Easy Enough to Help or Hurt

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

WHO: Madotsuki and YOU
WHEN: Thursday, October 20 during the afternoon.
WHERE: In random places throughout the town.
SUMMARY: No one's told her anything much about this place. So she is wandering around because she doesn't know where to go. In a very bum style, of course.
RATING: PG for the unwashed shirt.
WARNINGS: Nothing, really. She's too exhausted to fight or resist.

[It has been quite a while since Madotsuki first arrived in Prospero. Apart from that strange yet totally expected extra hour when the clock strikes midnight, the town seems normal to her. Too normal, in fact, for the lack of faceless creatures and things that like to chase and trap young girls. She is quite sure she does not miss the latter, for the free movement without ducking behind corners is the best way to wander. Her mind is sharp, if not more alert, of her surroundings--of how unpleasant it is that the environment mimics what she remembers of reality.

That man's apartment, or rather his corpse, has started to smell. Going back to it is no longer a comfortable option. As a result, you may have seen a young girl walking around the city for the past few days. You may have noticed that over the course of those days her appearance, her clothes, her health, appears to have been worsening. Her condition now can only be described as homeless, dirty, and emaciated. She continues about exploring, but only now she drags her feet one by one, barely being able to make it across the street. Three days. It has been three days since her hunger had stopped as her body switches from fat reserves to muscle. With this unpleasant feeling gone, she feels she is able to go about the town with absolutely no problem at all. ]

Comments

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

A...are you alright little girl?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[The girl turns slowly, wearily. Someone is...is speaking to her.] Aren't I?

[No, she's not. She just doesn't know how to take care of herself.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[This answer makes little sense. To Miki there is only one solution.]

Maybe we should go get you something to eat. You look a bit hungry.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[The girl backs away.] ...Go away.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki isn't particularly shocked by her refusal, though her concern does grow.]

Er..do you have somewhere to go then? I can make sure you get there alright.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[She shifts her weight. She--she knows she can't go back.] I don't...know...

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Well we can't leave you out here then. It gets dangerous at night.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

Because of those monsters. I know. [But she really doesn't know what they actually are.] I just avoid them.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Well you can't avoid them for very long if you don't get some food in you. C'mon, it's on me.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

You're...going to hurt me.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

What?? No! I would never hurt a little girl! Why would you say that?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[Why does she have to answer that? She just knows. Or...she thinks she knows. And as she is now, there's no way she can fight back. Madotsuki grips her thin shirt, not bothering to respond.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki reaches out her hand towards Madotsuki and smiles as warmly as she can.] It's ok!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[A friendly gesture? Ah, no--there's no way this could be real. This thought is a simple reminder that she has nothing to fear in something she believes to be only a dream. She relaxes, but does not take the hand just yet. True, Madotsuki only finds kindness when sleeping, but it is still a rare occurrence.] Why are you helping me? [Another silly question. She doesn't know why she's being so trustful now.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki's smile widens to a cheerful grin.]

Because that's what adults are supposed to do! Children shouldn't have to walk around the streets dirty and hungry!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[She narrows her eyes.] That's what they're supposed to do. But they don't. Not always.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Well, those people are jerks!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[Madotsuki...has trouble reading this person. So loud. So...different.] Won't you just...go away. [But a part of her almost doesn't wish she said that. A part of her wants this woman to stay.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

I'll go once we get you some food and get you somewhere safe, how about that?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[Quietly, she faces the woman. it's so strange to see someone care.] ...Okay. [It's amazing how much of a child she sounds like now. Her tone is that of yielding to an adult, to someone who knows better.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki Crouches down to look Madotsuki in the eyes and smiles.]

So what do you want to eat? Noodles? Burgers? They even have something called Tacos here that are pretty good.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[She looks back, rubbing her eyes. She is, unfortunately, not quite aware of her hunger just yet, but she does realize that she's more tired than usual.] I-I don't know.

[Helpful.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

How about some noodles? Everyone loves noodles! I'll let you get whatever you want on them!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[She hasn't had noodles in...forever, really. But she remembers them--salty and slippery, homely before home became broken.

