OPEN ★ ARRIVAL LOG

[futurologists]

ARRIVALS ( OCT 2 ) The dragons are taken from you, sent off to a safe haven. You're back in Oska for less than a day when you hear the announcement and head to the rendezvous point. You blink, step through the portal, there's a loud crack, and... You're thrown into darkness. You taste copper and, for a moment, your ears won't stop ringing. All common side-effects of portal travel. The entire crew arrives just beyond the city gates, so you might also be feeling a little bit claustrophobic. It takes a second for the eyes to adjust, but one can make out buildings and the cobblestone beneath their feet. To the right is the Trade District, where all the vendors are gathered to sell their wares. Up ahead is the City Square, where the rest of the citizens out and about seem to be gathered. To the left of the square is the Commoners' District, and to the right of it is the Nobles' District, the two main residential areas. Further travel west will come to the outskirts, a makeshift residential area, this one densely populated with goblins. Many of the people are holding candles or lanterns. You might want to try getting your hands on one of those. If you have not already done so, your enchanted jewelry will manifest words in front of your very eyes — or sounds in your ear, if you're illiterate — asking you to identify yourself. A quick look around shows that you seem to be the only one able to see it. All you have to do is think or say how you wish to be identified. After that, you're immediately given a message. Those who participated in the dragon mission at Anwick will first receive this: We appreciate your help at Anwick. The wyrmlings will live to grow up and bring about the world's natural end. Thank you. -- ALASTAIR Afterwards, the crew will be given an abridged version of this, then told to familiarize themselves with the city and natives, report all information gathered back to ALASTAIR, and wait for further instruction. At the end of the night, wherever they may be, everyone will receive a letter with the royal seal thanking them for their efforts to end the goblins' defiance and inviting them to the Festival of Illumination on the 4th. FESTIVAL OF ILLUMINATION ( OCT 4 ) Candles are sitting on windowsills throughout the entire city, but the main event is in the city square. In the fountain float lit lotuses, and people all around are holding lanterns, waiting to light them. There's a minstrel playing songs, and several of the vendors have pulled their carts up to the square in the hopes of making a sale. Many sweets are for sale, including baked apples, gingerbread, cherry tarts, pudding, and more. There's also some drinks for sale. Some children are playing games in the corner, and others are dancing to the music or writing wishes on slips of paper to be sent into the sky with their lanterns. Everyone seems merry for once, but you'd better be careful. This is an ideal place for a pickpocket. About an hour and a half into the festival, the lanterns are sent into the sky. They're sent flying, the sky becoming filled with bright lights, until... A strong gust of wind sends all the lights out. At least, you think it was a gust of wind. What else could have done that? On closer inspection, however, you'll see that even the candles sitting on windowsills inside have gone out. For a minute or so, there's only darkness and chaos. Suddenly, the flames begin to burn again, revealing a message in the cobblestone in the center of the square. It almost looks as if it's been burned into the ground: IT IS COMING, followed by a symbol of a creature with a lion's head, goat's body, and serpent's tail. [MOD NOTE: This is a catch-all log for the first few days. For the sake of organization, all arrival threads should be posted under the subheader ARRIVALS and all festival threads should be posted under FESTIVAL. Threads that don't fall under either of those categories can be top-levels. Also, please remember to add your character's tag to the post! Thank you, and have fun!]

Comments

[griped]

[ Look where you're going, idiot.

That's what he'd like to say. Or more accurately, growl and stomp out, hackles raised. He's not in a spectacular mood today, not after another hop between worlds and no sign still of their younger companions. It'd been fortunate enough that him and Fai'd stumbled into each other earlier, but loitering around, sitting on his hands with no idea where in time and space the kids had ended up...

It's a hard wait.

But part of him has faith they'll show up. It'd taken them half a year, but they'd done so before, so if he works and takes care to keep himself and Fai alive—they'd all end up in the same world. It's a foolish thought. It's fate. Senseless hope except not really, because they're all destined on the same path together, tangled up in some set of shared destinies he can't (won't) reject any more.

