001 ✝ first step [action]

[manmade_angel]

[Going to sleep in her bed and then waking up on a bench was disorienting, but not as disorienting as the place she woke up in.

Nill had grown used to, perhaps even comfortable in, the dirty, crowded, and dangerous city she lived in. Granted, she lived in one of the more quiet places left in the town God forgot, but it was nothing like what she had awoken to find. Clean-looking buildings without bullet holes in them. Glass that wasn't broken or taped over. Streets without cars or garbage piling up in the gutters. Streets that seemed home to people who were smiling, or at least didn't look like they were doomed to live each day exactly as the last one.

But perhaps the most unnerving part of it was the inhabitants. All of them, walking around and going about their business--but they had wings. Well, some of them were hiding them under their clothes, but having done the same herself sometimes she knew what to look for. The sign was that slight crease in the center of the back, where the bone wasn't jointed so as to allow the wings to lie completely flat against a human back.

Why, though? Why was everyone suddenly just like her? Had they all been born as she had? And if so, why could some of them talk and laugh? Why were everyone's wings a different color? And why did some people cover their wings while others didn't?

Nill looks back at her own wings (still white), then out at the square. Her jaw clenches and she feels tears welling up as she looks for something familiar that would tell her where she was. But everything is just perfect enough to scare her, or far too familiar to be a comfort.]

Comments

[memoryboxes]

[Tra la la lala—

It could easily be the theme song of Sayo's daily routine. Go to work early, leave and stop by the store, perhaps go on a simple walk to see how people are fairing today; it would all be mundane for some people, even mind-numbingly annoying, to repeat a cycle. But not for her. Her memory problems are more than enough to keep things feeling less worn and overdone.

Ah, and what's this, upon walking to her right? A girl who looks distressed.

This will. Not. Do!]

Oh, what's wrong?

[Scanning her over now. Aa, she has the look of New Feather about her, once Sayo gets over the fascination with her eye and hair colors (honestly, still getting over how different everyone is 8D).

She leans in, not too close as to snatch away Nill's space.]

Are you new here?

[risingspirit.livejournal.com]

[Coby is quick to notice the girl in the New Feather clothing while on his way to the barracks. He stops, blinking, then changes direction to meet her. The poor thing looks so lost.]

Hey! Did you just get here? It seems to be about that time again.

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Nill is certainly not used to people just walking up to her and talking to her--nicely no less. Usually her wings would cause people to look the other way, or look around to find her owner. Or look too intently. But the way this woman is speaking to Nill reminds her of Naoto. Kind...]

[She fidgets a little, fingers hooked together, and looks up at the woman shyly. Nill doesn't even know where she's new to, let alone if she's new at all. Is she just someplace she's never been before?]

[Looking up at the stranger, then around at the strange buildings, then back at the woman, she tilts her head. Where is she?]

1/2

[memoryboxes]

[O-oh...

How precious~~!! :D]

You look confused, and I can imagine why! You see, I know it's hard to believe, but you were brought here just like myself and the others here—this is Luceti.

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Nill catches sight of the pink-haired man and watches with some apprehension as he approaches her. She's feeling incredibly vulnerable in this strange, unfamiliar place with no Bishop and no Haine and no church. Anyone could just come and grab her like this.]

[Though the question is definitely not something she's expecting. 'Just get here'? Well, she just woke up... She just woke up here, so perhaps that was what he meant?]

[She nods and looks back at the bench. How did she get here? She went to bed in a bed, not on this bench...]

[memoryboxes]

[She lowers her chin, frowning at the thought. Actually, it's pretty scary for some people. She was definitely scared, when she'd woken up away from home and family.

There's really no easy way of saying it.]

...It's awful, but I'm afraid you were kidnapped, too.

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Kidnapped?! Oh no, oh no... Kidnapped again?]

[Nill's tears come back, though she's completely silent despite how distressed she looks. She'd never heard of a place called Luceti, and if she was here that meant that everyone was worrying about her or someone was trying to get Haine or Badou again. There were so many possibilities as to why she was here, but all of them meant the same thing: she was being held somewhere against her will again.]

[She'd been so happy at the church... why had it ended so soon?]

[memoryboxes]

[Oh, no, she was worried this would happen! It's only natural! D:

Attempting to hold one of your hands in that comforting-plz-don't-cry way!]

Oh, no no no—don't cry! There are a lot of people here who are in the same situation as you; a lot of people here to protect and help you. So don't you worry! We're all going to find a way to go home soon, okay?

