geophile | cerealia

[ Well, here she is again. Otome really ought to stay home, considering how often these "bouts" seem to be occurring where she loses control of her legs, but unfortunately, she can't just stay home when she's capable of helping out.

... So here she is, somewhere on a sidewalk, struggling to push herself up so she can at least drag herself over to her dropped cellphone. Getting Kazfiel to help is likely the way to go, and she'd rather not inconvenience anyone by calling them. ]

[ if things were normal for steven, upon discovering otome unable to move, he'd almost certainly fuss about her pushing herself while obviously not well. there would be gentle scolding about not resting at home, wondering why she's out in the first place, and reminiscing back to their conversations about how things were bound to get worse in the colony before they'd get better.

but when he sees her on the ground at this particular time, his actions don't exactly reflect the relationship they have. he'll rush to her side, of course - that much is the same. he'll pick up her phone in one hand before crouching down to meet her eyes, offering his hand. ]

You look like you could use a pick-me-up.

[ he's smiling... but it's not in the fond way that he usually smiles at her. this one is genuine, yes, but it's unfamiliar and polite - as is habitual when he's greeting a stranger. there's also the fact that he has a patch over his right eye, but that's about to be the least of their troubles. ]

[ It does occur to her that his smile's not the same - but Steven's more than capable of different expressions and it's not enough to tell by something like that - and Otome blinks... but what really catches her off-guard is that eyepatch.

She doesn't reach for his hand, instead blurting out with uncharacteristic dismay-- ]

What happened to your eye???

[ oh. well... that's not exactly the firsf thing he would have expected a stranger to point out, but maybe it does look a bit odd... ]

I'm not sure if you know this, but CERES put implants into our eyes upon arrival. I'm not prone to blindness in any way; if I were to make an educated guess, the implants may be malfunctioning with the rest of the technology in the colony.

[ he seems pretty calm about it - no need to worry this woman with his own troubles, after all. his offered hand remains. ]

Are you able to stand?

Edited 2016-09-02 12:55 (UTC)

[ Oh yes, she's well aware. Something about that makes her frown, but slowly, she shakes her head. ]

Unfortunately, I've lost all feeling in my legs.

I see... That's quite a predicament.

[ his gaze trails off to the side for a moment as he thinks. if he brought metagross out to help, it might scare her... its appearance tended to do that for people who weren't used to seeing pokémon. ]

If I'm not imposing too much by offering, I could carry you somewhere a bit more comfortable? There are some benches not too far from here - they'd be better than the ground, I assume.

[ but there's a pause- ]

Of course, you aren't required to agree. I'm not sure if I'd be so willing to let a stranger do such a thing if the roles were reversed, and I can certainly find someone else to help.

[ his smile remains, as if nothing he said was remotely out of the ordinary. ]

Edited 2016-09-03 14:03 (UTC)

...

[ Her eyes narrow a little further, lips pressing together because she doesn't immediately want to blurt out something that she's going to regret. Still, for just a few seconds, there's a flash of something like hurt in her eyes.

Stranger...? ]

I see... so we haven't met.

[ Except they have?? She'd rather think it's some odd event causing this and not just Steven... lashing out? But this would be incredibly unlike him in the first place-- no, that can't be it. ]

[ seeing as he genuinely doesn't remember a thing about the woman he's speaking to, he can't exactly make heads or tails of her reaction. still, he's observant enough to notice that there's a subtle change in her expression - not enough to understand the weight of the feelings behind it, but enough to comment on it. ]

Not that I recall... Though if I've introduced myself in the past, you have my sincerest apologies.

[ there's absolutely nothing in his tone that could be taken as passive aggressive behaviour or any sort of spite. ]

... It's all right. [ a little distantly, perhaps, but she's trying very hard to remain composed. To think like a doctor instead of a friend. Steven doesn't remember her, and if so... is that permanent, she wonders. She can't say for certain, but it's better not to distress him unnecessarily right now. ]

It's difficult to remember past initial introductions... if you could just help me find a bench, I should be fine from there.

Still, that's hardly an excuse on my part. A lady should not be disrespected in such a way - again, I apologize.

