View source for 70/Questions for Kagari

{{Log Header
|Date of Scene=2015/06/15
|Location=Uminari City - Abandoned Convenience Store
|Synopsis=Runealy asks Hinote some heavy questions. Then Hinote asks some of his own....
|Cast of Characters=29, 45
|pretty=yes
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{{Poses
|Poses=:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>In the back of the convience store, Hinote is pacing like a madman. He's reading from his script binder, looking a little worried, a little panic'ed. "Nrg... why did that have to change the script so close to the actual showing. I need to re-remember whole lines. Movements... argh!" he says as he traces the lines with his finger. He closes the binder and walks back into the main room of the convience store as he flops onto one of the futons and blows his bangs up over his head a bit.<br /><br />He stares at the ceiling for a good few long moments before he sits back up and takes another sigh, opening the book and reclosing it quickly. "I can't handle anymore for today. I need a break." he insists to himself as he ponders a few things. "Where did my bag go..." he says looking around for a moment, aimlessly.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rune has been very, very quiet while Hinote was here. Not because he's here; his arrival didn't seem to help or hurt her mood. She just let him go about his business of studying the changes to the play, and seems to just sit in her thoughts in utter silence.<br /> <br />Yet when he ends rehersal for the time being, she suddenly speaks up. "There's something I've been wanting to ask you." She remains sitting in one of the dinged-up chairs they swiped from alleyway trash, but her eyes are firmly on Hino as he wanders the floor looking for his bag. "What do you want your house to look like?"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari finds the bag, ahah! He grabs it, places it on the bed and pulls out one of no doubt, countless granola bars in there and takes a bite. Mmmmm, Acting Energy. Rune asks a question. 'What do you want your house to look like'. It's one that kind of catches him off guard. "What do.. you mean?" he asks. "Like what does my house look like?" he asks curiously, scratching the side of his head. He has to think about this for a moment, suddenly sometimes clicks in his head as he swallows.<br /><br />"Oh... I guess I get... what you're asking." he says a little somberly. "To be honest. I haven't given that much thought. I figure, i'd worry about stuff like that after we take care of your situation first. Then worry about, well...." he sort of trails off.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"No, I mean what... ...yes." Rune nods as Hinote catches her meaning. She carries on with the point regardless. "It's fine if you worry about this at the same time, though. You should. After all... you're coming with us." Her eyes and tone are low, as she looks to the boarded up front door. "We can't leave you here. That wouldn't be right. When we have enough energy to restore the Barrier, we're leaving. If you stayed here... I can't imagine the people of Tokyo would look on it very well. Earth has some pretty stiff laws against banditry, right? So... I want you to think about what your new house will look like. We're going to take care of you, and you're going to have more than earned whatever it is you want it to be."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari nods a little. "And I intend to go with you. You won't need to drag me. You're right. I don't want to hang around here when things start happening, Runealy. Many of the people I've seen, come off as vindictive. They'd find out who I am by sheer force of will probably, even if I hide behind the Guardian identy forever." he admits. "And for all I know, that could stop working if you leave here."<br /><br />He sort of clears his throat. "Well, I guess if it's okay to imagine." he admits sheepishly. "I don't know what the rules are, but I figured I'd stay around, or in the castle. I'd want to be close to you and Gao for at least a while- it'll take me a couple of months to adjust to everything, I figure. Maybe even a year. I'd have so much I need to learn about your world, and ettiquite and manners there- and how to ride a horse. I'm assuming you guys have horses, right? Though I'm also assuming Please and Thank Yous are still proper there as is here." he smiles.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"'Hide behind the identity'...?" Rune looks puzzled, then realizes something aloud: "Wait, is that how it works? Back home, everyone knew who I was. That's the basis of our government, after all! But now that you mention it, /nobody/ at school has mentioned anything to me about when we fought that... /thing/," she speaks of Phantom's Terribad, a recent unwelcome guest, "so maybe that's why. 'Hiding behind an identity'..." It starts to give her ideas.<br /> <br />Hinote's talk of his own plans jars her back to the earlier topic, however. "You'll have as long as you like," she insists. "Whether it's a month or five or a whole year. Whatever it takes until your home is ready and is how you want it and you feel comfortable."<br /> <br />As for talk of the actual society involved... this brings up some obvious pride, a contrast to how quiet and almost 'flat' she was earlier. "Yes. Horses and carriages, and ships for some places, are the main ways we get around. It works for us, our cities are nowhere near as big as Tokyo. And yes... being nice to people is normal there too. We care about each other."<br /> <br />She speaks of a partial truth. One that is idealized and glamorized, and is basically true within her understanding of her world, even if it lacks context of some less fortunate places. Nonetheless, she insists: "We don't leave people behind. If someone is hurt, we help. Everyone stays together. Everyone has a... we call it a 'circle of shields.' People who surround your life, and keep you safe. Protected /and/ happy. And in turn, you're part of someone else's circle. Tokyo doesn't seem to have anything exactly like that, but you're not stepping into something /completely/ unknown. We're nice to each other!