(first post)

[fencing_prodigy]

Juri makes a rather imposing, if comical, addition to the room’s atmosphere, standing wide-eyed as she looks up slowly from the floor through her tightly curled orange locks

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[7twistedwishes]

Kindness is Scarlet's middle name.

Well, not quite, but it is of her interest to at least seem kind for now, so the newcomer is offered a smile. "Good evening. Your first time here?"

[fencing_prodigy]

She shifts uncomfortably in her seat. "I suppose it is obvious."

Evening? It was still a couple hours before... but a quick glance out the windows proves her wrong before she even completes the thought.

[[OOC: Sorry, but I'm going to have to slow-time this, since it's past 1 AM for me and my bed is beckoning. Thank you for posting so promptly! It certainly took me by surprise!]]

[7twistedwishes]

"Oh, a bit, yes, the newcomers have mostly the same bewildered look about them." The woman smiles, moving a bit closer, and bowing before offering a hand. "First things first. I am Scarlet."

[np! sleep well, catch up later!]

[fencing_prodigy]

She shakes the proffered hand, bowing in turn. "Juri Arisugawa. Pleasure to meet you, Scarlet. I suppose you can tell me where I am and how I got here?"

[7twistedwishes]

"Oh, yes, I can... but the situation, once explained, may still sound quite unusual. Unreal even."

[fencing_prodigy]

Juri raises an eyebrow but stays silent. A hand gesture tells Scarlet to continue, the light catching briefly on the rose-crest ring Juri wears on the ring finger of her left hand.

[7twistedwishes]

"Very well." Scarlet indicates the Observation Window, and its view of collpsing stars and planets. "Welcome to the End of the Universe."

"This is the last spot of stable reality in existance, and portals connect this place to all planets, times and universes. This bar, Milliways, was built here to shelter peope who accidentally enter the portals, and arrive here."

Pause, to let that sink.

[fencing_prodigy]

And sink it does... her stomach, that is. The view out the window is so shocking to her that she stands and approaches it, a hand reaching out to press against the glass.

It takes a minute for her voice to work. "So... I'm in some sort of space between worlds?"

Disbelief is evident in her tone and countenance. And she inwardly laughs for a brief moment. This is End of the World? No wonder we haven't gotten letters in a while...

[7twistedwishes]

"A pocket of reality, mostly isolated, yes. If you step back out, you will return to the same second when you left, and to the same spot." Scarlet watches the youn woman. "Would you like something to drink?" Many people need something strong after the revelation.

[fencing_prodigy]

Well, that's a relief, I'd hate to miss Nanami's next party... She thinks sarcastically to herself, still not fully believing that she's traveled out of Ohtori Academy.

"I'll take... a mandarin-orange cosmopolitan," she says with a flourish. If this is all a dream, she supposes it doesn't matter that she's underaged.

[7twistedwishes]

Hey, who is the Devil to deny someone booze? Scarlet moves away for a moment, and returns with the requested drink. "Here, dear. Drink."

[fencing_prodigy]

Juri takes the glass and raises it. "Kanpai."

But with the first sip, she nearly spits it out. What the... this stuff is real?!

Reality seeps in...

And Juri downs the rest of the alcohol, coughing a couple times from inexperience.

[7twistedwishes]

Very real. Bar makes fantasic cosmopolitans.

Scarlet gets her a refill, and guides Juri to a table. "Sit down, breathe deep, and let it sink in a moment, dear."

[fencing_prodigy]

She sits and takes Scarlet's advice.

After several moments, "Will I ever be able to get back, or am I here for eternity?"

Juri drinks blindly from the refilled glass, ignoring the burn of the alcohol down her throat.

[7twistedwishes]

Now, that is too easy. Ah, well, an easy call is good once in a while. The glass will go empty MUCH slower than one would expect. "Oh, eventually, dear. Might take a while I know a young man who has been here three months already, but eventually, your door will return."

Her tone is the exact, perfect one to imply at least I hope so.

[fencing_prodigy]

Juri stares at the tabletop, a hand reaching up to unconsciously grasp at the pendant under her top.

She sighs. "Where will I stay here while I wait?" Breakdowns can happen later...