failguardian | Appointment Post

[A new experiment had started and Anise still wasn't back. Ion had taken to wandering around the village lately, which wasn't all that unpleasant when there were so many interesting locales to look at. He wasn't exactly interested in the malnosso's offer, but that didn't mean he wasn't going to try and enjoy things while he could.]

[Right now, he's wandering around the south-east end of the village, appropriately dressed for the area. It wasn't at all like November outside, and he was enjoying a nice break from the cold... though he was still shivering just a bit. He's still Ion, after all.]

[The mission she had chosen to go on had been occasionally challenging, but mostly fun, and she had enjoyed the chance to take out her frustration on enemies in the battle simulation facilities. But the longer she stayed away, the more she was reluctant to return, but there's only so long she could avoid returning. Besides, it's lonely without her friends around.]

[But her arrival back at the village had given her a face full of surprise, to say the least. Nothing looked familiar any more. Is this really Luceti? But the Malnosso had no reason to trick her, right?]

[And before Anise takes one step, she finds that her clothes suddenly feel a lot more restrictive. She looks down to find that her normal clothes have suddenly been replaced with this.]

[Which, of course, means that a shout of surprise is in order.]

What?! Hey, who did that?

[Oh. That wasn't a voice Ion was expecting to hear. He wasn't expecting it so much, in fact, that he turns around quickly and calls out to her almost on instinct.]

Anise?

[...]

[Wow she looks really pretty.]

You're... back from your mission?

[Perhaps its just because he hasn't seen her in so long, but right now? Seeing Anise is a welcome sight. He's smiling and everything!]

[...]

[Wait. That's Ion? What's up with those clothes? Not that they don't look good on him, but - ]

[........................Well this is kind of awkward. Okay, chill out, just act like nothing had happened...! It's not like they're ever going to agree on that issue so they may as well pretend it never happened.]

[Anise puts on her best smile.]

Yep! I'm back, safe and sound! It was pretty fun!

[He takes a step towards her, but then stops. Anise might be trying to push their last conversation out of her mind, but Ion can't help but think back to it. They were both so angry, and Ion even longer afterwards. How did Anise feel right now? This was the longest they've ever gone not speaking with each other by choice...]

[Maybe it would be better not to talk about this right now. She's talking to him. He should be happy to see her! ...right?]

I'm glad everything went all right. It's... good to see you.

[He doesn't sound very happy. He catches himself, turning and looking out over the strange scenery. Maybe a quick change of subject was in order.] There's an experiment going on, and every part of the village is a little different. It's so warm here, it feels like spring, doesn't it?

[Ion's probably still upset, isn't he? Anise could tell by the tone of his voice. But he's trying to make conversation, so she decides not to bring Arietta up if he doesn't.]

It's nice, but... [She shakes one long sleeve at him.] What's with these outfits?

I'm not entirely sure. That man who works for the malnosso, CJ, called this area of the village the "Shogunate". I haven't been able to recognize much of anything around the village so far, so I'm sure it's all part of something from a world much different than Auldrant.

[He sneaks a glance back at Anise, eyes looking her up and down quickly, before he looks away again.] ...it suits you.

[That makes her cheeks heat up a little.] Th-thanks! Yours looks good on you too.

[As much as she liked dresses, Anise hadn't liked her outfit that much since it felt a little restrictive. But Ion's praise suddenly makes her regard it a little better.]

This is pretty tame for an experiment, isn't it?

Actually, I think that's the point. This one is different from the others... there's supposed to be a scavenger hunt going on in each area. And if we find everything they asked us to, it's worth mission points.

As for why, they mentioned something about trying to encourage the villagers to be less... violent.

[Anise, bby, he loves you. So please don't take it the wrong way that he just so happens to glance back at her following that brief pause.]

[That gets her to perk up.]

Oooo, scavenger hunt? With a reward?

[...Hey! But well, she doesn't want to aggravate uneasy waters with a joke that has the potential to go wrong, so she doesn't comment.]

[A nod.] You should be able to find information about what they're looking for in the journal. Admittedly, I haven't been paying it much attention myself... I'm just relieved this month's experiment is so tame compared to the usual fare.

[...] Though I'd avoid staying in the west part of the village for too long.

How come?

The entire area is cold and snowy, and when I walked through it, my clothes became rather unsuitable for the weather, no matter what I tried to bring with me... I'm not sure if that would be the same case for everyone, but it would be best to be careful regardless.

[For the record, it kept dressing him up as an ill-equipped caveman. Being Ion is suffering.]

Huh? They wouldn't let you put on the clothes you brought with you?

[Awww, she had been looking forward to visiting a snowy area too! Snow is fun to play with in small doses, although she doesn't really like the idea of having snow all around the year like Keterburg does.]

No. It seems everything brought into the different areas changes to suit the theme of that area. That's why we're both dressed like this while we're here.

[And also why there are more people around dressed similarly to set the theme. Though they don't all appear to be villagers. There's even a small group of samurai carrying long swords sitting around nearby!]

[Actually, it kind of seems like they're staring...]

[Which, of course, makes Anise puff up. Swords near her Fon Master? Hell no.]

Hey! What are you staring at!

[Well lucky for her, the one they're staring at isn't Ion!]

[It's actually Anise. And it kind of sounds like they're arguing over who gets to court her. :'D]

[The apparent leader seems to win the right and comes over, bowing before holding out a small branch with cherry blossoms blooming on it, d'awwww~]

[...though his other hand still hasn't left the hilt of his sword, hidden just beneath the folds of his robe.]

[Awwww indeed! Anise is still suspicious, but hey, she's not about to turn down a handsome guy in rich-looking robes giving her flowers.]

[She strikes a cute pose and takes the branch, but gets ready to fight in case this is a ploy anyway.]

Awww, thank you! ♥

[Well then! He seems to have taken her acceptance of the flowers as a good sign, because he's now offering her his arm and gesturing towards one of the nearby fancy gardens on the side of a lavish looking building.]

Shall the fair maiden accompany me a walk through my estate?

[Meanwhile, on the sidelines, Ion is all frowns. Though whether that's because he legitimately doesn't trust this guy or is just being hit with stabs of jealousy is anyone's guess.]

[Ooooooo. Fair maiden? Rich looking estate? Yes please.]

[Still, she doesn't want to leave Ion alone, so even as she takes the samurai's arm she waves for Ion to come along with them.]

I would love to!

Appointment Post

November 24 | Action

no subject

1/2

2/3 I LIED

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject