It's One of Those Weeks

[therewerefifty]

Who: Makie and you
Broadcast: Nope
Action: Planetside / Iskaulit / Twin Roses
When: 16 April - early May, most likely.

A - Business as Usual

[Makie finds this new, skyless world daunting, but given it's not underwater like the last one, she'll take it. She can be found plying her shamisen music in the crowds and taverns, sometimes on her own but often with company, though she's more likely to move swiftly to avoid crowds afterward than stay and talk to them, so you might find her lurking just inside a small cafe or down an alleyway taking a breather. She makes a nominal search for saplings or seeds which might work well for a memorial tree, but she doesn't really have the gardening experience to know which of these will flourish on the Iskaulit. Their care system is entirely different, after all.

As the week wears on, she becomes more relaxed and lets herself enjoy this place a little more. Misty is popular, and that's partly Makie's teaching, and that means she's passed on something worthwhile... and it's a good feeling all round. Later in the week she forgoes wearing her kimono entirely, indulging in the peasant dresses she picked up so many planets ago, and spends more times just basking in the musical environment down here. Even being vaguely sociable.

Blink and you'll miss it.]

B - Another Perspective

[On 23 April, Makie takes a shortcut between two buildings and promptly disappears. But a small child shuffles out soon afterward, trying very hard not to trip over the hem of an overlong and unfamiliar dress, shamisen still wrapped carefully in both arms and hugged to her chest. It's the only familiar thing here and it looks expensive, so she clings to it like a lifeline and blinks owlishly around the strange world she finds herself in.



There's no sky.  The lights and the crowds are the conflicting sounds are overwhelming, and she soon retreats, clinging close to walls like a ghost until she finds a place to hide.  If the last year has taught her anything, it's how not to get noticed in a dirty street, but the shamisen and the tent of a dress she's wearing do kind of tend to stand out.

There's no sky.  And she remembers a field, and an angry old man, and what happened after, and she's not hurt now, but this place is a miserable cacophony of alien impressions... She shouldn't eat the food here, just in case it means she can't ever go home.  She remembers that part.  (Though honestly, would it really matter?  There's nothing really to go back to--)

If you run into her here, she will eventually leave again.]

C - And Then There Were Assholes

[By the time she's singled out as an easy pickup by a handful of drunken traffickers, Makie is too tired and hungry and miserable to put up a fight.  This is what happens to outcasts, anyway.  She just doesn't care, as long as they don't take the shamisen from her, and so she stumbles along behind one as he pulls her along by the wrist roughly, joking with his friends, heading for their ship.

"Gorgeous skin, right?  So pale--"
"And that hair--"
"She'll make a fortune, sell her to the right place--"

Oh.  The more things change... she's not stupid.  But she just follows, eyes dark.  Frankly at this point, she doesn't give a damn.  It's not like anything different would have happened at home.

...so intervention would be welcome.]

D - Catch-all

[For any time after the events of the 23rd.  One can assume she's exploring, and probably pretty taken with the fox park and all the sneaky quiet places she can poke her nose into on the Iskaulit.  She'll be very polite and try not to get in your way.  I can roll with whatever!]

Comments

[therewerefifty]

There's a fox park...? [Fox. She knows what those are! A piece of familiarity, finally.]

[goldenglasses]

Yeah. Someone used some magic so it's cold all the time there as we have so many per arctic foxes among the fleet.

Want to go see them?

[therewerefifty]

[Magic...? That's, uh. That's. Her brow furrows.]

Like Misty used?

[goldenglasses]

Misty, huh? Hm. I can't say I really know Misty that well so I can't say if it's the same type of magic she uses.

[therewerefifty]

...there are different types?

[This world is weird as fuck, Vash.]

[goldenglasses]

I know, right? I never really had any experience with magic until I got here. It's pretty confusing stuff sometimes, huh?

[therewerefifty]

[She nods solemnly. But so far it's also been pretty useful. And--] Is it only women who use it?

[Because so far it has been and that feels like justice man]

[goldenglasses]

No, men can use it too. There's a man on my ship called Khadgar and he can use magic too.

[therewerefifty]

[She looks disappointed. Man, she thought maybe magic was a great equaliser or something. So, moving on.]

Fox park?

