Act 1

[untrueheart]

[For two days, Rue has spent her time deep in the forest, surviving on the supplies provided in a small but seemingly abandoned building. On the first day she saw no one, and spent her time as far away from the storybook bearing her name as possible, forcing herself to ignore the black wings on her back. Doing a terrible job of it.

On the second, someone came by, but she hid herself in the surrounding forest until they were gone. It was a stranger and she didn't want anybody to know she was there. Never mind that she was fairly sure this was outside the walls- somewhere she couldn't even imagine going. Not yet.

But on the morning of the third day, self-preservation wins out over uncertainty, and Rue (with her book, so no one else would find it either) walks from the small house until she finds a small lake, following its river upstream and coming within sight of a village with no wall.

There had been spare clothes in the house, so she wears a large jacket despite the heat, to cover her unfortunate wings; it turns away some of the rain that starts up part of the way through her walk. Eventually she stops under the overhang of a shop, staring around at the unfamiliar village, wondering if she ought to stay out of sight.

Too afraid to open a book labeled with her name - a book that might tell her story - she hasn't even come to understand just how different that story is about to become.]

[[ooc: Rue was at New Feather station bb, and she can be under any roof overhang you want but the Item Shop is the most likely one for running-into shenanigans.]]

Comments

[untrueheart]

I like to dance. Ballet, specifically.

[ahappylie]

I've never heard of ballet. Could you describe it for me?

[Because being from the 1860s isolationist Japan, he doesn't have a lot of experience with many things.]

[untrueheart]

If I had the proper things, I would demonstrate for you. Ballet is best experienced, not described.

[Plus, describing it makes it sound rather silly and ungainly.]

[ahappylie]

Then perhaps once you've gotten settled? I think I would like to experience this ballet. Is it fun?

[untrueheart]

It is an incredible amount of work and requires perfect concentration to every detail.

[Which is all true. But she's wearing such a pleased face.]

[ahappylie]

It's something to be very proud of - to accomplish something so difficult then.

[Because it's obvious she loves her hobby - work, perhaps. It's plain as day to him, seeing how she glows when talking about it.]

[untrueheart]

[That shouldn't startle her as much as it does. Rue turns her face far enough that he won't really be able to see her blush unless he's looking for it.]

[ahappylie]

[When she suddenly turns her face away, Souji pauses and looks down at her. The rain seems to be letting up just a little and so he leans forward, trying to see her face.]

I didn't upset you, did I?

[untrueheart]

Of course not! You just surprised me.

[ahappylie]

[Oh, then that's good. He straightens and smiles at her.]

Do people not give praise where you are from?

[untrueheart]

Don't be silly. I am merely still growing accustomed to being...here. That's all.

[ahappylie]

[Pffft, riiight. He nods, deciding to let the teasing go for now and then motions to the two-story building in front of them.]

And this would be the Center. The first floor is for New Feathers like yourself, and the upper floor is a tea shop, should you need anything relaxing to drink.

[untrueheart]

[A tea shop. She'll have to keep that in mind.]

It was very kind of you to escort me here.

[ahappylie]

[He shakes his head and goes to open the door for her.]

It's no problem at all. I like meeting new people - especially such interesting new ones.

[untrueheart]

Interesting? [It sounds like a compliment, so she falls back into taking it as one.]

[ahappylie]

[It is meant to be, yes.]

I've never met anyone who does [pronouncing it carefully so he doesn't mess it up.] ballet [hooray he did it] before. So yes, you're very interesting to me.

[untrueheart]

[Likewise, she's never met anyone who didn't know what it was. For once, she doesn't call that flaw to public attention.]

Well, now you have. [Consider yourself privileged, being the implication.]

[ahappylie]

[He laughs and shows her to the front desk which has a listing of all available housing, jobs, etc. on it.]

Yes, I suppose I have.

You're welcome to stay here, we have beds and such in the back. Or you can find a place to live using these lists.

[untrueheart]

The customary thing to do is to find a room of my own, right? [That housing list catches her attention.] I think I'll see about doing that.

[ahappylie]

Here you are then.

[He slides the list over so she can better see it.]

Some places have gardens that the other residents have made at the houses or on the rooftops. Only the large building with the number one on it has something called an "elevator" that can move people from floor to floor without needing to climb stairs.

[untrueheart]

[Rue has use for neither gardens nor elevators. Many of the names on the list are impossible to parse, but it housing is evidently not split by gender in the larger buildings. Not quite a dormitory, then.

It would be best, wouldn't it, to find at least something simple for now. Close to everything important and yet out of the way enough to make disappearing possible. Rue's frown grows deeper at that thought, why should she need to disappear?]

Which of these is the nicest? [Her hand brushes the community housing numbers on the list.]

[ahappylie]

Mm...... [He considers the list, looking at it upside down and then points to number 7.]

It has several rooms open and is close to the village.

Also. [He points down to where the houses are listed and indicates number 50.] I live close by, so if you needed anything, you could drop in any time you like.

[untrueheart]

[How forward, stranger.]

I assume these places already contain furniture.

[ahappylie]

[He's a nosy buttface.]

Yes, they do - but only the most basic of things. Should you need anything else, you can find them here.

[He points to the item shop.]

I have a giant chicken that can pull a sleigh, if you need to transport anything.

[untrueheart]

[Rue almost laughs, though without humor. That hardly strikes her as strange at all, but it should and it might have, once upon a time.]

I'll have to remember that.

[One of her usual pointed dismissals doesn't really seem fair to this man, who doesn't know her and showed her much kindness. This leaves her at a loss.]