► Chapitre 1

[luxe_can_kill]

[Feeling a sudden jolt all over her body, Mitsuru woke up on a canopy bed inside a highly decorated room. Sitting up, she scanned the surrounding area. She blinked as she wondered in her mind... ]

Where am I...? [All she remembered was being inside the limousine on their way home from Inaba... What came afterwards is still a blur]  

[She stepped out of the bed to get a clearer look around the room. It's very old fashioned, like a room inside of a castle or a five-star hotel. It's luxurious enough to fit her standards, but it doesn't help in making her wonder how she got here in the first place]

I do not recall asking for a stop at another hotel. What happened?

[On the bedside drawer is a hard-cover journal... Curious, she gave it a closer look. she sighed. Nothing about it was special so she decided to take another look around the place]

I should go and look for the others. They should have an explanation for this...

[With the amount of things she is mulling over her already tired mind, she didn't realize that she didn't put the journal back on the drawer. She walked to the door and saw the fifth-floor hallway...]

<OOC: She is in room 514. Action or journal works. Open to anyone! Don't worry she won't (frost)bite you XD. Also, my activity would be slow, so just a fair warning...>

Comments

[luxe_can_kill]

[She noticed the firearm on the man side holster, and she realized her Evoker is holstered to her side as well, so she hid it under her fur coat. Though she wonders how his gun wasn't taken and put in a safe deposit box, and wonders how her Evoker wasn't taken either. It does look like a real gun, after all...

Ignoring that, while still being cautious, she thought she could ask the man about her friends' whereabouts or where this hotel is located]

I apologize if I'm being a bother, but could you spare some time to answer a couple of questions?

[solowingpixy]

[He'll finally stop when she speaks up and looks over at her. Just from looking at the coat, it was easy to tell the castle obviously took in a rich one this time.]

I'm sure I can take a guess at what the first one is. "What is this place," right?

[luxe_can_kill]

[A little surprised at the man's guess, Mitsuru did start to wonder what the place is exactly. If it really is just a hotel, then her Evoker and rapier would be kept elsewhere. And the atmosphere is a little off...]

That is... quite right. I suspected this isn't a hotel with our weapons still on our person. And I have no memories on how I got here.

[solowingpixy]

None of us do, and it has the most ridiculous story attached to it that everyone accepts as its explanation. [Even 24 days later, after a week of utter insanity a short time ago, he's STILL bloody skeptical.]

The most up-to-date sitrep is that it's simply a "magic castle" called Paradisa. Which no one knows how they got here, or how to get out.

[luxe_can_kill]

A magic castle? I see... [While surprised at her current predicament, her expression shows very little of it. Besides her natural composure, she did have experience with "magic castles" before. The thought of being in another one brought back memories of Tartarus]

Did you just get here as well? I would like to know more about this "Paradisa" [Mitsuru isn't used to going somewhere without prior information about the place, and she has never heard of this Paradisa, she is just hoping to get information about the place asap and find a way out...]

[solowingpixy]

Been here for twenty-four days and counting. [He doesn't sound too thrilled when he gives that answer, but a fact's a fact.] There are plenty of people around who have been here longer.

So what is it you want to know?

[luxe_can_kill]

[Now that the man asked what she wants to know, a flood of questions filled her mind that she didn't know where to start]

I see. [she paused to look at the man from head to toe] Your firearm, you only carry that out of habit, or is there anyone or anything hostile in this castle? You don't sound so thrilled when you told me you have been here for 24 days.

[solowingpixy]

[He makes a brief glance at his USP before looking back to Mitsuru.]

I carry it out of habit, but I'm not about to throw out the idea that there could be someone hostile here. [He'll have a brief flashback to Wonderland and the Jabberwock.] ... or something.

[He'll scoff slightly.] Would you enjoy being stuck in this place after a war and knowing there's no way out?

[luxe_can_kill]

Perhaps. Though I wouldn't be too quick to say that there is no way out. And if there is something out there that intends to harm us, I believe it would be best if we work together until we find a way to bring us home.

