i've got a palm i'm reaching for you ( open )

[outcast]

Who: outcast & all of y'all
When: 5/28-5/29 / 2/22
Where: various
What: Merrill needs some sunlight, and probably gets lost eventually.
Rating/Warning: possible blood

---

( closed to hawke / forward dated to 5/28 )

[ sent at 8 AM, right after Merrill wakes for the day; she didn't consider that Hawke's probably being a lazy bones, but ever since — since the events of a few days prior, she was having trouble sleeping, and she'd kind of cooped herself up in her apartment. she remebered what hawke had told her a few days ago, while tending to her foot — that merrill could use some clothes. the ones she had were becoming ratty and worn, which, while in the alienage, she was used to, but cerealia was a colony of opportunity. she could have any clothes she wanted — even ones as blue as hawke's pants. ]

I hope I'm sending this to Hawke.
if this isn't Hawke you can ignore it. In fact, please ignore it, I'll be embarrassed regardless.

Would you like to do something, Hawke?
I have some free time. I suppose I always have free time now, except when I'm at work, which I am really enjoying!
We can do whatever you would like. Shopping, perhaps?

P.S. Hasn't my 'typing' gotten better? I've been practicing. I may have sent some letters to unsuspecting people, but they've yet to reply so I'll try not to worry about it too much.
- Merrill

( trying, part one / forward dated to 5/29 )

[ here's merrill, doing her best to go out, for once; since arriving, she'd been a bit of a recluse, having a difficult time reconciling with her situation. she wanted to find things to like about cerealia, as she did with.. just about any location she was thurst into, but it was difficult. while she had been nomadic her whole life, capable of finding beauty in any place she found herself, however ephemeral her stay may be, cerealia was cold, dank, uncaring. for once, she's wearing shoes — she learned she kind of had to while she was here.

the farthest she's made it from her apartment so far, however, is the sky bridges, a hand placed gently to the glass. it made it easier to take it all in, from such a high altitude; in a way, it helped to feel a bit removed from it all, up here in this strange tube. she imagined this must be similar to how a spirit looks at the world.

but she knows she had to venture farther than here if she wanted to truly acclimate herself to cerealia. but where..? catching sight of another person in the bridge, she walks over tentatively, an arm outstretched to hopefully get them to stop for a moment. ]

Pardon me— What is it you do all day, exactly? [ oh. that sounds a bit rude. ] That is— Ah. Are there any daily activities you prefer? Sights to see, perhaps?

( trying, part two / forward dated to 5/29 )

[ merrill had been out and about for a while, happy to window shop while she had time off from work — she was thankful for work, and enjoyed what she did, but it had become the only thing occupying her for a couple of weeks now, and she was beginning to yearn to stretch her legs. back home, there was.. precedence to stay home, to conceal herself from the other elves of the alienage. she had something to do at home, something important, but she was here, and she was stuck, and there was no way home. for now.

she had purchased a few things, mostly things she needed — food, bathing products, and, most importantly, a fresh, new ball of twine. it was a seemingly obsolete item in cerealia, but so integral to how merrill functioned; she'd begun to rely on the stuff to find her way home.

sadly, she hadn't had any when she came to the marketplace today, so now she has no idea how to get home. so merrill's beginning to panic, a bit, wandering aimlessly into sketchy alleyways and perhaps finding herself in a club, even. it's possible she'll end up bumping into you in her frenzy. ]

Oh— pardon me. This.. isn't the residential district, is it?

Comments

part one

[pure_havoc]

[Cao Pi is getting used to people just sort of interrupting him wherever he goes. This world, honestly.

But the woman is at least polite about it, and the questions out of the blue take him aback for only a second before he has to stop and wonder. Who is this? Why does she want to know?]

Is there a reason you're asking me in particular, my lady?

[he isn't armored, but his surcoat and silk trousers - with the pair of swords sheathed at his side - might hint that he's not from around these parts, like her.]

[outcast]

Well.. I suppose there isn't a particular reason, you simply look like you're prepared to have a fulfilling day.

