Rebel 1 [Action/Video]

[not_meatbuns]

[When Litchi awakes, it’s in a world of agony. Her head feels as if it’s trying to split apart. Everything aches. When she tries to think of what she did to wake in such a state, far too many answers float up from a tangled mire of memories. Most of the memories are so absurd that they must have been dreams, others entirely too possible. And the more she tries to focus enough to remember the truth, the more her head hurts. At one point, she can swear she’s hearing her bones creak, and then, suddenly, it’s all over. Lao Jiu must have gotten everything under control again. Enough, at least.

Head still aching, but no longer feeling quite like it’s caving in, she cracks open an eye.

It isn’t long before she’s discovered the items resting there along with her, and not much longer after that before she’s read the pamphlet and fiddled with everything else enough to get an idea. Might as well go and look around...

...And try very hard not to let her vision swim in and out of focus as the visions and memories bounce back at her from beyond the Boundary.

Anyone passing by the Bay as Litchi makes her way out is bound to notice her slightly weaving and slow pace, almost like she’s trying to walk off a nasty hangover. Which she’s not even entirely sure she isn’t.

This should be fun.]

[Video]

Ah… h-hello…? [Pause. Litchi clears her throat, feeling foolish, but still determined to try to get some information about what this place is. The pamphlet might not be entirely accurate.] I suppose I had better introduce myself, hm?

My name is Litchi Faye-Ling. I…

[I’m a scientist… or a military doctor… or is it a teacher? Wait, that was it…]

...Well. Back at home, I owned a clinic, although I’m not sure how much that matters anymore. [Soft cough. Sheepish smile.] But I’m sure I’ll find something similar to occupy myself with here.

I don’t suppose the city Kagutsuchi sounds familiar to anyone…? I can’t help but wonder if there are any familiar faces around.

Comments

[Action]

[blackparagon]

[Since his arrival, Xander has taken to visiting the Bay two or three times a week, just in case someone arrived and needed questions answered. And it appeared that this time, he had done well to come on this particular day.

At first, he watches the woman with a curious eye from a moderate distance. How will she react to her situation? He doesn't want to approach someone who might lash out at him. He's not interested in hurting anybody so soon after their arrival. But that curiosity quickly turns to concern as he notices the way she's moving. With that, he begins to walk toward her.]

Excuse me! Pardon me, miss, but may I provide you with some assistance?

[Action]

[not_meatbuns]

[It takes Litchi a second or two to be able to focus on this new stranger. The buzzing at the edge of her hearing, even as it's dying off, makes it difficult to pay close attention. After one quick flash of vision from some other timeline - one she's rather sure was years ago - everything is back to normal.

Or, as normal as it can be, given the circumstances. Litchi offers the man an apologetic smile. He looks as if he's rather well-off... which in and of itself is a bit of culture shock. The last clear memory she has is of Orient Town, which is a far cry from affluence.]

Ah... Y-yes, please. I'm sorry to be any trouble, but... I think I could use some help. Although, I'm afraid I'm not even sure where to begin.

[The splitting migraine is probably at the top of the list. She's not sure painkillers would help against the Boundary being the cause, but it's worth a shot.]

Would you happen to know if there's a clinic nearby?

[blackparagon]

Don't worry. Let's just take things one step at a time. Would you like me to help keep you steady for now while you get your bearings?

[Xander ponders Litchi's question for a moment. Where was the hospital again?]

As for a clinic...there isn't anything nearby, but there is a hospital several blocks away. We can reach it via public transport. There's a place to board the transport -- er, "bus" -- near the Bay. Simply a block or two.

[not_meatbuns]

[Good lord, a block or two and then public transit. Not that either of those things would normally be any issue, but something tells her she shouldn't be getting into any areas with cramped quarters just yet. Heaven only knows what the visions might do.]

Ah... I may be better off just letting the fresh air clear my head. It's feeling a bit better already.

[Baldfaced lie, Litchi. And she's such a terrible liar. The words come out in a sheepish laugh that she tries to rush past in an attempt to divert attention.]

If it isn't too much trouble, a little help keeping steady should go a long way. [Sudden thought. Distraction...?] I-I'm sorry, how rude of me... my name is Litchi, by the way.

[blackparagon]

Are you sure?

[Xander can't help but give a quizzical look. If she was sure he'd go along with it, but he's not convinced that fresh air will help all that much.]

And mine is Xander. It's a pleasure to meet you, Miss Litchi.

[With that, he extends his arm for her to hold onto.]

Feel free to use my arm, then. I can certainly direct you to a place you can sit, if nothing else.

[Video]

[youfool]

Welcome! Seems we've been getting a lot of doctors lately; I hope that's not the universe's way of preparing us for a world of hurt. What does your name mean? Ah, I'm Ted. Good evening!

[Video]

[not_meatbuns]

I would certainly hope not. Perhaps it's all a coincidence?

[Although, why does she get the itching suspicion that healing is in good demand in a place such as this? That's not the happiest thought.]

It's nice to meet you, though, Ted. My name... well, I'm afraid it isn't all that exciting. Litchi is a type of fruit. A berry, actually. It's used in a lot of candies back home.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

All coincidence? Everything? Goodness, I've never known anyone to believe in consequence so wholly. Hopefully there's some causality, if only for variety's sake.

Ah, I've never had. I hope you brought some. But you're holding out on me; what's the other half? You presented two names, as I recall, maybe even three. Unless they're top secret.

[Video]

[not_meatbuns]

[Some nagging sense at the back of her mind is telling her to be careful of what she says. She's not even entirely sure why. A phantom memory, perhaps... someone who knew too much about her. Trying to remember much more than that hurts, though.

