April | Event: Skybound Travelers

[jikan_mod]

Skybound Travelers↲ OOC Plotting

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As everyone settles into a routine in Nippon, newer refugees may find that visiting the Western Kingdom is something of an undertaking. Although considerably faster than traveling by airship or on foot, the underground train that connects Tokyo and Kyoto still takes at least five hours. And not everyone enjoys the roller coaster-like experience of the Sunday-only time surge that shortens that ride into ten minutes. But lucky for them, the NRL are finally ready to release a special new travel system!

Developed in part thanks to the refugees for gathering the necessary etherblossoms back in March, refugees will now find teleportation terminals available at the NRL in Tokyo and MRU in Kyoto. These terminals only connect to each other, with plans to expand to other cities in the future.

Or at least, that's what they're supposed to do.


Nippon Traveler

With the announcement of fast travel between kingdoms quickly spreading among the refugees, many of them are clamoring to be the first to take advantage. After all, the train is rather inconvenient for those with friends and family in both kingdoms, and even more so for those who wish to work in one while living in the other.

Thankfully, the NRL took this into consideration, and made sure to add additional platforms and a timed queueing system to make things run smoothly, essentially creating a small station on the top floor of the NRL's main building. And with exclusive elevator access on the outside just for traveling refugees, it's certainly built for convenience.

Ready, Aim... Kyoto, Western Kingdom
Despite the fact that the NRL has been using these teleporters just fine for transferring between Tokyo and Kyoto for the past few weeks, the sudden inundation of users is causing the system to overload ever so slightly. As a result, the teleporter hasn't been sending people where it should, occasionally redirecting them to random areas throughout Kyoto.

On the one hand, magic is so commonplace in the West that no one really thinks anything about the Refugees popping in and out of existence, with most natives just assuming they're teleporting using the local magic. But on the other hand, this assumption means the natives will think it's intentional, resulting in a large number of refugees finding themselves in both literal and metaphorical hot water after teleporting straight into a public bath, fully-clothed. Hopefully it's a mixed bath, or they might find themselves being carried away by the patrolling samurai guards for questioning.

In addition to becoming a public nuisance for the natives, some may find themselves teleporting into the homes of fellow refugees instead. They may wind up as an uninvited dinner guest, or perhaps they'll appear during a private or intimate moment between lovers. Some may even end up appearing in a closet, giving them ample opportunity to hide until they can make their escape!

Thankfully, this bug is discovered quickly enough that it only creates a few days of chaos -- so don't let that put you off the technology forever!

Here Comes a Thought Higashiyama, Kyoto
But of all the locations the teleporters are sending people to, perhaps the most common one is Kiyomizu-dera in Kyoto's Higashiyama neighborhood. As one of the most famous temples in Kyoto, its already a popular tourist destination, with beautiful gardens, a veranda overlooking all of Kyoto, and is home to a magic school that specializes in the Mizu Element.

Those who are lucky may simply find themselves suddenly standing in front of a very tall pagoda, or overlooking the view of Kyoto. But most refugees will instead find themselves standing before the Tainai Meguri, a dark underground passageway beneath one of the many shrines in Kiyomizu-dera. Naturally, it'll be assumed they want to go in, and they may find themselves ushered down by a shrine maiden or two who don't want them holding up the line.

Blanketed in an inky darkness, the Tainai Meguri is composed of a single hallway and a rope along the wall to help guide visitors down to the lowest part of the passageway, where a mysterious stone can be found. Glowing with a mysterious power, the stone is the only source of light in the tunnel. And those who touch the stone with a clear mind will see the carving in the center change, showing which magic element they have an aptitude for: Tsuchi, Mizu, Hi, or Kaze.

However, those who touch the stone without a clear mind will witness something different. Because the stone in question is a Memory Stone, an ancient magical artifact capable to creating illusions of a person's memories. Once the stone is touched, the light of the stone will jump out into the darkness, projecting illusions of their past on the walls around them. Whether these illusions appear as text, an exact replica of one's memories, or something more abstract, varies by the person.

Those whose memories are being projected may find themselves completely overwhelmed by the emotions they felt at the time of that memory. For this reason, no one is allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, so those affected better hope that their partner in the darkness is prepared to drag them out of it.

