(no subject)

[cobamods]

WHO: You!
WHERE: Around the city!
TIME: All Through Day 1
DESCRIPTION: CITY TOUR MINGLE!

Maybe you stayed in Coba, maybe you went home and came back, or maybe this is your first time here, but everyone is suddenly greeted to a friendly, female voice over an intercom (or maybe it's a some other device? Depending on where you're from)

"Welcome citizens. We hope you're enjoying your visit! Transport will leave in twenty minutes for the Coba city-wide tour!"

If you follow the voice, you'll find yourself at a bus stop. Or is it a fancy monorail? A carriage? A couple of horses? Coba is flexible and will change herself to suit you, after all. And if you get left behind, don't worry! There's free cabs anywhere in the city, who also will be more than happy to give you their own version of the tour.

The Coba city-wide tour boasts an hour of informative information regarding Coba's most important locations, some extra brochures (with some extra savings in there, of course), and will finally return you to the place you left from.

Of course, maybe the tour isn't for you. After all, the party is still going on, and now Coba's businesses are really beginning to open and advertise what they have to offer. Have you checked out the free hotel room? Or maybe you're grabbing a free meal? Or maybe, just maybe - you're looking into an apartment!

Either way, Coba hopes you've been enjoying yourselves. She has so much to offer you.

(welcome to the first official post! Mingle to your hearts' content, and don't be afraid to make your own posts, either!)

Comments

[heavenlychild]

[ There is an unsure itty bitty on the guided tour. Hanging toward the back, taking everything in, the seven-year old hasn't quiiiiite figured out how things work yet. Everything changes--literally and figuratively--so fast, and she isn't quite sure what to think.

From time to time, Nanako will pull a pair of peach-colored glasses out, put them on and stare at something intently, as if she could see something someone else could not. She never did and each time she would put them back in her little bear-shaped purse, looking a bit disappointed.

Maybe she should try to find people she knew? She wasn't sure that she would, but maybe? This seemed like something the others would get involved in. ]

[very_elaborate]

Kanji tends to keep an eye out for lonely-looking kids anyway - no one that young should be stuck fending for themselves. But he sure as hell wasn't expecting a familiar face.

"Nanako-chan?"

[heavenlychild]

Did she hear someone she knew? She could have sworn--but she couldn't see anything with all these people! Pursing her lips a bit, first tried to look around. Failing that, she did the next best thing.

She might have been short, but she was really good at jumping! Maybe she could see over some people's heads that way!

[very_elaborate]

"Easy, kiddo, I'm comin'."

The nice thing about being so tall (several centimeters taller than Nanako last saw him, actually, but whether she'll notice from way the hell down there is another matter - at her height, tall's tall) is it's easy to clear through a crowd, and with Nanako-chan jumping like that she's even easier to find. It doesn't take him long to get to her.

[heavenlychild]

A few more hops should hopefully help her see who was calling her. If she didn't know any better, she'd say it was--

"Kanji!"

One last jump, and she was on the move. It was someone she knew! More importantly, it was Kanji! Everything was better again, and she was all sunshine as she reached the much taller teen.

[thefoglies]

[Izanami was just out of her sight, keeping watch over the familiar little girl she had seen often enough around Inaba, or attached to Souji's hip. She seemed more adorable than usual, with that little bear purse and...]

[...were those glasses?]

[...oh.]

[...she was probably going to be yelled at for this one.]

[Izanami finally approached her, kneeling down beside her so she was at Nanako's level.]

Are you on your own, child?

[heavenlychild]

[ Thankfully for Izanami, investigations were still going on in her world--she was none the wiser to her part in the grand scheme of things. Besides, who would recognize a simple gas attendant? ]

...Yeah. I'm okay.

[ Whether she was standoffish because she was unsure, or because she knew exactly who Izanami was was not abundantly clear. New situation AND a large group of people she didn't know? This wasn't her favorite thing in the world.

She probably shouldn't have said she was on her own, though. Usually she was more careful than this. ]

[thefoglies]

[Izanami was more concerned that she may recognize her for other reasons. Would Souji even take her to fight against her? Oh, she would hope not; having the child dragged into the world of the unconscious was difficult enough, wasn't it?]

