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Garden for the Wandering Souls
A cold breeze rustles the leaves of a few trees that now stand in an area once left abandoned. The garden in this previously barren district of the city had flourished in the time since guests last arrived. On one corner of an intersection, a bench had been built on a small brick walkway, surrounded by flowers of various kinds, with a single tree providing shade for the bench in the center. The other corner had lines of various kinds of plants, some only beginning to grow, as the others had fruit that one day soon could be harvested.
In the middle of the flowers, a young woman sat on the bench she had constructed, taking a moment to rest. Her face and hair remained the same as always, those who had met her previously would notice a significant change in wardrobe. Murakami had replaced her recognizable military uniform with a dark blue turtleneck sweater, and jeans. For her garden work, she wore an apron over her attire, with her long sleeves meeting a new pair of gloves, though both the apron and gloves could hardly be called ‘new’ anymore, with noticeable amounts of dirt stuck to them.
A blonde, spiky 15-year old walks into the garden, feeling the need of calming himself down by seeing the trees.
He fiddles with the glasses on his face as he looks down at the pendant that hung from his neck, a 7-emerald necklace made to him by someone that...used to know him, but...things have been complex during then...
He looks up and sighs to himself as he walks a bit forward before taking notice of the young woman that sat.
A young man would be walking by the garden with his hands in the pockets of his coat. His eyes were unfocused with bags under them as if he hadn't been sleeping well recently. He had been awake all night thinking about what he had been told about coming closer to realizing who he was. He kept trying to get closer to some answer but every time he felt close a sickening feeling would well up in his stomach.
For a moment he would be distracted by the myriad of flowers blooming in the garden. The signs of life calmed him strangely. It was strange as nature had always reminded him of a much worse time but now he felt oddly calmer because of it. It was as if he finally was accepting the past as the past or at least that's how he would take it.
Regardless he would take a moment to simply observe the flowers sighing deeply and growing more awake as the moment passed.
*Geist, a Nohrian Dark Mage walks into the garden with some things in his mind. His robes following the wind as he looks at the grown fauna*
(edited by Voidwalker_Geist)
It was a day like any other, a bit on the cold side, but nothing too bad. A young girl sneaks out onto the streets, fortunately school was over, but as nice a day as this is, the main roads are crowded, bad for sightseeing. That is how the girl ended up on such an empty street, the girl smiles, unexplored territory... Soon, she emerges from a nearby alleyway, failing to notice the owner in the middle, the girl wearing a short, black dress kneels at the edge of the garden, her startling blue eyes looking over the various flowers there. in a moment, the girl looks up, taking note of the other visitors, and waves silently
*walks onto the scene with a smile on her face, saying nothing and just looking around*
The resting girls eye opens, and looks around. Upon seeing others arrive, she quickly stands up, taking off her gloves and folding them up on the bench. Breaking the silence, she waves and speaks to the guests.
“Oh… Hello. I was not expecting anyone. It has been some time since I have last seen a guest around here.â€
*he waves to Saeko*
Hello there. Name is Geist, a Nohrian nobel and warlock.
The girl looks back up at Saeko, the person in the middle of the garden... She pauses for a moment... Caught at the garden's edge. Risako takes a deep breath, at least she hadn't stepped on anything yet, that makes this a lot easier. The girl nods to Saeko, before looking around for a stone pathway to follow towards the garden center. Once there, the girl bows to Saeko
E... Sorry. I was just looking around when I found your garden... Its very pretty miss....
In a moment, the girl notices they have yet to introduce themselves, she blushes for a moment,
of course she'd make a silly mistake like that. The girl bows again before speaking
M... My apologies. My name is Risako, of the Kohiyo family. W... Would you care to tell me yours miss....?
Risako glances at Geist out the corner of her eye, most certainly a strange individual, yet it would be impolite to address him before... One who she presumed owned the place, or maybe they were just hired to keep it for someone else?
Hmm?
*Marisa looks at Saeko*
Oh, I'm Marisa Sakura, a tactician.
*She bows at Saeko with a smile on her face*
This is a pretty nice place...
"It is nice to meet you, Miss Kohiyo, Miss Sakura, Mister... Geist? That seems an unusual name."
Not wanting to seem rude, she briefly but awkwardly bows back to the others.
"My name is... Saeko Murakami. I appreciate the compliments on the garden."
Having introduced herself, Risako briefly glances around at her other companions... They're all dressed so.... Weird. Nothing like she had expected... Maybe its all part of that magic stuff she'd been missing. No matter. The girl clears her throat.. Whole situation feels a little awkward, so its best to remedy that sort of thing if she can.