It's why he doesn't snap when he hears Sakura's voice, because in a way, he'd been expecting to hear it. Instead, his eyes widen, narrow, squint into the dark as he turns to look down at her. Even with the awful lighting, though—something's not right. He could be blind as a bat and realize that much. Kurogane rarely sounds uncertain about much of anything, but his voice is equal parts relief and tension as he steadies her. Her shoulder is smaller in his palm than he remembers it being. ]

...Princess?

[ It's a question to Fai as much as it was to himself and Sakura. Someone tell him he's crazy. ]

[evasively]

[ It doesn't show on his face, given the carefree demeanor he often portrays, but Fai doesn't like it either. How long would it be before they ever saw Mokona and the children again? The last time, it was a mere half a year. This time, there was the possibility that they might never see them again, given ALASTAIR's meddling. Even if ALASTAIR decides to return the both of them to where they originally were, he has his doubts that Mokona and the children would still be there. There were an infinite amount of dimensions, each one vast in their own right; now that they're separated, it would take nothing short of the most powerful wish to get back together again.

That, or perhaps a very powerful magic. But that isn't currently an option for him.

Fai doesn't believe in anything like 'fate'. He rarely believes that anything will work out. For now, there was little point in fretting over a hopeless situation, however. They just had to adapt; the same way they've always done. They were on their way to buy themselves some new clothes when they stumble upon a very familiar young girl. ]

Ah -- [ A second is all he needs to process. Then, he's considering his options. This was either a younger version of the Sakura that they know, or it's a completely different one altogether. Either way, there was no way she would know who they are. Fai gives Kurogane a look, as if to say 'it's probably not the one'. Then, he puts on his most gentle smile, bending a little over to regard the small child. ]

Are you alright? Kuro-rin here is so big and sturdy, I hope you didn't get hurt.

[keystaff]

P-princess?

[There's a princess? Well, that might not be so surprising. Given all sorts of people were helping ALASTAIR. It takes a moment before Sakura registers he must mean her though. Which, she decidedly is not a princess. At least, not this particular Sakura. So she's a little confused, as she glances up at Kurogane with her head slightly tilted, distracted from apologizing when the other man with him steps in. She hastens to reassure them, waving her hands a bit in front of her.]

I'm okay! I should have been paying more attention, really. I'm Sakura! And you're....Kuro....rin?

[Kuro. Something. And she's not yet as sure on Fai's name. Though he certainly seems friendly enough. She senses something, some magic from him but it's different to Kero, different to Syaoran or Kaho-sensei. But again, perhaps his magic works differently. She isn't sure if she should even ask on that yet.]

i know it's not my turn but i wanted to slip this in real quick ...

[evasively]

[ Before Kurogane can speak, Fai chimes in with a nod. ]

Yup. That's his name. He also goes by 'Kuro-pon' and 'Kuro-daddy'.

MURDERS

[griped]

[ Neither of them are dense enough to delude themselves into thinking that this girl is their Sakura. It only takes a look to get on the same wavelength: it's not her. Or it is, like the Tomoyo in Piffle was like the Tomoyo he knew but not, like however many iterations of each and every person exists across spans of universes. Different Sakura, same 'soul.'

Maybe that's why his response isn't gruff. (Well—not to Sakura. Fai gets a downright withering glare, he's going to punch him in the throat later.) Usually he'd be more spirited, agitated, and though he's not nearly as soft as Fai, it's as close as he gets to warm. ]

...Kurogane.

[ Feels odd having to correct her, but it is what it is. After shifting away, he looks down at her, considering. Not because he's Deeply Pondering his questions, but because he doesn't have much grace about these things. ] What's ALASTAIR want with you here?

