001, written

[keyandstar]

[ After having gotten over the shock of... Well, everything, and after having herself a good cry, Lirael examined the journal she'd found next to her neatly folded clothes.

It seemed like it had to be magical, and yet she could feel nothing from it. Was it dangerous? It didn't seem like it. Just strange.

Hence, after having read a few entries and come to the conclusion that this had to be some kind of communication device, she tentatively wrote: ]

Is this Ancelstierre?

Comments

[video]

[keyandstar]

[ ... is this a trap? It could be a trap. And she could probably find the town if she looked on her own.

On the other hand, if she's going to the town anyway it seems kind of silly to be trying to stay away from someone who it must be assumed lives there. ]

If it wouldn't be too much trouble...

[video]

[idealism]

[That's good enough for him. Mumbling his 'okay', he drags on his coat and shoes, heading out the door. If she was suspicious before, she won't be comforted now.]

What was your name again? I don't think I caught it.

[video]

[keyandstar]

Lirael. I'm Lirael.

[ Is this a terrible, terrible idea? ]

[video]

[idealism]

Nice to meet you, Lirael. I'm Tsuzuki.

[He adjusts the journal so he can drag out spell paper from his pocket and write her name down. As he works on the strip of paper, it quickly wraps itself into an origami bird, flying in the general direction of the name on its back. What he did was partly visible from the little video feed.]

[video]

[keyandstar]

[ That's magic. That's bad. Or good. Or really, really bad.

Probably bad.

But he seems friendly?

Oh, why can't the Dog be here! ]

Tsuzuki... was that magic you just did?

[video]

[idealism]

Yeah, just a little. Otherwise I'd probably get lost again.

[Such a small, harmless-looking bird? He should have thought about warning her, but he's considered his ofuda-birds as helpful for so long that the thought of finding them frightening is completely unreal to him.]

Let me know when it arrives?

[video]

[keyandstar]

I will.

[ Moving away from the camera so she can get into her own clothes rather than the sundress. ]

Can you still hear me?

[video]

[idealism]

Barely.

[As it flies, the bird takes on more of a natural shape. It even has feathers. Tsuuzuki hurries after it, but it's still faster than him and has soon left him behind in the dust.]

[video]

[keyandstar]

I'll move back soon.

[ And she does, reappearing but now wearing her own clothes, feeling a bit awkward about donning the surcoat with the star and key pattern on. ]

[video]

[idealism]

Thank you, I appreciate it.

[He raises an eyebrow, but doesn't say anything. It looks pretty neat, in his opinion, but he knows some people can get self-conscious when others talk about their clothes.

Not long after she dressed, the bird finds her resting spot. It circles her, at first unsure if it should land. It ends up landing at her feet, a small, white spot of color in the middle of all that green.

[video]

[keyandstar]

[ Her natural curiosity takes over and she can't help herself, she carefully picks the bird up. ]

Your bird is here.

[video]

[idealism]

It sits quite peacefully in her hands, its wings fluffing and rearranging until it's comfortable. She's a complete stranger to it, although her name is written on its back. It tilts its little head thoughtfully, looking up at the Lirael.]

Great! That means I didn't write your name wrong.

[He quickly follows the bird's trail, his face alive with renewed determination.]

I'll be right there! Don't worry about the bird, they're supposed to do that.

[video]

[keyandstar]

It's... beautiful.

[ It's even making her smile a little. It's like a charter sending, only not. Fascinating! ]

[video-->action]

[idealism]

I'm sure it thinks the same about you.

[He's one of those people that doesn't consider how his words sound once he's said them. Right now he's mostly focused on following the path, so his embarrassment can wait until later.

And sadly, the bird doesn't stay for long. It trembles in her hands, turning into the origami bird from before. Tsuzuki comes soon after, pushing the branches away with some difficulty. He closes the journal, since they won't need it anymore.]

...Are you Lirael, by any chance?

[action]

[keyandstar]

[ She doesn't say anything to that comment, because... no. She's not pretty, at least not in her own eyes. Many others would probably think she is, slender, tall and pale with startlingly black hair. But no, all she sees is that she doesn't look like a Clayr.

It's a little sad to see the bird turn into paper again, but she's distracted from it by Tsuzuki's arrival. ]

I... yes. Tsuzuki?

[action]

[idealism]

Yes, that's me. I'm so relieved that I found you!

[Tuzuki struggles with his own self worth at times, so he would understand her difficulties. That is, if they ever talk about it. As it is, he only sees a pretty girl with a cautious look in her eyes.

He offers his hand, though he's' unsure if she knows how to greet him in that way.]

Come on, I can show you the quickest way out of here.

[action]

[keyandstar]

[ Well, she does take his hand and gives it a sort of squeeze before letting go and getting to her feet, awkwardly holding the journal and the sundress. ]

Thank you very much.

[action]

[idealism]

Don't mention it.

[Let's walk home. :D!]

You're in luck. I don't think Moro's around in this part of the woods much.

[action]

[keyandstar]

[ Yay! ]

Moro?

[action]

[idealism]

The wolf goddess that lives in the woods. She gets... cranky sometimes.

[action]

[keyandstar]

There is a wolf goddess in the woods?

[ Pardon her for just repeating things but... really? ]

[action]

[idealism]

She's nice, though. Really!

[Because now he feels bad for practically gossiping.]

But yes. She came here, just like you. We all have.

[action]

[keyandstar]

Something here has the power to abduct very powerful beings, then?

[action]

[idealism]

Yes. And they're preventing us from contacting gods, too. We still haven't found out how.

[action]

[keyandstar]

You can usually do that?