[Called back as though this isn't the most obvious thing in the whole wide world.]
I was hoping maybe there would be more past that, but I don't really see anything else out there right now! No other buildings, no planes or cars or monsters -- nothing!
[That's probably not what he meant, though, so she thinks over her words a little more.]
Actually... you know how big buildings are supposed to look even bigger when you get closer? It doesn't. It doesn't look any different than it does from the other side of town...
I guess... I wonder if it's to keep us out, though, or to keep something else in?
[Hm... Oh well, a question for another time.
Before Rufus can protest, she's quickly maneuvering her way down the tree. It takes some thought, but she's naturally quick on her feet and very nimble, dropping down low enough in the branchs so that she doesn't have to lift her voice, swinging her legs over a limb large enough to hold her weight and letting her feet dangle.]
Hey, hey! Can I ask what your name is, mister? I don't think I've seen you before this morning!
[She looks surprised for about half a second, before remembering that the PHS exists. Hm, this must be one of the smart people that actually used it, then! She nods energetically.]
Yeah, you almost got it! Shidou is my family's name. Just Hikaru is okay, though, so don't worry about it. It's nice to meet you, Rufus-san!
What're you doing way out here, anyway? Do you like walking through the trees?
I'm trying to find somebody, Rufus-san. His name's not on the phone computers, and it wasn't in the inn... so if he's here, I thought that maybe he's stuck in the castle. That maybe, if I climbed something high enough, I could see if there were people there.
Mmm... I hope so. He was right next to me before I woke up here...
I hope whoever wrote those messages for us finds a way to talk to us, Rufus-san. A lot of us are gonna have a ton of questions for them, you know?
I know some people are saying they're just kidnappers, but... this is a whole lot of work for kidnappers to do, isn't it? Like... kidnappers are supposed to be mean and not take very good care of you, right?
If someone is abducted for a reason other than ransom, they should be treated well enough so as not to diminish their value. While not always the rule, this is true for certain cases.
People are valuable to each other, but not like that!! That's wrong!
[Jaw tightening, she nimbly weaves her way down a few more branches before simply dropping to the ground, letting her weight roll to catch the blow. When she stands, it's at such a short height that she doesn't even come up to Rufus' shoulder.]
I'm not gonna accept that's what's happening here, Rufus-san. Not until I know more about what's going on. Even if they've taken us from our homes for something like... like money, or power... I want to hear that from their own mouths before I decide for myself.
[She's not intimidated whatsoever. Hello, mister giraffe.]
I know. That's what I wanna believe is true - that whoever brought us had a reason. But like I said, I know there's some people are saying they're just kidnappers... and no matter what I believe, just assuming the truth is only going to hurt if I can't figure it out for myself.
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[Called back as though this isn't the most obvious thing in the whole wide world.]
I was hoping maybe there would be more past that, but I don't really see anything else out there right now! No other buildings, no planes or cars or monsters -- nothing!
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What about the castle?
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[That's probably not what he meant, though, so she thinks over her words a little more.]
Actually... you know how big buildings are supposed to look even bigger when you get closer? It doesn't. It doesn't look any different than it does from the other side of town...
It's kind of spooky, actually.
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It means we're unwelcome. Until we know more about this world, that's unlikely to change.
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[She straightens up a little higher, hooking her arms against the nearest branches to keep herself steady.]
I don't know if I feel unwelcome by it? It's kind of like... um...
It doesn't really seem real? Everything else here seems just fine, so...
Why is it just the castle that looks funny?
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If the castle is real, there's currently no intention of inviting us inside. That's why nobody has been able to get close.
I keep having to check myself because this was saturday so npcs weren't a thing
[Hm... Oh well, a question for another time.
Before Rufus can protest, she's quickly maneuvering her way down the tree. It takes some thought, but she's naturally quick on her feet and very nimble, dropping down low enough in the branchs so that she doesn't have to lift her voice, swinging her legs over a limb large enough to hold her weight and letting her feet dangle.]
Hey, hey! Can I ask what your name is, mister? I don't think I've seen you before this morning!
time is an illusion . . .
Rufus. And you're . . . Hikaru Shindou.
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Yeah, you almost got it! Shidou is my family's name. Just Hikaru is okay, though, so don't worry about it. It's nice to meet you, Rufus-san!
What're you doing way out here, anyway? Do you like walking through the trees?
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Do you like climbing them?
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Of course I do! You can see a lot if you choose a good one.
I climbed one of the buildings with Won-san yesterday, but this is a lot easier.
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For what purpose are looking around?
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I'm trying to find somebody, Rufus-san. His name's not on the phone computers, and it wasn't in the inn... so if he's here, I thought that maybe he's stuck in the castle. That maybe, if I climbed something high enough, I could see if there were people there.
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Of course, there's the possibility that more are being housed in a different location . . . like the castle.
[He doesn't think it's likely, but he can concede that it isn't a bad idea to wonder.]
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I hope whoever wrote those messages for us finds a way to talk to us, Rufus-san. A lot of us are gonna have a ton of questions for them, you know?
I know some people are saying they're just kidnappers, but... this is a whole lot of work for kidnappers to do, isn't it? Like... kidnappers are supposed to be mean and not take very good care of you, right?
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That just makes people sound like they're things... People aren't things.
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[Jaw tightening, she nimbly weaves her way down a few more branches before simply dropping to the ground, letting her weight roll to catch the blow. When she stands, it's at such a short height that she doesn't even come up to Rufus' shoulder.]
I'm not gonna accept that's what's happening here, Rufus-san. Not until I know more about what's going on. Even if they've taken us from our homes for something like... like money, or power... I want to hear that from their own mouths before I decide for myself.
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Isn't that a leap? The message claimed that it wasn't a kidnapping.
[He sees no reason to be getting this riled up.]
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I know. That's what I wanna believe is true - that whoever brought us had a reason. But like I said, I know there's some people are saying they're just kidnappers... and no matter what I believe, just assuming the truth is only going to hurt if I can't figure it out for myself.
[it's protagonist syndrome, it's fine.]
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