OPEN

[good_ideas]

WHO: Shiho and you!
WHERE: Forest and town-ish
WHEN: the month of June!
WHAT: Shiho comes back in a new black uniform and quests because making more than one log is too much work.
WARNINGS: Warning for her trying not to be sad about Minato


A. things are serious business now
[Even with psychometry, there's only so much one can do when walking through a twiggy, pebbly, leafy forest. Especially when you didn't have any shoes. What she does have though is an entirely different uniform as she finally makes her way out of the trees, wincing when she toes another twig out of the way.

Are you just watching? Maybe you just walked by? Either way, she's looking up the moment you're within hearing distance as if she just noticed you there. Furrowing her brow, she brushes her hair back and puts one hand on her hip.]

....Well? You're not going to leave a super cute girl to limp home on her own, are you? Help me.

B. the sad sitting-on-a-bridge option
[Shiho has already changed at this point, putting on something that's not exactly more protective than her uniform but definitely makes her feel better, quieter, more resolute. It's a beautifully hand sewn outfit and she's wearing shoes again this time, her feet dangling over the side of the harbour as she looks out across the water.]

C. Obligatory Quest Post: fire is always the answer
[That could be a pile of sticks. Except there is clearly a person carrying them and then... shoving them straight into your arms.]

Let's go set a fire.

[She says with a big, bright smile like she doesn't see anything wrong with any of this, and turns to start heading for the forest.]

Comments

A

[superioritis]

[There's a clip-clop, clip-clop as Berkut slows his horse to a stop. For better or worse, the usage of cute is what grabbed his attention. He glances down at Shiho's bare feet, but the look he shoots her upon lifting his head is one of indifference.]

If you've the energy to grumble, you can surely walk yourself.

[good_ideas]

[Getting to have a horse should be against the rules, she thinks. Which is why she immediately decides to give him a hard time.]

It's not about having the energy. It's about stepping on stuff I don't want to step on. [And so she's leaning against a tree, trying to take some weight off her feet.]

Besides aren't you supposed to be royalty or something? Show some compassion.

[superioritis]

[Such irreverence . . .

Berkut's brow pinches in distaste before he dismounts his horse with practiced grace. Clad in armor as dark as his coat, the steed resembles his rider in coloring.]

Compassion has nothing to do with it.

[As if to reinforce this point, Berkut's tone is devoid of warmth as he approaches Shiho.]

Where is this home of yours?

[good_ideas]

Not too far. [But he does seem to be getting off the horse so she'll just watch for now... and also wonder if he's like Magi and has 14 of the exact same coat in his closet.]

So if compassion has nothing to do with it, are you getting off the horse so you can... what? Laugh at me from a different height?

C

[noholdsbard]

[ Well, she didn’t exactly say that she wanted to burn down the forest, but knowing her… ]

Shiho…what are you planning?

[ To his credit, he at least doesn’t drop his burden—and he’s definitely following along to make sure she’ll be all right. ]

[good_ideas]

I'm planning to use a safe and extremely effective way to get rid of goblins, of course?

[Safe for whom though........



Well, he didn't ask for specifics so she leaves it at that with a bright smile as she leads the way, knowing thanks to psychometry just what direction they should go.]

Why? What do you think I'm planning?

[noholdsbard]

[ It’s hard not to let the doubts keep piling up, especially when she’s smiling like that. That smile practically screams I’m going to cause trouble no matter what and telling her no might only make things worse.

He inwardly sighs, before asking her question: ]

I was hoping for a picnic, perhaps, by a small campfire…

[ But clearly she has to dash his hopes and dreams like this. ]

[good_ideas]

Without any food? [But her smile is still cheerful at the thought of causing trouble...]

Besides, a picnic closer to town would be better, wouldn't it? And with Maya-san, Kaoru-chan and everyone else.

B

[troubadamsel]

[Maribelle approaches, pauses, then approaches again.]

Good day to you, Shiho.

[good_ideas]

[Maribelle is always a welcome sight, and Shiho manages a little bit of a smile in her direction.]

Hey. Good day to you, too. [But her heart isn't quite in it, and she reaches out to scoop up a pebble and toss it into the harbour.]

[troubadamsel]

... Is it a good day?

[She comes over to Shiho's side, silently inspecting her.]

[good_ideas]

I'm back here, lost the shoes that went with my new uniform and there's still no electricity or running water. [And Minato's gone.]