Into the Unknown

As the technology powering these terminals is still quite new to the scientists at the NRL, actually releasing these to the public is still a way off. Although there's zero risk of harm coming as a result of using the terminal, they have noticed that occasionally the terminal registers another point of travel, as if another terminal exists. A reverse transfer always brings them back just fine, but little is known about where these objects are ending up.

To that end, the NRL is asking brave enough refugees interested in exploring to take the teleporter to these unknown locations and report what they find. But don't worry, they're not asking they do this for free! All participants will receive a moderate sum of money, as well as a week-long stay at the Ōwakudani Hot Spring Resort in Hakone, to be redeemed whenever they like.

Cold Cuddles Sapporo, Hokkaido
For the first mysterious location, volunteers will be bundled up in warm clothes, as objects that come back always arrive very cold. And indeed -- upon teleporting, they'll find themselves in the midst of a snowstorm, an ancient version of the same terminal below their feet, and strange ruins all around them. And stranger still, the walls of the ruins appear to be covered in dark blue ice that won't melt no matter how much heat is applied.

It seems this teleporter is somehow connected to Hokkaido, the northernmost island of Nippon. Due to an ancient curse, the land is perpetually snowy and plagued by unmelting ice called everfrost. And while those who visited the region prior may recognize their surroundings enough to know they're actually very close to the city of Sapporo, others may not be so lucky, nor willing to take the risk of missing their return window.

Worse still, they're just far enough away from the city that their magi-comms won't work! With no way of activating the terminal from their side, and two hours before the NRL reactivates it on their end to bring them back, it looks like they'll need to huddle together for warmth to ensure they don't freeze.

Thankfully, the terminal is located in a covered area, and the remains of an old campsite nearby even has some blankets and supplies. And upon their return, they'll be given hot drinks and no shortage of apologies for not considering the risk of giving them such a long window to explore.

Party in the Dark Jigoku, Shitaya
The second mysterious location is by far the most intriguing, as it's clearly somewhere that people have access to, and yet no one has tried coming back through the terminals. Instead, empty cans and half-finished drinks sometimes end up on the terminal, with no explanation as to who was drinking them prior. And as this phenomenon only occurs late at night, that's when the volunteers will be sent.

Upon arriving, at first they'll find themselves blanketed in a perpetual darkness, surrounded by some sort of stone tunnel, with the sound of music echoing from further in. They'll still be able to contact the NRL, leading the scientists to suggest that they may be in Jigoku, the catacombs of an abandoned subway system below Tokyo.

Should they be brave enough to follow the source of the music, they'll stumble upon what appears to be a secret speakeasy in the dark, run by the Hanyo who live in the neighborhood of Shitaya. As many Hanyo still possess the Yokai ability to see more clearly in the dark than Humans, the lack of lighting is more a feature than a gimmick.

Still, for having made it all the way down here, they'll be offered free drinks and a playful atmosphere -- so long as they promise to keep their illegal supply of Uki-based drinks and snacks a secret from the authorities. A popular recreational drug in the West made from the naturally sweet Uki Weed, Uki is highly regulated in the East, and causes lowered inhibitions, feelings of calm or euphoria, and even functions as a mild aphrodisiac.

Which might just be why many patrons are taking advantage of the dark and inviting atmosphere for romantic trysts in the dark, with futons set up in nearby tunnels for all your sensory deprivation needs. The Refugees can contact the NRL to return at any time, so why not let loose and join the fun?

Castle in the Sky

After a week of using the teleporters, Refugees will discover a new warp point is now listed alongside Kyoto and Tokyo: Tengoku, the nation of Tengu, comprised of dozens of airborne cities that float high above Nippon. According to the NRL, the technology used for these teleporters was developed thanks to the Tengu of Skytower, as a much belated thank you for the refugee's help back in March 1921.

And while Skytower itself remains off-limits, the Tengu Capital of Miyazaki has decided to open its doors to outsiders for the first time in centuries.

Fly High Miyazaki, Tengoku
The Tengu cities are unlike anywhere else on Nippon, comprised of a single, massive amount of land that towers upward, and numerous smaller islands that float up and around the main part of the city. Mysterious magic-powered technology can be found all around the city, though the appearance is quite different from the more modern magi-tech.

