test post || lili

[coastal]

[ A ; oh the weather outside is frightful ]

[There's a cake girl in the rain. It's not pouring just yet, but it can't be denied that there's a steady fall of precipitation.

But given the fact that Lili is from the lands of the Water Tribe, she actually doesn't seem to be too bothered by this. She's walking along at a casual pace, observing her surroundings cooly, and otherwise not seeming to care enough to pick up her pace and run to find shelter.

If you're carrying around an umbrella, she might give a bit of a judgmental glance. Tourist.

That said, a bad attitude isn't going to be much help to her in about 0.7 seconds when a carriage comes rushing by and isn't it funny how a puddle can suddenly becOME A TIDAL WAVE.]

Ah....!!

[There is now a surprised, soaked, dripping wet girl in the rain.

You should laugh at her for judging your umbrella.]

[ B ; excuse me? ]

Could I bother you for a moment?

[WHAT'S THAT -- oh it's just a tap on your shoulder. Well regardless, your quiet time is being ruined! Or maybe it really is just a demure girl asking for the time or something.]

Have you seen two women around here? One of them has short, black hair and is rather quiet and strict whereas the other.... I suppose you could call her flighty? They're my attendants.

["It's quite a problem. They seem to have lost me."

She pauses. And then she adds-]

By the by, would you happen to know anything about narcotics being sold around this area?

[What.]

[ C ; who let the dogs out ]

Eeeek!

[Today Lili is playing the role of one (1) Damsel in Distress.

Or perhaps one (1) Cat Stuck in a Tree.

Both?

As is, it appears as though she has become the prey of some rather aggressive dogs with her bodyguards nowhere to be seen. That's a bit of a problem. She's not on too high of a branch but apparently she really couldn't find any other choice besides climbing up a tree in order to get away. (It wasn't graceful. She nearly fell a couple of times just trying to get up.)

But now that she's up there, she seems to have found her bravado again, if only to bark right back--]

Heel! Sit! Ugh, how poorly trained are you?!

[Someone help her pride.]

Comments

a

[mightymax]

[Max has an umbrella! She doesn't even bat an eyelash at Lili's judgement, she's so used to that sort of thing now. She does stare at the girl with curiousity though; she's impressed by how elegant she is despite being soaked.

Max flinches when the tidal wave comes. Only then does she look away, completely flabbergasted by the phenomenon--

Yet still, there's a smile when she looks again. This time she finally approaches the girl.]

That was unexpected. You okay?

[coastal]

[ . . . . guh.

Lili flinches in surprise. Some part of her was hoping that maybe, just maybe, she could get away with that? What if she ran into the store and found a change of clothes or something, no one would have to know.

But that's been thwarted real fast.]

I-I'm fine...!

[Her voice shakes at first but SHE STRAIGHTENS HER POSTURE, MAYBE THAT'LL HELP.]

Carriage drivers these days really don't know how to be careful in the rain. If he doesn't drive slower, he might skid and actually cause damage to someone!

[Instead of just her pride.]

[mightymax]

[She'd been kind of blinded by the tidal wave at the time, but the carriage doesn't go unnoticed. She's never seen one of those outside of textbooks and pictures, and she's pretty sure they aren't supposed to be going that fast.

Oh well.]

No kidding. [Then I'd have to rewind . . .] I'm glad that didn't happen to you.

Not that you seem bothered by the rain otherwise.

b

[acornbatic]

[There Makoto was, minding her own business and enjoying sightseeing (and perhaps gathering information─ being a spy is a full-time job, after all) when she felt someone's touch on her shoulder. The squirrel girl spins around with a smile, her big, fluffy tail wobbling slightly behind her.]

Hm? Oh... Sorry, I don't think I've seen anyone like that around here. [And if they had passed by her, she would've noticed for sure. Few things escape Makoto's attention.] If you wanna, I can help you look for them, though─

[She stops abruptly as the latter part of the girl's question reaches her, the carefree smile quickly disappearing from her face.]

Wha-wha-WHAT?! Why would you ask something like that?! A random person on the street, too...!

[A random person who happens to be perfectly capable of arresting her if need be, but that's not Makoto's intention... for now, at least.]

[coastal]

[Lili is confused by very many things here. Why is this person wearing a squirrel costume? It's very elaborate. People have very strange hobbies. It'd be rude to stare though, she she's not going to stare (while Makoto is aware).

But then the VERY VIOLENT RESPONSE happens and Lili blinks once. Twice. A bit of color comes to her cheeks even as she answers defensively--]

Well, how else am I going to gather information?! I need to get a general idea of the atmosphere, obviously!

