August 28th - Downward Spiral

[zenoh]

[ Nothing has been the same since she returned. No matter how many dinner parties and picnics, no matter how much she tries to distract herself with hobbies and trying something new, it all leads to the same thing. Ayame finds herself feeling restless, lonely, and frustrated. All of a sudden she stops contacting her friends. She goes to work and gets things done without talking to people. She goes for walks while also purposely avoiding people she knows, only watching them from afar with people they've grown close to in this world like Sonico and Mobius, or people being reunited with friends from their homeworlds. This loneliness only gets worse when it's quiet and Ayame is left alone with her thoughts. She's been back for months; and the time has come when her frustrations grow to a point where her her facade of a kind and composed woman is beginning to crack... ]

A.) Genessia City - Memoria Park

[ Ayame had been visiting Memoria Park every day since she returned without fail, always stopping by the wall with the name Yuyuko Saigyouji on it. She always shows up to eat breakfast there, reading the newspaper, or just to use the name as a venting post for her anecdotes and frustrations. Lying down on a next to the wall with Yuyuko's name on it, and still clad in her combat outfit with a sword on her side, she'll likely be needed to get waken up. If not, she'll just do it herself. A jolt causes a gasp to leave her lips and pry her eyes open, looking around with watery eyes in confusion and groaning. Her hand flies to her head to nurse her headache, but also to shield her eyes from that bright sunlight from above. Muttering to herself, she struggles to look for her sunglasses that she swears is just on the ground. She mutters to herself as she finds it difficult to get up ]

Ah, damn it. Sunglasses. Ugh... Where did I put those?

[ It's on her head ]

B.) Genessia City - Burgatory

[ Burgatory is a rather new burger shop, known for opening up early and serving gourmet burgers even during breakfast hours. She was supposed to go to Cake Town to bake with Orihime, but from the looks of it she's still wearing her combat outfit from yesterday, not even bothering to come home after her shift as a Deputy Guardian. As the sun rises, Ayame can be found on the roof of Burgatory, sitting at home on top of the large B sign with some hamburgers and a bottle of bourbon beside her. Her eyes are shielded with some cheap sunglasses, with her messy bun hairstyle even messier than it should be. Her stunt causes a little commotion on the parking area. Curious people gather to watch this hungover woman continue to ignore the staff that start pleading for her to come down.

"Miss? Please, can you get down from there?" the young staff member asks, tired and pretty much done with Genessia's shenanigans. He doesn't get paid enough for this shit. ]

C.) Fayren - Marketplace

[ Clad in modern clothes in the form of a track jacket, running pants, and sneakers; Ayame stands out from the local crowd in Fayren's streets. But it was mostly because they see Ayame on a moped. Down the narrow market streets, they saw her rolling and they were hating. Currently parked outside an apothecary where the locals observe it in curiosity. Ayame feels sick as she steps out of the store, coughing and placing a hand on a wall for support while she gets her bearings with deep breathes, Ayame slowly walks to the moped, leaning against it as she takes the herbal remedy from the store and wash it down with some water. She's getting a lot of curious looks, so she looks at them in return until she notices someone with a soul/pendant, raising her water bottle at them in greeting ]

I hope I'm not ruining the rustic scenery.

Comments

for Winter Schnee

[zenoh]

[ As night begins to creep up over Fayren, Ayame has reached her favorite camping spot by the cliffs overlooking the ocean. It's become her sanctuary should things feel too stressful elsewhere, and given how this morning went it's definitely time for her to get away from all that just occurred. Her tent is set up, and her pets are just resting around the campfire. Ayame sits on a folding chair with a book in hand and a glass of whisky with the other. That was when she suddenly feels danger from within the forests. Focusing on where this might be using her psionic senses, she pinpoints the location of where the ground rumbles at the rushing feet of trolls, and the cries of despair from a small party of adventuring humans they have in tow. Hesitating for a moment to decide whether to bother or not, her conscience eventually won out. Ayame stands and shields her campsite in a barrier and heads off to intercept these trolls...

Moving from tree branch to tree branch in silence, Ayame keeps her distance from her quarry. Her expectations were surprised as these trolls were much different from the usual one. These were more intelligent, standing up to 20 feet tall, and armored in blackened plate over their spiked scales akin to a crocodile's hide. They were armed with brutish weapons of spiked clubs and crude swords fit for their great size. The party of trolls moved at a quick pace with captured humans in tow, bound in ropes and carried on their person as human shields from archers. This is curious; she feels magic coming from both the prisoners and captors even if their consciousness are starting to fade. The trolls arrive at a very secluded bandit's encampment, protected by palisades that are poorly reinforced on some parts. The camp is ran by humans as evident on the guards that allowed the trolls to enter, and the location of the camp is only a mile away from the beach, giving Ayame an idea that these could be a pirate den.

