1 ♥

[nohardfeelings]

[ It was a wonder Seiko did not wake up screaming. This is very odd in hindsight, considering what others have told her after she woke up.   

Seiko was silent, but she still jerked awake. One minute she was silent, the next she was sitting upright. And the first thing she did was wrap her hand around her neck. She found nothing, which caused her heart to jump into the back of her throat.

The first sound she made was a loud, surprised gasp for air. As if she had just remembered how to. But that was the loudest noise she made, and her frantic pants steadied as she began to breathe.

It took her a minute to notice her surroundings.

Again, she made no noise. But her eyes widen. And she begins to shake.

Where the hell was she? ]

[ A ; 459 Stone Street ; Early Morning ]

[ Seiko looks pensive as she sits at the kitchen table. How long has she been sitting there? Who knows. She hasn't even changed out of her pajamas.

Seiko stays quiet for the most part, with her shoulders hunched over the kitchen table. She appears rather dazed and confused. Her eyes are wide and her arms are crossed over one another. She makes make no attempt to move from her spot at the table, and the only thing she appears to be doing is watching the woman -- the person who claims to be her mom -- making breakfast.

Her eyes show the slightest hint of suspicion every time the woman speaks to her. Seiko never gives her a response, and the woman never pushes for one. ]

[ B; Around Town; Morning ]

[ Seiko is still a daze. There's no school -- apparently they have school here as well -- so she has nothing else to do. Besides, she needs to get out of the house. She needs to go somewhere... anywhere.

Maybe you'll see her along the way? Even though Seiko will smile and greet anyone and everyone, she will seem very unenthused. Shellshock can do that to a girl. Plus there are just too many things on her mind. Especially her arrival here, her best friend Naomi and the burning sensation across her neck that she just can't shrug off.

She will more than likely zone out at some point, with a hand pressed to her neck. Perhaps she will bump into you if she isn't paying close enough attention. ]

[ C; Downtown Mayfield; Afternoon ]

[ Seiko is popular.

Seiko spends the afternoon in Downtown Mayfield, walking from shop to shop. A bunch of teenager drones follow her around like little ducklings, chattering and giggling as you'd expect.

And Seiko... doesn't seem to mind? She actually looks much more cheerful now than she was in the morning. She smiles and chats with the drones, just like she would anyone else. She doesn't make any attempt to break away from them either. In fact, she even stops to wait whenever one drone falls behind her.

Eventually afternoon turns to evening, and the drones take their leave. Seiko waves them off. Once she stops though, her expression changes immediately. The smile dissolves into a pout. Her eyes droop. She shakes her head.

And she'll stand there, staring off into the distance. ]

[ D; Phone ]

So this is how everyone keeps in contact? Is this how phones normally work in America? [ She lets out a rogue giggle. ] Doncha think plenty of people would screw up their calls? I bet someone, at some point, must have let slip something really embarrassing for the whole town to hear! I wonder, I wonder...~

[ There's a pause. Seiko tries to stop herself from snickering. The possibilities... ]

But that's not my point of calling though. I actually wanted to introduce myself to everyone! I'm Seiko Shinohara - err, Stanfield! Just call me Seiko though~ it's nice to meet all of you!

Now I know I'm stuck here, same as you, but there's no point in being miserable! Might as well stay hopeful and make the best of this, am I right? And what better way to do that than make some new friends?

Comments

459 Stone St.

[cursedtolive]

[Czeslaw is yawning, getting up and dressing and brushing his teeth -- he's fallen into the morning routine, and he's grown used to the quietness of this house. After all, he tried to avoid "father" as much as he could, and "mother" was a drone. He's expecting his drone sister to helping with breakfast as always, so he's quite surprised to see someone he doesn't recognize sitting at the table this morning.

Someone showing emotion, on top of that.]

... Hey, Miss?

[Who could it be?]

[nohardfeelings]

Oh!

[ Seiko looks surprised to see Czeslaw. Or, well, anyone else for that matter. Seiko is sure she wasn't zoning out, but she had not seen the boy come in. She looks at the woman from the corner of her eye. The boy looks nothing like her either...

