[ACTION: OPEN TO ALL]

[poisontippedcure]

WHO: Rose and You!
WHERE: Throughout the City.
WHEN: Mid-May.
WHAT: Rose arrives! It's going great. Really.
WARNINGS: None, barring potential Endwalker spoilers.



[1]

[At first, Rose thinks it's a dream. Ultima Thule was the scene of her last battle, after all, and despite her best efforts, she hasn't been able to relax completely. Being the world's savior is a stressful occupation, and she's well-aware what she carries on her shoulders. Nightmares are par for the course.]

[The longer she walks, however, the less sure she is. The area seems too real, and this has gone on for too long. Additionally, she's surrounded by bodies and blood, and while she wouldn't put it past her self-conscious, it does seem a little extreme.]

[After a long walk, she finds herself outside in a sprawling city. To anybody with a knowing eye, she looks out of place. Her bright red hair and her more...feline features mark her as a traveler. Her outfit is also sporting a rather large bloodstain after tripping in her venture through the labyrinth. It's not her blood at least.]

[Anyone who approaches her will notice she looks exasperated. Her arms are crossed and she looks tired. In her situation, though, who wouldn't be?]

So much for my vacation, I suppose.

[2]

[It isn't easy being a Miqo'te, and it's even less simple when you're the only one (or two) of your kind around. She's well-aware (and rather proud) of her ears and tail, but that doesn't mean the people around her are. The townspeople keep saying things like "clip-on tail" "otaku" and "cosplay." She doesn't know what any of those words mean, but she doesn't like strangers talking to her.]

[And she especially doesn't like strangers reaching for her without permission. When one over-zealous townsperson tries to touch her ears, she'll bite back.]

Excuse me? I don't go around trying to touch your strange clothes. Mind your own business.

[3]

[Eventually she just caves and finds herself a sweatshirt. She also finds herself a nice cafe. The "phone" she was left with may have come with an instruction manual, but that doesn't mean she knows how to use it.]

[She's set up shop at an out of the way table, tucked into the corner. She's not shouting (yet), but if the speed at which she's "typing" on the phone is any indication, she doesn't seem to be having a great time of it. Any mentors around to help a sprout out?]

Comments

[crystallinememories]

[Hiding her ears under a robe hood is a tried and true strategy. Tails can be a bit harder, especially with the length of most sweatshirts, but tucked into a corner like she is most people wouldn't notice.

A few weeks ago Raha wouldn't have noticed either, and frankly given how he's been running around between TA work, his research, and everything that happened with the Spirit Realm, maybe he should be surprised he noticed her anyway, even when his path to return his mug takes him directly by her. He stops briefly, to make sure he actually saw what he thought he it, and then continues to returning his cup while trying to figure out the best and least awkward way to broach the topic. Seeing as he only knows one (??) other person around here with a tail like that...

Of course, no plan survives first contact, and when he approaches her with the intent to just make sure she was doing alright and knew where to get help, he catches sight of her face. There's no new memory that comes with it, but the one he has had returned to him gets yet another variation to it, and oh this is starting to make his head hurt.]

Um.

[nailed it, obviously. And when Rose looks up to see who the hell is harassing her now, she'll see one G'raha Tia, dressed in very strange (to her) clothes, and sans ears and tail.]

[poisontippedcure]

[When Rose senses someone approaching, she does her best to be preoccupied with her phone. It’s been a day, and the last thing she wants is someone asking her “where she bought her tail.”]

[But the person who approached her doesn’t seem to be walking away, and she finally bothers to look up.]

G’raha!?

[She jumps back, and her hood falls down to her shoulders. Hopefully no one else is looking this way.]

[crystallinememories]

[Raha startles a little when she does, reaching out to just gently pull her hoodie back up. She can guess why she's wearing it, after all, and given how this conversation is likely to go-- well she could probably use to have as little extra to worry about as possible.]

Ah-- no. Well. Sort of? [Raha sighs.] It's... a bit complicated, I'm afraid.

[Right now he's a bit more worried about her state, and it shows on his face.] Are you alright? Did you just arrive here?

[poisontippedcure]

Yes. Is it that obvious?

[She nods towards G’raha after he fixes her hood. There’s a lot she’s not in the mood for right now, and curious townspeople are at the top of the list.]

I’m not sure what could be more complicated than being whisked away to another world, again, but I’m sure this place found a way. Take a seat.

[crystallinememories]

As far as I know, anyone coming here from another world seems to wind up on the app, and I hadn't seen you on there...

[But... he is going to have to address some more likely upsetting issues soon enough. He moves to sit across from her, setting down his bag with his laptop and variety of freshly graded papers.]

As for complications, there are... plenty. No one has figured out how people are being brought here, for starters, nor how to get you home. It almost certainly has to do with the Spirit Realm, but why it would be pulling people here without warning is currently anyone's guess.

slams back into this

[poisontippedcure]

So it’s like the First, then? Trapped with no way back.

[Except she could go back, but details. Her friends couldn’t, and that’s what matters.]