But perhaps the most notable thing is that these cities are not designed to be very accessible to those who can't fly. Very few actual pathways lead upward into the city proper, and the entrance to most buildings are located on the top floor, with only a small balcony in front to land on. But thankfully, there's a means around it!

Upon arrival to the capital of Miyazaki, all Refugees will be offered a small backpack with a tiny pair of wings attached to it. Upon putting it on and jumping, the wings will grow larger, acting like a part of their body and allowing them to fly! These backpacks will only function in Tengoku, but they're welcome to keep them should they decide to visit again.

Of course, just because they have the power to do so doesn't mean they'll actually be good at it. Refugees may struggle to become airborne at all, or may find it difficult to control themselves in mid-air, flying into walls, other refugees, or accidentally hurling themselves over the edge of the city. Thankfully, there's patrolling Tengu who are always prepared to catch those who fall, but considering it always comes with a lecture, it's really not the best experience.

But those who persevere will be able to fly up to the very top of the city, where they'll find a beautiful garden overlooking the clouds. The flora here is far more alien than anything commonly found in Nippon, with plentiful etherblossoms, crystal-like mahougi trees, and-- is that a nuruname bloom? Maybe stay away from that one...

Liquid Happiness Miyazaki, Tengoku
Being so high up in the sky, completely isolated, meant that the Tengu cities were designed to be completely self-sustaining. Although they do conduct trade with the mainland below, almost everything they need is either grown or produced by the land itself. Which might just beg the question: where is the water coming from? Because nearly every level of the city is accented by canals and waterfalls.

But those who visit on a rainy day will get their answer. As high as they are, the Tengu cities are close enough that they can draw from the magic properties of the ring that circles the planet of Gaia, which is only visible at night. Thus, the rain that falls in Miyazaki has magical properties: in audition to a rainbow color, it can be infinitely multiplied, instantly heal wounds and certain illnesses, and seems to cause feelings of euphoria similar to Kizuna when one stands in it. For this reason, the rain that falls in Miyazaki is referred to as liquid happiness.

But for Refugees, these effects are even more extreme. Those who visit Miyazaki during a particularly rainy week at the tail end of April will begin to manifest severe Kizuna side-effects, especially the supernatural variety. While ordinarily these effects are only possible when feelings of love are present, the power of the rain will allow Refugees to share their thoughts and feelings with the people around them, whether they want to or not.

So strong are the effects of the rain that these effects will linger well after they leave, and may even become contagious to those they meet later on the surface. In the end, the NRL issues a warning for Refugees to avoid lingering in Miyazaki in rainy days until a more conclusive study on this "liquid happiness" can be conducted.

OOC Notes
Welcome to Jikan's April event! Please direct any questions to the Question Thread in the OOC Plotting post.

• Characters will not be allowed into the Tainai Meguri alone, and must descend in pairs.

• Sapporo is roughly a twenty minute walk away, and characters who are familiar with their surroundings will be able to go to the city proper. Magi-comms will also begin to work again. More information on Sapporo can be found on the Setting page!

• You are welcome to assume there is Uki-based incense in the underground party if your character would need an extra nudge to participate.

• Given their isolated status, the Tengu cities only contain Tengu Yokai, who range from entirely human-like with wings, anthropomorphic birds, and the traditional long-nosed variety! Although Refugees may be treated as a novelty by the people there, only elderly Tengu will treat them rudely for being outsiders.

• Characters will find that inns and hotels are both plentiful and cheap in Tengu cities, as the cities are very far apart from one another, and it's very common for Tengu to travel far from home. Miyazaki, for instance, floats above Kyushu near the Westernmost point of Nippon!

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Lucy/Nyuu | Elfen Lied | OTA

[scarredhorns]

Here Comes a Thought

[The memories encompass the entire room, creating an exact replica and putting Lucy - or Nyuu - and her company right in the middle of all the action, though none of the figures from the memories take notice of them.]

a. CW: Animal abuse, blood, violence committed by children | Lucy
[One is of what appears to be a recreation room. There's a TV, VCR, and shelves of books and board games. A child Lucy is sitting at one of the tables, minding her own business when an obnoxious voice addresses her. It appears to be a typical bullying scene, until it isn't. Meanwhile, adult Lucy is becoming so engulfed in the memory that she's actually saying the same words as her child self, at the same time.]

