recolle | [open]

[open]

WHO: Aki and (you!)
WHERE: All around Recolle
WHEN: Mid-April, it's flexible but spans the three day questing limit
WHAT: Another victim of memloss wandering around, trying to solve a problem. If you'd like to plan anything specific for wildcard or the like, just shoot me a pm! We can work something out.
WARNINGS: uhhh probably nothing! I'll adjust accordingly if necessary.

[At the very least, it's a good reminder for her that from now on, no more wandering around by herself.

Much like everyone else unfortunate enough to lose themselves, Aki wanders the forest until she's drawn to the spot where the witch's house resides. By that point she's completely lost her memories, but she can't say panic is what falls over her first. It's more like...confusion, but there's no anxiety that follows. The truth is with a lot of her loved ones missing lately, forgetting them was a lot more convenient for her emotional state. It's almost like a huge weight's been lifted off of her shoulders, even if she can't remember why.

It's about then that the witch makes an appearance, offering the same deal she did to everyone else. An identity, even if it's nothing more than a name, but it's more than she had five seconds ago.

Nobuyuki.

Briefly she wonders if her new name holds any meaning to her, but in the end she can't place it at all. The only memories she has left don't give any indication of its importance, so she decides to ignore whatever it is that nags at her. She figures she ought to focus on the task she's been assigned instead.]

Be honest with people...?

[She hums thoughtfully before beginning to make her way out of the forest.]

[1]

[The first spot you may find Aki wandering is none other than Viea Village. Having checked her phone and gone sleuthing for answers, she notices she's spoken a lot to some girl named Yuuko, even if their last correspondence was quite a while ago. It only takes another bit of sleuthing before she finds her house too, arriving at the front door and ringing the doorbell. Unfortunately, given how distant Aki's been to her lately, she doesn't really respond well to anything that comes right after; with Aki telling her that she's lost her memory, that she doesn't know who yuuko is or if she's important to her, as well as attempts to show her the retrospec app that all amounts to nothing but one upset former best friend. She shoves Aki back just enough to slam the door shut...buuut despite it all, Aki just turns away from the door and walks away from it, stopping outside Yuuko's front garden.]

Weird. I mean, I was being honest...

[Oh well! She pulls out her phone and starts looking over more names to follow up on.]

[2]

[Unfortunately her second most talked to contact is Sakura. Given they broke up for reasons Sakura can't understand given her disconnection from the network, she responds about as well to Aki's sudden appearance as Yuuko did. A lot of nonsense about lost memories and and not even recognising her name, resulting in about the same response. Another door slammed in her face, another upset girl.

Again she's just standing there unaffected. All she can really think to herself is...]

...I wonder if I'm just bad with women?

[AGAIN, OH WELL.

But this time she's a little low on the frequent contacts front, so when she exits Sakura's apartment reading over her conversations on her phone, she neglects to do things the difficult way and instead approaches the nearest person who walks by, even laying a hand to their shoulder (or arm, for you giants) to get their attention.]

Hey, hold on a second. Mind if I ask you something?

[3]

[Alternatively, here's your quickfire round of list of locations she can be found.

First up is the arcade; initially you might find her inspecting the games but neglecting to actually play, just watching other people (maybe you!) at work. Alternatively wait around a little longer and you might find her being angrily questioned by her boss on where she's been the past two days and why she's ignored their calls. Unfortunately her current situation has her looking really blasé about the whole thing, much to her boss' annoyance. Please save her from getting her ass fired.

Second we have outside of Churchill Downs, where a chocobo's taken to run off from where it should be to approach her, immediately bumping its head against her playfully with the occasional, affectionate rub of its face against hers. Normally she's around frequently just to see the chocobos when she has spare time, so it's likely one that just remembers her from before...but she lacks the usual enthusiasm she has for the birds, just watching it like it's Not Really That Normal Actually. She also looks to the nearest person with an expression that seems to ask why no one else is weirded out by the giant bird.

Annnd lastly...her constant searching leaves her hungry, yet she doesn't have any money on her. So this really could occur any place you'd find something to eat...that she could reasonably swipe. Maybe it's one of Recolle's many bakeries or maybe Freshens, maybe it's not the first time today she's done it. Maybe you've trailed her and seen her at this a few times already. Either way she's taken something small and easily concealed and now she's trying to casually slide on out of the place without paying. What will you do?]

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[That's a voice he hasn't heard in quite the while, really, and it takes a moment for Goro to register who's talking to him before he smiles and turns completely, holding... a very large Savannah in his arms. The cat has a harness and a leash. The cat struggles for a moment before Goro lets her down to sniff at Aki curiously, making trilling sounds.]

You're looking well, Miss-- [... Oh, oh okay, this is-- well he cannot speak her name, he knows what that means consider his boyfriend has gone through the same thing, and his smile turns a little concerned.] You're looking well. What is it?

[For a second there, it sounded like he recognised her...actually, it still looks like he does. She should probably follow up on that.