[ how do you even children, fai do something ]

calm down kuropapa

[keystaff]

[Kuro-pon? Kuro-daddy? Eh?]

H-hoe?

[But then Kurogane, the one with darker hair she'd bumped into actually introduces himself. Evidently, it's just the other teasing him from what she can tell, which gets a light chuckle before she hears that question, biting her lip and lowering her gaze for a moment.]

I'm not sure. I mean, of course, I want to help if I can! Since we're here. They wouldn't have brought us if they didn't need our help, so...

[So, evidently, she's as optimistic and stubborn in her own way, as willing to help as the Sakura they knew and mistook her for. Not quite yet mentioning the Cards outright as one particular way she could be of assistance to them, to ALASTAIR. Even if they (and by extension, her) aren't quite at the full potential of her magical power.]

[evasively]

[ Kurogane, you are horrible at talking to children. Pls stop. Though Fai knows Kurogane would never try to intimidate their daughter any version of Sakura, his rough way of speaking and gruff mannerisms can be easily misunderstood for some. Sakura appeared a little more nervous now. This is Fai's cue to step in and smoothen out the conversation. ] I see; they told you the same thing they told us.

[ How true the intentions of ALASTAIR apparently were, Fai isn't too sure. Having lived for a very long time, his wealth of experiences have conditioned him into regarding things with a degree of cautiousness. People lie. Things are rarely as they seem. ALASTAIR may have called onto them for help, but there was no way to prove that 'helping' was truly what they were doing. Of course, he isn't going to tell a 10-year old child that... ]

So you just want to do your best for the people here? You're just as thoughtful as someone Kuro-pon and I know.

[ WELL.... no shit.... ]

[griped]

[ Listening to this even tinier version of the girl they know... she's still Sakura. Strong and hopeful and probably bound to get herself into trouble because of it. Because even if there wasn't much to be done about that whole episode with the wyrmlings, the note they'd gotten should be enough to cast some suspicion ALASTAIR's way.

So he casts a look sidelong to Fai as he speaks, lips thinned into a severe line. It doesn't require any discussion: they're going to keep an eye on her. That's that. ]

We can help them. [ He won't argue that much—it's not as though there's much else to do in this situation. ] But don't go picking fights alone.

[ It's probably a little... much..... to be talking to her like this when they're veritable strangers from her perspective, but he can't really help it. ]

[keystaff]

[Kurogane has a lot of nicknames. Still, she gives a nod when Fai guesses and tries to explain her intentions. Sakura figures as long as she is here, and if helping will get them home, they may as well do their best to try. But it's hardly a surprise if they are just as new and have no more information on the situation than she does.

She's about to ask, on who the two of them know, they're obviously friends, but she can't help being curious on who she might remind them of. Still, there's an expression of relief in spite of herself at that agreement from Kurogane in helping.

Before she immediately looks a little sheepish, perhaps almost stubborn at the same time.]

I don't...I don't mean to pick fights! Syaoran-kun started it initially when we met. And my brother keeps calling me a kaiju, so he deserves it!

[Yeah, it seems that much hasn't changed, in relation to Toya. Syaoran, on the other hand. She doesn't even register how almost immediately she's warming to them, to tease like this. It just seems so natural, even in her supposed defensiveness and protesting explanations. Well, that and she is trying to hide the Cards where possible.]

...Alone? Eh?

[Give her a moment to register and question that for a second. It kind of implies that the two of them intend on keeping an eye on her with that. Or that they assume someone else will, at the least.]

[evasively]

[ It's hard to mask the mild surprise on his face as Sakura makes mention of Syaoran picking a fight. This isn't a scenario that would ever happen with the Sakura and Syaoran that they know. They were just too compatible with each other that they rarely ever had any actual disagreements. So, this is something different. It seemed like across peopel across the parallel dimensions had differences in their personality as well.

With the rough and curt way Kurogane speaks, Fai often finds himself having to translate for him in a much gentler way. ] -- That's Kuro-tan for you. Always kind to the young ones.