The ones who aren't human... [She sniffles.] The ones who are inhuman... ARE YOU!

[Enraged by the cruel act, child Lucy literally rips apart the bullies with her vectors, painting the room red with blood. Adult Lucy's vectors spring from her back and strike at the walls, but for those unable to see her strange hands, they'll feel a sudden draft as the vectors wave around, and they'll hear the clanging and thumping as they strike the walls.]

b. CW: Gore, nudity | Nyuu
[Another possible memory is Lucy's escape from the Diclonius Research Institute, in which the Lucy in the memory kills anyone who dares to get in her way. Even the secretary, Kisaragi, isn't spared as Lucy holds her hostage. Crueler yet is the way Kurama apologizes to her, essentially telling the girl she has to die because they can't allow Lucy to escape. Seeing that the secretary is a useless bargaining chip, Lucy lifts Kisaragi's head off her shoulders with a vector and laughs at Kurama, taunting him*.]

Her sacrifice was useless.

[This whole time, Nyuu's been watching with her hands covering her mouth, shaking so badly that her knees are barely holding her up. She's deathly quiet until she finally lets out a gasp as the bullet hits Lucy's helmet, sending her off the cliff and into the ocean below. Nyuu puts a hand over her own head, in the same place the bullet struck Lucy in the memory.]

I... I never knew. Lucy never told me that this was how I... [was born.] You wanna know what's worse? [Said with a wry laugh as tears spill from her eyes.] I can feel her rage and even her thrill from killing boiling inside me.

*ooc: Lucy's escape is slightly different in the manga.

Cold Cuddles | Nyuu (optional smut)

[The campsite was old, but it'd have to do for now. When they dig through the supplies and find the blankets, Nyuu immediately wraps herself up in one, but it does little to take the bite off the cold. Her teeth can't stop chattering as she speaks.]

C-C-Can we h-huddle t-t-together? Please? Even with the blanket, I'm still very c-c-cold.

Liquid Happiness | Lucy (optional smut)

[In the past, Lucy associated the rain with loneliness, having sat in it quite a few times by herself as a child. But the rain in Miyazaki is making her feel the opposite. Her heart feels as light as a feather and her mind is free of unhappy thoughts. The pretty rainbow color of the rain only adds to her joy. Before Lucy knows it, she's jumping into puddles like a little kid, or spinning around with her arms outstretched and face looking up to the sky - laughing all the while. Her euphoria stretches out to infect those nearby (if they weren't already affected by the liquid happiness).

The only thought on her mind is:]

This is the best I've felt in a long time!

Wildcard
[Feel free to have characters pop up in the girls' apartment! Or if you'd like to plot something specific, PM this account or mariposahermosa#5533]

b

[oneandoni]

[holy shit.

It isn't like he hasn't seen some horrible things, but this is far more extreme than even the worst he can remember. He can't help but look away, wincing at the noises of people being slaughtered, the sound of blood practically splashing - it doesn't occur to him at first that it's an illusion until a wayward arm falls right on his foot - and it isn't real, despite the way he jerks his foot away.

He turns his attention to Lucy - no, not Lucy, even he can realize that, and while he isn't sure why they're seeing this, she's upset. He doesn't understand it, or what she says, but - maybe they shouldn't stay here]

Hey - [he reaches out, not touching her but offering her a hand. He swallows, and doesn't look at any of what the illusion has left behind] She obviously kept it from you for a reason - c'mon, there's better things to feel then any of that.

[scarredhorns]

[Nyuu sniffles and wipes at her eyes, though more tears keep falling. She nods slowly. Yes, she really doesn't want to be here anymore.]

O-Okay.

[Still wiping at her eyes, she takes his offered hand with her free one. Oh... Now that she's getting a good look, she remembers Lucy mentioning someone that matches his description in their notes to each other. Itto, she thinks his name was?

Another sniffle as she tries to blink through the tears so she can see him in a less blurry form.]

Are you, Itto-san?

[oneandoni]

[he gives the illusioned memory one more look before he squeezes her hand, gently tugging her towards the exit. He's not too great at comforting people - especially girls - but at least he's going to try]

Uh - yeah, that's me. [so, not the girl he met at the party? Or it's something else, regardless it doesn't matter much] Careful, it's dark this way -

[scarredhorns]

[She doesn't let go of his hand, especially since her vision is still hindered by her tears.]

