Rebel 1 [Action / Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

[Around sundown, somewhere out in the forest, one Litchi Faye-Ling is waking up in a bath tub.

The first thing she notices is that the Boundary is much more quiet than it was the last she knew. The strain is still there, and everything hurts, but the buzz of memories is quieter. At least, it is until she cracks one eye open and sees that she's in a tub. In the middle of a forest. Then the wave of memories from clashing timelines and realities is a roar, and it's all she can do to curl into a ball and wait for it to stop.]

N-no... please, not now...

[This isn't Kagutsuchi. This place, she's been here before, and nearly every time it's had something to do with a tub, and--

--Luceti. This is Luceti. She thinks. Or something along those lines. People were always appearing in tubs... or at least in her tub... although she woke up in one once too, didn't she? No, that can't be...

It isn't until Lao Jiu crawls back up onto her head that the roar starts to die down. And then the memories start to unfold a little less chaotically, and she peers over the edge of the tub to see the inevitable journal, lying open on the ground. She gives a weak laugh.]

My goodness, this is all so familiar... Hello? Is anyone-- [Luceti Valley. Mu. Raining trees. She stammers to a stop for a moment before trying again.] --Is anyone there? I think...

[This is the headache of the century. Litchi stops again, leaning her forehead against the cool side of the tub until the Boundary quiets down again. That doesn't seem right. It wasn't this loud before, was it? ...Wait, it was, wasn't it...]

I think I may need some help. This is... Luceti, yes...? I'm afraid I woke up in the forest and I... seem to be missing a few things. [Her usual clothes. Memories. Mantenbou. A ring. Although the last one she has an itching suspicion was both very important and has a very low chance of being here.

And there's one other thing...]

Also, could anyone tell me if Tsubaki Yayoi or Kazuma Kval are still here? It would be a tremendous help.

Comments

[voice]

[hageshii]

So, you ask about them and not me? I'm hurt, Litchi.

[voice] 1/2

[not_meatbuns]

[That voice... Even though she knows she knows it, her memories are taking a little longer to link up than expected. Detective-- no. That isn't right...]

[voice]

[not_meatbuns]

M-Mister Goroh...? [That's it. That's exactly right. But wasn't he sent home?

Even though she's a little lost, a smile is already starting to widen.] Is that really you?

[voice]

[hageshii]

Don't tell me you gone and forgot me already. Hey, what's the deal with the old house? Checked on it earlier. Bunch of kids have moved in.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

[...

... He'd recognize that voice anywhere. And yet he's shocked - utterly shocked - to be hearing it.

Did she really - is she actually - could it be...?

... Litchi is back?]

... D-Doctor Faye-Ling...?

[Give him a moment to just... process this.]

[Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

[Another familiar voice. It takes Litchi a moment to answer, but when she does, the smile is probably audible in her voice.]

Professor Hastings. I have to admit, I'm glad you're still here.

[Voice]

[semper_cogitans]

... S-So... so am I.

[If only so he could see her again.]

I never... expected you would r-return, but... but... [Quietly:] I know I... should not be glad, but I am...

[mikangirl]

Kazuma's still here, I think. Tsubaki's gone.

...welcome back?

[not_meatbuns]

Ah... w-well, I suppose it can't be helped. [Although she knows what Tsubaki's gotten into back home. She was right there with her. It's not the happiest sentiment.]

T-thank you, by the way. It... really is wonderful to be back.

[mikangirl]

[She smiles faintly at that. Nami doesn't share the sentiment on the wonderful village of Luceti, and she also remembers what Noel told her about goings on at home. But she's always liked Litchi, despite that.]

That's a sentiment I don't hear a lot. [And a ghost of amusement as she hears Tao weigh in. (...and Goroh. Hnn.)] I think you'll find a few that missed you.

Can I fill you in on anyone else in the roster?

[Voice]

[catus_carnival]

[Brace yourself, Litchi. She is torn between crying and laughing and happiness, but just chooses to explode in happiness instead.]

...

...

Boobie Lady!?

[Voice] 1/2

[not_meatbuns]

[Auto-pilot response happens first with:] Tao, my name isn't "Boobie Lady", it's...

[Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

[And then it catches up to her and she laughs despite herself.]

Tao! You're still here!

[Voice]

[knightofratatosk]

That voice... Litchi, is that you?

[Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

Yes, it's me. [Thank heavens the Boundary is quieting down again. She's remembering these voices much more clearly now.] I hope you've been well, Emil?

[Voice]

[vulcanblazer]

...Dr. Faye-Ling? That you? You remember this place?

[...Well, that's good! Seeing a familiar face and it being one of the people he actually likes!]

[Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

Adell! Yes, I remember. It's great to hear from you.

[Does that answer your question of "that you?"]

1/2

[moezama]

[Kazuma was sort of staring in surprise at his journal when he heard Litchi's voice. He couldn't believe it, but here she was, talking to people over the journals. It takes him a while for it to actually sink in properly]

Litchi...?

[moezama]

[And she was...actually looking for him too?]

I'm...here. This is Kazuma...[She could probably tell the sound of surprise and disbelief in his voice that she was back.]

Where are you?

[silpheed]

[Oh it's this girl... unsure... I mean TIME TO BE AWFUL LIKE ALWAYS.]

Saying you may need some help is quite possibly the biggest understatement of the century. However, this is indeed Luceti.

[not_meatbuns]

[Oh hey, it's Rachel. That reminder is like a lightning bolt cutting through all these other reunions.]

...I know. But I'm confident if I can find that help anywhere, it's here.

Have you been well, Miss Rachel? [Clearly the answer to snarky vampires is kindness.]

[Voice]

[rageface]

[This was Litchi's voice. He's not sure if that's a good thing or bad thing, for her to show up in Luceti again. He won't question it for too long, since there wasn't much of a reason to try and distance himself from her. But he does feel like he should confirm some things. He remembering Luceti is a good start that things might be okay.]

Welcome back. [That's all he feels he can manage to her right now. Ragna remembers that when some people are sent home, they return further along the timeline. He hopes it isn't that far, if she was.]

[Voice]

[not_meatbuns]

[It is that far. And Litchi winces when she hears Ragna's voice coming over the journal. Sure, she arrived before the Hazama mess last time, but this time she wasn't so lucky. And the guilt of remembering both joining the NOL and everything that happened here is a little overwhelming.

Still, she knows better here. Here, she doesn't mean to go anywhere near Hazama if she can help it. Swallowing down the guilt, she answers after a while.]

Thank you. It's... good to be back.

[action - LATER THAT DAY WHEN SHE'S HOME?] i hope this is okay aoerighaerg

[presumablyalone]

[After taking one of his usual, random cat naps of the day, Seto emerges from his room but as he begins to feel his way to the kitchen he bumps into something rather solid. Something that shouldn't be there. Now who could've put this here...

He reaches out and grabs Litchi's side, giving it a small squeeze. Oh. It's a person... a woman? Definitely not Firo or Kazuma.]

...Tao? Is that you?

[action] Totally fine~ :D

[not_meatbuns]

[Litchi jumps a bit at the squeeze, but she laughs it off right away. Honestly, that could have gone worse.]

No, I'm sorry, but I'm not Tao. My name is Litchi.