[She gave her a gentle smile.]

You are from Inaba, are you not?

[heavenlychild]

[ Nanako paused. Did she... know you? How would this woman be able to figure out something like that, unless she was from Inaba herself. Even then, she wasn't all that recognizable--at least not to her knowledge.

She's watching you, miss. ]

That's right. Are you from Inaba too?

[evokeslovers]

[ Oh geeze, this place brought kids here too? It's a good thing that there's supposed to be a way to get back home, because a little kid really shouldn't be running around on her own in a strange place like this.

... Not that Ken really seemed to have much problem with that, but this was different. There weren't any alternate worlds or whatever involved with him.

Anyway, back to worrying about the girl here.]

... Umm... hey there. Are you here alone, or is there someone else here with you?

[heavenlychild]

Hello...

[ This girl might have seemed nice enough, but her dad instilled in her at an early age that strangers could be tricky. Coupled with the fact that she wasn't quite sure where she was (other than in a really confusing city) made her more than a bit uneasy.

What should she say? She didn't want to lie, but telling a stranger she was alone wasn't a great idea either. ]

I'm okay. I'm just here for the tour.

[ When in doubt, avoid the question altogether. ]

[evokeslovers]

[ ... That was interesting. Yukari wasn't really used to kids avoiding questions like that. But just by avoiding that question it was pretty much a 'yes', wasn't it?

Still, she can tell that she's going to have to... be careful with what she says here. The last thing she wants to do is scare the girl when she could really use some help.

Of course, the time where being in her costume would actually be useful, she had already gotten changed. That figures.]

Really? Me too. With the way this city keeps changing, we really need to take it to keep from getting lost here. I'm hoping that if other people that I know ended up here with me that they'll have the same idea.

[heavenlychild]

[ Being the child of a police officer came with certain perks. Like learning who to trust and what to do in uncertain situations. Not to mention she doesn't always do well around new people. And this was a new place.

Nanako nodded. ]

I'm looking for my friends too.

[ This lady seemed nice enough. Maybe she could relax just a little. But not too much. Also, there was safety in numbers. ]

Maybe we can look together?

omg a nanako yes

[darkshooter]

[...a human child. And from what Noire could tell, she was unattended. Unwise, even in a place such as this. Danger could be anywhere.]

[She could not, in good conscience, simply leave the small one without ensuring she was safe. The notion occurred to simply shadow her: follow the girl's steps and ensure no harm came to her that way. While that was an option, Noire found herself preferring to speak, however questionable that judgment was.]




[So she approached Nanako, putting herself in plain sight - and, fortunately, also showing the wisdom to keep a reasonable distance.]

Hello.

<3

[heavenlychild]

[ Unattended, but that did not mean that she was unattentive. Quite the opposite in fact--someone must have taught her well, because she was being very observant of her surroundings, and overly cautious while moving with the rest of the crowd.

Even when Noire approached, she was a bit hesitant. New person. Always be cautious of strangers. Her dad would be proud. ]

Um, hello.

^^ ALSO, sorry for the wait, kinda jugglin'. :'D

[darkshooter]

[Good. Easy part's over. ...the next shouldn't have been so hard, but when they'd actually gotten to this point, the proper words to say seemed to have fled. She'll go with being honest, even with the risk present:]

I ask you to forgive me for pointing it out...but you appear to be unguarded.

I've been watching you. With concern, and in the hope that I might be wrong. I have not seen any evidence to say I am.

You know it is dangerous to be wandering here on your own.

no worries

[heavenlychild]

[ Yikes, she was being awfully upfront. Nanako winced a bit at Noire's observations. ]

I-I can take care of myself!

[ Said in the most confident voice possible. Only not as much. ]

I'll be okay, I'm just looking for my friends.

[loversdilemma]

[Rise spots her favorite elementary-schooler at the end of the tour, and greets her with a smile.]

Oh hey, Nanako-ch--

[Wait a second. This wasn't home.]

Nanako-chan?! Wait, how did you get here?

