001 ♫ action

[etudes]

[ So if you just happen to be walking through Luceti today, you might spot a girl sitting on the ground next to a tree at the side of the road. Her journal is opened in her lap, and it seems she's rather focused on reading it. See, there's nothing weird about that, but.. she's still wearing the New Feather dress and doesn't seem bothered or confused by the whole 'arriving in another place' ordeal in the slightest as long as she can read. In fact, she probably doesn't even realise she's not back home anymore, or that she has wings on her back. She's also turning the pages at a ridiculous speed, as if she needs barely any time to read a page. It looks more like she's skimming than anything else, but nope, she's actually reading all of that. ... Maybe someone ought to help her out.

Or you might run into her later during the day instead. If you're just standing somewhere around the village, you might find the girl staring at you for a long time, almost as if she's observing you long enough to decide something. After what is probably multiple minutes the girl might approach you a little hesitantly (she's making sure you're not a bully, okay, it's in everyone's best interests), only to quickly bow at you in greeting. ]

Hello. Bonjour. Guten Tag. Konnichiwa. Nihao. Salve. Hallo. [ Yes, she'll just start listing off 'hello's in almost every kind of language known to humankind to you. And if you don't cut her off, she'll continue until she has at least done it in 54 different languages. So better do something about that, yup. ]

Comments

[fateofafencer]

[...]

...

[She made it sound like a haven of some sort. He's never seen a bookworm, actually.]

Fine. You'll have all the information about Luceti from there. I'm not fit as an encyclopedia anyway.

[He got up from his seat.]

Let's go.

[etudes]

[ This is where she gets up actually eagerly, still looking a little happy - even if she's still sticking close to him like some lost duckling. ]

I want to read all the books there..

1/2

[fateofafencer]

[All of them? No wonder she knew so many languages. He wonders how she can keep in all that knowledge. And another thing he wonders is why is it she's being so close. He can understand she can't fight, but to act as though she can't walk on her own? He even wonders how she can get out of the house. A brother comes to mind as one possibility.]

2/2

[fateofafencer]

[Either way, at least she won't go off somewhere.

He walked out the door after nodding once to her(to confirm he heard her). Since they're just walking, he remembered.]

My name is Leon. Leon Magnus.

[He expects her to respond in kind. Yeah. Believe it or not, Leon's not used to introducing himself unless it were for formal introductions to a higher status. And even then, he doesn't get much of those.]

[etudes]

[ Well, Kotomi's own introduction is.. a little special too. If not just because it sounds really rehearsed and almost mechanical because of how often she tells people it. ]

My name is Kotomi Ichinose. You spell Kotomi with three wonderful hiragana. I'm a senior from class A. My hobby is reading books. When referring to me, please call me 'Kotomi-chan'.

[fateofafencer]

[Well he has no idea what she means when she says "I'm a senior from class A" and he also doesn't understand why she wants him to call her "Kotomi-chan" either, but it certainly tells him she's Japanese.]

... I think 'Kotomi' will do fine.

[etudes]

[ She tilts her head slightly at that, as if she doesn't fully understand what he's saying. And then she repeats her line, as if that might make him understand. ]

When referring to me, please call me 'Kotomi-chan'.

[fateofafencer]

... I think 'Kotomi' will do fine.

[Who's going to break first? He will keep this up until they're at the library if he has to. ... As for after? He's not sure.]

[etudes]

[ Oh no, Leon, you're going to set her off again.. Since she quickly takes a step or two back again, shaking a little. ]

A-are you a bully? Are you, are you..?

1/3?

[fateofafencer]

[Leon cannot make comprehensive sense of this.]

Why is it that not calling you 'Kotomi-chan' means I'm a bully?

2/3

[fateofafencer]

[Alright, Leon will give in. It's not like it matters... Right?]

If it has to be done...

3/3

[fateofafencer]

[He's hesitating now. She probably doesn't even know what he's doing right now.]

...

[etudes]

[ Sorry, Leon, but until you say 'Kotomi-chan' she's just going to stand over there silently, shivering - from fear, not cold, even though it probably is pretty cold in just that sundress - and wondering if you're a bully. ]

1/3

[fateofafencer]

[Damnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnit.]

...

2/3

[fateofafencer]

[Damnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnit.]

K... Ko... Kotomi...

3/3

[fateofafencer]

[Damnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnitdamnit.]

... Kotomi... chan...

[etudes]

... Good day, Leon-kun.

[ See, that wasn't that hard, was it? Especially since she's even smiling a little as she nods at him now. ]

1/2

[fateofafencer]

...

[You won't see him after today.]

[fateofafencer]

Can we move on to the library now?

[etudes]

Yes.. I still want to see it a whole lot.

[ So sorry, Leon.. At least she seems content now, if that helps? And she is nodding and slowly pattering after him obediently now. Don't worry, she'll be a good girl.. ]

[fateofafencer]

[He's glad that's over. It's too bad he'll have to say it again some other time.
They can finally start walking again, at least.]

...

[Don't worry, he'll live. ... He just won't have a good reputation.]

[etudes]

[ She patters after him, looking around her curiously as they go. This place is pretty strange, after all, and.. oh. She seems to notice something, pointing at him. ]

You have wings. [ yes, she's only noticing it just now. and she hasn't noticed her own just yet. ]

[fateofafencer]

[It looks like the winds revealed them. After all, the black feathers were covered by his cape.]

Ah. Those are by the influence of the Malnosso. You will learn more about them in the library. If you haven't noticed, you have them as well. All they are for, are looks.

[He uncovered them as they walked, and flapped them. Something seemed wrong though. The movements were stale and even a little shaky. Although some people may be able to make the movements more natural, he didn't bother practicing because he knows that]

You can't fly.

[He's not going to mention what happens when she loses them because she might think he's a bully again or something. The last thing he'd want, is to cause more unnecessary trouble before reaching the library. Besides, she can learn about that from the library.]

[etudes]

[ She peers a little over her shoulder at her own wings, surprised to see them there, even though any normal person would more or less have spotted them now. She carefully touches them just a little before looking at his flapping wings. ]

Wings you can't fly with, huh.. [ She seems to think about it. ] It seems a little sad.

[ She's looking at the flapping though, and she can see it's really not natural. ]

[fateofafencer]

It is. They're a hindrance.

[Believe it or not, this guy's not all that into looks.

By now, they're nearing the library. And because it's in view, he's going to change the subject.]

There's the library.