[Someone's not cut out to be a spy.]

c

[pluvial]

[ lili's in luck because if there is one thing yamamoto loves more than baseball, it's dogs.

so here he is, kneeling at the foot of the tree lili is stuck in and just roughhousing with them because this is what you do with aggressive dogs, apparently. at least their attention isn't on lili anymore and after a few more pets and ruffles, yamamoto manages to eventually send them away with a promise of food later.

-- ah, right. the princess. ]

Hey! You okay up there?

[coastal]

[ . . . . . of course this is her luck.

Lili immediately sat back on the branch, leaning against the trunk of the tree, and covered her face as she realized who came to her rescue. OF COURSE HE CAN HANDLE DOGS. WHY IS SHE NOT SURPRISED THAT HE CAN HANDLE DOGS.

And she's just going to respond back so defensively:]

I'm fine!

[pluvial]

[ did u really expect anything less, tho.

but okay, he's laughing a little because why is she covering her face like that? there's no need for all this defensiveness, gosh. ]

Okay, then you don't need my help getting back down, right?

[ you know. because she said she's fine. ]

a

[sharpstring]

[ Who needs umbrellas in such splendid weather? Azuma (who is hardly dressed for the weather) grew up in a forest where no one used umbrellas, and she had no intention of using one just because she's far from home. Had she had one, she probably wouldn't have used it properly, anyway.

But unfortunately, she is the type to find the unfortune of others at least a little amusing, so she is giggling in cheer, as she peers over at the girl. ]

Ran into a spot of bad luck there, hun?

[coastal]

[Rude as shit. And Lili thought that she was capable of being catty sometimes--

But here she is, being mocked, and it just burns her up on the inside. The embarrassment and surprise and confusion must all turn into something:]

As if it's any of your business!

[Oh yeah. More rudeness. Good idea.]

[sharpstring]

[ That's Azuma, the least polite queen of a forest kingdom. She often gets scolded by her elder sister about her attitude, it's not exactly suited for royalty. But she didn't care all that much. ]

Sure it is! [ She played with the string around her throat. ] I saw it, didn't I?

B!!!

[toohonest]

[what....]

[Sakichi immediately pays attention when Lili taps his shoulder, because ??? he's not quite familiar with her garb but she sure does look like a demure, noble lady who's asking after her attendants... and she might not be anyone affiliated with lord hideyoshi, but every single retainer bone in his body compels him to help her!! except....]

[he pauses and looks at her again. ???? she still looks like a noble lady??? DON'T DO DRUGS LILI????]

-- Narcotics? [actually he's caught wind of some unsavory rumors, but he's having trouble separating the nature of that question from the person who's asking....] May I ask why you'd like to know?

[coastal]

[no hugs just drugs

But why does everyone pause when she asks that. It's not like she'd be doing drugs??? C'MON PEOPLE. Does she look like an imbecile or a lowlife to you. (Or maybe there are people who are being given drugs without even knowing again, also an option.)

So the question in response to her question just manages to get her to stiffen up a little bit, a frown tugging at the edge of her lips. Can't lose her composure but she does look a little irked.]

I've heard rumors of narcotics passing hands in this town and I consider it a threat to the livelihood of the people here. I intend to stop it, obviously.

[What about that was obvious tho.]

b

[offshoreigner]

Two women?

[Kongou presses a finger against her chin, trying to wonder if she's seen anyone fitting the description. She probably isn't asking for anyone Kongou knows if they're her attendants...] No, I don't think I've seen anyone flighty or anything! I could help you go around and look, though.

[Aw, how nice. For the next question, Kongou nods along... and nods... and then does the same thinky-thought action with a finger to her chin. Then:]

Narcotics? What kind of narcotics are you talking about? Opium, speed, morphine--

[KONGOU SAY NO TO DRUGS]

[coastal]

[what's going on here, oh just two cute girls talking about drugs iT'S NOT A BIG DEAL

Lili is about to respond to the offer to help, probably with something haughty and hesitantly authoritative because two eyes really are better than one, but then the girl goes on about the narcotics.

And Lili is suddenly questioning her judgment about who to talk to.]

.... do you know a lot about narcotics?

c

[echoistic]

[Oho, what is that he hears? Is it a cry of distress?

... Well, it sounds like one to him, so that's what he'll go with. Snapping his fingers by his head, he cheerfully walks over to the source of the noise, albeit staying a safe distance from the dogs.]

