ribbonbon | [Action/Video] 012 (Backdated to 06/08)

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[Action/Video] 012 (Backdated to 06/08)

[A girl lies sleeping in the forest, bits of twigs and leaves stuck in her hair as she occasionally rolls over or turns. Dressed in the usual New Feather sundress, it would be easy to mistake her for a new arrival. However Pilouette has finally come back from the draft currently unaware that she had ever been out of action.

Whether someone wakes her up or she does so on her own, Pilouette is soon making her way back to the village. Though her regular walks in the forest are making it a little easier, she's still trying to get her head around just what happened. The last thing she remembers was being in Zompania. She was bandaging up Mac's wounds and they were plotting their next course of action. Then...Then the cultists found them and...

And then what? To say it's troubling would be an understatement.]

[Video]
[Later on, when Pilouette is back to her apartment and more put together she realizes that she's missing a few things. Her bag of medical supplies and her first aid kit. The bag can be replaced. Given the conditions, she imagines anything that was in it was taken and used anyway. However, the first aid kit is special. Her best friend in this place had made it just for her. Aside from the features it had, that alone made it unique and precious to her. It's not just a tool. It's a precious keepsake.]

I-It's Pilouette. I'm back. I guess I've been gone for a while. Uh, sorry if anyone worried. Hey, so, like, when we were in... [She pauses briefly. It's almost as if the name hurts to say.] ...When we were in Zompania, I had a first aid kit with me. It's, um, really important so if any picked it up or if anyone has seen it, I'd really like to know.

[As she waits for responses, Pilouette is really starting to put it all together. She died, didn't she? She must have. After all, it was weeks after the last thing she remembered happening and it's not like the Malnosso would have kidnapped her off of a battlefield. She's not sure they could, even if they wanted to. She died in Zompania. Again. There's no other explanation.

There are still a lot of questions, though. She's not even sure exactly how she died which is a bit troubling. Then there's the question of her penalty. She has one. She has to. She just...doesn't know what it is. Something feels off, but she can't quite pin down what it is.. She supposes that she should be glad she was able to be brought back at all, penalty or no, but not knowing is the worst part.]

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[Finally some good news to focus on! Pilouette lets out a quiet sigh of relief before writing a response.]

That's great! Thank you for taking care of it for me. I was scared that I'd lost it out there. I can meet you somewhere to get it if you want.

Where's the easiest place to reach for you? I have plenty of time today so I can meet you wherever.

I live in Ice Building, Apartment 9 but I can meet you anywhere.

[She doesn't particularly feel like going anywhere right now but more than that, she doesn't want to be alone right now. If that means leaving her apartment, so be it.]

I can walk over there. Have you eaten? I can pick up something from the store or bakery on the way down.

No, thank you. I'm actually not feeling very hungry right now.

I guess I'll wait for you then. I don't really plan on going anywhere, so you can really just drop by whenever.

I'll come over now. Give me a few minutes.

[Ginia briefly debates taking Laika along before deciding against it. Laika's a friendly dog, but she's not quite sure if Pillouette is a dog lover. She feeds her dog some treats, then grabs her phone and the first aid kit and begins running over to Ice Building.

Knock, knock, knock.]

[Within a few minutes, the door to the apartment opens with a quiet squeak. Pilouette greets Ginia with a smile, though it's a smile laced with apprehension over the events of the last few weeks.]

H-Hi! Um, thanks for coming all the way over here. I really appreciate it.

[She steps to the side to allow Ginia to come inside.]

[It's a smile Ginia is all too familiar with, worn by too many people in the village. Worn by herself too, though she's had years to perfect her smile into a mask. She glances over Pilouette - nothing stands out immediately, though whatever penalty she has isn't Ginia's business at all - before she steps into the apartment.

With a small smile, Ginia holds out the first aid kit. It's picked up a few nicks and dings, but the light still works and Ginia made sure to clean off any dirt and blood from the surface. Here you go.]

[Carefully, almost as if she's afraid it might break, Pilouette takes the first aid kit from her. She stares at it for a second before holding it close, almost like a child would with a precious stuffed animal. She holds it out at arm's length to get a better look at it...and accidentally shines the light in her own eyes. She lets out a yelp, taking a second to blink hard and clear up her vision before looking back to Ginia.]

Th...Thank you! Thank you so much! For a little while, I was almost afraid I'd lost it forever...!