[ it really is odd... even with people that haven't made much of an impact on him, he almost always at least remembers their face. maybe they only met in passing, or spoke on the network?

in any case, she doesn't seem to be one for conversation, so he won't press the matter. he hands her phone back to her before kneeling down, gently moving her to a proper position so that he can lift her up. ]

I suppose it would be odd to introduce myself again, but I hope you don't mind if I ask for your name once more.

Edited 2016-09-04 14:09 (UTC)

My name is Otome Yanagiya.

[ With a rather polite nod, clasping her phone to her chest.

This is a little too much to handle with her usual grace, but she's trying her very best nonetheless. ]

I see. It's a pleasure to... "properly" make your acquaintance, Miss Yanagiya.

[ such an introduction is a little strange, but there isn't really another way he can put it. he'd only address her in such a formal matter in the past when gently teasing her, but it's clear that he's completely serious about it now. ]

Let's not idle any longer, then. [ with one arm holding her back and the other propped under her legs, he'll lift her without problem, princess-style. kawaii. ] Up we go-!

[ It would be kawaii if this wasn't so concerning--!! But alas, Otome can't even bring herself to get flustered or even tease him a little, like she usually would, because right now, she's as good as a stranger to him. ]

You're rather strong, aren't you?

[ while she's all concerned, steven actually seems to be in generally good spirits for someone who's lost sight in one eye (and memories of a close friend). it's a blissful ignorance that contrasts her uncertainty. ]

I won't deny it, but you're quite light to begin with.

[ he winks, but it just looks kind of goofy with the eyepatch. how do you be charming when you look like a goddamn pirate. ]

[ You probably shouldn't even try, Steven. Otome merely nods in response, unable to once again bring herself to respond in the usual manner (something about praising a girl you're cradling or something along those lines).

But no, she can't do it. ]

... Thank you.

Don't mention it.

[ for some reason, he has an odd feeling that this woman is holding something back... but seeing as they've only just met, it would be rude of him to ask. if anything, she's probably just shaken up from having lost feeling in her legs - that in itself has to be a shock.

thankfully the benches aren't far from where she fell, and he's able to carefully place her down in an upright position. ]

There we are... you weren't injured at all when you fell, were you?

No, I'm fine... I caught myself on my hands.

[ If nothing else, she knows how to catch herself mid-fall. ]

That's good, at least.

[ he smiles, but it's pensive as he thinks about the situation. this is certainly better than her being on the ground, but just leaving her here would be a band-aid on the problem. she can't walk for the time being, and that means she'd be stranded here. ]

If you don't have anyone to escort you back to your apartment, I can certainly help with that as well. I won't be able to carry you over such a distance, but I can call on a friend to assist.

[ metagross certainly wouldn't mind! ]

A friend...? You don't have to do that! I think I've already inconvenienced you enough.

[ And she could call on her demons, but if he doesn't remember her, there's no guarantee that he'll react well to seeing them. ]

[ considering he trains monsters that he can call upon from capsules, he likely won't be perturbed by a demon... though the cellphone summoning might be a little eyebrow-raising. ]

I wouldn't say that at all. I'm glad to do what I can - with how things have been escalating lately, I'm of the opinion that we should all be helping each other when possible.

[ he's been doing his best to keep out of life-endangering affairs, so things like this are the least he can do. ]

But if you think that you can handle things from here, I won't impose. There's something about you... You seem like a very capable person.

[ it's something he's always thought about her, memories or not. ]

It's probably the doctor's coat. [ wryly. ]

But really, there are others much worse off than I am. I'll be fine like this.

[ Really, she will. You just... go be mr. suave at someone else who you hopefully remember, Steven. ]

Maybe... but I think it's something else. My intuition is rarely wrong about such things.

[ but if she says that she's fine, steven can't argue with it. maybe if things were as they usually were, he'd be a little more adamant about being the one to escort her safely... but that isn't the case. right now, all he can do is wish her well. ]

If you insist. [ he'll offer her a shallow bow. ] In that case, I suppose I'll be on my way. I sincerely hope that you recover soon, Miss Yanagiya.

cerealia » ic inbox

action; some point during the event

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject