3/18/2003

04:05 PM

Logfile from Chase II.

 

Tomite

The slightly tousled brush of sloe-black hair tickles at the nape of his neck as the dark and straight fringe cascades over his forehead to oft overshadow perceptive gaze. Irises of a stormy sea green lashed with fog and foam are set in almond-shaped eyes, framed with lashes as dark as his hair. Youthful features are harshly angled, the strict lines drawn with the descendant of the same native blood that grants his skin its dusky cast. With his pronounced features and despite the gaunt appearance, a lithe grace characterizes his slightly less than average height as the low swell of toned muscles leave his wiry form svelte.

It is a return to the period clothes. Pale blue pants that envelope his legs are tucked into a pair of darker blue boots that are trimmed with a wide band of yellow about the top. A long-sleeved shirt of pale blue tops him as well, again loose but ending in cuffs of that dark blue and yellow once more. Over the top of that is a dark blue vest and a long split cloth of the same blue and yellow trip that drops down to just past his knees all sinched with a blue sash. Topping his head is that hat. You know the one. A strap crosses over his chest, keeping a quiver to his back.

He is awake and looks alert.

 

                                   Tundra                                  

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Surrounded by mountains this area of the tundra can be the most chilling and treacherous in Hokkan. The winds blow strong down the foothills and send arid, freezing temperatures over the land. Nothing remotely close to vegetation grows and even the animals are scarce. What wild dogs do show themselves only come out when the winds have ceased. The majority of animal indications are shown by the ivory bone's of creatures in the snow that were chilled to death while trying to cross this region. The fighting has been bad here, as shown by disturbed earth and several war camps scattered through the hills.

Byakko(#168) and Hatsui(#253) are here.

Exits: Tolan       (to Hokkan)

       Blue Tent   (to Blue Tent)

       Green Tent  (to Green Tent)

       Yellow Tent (to Yellow Tent)

 

It's the strangest thing. At first Chase is right where he belongs, and then he's not. The front will simply fade into being for him, and he's going to find himself much younger, exactly as he was before.

 

Hatsui has been having more oh-sh*t moments here than anywhere else, really, but pulling her hat and mittens off as she slips out of the blue tent, pulling a bit of a face before she composes herself. She herself is older than she was even in their current world, dressed in her favorite clothes from that point. Weaving through soldiers doing their daily tasks, she ignores any strange looks or comments as she heads for the command tent -- that is to say, the green one.

 

"Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh!" Its the kind of thing you might hear someone yell out when on a roller coaster. It is the kind of thing that Tomite is currently managing at this moment. He stumbles forward a step, hands extending wide to the sides as he peers over the area. "Uhm..." Head turns to the side, and that durn hat falls over his face. The hat. "Oh great Genbu..."

 

Yes, that was a familiar voice -- and the yell sends soldiers scrambling to their feet to look for the source of the disturbance. Hatsui herself is caught by surprise, eyes widening in surprise. Not that she's hard to find; she's the same chi beacon as ever.

 

Wait for it... Tomite comes racing around a tent suddenly, skidding over the ground to come to a stop just shy of Hatsui. Well, a much different but vaguely familiar Hatsui at that. He stares at her for a long moment, and then abruptly bursts into laughter. "I'm not dreaming, am I?"

 

Hatsui

The same shy delicacy that a pale pink tea-rose embodies is given human form in Hatsui; there is little about her that does not speak of fragility, from her less-than-five-foot height to the delicate planes of her face. The rose's shade also makes itself known -- rather prettily, one must note -- in her braided, beribboned hair, each braid ending in either a tiny, crystalline bead, a few shorter braids framing her face and softening her overly-fragile looks. Her build is light, her body lithe and slender, showing few curves -- she is sylph-like in her structure, her grace otherworldly, and the overall impression is that of a faerie woman having become mortal.

Hokkanese clothing adorns her; heavy, soft wool has been made into a quilted jacket dyed a pale, almost pastel blue. Form-fitting in spite of its weight, it covers a lighter dress and falls down to Hatsui's ankles, edged in pale yellow and covered in embroidery where the quilting ends. Beneath the coat, the dress makes a quiet contrast with the pale blue coat, dyed as it is in the same pale yellow as the coat's edging. Everything is richly embroidered, but a touch shabby in spots, as though lovingly repaired, but worn nonetheless. Beneath all the warm clothing are a pair of boots that seem somewhat newer than the rest, sheepskin forming the outside, warm felt on the inside. To top it all off, a triangular hat covers most of Hatsui's long braids, rabbitskin earflaps tied down around her ears. Overall, the bulky clothing makes her look all the more waifish.

She is awake, but has been staring off into space for a minute.

