easier for her.

Another thing that took her aback was the fact that there were teleporters in Luceti, apparently, judging by the notes Rei had scribbled on the page. Well, she did just learn that there was a simulator there, along with the fact that magic and talking ponies existed, so that seemed more feasible to her now than it would have an hour ago.

There was a teleporter that was close to the hot spring too, which was near one of the six community buildings.]

I wonder if there is free space in the second apartment building...

[She said so more to herself than Rei, and then lifted her head and turned it sideways to look at her curiously.]

Where do you live, Hino-san?

It's no problem.

[Rei nodded]

There should be. Most places have lots of space.

[She points to a house on the map. House 3]

There, that's my home. Though...[She points to a small torii arch that she drew on the riverbank across from Community Building 2]

That's my shrine. Tsukino Shrine.

[Rei's house actually wasn't too far from the building Ai was considering, which was nice - she would not mind talking to the her more and get to know her better. She didn't know what the other people she'd meet in Luceti would be like, but she was glad that there was at least one face she'd recognize and be able to speak with. Her shrine was even closer, too.]

I am surprised that you have your own shrine here, in Luceti. What do you do there now?

[Ai said so curiously with a smile on her face; she wasn't one to go to the shrines in her home often, but rarely did she get the chance to speak with an actual shrine maiden. Now that she could, she was interested in finding out more.]

And what about back home in Asakusa? Did you do any fortune telling, dancing or any other ceremonies? Or... something related to your powers?

[Rei had mentioned that she always had some special powers even back home, after all.]

[Funny, Rei was thinking the same thing...]

Well, I do most of those things here. Fortune telling, dancing, traditional ceremonies, exorcisms, and I make charms.

[She smiles at the other girl showing interest. So few people cared anymore, and it made her a little sad.]

It's also a place where I study magic, practice my archery, and relax. It was built by a friend, and named in honor of my best friend from home.

I see...

[Just like a shrine maiden would, then - the change of scenery hadn't apparently stopped Rei from doing all of these things - even with the Malnosso problem and the fact that this wasn't Japan anymore. It was admirable, really, and it impressed Ai. Rei seemed dedicated.]

Would it be okay to visit you while you are there, Hino-san? I am interested in seeing more of your magic, if that is possible.

[Aside it being Rei's magic she was interested in, Ai was also curious as to what the limit of what she could do was. And she imagined that it would be a nice place to relax in, one that was close to what could be her own home as well.]

Do you get a lot of visitors in your shrine in Luceti?

[From what she understood, there were people and creatures of all sorts here - surely the chances of most of them being Japanese were slim.]

[Rei nodded cheerfully]

I'd like that, and I don't mind at all. I do get plenty of visitors, as well. And there are sometimes large festivals for major holidays.

[Ai smiled at the mention of festivals - that was something she could definitely appreciate. She liked going to them whenever one occurred back home along with her family or friends from high school.]

I like that there are still ways we can have fun in Luceti even if we are... essentially prisoners here.

[She frowned just a bit for a brief moment, but then she remembered to focus on the good things that they still had, and the smile returned on her lips.]

I take it that the summer festival is the closest one.

Well, you have to make the best of it, don't you?

[She nods, and by now they're nearing the clothing shops]

Unless I decide to do one for Golden Week.

I agree, Hino-san. A festival for Golden Week would also be a chance to introduce people from other worlds about Japan's history if they are interested.

[Upon reaching the clothing shops, Ai's eyes began to wander over the outfits that were offered - all of which she could apparently get for free.

Because of Rei's magic, she was feeling warm now even with the white sundress, but the girl wouldn't always be by her side. Besides, the dress wasn't exactly her color. She was always partial to black, herself.]

I would like to get something warmer for the rest of winter... but I will not be making a more extensive shopping trip until I get myself a place to stay.

Edited 2013-03-22 20:01 (UTC)

[She nodded and lead the way in]

That would be smart. But it's never a long walk to get something new to wear, not really.

1st Dive: Beginnings [Action]

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