S... So, what brings you all here anyways? I... It seems a little bit out of the way. I can't imagine many people have business in an abandoned part of town after all.
I... honestly don't know how I got here in the first place. From what I can tell, I just seem to walk in when someone needs me.
*Marisa looks around a bit more*
Risako leans in towards Marisa curiously, before glancing around, trying to follow her vision. Sure enough, just as Risako had thought, there's hardly anything wrong... At least as far as she can tell.
So... You have a... Sixth sense for when something's happening? But... All I really see is a garden.... Are you sure its working right?
Well, it's not really like a sixth sense. It's more like I just appear out of nowhere when something is happening...I guess. I'm still trying to figure it out myself, honestly.
*Geist polishes his Khvostov rifle, with a symbol marked at the end of the stock*
So Ms. Saeko, what is this garden's goal? To relax?
"Well, be it a sense, ability, or inconvenience, it seems rather interesting. Though perhaps there is more to it, after all there is not much happening here."
Murakami sat by the bench, and pulled out a bag she kept underneath, proceeding to remove her apron and store it and her gloves in the bag.
"I do hope the garden is relaxing, Mister Geist. Though, when I first arrived, this quadrant was in disrepair. I was hoping to revitalize the area, while paying respects to those who may have passed here. Plus... in a way it reminded me of the home I left behind."
... a noble cause... just like my own father's fate.
*he looks to Marisa as he takes a deep breath has the memory hurts him like a nail striking his heart*
Did your mother Star ever taught or even told you of the Risen?
(edited by Voidwalker_Geist)
Risako looks at Geist's gun for a moment... Do people really just carry stuff around so openly? No one else seemed to be, but she hadn't really met that many people anyways. The girl giggles towards the end of Saeko's remark, she hadn't wanted to say it, but Risako was beginning to wonder much the same. She looks back at Saeko's mention of home
Oh, you're not from around here then, are you? I... I've heard a little about that.
glancing at her other two companions, especially considering Geist's mention of a "Nohr" they're probably all travelers.
I bet you've all been to all kinds of wonderful places... I...
The girl brings her hand to her chest, inspecting her fingers for a moment before continuing..
A little quieter this time
I haven't really gotten out much until recently... S.. So I'd like to catch up on everything I missed.
Yeah, she told me a lot about them. She also told me how to summon them...of course, I don't think I'll be doing any summoning anytime soon! I can't control the magic from my parents very well. Also, I can kinda relate. I only have a few things from my home to remind me of what's it's like.
"I would not say that. I am hardly some sort of traveller. Sadly I have not seen many 'wonderful' places. I only know this place and my home. Most I have done in terms of travel was moving between various outposts in the desert."
She stands again, taking a moment to gaze at the tree by the bench.
"I would hate to seem narcissistic, as it is my own work, but the most 'wonderful' thing I have seen would be this small garden. After all, growing up in the desert means this sort of sight is simply a dream. Well, used to be."
I've heard many things about my father Spectre, a sell sword from a war-torn and broken world. Where the line automatons and flesh blurred, humans were no longer humans no more but as weapons of slaughter. But I see that as a load of malarkey, if he was like that my people of Nohr rumored about, then why was I the byproduct of the ironclad love between a mercenary and princess?
*he takes a seat from thin air as a sign of his mother's magical yet draconic lineage*
(edited by Voidwalker_Geist)
Risako tilts her head for a moment, of course she'd get that wrong. The girl follows Saeko's gaze to the tree, finding nothing of particular note, Risako looks back at the older woman.
You said you used to live in the desert right? Those big sandy places. How's this remind you of back then? I mean...
Risako pauses for a moment, watching Geist speak. Sounds like a storyteller of some kind. Risako wonders if Geist gets paid.... It only takes a few seconds for her to snap back to reality and the conversation with Saeko at hand
Well, like you said. This isn't like your home very much. So... I guess... I mean, if you don't mind... What's the connection?
Heh, well, even this can be found in a desert. An oasis may be a bit difficult to find, but it just goes to show that even good things are in places you least expect. A garden could come as a result of an oasis, or a civilization could come from it. Still, my point stands.
*Marisa takes out a tome barring a Star on the front*
"When I first arrived here, this part of town was abandoned, the buildings collapsing. While I cannot fix the buildings, I decided to use the dirt for the garden. While not the same image, the place reminded me of my home when I left. Deserted, falling apart..."
Ohh...well, my home wasn't like that when I left...but my future definitely was. And it was all thanks to a big flying dragon of pure evil. At least, I think it was. I don't have many memories from before I came to the past. Or is it another dimension? I can't really remember the specifics.
Seems we all have a similar history. Living a world broken by something causing havoc.