[Ginia smiles lightly, glad to be able to reunite Pilouette with her first aid kit. She wishes she could have done more, but it was all in the past. Ginia takes her phone out and types up a message.]

You're welcome. I couldn't leave it behind.

[It was also as much an admission that yes, she'd seen Pilouette after she died.]

Feeling okay?

Edited 2014-06-23 22:45 (UTC)

I...I'm okay. I think. I just feel like, kinda...weird I guess. But if you found my kit, um...I'm guessing you found me, too, right?

[For once, Pilouette understands what's not being said out loud. Her expression turns a little anxious. She's a little afraid of what she might or might not find out, but...she still wants to know.]

Did...Did you see what happened to me? My memory is like...all jumbled and stuff.

[Ginia's expression falls a little, but Pilouette's smart and would figure it out. She nods and crosses her arms as thinks back on the scene, something she's been honestly avoiding.]

Sorry, I didn't. It looked like something hit you in the head, but that's a guess.

How are your memories jumbled? Do you think memories are missing?

Hit me in the head...? I wonder if that would explain it...

[At least she knows how she died. Kind of. Maybe? She can think about that later.]

It's just...I can't remember what happened just before I...I died. [She frowns, trying to figure out exactly how to explain it. It happened to her and she's not even sure she understands it.] Like, I can sort of remember, but it's all just like, a big blur of sounds and feelings and stuff.

Was there anyone else with you at the time? Or rather, who is the last person you remember seeing?

[Ginia hadn't seen anyone else around, but that didn't mean Pilouette had been alone. But if there was someone else around or someone who had seen her, maybe they could help fill in the blanks.]

Y...Yeah. Yeah, um, I was with Mac whe- [Mac. Her eyes widen. She has yet to see the message he left for her and, as he was the one who took on the cultists while she hid, she can only imagine what might have happened.] Omigod. Oh nonono no, I didn't even think about him until now! Omigod, I'm so totally the worst!

[She doesn't even stop to think about whether or not Ginia even knows Mac. She's too busy driving herself into a panic.]

[Ginia reaches out and puts a hand on Pilouette's shoulder and gives it a gentle squeeze. Her worry is understandable, but panicking doesn't do anyone any good.]

Easy, Pils. There's been a lot going on, don't worry. I believe I've seen him out jogging since the draft. But how about you contact him, let him know you're okay?

[She stops and looks at Ginia, wide-eyed, when she squeezes her shoulder then reads what she's typed out on her phone. After a moment her panicked breathing slows and she begins to nod. She takes a second to try and compose herself a little.]

R-Right. Right, I'll just...send him a message on the journals a-and let him know that I'm back and that I'm okay and stuff.

[She's only kind of okay, really. Kind of okay is still okay, though, right? Pilouette figures she's made people worry enough for now.]

[Kinda of okay is still okay, but no one would blame Pilouette for being rattled.]

A good plan. He might even see your post and contact you first.

Anything I can do for you while I'm here?

[She lets out a deep breath. She's calm. She's fine. Pilouette manages a strained little smile.]

N-No...You've done, like, way more than enough just keeping this safe for me.

[She looks down at the first aid kit; she hadn't realized that she had started clutching it tightly in her previous moment of panic. A bit embarrassed, she quickly takes it by the handle, her arms dropping to her sides.]

I'll let you catch up with everyone else then. But if there is anything else you need, or even if you want to talk and need someone to listen, I'm here.

[Ginia knows she's not that close to Pilouette so she doesn't want to claim too much of her time. But hey, she worries, and that draft was a rough place and dying is rough too.]

...Okay. I really appreciate it. A-And if you need me for anything, um, just let me know. I really owe you one.

[Besides, anything that would distract her from everything that's happened would be welcome.]

[Ginia gives a light wave of her hand. As far as she's concerned, Pilouette doesn't owe a thing, but it's a statement she accepts all the same.]

Just take care of yourself. Keep in touch. I'll see you around the Welcome Center?

[Pilouette nods, managing a small smile to try and seem more at ease.]

Y-Yeah, I'll see you there.

[Maybe this month's New Feather arrivals will keep her busy enough that she won't have enough time to think too much.]

[Ginia nods and gives Piloutte's shoulder a supporting squeeze. Hang in there, all right? Then with nothing more to say, Ginia waves before seeing herself out.]

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[Action/Video] 012 (Backdated to 06/08)

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