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari blinks. "You didn't notice that? No one seems to know who I am when I transform. Even my haircolor changes. It's really weird. No one comes up to me about being a knight or anything. And I can't figure out who those others are too. I dunno how it works." he admits. "But I guess it's handy. Stops weird questions." he laughs.<br /><br />He head tilts at Runealy, and smiles. "Then everything will be fine. I mean. Don't get me wrong..." he takes a deep breath. "I'll be sad to leave Tokyo behind, and my parents---- and I intend to write a long letter as things get more closer to that point, to make sure they understand why I'm making the choice I am- and make sure they can find it when I leave." he says. "It was my parents who said I should help whenever I can, and I'm sure they'll understand." he nods curtly.<br /><br />He smiles. "I figured, I made the Oath, I'm in this for the long haul. I'll be okay." he says.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"I didn't notice it because... well, back home everyone knows me. I guess this makes things a lot more complex." Rune isn't laughing, but she finds this very interesting before reverting to the talk of... leaving.<br /> <br />Her head lowers as Hino speaks of writing letters. "It sounds like you have some really amazing parents... I hadn't realized that at first when you decided to join us, but... that's right. You will be leaving them." She looks off to the side, unwilling to meet Hinote's gaze even though he's smiling. "I'm sorry. That's not very fair to you. I guess no amount of gold lined pillars in a house and piles of gems would make up for that, would it." It's not a question, so much as a flat admission. "You really are putting everything on the line for this. I can't imagine the kind of courage it takes to make that kind of gamble."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari manages a short giggle, despite Runealy's somber disposition. "I wouldn't want such a thing. My parents provide me with a nice big house, but even my dad does plays for charity at no cost to himself, and my mother is a police woman." he asides. "I mean. It'd be wonderous to visit a large treasure room once maybe. A real one. But I wouldn't want to live in one." he admits.<br /><br />He finally turns to face Runealy more properly and frowns a little. "Hey, No worrying about me. Okay?" he asks.<br /><br />"Why don't you tell me about your parents." he asks thoughtfully. "I mean, if you want to." he asks. "I know you guys can get... pensive? when I ask things sometimes. So.. you don't need to answer me if you don't want to..." he asides.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"...Okay. Still... when we leave, you're getting somewhere decent. It might not make up for what you're leaving behind, but you won't be living like /this/ either," Rune gestures at the store interior.<br /> <br />Then... a chill slams through her as he asks that question. 'Pensive' would be putting it mildly in this case, eyes closing. She sits in silence for several seconds. Sometimes, he might see her mouth twitch, /trying/ to move, trying to bring words out but they simply won't come.<br /> <br />Eventually, she gets to where she can speak and does so in a very low, regretful voice. "I don't 'want' to, but... you deserve to hear it, and need to sooner or later. I don't think this will be any easier for me a week from now, or a month. Maybe not even six months. So... okay."<br /> <br />She's still not even facing Hinote. "Ask whatever you'd like to know. I'll tell you."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari frowns. "I... uh... " he rubs his head a bit. "I didn't mean to sound demanding." he admits. "But I guess, I am going to find out sooner or later about things like this." he says. "I just want to know what your family is like." he asks. "I mean. If you're a Princess, then your family has got to be the king and queen, right?" he says. "Or is it Emperor and Empress there? See. I don't even know." he blushes a bit.<br /><br />"Do you have siblings, or is it just you?" he asks, leaning forward a bit.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You're not demanding. You didn't do anything wrong!" Runealy's voice is raised, sounding hurt even as she insists Hinote has made no error. "And it's just me... there's usually just one heir. That's how it has always been. And... yes. King and queen. King, queen, and myself. That's my immediate..." She pauses, then tries to finish: "Immediate family."<br /> <br />Even as Hinote leans closer, she's still not making any sort of eye contact. At least her voice has calmed a little since that sudden outburst, though.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari gets up and moves across the room, then sits down closer to Runealy. Why? Because something isn't /right/ and he feels it in his gut. "... and what is your father like, and your mother?" he asks. "It's okay to ask me to stop asking questions, Runealy." he admits. "but I'm curious. I'd like to know what your family is like before I go over there." he asks. "What I can expect." he asks softly. "It'll help me better, than if I find out for myself." he smiles.<br /><br />"Okay?" he asks.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>There's easily room to sit by her; enough salvaged furniture has been placed around the store to allow that sort of thing. Rune barely moves even as she hears Hinote move beside her, though. "I'm not going to tell you to stop. You're right, you should know up front rather than finding out when you get there. So..."