[entaiho]

[New faces have been cropping up all over, but this one looks even more distressed than most of them. Rokuta hesitates briefly, frowns and starts go on along his way, then finally sighs and turns to approach the girl. He has his hair wrapped in a scarf to hide its color, and likewise his own wings are tucked under his clothes.]

Hey. I'm guessing you just got here?

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

Hey... are you alright?

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Nill lets the other woman hold her hand, and even squeezes a little, because while she's extremely upset she still is glad to have someone trying to comfort her.]

[Finding a way home soon sounds good, though. She wants to go home to Haine and Naoto and the Bishop and Badou as soon as possible--she doesn't want to worry them. Though she's worried about what will happen to her while she's trying to get home. So much can happen, after all...]

[She sniffles, trying to stop crying and be brave for the woman's sake. She seems upset about Nill crying. Slowly, she tries to smile, though it's a little shakey. After a moment, she gently turns the other woman's hand over so her palm is facing up, and writes four letters in it: N-I-L-L.]

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Of anyone, this person looks the most... wrapped-up of anybody she's seen. Almost like he's hiding. Nill looks carefully over at his back, then back at his eyes. She's frowning slightly--why is he hiding his wings when everyone has them? Did he come from where she did, where wings weren't something one showed off to anybody?]

[She looks hesitantly up at the scarf, then clasps her hands nervously over her stomach and nods slightly. The whole incognito aspect of his dress is making her wonder if she should be talking to him.]

[risingspirit.livejournal.com]

I bet you're confused. Most people are.

Do you have your book?

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[A gruff sounding voice was both familiar and slightly startling (which really was contradictory, but she hadn't expected anyone to talk to her). Nill jumps slightly, shoulders curling inwards and wings pointing straight back in apprehension. His manner of speaking reminded her a little of Haine, though past that she was still nervous. She'd just woken up in a strange place and this man was talking to her and asking if she was alright.]

[Well, physically she was. And it was only polite to respond. Nill's eyes flick briefly down to her knees, then she nods slightly at the man. Though the slight shaking in her shoulders and misty eyes denote that while she isn't injured, she's still scared and by herself.]

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Book? ...Book?]

[She looks around then spots a journal under the bench she woke up on. Curious, she picks it up and holds it up. This book?]

[risingspirit.livejournal.com]

Yeah, that's it! We all get one of those. You can talk to other people with it.

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[...Talk to other people with it? Wow...! She opens the journal and looks at the pages as though they're going to start singing to her.]

[returninghope.livejournal.com]

You must be cold out here. I can show you where to find something else to wear, if you want. It doesn't cost anything around here.

[risingspirit.livejournal.com]

[S-so cute.]

It can record sound and pictures and even writing if you want. [As though writing isn't generally the main function of a journal...]

Might take you a little while to figure it all out, but you shouldn't go anywhere without it!

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Well, sound won't be very useful t her, but pictures and writing! Exciting! She nods enthusiastically; she won't be going anywhere without her journal. Not after the nice pink-haired man told her not to!]

[Nill smiles and nods her thanks, then reaches for his hand--she's never been the type to write what she means, and this is always how she tells people her name.]

[entaiho]

[He really doesn't need to cover his hair here, but it's a very, very long habit Rokuta just hasn't bothered to break. The look she's casting toward the scarf makes him wonder if maybe he should, though. Ah, well. He'll think about that later.

For now he just looks her over with a thoughtful frown, then after a moment tugs off the wrap he's wearing and holds it out.]

Here. They never give people warm clothing, even in the winter. You should start with this.

[risingspirit.livejournal.com]

Hm? Oh! [He holds out his hand to her, expecting a handshake or something along those lines.]

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[She is cold, now that he mentions it... This dress isn't much better than what her old owner used to dress her in. At least it has a longer skirt, though.]

[Though what this man is going to suggest she wear, she isn't sure. And really, does she want to find out...? It could be worse than the lolita dresses.]

[However she doesn't have anything else to do except sit here and be scared. She'd much rather be scared with someone else. And warmer. Nill stands up and reaches to take the other man's hand--she'll follow where he leads.]

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[She turns it over and writes out her name in his hand: N-I-L-L. Once she's done, she smiles up at him. Did he get that?]

[manmade-angel.livejournal.com]

[Nill hesitates for a moment, then puts her hands on the scarf. She isn't worried about accepting something from a stranger (he looks nicer without the scarf), but she does give him a worried glance. Isn't he going to be cold without it? If he was wrapped up in it, that meant he was cold, didn't it?]