1: (and we hit the ground running) [OPEN COMMENTLOG]

[dat_astrid]

[It was like blinking. That's all it was, really. A blink and suddenly--]

Where--

[She wasn't in the forest near Raven's Point anymore. The axe she just had in her hand was missing. Everything was odd... she was in some... stone dungeon-looking place, like the areas beneath the arena. There was a bed, a weird little black box

Comments

[talkingfishbone]

[Coming down from the top deck--now immensely less creepy than it was the other night--Hiccup fancies himself alone. When he starts down the stairwell, the only sounds are his own, lazy footsteps.

Then, somewhere several decks below, there's the loud bang of a door slamming shut and the smacking of boots running up the stairs. The teen quickly starts hugging the walls. He doesn't want whoever to plow him over. He keeps his eyes to the floor, only glancing up when the steps get dangerously close too for comfort. Finally, Hiccup just presses himself into the corner of the landing of Deck 2 and waits for the person to pass. Juuuust to make sure.]

[dat_astrid]

[Astrid runs, taking three stairs at a time when she can, leaping like a mountain goat to propel herself up stairs as fast as she can when she spots--]

YOU!

[Forgetting any other objective, she bounds up the last couple of stairs, fury already showing in her face.]

I swear to every God we know, if this is your fault somehow--

[talkingfishbone]

[Hiccup stares at her dumbstruck.

...He's asleep.

He's dead?

No, he's just asleep. He's asleep, or Astrid is back and she is pissed and he didn't do anything--]

I--I-I didn't do anything!

[Exactly what you should yell at the girl you like who's just come back from the dead.]

[dat_astrid]

Hiccup, I want answers. Where are we? I just saw you in the woods-- and now--

[There's a frustrated growl and she grabs the front of his shirt.]

Start talking.

[She missed you too, Hiccup. In her own, very, very special way.]

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix has been busy investigating the top deck, but so far nothing of note has shown up - nothing that would explain the noise or the disturbance or the stars that had apparently vanished.

Eventually, though, heads back down to the lower decks, intent on finding something to eat. He's passing by a set of stairs, not entirely paying attention.

He'll regret that in a moment when something small and blond slams right into his side, nearly knocking him down.]

Precursors!

[dat_astrid]

[Astrid gives a hiss of annoyance, stumbling back and catching herself before she actually hits the ground-- Phoenix was not as large as the Vikings at home by any stretch of the imagination, but he was still heavier than she was, and it throws her off balance. She's not going to blindly attack-- it's not like she ran into a dragon, or something-- but she stares up with bright, ice-blue eyes in shock and something akin to horror at Phoenix's ears. It gives her enough pause that she doesn't bolt past him immediately.]

[ecopiracy]

[Phoenix rights himself and looks down to meet those eyes with irritation.]

Would you kindly look where you're going, child? Whatever urgent need had you running in the first place, it cannot possibly be helped by barreling into other people.

[dat_astrid]

What--

[She fumbles for words, staring. Is he a troll? There's no way he's a troll-- the kids that used to joke that she would get kidnapped because she didn't have a horrible enough name couldn't have been right.]

What are you?

[Tact: Something Vikings famously lack.]

[lightyourway]

[Coming back from the buffet, Kairi was doing her level best to keep her thoughts as far away from recent events as possible. She had a plate of salt-and-pepper squid. She's almost back at her room. Nothing out of the ordinary is going on here.

Unless you count the blond girl who's suddenly hurtling up the stairs towards her.

Kairi just manages to step aside, her plate held high to avoid mishap. And then she recognizes the girl's face.]

Astrid?!

[dat_astrid]

[The viking girl skids to a dead stop, staring at the other teenager with a look of disbelief. She's never seen her before in her life.]

How do you know my name?

[It's a harsh demand.]

[lightyourway]

I-...

[Kairi stops and takes a moment to look Astrid over. She looks exactly the same, but she was definitely gone. Kairi has no idea how to start explaining this.]

You were here before. You disappeared.

I'm Kairi.

... You don't remember?

[dat_astrid]

[Astrid steps back, gripping her makeshift weapon tighter, eying Kairi with remarkable skepticism.]

I've never been here before in my life.

[She's somewhat hesitant to accuse this girl of insanity-- and she's definitely not like most of the people from home. She takes another step away.]

[summonupastorm]

[Being another recent arrival, Yuna's about as confused as Astrid is.

Well, maybe not as confused, since she was able to get a little bit of information out of Ironhide and had Rfena inform her about both the Deck 11 fire and the temple on Deck 13. Aside from that, though, Yuna is completely clueless, and has decided that it would probably be a wise idea to do some more exploring before going off to find that temple.

It isn't very long before she notices a strangely-dressed girl running around with a broken lamp.]

Do you need any help?

[Not that Yuna will be able to help with anything, but it's in her nature to at least try.]

[dat_astrid]

[She stops-- she's tempted to keep barreling on by like she has about four or five other bewildered passengers so far, but she does stop.

It's odd-- it was the sheer strangeness of an offer of help being extended when she's running by like a house is on fire behind her that gives her pause. She eyes the woman before finally huffing her bangs out of her face.]

No.

[She grits her teeth and adds,]

Thanks for the offer.

[She can't be a complete jerk to someone who offered assistance, you don't do that. She looks like she's about to bolt off again, though, unless Yuna has something to say that can stop her...]

[summonupastorm]

[And Astrid's panicked running is exactly why Yuna wants to try and be of assistance. Fear, panic, anger, and other such emotions were far too common in Spira, and it was Yuna's duty as a summoner to not only defeat Sin, but to act as both a hope and a comfort to the people of Spira.

Astrid does not appear to be from Spira, and it is highly doubtful that anything Yuna says or does will be able to comfort Astrid.

...but Yuna tries her best to offer what she hopes looks like a reassuring smile.]

Maybe it...would be safer if we explored the ship together? [Yuna isn't trying to imply that Astrid is weak; on the contrary, she thinks the girl looks very capable.] I am not a fighter, but I know of a few healing spells.

[A brief pause.] Um. In case there is trouble.

[dat_astrid]

[Astrid looks her up and down, skeptical. There are magics in the world, supposedly, but she doesn't believe in them, not much. She doesn't want to abandon a non-fighter somewhere that could be dangerous-- though she doesn't really know how dangerous this place IS, or isn't, or whatever.]

I'll be fine. I can help you find someplace safe, though.

[A beat.]

How long have you been here?