[ There's a chuckle in amusement, before he continues. ] What he means to say is that it'll be dangerous for you to go alone. We're in a world we don't quite understand, after all. This might be forward of me to ask, but -- How would you like to travel together?

That way, we'll be able to protect each other if anything comes up. [ They can't let any version of Sakura go off on her own in such a potentially dangerous place. Naturally, they had to find a way to stay close to her. Fai doesn't want to alarm her either, though, because from Sakura's point of view, the both of them would be complete strangers. So, he tries his best to phrase his words in a the most calculated way possible. ]

[griped]

[ She mentions Syaoran, spirited and casual and it makes sense, but at the same time it just—doesn't. It hits an odd chord and a familiar note all at once, and he doesn't doubt it's going to take some time to get used to.

But he isn't trying to be brusque; when Fai 'translates' for him, he simply looks sidelong his way without growling out a correction. Unfortunately, talking in any sort of comforting manner isn't his strong suit. The best he can probably do is to avoid staring at her too intently.

So instead he simply nods, nearly aloof compared to his friendlier compatriot but letting the crinkle in his brow (mostly) smooth out. ]

We could use someone watching our backs too.

[ He can't really talk to kids, so his tone's hardly different from what he'd use with a peer. If she was half as capable as her royal counterpart, it'd be more than enough moxie to count on her. ]

[keystaff]

[Well, Sakura isn't really mad or upset regarding Syaoran, not anymore. If anything, she never really was. It was him that was so competitive, so determined to be the one to collect the Clow Cards. But over time, they've gotten past that. Become friends. Good friends, even. It's more the memory of Toya that frustrates her. And worries her. Worrying about everyone back home but there doesn't seem to be anything much she can do from here but try to return.

If that means traveling different worlds and helping those people there, she will. She looks from one to the other, listening as they offer to take her in.]

You--you're sure? I guess. I hadn't really thought about where to stay yet. It's hard to say how long we might be here....so. So, okay! If it's not too much trouble for you. I could help cook, or do the cleaning? If that would help, in exchange...

[To be fair, it is kind of obvious Kurogane isn't so used to children. But even so, the trust he has, the way he treats her as something of an equal says volumes in itself that has her hopeful of helping.]

[evasively]

[ Truly, they weren't asking for anything in exchange. The chance to keep an eye out of an alternate version of another young girl they hold so dear to them is already reward enough. Still, he can see the immediately similarities between this Sakura and the one that he knows. Even at such a young age, she was earnest and always tried her best to be of help.

And Fai will let her do just that. Feeling useful and staying occupied was healing in its own way. ] I could use some help in the kitchen after we get settled in ...

[ Even with a different version of Sakura, it doesn't feel like much has changed at all. ] Is there anything you already know how to make, Sakura?

this is a useless tag sorry

[griped]

[ The fact that she'd even try to help them out somehow is more than enough. Sakura, inadvertent queen of gambling that she was, pulled her weight just as much as the rest of them. And even if she'd just be waiting and safe—that'd be enough. For this Sakura, and the other.

But idle hands are never any good either, so Fai's idea is pretty all right. Is this the beginning of Cat's Eye Mk. II? Is Fai actually going to try and make a sustainable income to support his family instead of being useless?

]

All he usually makes is sweets.

[ Despite making a (paltry) attempt at being on his good behavior here, there's a little disdain to his tone. Maybe this is a chance for some variety, at least... ]

not useless, shush

[keystaff]

[Sakura rather seems to brighten at the idea, clapping her hands together in front of her. It seems the least she could do, really, if they are offering for her to stay with them. Wouldn't be different at all from helping with chores around the house back home anyway.]

Well...I guess it depends on what you want to have? I've made some meals before back home though. Because some nights my brother and dad are at work so they get home a bit later. Though I suppose it also depends on the ingredients. I'm not sure what foods might be available here.