<br /> <br />His curiosity is met with reluctance, but she does speak. "My father... King Raydel. He's smart. Really smart. Used to head a merchant company, and would work with the castle on all kinds of projects. Has a good head for numbers, taught me some of it too. It's part of how I'm making sure we don't run out of money on this expedition. And..."<br /> <br />A realization hits her. "...I think I forgot to start giving you your pay, actually. Um. I'll start leaving it here for you, each week. And don't tell me 'no.' Guardian Knights perform one of the most dangerous and important jobs in the world. ...Worlds, plural, I guess."<br /> <br />She gets back to the main topic with barely a pause. "So he taught me a lot of the things about how you make something work. How you make sure you have everything in place, you've thought it through. Because if it's important enough to do, and you have time to plan it out, then do it. Going in and winging it isn't fair to anyone, especially since some things you do won't allow a second chance."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari ugh! Pay! How's he going to explain that to his mom and dad? 'Oh, I'm a knight. yea'. Maybe he can just save the coins for when he goes to Waldia. That makes more sense, in his head..."Well okay, but I won't accept /retroactive pay/. Just pay me from here on out, okay?" he asks with a smile. "Okay. So your dad is a man who likes plans and knows his numbers. That's good to know." he smiles. "I guess that also shows why you weren't worrying about money then!" he says as he leans forward.<br /><br />"So what's your mom like? I mean, based on what little Gao and yourself have told me, it's less of a Kingdom, and more of a Queendom." he says. "With the Queen handling threats, right?" he asks. He's gleaned that much.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Yeah... okay," Rune accepts that 'compromise' at least, in a quiet voice.<br /> <br />Then she just goes quiet. The reluctance and silence from earlier is all the more apparent now, and Runealy starts crying. Her words are punctuated with sharp gasps every few seconds, and sometimes a part of the sentence simply won't come out until she forces herself to gain the composure to say it.<br /> <br />"It is. Queen Lene... well. The Queen makes sure everyone is safe, and teaches her heir to do the same, and the heir repeats the cycle. That's how it has always been! And she... she's... she's amazing. Every Witch or every other monster, or that guy in the alley, or every other problem that Tokyo has... she could deal with them and make it look easy. For her, it /would/ be easy!" Runealy might be overstating her mother's prowess, but she does it with sincere belief; this is not propaganda. "She could do that, and know the right policies and right words to make sure everyone got through things just fine. When you see me limp away or run away or be a coward, that's not something I learned from her. She's not like that at all! She's way, way better!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari listens to the words, with growing concern. He can understand the words just fine, and Runealy speaks with praise for the Queen, but, he reaches out to try to take Runealy's hands into her own, even if she won't face him. "Runealy, why are you crying?" is all he asks.<br /><br />"Do you miss your mother? Or did... something happen, I'm not aware of?" he asks, trying to give comfort at the same time as his questioning.<br /><br />Somethings occur to him, but right now, his worry isn't letting them connect in his head. "I.. I understand if you won't tell me. But please. Something is wrong if you're crying like this." he frowns in concern.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Rune's response to that first question is nothing but noise. Gasping attempts at words that don't actually take proper form, even as she lets Hinote grab her hands.<br /> <br />Something is indeed wrong, and her head is shaking over and over, hair swishing about as she tries to make her jumbled thoughts into something coherent. "She's...!" As often happens when stressful topics come up, her throat tightens and she can't find the words right away.<br /> <br />"She's dead. A demon killed her! I don't know how, it makes no sense and it's impossible but it happened anyway!" Runealy's words suddenly become a torrent, run-on sentences becoming the norm. "Mom was going to renew the Barrier and we were going to have a big celebration for it and my birthday both on the same day and one of them got her before she could!"<br /> <br />The explanation, rambling and hurt as it is, keeps coming. Nothing short of overtly, physically forcing her to stop talking would prevent it. "So I tried to do it myself, I tried a million times and I just can't! Either I make a mistake in the ritual, or I get it right but don't have enough power so it doesn't work! That's why we're here! We're here to take as much energy as we can so that the next time I do it, it will work even though it's me doing this and not her! I've dragged you and everyone else here into being bandits and hurting people because if we don't get enough, I'm going to have to go home and tell the world! I'll have to tell them 'there is nothing I can do. We are all going to die. I am sorry'!"<br /> <br />It's probably a good thing he's holding her hands. She looks ready to begin bashing palms or fists against something, if she could. As it is, she's speaking in a near-shouting voice and crying all the more.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari just keeps silent the whole time, squeezing Runealy's hands, letting her squeeze back if it helps. He has a somber expression on his face as he listens through the tirade, just letting her get it out, not saying a word, just listening as best as he can.