[Mitsuru feels confident that there would be a way out of the castle, after all she has been through Tartarus and the world inside the TV, so a magic castle isn't too far off from the odd places she's been in.]

[solowingpixy]

You'd think that, wouldn't you? Try telling that to those here that have been here for more than three years.

Besides, I wouldn't be so quick to trust people from entirely different worlds if I were you.

[luxe_can_kill]

More than three years? [She asked in an almost shocked tone. That does sound like a daunting amount of time to be stuck in a strange place. Hearing that was almost demoralizing. But she tried to remain calm about the issue, there has to be a way.]

[luxe_can_kill]

[The man had a point about trusting too fast, even though she doesn't fully trust him. She doesn't even fully believe in her friends back home, how much more with someone whose name she doesn't even know yet?.]

...And I do see your point. However, you seem like a man I can trust in battle, if it did come to that.

[Mitsuru feels like she is taking a leap of faith by trusting a stranger she just met. She is reminded of an old friend when she looks at this man. He seems unfriendly on the outside, but maybe there is some good in him she can rely on if things go ill in the future. If she is wrong, at least she would be ready to deal with him]

1/2

[solowingpixy]

That's what I said. I'm sure there's someone who probably has far more time than that under their belt.

[He shrugs.] But just about everyone can attest to the "no exit" thing and I've seen plenty of reports of people leaving. No one knows more than that.

2/2

[solowingpixy]

[Of course, that following statement makes him smirk slightly and give a dry laugh. It's hard to tell if he had some kind of secret or if he was just of a devious nature.]

I'm an ace for a reason, but of course my services wouldn't be for free.

Re: 2/2

[luxe_can_kill]

[Hearing about reports of people managing to leave gave Mitsuru a small feeling of relief. But she can't be too sure whether it really leads to home just yet. But it was enough to actually make her smile genuinely. ]

An ace, I see. I have never met a soldier before, or a military pilot for that matter. [she extends her hand for a handshake]

I should introduce myself, I am Mitsuru Kirijo.

[solowingpixy]

[He'll look down at her hand a moment before reaching out his own and shaking her hand.]

Solo Wing Pixy. [That's right, Mitsuru. Just like everyone else, you get the nickname as opposed to the real name.]

[luxe_can_kill]

Solo Wing Pixy it is. It's a pleasure to meet you.

[Obviously, that wasn't his real name. But it is something to call him by. Although calling him Pixy can sound off, especially since he's a tough-looking adult man...]

And no need to worry about money. If your services are not free as you said, I could repay you for your assistance when we get home.

[solowingpixy]

[He probably had his fair share of cracks about his nickname, given that he worked with pilots and other mercenaries, but this is the sound of him not caring. Pixy gives a slight smirk while folding his arms.]

Kind of you, but I doubt you and I will be on the same trip.

[luxe_can_kill]

I see. You remind me of an old friend so much that I didn't realize you're from a different world. [Mitsuru gave a faint chuckle]

[solowingpixy]

You caught onto that concept rather quickly. That's at least one less thing that needs explained.

[He'll raise an eyebrow.] How do I remind you of anyone?

[luxe_can_kill]

Your tough exterior and the way it seems you push people away reminds me of a late friend. His name was Shinjiro Aragaki. He was good man, who passed away far too soon.

[Mitsuru felt a strange distance between her and the memories of her late friend, as if she doesn't care about him as much as she did before. It wasn't just with Shinjiro either, but even with Akihiko and Aigis. This was enough to make her glance to the side in thought]

[solowingpixy]

[He wasn't quite aware that the whole 'pushing people away' thing was obvious, though he isn't necessarily surprised. He's still trying to keep people pretty distant here.]

I'm sorry about your friend. [His tone doesn't seem very apologetic though. Not uncaring, just kinda devoid of sympathy. You get that when you go through war and all that.]

[luxe_can_kill]

[Mitsuru nods when Pixy gives his sympathy, as stoical as it sounded]

His death wasn't in vain. I only wished things could have gone a different way.