Give a Man a Fish

[Makoto Yuki]

Makoto opened his eyes, only to involuntarily shut them again in a vain attempt to shield his corneas from the searing, oppressive white that assaulted him from every which way.

When he gathered the strength to open them again, and when had his eyelids gotten so heavy?, a marble statue of a beautiful woman greeted him. Clear, shimmering water cascaded from a jug wrapped in a masterfully carved embrace, collecting into a pool purer than he'd ever seen.

It was a fountain. No, it was The Fountain. He must have died. How? No idea. The clearest memory he could muster was that of a falling airplane. What was he doing on that thing again? It must've been him helping someone, that's going to get him killed someday. 

Actually, it has. More than once, he begrudgingly conceded to himself.

The teen chose a random direction and started walking away from the only recognizable landmark in what he'd now realized was a sea of grey, not white. His eyes had just been too sensitive that time. It couldn't possibly get him any more lost than he already was.

___________

He was lost.

The bluenette had walked for what must have been hours, made all the more unbearable by the utter blankness suffocating the place. His aimless wandering only came to an end when he'd spotted several large stones, roughly cut and sloppily piled on top of one another, in the center was what could only be described as a gate, a rectangular frame hewn out of cobblestone surrounding a window into another world, one thankfully filled with color. 

That was more than three hours ago, and while he'd been thankful for the scenic route, cotton white clouds floating lazily above a canopy of greens and browns, broken only by the grey of the paved road he's been following ever since, too much of something can be just as boring as too little.

His salvation came in the form of a wooden beam jutting out of the ground to one side of the well used road, the faded paint on the single rickety sign hanging off of it read "West Aberdeen."

People! A farming community, if those tilled fields by that river were anything to go by. Maybe they had some food to spare? Farmers were supposed to be generous, yeah?

All that thinking about food reminded his stomach that it was really quite empty, and his feet that they'd been walking nonstop for more than a few hours.

It was on sore legs and a growling stomach that he stumbled into a facsimile of a village, thatched homes surrounding a central square, in which a great deal of shouting was taking place.

He just couldn't talk a break, could he?

A vague sound of sorrow floated up from his abdomen.

[Shiotaro Yuki]

Yuki had been wandering around for a while now, taking in the nostalgic scenery of an olden age. It almost felt somewhat homely and she managed to stay out of trouble since the robotic being known as Desman had vanished off to another world within this universe. She didn't mind wandering aimlessly, it led to new discoveries and places that would only surprise her with good things or bad.

Yuki had wandered into a small village, hearing noise of the folk present but not minding it all that much. Quarrels were bound to happen anywhere over things. Life wasn't exactly all rainbows and butterflies, but more a struggle with little hitches in them. She paused to see someone seemingly on their own and appearing... would the appropriate word have been exhausted? She'd always feel a concern for strangers that seemed strained like that and trotted over next to him, walking alongside to see if he needed help. "Hello sir. You seem tired. Would you like some help?" Though she didn't live here, the least she could do is probably help this man get a place to stay and maybe a bite to eat. Even if he didn't need the help, it was an excuse for her to socialise a bit too.

[Makoto Yuki]

A stranger's offer for help made Makoto straighten his posture in embarrassment, he might've been acting his exhaustion up a bit there, and turn to face his benefactor. He had to look up slightly to catch the blue eyes of the young woman. Pausing a moment to take in her long snow-white hair, her feline ears and tail, and her expensive looking dress. Was she a noble of some kind? This place looked like it'd have a royal family, or an upper class of society ruling it, just like the middle ages of his own dimension.

"Oh, hey there! Sorry, I didn't mean to worry you, I was just catching my breath, I must've underestimated the size of this place!" the Nexus hadn't taken nearly as long to navigate.

"Are you sure? You looked really troubled there," came the pale woman's response.

"Positive. Although, I definitely wouldn't object to if you were to lead the way to someplace I could get some food, I think I might be starving," Makoto lightly patted his stomach for emphasis.

"Well, I'm afraid this is also my first time visiting this village in particular. Honestly, I've just been aimlessly wandering for the last while," her pale face contorted slightly at those words, as if remembering an unpleasant experience.

