01. action / video

[theonigiri]

[action - The Bay]
[As typical arrivals happen, Tohru stumbles out of a pod and into the shallow waters of The Bay. Her thoughts had already been swimming with anxieties, so the cool touch of water is a refreshing way to shake her out of it.]

Eh? Did I sleepwalk? [But this isn't the ocean. Wasn't she just at the summer house with the Sohmas? They were going to light fireworks today... After... Akito...

Her thoughts almost glaze over again. Fortunately, (?) a picture framed in a leather holder slips out from her fingers and nearly falls into the water. Tohru, renowned for things like graceful reflexes, snaps out of her daze to grab the photo---

And falls face first into the water. Soaking her nightgown.] HEEEH--- M-Mom! Th-That was-- [achoo] A-A close ooone!!! You could have become quite wet and c-coold. [Instead, Tohru is wet and cold.]

[video]
[After watching the Hologram, a very confused Tohru appears on the network. She wants to panic about the Sohmas, or lack thereof, but she knows that will cause her to really panic. So, instead...]

Is this really mine? It looks like a cellular telephone of some sort... Is it really okay for me to have something so extravagant in my humble possession? I don't know if I could afford even a payment plan, but I'll certainly try. [She has, otherwise, apparently accepted the idea of other worldly kidnapping plots.]

... Oh, excuse me. That is... My name is Tohru Honda. I.. I appear to be new here in "Genessia." I've never been kidnapped before, but that woman seemed exceedingly kind. Thank you for the warm welcome. I'll do my best to repay that kindness. [achoo!

She's still cold from falling in the water, even if her clothes have dried out. Tohru also has some scratches on her face, distinctively looking like fingernail scratches, and some mild bruising. But that's fine. Everything is fine. She's smiling like it's fine, anyway.]

Where might I find a towel? I'm sorry to complain, but I didn't expect kidnappings to be so cold.

Comments

action;

[trollkeru]

[Takeru had been on his way towards work when he spotted the other, quickly headed over when he saw her in what he assumed was falling over. His Zorua just laughed at the sight before him. Quite a rude Pokemon really.]

Hey, let me help you up. [He extended his hand for her to take.]

I will take a stab at the fact you are new here. You clothing choice sort of stands out.

video;

[brbgettingwrench]

You don't pay for the device. it's just given to us when we arrive for some reason.

[Winry frowns for a moment.]

Is it okay if I come and fetch you? I kind of want to deal with the scratches you seem to have.

[theonigiri]

[Tohru's first priority, as always, was her mom's photo. Though the idea of her mother being kidnapped was a touch frightening, it would be much worse to get the precious photograph wet, so...

When Takeru offers a hand, Tohru hands him the photo. She can get up on her own, probably, but not without risking her mother.]

Thank you... I'm terribly sorry! I should have dressed more appropriately. ['cuz ya know. she had a choice in the matter.]

Uh. Where am I new to?

[theonigiri]

Wh, Whaa..?

[Winry has surprised her on two counts: These are some generous kidnappers! And what did she say about... scratches??

Tohru touches her cheek and winces. They aren't deep, but they're fresh. Both physically, and emotionally. A memory of Momiji's face, of Akito's cold gaze, of the horror at see Momiji in danger... They almost wash Tohru into a panic.]

Oh, goodness me. I'm sorry you had to see it... But I'm okay! It's not a big deal. And [...] I don't know where I am.

[Even Tohru can admit: That makes being "fetched" pretty difficult.]

[video]

[bigbadrose]

Don't worry, they get a lot cheaper with time, and that's one of the few free things here, yeah?

I'm Rose, by the way. Rose Tyler. Hallo!

[theonigiri]

Rose Tyler?

[A foreigner? is her first thought. One that Tohru quickly remedies by reminding herself that she is also a foreigner in Genessia. She holds the device back in order to inspect it, struck by how different it looks from the cell phones back home.

Then she shakes her head and focuses again on the conversation.]

It's a pleasure to meet you. Please regard me kindly. [Tohru bows her head. The video sort of bows with her.]

Free things... Goodness, I couldn't accept a free anything. I don't even know who sent it, or how I should pay them back!

[bigbadrose]

Right, yeah, I'm from London, England. But there's a lot of non-humans and people from planets other than Earth here too.

[Bows back slightly. Polite, right? She's been to Japan!!!]

Hmmmm... how do I explain this...?

You know how radio programs have commercials? It's like that. You pay by listening to ads, and maybe supporting the businesses that run the ads. It's indirectly. For the phones, you pay with your data. They need people who interact, and give them information about people's habits as a whole. It's a whole big privacy concern, but unfortunately, the only alternative is to just not use it at all, which is a whole other hassle and really inconvenient.

Long story short, it's not free. Nothing is ever free. You pay by existing and they collect information, and amusement from you. It's dodgy, but no one's come up with a better alternative. Yet. Maybe someday.

[theonigiri]

[Here's Tohru: Playing it cool. Playing it real cool. She's never been a foreigner visiting another country before, but this is how you do it, right? Just act like the people you've met. She's got this. It's fine. It's just another country---

...

...

Hold on.]

Other... huh? [Did Rose just imply

aliens???

And then she goes on about the phones. Paying back with data... Huh? Tohru's never heard of this. Nothing is free? Tohru knew that b-but now it sounds kind of... high pressure! Where does she begin? Hold on-- Keep cool! Be "sharp!" Kyo would tell her that.]

