not_meatbuns | Rebel 23 [Action - Foward-dated to tomorrow evening]

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Rebel 23 [Action - Foward-dated to tomorrow evening]

[Today has not been an easy day.

It started last night: the steadily rising murmur of voices echoing off the Boundary, so many overlapping and talking at once that the sound has become almost like the buzz of a monstrous insect. She had gone to bed early, entire body aching, hoping that some rest would take care of it.

This morning, it still wasn't gone. The buzz was louder than ever, so loud she could barely hear anything else. And the feedback... the pain was nearly overwhelming. Her head throbbed, lungs burned. But she could do this. She could handle it. Just some tea mixed with the right herbs and the pain will go away.

It took far too long to remember what those herbs were. How many times had she mixed this up before? Why was this so hard now?

Several hours later, as she sat at the front desk of the clinic finishing up some paperwork, the blackouts started.

At first faint, ghostly images of home, familiar faces she knew weren't in Luceti, would flicker in and out around her. And then Luceti began to completely vanish from time to time, leaving glimpses of Orient Town, the lab in Sector Seven, the Kagutsuchi NOL branch, and Ronin-gai to take its place. Memories collided. And the bone-deep terror set in.

It isn't until she starts coughing that she decides to leave the clinic early for the day. Being around other doctors with a blood-flecked handkerchief is just asking for more trouble than she's willing to risk.

Time to go home. Time to just curl up in bed and call it a day and pray that it will be over in the morning.

It isn't until her hand is on the doorknob to her old apartment that Litchi remembers that she doesn't live there anymore. Shaking her head, trying to think clearly, she turns back to head in the right direction.

Disoriented and pained, she starts to make her way back to House 48. But the going is slow; not only is the way blurred from her memory from time to time, but her coughing is just growing worse the longer she walks.

This can't be it. Not here. Not now...!]

[[ooc: The thread with Noel will chronologically come last. ♥ Litchi will not be available after that thread. Beforehand, though, feel free to run into her anywhere along the path from Community Building 2 to House 48.

Also, I gotta leave for work pretty soon, but I will tag when I'm home. ;;]]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[a worried Tao is pouncing your way. and she sees that bloodied handkerchief.]

What's wrong, meow?

[Oh, no. Litchi hurriedly tries to hide the handkerchief up her sleeve. Tao can't see this. As bad as it's getting, she can't make this hard on Tao.]

I-it's nothing. I'm... just a little sick is all.

Then let's go home and take naps, meow.

[Weak smile.] That's precisely what I mean to do. It should be better by morning.

[It was getting dark, and Noel was still in the forest. Even though at this point she was getting the hang of navigating through the area... it was probably a silly idea to stay out for long; after all, she knew the potential dangers she risks facing for merely being alone out here.

Of all the people she'd encounter out here in the wilderness tonight, though, she didn't expect to see Miss Litchi. Alone. After a double-take, Noel looks at the woman, dumbfounded.]

Miss... Litchi?

[Litchi pauses, glancing over at Noel, her expression blank for a moment. Confusion flickers across her face briefly as memories struggle to line up correctly. The NOL girl that always comes by to visit -- wait, that girl she dressed up like a pirate that one time -- no, no, neither one of those is right...

A sharp pain from behind her eyes finally pulls her thoughts together. Her vision is already darkening, even from this distance. No...

Unable to fight down a wince, she tries to act as normal as possible despite how pale she's gotten.]

Ah... Miss Vermillion...? What brings you here?

[There it is again; that feeling is back. And all the same, Litchi looks ill. For a second, Noel's memories race back to the other day. Witnessing Litchi barely exit the apartment, Ragna's warning to stay away from her...

But Noel remembers her resolve -- wanting to help Litchi. Even though she hadn't expected to run into her so soon, it's probably now or never. She can't run away from this.

It doesn't mean she isn't nervous to do this, though. Still, Noel approaches.] I was just finished speaking with one of the Spirits here for today. [...] What are you doing here? You... don't look too well...

[The closer Noel comes, the darker the world gets, the louder the murmuring sound becomes. Cold fear dropping into the pit of her stomach, Litchi takes a step backward. No, no, don't come any closer...!]

It... it's nothing, really, I just wasn't feeling well... I was headed home.

[And how she got so far off-course of where she meant to go, she really can't recall.]

...Huh? But... [She stops her approach.] Your house is nowhere near here.

[In fact, it's in the opposite direction. Miss Litchi... are you lying to her?]

[The confused look flickers into her eyes again as Litchi looks around. The woods. She could have sworn she was headed in the right direction.

A hint of panic sneaks into her tone. She's genuinely lost.]

I... suppose I must have turned the wrong way. I didn't even notice...