As the party of hulking trolls enter the encampment, the wooden gate closes. Ayame thinks of a way to get in. There's always her portals and just crashing in, but she didn't want to risk the hostages' lives with that approach. There's a myriad of ways she could get to these people without having to resort to using her combat skills, but with the way she's feeling right now using her powers would only make her feel worse. She's very much reduced to a more human level right now, and a part of her felt excited at the idea of having to use her blade. With her katana Shinkiro floating over her back, Ayame crouches down behind a boulder on a hill with a good view of the front gate. Feeling a presence behind her, Ayame's hand flew to the handle of her sword. Her grip eases when she sees a familiar face, one she has not seen in a very long time. ]

Winter?

[ As far as she knows, Winter is still with the Royal Guard, and the Royal Family is still safe and sound. She hasn't been going to Fayren much, and didn't bother keeping up with the news since she lost her business here. But this is one hell of a way to meet again ]

[specialist_snowflake]

[Once eye contact is made, Winter's hand moves away from the handle of her saber. She nods once to confirm before taking a knee beside the other soldier. She carries the scent of the mountain with her, crisp and earthy, and keeps her voice low to ensure they can communicate without being heard.]

You noticed them as well.

[She'd spotted the signs of a struggle further back. The trail of a band of trolls isn't particularly difficult to follow, especially for those of such unusually large stature.]

Surveillance report. How long have you been able to monitor their camp?

[zenoh]

[ Ayame caught the scent on her fellow soldier, which made her assume that the captured humans are important to Winter's job as a Captain of the Guard. She didn't let those thoughts linger for longer than a split second, for as soon as Winter asked her a question it made Ayame feel even more nostalgic. It was easy to fall into her old soldierly habits when on the presence of another ]

Just arrived here myself.

[ Ayame replies in a hush, returning her focus on the mission and taking a subtle peek over their cover to see what they're up against. To help focus and control her powers without making herself dizzy, Ayame puts a couple of fingers on her temple, causing her pupils to widen and irises to change color ]

Scanning the camp, we have 38 hostiles plus the three trolls. 27 humans of which are awake. All of them armed with magical weapons.

[ Ayame sighs, lowering her hand and having her eyes return to normal ]

There's only one way in and out, officially, and it's through that gate. There is one way in to the west, on a shallow river, if you want to take a stealth approach.

Genessia City; B

[orlokbutterfly]

[Gale was out for a ride and was coming back from Attleton of all places. He was racking his brain while driving along, but he couldn't help but notice the crowd at that burger place. "Burgatory"? Why hadn't he heard of this place? He'd hit it up all the time with a name like that.

But he decides to park his bike to see what all the commotion was about, walking up alongside the staff member who was trying to coax someone down. He raises an eyebrow and looks up, seeing...

... Ayame?

He frowned a bit. He couldn't help but notice she was acting a little odd at the office, but now seeing her up there was just weird. Reaching into his coat pocket, he hands the poor staff kid a couple bills. The kid really doesn't get paid enough.]

I'll deal with this, that's my associate up there.

[He leaps up, using some wind magic tricks to carry himself up to the establishment's sign. His heels clicked onto the roof as he landed gracefully and he rested his hands on his hips.]

Honey, I'm gonna have to pull you out of Burgatory.

[That was probably one of the funniest things he'd ever said, even trying to hold back a bit of a smirk.]

[zenoh]

[ Ayame's sunglasses drop slightly when she senses Gale's presence through the sound of his motorcycle, seeing his familiar demeanor with her unshielded eye. But that's about the only attention she gave him. Pushing her sunglasses up and taking a bite out of her hamburger - a food item she actively avoids and preaches her friends not to eat, Ayame hears the click of those heels as they step on the roof of the restaurant. Her heart only races from the growing frustration, bracing for what she believes is to come. Gale's humor had the opposite effect, serving to ruffle Ayame's feathers more than it normally does. A sigh is all he gets whenever he makes a pun on normal days, but today he gets a look and scoff of disgust followed by a cold shoulder. Sorry she's a jerk today, Gale.

Meanwhile, the young staff member is just confused at the tip, stammering and just pocketing the extra cash from this man with magical powers and a troublesome associate. ]

A

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante didn't usually find himself in Memoria Park, but he did visit occasionally to keep tabs on who left the city. Today just happened to be one day when he saw Ayame. As she looks for her sunglasses, Dante will just walk up behind her, and tap the sunglasses on her head.]