Greetings, fair maiden! D'you need me to kill these foul beasts?

[... Yeah, uh, his mind jumps to drastic measures.]

[coastal]

[Did he just say "kill".]

What?! Are you mad?!

[THEY'RE AGGRESSIVE BUT PROBABLY NOT MURDEROUS.]

a! lord

[adornmental]

[Wow, look at this rude shit give him a judgmental look for carrying around an umbrella! A very large umbrella, to be fair, and one that's way too pretty to look like it's functional even though it is... Anyway, like hell is he going to risk messing his hair up in the rain, okay, and you know what? Waterproof makeup isn't always all its made out to be, either! It's best not to risk anything. He opens his mouth to snap something out - some what are you looking at, very friendly - but... ah. Karma gets her ass before he can even say anything. HAH.]

Betcha wish you had an umbrella now, huh? [PUNK.

...But he's not a complete brat, so he'll at least mosey over so that his own umbrella covers both of them.]

You should probably get dried off before you catch a cold or something.

may the salt games begin

[coastal]

[what the fuck, what the fuck. What did she do to deserve this?! (well she's catty and judgmental af, to start. time to start some self-evaluation)

But IT GETS WORSE.

There's the fancy pants posh as shit tourist with the umbrella wandering over to her and there goes her pride. So she does what any person does when they're already down and should probably learn to count their losses, she acts like a reasonable human who accepts the bit of kindness-]

What good will an umbrella do me now when I'm already drenched?

[oh jk.]

Save your pity...!

C;

[backstory]

[Okay. So he stands out. But for once it's not the silvery white hair, or the gigantic claw. If he looks like a tourist, that should mean he's at least blending in like normal. Maybe. But when one has a Granny who is determined to keep one well, you can bet that an umbrella was packed among his belongings.

He recognizes the young woman who is so unfortunate as to not have a Granny like his own and get caught not only in the rain, but splashed by a carriage. He's too far away to shield her in time or help her up, but he rushes forward as best he can.]

Lady Lili-!

[He glares at the carriage that ambles away quickly. Had the driver not seen her!? Umbrella tipping forward, he holds it out to help shield her from any further rain or carriage assaults.]

Are you all right?

[coastal]

[The driver was simply 2fast2furious.

But now that Ki-ja is coming closer, Lili recognizes him as well. Honestly, he's more than a little bit hard to miss. A little bit for the umbrella -- well, it's good that their companions at least have that much to shield them -- but mostly because honestly, what's with his hand? His clothes?]

O-Oh! You're-- one of Yona's companions, yes?

[IT'S REALLY EMBARRASSING FOR HIM TO SEE HER LIKE THIS but also as for why she can't remember his name, listen.

She called Jae-ha a "that".

This is slightly better.]

c;

[discard]

[This is a great way to meet.

Leon doesn't kick puppies but he probably would if given the chance??? (that's a lie, he kicks a dumb blond puppy all the time). Either way, the dogs are in his way, so he scowls up seeing them growling at the tree, and he really doesn't hesitate to draw his sword.

Overkill, Leon.

Thankfully, there is no dog murder here.]

Get out of my way.

[Dogs are smart after all, so they sense the stranger danger and scamper away.

Ugh, wastes of his time.... he'll just sheathe his sword then and move to go on his way as if without even noticing Lili...at all??? Wow, rude.]

[coastal]

[Why does everyone start to go for dog murder.

Also why is he not noticing her.

What the fuck, dude.]

.... Excuse me?

[Does she have to do this. Does she really have to point out that she's stuck in a tree to this dickwit with a sword passerby.]

a.

[shizoku]

[Can't a kid ever catch a break?? The fact that Yahiko even has the money to act like a tourist is a rare blessing in and of itself, he doesn't need this judgement from some rich-looking noble lady!! But, despite being a mere ten-year-old, he has enough discipline to restrain himself from actually saying anything.

At least until said rich-looking noble lady gets soaked head to toe in water. And not just rain water, but the dirty, muddy water of a carriage speeding along too fast in puddles.]

... Need an umbrella? [Look, he's not laughing at her okay!! But Lili IS being judged by a literal kid right now, how does that make her feel.]

[coastal]

[This is not a time where she wants to think about how dirty this water is. There will probably never be a time when she wants to think about how dirty this water is.

But the judgment is too much and for a second, her shoulders shrink. Then they straighten as she realizes what she's doing and she clears her throat. Ahem.]

What good will an umbrella do now?

[she's already drenched, buddy.

and it doesn't seem to have helped her mood]