Then if I can't come up with interesting data, they're gonna take it away? Huh? I don't know if there's very much interesting about me. How can I... uh...? [There was something else that she was worried about, before Rose almost distracted her.

Hmm. What was it...]

WAIT. ALIENS? [There it is!]

[bigbadrose]

No, they won't take it away. Your data is inherently interesting. They need normal people more than outliers. And they won't take away outliers either, because it's a totality of everyone together.

Yeah. Lotsa aliens. Sorry. Also some skeletons, dragons, demons, yokai, vampires, werewolves, fishman, wait he might count as an alien. Most of the aliens look human though.

[theonigiri]

[There's long silence, because that's a long list.

Well... It isn't that strange. Tohru has read about those in folktales. Just more stories that turned out to be true. Plus, if she adds "humans" to that list, she imagines that she must be unusual to others as well. It doesn't even occur to her to compare that list to the Sohmas, either.

Tohru just nods slowly. Calmly, calmly, she reminds herself.]

Oh... I see! Wow, that's... A lot! There are a lot of different kinds of people in the world, huh? Mom always told me that, but I didn't realize how true it was. Amazing!

[trollkeru]

[Well that was certainly unexpected, being handed a picture rather than the others hand. But he makes sure it up before handing it back over to her, still slightly baffled about it.]

Here's your picture back.

[He laughed slightly.] Hey, you don't really get a choice in what clothes you arrive in. You get pulled in whatever you are wearing, but it does mean you'll need to buy some clothes.

[bigbadrose]

Yes. [Nod nod.] Your Mum sounds like a good person.

action;

[invigorates]

( Maybe she patrols the Bay specifically to try and help out newcomers, or maybe this was just a bout of dumb luck. Whatever the reason, Lioriley isn't far when Tohru springs out of the bay, nearly drops the picture of her mother, and promptly splashes into the water. Oof.

She hurries over, crouches down to inspect the damage, a frown on her lips. )

That looked unpleasant. Are you alright? ( A hand extends, offering her to take if necessary. )

[Video]

[enchantressofore]

[ Good thing she happens to be in Genessia City for work when this message pops up, because she can't help feeling for the girl in distress. She wasn't much different when she arrived in Genessia, after all...

So there's a short red-head in a mechanic's outfit, some grease smudges on her clothes, when she responds to the video. ]

Apparently, we are all given keys to a place to live for a short time. If you need it, you can find work as well, though it depends on what sorts of skills you have. I would hope those places are warm at least.

If you still need it, I can take some time away from work to bring a towel to you, along with some things to treat those scratches of yours. You can even stay in the shop for a little while to warm up, before we get you to the communal living space. Does that work, Miss Tohru?

[brbgettingwrench]

You are in Genessia. Kind of a hard thing to explain how you got here, but there you are.

[She still wasn't 100% happy about her saying she was okay. Sure they were just scratches but they should really still been at least seen to.]

Still I want to at least check on them.

[theonigiri]

I think I learned a bit from the Hologram... Oh, that's where I am. I'm at the Hologram.

[Tohru's fingers slowly slide off of her cheek, no longer hiding the scratches. Also, no long fighting Winry's concerns:]

If it's really no trouble... They're not animal scratches or anything. I think they'll be fine with a band aid and some water.

[theonigiri]

My mom was the best in the universe!

[Tohru brightens considerably just from this grounding comment.

Yeah, that's right... She still has her mom with her. Tohru holds her picture close and exhales 'calmly.' No matter where she is, as long as her mom is there in spirit...]

Alrighty then! I'll keep an open mind when I meet new people. Sounds like I have a lot to learn about this place until I get home!

[theonigiri]

Thanks for saving Mom!

[Tohru accepts the photo in careful hands, mindful that she mustn't risk dropping her mother again. With her clothes wet, she can't even put the photo in a pocket or anything. Can't safely hug her close for comfort either.]

Buying clothes... Oh. But I don't think I have my wallet.

[trollkeru]

You should have been given money when you wake up.

[At least he knew that had been the case when he first arrived. But he figured it was best that maybe he should explain a bit more.]

It would have come with the device as well. Comes in an envelope. Unless it's changed since I arrived.

[brbgettingwrench]

[He paused for a moment.]

You're at the Bay area of Genessia where the hologram was.

[She turned on her heels.]

I can still help with that There is a place near by that will sell those things.

[bigbadrose]

Good attitude, yeah? Have fun with it too! Find what you like most, and make the most of it!

[theonigiri]

[Tohru gasps audibly in shock,] Oh, no! I couldn't! I mean, I um. I didn't do anything to earn that money, so it can't be mine.

[Though she gets her emotions under control, Tohru still shakes her head.] Also, I forgot the envelope! That was so careless of me!

[She was more concerned with her mother's photo.]

[theonigiri]

The Bay...

[So that's what it's called. The fact Winry knows about it is a touch comforting, too.]

Well... If it's possible, then... Oh. But goodness me, I'd almost forgotten to ask your name. I'm Tohru Honda. I'm new to being kidnapped like this, so... please, treat me kindly.

[theonigiri]

Well... As long as I can go to school while I'm here, I think I'll be okay... Maybe get a job, so I don't get rusty.

[theonigiri]

I-I'm well, thank you...

[Despite being in the water, Tohru has her mother's photo held up and kept dry. It would be an unforgivable disaster if her mother drowned.

It's also a struggle to maneuver standing up herself, while also keeping the photo dry.]

I'm sorry. I wasn't expecting water...