Sometimes I wonder if you would lose your head if it weren't attached.

[zenoh]

[ Ayame sensed Dante when he entered Memoria Park. That alone was enough to make the hairs of her skin crawl and blood boil. She hates being seen as less than her "perfect" self, and Dante's tapping on the sunglass and his commentary only ruffled her feathers even more. She groans, giving him an indignant stare as she stands up on wobbly legs. Flipping her sunglasses down to shield her eyes, her hand remains on the wall for support. She had no comeback to that, at least nothing good. Her usual wit is absent, as is her usual grace. ]

Dante.

[ She greets, dry and devoid on energy. ]

What are you doing here?

[ There's really only one thing to do here, but she's struggling to express herself by finding the right words. Despite how exhausted she looks, her mind is racing at an uncontrollable pace. She just doesn't see Dante as the sentimental type, and she is yet to realize the practical application of this place as a way to see who vanished without warning, as she is still too blinded by her grief ]

[alwaysimpaled]

[Dante glances up and sees Yuyuko's name, immediately putting two and two together. He steps forward, putting an arm around Ayame's shoulders, pulling her close to support those wobbly legs without making her look any less dignified.]

I like to keep tabs on who leaves this place. Just doing my rounds.

A

[gamerrep]

[One thing Chiaki always did without fail was going to Memoria Park, usually with headphones on and music playing in her ears. Sometimes it was even the music from one of her friends that had been here and did music for a time. But today it wasn't. It was just any kind of music.

She had also brought along her lunch, which she had been planning to eat here before going back to Nova City for work. As she was slowly reaching the place she finally looked up and found herself a little puzzled.]

Are you here to see people who have gone to? [As she spoke she moved to take out her headphones, switching the player off for the time being.]

[zenoh]

[ Sensing Chiaki's presence made Ayame groan as she remains struggling to get up. Pushing her self up causes her sunglasses to drop to her face, albeit improperly placed. She turns to see her younger friend, someone she sees as a younger sister figure, witness this undignified side of her that she works so hard to hide from the world. Her annoyance causes her to ignore Chiaki's question as she leans against the wall for support. Her head feels so heavy, as if she's wearing an an anvil as a hat.

Shame quickly overtook her frustrations. Chiaki is an innocent soul; and undeserving of her ire even if her irrational thoughts nag at her to be snippy. Ayame takes a moment, wanting to pick the right words to say. She runs her hand along her temple, brushing her messy hair with her finger before a defeated sigh leaves her, shrugging with that same hand as she could only say: ]

Yes. I suppose you could say that.

[ Chiaki probably didn't know about Yuyuko. Hardly anyone did since Yuyuko pretty much kept to herself. ]

[gamerrep]

[Chiaki watched her movements quietly. She couldn't say what exactly was going on, but she also was aware it was rude to pry. So she knew to avoid such things. If she was here to see someone then she also figured that sometimes people want to be left alone and maybe the movements were about that.

So she turned on her heels for a moment looking over all the time, her fingers reaching out and gently touching the service, going down till she came across the name she herself had been looking for and the message that was written beneath it.]

I understand if you need to be alone then. I always find that even I want to be alone sometimes when I am here. So it's fine if that's what you want. Just so long as you are honest and tell me.

C

[maidaein]

[ Among those of Fayren, Micaiah was used to standing out. Silvery hair, bright eyes, and strange magic that betrayed her frame. But apparently that pales in comparison to the stranger struggling to stand up, decked in clothes more appropriate for one of those other cities, and... ailing.

Once she realizes that, Micaiah approaches without a second thought. She even goes along with the other's dialogue. ]

I doubt you could do that without getting violent.

[ Whatever that medicine she just took didn't finish, Micaiah felt she could try to herself anyway. Before she could really think about it, she was using her old Sacrifice ability, channeling her own energy to try and heal Ayame's sickness. If not stopped though Micaiah might exhaust herself a bit. ]

[zenoh]

[ Ayame frowns almost immediately when she senses energy leaving Micaiah's body, transferring itself to her. Before any significant amount leaves Micaiah, Ayame speaks up with a stern tone and a serious look on her face. ]

What are you doing?

[ Ayame takes the energy that was meant to heal her and brings it back to Micaiah. Something she can do thanks to her own Resonance ability. Doing so made her head pound a little but she found the act to be a bit awkward, if not a little insulting. ]

Make no mistake. Your kindness is appreciated. But don't you think you should at least ask permission before using any spells on other people?

[maidaein]

[ The manner of her speech stops Micaiah in her tracks. This had to be the first time someone's reacted negatively to her healing before she finished.