It's great. [But her expression says it's anything but, and she relents a little.] ..........Just kidding.

B

[passio]

…that’s a nice outfit.

[ dextera’s soft voice pipes up behind her. he recognizes that fluffy mane of hair, and it makes him realize that he hasn’t spoken to shiho in a while, really. many things have changed. ]

[good_ideas]

[Dex always puts her at ease, and she gives him a small smile when she sees him. Not as bright or as happy as she could manage with someone she doesn't know. But she's trying.]

Minato made it for me. [And she's so glad as she reaches out to touch the fabric of one sleeve with her hand that it's still here.]

[passio]

Minato did…

[ at the reminder that he’s disappeared, dextera’s expression falls a little. he didn’t know about shiho and minato’s relationship, but what he can understand is the loss of a friend no matter what. ]

That’s amazing.

[ a pause. ]

Is it okay to sit…?

[good_ideas]

Yeah. It is. He is. [She refuses to put that in past tense. Instead she shuffles over a little, giving him more room.]

If you want.

wildcard for goblin hunting...!!

[unghost]

[ They get that Shiho is a capable young human; sensible enough to not get harmed in danger, intelligent enough to be mindful around areas and beings of danger. But they can't say they've actually ever witnessed her in combat, aside from the (alleged) tranquilizer she'd shot into the dragon. So, when they're actually making their way into the forest, they finally let some of their suspicion out. ]

Why are you even interested in this quest? [ They shoot her a glance from the corner of their eye, walking with confidence as they go along. ] You don't seem like the type.

[good_ideas]

[Shiho knows how this looks especially because she gets a whole lot of "psychometers can't fight" even back home. So instead she hums a little, tilting her head to look back at them.]

Thinking people fall into "types" is the worst kind of mistake to make in a fight, you know?

[After all, that could so easily lead to them underestimating someone. Like this girl with her tranquilizer gun in her pocket.]

And these kinds of things need to be done anyway. Might as well be us helping out.

[unghost]

There are bigger mistakes to be made in battle than that.

[ They disagree with a huff, returning their eyes to the path in front of them. The pair are definitely walking towards more of the suspicious movement like sounds of the forest, though it doesn't seem too nearby yet. Her second comment, they guess they can't necessarily disagree with. ]

You actually fight a lot? Or are you just saying that.

C.

[alittlespicy]

[ On the one hand, there doesn't seem to be absolutely any effort in the way WangJi takes the pile of sticks, no matter how large.

On the other hand, there is no moving anywhere for a moment. ]

Fire?

[good_ideas]

[Shiho likes the idea of not having to do too much messy work and that definitely includes foisting a stack of sticks off on someone else. That he could actually hold it with little effort is nothing more than a happy bonus since it isn't as if she'd help (too much) in any case.]

Yeah, fire. You know, it's hot? Burns things to a crisp?

[alittlespicy]

Know.

Why fire?

B

[germination]

[ Shiho will find that her scene-straight-out-of-a-music-video, picturesque lamenting by the water is cut short by the sudden sound of huffing and puffing.

Anthy, who is horribly unathletic has had the misfortune of running all the way here.

She can barely manage the words, but slowly she lifts a hand, points toward the water and speaks: ]

I need to stop him– 

[ By him, she means the little purple money that is very slowly drifting across the water rather close to the edge of the water. He's sailing in what looks to be a little paper boat that's wilting from its exposure to the water.

Anthy looks to Shiho, just as resolute but for obviously very different reasons. ]

I need you to hold onto my arm so that I don't fall in.

[good_ideas]

[Shiho wasn't terribly attached to feeling sad at the harbour, but despite that she still has so many questions about all this. A monkey??? A boat???

That's enough to pull her out of whatever she was thinking about for the moment, at least.]

What do you mean, hold onto your arm?! There are better ways than that! [Though all she has right now are tranquilizer darts.]

Can it grab onto a rope? What about a stick?

[germination]

[ Anthy shakes her head, painfully serious about this whole thing even as Chuchu peacefully putters along in his paper boat– blissfully unaware of the misfortune that awaits him. ]

There's no time. Chuchu can't swim.

[ She turns away from Shiho, and faces the water. ]

I'm going to try and reach down and grab him now. I would be grateful if you'd hold onto me.

[ And she does just that. Dropping towards the water with one arm– she's going to fall in if Shiho doesn't grab the other.

Which would be potentially okay? She wouldn't drown (maybe?).

The choice is Shiho's to make. ]