I’m not sure I care much for the why or how, but if we can’t go back that’s rather unfortunate. At least everything is wrapped up back home.

[crystallinememories]

[In response, she gets a very blank look. Which, given who she's talking to, the person who should know exactly what that means--]

Urm, I should also mention that... well, I'm not from your world. I'm from this one. As far as I can tell, anyway.

[Frankly, though the thought is very distressing, he's not sure if that's the answer that makes the most sense. But there's time for pondering that later.]

It seems that there is also a group of us who have lived here that have been getting memories of other worlds. I recognized you from one of those.

[He hates that he has to break this to her when she's only just gotten here, he feels SO BAD. And he doesn't even know how to begin addressing Rhel and Amal in this.]

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose takes a slow, deliberate drink from her cup before continuing. She's not sure what emotions she's feeling right now--sadness, regret, relief? But whatever emotions they are, she's trying her best to mask you.]

You know, at first I thought I might be able to relax here. But--

[She waves her hands at the diner around them.]

I feel this world is going to make that impossible. That's certainly quite a tale, G'raha.

[crystallinememories]

Just- just Raha, here.

[He's heard the alternative enough to guess it's his name in their world, but. Also he still feels really terrible about not knowing more, even though the process of learning is disorienting at best.]

I know. I wish I knew or could do anything to make it easier.

[poisontippedcure]

Well, it's hardly your fault. This time, at least.

[Is she being nice or mean? It's genuinely hard to tell.]

Even if the circumstances are strange, a friendly face is nice, at least. I can't fault you for that. You really should learn how to stop blaming yourself for circumstances out of your control.

[crystallinememories]

[This time?? Luckily he doesn't really have time to reflect on what that could mean.]

Ah- well, I mean, I can still be sorry you're going through it...

[It is very weird for people to already know so well what he's like, though.]

[poisontippedcure]

[Rose pauses, before relaxing into a more gentle smile.]

I doubt this means much to you, but it's nice to know that even here, you haven't changed.

[It's a compliment! Probably.]

[crystallinememories]

[Raha chuckles.]

I think that's a good thing. There's enough strange about all this without me acting entirely different.

2

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot's wearing a hat today, so his cursed-induced cat ears aren't showing, but oh....oh does he relate to people doing this. So he'll approach this scene, looking over at the lady....she must be another outworlder.]

Man, I hate when people do that. Are you okay?

[poisontippedcure]

Yes.

[Rose nods to Elliot. She’s not the friendliest of people, but even she can appreciate a kind word here and there.]

Honestly, you’d think these people have never seen a Miqo’te before.

[It’s because they haven’t seen more than two of them, but she doesn’t know that.]

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot rubs the back of his head]

Thaaat's probably because most people haven't. Miqo'te aren't common in this world.

[poisontippedcure]

I’ve gathered.

[Rather unfortunately. Rose crosses her arms and sighs, looking around her. This area does seem to be quite busy. She’s not sure if she’s grateful or annoyed at that.]

At least the last time I got spirited away, the world I was sent to had something in common with my home. I feel like a walking target here.

[fiddlestick]

[Elliot blinks, confused and surprised]

This isn't your first time getting whisked to another world?

[Girl what is your life]

[poisontippedcure]

It would be nice if it was, but no.

[She looks at the city around her.]

At this place seems safe, if aggravating.

[fiddlestick]

Um....

[Yeah...she must be real new. How to break it to her.

Answer: You don't.]

Y-Yeah, sorry about that. But hey! I know another Miquo'te that ended up here too! Her name is Rhel. Maybe she can help.

[poisontippedcure]

Rhel? I don’t recall hearing that name before.

[But at this point, anyone from home would be a blessing. She doesn’t want to admit it, but there’s a part of her that’s scared and lonely.]

And you are? I don’t recall asking your name.

[fiddlestick]

Really? Well, I guess not every human knows each other so it'd be silly to expect the Miquo'te to.

[So that's what it is! It does not occur to him at all there's other dimension hijinks going on]

Oh, right sorry. I'm Elliot Craig! Nice to meet you.

[poisontippedcure]

There are quite a few of us on my homeworld. And, I was raised in a country where very few Miqo'te live.

[She nods in response. Elliot seems respectful, if nothing else.]

Rose. And I appreciate your help.

[After their chat, she seems to have calmed a bit.]

[fiddlestick]

Really? Was your family there for work?

[That's a common enough reason]

It's no problem! Do you know where you're headed or did you just arrive?

[poisontippedcure]

Not quite, they moved there for safety, many summers ago.

[It's an oversimplification, but Elliot probably doesn't want to hear about brain-washing gods.]

I just arrived. So far all I know is that I don't care for the citizenry here.

[fiddlestick]

I see...I'm sorry to hear that.

[Refugees then. That happens enough on Earth that Elliot knows not to pry further]

R-Right...well in that case, you'll need somewhere to stay. I know there's company called Zodiac that offers free housing to otherworlders. That might be a good place to start.