Lucy told me about you in our written messages to each other. I'm sorry you had to see me like th--

[She stumbles, falling down to one knee. She's not hurt, but her mood's in such a state that even a little thing like that is enough to get her to start crying again. How could she be so clumsy? Such negative thoughts only feed into the rage she'd felt from Lucy in the memory, making her breathe harder.]

I can still feel the rage from Lucy in that memory. There's so much of it... [She clenches the hand she'd been using to wipe her eyes into a fist and speaks through gritted teeth as she hangs her head.] It's unbearable...! I just want to scream and kick and hit something.

[oneandoni]

[he stops when she goes down to one knee, quick to follow, free hand hovering before resting on her shoulder. He can understand the anger - not personally, but it makes sense, doesn't it? What a horrible thing to live through once, let alone be forced to see again]

We can find somewhere to do that if you want - but c'mon, we shouldn't stay down here. I know it's hard, but -

[scarredhorns]

[Nyuu's hand lets go of Itto's as she suddenly becomes even more unsteady, going down on all fours and hanging her head. The long pink hair falls around her face like a curtain, concealing it, but her shoulders begin to visibly tremble. It almost looks as though she's crying again, until a low laughter rumbles from her instead. Except her voice doesn't sound like it did before, and it doesn't sound like Lucy's voice either.]

I remember that day. So thrilling.

[Her voice sounds distorted, as if there's multiple voices speaking at the same time. And when Nyuu lifts her head, her eyes have changed too. She still retains the white of her sclera, but her pupils and red irises have been blacked out, literally.]

So much carnage.

[The DNA Voice lowers her head and her shoulders shake again as she lets out more of that chilling, low laughter. Yet as quickly as it began, as if someone hit the pause button on her, she goes very still for a few seconds. She shakes her head and lifts it up a second time, revealing Nyuu's bright but confused eyes.]

Huh? What just happened? I blacked out for a moment. Did I faint? Is that why I'm on all fours now?

[She remembers falling to one knee and saying how she just wanted to scream, kick, and hit something, but that's all. Her voice is back to normal and she sounds genuinely bewildered.]

[oneandoni]

[most of the time Itto is a well-meaning, dumb oni but even this puts him on guard, so much so that it's only because Nyuu seems to get herself under control that he doesn't summon his claymore. Even so he tenses at the laughter, fingers curling into a fist at his side.

When she lifts her head the second time and her eyes are clear, Itto lets out the breath he didn't know he was holding and forces himself to relax, kneeling down to offer her a hand]

Think you lost your bearings for a second, that's all. It happens, right, with memories that strong?

[scarredhorns]

Yes, but not just from strong memories. Anytime Lucy takes control, I can't remember anything she does during that time. That's why we write to each other.

[Nyuu takes his hand, but the sigh of relief he'd let out earlier didn't escape her notice. Now, maybe he'd been concerned about her wellbeing when she blacked out, but there's a feeling in Nyuu's gut telling her it's not as simple as that. By now, she's aware of the DNA Voice thanks to Lucy's written messages.

She rises to her feet with his help.]

Did I say anything weird just now? It's just... Since I became aware of Lucy, I've never experienced her taking control for such a brief time like this.

cold cuddles - nyuu

[malefico]

[ it's not surprising that the teleportation had gone awry, especially given his lack of understanding of even simple technology. considering he had broken his communications device within a week of arriving in Nippon, it should stand to reason that he could not be trusted to either call for help or even navigate through the network, so perhaps his lack of assistance in that regard could be forgiven.

it isn't as if he's unaffected by the cold. he feels it deep in his bones, the frost seeping into his skin and bleeding through his entire body. numbing pinpricks settle high on his cheeks and on his brow and in any exposed part of skin to the elements, and he's only too glad to spot the remains of the campfire nearby.

there's a few charred logs of wood that have burned down to embers, but no matter. Malleus does not immediately make for the human woman to huddle together, instead turning his attention to the fire and leaning over it. there's a long, steady exhale and a plume of bright green fire immediately billows forth, igniting all the logs within the campfire and immediately setting them alight. warmth and an eerie glow begins to bathe the campsite and he looks back at her, expectant. ]

If you are still cold, come closer.

