FIRST [action/video]

[classifiedmoe]

[The vine flickers on, the image that of a young girl with tears in her eyes, peering timidly at this new technology.] E-excuse me! I-is anyone there?

[A pause, as though she's waiting for a reply, and then she sniffles and continues.]

I d-don't know where I am...or when I am, and...and...

[Whoops, here we go. Meltdown ahoy!]

Wahhhhhh!

Comments

action

[gun_cata]

[ Larry, her store/home being near the necessities and therefore near where new arrivals show up, happens to hear fussing and then crying in the distance. She leaps into action, holstering the gun she was practicing with then hurrying to find the source. ]

Hey!

[ She practically slides next to Mikuru on her knees. ]

I'm right here, don't worry.

Re: action

[classifiedmoe]

[Mikuru stops wailing for just a moment, glancing up at her with tears coursing down her face.]

Wh-who...

[and then she decides it doesn't matter, and buries her face in the nice lady's shoulder, sobbing.]

[gun_cata]

[ Well she's gotta do what she's gotta do...

Larry wraps an arm around the scared girl, gently stroking her hair. ]

You're gonna be alright... I know it's scary waking up in a strange place, but it's safe.

[ Mostly. But now isn't the time to explain murderplants and robot attacks. ]

[classifiedmoe]

[Holds tight to her as her sobs slowly subside, then sits back on her heels, wiping at her eyes.]

Y-you promise?

[gun_cata]

[ She releases the girl, leaning back to give her a reassuring smile. ]

I promise. And if anything goes wrong I'll protect you.

[classifiedmoe]

[Looks a little doubtful, but sounds sincere.]

That's very kind of you...

[gun_cata]

[ Still looking wholly confident, she holds out a hand to the girl. ]

Name's Larry Vincent. You're in the gardens, and you're gonna be here for a while.

[classifiedmoe]

Oh! [Rather flustered.]

I'm Mikuru Asahina! [Shakes her hand a little doubtfully, as if not sure that's what she's supposed to do with it.]

Does that mean you've been here long?

[gun_cata]

A couple months, yeah.

[ Handshake was the intent! ]

Hopefully there's like... a time shift between here and home though.

[classifiedmoe]

[She nods and asks hesitantly]

Has anyone managed to make it home?

[gun_cata]

I'm pretty sure the people who disappear have, and... I think some have come back too, which is where we're getting that theory from.

[ Otherwise they might have already had a funeral for Larry back home. ]

[classifiedmoe]

People come back? E-even if you get away, they hunt you down and b-bring you back? [Oh dear.]

[gun_cata]

They don't really... hunt you down in the first place. It's always the same; you fall asleep in one place, wake up in the other.

[ Again, at least as far as she knows.

She stands, holding a hand out to help Mikuru up. ]

[classifiedmoe]

[Takes her hand and stands up.]

Th-thank you...

[gun_cata]

Like I said, I'll take care of you.

[ Unless Mikuru holds on, Larry lets go of her hand for now. ]

How about we find whatever clothes you were wearing before you came here?

[classifiedmoe]

My...clothes? [Looks down at herself for the first time.] Eek! [Seems to find the dress embarrassing and wraps her arms around herself] I-I'm sorry!