 

"Ha, ha. I wish," Hatsui says, then latches onto him. "Come on, we're going to talk to Uruki before he comes to hunt us down, and in this particular time, I don't think that's a really good idea, and Namame's still sleeping, and before you ask, he's fine, though I think he's going to try to kill me for me leaving without him, but anyway, let's go. And I feel sorry for Yasashiku -- that's Dylan now, but he couldn't come back with us, so he's... yeah. Anyway, let's go!" Tugtugtug.

 

Tomite is tugged along, not giving much in the way of resistance at all. "I just... I... Okay." *scamper-scamper* Is he giggling?

 

Hatsui leaves for Green Tent.

                                 Green Tent                                

---------------------------------==========---------------------------------

Larger than most, this tent contains one large table with several chairs, the surface covered in maps and leaving little room for more than planning. A large, portable bed takes up one side, while a smaller cot rests off to one side, both set upon a multitude of rugs carrying the distinctive markings of nobility. There is a rack for weaponry, though little of that space is used, and several lamps have been hung from the ceiling, giving off a serviceable amount of light as well as much needed heat.

Yasashiku(#321), Uruki(#287), and Hatsui(#253) are here.

Exit: Out (to Tundra)

 

Yasashiku is kissed? Well /that/ isn't what he'd been expecting, and the blush? Yes, it's there. "I..notice?"  Oh, this is a confused servant, but he's been given information, and he has to convey it.  "Ie, Uruki-sama has no need to apologize to me. Tomite-sama is coming as well. I.."  He's scared, yep. He'd crawl under one of the cots if he were alone and if he thought it might help. "I should get tea for them as well?" All of this is getting so strange, so he's going to keep doing normal things until he forces reality to come back!

 

Hatsui drags a giggling Tomite into the tent, an amused expression upon her face. Yes, while her eyes are blue in modern-day, they're more of a deep purple now, but that's about the only difference. She sweeps a bow to Uruki, letting go of Tomite's hand and barely stifling an amused grin at Yasashiku's situation. You'd think the poor man'd be grateful. "Hatsui reporting, as well as the newly-arrived Tomite, Uruki," she says, her voice light. "Namame's here as well."

 

Tomite has that lousy hat clutched to his chest as he is drug in by Hatsui. Yes, he is actually giggling now and again. Clearly this all hasn't quite caught up to him yet. "This is great," he manages, smiling near from ear to ear. Finally though, he manages to keep his feet, still snickering, only to blink across to Uruki and Yasahiku, and then blink again. "Heh."

 

Uruki eyes Hatsui then Tomite, and starts laughing softly, "Hatsui, I can't actually yell at you for being at the front, can I? Not if we're all showing up here. What of Inami, Urumiya or Hikitsu? Any sign of them yet?" The hat Tomite holds is blinked at, though the gaze from himself to Shiku isn't missed either. "Yasashiku, Tomite. He's Dylan in the other world. That's why they look similar. I don't know if Hatsui told you that or not." That ought to make the servant wonder even more.

 

Yasashiku is just not going to understand this-must be a seishi thing- though he's not exactly moving just yet. He has to wait until he's told what to do, because he'd asked a question, and walking away before it's answered hasn't occurred to him just yet. Waitaminute? He's who? Nuh-uh! This servant at least knows who he is. Protest? No, not going to do that. 

 

"Believe me, I don't want to be here, and I'm sure poor Yasashiku would have had a lot easier time if I'd wound up in Tolan," Hatsui replies, chuckling in return before she tries to step on Tomite's foot. "Tomite, you're completely nuts. And in a good way, but still, you giggling is disturbing me. Here, let me help with making tea, unless Uruki has other orders for me?" She moves towards Yasashiku. "I'm fine, before you ask. Yasashiku's shielding me."

 

"She mentioned it, outside." And Tomite is pointing a thumb over his shoulder in addition to the comment. Sheesh, that smile on his face simply won't go away. Such a happy seishi. Hatsui's foot stomping is narrowly avoided, and responded too with a smirk. "No, I'm not. And this is great." He said that before though, didn't he? Ah well.

 

Namame has arrived from Tundra.

Inami has arrived from Tundra.

 

"I'm not sure great would be the word I'd use, Tomite. We're still at the front, and there is still a war being fought here. I'm going to need to figure out what day it even is and look over my logs and maps. I don't want to lose the war yet simply because Setsuna was dumped into Uruki from the past," the flustered seishi replies. "Which means I hardly have orders for you, Hatsui. You weren't ever here before. Neither was Tomite." There was a mention of tea somewhere, wasn't there. Again Shiku is looked at and Uruki smiles kindly, "Tea would be fine."

 

Yasashiku would have had an easier time if Hatsui had ended up in Tolan! He's just not going to admit that, because the seishi? He'd like to know what was put into their tea. o.O  "I .."  Oh, right, he can't tell Hatsui no, even if she's been inhaling too many fumes. ..and she's telling on him! Never mind the fact that Uruki already seems to know, and that everything went from normal to insane in about five seconds. "It's already made, I'll bring it."  Be glad he's just not running away outright.