<br /><br />When she pauses near the end of her rambling sentence, he takes a deep breath and closes his own eyes. "Take a deep breath. Innnn, then out." he offers. "You're going to hyperventilate. I don't want you to pass out." he says, in a matter of fact tone. He never tells her to relax, that's wrong in this situation. Entirely wrong. Why, he'd be a mess if his mom died, too!<br /><br />He "I'm... I'm sorry, Runealy. That you had to go through that. I wish there was more I can say, but there's not a lot I can say to make things better. Words fall short sometimes. All I can do is listen to what you have to tell me about her." he offers.<br /><br />"But you have my promise-- my Oath, that I'll do everything in my power, to make sure you don't have to go back and say that. I refuse to let that happen. Doubly so now." he says as he murmurs.<br /><br />"Take another deep breath, okay?" he asks. "It'll help relive some of the tension. It's a trick my dad taught me when I used to have Stage Fright...." he offers.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>She does just that, clinging to Hinote's hands... but telling her to breathe doesn't seem to help much. It's hard to bring her down from that. "I'm not asking you to make it better! You already are, you know!" Now her eyes burst open, wide as she stares hard at him, even as her vision blurs from tears. "You were there when I messed up against that first Witch, and now you've been helping us so much and you're giving us that much more of a chance to get through this! But this isn't 'stage fright!'"<br /> <br />Hinote didn't say it is. He said it was a trick to help with performance anxiety. Rune simply isn't interpreting it quite right. "This is real fright, I'm more scared than I've ever been! But yes... we're going to do this. I think about that 'speech' every day. I tell myself it can't happen, no matter what, and you're helping with that!"<br /> <br />She is not calming down very much, but she's not taking it out on him. Definitely not on Hinote. "And you're going to see it. Instead of 'that speech', I'm going to let everyone see you and how you helped make this possible, and you're going to see your new world! It's going to be every bit as good as you think, and I know you're expecting a lot since you're putting pretty much everything on the line to do this!"<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari shakes his head. "I'll be fine. I know what I'm putting on the line." he says as he closes his eyes. "No--- it-- nrg. he deep breaths... help with anxiety. Pressure, Stress." he offers. He tries his best to listen, and let Runealy calm down, but that doesn't seem to work, and the more he talks, the more she stresses. So he decides not to talk, he just squeezes her hands and waits a few moments.<br /><br />"Gao.. already knows this, I'm assuming. I'm sorry that I bothered you both with questions like this. Now I understand why you were both a little pensive when I started touching upon subjects like this." he admits.<br /><br />"But I'm glad I know now. I thank you for telling me the truth, even if it was hard." he says.<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"You didn't bother us, you needed to hear about all of it and know what you were looking at. And...yeah... he knows. Most people don't." Runealy is finally quieting down. Still talking between sob-gasps and sniffles, but no longer giving in to frantic outbursts of raw, hurt emotion. "My father has made sure that got covered up. Only our inner circle knows the truth. Everyone else... has been told mom is off training to find a better way than normal to renew the Barrier's power. And that she'll be back soon, and everything will be good forever then. But..."<br /> <br />She sags into her seat, hands going limp; she lets Hinote hold them as he likes. "That's why we're keeping all this a secret from everyone. People back home would panic if they knew she was dead and that I'm not good enough to take her place. And if people here found out? Tokyo as far as I can tell is already being attacked by at least three groups who want to conquer it, and that's /with/ this world having... what, maybe two or three dozen defenders? We don't have that many." She doesn't specify exactly how many, but it is 'less than three dozen.'<br /> <br />"Can you imagine what those monsters would do if they found out about our world and how vulnerable it is right now? That's why we're hiding the truth from everyone on Earth. It's why we have to do this. To scout them, then hurt them and take enough magic and then leave. Anything else risks the wrong person finding out and ruining everything! So... thank you for asking and listening, and being probably the one person on this whole world I could tell any of that to."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:45|Hinote Kagari (45)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>Hinote Kagari let's Runealy's hands go when she's calmed down enough. He takes a deep breath and nods. "I had no idea things were this bad over here in Tokyo. I had no idea---- witches, or beings were trying to-- take over, or hurt people. Not until that night with the strange castle--and that witch." he admits.<br /><br />He nods. "I understand. I've kept my secret well. My parents just assume I've been busy with the play when I've been out long hours." he admits. "Heck, they don't even know about this place from before you guys setup here." he says.<br /><br />He smiles. "I'll do my best, to make sure you get home safe--- with the energy you need." he says. "You just let me, and Gao, know when it's time. Alright? All I can offer is my best."<br> <br>

:'''{{#var:29|Runealy Waldia (29)}} has posed:'''<br><span></span>"Hiding it from even them? That's pretty unfair to you... but... thank you." Rune's crying has subsided to mere 'remnants' of what it was before. She's not happy, but the outburst is over. "I'll do that. Your best has been amazing so far... I'll be counting on you, you just as much as Gaofele."<br> <br>
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