one.

[brightfuture]

[ Venturing right into the middle of the town square might have not been the brightest idea. With all those crowds, you really need to watch your ste--

Bump.

Wait, did somebody just punch you? If you gather enough courage to turn around and face your attacker, you will only find a short, distressed-looking Harvest Cleric who shoots you an apologetic glance. ]

Uh, sorry for that...

Comments

[dragonsjaw]

That's all right, I should have been more careful as well. [ bumping into people all over the place in this world it seems like. he feels rather graceless. ]

You are unhurt?

[brightfuture]

[ Okay, now that the situation's been brought under control, he can relax... as if. ]

I'm f-fine, really. [ He touches his right arm with the other hand, as if to check; at least it shouldn't be more than a bruise or two. ] Just feeling a little... dizzy, I guess.

[diedforyoursins]

[he'd been navigating the crowds pretty well, sliding between people without a fuss and even enjoying the atmosphere, energetic and alive, even within a game.

so the bump from behind takes him by surprise a little. he regains his balance quickly enough without stumbling into anyone else, and turns to see who it was, more curiosity than irritation.

his gaze falling on hope, he automatically smiles and shakes his head, all ease and relaxation in contrast to the kid's distress.]

That's quite alright. Are you lost?

[dragonsjaw]

Dizzy? You are feeling unwell? [ a look of concern, he can't simply walk away if this young man is under distress. ]

Perhaps you should find a place to sit while you gather your bearings.

[brightfuture]

[ A quiet sigh of relief escapes his lips and he lifts his head upwards - but then, there's a moment of silence. Lost? Not quite, after all, it's difficult to lose your way when you don't know where you're headed to begin with. ]

...Maybe, just a bit. [ Might as well just ask. ] Um, I don't suppose you know a... way out?

[revealed]

[ looks like you bumped into a kid who's even shorter than you are. a yelp, followed by a quiet hiss-- ]

Don't touch m--

[ aaaand Ivan may or may not be pushing you away out of reflex. sorry about that, bro. ]

[diedforyoursins]

Out of the city? You can go to different areas, but I haven't heard of any way to return to our homes.

[he doubts that's what the kid wanted to hear though, judging by his expression, and after a moment he reaches down to grab hope's hand, tugging his forward.]

Here, come this way for now.

[brightfuture]

[ Unfortunately, he's the type to keep his distance. With some effort, the teenager shakes his head and even forces a sheepish smile to shrug off suspicion. ]

I can handle myself, it's... it's the crowds. I didn't expect this place to get so lively all of sudden.

...But I guess you're right. [ He has no business here. ] I, uh... I think we're blocking the way, too.

[brightfuture]

[ If there was no bruise before, there sure as hell will be plenty of them now. I guess it's time to brush up on his healing skills. ]

-- Ah!

[ He loses his balance and lands on the ground with a painful thud. Ow. OW. ]

[revealed]

[ whoops... ahaha don't worry, make-up fixes everything!!

and here, he'll just realize what he did-- oh shit. ]

Oh-- hey!

[ rushing over!! ] Are you alright? Did you bump your head?

[brightfuture]

[ That much he's already gathered, but he still held out to the little hope that was left.

And he should've known better than that. The very moment he decides to bid the stranger farewell, Hope finds himself being tugged. ]

H-huh? [ While he doesn't stop in his steps, he'll be struggling to release his hand from the awkward grip. Just so you know. ]

[brightfuture]

[ The pain from the impact shoots through his body, but there's still some pride left! Letting out just one, involuntary groan, he quickly rises to his feet... as quickly as he can, anyway. ]

No, I'm alright. [ What's with this wobbly feeling? ] ...It seems we're even now.

[revealed]

Even if you say that... [ ahaha... ha... he looks like he wants to offer a hand, but he kind of refrains from doing that. rather, he hovers over you worriedly until you get up.