[Noel catches it. Maybe it isn't a lie -- but then, why would Litchi of all people not know her way back home...?]

Do you need any help? [...no wait. She takes another step forward.] A-Actually, Miss Litchi, I... I need to talk to you about something, too. It's really important.

[Pitch dark. A soft blue glow. The buzz grows louder...

And Litchi staggers another step back.]

I... I should be just fine once I get home. What is it that you needed to talk about?

[...?]

I-It's... about what happened back in our world. [A long pause. Noel's so nervous; for a moment, she wonders if she can get through this without backing out, but--] Why... Why were you at the gates with Te--...H-Hazama? [And everyone else. Tsubaki, that man, the... Imperator.]

[If Litchi looked confused before, it has nothing on the look on her face now.]

Hazama? He spoke to me at my clinic, but that was all I saw of him while I was back home.

[Although there's a memory resounding from somewhere that she heard from him again. A park... Lao Jiu peering up at her before bristling at the man approaching them... That sneering tone, the mocking words...

She presses a hand to her forehead as if trying to push back the steadily worsening migraine.]

...What gates do you mean?

W-What? You don't... remember?

[Or rather, it didn't even happen yet. Suddenly, there's a small ray of hope. If they hadn't (apparently) become allies yet, then there was a chance that Noel could stop this before it happens again.

But if he already spoke to her...] Miss Litchi, that man... n-no matter what, you mustn't listen to anything he says! He's dangerous!

[Litchi shakes her head, still looking a little bewildered.]

There's no need to worry; I know he isn't someone to be trusted. He knows--

["--far more about me than he should," is what she almost says, but a coughing fit interrupts her mid-sentence. The handkerchief is far too bloodied at this point to escape notice, so she just covers her mouth with a sleeve.

Careful not to lower her arm enough that Noel would be able to see any flecks of blood, she clears her throat.]

...I-I'm sorry, I... really should get going home...

[Noel fails to see the blood, but Litchi getting into a coughing fit like that... it definitely worries her.

Her eyes widen a bit when she tries to leave; she can't let Litchi go-- not yet--] No, please wait!

[The girl gets a little closer, desperation in her voice increasing gradually.] Miss Litchi... I know you're a good person. If... If anything were to ever happen, I... [She pauses for a second, wondering if she should say--no, it's fine--] Mr. Goroh told me a few weeks ago that "something was wrong with your magic." Does that have something to do with that man-- Hazama? Just... what is going on? Do you need any help?

[And as Noel steps closer again, once again Litchi backs away. The feedback has become something of a muted roar.]

N-no, it... doesn't have anything to do with Hazama. [And she does need help, she has to admit, but without Kokonoe here, her options are pretty limited.] Please... it's nothing to worry about. I'm sure I'll be able to get it under control again before much lon--ger--

[As she coughs again, keeping her sleeve over her mouth, her handkerchief flutters, unnoticed, to the ground.]

Under-- [--control.

...Is what she wanted to say before she saw the handkerchief slip past Litchi's fingertips and onto the earth.]

[That's... That can't be...]

Th... That's-- blood!?

[Oh, no. Litchi wants to keep backing away, just to make sure they keep a safe distance, but her legs are refusing to move. The pain is getting to be far too much. And this cough... she's trying to stop, but it's just not working.

Please, stay back...!]

[This whole time, and Noel didn't even realize just how bad this had become.]

We need to take you to the clinic. [She steps forward, taking hold of Litchi's arms so she wouldn't collapse.] I-If we hurry, maybe--

[--------!!

... ringing...!

data... memories... flowing...]

[Darkness. She can't see...anything.

It's so dark. A room shrouded in shadows. Dust hanging in the air...books piled high to the ceiling. Papers scattered across the room; illegible script scrawled on them.

Within the darkness, something much, much darker is moving...

it's notthat'snot---

"L-Lotte!? W-What--"

a pained scream interrupts the voice; it speaks-- something she can't understand

--not human

the woman's voice screams in terror. these feelings... fear, agony, despair, sadness... noel can feel everything. all the memories are being transferred into her. to much happier days; a time when things were simple.

just like when... she...

smiling faces-- a man--

a man noel has never seen in her life... within the cold, cramped corridors of the organization; laughing with miss litchi.

the same man sitting by his desk, books piling on his desk. sanity slowly fading.

--"What the hell did you touch!? Litchi!"

No... No more, please... Stop!

"Professor... I have to save to him!"

She... She-- No! No more!

"Do you have any idea what you're getting yourself into?"

The Boundary. Litchi interfered with the Boundary.

"...yes..."

Noel understands now.]

[Miss Litchi is dying.]

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