For now though, she pulls out her phone and brings up a photo of herself and her ex to show to Akechi. She might look way too energetic in the photo to be Aki but...she's also clearly been drinking, so maybe she's just a fun drunk. Or a loud one.]

Do you know where this girl lives? Sakura...[She looks at the screen again, just to double check--]...Fujiwara.

[Gosh......... Is she even old enough to drink..? No, she is, isn't she? She is. Maybe. He won't question it.]

No, I'm afraid not. I'm sorry. Is there anything else I can do for you?

[Don't be a snitch goro...

She puts her phone away, since that's of no use right now.]

Well, do you know me?

I do, but I can't say your name. We worked together back in August with a number of others for our own survival, and I found you pleasant, if serious, company. I don't suppose you met someone in the woods..?

[Just. So he's confirming things.]

[She nods.]

Yeah, I did. She gave me this stupid task to finish to get my memories back.

Do you know her? It'd be a lot easier if you could just convince her to do it if you do. I don't really wanna waste my time with this.

No, but I'd like to meet her too. I have a few carefully chosen words about what she's done to someone important to me.

What is it she asked you to do?

She told me to be honest with people.

I was honest about the situation with someone just now and not only did they just get upset, it didn't fix a thing. So I'm at a loss here.

[... Well.]

It might be a little more difficult than that... Um, they seem to have a layer to them that's beyond the obvious, or so I've gathered. I wonder how you have to be honest, if it's not necessarily what...

Beats me.

[She shrugs her shoulders.]

I mean if this is one of those instances where my honesty has to have meaning, I'm not entirely sure how I'll pull that off when I know nothing about myself.

I don't know either. Have you lied about anything? In this life or another?

[Please be ever truthful.]

[Of course the moment Soleil sees Aki, she cannot help but track her down. How is she able to just stumble across someone she knows in the middle of such an enormous city? That's the power of love. She cannot help but show up when one of her girls is in need.

Except as she finally tracks down Aki through Freshens, she spots her snatching something. Being Lawful Gay, Soleil is disappointed and aghast. Before Aki can get out the door, she takes Aki's shirt by the collar and hefts her off the floor.]

What are you doing?

[One might expect being caught stealing would incite some kind of reaction; shock, concern, even some degree of irritation, but...Aki calmly slips a chocolate bar (and then a second one!! the scandal) out of her sleeve and shows them to Soleil.]

Stealing. Guess you caught me though.

You gonna snitch or what?

[A surprisingly honest answer...]

Come on, Aki, this isn't cool.

[On her scale of cuteness, this horrible act has caused Aki's score to go down an astonishing 0.78 points.]

I didn't get this sort of impression of you.

Oh.

[She can’t even hear whatever Soleil calls her, but she’s used to that by now. It makes it easier to guess they must know each other.

Or did.]

Listen, things are a bit complicated right now. I wouldn’t be too concerned about whatever you think you know about me.

[Soleil finally lets her go, but she isn't about to let her go. Aki is weird, but this is a different sort of weird.

Wait.]

Are you having money problems? I'm offended you'd resort to this. Let me help you out.

I’m—

[Not, she almost wants to say...

But isn’t that partially the problem? No cash and she can’t use any of her cards. Doesn’t even know her own address to go to so she pick money up, either.

So...]

...uh, yeah. That’s it. Poor old me.

I could go for something to eat. But if you’re offering, maybe something a little more substantial?

Then put that stuff back and I'll take you out wherever you'd like, on me.

[Once again she has come to Aki's rescue. Maybe they are fated if destiny continues to bring Soleil to her aid when she is in the most need?

She slaps Aki on the back. She means to be gentle, but...she is a meathead.]

Come on, it'll be fun. It'll get you out of that mood.

[Actually, Aki seems how she always is...]

[She stumbles forward a little when slapped, dropping whatever she took in the process. But she simply picks it back up and returns it to its shelf, returning to Soleil shortly after to leave the store.]

...am I in a mood? I hadn't noticed.

[She doesn't know what's considered unusual for her everyday behaviour...]

You're trying to steal--

[Well. Aki did give her a strong impression of being kind of weird, so Soleil decides to drop it.]

Never mind. A date is just what you need to get you into a good mood, so leave it to Soleil to save the damsel in distress once again.

...a date?

[The conversations she had on her phone with Sakura implied they were dating...is this considered cheating if she goes on a date with another girl?

Oh well, she doesn’t really care as she is. If Soleil doesn’t know that’s not her problem.]

A date it is then. As long as the food’s good. Where’d you have in mind?

No idea! We only got coffee last time, so I don't have a great idea of what you're into.

[She could have sworn she remembers Aki mentioning having a girlfriend. Maybe she is playing along? Hmm.]

What are you in the mood for? I can always go for a burger.

Burger sounds fine.

[what is a burger

GUESS SHE'LL FIND OUT.]

I'm really not that picky. So...how about you just do what comes natural and we won't ask too many questions the whole day? Keep everything nice and simple.

Alriiight.