[scarredhorns]

[Still hugging the blanket tightly around her quaking body, Nyuu curiously watches the horned man lean over the remains of a campfire. Is he really going to be able to salvage that in this snowstorm?

But to her surprise, he does. She's never seen fire burn green before, but it's kind of pretty.]

T-T-Thank you.

[Since he said "come closer," not only does Nyuu get closer to the fire Malleus just made, but she sidles right up to his side.]

Um, did you just breathe fire?

[She thought she heard him exhaling just before the fire appeared.]

[malefico]

[ while at first the press up against his side makes him tense, unused to such glaring body contact with another person, he can understand the necessity for such a thing in the face of their current situation.

all the same, propriety and decorum has demands of him, and the space that he puts between them is perhaps to be expected. even in a land that is very obviously not Twisted Wonderland, it's hard to break the habits ingrained in him since birth. if not that, then there was still contending with the fact that his contact with anyone beyond his retinue and his attendants had been extremely limited, restricted to a respectful amount of space between him and his acquaintances.

he's just not used to being touched or even being encroached upon, is all. he can't even muster up an apologetic look because he is simply not accustomed to it, only a mild tilt of his head. ]

Yes. [ Malleus manages after a moment or two. ] Does it frighten you?

[scarredhorns]

[Even with her body numbed from the cold, she's still able to feel him tense. Oops - Did she misinterpret what he meant when he told her to come closer and made him feel uncomfortable?

She gets her answer when Malleus puts more space between them, making her deflate a little.]

I'm sorry... When you said "come closer," I assumed you were talking about both the fire and yourself.

[In response to his question, she shakes her head and smiles reassuringly with lips that are still slightly blue from the cold.]

No. I think that's cool, actually. Do you specialize in Hi magic or is it something you've always been able to do?

[malefico]

Hi magic?

[ the phrase is unfamiliar to him, but not completely. he knows magic, and he knows... hi? high? whatever she'd said. he can only imagine that it means something to do with flight.

but most importantly, this is yet another human who does not know who he is. albeit one with strange... ears? horns? he's not entirely sure. ]

Ah, I see. I had meant the fire. I do not expect you will have any warmth to gain from hovering so close to me. [ outwardly, he is just as cold as she is. fae-dragon though he is, dragons are still rather susceptible to the cold and he would be lying if he said that he wasn't feeling the effects of it on his body already. while it may not show outwardly on his features, he's still feeling rather sluggish, the urge to sleep hanging as heavy on his mind as if he'd been cursed. ]

As for your question... I am proficient in magic. However it is not the kind that is familiar to this world, nor any others. Breathing fire is something I was born with the ability to do.

Cold Cuddles

[shatteredstoryline]

[Being on the taller end of the scale for a woman's height, Melissa finds no issue in looming over Nyuu and wrapping Her (Melissa's) blanket around them both. With their fronts facing each other hopefully this will allow the least amount of heat to escape.]

Perhaps it's a good thing our clothes didn't get too wet from the snow...

[Even though there's a campsite there's no "indoor" area where Melissa would feel comfortable enough to strip if it would have had to come to that.]

[scarredhorns]

[Her body practically melts in relief as it receives a little more warmth, Melissa's blanket shielding her from more of the cold. It's too soon for her shivering and chattering teeth to stop, but they do tone down just enough so that Nyuu stutters less.]

Thank you.

[Then Melissa mentions how it's fortunate their clothes weren't soaked from the snow.]

Ah, you're right. I didn't even think about that until you mentioned it.

[She feels some heat in her face all of a sudden from the very idea of stripping down in order to share body heat. In an effort to distract her mind from coming up with any more embarrassing images, Nyuu glances at the remains of the campfire.]

Would you happen to know how to start a fire? I'm afraid I have no idea, and I don't know any Hi magic.

[shatteredstoryline]

I... actually have no affinity for magic whatsoever. At least... back where I'm from I couldn't use it at all.

But, [she says with a sigh that comes out of her mouth in a small cloud of vapor] if we can find flint and something to spark it with, I could make that work.

[Melissa tries shuffling around to look, but with trying to make sure Nyuu is warm it's more like...

A penguin waddling with its egg.]