"Hah! That makes two of us, what say you we join up? It shouldn't take long to find an inn or something, my treat!" a warm smile plastered itself over his young features, before they shifted into a look of sudden realization, "I'm Makoto Yuki, by the way. Feel free to call me Makoto, Yuki, or Mako. I don't really mind."

"My name is Shion, and I think I'll take you up on that offer," she replied. She didn't particularly trust this 'Makoto' person, if that's even his real name, but she'd play along for now.

"It's decided, this grand quest begins now!" said the bluenette as he marched on the dirt road, leading the way.

Only for it to end twenty steps later, in front of a worn out building with a sign in the shape of two wooden tankards. Maybe they had something to eat?

[Shiotaro Yuki]

Makoto Yuki... She took a mental note of the person's name. It was curious to her how this was the first person in any realm, universe, whatever you may call it with another person whom shared her name. He seemed to be a friendly sort, but she wouldn't let that win over her good side so easily. There are people very good at lying, after all. She followed Makoto to the entrance of the worn building, finding it to be more an inn or tavern of some sort. It added wonderfully to the folk-like feel of the area they were in.

There was an awkward pause and Yuki would let Makoto enter first the place first, holding the door open for him. After both were in, the blue haired girl looked around to see the place was dimly lit and many tables were filled with people drinking together. Some people sat on their own, probably mercenaries or guards relaxing a bit before their next task? That aside, few tables were vacant and the ones that were were found near corners or the door, away from the heat from a wood fire. "Perhaps we should have a seat near one of the corners?", Yuki suggested, not wanting to have Makoto get sick over sudden drafts from the doors opening and closing at random intervals.

[Shiotaro Yuki]

Yuki figured that Makoto seemed rather tired and offered to pay for a few nights at the inn for his stay and going off to wander about herself to kill time until Makoto was well rested and able to converse again.

OOC: Waiting for Makoto Yuki's return before continuing here. I hope he's alright :<

[Makoto Yuki]

Tired eyes opened briefly before a vicious assault forced them closed. Makoto let loose a hoarse groan as he cursed inwardly at his cowardly assailant. How dare the Sun sear his retinas! He was going to freeze it solid next chance he got, useless ball of gas.

The smartly dressed fellow fought to untangle his limbs from the mess that might have been a blanket last night as he gradually regained access to his mental faculties.

Last night...what had happened last night? Pale fingers buried themselves in blue hair as he struggled to cobble together fragments of memories.

“Oh! Shion.” He'd met a kindred spirit while wandering around and invited her to join him. After all when you're lost together with someone that's called an adventure.

Naturally, the first order of business was to order a (much needed) meal of lamb chops and a drink to go with the food. The drink being plain water of course. Makoto was a minor, you didn't expect him to actually drink something alcoholic, did you? No, that wouldn't happen. Honestly.

Mysteriously, this is where his memory gets foggy. He remembers renting a room (Shion insisted on paying) and that's about it.

...One room? That can't be, there was only the single bed Makoto had slept in. Where did Shion go?

Pushing himself to his feet and making a token effort to fix his suit, the teenager headed down to the tavern portion of the building to look for clues.

Taking the rickity wooden stairs two steps at a time he found the building's owner in no time. The middle aged man wearing a slightly yellow apron was polishing an already spotless glass with a rag when he was interrupted.

“Hello, hi, good morning. You wouldn't happen to know where my companion from last night was? Tall blue lady? A bit fancy-looking?”

“Nope. She took off last night after she helped you to your room. You were looking a bit woozy there, son. Are you sure you're alright now?” said the man, his brows furrowing in worry.

“She left? Huh. Did I scare her off or something?” While the muttered question was aimed at himself the bartender saw fit to provide an answer anyway.

“Chin up, lad. There's plenty of fish in the sea!” remarked the grinning love guru as he nudged the rejectee in the side with an elbow.

“What? No, that's not… Nevermind.” The boy walked towards the exit. He very pointedly did not hurry at all. Nor was he followed by the deep laughter of the nosy innkeeper.

Oh well, it's not like she was any more than a total stranger.

This ‘vagabond’ thing wasn't going too well for him though. Maybe he'd go back to the nexus and choose some other place to go to. If nothing else it was an excuse to summon his bike and go for a joyride. Those are nice.

Quest cancelled. Activity restored. Probably.