 

She's not specifically telling on him, mostly because Uruki does already know and mentioned it. There's a technicality there that's a distinct difference. "Thank you, Yasashiku," she says with a warm smile for the servant. "And I know, Uruki. Believe me, I know why you kept me from here now." She tilts her head back to look at Tomite upside-down, rolling her eyes. "You're insane."

"Yeah," Tomite mutters to Uruki before taking a few steps over to peer out the entrance flap of the tent and watch all the activity without. Ohhhhh, how he'd love to go out there and join the soldiers. He flickers a glance to the others, but is looking without once more. Anana's words are responded to with another vague wave of his hand. "I know. I know."

 

Namame has found Inami, innit that great? ...or something. He's had a few seconds to figure out that everything is who they should be, and that it's all good, but Hatsui?  "You stubborn woman, you didn't wake me up. Damnit, I had to make half a dozen excuses before I found Inami."  And Tomite? "That giggling's getting on my nerves, boy."  Hah! Because he can call him a boy! It's true! Maybe this wasn't such a bad idea, after all. "Saa.. this isn't good. You know they're gonna want us to fight if we're all here. Well, everyone but Hatsui and Uruki." 

 

Inami shoulders his way into the tent, although he quite literally has to stoop to get inside. Thankfully, this tent is actually big enough to accomodate his height and bulk, unlike the others.   "Hi." He states, calmly, folding his hands across his armored chest.  "Someone mind catching me up?"

 

Uruki watches the entrance of the others, shaking his head, "So that leaves Hikitsu and Urumiya. I should send word for the camp sentries to be on the look out for them both. Not that they're presence will be questioned directly." Namame is nodded to, "They'll want that, but it doesn't mean they'll get it. I'm concerned about the rumors that will circulate at the fact that so many of us are gathered here in one place. They'll think we have a large offensive in mind, which, while tempting, is not what happened before. There must be something else. I only wish I knew what." The seishi is finding it odd to be one of the oldest people in the tent at the moment.

 

Yasashiku is finding it odd, but that's because there are so many people in the tent right now, and all of them seishi! He's just going to focus on tea, because that is at least somewhat normal, even if he's dealing out more of the stuff in five minutes than he's had to in a full day. "If anyone notices, they can be kept from saying anything."  And he's saying nothing more than that! The tea is placed on the table, and the maps moved aside carefully.  The tension may make him cross-eyed in a bit.

 

"And Takiko, too," Hatsui points out quietly. "We're here to get the shinzaho and our summoning scroll, but how we're supposed to get both, I don't know; in order to get the shinzaho, we need to summon, and in order to summon, we need to use the scroll." She turns to Namame, pulling a face at him. "I couldn't sleep anymore, and /you/ needed the rest after everything. And... Tomite, no. Stay here, we need to talk first." Looking amongst those there, her gaze falls upon Yasashiku for a moment before she nods to Uruki. "What happened before is not going to happen the same way. I don't think it can, with us knowing. If, in truth, Ash comes back with us -- and I can't imagine that she'd let Hikitsu come without her -- she knows what she'll face, and I know what /I/ face."

 

Tomite smirks once more, namely at Namame, "I don't giggle... much." Sixteen again. Sheesh. It's bad enough being eighteen, but dropping back in age isn't making that elusive 21 any closer. Inami's presence garners a blink and a grin, "Hey, big guy." But he is back to looking outside again, an almost eager light to his eyes. "And can I fight... while we wait for the others? I swear I won't go and get myself killed or anything again. Just for a little bit? Pleeeeeease?" Hikitsu isn't here to smack him upside the head, so he better put in the request now. He is frowning though at Hatsui's words, finally paying attention once more to those in the tent with something of a frown.

 

Namame didn't need to hear that! "We're not summoning."  There's no request, just the statement.  "I don't need that much damned sleep, we got things to think about." Which he's going to leave entirely up to Uruki. "Tch, fighting, what the hell do you think this is, a game? There's no fighting yet, or I wouldn't have made it here so fast. Things got quiet on the border, but that won't last long."  Things only get quiet when it's going to get bad, he knows that much.  "What'd you think, Uruki?"

 

Inami isn't understanding the whole topic just yet, but if there's one thing he understands, it's food.  He takes one of the teacups and flashes a sheepish smile to the servant, reaching up with his free hand to rub at the back of his head somewhat sheepishly.  He elects to maintain silence until he gets a better clue, so he'll just settle for drinking the tea dry. Mmmmm. Hot tea.

