Touka 002 ❀ Goodbye, Dream of Normalcy

[girlpowertouka]

Characters: Touka Kishi and whoever wants to join her
Location: Right next to the coral
Time: Late morning
Style: Whatever
Status: Totally open

Comments

[failpriest]

"Miss!"

The call comes from ever-so-slightly in the distance - close enough to be heard over the sounds of Noise closing in on the girl's prone form. A particularly good ear might catch the click of a safety coming off a pistol, followed by a round going in the chamber, and two consecutive shots.

The strange creatures give a squawk, effectively deterred from further attacking what they'd deemed prey, scurrying off into the distance by the warning shots.

A moment later, the tall, lanky priest is crouching down beside Touka, a look of concern on his face as he gently lays a hand on her shoulder, free digits holding the still-smoking percussion revolver.

"Are you alright...? Here, let me help you up. Those things are pretty ruthless...!"

[girlpowertouka]

"Thank you -- thank you so much," Touka says to the man. She winces as he helps her up into a sitting position. "That was really close," she says, half to herself.

[failpriest]

"Were you hurt?"

The pistol is returned to its holster at his back and under his coat, the look of concern not leaving his face as she winces. "It's dangerous to travel out here alone, it seems..."

[girlpowertouka]

Touka shakes her head. "No, I'm fine, thank you," she replies.

She half-smiles at his next comment. "Yeah, usually I'm pretty good at taking care of myself, but I haven't been feeling well lately......"

[failpriest]

"Sick?" He tilted his head slightly in inquiry, pulling himself to his feet and offering her a hand to help her repeat the motion. "I can take you to a doctor, if that's the case. It's no trouble..."

[girlpowertouka]

"Thank you," she says as she takes his hand and he helps her up. "And, no, that's okay, I know one. I can just call her if I need to......"

Except, of course, that Touka already knows what's wrong, and so does Juri-san, and if Juri-san knew, Juri-san would quite literally force her to touch the coral. And even after almost dying, Touka's still not ENTIRELY sure she wants to touch the thing. She's certainly getting closer, though.

Manners, Touka. She remembers and turns to the man, smiling brightly.

"I'm Touka Kishi, by the way. Nice to meet you."

[failpriest]

O-oh; ever the sucker for a bright smile from a cute girl, Abel's face soon resembles much the same. Her hand still clasped in his is abruptly getting a friendly shake in greeting.

"I'm Abel - Father Abel Nightroad," he replies. "Ah, um... Miss Touka. Would you like me to walk you home? Or maybe to be seen by your friend? I'd be a pretty sorry excuse for a man, nevermind a man of God, if I left you out here on your own when things are absolutely insane? Crazy? Let's go with crazy like this..."

[girlpowertouka]

Home! Home sounds good! She can just lock herself in her room and call Juri-san later to see if those things went away. It would give her more time to think, anyway. She smiles at him even brighter.

"Home sounds good. Thank you very much." She thinks about what else he said. "So are you like a......what's a boy nun called? I know a nun. Well, kind of. She dresses in a habit and lives in a church and says Mass, anyway. But she's really a land goddess."

[failpriest]

"Of course!" He seems more than happy to assist as they begin ambling off in the direction of whatever constituted home for Touka.

He looks curious at her question. "A Sister? I wonder if we practice the same religion...? Ah! I'm a priest," he answered jovially.

...Wait, wait. "A land goddess?"

[girlpowertouka]

"Hmm. Yae-san is Catholic, I guess. We go to see her for confession and morning mass and stuff. Although she's very, very liberal......"

Touka doesn't think bear heads are a standard part of a Catholic nun's outfit. Or a slit up to who knows where and purple striped thigh-high socks. Or the swords. But that's Yae for you. And the socks are really cute. Yae even gave her a pair.

"Uh-huh. You know, a deity who watches over a piece of land and protects it. Yae's our town's land goddess."

[failpriest]

Something familiar! He can relate to this - and the smile on his face says as much for him. "Catholic! Yes, that's right - I work for the Vatican, back at home in Rome." As for being liberal...

Well. That's quite easily something he can relate to as well.

But it seemed the reality they were from different worlds was bound to rear its head; he had no idea about this land goddess business. "Land goddess... I've never heard the term, sadly. But she sounds like quite the interesting person...! Is she here with you, Miss Touka?"

[girlpowertouka]

"Oh! Okay. I've heard of that."

Although Touka is vaguely, nominally Catholic, she is only vaguely, nominally Catholic, in a special kind of Japanese way that cares far more about old Shinto traditions than any kind of central church. The kind of Catholic Church that has a land goddess as its head.

"And Yae-san is quite an interesting person. She's totally amazing. And no, she's not here with me. She's back home..." She looks sad for a moment, and then brightens. "But maybe -- !" Then she remembers what Akina-san said, about it being better for everyone else not to come here. She shakes her head and looks sad again. "No, hopefully, she'll stay back home."

[failpriest]

"Well..."

He taps a finger to his chin consideringly, noting that brief look of hope and excitement on her face before she decided to rationalize it away. "If she does come, you'll be sure to introduce me, won't you? I'd really like that. I could take you two for tea, hm?"

[girlpowertouka]

Touka laughs and smiles.

"That sounds great! She would love that. Thank you, Father Abel-san."

[failpriest]

"San... you're from Japan, right? I think I can place your accent, but it's been a while..."

B'aww; her smile is too big for words. And equally cute.

[girlpowertouka]

Touka nods.

"Yep. I'm from a town called Sakura-Shinmachi, in Tokyo, although I'm from Okayama originally. How about you? Where are you from?"