With a quiet nod she agrees, standing up.] ...Madotsuki. [She pauses.] That's my name.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki offers her hand again, continuing to smile cheerfully.] Hi Madotsuki, I'm Miki.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[Being the rude girl that she is, she ignores the hand. Buuut the smile is something different, she supposes. Weakly, she attempts to return one, but she's sure she failed. She's going to try to remember her name, at least, if she's going to get food.] Miki...-san.

[She waits for the woman to lead.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Yep, that's me!

[Miki starts to walk towards The shopping district, where the red dragon is located, since it's the only place she knows that makes good noodles. She'll turn back every once in a while to make sure that Madotsuki is following.]

So do you like pork or beef better?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[Yeah, she's following. Not at the same pace, as the quicker movement seems to drain her energy much faster than how she's been shuffling around the town up until now. She does not delay in answering Miki's question.] ...Beef.

[For sure.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki will slow down so that Madotsuki can keep up. They are nearly to the restaurant] Almost there! Is there anything else you like in your noodles? Eggs? Onions? French Fries?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

Ah-- [...so. many. questions. So many ingredients mentioned, too. For the first time in days, her stomach growls. Painfully. Cringing, she moves her over her abdomen, clutching the fabric of her shirt.] ...anything.

[She straightens.] Are we close?

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Wow, this girl really was hungry. She didn't even respond to Miki's joke! Fortunately there were there. Miki walks into the restaurant, holding the door for Madotsuki.]

It doesn't look like there are too many people here. So we should get something quick.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[...She believes now that it's appropriate to put fires in soup because of that 'joke'. If the restaurant has has fries, she's going to order them in his dish. Madotsuki, still clutching her stomach, walks in after her, silently observing, when the scent of the cooking food hits. Her stomach growls again. She wavers a moment, placing a hand on a wall.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki asks for a seat for two from the host and they begin to lead the two to a booth against one of the restaurant's walls. Before following, Miki notices Madotsuki looking a bit weak asks,] "You gonna be ok? Once we sit down it shouldn't be too long."

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

Yeah...[As they take their seats, Madotsuki leans against the wall, closing her eyes. She'll certainly feel better once she's, you know, had something to eat and drink. When she opens her eyes again she speaks.] Do you always help...others?

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki blushes a little bit. She's certainly been less then helpful to some people, but she really can't lie to this kid.]

Sometimes I won't help out other adults. Though I'll always help kids who seem to be in trouble out!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

You're different...

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Thanks, I guess. It's just the right thing to do.

So what do you want with your noodles. [Miki motions to the menu.] Anything you want that's on there!

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[...She takes the menu, looks over the choices, then back at Miki, then at the choices, then Miki again.] Whatever type of noodle you're having...but with beef.

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

You sure about that? I like spicy stuff. It may be a bit much for a kid.

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

I'll eat it.


...Will there be fries in it?

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

Usually you eat fries by themselves. Do you really want fries in yours?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[NODS DETERMINEDLY.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

If that's want you want, I'm not gonna say no. Waiter! Two beef noodle bowls, spicy and filled with fries.

[As the waiter gives Miki a strange look, he begins to protest, only to be swiftly cut off by a somewhat more insistent Miki.]

Yes, in the bowl.

[Miki turns and smiles widely at Madotsuki.]

sorry with being sporadic with tags D:

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[From the look, it seems that fries aren't a normal trend in soup? Doesn't matter to her because she could eat just about anything now. Madotuski continues to remain silent, adjusting in her seat every minute or so. Adults are...difficult to talk to, and she's not about to force a conversation.]

Re: It's ok I can be pretty bad too at times!

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki however, will definitely try to get this girl to open up.] So what do you like to do? Did you play any sports back home?

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

[H-home--] I...[Of course she's not ready to talk about anything.] I played the flute. [Crickets chirp.]

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

That's pretty impressive! Instruments are really hard to play.

--handwave rest? /busy

[notafraid2dream.livejournal.com]

Y-yeah... [Looks uncomfortable.]

Sure, I'll probably be sparse this weekend and next week too

[nomammano.livejournal.com]

[Miki will watch as Madotsuki eats, trying to pry bits of information out of here when she can. Afterwards, Miki will try to escort her back to her place or to the hotel to get her a place to stay if she doesn't.]