 

"We're going to have to summon before we get the shinzaho? Damnit!" Okay, so Uruki normally doesn't swear. "Hatsui, if that's the way things work out, then you and I won't be around to take that shinzaho back. I can only hope we'd be throw out of these bodies before that happens." Not a happy seishi. It's all giving him a headache. Knowing the time and place of one's own death does that to a person. "Namame is right, however, things are quiet. I can sense that. If events are being reordered because of our presence here, then I'm not sure how things are going to play out. Howeve,r Tomite, you are not here for a vacation. None of us are."

 

Yasashiku doesn't understand these things, but, like Inami, he understands food and its place in gatherings like this. A large plate is set near the middle of the table with what might pass for cookies in a camp like this. At least they're sweet enough, and it might lift the mood of the place just a little. The mention of summoning gets a quick glance from the servant, but he moves back to his work, and hopefully out of notice. Bodies? Ok, that's going to mess with him. These seishi are either insane or just plain strange.

 

"If things go the same way," Hatsui replies quietly. "But in order to summon in our time, to bond the Yin gods with our own, we will either need the shinzaho or the summoning scroll and all of us. Which means that none of us can be allowed to die or be absent from the time in which we find ourselves doing it. All four of the priestesses, all twenty-eight of the seishi." She whirls upon Tomite, looking frustrated enough to try kicking the too agile seishi in the shins. "We're not, not, /not/ going to wind up fighting unless we /have/ to, Tomite, get that?" She rubs her forehead tiredly. "The Byakko shinzaho is already in our real world, which might mean that ours is, too. Maybe the scroll's the best thing to try to get." Sweets! She automatically reaches for a cookie, giving Shiku a grateful look for the sugar-containing food.

 

Tomite sighs faintly, actually rather disappointed, before turning back about to watch the others with arms folding over his chest. He apparently grows quiet while listening to the others. "Okay, okay," he mutters. That just means he'll have to sneak out later, and that's just fine with him. Yep. "So, where is the scroll? We know where that is, right?"

 

Namame points at Tomite.  "No fighting, it's final. I'll follow you all over this camp if I have to. You listen to Hatsui, even I'm not going out unless I absolutely have to."  He's turning down a fight? "Not unless Uruki says I have to, and that's final. We're here for a job. We do it and we leave. Once your brother gets here, you'll settle down."  He'll be here, that's a given.  "You know it's there? If we take the scroll, though, what happens here? I mean, unless we have two, which I guess is possible." 

 

Inami snags a handful of cookies and munches on them, with a rumbling sigh. "How do we get home once we have what we need?  Will this affect the past at all?"  He finally asks, frowning ponderously.  "Asking for nobody to die is.. A pretty tall order."

 

"Tch, I don't give orders, but I need to find out what the hell is going on here."  Namame isn't happy about this at all. No.  "I'll be back in an hour."  He's going to check the area by the border?  Probably.  "We need to find out exactly when this is." 

 

Namame leaves for Tundra.

 

Uruki watches Namame depart, nodding to the departing seishi. "I think the best thing is for us to remain in the camp until we know what Genbu has in store for us. Especially until the other two arrive. I am hoping that Takiko is not following as well. I need to sit and think about this one. Hatsui, are you going to be alright here for now?"

 

Yasashiku is going to just hide over here with the things he'd taken over to be mended, all of them Uruki's, and most of them torn from trips out onto the battlefield. Blushing? Yep, but at least this servant knows when to keep his mouth shut, and that time is now. He's not going to leave just yet, because there are things to be taken care of, and there are people here! Crazy people, granted, but he'd have to actually go past them to get out of the tent, if he had the inclination to run, and he doesn't at this point.

 

"I'm fine, if Yasashiku can hold the shielding on me," Hatsui replies firmly, "And I can tolerate it even if not, if I can get to sleep. I'm not going to burn myself out trying to ease everyone's pain. I know enough not to do that, and that it'd kill me to try." The look she tosses Yasashiku is a combination of amusement and sympathy; the poor man hasn't a clue and doesn't seem to want to get one.

 

Tomite looks after Namame, and then frowns deeper. He seems to consider for a moment, shoves the hat on his head and starts for the tent flap as well. "I'll be back when the others show up." And that is all the warning his is going to give before darting out as well. Take a moment to hunt and peck through the camp in the hopes of finding his bow, drool over it for a bit, get himself a horse, and try to not get into too much trouble that the other's will find out about. And in no particular order.

 

Inami plunks down and folds his hands behind his head lazily. He likes it in here, so he'll just rest in here a while.. Because, well, he's a sucker for cookies.  "You know, if you need other shielding, I should be able to put a few on you."  He murmurs, but doesn't seem overly worried.. He trusts his fellow seishi. Maybe he's just nuts like that.  "...Well, if you agree to never set me up on another date again, that is."  >.> He hasn't forgotten. Nosiree.