... but to be honest, you don't look so good. ]

Are you sure? You look kind of pale-- do you want a herb? [ ... wait. ] Oh, sorry. I forgot that they took the few I had when they dropped me here. Where's Mia when you need her?

[blessedrose]

[ somewhat lost in thought, the Edge Punisher you've bumped into looks more than a little accidentally intimidating when she turns to glance at Hope.

She'd prefer not to loom over small children, but sometimes it can't be helped. And the little mage she's looking at reminds her of someone... But whether that's good or bad she has yet to work out. ]

Apology accepted.

[brightfuture]

[ The question gets you a suspicious stare; sure, maybe the intentions are pure, but nobody said that you could trust anyone here.

... Just for a moment, though. Maybe he is overthinking it. ]

I can heal myself. [ He brushes the dirt off his clothes. ] Besides, this is no big deal... uh, wait, you mean they took your stuff, too?

[revealed]

[ oh, a healer? like mia? or perhaps it's the power that was given to this person by whatever that's at work in a place like this. he considers the other's suspicious stare, however, and mentally notes to maybe ask about this... later... no need to get people up in arms right away.

he scratches his head ruefully, and shrugs. ]

It looks like they got to everyone. I'd understand if it was just my staff, but they went so far as to take my clothes and replace-- [ tugging a little at his shadow warlock outfit ]. They even took my emergency rations, of all things. You think they might've been hungry?

[brightfuture]

[ It really can't. Regardless of the reason, this is one of those looks that you don't forget so easily.

But at least he seems to be safe for now. Nodding, the boy leans down (somewhat unsurely) to collect the pouch from the ground. ]

I... I'll try to be more careful.

[blessedrose]

I'm glad to here that.

[ .... sigh no it would be hugely impolite to just leave. ] Where are you headed? I will escort you. [ because there are people here he should really not bump into. ]

[brightfuture]

[ For Hope, it meant both, though he wasn't sure how, or if any of these options worked at all. His powers felt different, somehow, but he hasn't had the chance to work that out yet. ]

Who knows. [ The news surprises him, though. ] But... yeah, me too. I'm pretty sure I had some potions on me before I came here, but they were nowhere to be found. My boomerang's gone, as well, and... [ He swallows, shifting his gaze to the ground. ] ... and my knife.

[ W-welp, enough angsting. ] Not to mention the clothes... it's like we really were inside some kinda game.

[brightfuture]

[ So much for trying to slink away. And nope, he won't meet your gaze again, staring awkwardly at the pretty pretty tiles under his feet. ]

Oh no, I wouldn't want to trouble you, Miss. I'll be alright.

[ Does that sound convincing enough? ]

[blessedrose]

[ the gaze she levels at him implies that no, it was nowhere near convincing enough. ] It would be no trouble at all. I insist.

[mercuryangel]

[And she does! It's... another Cleric, fancy that. Her staff is strapped to her back.]

It's all right. I'm fine, and I'm sure you're fine, too.

[brightfuture]

[ fffff well, damn. He opens his mouth as if to speak, but no sound comes out. Fumbling with his fingers suddenly looks like the best option. ]

Thank you. [ Another paaaause. ] The point is, I... well, this is something I haven't decided on yet. I'm not exactly sure what I'm supposed to do now.

[revealed]

[ ... knife.... well, it's not like he's in any position to judge, all things considered, but this reminds him that he can't trust people around here too easily. the fact that the other boy seems to have lost his stuff, too, is ironically reassuring-- it means, at the very least, no matter who he is, they are on the same page. ]

I just hope they didn't make a tidy profit off of everything. In that case, retrieving it might be hard.

[ a pause. ] But what do you mean by 'game'? If this is supposed to be fun, I'm not feeling it. Much.

[blessedrose]

[ yyyyyyyyyep she thought so. ]

I see. All the more reason for you to seek help. [ she indicates that they move out of the flow of the crowd, to one of the sidestreets beside a shopkeeper's booth. ] My name is Beatrix of Alexandria. Might I have your name in return?