But before she could stop herself, she found her energy... coming right back to her. She actually let out a small, audible gasp of surprise and stumbled back. She shook off her surprise though and simply stood. ]

Sorry. It's a bad habit. I didn't realize you were that strong.

Even the strong need shoulders to lean on, though.

[ Maybe she didn't need actual healing, but if she was not using any energy to recover, perhaps she had a reason? ]

C

[censorshipnutkin]

A beauty such as you ruining the scenery? I think not.

[Thancred offers some more water, his nutkin perched on his head and looking down at Ayame.]

Are you feeling all right?

[zenoh]

[ Ayame would normally at least give the slightest of chuckles at someone trying to be flirty with her, but with how this day is going she finds it hard to even smile. Her eyes did ease a little, whispering a "thanks" in response and gratefully declining the offered water with a wave of her hand ]

I've been worse. Just a really awful headache... [ A sigh ] At least I know what it would feel like to have an anvil as a hat, now.

[censorshipnutkin]

[He tucks the water away again with a small smile.]

I've been there. Anything I can do to help?

A

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ She's heard of this place, especially in the context of people disappearing. However, Konoka had never really made the trip until now. The marble monolith was just like the big memorials she'd seen on her world.

This time around, it wasn't just a heavy statistic... Konoka had personal things to see. Setsuna's name was surely among them. Even if Setsuna really wasn't... dead per se, she wasn't coming back, and Konoka missed her. How long would it be before Genessia let her go? Should she hold this candle, or move on for a little while?

What did that last one even mean?

Though speaking of, she wound up spying Mariko's name too, and that had its own, more complicated feelings involved. Something negative actually threatened to show up before she heard Ayame, apparently not too far away.

Her "big sister" was apparently looking for her sunglasses. ]

Ayame, they're on your head though.

[zenoh]

[ Konoka's presence in Memoria Park left Ayame feeling a complicated mix of emotions. But mostly, it was that of frustration and shame. Having Konoka see her in such a state was a blow to her pride, even worse that she made such a silly mistake. Ayame looks at Konoka, wordlessly staring at the young woman before shielding her own eyes with the sunglasses. It took some effort to stand herself up with such a heavy-feeling head, but using the wall with Yuyuko's name for support, Ayame manages to get on her feet ]

Morning...

[ Ayame tries to act casual, dusting off her combat outfit without looking at Konoka straight in the eyes. Groaning under her breath, she clears her throat as she keeps tidying herself up ]

...What, uhm, what day is it?

[im_gonna_heal_u]

[ There's something off about Ayame. She seems a little more... distraught than normal? But she's also trying to appear casual.

Konoka can empathize though. She doesn't like showing negative emotions either. It distracted her from thinking about her love life. ]

Tuesday.

[ But she can't avoid the subject forever. And bottling things up is bad, right? Ayame would totally poke her if she was trying to hide something. ]

You have someone you really miss too?

[Action - C] - Fayren

[prideofhoshido]

Not at all.

[Ryoma stated with a slight smile. The days of searching were getting tiresome, but at least meeting other people in this place was nice]

Are you feeling alright? That cough sounded quite vile.

[He doesn't know the double-edgeness of that word, but he had good intention..!]

[zenoh]

[ Seeing the samurai-like man approach, showing a kind demeanor, Ayame looks to him with an amused shrug. The only smile she could muster was a brief tug of her lips' edges, but was quickly obscured by another sip of water to wash down the horrible aftertaste of the medicine she took. She clears her throat ]

Hopefully that herbal remedy I took would make it sound less vile. I'm heading to the forest later, I wouldn't want to scare off any the wildlife.

[ She responds with a straight face, although her choice of words indicate her subtle sense of humor ]

[prideofhoshido]

[-And that humor he appreciated. Ryoma had a dry humor himself, but whenever it was expressed within the family or soldiers, they wouldn't get it immediately. He was too serious and calm.

He chuckled softly]

Let's hope not. It would be a shame if you didn't get the chance to witness some of these creatures. Luckily this is a very natural and pure place to be.

[Action - Genessia City Park]

[allforthem]

[Sayaka had saw the woman scrambling everywhere about sunglasses but..????

The blunette came over to the other, wanting to confirm]

Excuse me, what..are you looking for?

Re: [Action - Genessia City Park]

[zenoh]

My uhm, sunglasses. You didn't happen to see any on your way here, right?

[ Ayame answers, her voice sound weak and raspy. Copping the ground with her eyes blinded by the sunlight, Ayame couldn't really look anywhere else. ]

I must have dropped it elsewhere. I can't really remember what even happened last night.