She smiles a genuine smile, although she looks weary. ]

Hi! I -- [ Gosh, Seiko never feels tongue tied. ] I didn't see you there!

[cursedtolive]

Good morning. [Until today, he was the newest person in this household (not that he's realized Seiko's his new sister yet) so he's still looking at her in wonder, moving out of the way when their mother walks over to set breakfast on the table.]

Who are you, Miss?

[nohardfeelings]

[ Seiko hitches her shoulders into a shrug. It was a simple question, but Seiko is finding it hard to answer even that. ]

I was going to ask you that actually. I didn't know there was anyone else in the house except for... [ She motions to the mother drone, hoping that'll be enough. Seiko isn't sure what to call her, since she sure as hell isn't about to calling her 'Mom'." ]

Phone

[adventurerextraordinaire]

[An Irish-sounding voice replies.]

"Well, its good to hear someone with such a bright outlook on things, lass! I'm Cade Masters, adventurer. I take it you just arrived?"

Phone

[nohardfeelings]

Adventurer? Hee, I've never met anyone who introduced themselves like that. It's nice t'meetcha!

Mhmm! I just woke up here this morning!

Re: Phone

[adventurerextraordinaire]

Has anyone told you about the various... conditions of this town?

B

[drank_the_milk]

[Yuna's out for a jog like usual, when she sees a new face along her route. A new face that looks upset about something, even. It's about the right time of month for fresh arrivals, so she decides to stop and see what's going on.]

Hey... you all right?

B

[nohardfeelings]

[ ...

Oh my. Who is this? And suddenly Seiko appears to brighten considerably. ]

Hello~ [ She takes a look behind her. ] I'm fine, I'm fine, just a bit tired. Don't worry!

[drank_the_milk]

[It's your new favorite groping target is who it is. Yuna flashes a smile.]

Are you new in town? I know it can get kind of confusing at first, so I can show you around if you want. My name's Yuna.

phone

[keep_smiling]

That's a great attitude to have!

phone

[nohardfeelings]

Hehe, thank you~ I'm glad yah think so!

[keep_smiling]

Be sure to keep it, too. A lot of people come into this town and stay miserable for so long. But just remember that they best way to get through this ordeal is to keep smiling.

B

[takechuhome]

Hauu, are you okay miss, are you?

[nohardfeelings]

[ Oh, cute girl ahead! Seiko suddenly straightens. ]

Huh? Oh, I'm just fine~ A little lost, though!

[takechuhome]

Oh well, that's good to hear then. Ooh, so you're a new person too? I just arrived here last month~ Is there anything Rena can do to help, is there?

A) Blame the Ladies Charity

[fishsingers]

[and then there's a ring of the doorbell. Who wants to get it?]

[nohardfeelings]

[ Well. Seeing as she's closest to the door...

Seiko opens the door. And she's, uhh, quite surprised to see pink hair. ]

Ahh, [ She smiles. ] H-Hi there! Can I help yah?

[fishsingers]

[...this is what it must feel to be a delivery person]

Excuse me, is there a 'Seiko Shinohara' here by any chance?

D) Phone

[begintheoperation]

Hello, Seiko~ My name is Fran Madaraki~ It's a pleasure to meet you~

[Fran isn't exactly happy about being here, but by her tone it seems she's decided to make the best of it as well.]

Phone

[nohardfeelings]

Oh, Fran? I like that name! [ She giggles. ] Nice tah meetcha Fran! You sound like you aren't letting things get to you either!

Re: Phone

[begintheoperation]

Well I am a little worried about things back home, but it doesn't seem like I can do much to leave just yet~ In fact, I may be able to be of help around here if someone needs medical attention~

I'm sure there's a lot of scientific samples I can get here as well that I couldn't at home~

d

[togetherwestand]

That's a very mature way to look at things, Seiko. I am sure with an attitude like that, you'll have lots of friends in no time at all.

[nohardfeelings]

Eheh, Thank-q~! I've been seeing lots of people who are upset, and I know from experience that 'that' gets yah nowhere. I guess I'm just a super positive person!

[togetherwestand]

I'm sure your family would be proud to see that. But it's all right to be a little scared, and to ask for help.