[log] rh6: an arrival

[slasher]

Characters: Anri Sonohara and you!
Open: Yes
Where: Various (feel free to pop in at specified locations or wherever)
When: 6th of Rebirth's Height
Warnings: None

Anri keeps wondering if this is some kind of dream, but if it is, it's an unusual one; in her dreams, she's always happy—not confused and alone.

The man said that she'd been summoned to be a hero, here, but she isn't even really sure what "here" is, so, carrying her worldly belongings—and accompanied by a black mare, which has apparently been set aside for her—she sets out to get the lay of the land. The horse, at least, puts her a little at ease; she reminds her of Celty, a little. Maybe that's what she'll call her.

She takes a turn around the town square, taking in the shops and mentally memorizing the location of ones that look useful; she'll probably need them later. There's a noticeboard, too, which she stops to read briefly. Some of it seems contradictory, but the things that stand out she takes seriously—she knows well enough that strange, dark things exist in the world. (After all, she's one of them.)

Her path takes her around to the Drunk Duck; she's been told it's a decent place for lodging, since it seems she'll need a place to stay, and someplace to leave her horse. She's not... precisely sure what to do with a horse, being a city girl. She gets a meal and secures a place in the stable and a room for the night; she's not sure what she'll do for the long term, but it's good enough for now.

After that she walks, in no particular direction, letting her feet lead her through the town and out into the farther reaches of the valley. The world takes on a sort of dreamlike quality to her; she doesn't even notice as her steps take her out toward the forest as the sun sinks lower in the sky.

Comments

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Outside the smithy at the edge of town, a young boy is rolling around in the grass. There is a small movement and he instantly turns and pounces, catching a squirrel by the tail. He looks up, apparently trying to find someone to show off to, and sees Anri.

He bounds to his feet and over to the edge of the yard, holding out the squirming squirrel with a grin.

[slasher]

"Ah—" That's... a squirrel, yes. She almost takes a step back in surprise—especially because it's still moving—but there's something kind of amusingly puppy-like about the boy holding showing her the animal he's caught.

She smiles, despite herself. "That's very impressive," she says. "But, ah, maybe you should put him back down? I don't think he likes being held like that."

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Impressive! That was praise! Faolan wriggled with pleasure, then carelessly dropped the squirrel on the ground. It was too happy to be released to try and bite him.

He cocked his head at the girl, grinning at her happily.

[slasher]

"Ah..." He's... not going away, and she's never really been good at striking up conversation with strangers, even strangers who are little boys. What to do...

Perhaps she could ask about the town. He's likely local, after all. "Pardon me, but I'm new here; have you lived here long?"

[greatsquirrelhunter]

"Days!" Hey, he's 10. It seems like a long time to him. "Looked in stores and ran around the fields and looked in the woods and chased a bunny!"

He droops a little. "It got away."

[slasher]

"Ah—" Only days? Surely that couldn't mean that he was also expected to be a hero, could it?

...then again, it wasn't like responsibility exempted the young on principle. She should know that, shouldn't she.

...conversation topics.

"Do you like animals, then? I don't see very many, myself, since I'm from a big city. Although a... a friend of mine, she has a horse."

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Faolan likes animals! They smell good!

[give_kitty_cake]

A new arrival? It was always interesting to see what kinds of people the summoning magic of this place chose to bring. Koma bounced along after the girl and her horse, leaping easily from rooftop to rooftop until she finally dropped to the ground in a little alleyway.
She took a moment to lick her paw before transforming from a cat back into her human form and stepping out to speak to the new girl. It was easier to communicate this way.

"Are you supposed to be another 'hero'?"

[slasher]

She startles a bit; she hadn't noticed the other girl behind her. "A hero... ah, that's what they told me, at least." Anri studies her for a moment. "Are you also one of the heroes, then?"

[give_kitty_cake]

"The townspeople seem a little suspicious of me for some reason," now whether that is because she is a bakeneko or playing the role of a thief in this land, who knows, "But, I think I was brought here for the same reason you were."

She stepped just a little closer.

"My name is Koma."

[slasher]

"I'm Anri Sonohara," she says, not quite meeting Koma's eyes. "I don't know why they would be suspicious of you..."

Well, she does (city people are suspicious of everything), though she could sympathize. And she's learned that not every book can be judged by its cover—Celty-san, for example, is so intimidating at first, but so nice once you get to know her.

[give_kitty_cake]

"It doesn't matter."
She had dealt with situations like this many times before. Every age had a new batch of humans who would react the same way.

"Since you have a horse are you supposed to be a knight?"

[slasher]

"I suppose so. That's what they told me I would be." Anri doesn't really look like a knight; she hasn't acquired clothes other than her school uniform yet, so she's walking around in a blazer and a rather short uniform skirt; her glasses and the way she tends to avoid eye contact and speak softly don't really give off the presence of a warrior.

[give_kitty_cake]

Warrior school girls are entirely normal for Koma. Though the girls she is used to usually wore the red and white robes of Shinto priestesses even during school hours. Anri didn't look too much older than those girls really, it made Koma feel a touch concerned for her.

"Have you ever had experience with battles," She looked to the horse, "Or animals like that?"

[slasher]

"Well... I've never had a horse before." In truth, the black mare makes her a little bit nervous. "A friend of mine had one... I wish she were here..."

Her gaze drops down to her feet; she really is so very alone here, but maybe it's for the best. Maybe if she's gone, Masaomi-kun and Ryuugamine-kun will forget all about the Slasher and go back to their everyday lives that she's interrupted.

...and she's just going to studiously avoid the question about battles, yes.