[goldenglasses]

Oh yes! It's this way! [Vash starts to move towards the fox part. He smiles at Maki.] So do you like foxes then? Have you seen one before?

[therewerefifty]

[Makie nods, scurrying to catch up, though she always seems to walk half a step behind.] Not very close, though. They always run. And the dogs don't like them.

[goldenglasses]

Well, here they're fairly tame so they should let you pet them. [Vash slows down a bit as if he's expecting Makie to catch up and walk beside him.]

I'm assuming I don't need to tell you not to pull their fur if they do.

[therewerefifty]

[DENIED. Makie never quite catches up, it's a respect thing.]

I wouldn't. [She fidgets with her sleeve.] I don't-- I wouldn't hurt anything I don't have to.

[goldenglasses]

And I think that's a great outlook to have on life. [He'll eventually get the picture that she's purposelessly trying not to walk at his side and he'll stop trying.

He's just glad that once they get to the park that there are a few foxes running around. He'll squat down to be closer to Makie's height.] Hold out your hand. They'll want to come up and sniff you.

Kind of like a dog.

[therewerefifty]

[Probably just as well having to slaughter her way through a field of wild dogs comes after this moment in time for Makie, all things considered. She's a little wary all the same at the description, because she's met some vicious dogs.

But these are... nothing like, really. They're used to humans coming to poke at them now, and after a hesitant look up at Vash Makie folds herself down to her knees at the edge, doing as he suggests.

It's snowing inside. That's amazing.

And then she's utterly still as a fox comes close enough to sniff, then gives her hand a lick. At which point, she snatches it back, startled.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash can't help but chuckle at the startled reaction as the fox takes a skittering step backwards.]

It's alright! He won't bite! I know this one. His name is Officer Snuggles. He's ah, an honorary captain on my ship.

[therewerefifty]

You named him Officer Snuggles?

[She gives the fox a pitying look as if to say well, what can you do. And then lowers her hand again, this time letting him investigate at leisure.]

He's not scared of me.

[Or potentially he's, y'know, familiar with Makie's scent.]

[goldenglasses]

Well, I didn't name him. [And it's not a name he would have choosen.]

And of course he's not scared! He knows a good person when he smell them! Huh, Captain?

[therewerefifty]

[The fox seems inclined to agree, if the casual way he climbs onto Makie's lap and curls up is any indication. Makie stares down at him uncertainly, before running a hand through his fur. As much as she can. (Who put a jacket on this fox, seriously.)]

...if you say so.

[It's a very neutral response. Everyone's so nice here. But Makie knows where she's meant to stand.]

[goldenglasses]

[Vash keeps his smile on his face as he reaches over and pets the fox behind it's ear.]

Why? Do you doubt what me and Officer Snuggles think?

[therewerefifty]

...you don't know me. Or my family.

[Because that explains things, right? Makie doesn't sound accusatory. It's calmly pointing out a fact. Officer Snuggles, though, he can continue getting petted.]

[goldenglasses]

Well, you're right. I don't know you that well, but you seem really nice. And Officer Snuggles likes you and he so happens to be an excellent judge of character. I trust him!

As for your family. I don't think that matter. You are your own person. Who your family is shouldn't matter.

[therewerefifty]

A fox cannot judge a human. [It's very simply pointed out. Those sorts of games won't work on her, sadly.]

My family do not bring shame upon me. I bring shame on them by existing.

[goldenglasses]

Fox can judge a human. [He lowers his voice just a tad.] It's one of their special animal powers.

[Although it's her second comment that leaves any jokes and silliness from Vash's voice. His answer is quick and too the point. Almost before she even finishes what she's saying.]

No you don't.

[It's not the first time he's heard something like this from a kid. It still turned his stomach every time he came across it.]

No one. No one shames someone else by merely existing. They are the one who should be ashamed for making someone feel that way. Not you.

[therewerefifty]

[Makie's quiet for a long time, fingers running though the fur of the fox in her lap. It's a sentiment she's never heard, never directed at her; sometimes it's an angry thought in the middle of the night. It's the promise to herself, to one day go back and avenge the dishonour done to her mother by her father.

But it's quashed easily. By the knowledge that this is how her world works.]

You don't have to make up tales for me, Mr Vash. [It's tired. And it's about the fox.]

It's nice of you to say, though. The rest.