I'm headed straight for the castle

[our_promise]

WHO: Natalia
WHERE: The Bunker, then the Southern Village
WHEN: Sept 22
OPEN TO: Asch, then All
WARNINGS: TBD

---

The bunker

for Asch

She had escaped Eldrant with the others, she knew. That had been hours ago. So why did she suddenly feel as though she'd been dumped into the ocean under a pile of debris? Natalia forced her eyes open as the liquid began to drain from her containment tube. It didn't sting like sea water, and the vague shapes she could make out nearby didn't make any sense. Finally she felt the water level just past the top of her head. Squeezing her eyes shut again and tilting her head she pushed up with her whole body, gasping for a breath of air.

It wasn't until the water was at her ankles that, back against the glass, she began to wonder about her surroundings again. She was in some kind of cage, and from what little she could see that was inside of another kind of cage. A research facility, maybe? She stood up straight, ran fingers through her hair, wrung out and straightened her odd new clothes as best she could, then stood with her chin raised. Her voice didn't waver.

"Hello? Is there anyone there? Release me at once."

SOUTHERN VILLAGE

OTA

Natalia wandered through the more densely populated southern village, looking for any signs of intelligent life. It didn't matter to her if that life was large, small, oddly shaped or objectively terrifying. She intended to speak to any and everyone who had arrived here the same way that she did.

Of course Asch had explained things to her, even showed her around town a little bit. But she wanted to hear more from the people who lived here. She had questions Asch couldn't answer, questions she wanted multiple responses to. And beyond that, this village was unfamiliar. Everything was unfamiliar, and she wanted to get a handle on it herself. Second-hand explanations could only do so much.

Having changed into the spare set of clothes from her pack Natalia's navy blue scrubs were dry and fresh, but her damp hair might give her away as a newcomer. She carried herself straight and proper as a princess should, hands still at her sides. It was how she had been trained to walk for public appearances, and it had become a daily habit.

"Excuse me," she began, approaching the first person she came upon. "Might I have a moment of your time?"

Comments

[cinere]

He could feel it, even without the words, he felt something in that touch. They've got a thing, its called radar love. He was real, and there, and so was she. He had already resigned himself to never seeing her, or the others, ever again. He was dead, and that should have been the end. Still, here she was.

"Good." he spoke, with just a hint of sadness. Despite all, he would always want Van's approval even if he wanted the man dead. The hand not in hers reached up to wipe away a stray tear from her cheek. It was weakness, but Natalia was a princess, she was fine.

"Of course the Dreck stayed behind. I would have." He spoke, almost like he approved of his replica's actions. "He better have handled it." He stated, keeping his eyes steady on her.

"I felt myself die, I felt my conciousness leave after I spoke to him. Then I awoke in the fountain."

[our_promise]

The tears did slow as she began to think properly. Her joy was overwhelming, but there were other concerns. She offered a sympathetic smile. Luke had thanked his former master as he died. She could only imagine how Asch must feel. And guilty though it made her feel she relished in that light touch.

She frowned at his explanation, not for the most part liking or understanding it. To feel death... it seemed like such a horrible thing. But now he was here, and that was strange but this was one gift horse she wouldn't look in the mouth. And there was one other thing she didn't understand.

"Fountain?"

She looked around the room again now that there was no glass distorting her view. It looked old, decrepit, poorly lit. She could see that there were other tubes as well, and decided that she would like to step out of hers now.