Introduction - One door closes, another door opens - [Action]/[Voice]

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro wakes up with the gentle strains of the Music Box still echoing in her ear. She is so drowsy that it takes her several seconds to realize that she is no longer in the wide, green fields stretching between the Bath House and the tunnel leading back home. Between Yubaba and her parents. No, instead, she is sprawled in front of a great,

Comments

[Action]

[henamedmechii]

[Chii is new herself, and though she has been here at least a day longer than Chihiro, she hasn't yet found her own room and has taken to staying around the Golden Entranceway. She really has no business trying to welcome anyone to Splendor or explain anything about it, seeing as she knows so little herself, but seeing Chihiro tearing up on a bench nearby...She doesn't even think twice before approaching.]

Chii...?

You are hurt...?

Re: [Action]

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro looks up as soon as she realized that the soft voice is being directed at her. For a second, she just...stares at Chii, uncertain of what to do or say, whether she should run like hell or actually try communicating with this person.

Eventually, with one last swipe across her eyes and a few more sniffles, she tries for the latter.]

I'm not hurt.

...just lost. And really disappointed.

Re: [Action]

[henamedmechii]

[Her face falls and she moves closer, leaning down closer to Chihiro's level.]

People cry when they hurt...

Please do not be sad...Chii is lost too, but many people here want to help Chii...

Chii will help too...

Re: [Action]

[whataprettyname]

...y-you're lost too, Chi?

[Hesitantly, Chihiro looks up to meet Chi's gaze.]

Did...did you wake up away from home, too?

action

[lightcharms]

[While some of the people here weren't nearly as pleasant as the people she was used to back home, it had yet to bury her instinct to help anyone who asked

Or looked like they needed it. Spotting Chihiro, she can't help but notice how sad she looks, and how lost she appears. So she walks towards her, Piplup riding on her head and taps her on the shoulder]

Hey there, you look a bit lost. Do you need any help?

Re: action

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro starts and stumbles to a stop as soon as Dawn addresses her. She looks around several times before she sees the other girl, and the penguin. It takes a few seconds before she's sure that she's supposed to reply to the girl and not the penguin.]

...if it's okay...

I think I'm supposed to go to Wonderland District? [She holds up the key, still hanging safely around her neck.] It's just...I don't know where it is.

So...I guess I'm really lost.

[lightcharms]

[she offers the girl a bright smile, grabs her wrist lightly and begins tugging her in the right direction]

It's okay, I can show you where to go. Come on, it's this way, not that way.

[whataprettyname]

R-Really? [She stumbles briefly before falling into step just behind Dawn.] Th-Thank you so much. I've been wandering around a really long time - I almost thought I'd have to sleep outside.

...w-what's your name? Mine's Chihiro.

action

[hisfathersstaff]

[Negi's out for a walk having needed to get used to the city and had meandered away from the Wonderland District on a erratic path of flight close to the ground. He's not really paying attention before he nearly collides with Chihiro.]

Re: action

[whataprettyname]

Agh! [Negi may have avoided a collision, but Chihiro - lost in her own thoughts - is still so stunned by the sight of him that she trips and falls flat on the ground in any case. She sits up, rubbing her nose, before she gets a second look at him.]

A-A boy! On a broomstick!

[She hastily covers her mouth with both hands - maybe it's not unusual to see boys flying on broomsticks here.]

I'm so sorry! I wasn't paying attention!

Re: action

[hisfathersstaff]

Ahahah it's okay! And actually it's a staff. [Touches down.] You look lost.

Re: action

[whataprettyname]

A staff? [Chihiro takes a second look at the item in question.] Oh...yeah, it is a staff. Sorry.

...I think I am lost.

[newbornsolar]

[Whoa hey is that a girl? She looks upset.]

[This will not do.]

[Have a concerned puppy bounding up next to you, whining curiously and concernedly, trying to nose at you. Hey! Are you okay? Can he help you at all?]

[whataprettyname]

[What are those noises and why are they getting nearer?

Chihiro looks around, looks down, and...

...puppy.

Despite herself, despite this strange, horrible day and all the disappointment, a slightly dopy smile spreads over Chihiro's face at the sight of Chibiterasu. She kneels down and holds out her hand for him to sniff.]

Hi, little guy. My name's Chihiro.

fail at html tags ._.

[newbornsolar]

[Hi!]

[Ooooh.]

[sniffsniffsniffsniff You smell nice! licklicklicklick]

[There now, it's okay, huh? See! The girl's smiling, that means she must be doing better! Chibi's happy enough for his tail to start wagging of its own volition, and he presses the top of his head against her hand in a silent request for scritches.]

[But what's bothering you? Is there any way Chibi can help?]

I saw nothing~

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro giggles softly when Chibi begins to lick her hand.] Aw, you're a friendly little guy, aren't you?

[She kneels down to Chibi's level and begins scritching behind his ears. A few seconds of quiet go by before an edge of sadness creeps back into Chihiro's smile.]

If everyone here is as nice as you, maybe I'll be okay...

[Action]

[justabignobody]

[And one of those sleeves she tugs at just happens to be Riku's. He turns towards her, crooking his head slightly as he looks down at her.]

Yes?

Re: [Action]

[whataprettyname]

[Chihiro blinks in surprise at the sight of the blindfold. Words tumble out before she can stop herself.] I-I'm sorry, I didn't know you were...

[A beat. Chihiro takes a deep breath and bows.]

Excuse me, sir. I-I'm lost, and...I need to go home. Can you tell me where I am? And...where Japan is? O-Or Yubaba's bath house?

[Action]

[justabignobody]

[Riku raises an amused eyebrow - it has been a while since the last time anyone had reacted to the blindfold (and his supposed blindness).

He frowns slightly at the bow to him, he isn't really anyone that should be bowed to, but her questions confirm what he had already suspected: she had just been brought to Splendor.]

I fear, it's going to take a while until you'll see your home again. Do you remember opening a music box? It brought you to another world.

Re: [Action]

[whataprettyname]

A music box?

[Chihiro frowns, thinking back, and then gasps before looking up at Riku.] I remember! It was just sitting in the field - I remember thinking it shouldn't be there and then it just started playing!