First Chime - [Action]

[forgetfulchime]

[Leaning up against the fountain in the plaza is a girl, a new feather if you will, which is pretty obvious by looking at the white dress she has on.  There's no telling how long she's been out here exactly, but it's been a while considering the fact that she's soaked.  Her blonde hair is sticking to her cheeks and neck, her white wings are slightly darker and heavier from the water and her dress is practically clinging onto her thin legs.

And what's strange is...

...She doesn't appear to be moving.  She doesn't stir nor does she open her eyes.  No matter how long you may stare at her, she just stays like that; sitting on the cold ground, holding something loosely in her hands while the rain pelts her continuously.  Is she sleeping?]

Comments

[so_shik]

The...104. [Holy...Shiki's honestly not sure what she can even say at the moment, so she'll settle for a wide-eyed stare.]

Rhyme...okay, don't freak out, okay? But this isn't Shibuya. [Yeah, thanks for pointing that out, Shiki.]

[forgetfulchime]

[What's with that look Shiki... ]

I thought so. I don't recognize this place at all. [She reaches up to rub her shoulder. Why does her back feel so sore?] So where are we exactly if not Shibuya? Why would the reapers put us out here?

[so_shik]

The Reapers don't exactly have control here. We're kind of like...it's like we're playing someone else's Game. Does that make any sense?

[forgetfulchime]

Mm, I guess it kind of does. What's this Game like?

[so_shik]

Not good. The guys that run it, the Malnosso? They like to make us go through missions only once a month or so, but they run for a few days. Lots of times? It's a whole week. And half the time they're not easy.

Maybe we should get inside and talk though. It's way too cold for you to be wearing just that. [And she's standing to her full height, keeping the umbrella up to shield the younger girl from the rain and extending a hand to pull her up.] Our house isn't too far...

[forgetfulchime]

That doesn't sound too different from the other game back in Shibuya. Well, with the exception of the time limits. [ ... ] We don't um--face erasure here too, do we?

[You have a point Shiki. So Rhyme takes her hand and with her free hand, pulls at her dress as she stands up so it doesn't just stick to her legs. Once she's up on her feet, she can't help but stare at the other girl for a long minute]

...Shiki, you look a bit older than I remember. More mature.

[so_shik]

...well, not really erasure. But people can die here. [Though what does that mean for Rhyme? Come to think of it, what did that even mean for Beat?] Don't worry though. We're all going to stick together. We have a house here...me, Neku and Beat. We're staying with a friend of mine. She's a good friend...she won't mind one more.

[She doesn't quite let go of Rhyme's hand yet as the blond girl rises, but instead she stares as her friend utters those words. ...she really was the oldest now, wasn't she? Save for Joshua, but he didn't exactly count. She sighs softly, pulling at Rhyme's hand a bit to urge her to walk with her toward the house before slowly letting go.]

...that's the other thing. We've...sort of been here for a while.

[forgetfulchime]

Ah--Neku and Beat are here too?? [Well that does make her feel a little bit better. In a way at least. She's still worried about these missions. Experiencing death for a second time doesn't sound all that exciting either. What would happen if they died here?

Would that be it for them?

As Shiki pulls on her hand, she obediently follows her to wherever they're going while giving her a rather... surprised look. Been here for a while? How could that be? She hadn't been apart from Shiki for more than ten minutes at the most back home.]

How long is a while?

[so_shik]

Yeah. They'll be really excited to see you...we've missed you. It's important we all stick together anyway.

[...this is always the hardest part. Beat had freaked out when she told him. She had no idea how Rhyme would react.]

I've been here for over three years now.

[forgetfulchime]

[She opens her mouth to ask why they would miss her after being away for such a short period of time but instantly stops herself upon hearing Shiki's answer.]

...Three years? [That doesn't make sense. It doesn't make sense at all. But before she can ask how that's even possible to begin with-] And the others?

[so_shik]

...Neku's been here on and off over the last few years. Beat's been here almost eight months or so. Unbelievable, isn't it?

[forgetfulchime]

Very... [She brings her fingers up to her lips and taps them idly against them. Her brain can't quite wrap around the idea of Shiki, Neku and Beat all being here for so long while back home she had just been with them all.

It hadn't been less than a minute ago when she was trying to catch up with Beat on the way to 104.]

Mm... [She wants to ask how it's possible, but for some reason, she doesn't think Shiki knows. Would anyone even know how it's possible? It's something that's beyond comprehension.

So instead she just puts on a small smile] I hope Beat hasn't been too much trouble for you in those eight months.

[so_shik]

[It's a lot to wrap your brain around, Shiki knows, but she's going to pat Rhyme on the head gently as they walk on.]

He's been okay. We've got him under control. Is he usually this rambunctious?

[forgetfulchime]

[Baaaw Mama Shiki you're too nice. Rhyme just laughs at that]

Well, he definitely has his moments if you're not careful--or rather if he's not careful.

[so_shik]

He skateboards down the railing of the stairs sometimes. I'll warn you of that right now. I mean, you'd think he'd chill after Haruhi freaked out, but sometimes I think he still does it.

[forgetfulchime]

Oh Beat... [Why are you doing that inside Beat... She sighs and after a moment] Who's Haruhi?

[so_shik]

She's a friend of mine that I met here a really long time ago. I've been living with her for almost three years now. We should have a little extra room for you. She's let me bring the boys home to stay, so I don't see an issue here.

[forgetfulchime]

Oh! Well I'm glad you did find someone to live with. [Since being alone sucks and all.] But are you sure it would be okay? I don't want to intrude or anything...

[so_shik]

You're not intruding at all, and you should know that. [Hair-ruffle get.] Haruhi might give you some funny looks, but that's normal.

[forgetfulchime]

[Rhyme just laughs] Does she give funny looks to everyone?

[so_shik]

[...] Yeah, kinda! Haruhi's just a funny person. [Maybe not really, but someone's pretty biased.] Just don't mind if she starts yelling orders. And don't mind the tiki heads. Or the room of costumes...or the rooster.

[forgetfulchime]

The... rooster? [w h a t]

[so_shik]

His name's Sekai. He's nice enough, but he has his own room so don't go in there and disturb him. Haruhi's had him for a while.

[forgetfulchime]

Does he get angry if you go into his room?

[so_shik]

Not really, but he might try to peck at you. Besides it's kind of messy with the hay and stuff, I'd just avoid it all together. You can hang out downstairs with me. The boys have rooms on the second floor.