Risako looks back at Saeko, before glancing at the ground, its a little rough. But Risako remains curious. She takes a deep breath, steeling her courage to ask
W.. I mean... If you don't mind me asking... What happened to your home? I mean, how'd it get like.. Well...
Risako gestures to an old crumbling building across the street, its far from the only one here, and a little depressing to look at
Like this.
While looking around, she catches the back half of Sakura's statement... D.. Dragon? Aren't those just... Risako looks down at her right hand, a small band of silver gleaming around it. All things considered, she might not be lying. Clearly Risako's missing something somewhere
Hm.
This is the only sound that comes from the man in a top hat as he strolls into the garden. It's mostly directed at the floating person. Mild surprise, coupled with intrigue. He then looks up at the sky. Fairly normal, for another world.
She gives a heavy sigh, before sitting on because the bench again. She stares in at Kohiyo for a minute before speaking.
"The desert I lived in... The sands were home to rather unpleasant beasts. I was part of a military force that was set up to protect the borders of our small city, as well as others who would travel to the outposts. My home was destroyed by one of those beasts..."
She pauses a moment and brings a hand to her eyepatch.
"... One that broke in under my watch. It left the town quite a wreck and took many lives. Including my sister."
Ouch. While I can't relate to that, I can see how that would pain you. I don't know the specifics, but I can say that as long as you're alive, you can live for those who have died. It's a little something I picked up from a book back home. Life and Death is natural, but the sins of the fallen can always be atoned for...I think. I'm not entirely sure, but I like to think of things like that.
Risako pauses, listening intently to every word, she looks at Saeko's eyepatch... Not like a pirate then. Risako glances downward, hard to think of what to say to something like that. Instead she looks over at Marisa. The girl doesn't look too much older than Risako herself. After a long silence,
she can only think of two words, head downcast
I... I'm sorry.
Despite the subject matter, Saeko tries to give a gentle smile to the ones before her.
"Do not worry about it, it is my concern and my mistake. If anyone should apologize, surely it is I. That's a nice way of thinking about things, Miss Sakura. It seems you have quite the reading material to teach you."
Well, my father is good friends with the royalty where I come from. It's no surprise I could get into the royal library just from being related. Those words actually come from a book that father wrote, mainly on dealing with problems. It's no surprise that I look up to my dad, which is why I want to get better at what I'm doing.
*Marisa grips her book tightly*
Risako looks at the ground, it all seems to come so easily for them... She waits a moment, avoiding any eye contact before she speaks up again
I.. I mean.. I didn't mean to bring up bad memories..
Risako fidgets about awkwardly for a moment, before silently walking away from the garden,
head hanging. Its like a whole world she's been missing this entire time. All so... Weird for her. Risako shakes her head, no time to worry about it
"Do not be so hard on yourself, Miss Kohiyo. While it may not be the most pleasant topic for a conversation, it is not as though you have pained me by making me think about it once again. The truth is, such a horrific event is hard to forget. Even if I had not spoken if it, somewhere in my mind, I would still be thinking of it.
(Suddenly, the 7'3 snake centipede hybrid is there, if anyone can see, they can see his skin...cracking?, and peeling off, and some of his skin is also just dragging and stuff like that, and he looks miserable).....hey.
Risako stops halfway down the path.. I.. It was Saeko's garden after all. Risako slowly turns around, bringing her head up a little.
D... Do you wanna talk about it? I mean... Just a little... I... I dunno... Y... Yoshimitsu-sensei always told me "if there's ever something troubling you, be sure to get it out."
Risako grins as she recites the quote, raising one finger into the air, just thinking of her caretaker made her smile, even just a little.
I... I don't know much about the world, so... I'm always eager to listen.
(He "skin" cracks and peels off)...ohhhh....I don't feel gooood..
*he looks at Rep with his mind on the edge of vomiting*
Having your molting phase?
(He looks over at geist)...oh, you knowwww bout thissss?
Saeko stands up and pats Kohiyo on the head with a smile on her face.
"I appreciate the sentiment, though I believe I already have talked about it, have I not?"
(He skin just gets worse by the minute)...ohhhhhh...thisssss is not a fun time...
Risako blushes a little, yeah, she kinda had, its definitely not her place to push the issue any further
Y... Yeah. you did. My mistake Saeko-san. G... Good luck with your garden.
As a biologist, I feel the need to mention that organisms with shells, such as centipedes, do not possess skin. They have shells. And while these shells occasionally molt, it is usually not a very big deal.
That little rant out f the way, Risako waves to Saeko before running off, leaving the older girl alone in the garden
Sorry.. I... I've gotta go. Might get worried if I stay out too late. I hope to see you again miss..