Wild

[chichichi]

[ It's hit or miss. There is no in between when it comes to the teleporter and Setsura is aware of that when she opts to use it again instead of taking the five hour long train ride. It's only ever flung her somewhere in the correct city, so while it may yield an inconvenience by delivering her anywhere in Kyoto but the exact location it's supposed to, it still accomplishes its purpose in saving time.

This time is a miss and Setsura is prepared for it. There's no splash accompanied by the distinct sensation of water against clothes and skin. Rather, she's in the dark -- there's light glowing gently at what must be the bottom of a door -- and there's fabric touching her face. It's probably a closet, but a closet where is the question.

She sighs. Takes a breath and opens the door whilst simultaneously calling out an -- ]

Excuse me.

[ She's ready to act should she be met with violence. She always is; though, she'd rather not have to. Now where...? And equally as importantly, who is there? ]

[scarredhorns]

[Even before Setsura called out, it seems someone already noticed her presence. There's a shadow that blocks some of the light from entering via the crack at the bottom of the closet door, accompanied by some loud sniffing sounds. Then there's a bark.

It's a good thing Setsura makes her presence known, though, or else Lucy would've jumped to the conclusion that this was a break in. Even so, Lucy remains on guard. She pulls her dog back by his collar with one hand, while the other opens the door. She rolls her eyes.]

Teleporter?

[By now, she's become aware of their malfunctions. The dog, Kenji, isn't barking or growling, but he is staring at Setsura curiously, wondering if she's a threat or not.]

You've wound up in my apartment.

[chichichi]

Teleporter.

[ She replies simply, stepping out of the stranger's closet and closing the door behind her. She makes no move to approach to the woman and her very cute dog. No sudden movements at all, nothing that could be consider threatening by the former or the latter. ]

My apologies for the intrusion. It seems the NRL and MRU have yet to work the kinks out of their technology.

[ She bows her head just so. ]

I'm Setsura, and you are...?

[scarredhorns]

Yeah, no shit. I've wound up in weird places too. I think I'm going to stick with walking and the trains until they've improved the teleporters.

[Teleportation had sounded so convenient, except it's only convenient if it actually works. It's been a lot of hitting and missing so far.]

Lucy. [She bows her head a tad in greeting, then gestures to her dog.] And this is Kenji.

[Sensing no animosity between Lucy and Setsura, Kenji visibly relaxes, letting his tongue hang out of his mouth as he wags his tail and barks out a hello.]

Would you like some tea? Since you're here? I was already boiling some water anyway.

[It's very clear that Setsura didn't intend to teleport to her apartment and she's done a good job of presenting as nonthreatening, so Lucy doesn't feel the need to be rude.]

[chichichi]

[ She inclines her head slightly to Kenji in greeting and gently lowers herself on the balls of her feet in invitation. She does pause, however. ]

What sort of tea?

[scarredhorns]

[With Kenji no longer on guard, Lucy releases her hold on his collar, allowing the dog to trot over to Setsura and start sniffing at her.]

I have green, black, and chai tea. This way.

[Lucy makes a "follow me" gesture with her hand, leading Setsura to the sitting room. The one-bedroom apartment is styled like a traditional Japanese home. The table for the sitting room is low and tatami covers the floor. Minus the humming of the steam-powered generators at the top of the building, it reminds Lucy of Maple House back in her world.

The small kitchen is in an adjacent room and with the sliding door wide open, they can still see each other when Lucy walks over to pour the hot water into two teacups. Kenji makes himself comfortable in his favorite corner of the sitting room, resting on his belly.]

So, what was your intended destination?

[chichichi]

Black.

[ She offers as she sinks into seiza in front of the table. It feels like a black tea sort of day. ]

I was heading to the market. There are things in Kyoto you can't find in Tokyo.

[scarredhorns]

I've heard about that, though I don't know much about what exactly those things are.

[She comes over with two tea cups, holding her own in her physical hands, while the one for Setsura is being held by Lucy's vectors. With Setura's youkai blood, the strange arms extending from Lucy's back are visible to her.]

Don't mind the floating tea cup. It's just a power I've had since I was a kid.

[Said as she sets Setsura's cup down before her on the table, taking a seat across from her. However, Lucy assumes the other woman can't see her vectors, hence the explanation about a "floating" tea cup.]