Instead, she just gives a coy smile, her tone playful.]

You wouldn't expect a lady to give away all her secrets all at once, hm~? Besides, none of it is terribly interesting.

I'm afraid I don't have any candy on me, either. Or the berries themselves. I wasn't quite expecting to take a vacation like this.

Re: [Video]

[youfool]

Heh, come on, it's not your age I'm asking for. All right, I'll take the mystery and try to work it out myself; but oriental characters are so...dynamic! Hard to pin them all down with such combinations as they make.

That's an earthen fruit, isn't it? [Yup, he's so curious he looked it up in-between responses] You might find its likeness here, if nothing else. I've seen apples, for example. [Not that that told him a whole lot about her world; there were apparently a dozen different Earths, and counting. God must be pretty fond of it.]

Well, if you'd like to find something else, like aid, feel free to make use of me. I've been here some time.

[video]

[followthetwine]

Why wouldn't it matter anymore? Just because you're here now doesn't somehow erase what you did.

[A beat]

Unless you want it to. Not matter, that is.

[video]

[not_meatbuns]

[There's a slight skin-crawling sensation at the words "doesn't somehow erase what you did." For half a beat, Litchi is stunned, at a loss of how a complete stranger could possibly know what she...

...wait, they mean the clinic, don't they?]

Oh, I only meant that the clinic hasn't followed me here, that was all. All things considered, it's probably one of the more universal occupations.

[Beat.] ...Businesses don't follow us here, do they? I can't say that I wouldn't entirely put it past whoever brought us all here.

[video]

[followthetwine]

I think everyone needs a healer at some point. Some more than others. So it's always good to have more!

But no, I don't believe they do. Unless they have wheels. Otherwise a building just couldn't get up and follow people around on their own like that. Unless it's some weird type of building that could... [She trails off for a second, thinking about just how cool and weird that would be.

After that second, she shakes her head.]

If your clinic couldn't do either, then I think it's safe to say that no, it didn't follow you.

[Also someone hasn't yet been told about the archways, so she's going to be no further help beyond...this.]

[video]

[not_meatbuns]

[In spite of herself, Litchi can't quite help but chuckle.]

No, no, it can't do any of those things. Which is probably for the best, to be honest.

Although I can't say the idea doesn't have merit, either.

[video]

[followthetwine]

Right. [Merrill nods] Buildings being able to move would be very bad. No one would be able to find anything!

video;

[ghostofrazgriz]

If you want to stay in a field that you know, the hospital and the Scientific Research Foundation would always accept the aid of new doctors. Or you could start your own clinic here in one of the cities.

[His expression softens, looking very apologetic.]

But no, I'm sorry, that name doesn't ring any bells.

video;

[not_meatbuns]

I suppose that will have to be something I look into. Although it's been quite some time since I had other doctors around to work beside.

[And the internal alarms are going off over the Scientific Research Foundation. Something to avoid for now, possibly peek into later. It may come in handy. But she's had her fair share of being a researcher.]

Thank you for answering, though. This is all a bit overwhelming...

video;

[ghostofrazgriz]

[He nods slightly.]

It can be. Some of the information available at the Schnee Company helps make some things easier, but it's a lot to take in.

My name is Blaze, I'm the Guardian of Attleton. I can try to help however I can.

video;

[not_meatbuns]

Yes, it seems that I have quite a lot to learn. I suppose I'll have to seek out this... Schnee Company, was it?

[The words keep mixing up with another alien word in her mind. She gives a shake of the head and moves past it with an almost apologetic smile.]

It's a pleasure to meet you, though, Blaze. I appreciate any help you can offer.

video;

[ghostofrazgriz]

The Schnee Company isn't far from the Bay, at Oak and 16th. You should be able to locate it easily.

[Or at least, anyone with a good sense of coordination should be able to locate it easily. Which Blaze assumes that most anyone has that.]

I'll answer whatever I can. Unfortunately, that doesn't include a way to leave. No one here has been able to find that yet.

video;

[firefandance]

You know that kind of thing is always important to have just in case, especially if emergencies were to happen.

[It's why yukiko set up her own thing if she had to be honest, that and she just wanted to help more than just having a place people can go to when they first arrive.]

You can run your clinic again or you can help with my traveling doctors business. Though admitedly you might not make as much as you might have running your own business.

video;

[not_meatbuns]

A traveling doctor business? What a wonderful idea! I imagine it would be particularly useful in a place like this.

[And it's something that genuinely does interest her. Litchi seems to perk up a bit, the pain of the headache almost forgotten.]

Pay is no issue. My clinic... well, to be brutally honest, it was in an area of the city that bordered on slums. Most of my patients paid in favors. It would hardly be a change of pace for me.

I'd love to volunteer, but... I'm afraid it may take a few days before I have a sense of direction.

video;

[firefandance]

That's why I set it up because I thought it will be very useful for emergencies for those who cannot make it to hospitals and such.

[She nodded slightly.]

It does take a few days for people to really get there bearings here considering it is sudden and all we find ourselves here. You can take as much time as you need. I always assume that is why people are given a certain amount of money on arrival.

video;

[not_meatbuns]

It would explain the generosity, at least, wouldn't it? As much as it may be.

[Although not so generous as to avoid bringing people into a strange place at all, but that's evidently out of the question. Litchi decides not to dwell on that for now.]

After I've settled in, though... I'd like to get back to work as quickly as I can. It... well, I imagine it will help with adjusting. Can I just call you about it?

video;

[firefandance]

That's what I think. Though honestly it would be much nicer if they didn't actually take us.

[She nodded slightly.]

You can, take all the time ou need and if you end up elsewhere, I'll still be happy because it means your doing what I assume you love and are helping.