[This is not Tomoeda. And she's not sure if this is even Japan or some sort of alternate version to have the things she's used to in terms of food. But she could try, at least.]

I do like sweets though. Don't you, Kurogane-san?

[evasively]

[ he can make other stuff too but sweets are great screw you kurogane

Whatever is available in this world, Fai has some confidence in his ability to adapt. Plus, it does sound like this Sakura already has some experience, so she'll certainly be of great help.

And regarding this question she's asking of Kurogane... Fai chimes in to answer for him. ]

Kuro-chan doesn't like them one bit. That's why we have to be a bit forceful if we want him to try the sweets we make!

[ aka shove it all into his mouth ]

[griped]

[ Before he manages an answer, Fai graciously does it for him. Kurogane's expression sours for a moment, remembering a certain Valentine's Day... but whatever. It's not like he wouldn't at least try it if Sakura made them. As his tastes are judged for no good reason, he puffs out a sigh. ]

Just make whatever you think is good.

[ He says because he's clearly too cool to care (—except really he's fine trusting her tastes on the matter). They'll make do with whatever they manage to find around here. ]

[keystaff]

Oh. Okay then! I'll see what I can do with what foods they have here. That way I could at least help somehow. And...it's okay if Kurogane-san doesn't want desert.

[Everyone has different tastes, after all. Just means more for Sakura and Fai, clearly. But then she pauses, considering for a moment. Not yet having been exploring too long to figure how much or exactly where the places they might stay could roughly be located.]

But um, where did you have in mind? I have some money, but I'm not sure how much hotels or something might cost, or how long we might be here....

[evasively]

[ It's true, they would have to find some accommodation eventually. That was on Fai's list of priorities, but it wasn't exactly a very urgent matter at the moment. Fai and Kurogane often went with whatever accommodation they happened to stumble upon when they traveled from world to world.

With Sakura such a young child, though, a safe place would be much more preferable. It at least had to be safe enough to walk about in. ] How about we head over to the Nobles' District? With our money pooled together, I believe we should be able to afford a room.

[ It's probably much safer there than it would be in, say, the outskirts of the town. ] We could also get a change of clothing along the way. [ TO blend in, of course. They were already getting a few stares as they wandered about in their foreign-looking wares. There's a glance taken at the outfit that Sakura has on, and Fai lets out an amused chuckle. ]

-- Not that I don't think that's a cute outfit! [ It is cute weh ]

[griped]

[ Back in their travels, the four of them had dealt with whatever rooms they could find, flimsy or closet-like that may've been. For Fai to suggest something a little nicer is probably for Sakura's sake; it's not unlike the sight they'd stumbled upon just before Kurogane remembers being brought here. Acid rain. A pile of crushed and punctured bodies. The sentiment that it's better that Sakura sleeps through it instead of getting exposed to too much.

Something to bring up later.

('our' money though, like he has any.....) ]

I'll look for a cheaper inn. But let's go with that for now.

[ Every marriage has a more fiscally restrained partner. Anyway, in an obvious ploy to go get cute medieval costumes that's actually endorsed by canon, he agrees. ] It'll be easier to blend in if we've got new clothes when we get there.

[ Which would be great, because everyone, human and goblin alike, seems keen on giving them the evil eye right now. ]

[keystaff]

All right. I don't mind something cheaper, it would mean we have more money for food and things while we figure this out. But clothes are important too! N-not that I don't appreciate Tomoyo-chan making me these but....

[They do rather stand out. Even the more subtle ones. So Sakura agrees, giving a nod, even in her sheepishness when Fai comments on her outfit. She's always been a little embarrassed at the attention they get her, even if it is usually just her, Tomoyo, Kero and Syaoran that see them. Given her best friend likes to record her in them to preserve the moments. But they aren't wrong, and she doesn't want to put them out too much until they figure out their situation on housing, on jobs and all that.]