[heavenlychild]

[ Like a good girl, Nanako was looking for souvenirs. This place may have been strange, but it would be odd if she came back without gifts. Maybe not for everyone, because that would be hard to explain. She would have to figure out something for her dad, and for her friends at school.

Hey, she knew that voice! ]

Rise?

[ Turning, Nanako saw the older girl and very visibly brightened, running over to her. Yay! Rise's here! ]

[loversdilemma]

[After a moment of adjustment, Rise puts on a smile and crouches down to Nanako's level to offer her a hug.]

It's been so long! How've you been?

[heavenlychild]

[ Nanako blinked a few times as she gets the hug, giving one back to Rise. Huuuuh? ]

But I just saw you a few days ago...

[ What chu talkin bout, Rise? ]

[fridgeninja]

[His heart stops a little. Souji catches sight of Nanako in a moment between glasses checks for both of them, and a wave of disbelieving wonder sweeps through him, ready to knock him off his feet.

The thing is - the thing is, Souji's always wanted a sister or a brother. He knows what it's like to be a lonely, responsible kid, and his mom, emotionally, is built from the same mold as her little brother. It took him a little while to see how remarkable Nanako was and how tough she had it, because the air we breathe is always invisible to us.

But when he'd figured it out... after that, what could be more important than making sure his kid sister had it easier than he had? For years now, he's kept his wondering about her quiet, because Atia was the last place he wanted to think about seeing her, but now they're free, in a safer place, and he worries for a moment that she won't know him - tanned, skinnier, shaggier-haired, four years older.

But that doesn't really change his reaction, does it?]

Nanako!!

[The hug that comes at her is going to sweep her off her feet.]

[heavenlychild]

[ Nothing in this place quite made sense, and with the rest of her friends around, it was hard not to be intimidated and, more than that, just a bit afraid. While she did her best to hide it, her uncertainty was obvious in her mannerism and in the fact that she did her very best to become one with the crowd.

There was no fog here, so her glasses would be useless, but that didn't mean she wouldn't try. Even if she was more than a bit uncertain about things, that didn't mean that she shouldn't be on the alert. Danger could come at any side. She wasn't confident she could deal with it on her own, but she was on her own here.

She was always left on her own, in some way or another. She had gotten used to it after a while.

Managing to work her way out of the throng, the sheer amount of people getting to be too much for the young girl, Nanako took a deep breath, exhaling just as deeply. Was this what it was like in the city? She wasn't sure how Souji could handle it. She could get a better look from the outside, after all. But should she try to find her friends, or find somewhere safe?

Luckily, it would seem that she didn't have to make that decision for herself. ]

Big br--

[ She knew that voice. She'd know it anywhere, and for a fleeting moment her whole demeanor changed. Her entire face lit up, her chest puffed out; she turned, ready to shout out to her big bro.

Then, all at once, it changed. She saw his face. She still knew that face, she likely always would. He was different. He was taller. Leaner. He even looked a bit tired. It was him, but it wasn't him, and as he lifted her into the air, true panic set in, even as she instinctively wrapped her arms around his neck and buried her face in his shoulder.

Did people change like the city? Did big bro change? What about the others? Why did he look like that?

Did it really matter? ]

..Big bro!

[ She was shaking a bit, then gripped him tighter. She didn't know what was going on, had no idea what he had gone through, but somehow she knew she had to hold on tight and make sure not to let go. ]

after days of heartbreak...

[fridgeninja]

Mm, it's me.

[He can't follow her thoughts that well, but he squeezes back, reassuring, leaning his forehead against hers a moment. He knows he looks older, and he knows that needs explanation - something other than 'I was enslaved on sex island for three years.']

I know I'm a little different looking, but that's just time travel. A lot of my friends are here too, and we all got... sent somewhere that time moves differently.

[That's true, given the way the timelines intersected and overlapped there. He won't lie to Nanako - not ever. But she doesn't need all the details.]

[heavenlychild]

Time travel?

[ She sounded thoroughly confused. She had just seen Souji that morning, before heading to school. What was he talking about being sent to another place, or time travel, or something like that?

Was this some kind of trick? Nanako wasn't sure what to think at this point. ]