[Any way you look at it, that is a weird request. This is extra weird given how quickly Aki was to point out she had a girlfriend the first time Soleil hit on her.

...Maybe something happened. That must be it.

She hooks an arm around Aki's.]

Do what comes natural, got it.

[A wink. Yeah, she gets it.]

[At least by now, Kashuu's kind of seen this happen before...!

Which doesn't mean he's necessarily prepared to deal with it, but hey. He can Try™. At the very least, preventing Aki from getting fired is high on the priority list and something he can (probably) manage!]

Oh— There you are! [Just slllidin' right on in between Aki and her pissed-off employer.] I was looking for you everywhere. Geez! Don't scare us like that again.

[This directed at her, though he shifts his attention to Angry Employer directly after, looking as apologetic as he can muster.]

Sorry about that. She had this freak accident with an elevator a few days ago, bonked her head pretty hard and broke her phone. She's supposed to be on bedrest now, actually - like, at the hospital.

[Oh. You know, her boss seems fairly satisfied with that and suddenly concerned to boot - Aki's a very important employee after all, as well as someone they've known a long time, so if she's in genuine trouble of course they're sympathetic.

...until Aki ruins it by just--]

...I think that's a lie. I don't remember any accident.

[NOW THEY'RE SUSPICIOUS AGAIN. But also kind of confused...]

[He SEES THAT CONFUSION and immediately hones in on it like a lion on a wounded gazelle...

Just give him a second to make a concerned face himself, and he'll lean in toward her boss a little.]

She's had some pretty severe short-term memory loss... The doctors say she'll recover, but it might take a little while. She didn't even remember going to physical therapy just this morning and kept saying she was late.

...no, I didn't.

[Look, the mysterious forest witch just said she had to be honest, she didn't say anything about forcing other people to be compliant to her honesty.

But given Aki's always been a decent enough employee her boss believes something must have caused this. So mostly they urge him to bring her home right away because clearly she needs her rest!! And there's also a little scolding for letting her wander off by herself because that's dangerous? Don't be so irresponsible with her Kashuu. Geez.]

[He'll accept this mild scolding, even dipping his head a little apologetically, and then wave this poor chump off as he turns to start ushering Aki away. They've clearly got to make their escape ASAP before any suspicions return...

That said, once they're out of earshot:]

Oh my god. Would it really kill you to play along even a tiny bit? I guess it worked out and all, but still!

I'm supposed to be completely honest. I'm not gonna ruin my chance at getting my memories back over this.

[Actually she considers what she said for a moment, then-]

...I mean, I guess I don't really care that much. But everyone else does.

Yeah, that's...

[HONEST, BUT STILL? AKI?? He's a little concerned, but at least she's still shooting for gold even if she's not fussed about it.]

...I mean, I guess I could ask if you're really not worried about just forgetting tons of stuff, but that'd probably be pointless. How're you doing with your task thing or whatever so far?

[ Not precisely a frequenter of Churchill Downs but she did happen to be walking past it, she sees... all of that. The bird being affectionate, the girl - ah, she's... man, that's weird, the name escapes her, even if she's wearing sunglass the woman got her - and the look. Elda Marker's out in all of her 5' and now maybe generously 92 lb after the loss of muscle mass glory in a wide brim hat, a parasol to block out the sun more, and sunglasses.

... It probably looks silly when it's not that hot out.

But she blinks under the sunglasses and, ]

Yes...?

...I thought it was obvious. Isn't it obvious? There's a giant bird right here in front of us.

[As if acknowledging her acknowledgement, the bird gives a cheerful "kweh!" and looks over to Elda.]

This is weird.

[ Oh.

Oh that's... ]

Did you recently get a new app?

...something like that.

[Someone already explained this...sort of. Half and half.

Giant birds were left out of the details.]

It's more like I forgot I had it.

Oh, well... Well they appeared some time ago, and for a while they replaced horses. If you think about it, I'l sure it'll come back to you?

[ It kinda messed her up at the time... she laughs it off right up until she realizes-

Wait, that's... ]

Wait, you lost it since December? I think I've seen you before then...

No it was a day or two ago. Now I don't remember anything.

[She reaches into her pocket, pulling out her phone.]

And I have this...app. That's what people keep calling it. This app on my phone that doesn't even have my name on it along with all these people I've spoken to that I don't know.

[ . . . ]

What? No one you've met? Sure, there's a few hundred people but you oughta know someone or another. Besides, the username just is your name... right?

[ . . . That's weird, she can't think of this girl's name. ]

[She shakes her head.]

I’vs forgotten everything. Even my identity. Even these old chat logs I have of people I’m seemingly on close terms with, I don’t know at all.

[...there’s no urgency in her tone though. She doesn’t seem to care.]

... Well that's bad, isn't it?

[ And curiously, she looks down at her right hand as she says it, holding out palm up. She waves it, and then puts it back to her side. ]

...I guess.

It’s kind of hard to care though. They’re just a bunch of strangers and memories I’ve never known.

[ . . . ]

It's still a whole life, you know. You probably should care.

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