[ really, she was willing to ask anyone — this world was full of surprises, so even a stranger on the street could possibly illuminate her on any subject she could think of. ]

[pure_havoc]

[true, he's on his way to have tea and talk strategy, but he also has a small leather-bound folder in hand, full of his calligraphy supplies]

I do manage to keep busy, even in a place like this. [don't stare at the ears, don't stare at the ears...] The overwhelming noise and bright lights of the entertainment district is a bit much for my tastes, though, I tend to find better company in the pleasure district.

...and better tea.

[outcast]

I've been to the pleasure district, once. I wandered there by accident and was assaulted by one of those strange, overdone toaster women.

[ she means one of the escort androids, actually, but she can never remember the name. technology she can't remember just becomes 'toaster' in her mind. ]

I had no idea you could find tea here, however. There aren't many plants.. it must be in high demand. What sort of tea do you prefer?

[pure_havoc]

Oh dear, assaulted? I do my best to stay away from anyone...not flesh.

[especially if he ever feels the need for an escort]

Tea is a specialty of my homeland, there are several varieties. Green seems to be most common, it's a fine medicinal brew.

[outcast]

Yes.. We have nothing like them in Thedas — that is, where I come from — I hadn't any idea that they would be so— so forceful.

[ hawke had to pry her away from it, it sucked. ]

I see. I'll have to try it at your suggestion, then. I'm sure it's lovely. All I've had is.. water, but it's quite clean here at least.

[pure_havoc]

Much of this world does taking getting used to. Whether something as simple as clean water and food being sold on every corner, or...the technology, I suppose.

There are a few fine tea houses in the pleasure district, so long as you avoid the brothels entirely. Some even make a passable go at green tea, though others do leave a bit to be desired. I would be happy to point you toward the better ones.

part two

[discard]

[You'd think that by now Leon would at least know where he's going--and he does, generally, when he's paying attention. But it's been a wearing time, honestly, and while he's in much better shape than he was before, he finds that his attention drifts easily.

And Cerealia is a big city.

So he's... lost. He was looking around for a familiar landmark when she bumps into him, and immediately he's snapping:]

Watch where you're going!

[Leon, maybe don't stand in the middle of the sidewalk aimlessly.]

... No, it isn't.

[outcast]

Oh, by the Dread Wolf, have I found myself in the pleasure district again? Please, if the street toasters ask if you've seen me, tell them no.

[ by street toasters, she means the android escorts.. she had a hard time keeping up with all these new terms.

she looks over the boy in front of her carefully, though; he was quite young! and talking to a teenager, well, it was more easier than talking to an adult. sometimes. she'll smile rather gingerly. ]

Do you think you could help me find my way back? I haven't watered my plants today. I'm not sure that they need water, but it's soothing to do it nevertheless.

[discard]

No--this is the shopping district.

[Street...toasters??? He has no idea what she's talking about, but luckily for Leon and his poor fragile 16 year old self, he hasn't really found himself in the pleasure district for long. Lucky for him........

But she's... being polite. Strangely so, and he's not particularly comfortable with talking to strangers but even so...]

Are you incapable of finding your own way back?

[... Leon you have no room to talk.]

[outcast]

Well.. no, but I'd need to use this.

[ she pulls out a ball of twine, wrapped up neatly and perfectly, almost obsessively. ]

I wanted to try and find my way back myself, but.. Well, I've been wandering about for hours now. I think it's been hours, at least. It certainly has felt like it.

[discard]

[...... That's so...quaint. Quaint and a little pathetic, and he's not actually sure how to process that.]

... I see.

[There's another pause as he tries to process that, before he just kind of...gives up.

Some people are beyond him.]

I suppose if nothing else, I can lead you out of this district. It isn't as though I care what you do with your time, but watching you like this is...pathetic.

[Tsun harder, Leon.]

rolls on in here

[kirkwalled]

[ but why eight am, merrill? hawke was never really the kind of person who slept all day (early to rise, late to bed, peppy all the way through) but since coming to cerealia and adapting to the "modern day", she's started to value sleep! probably because of all those odd jobs she takes. which means when here cerevice goes off in a slew of texts, there's a long moment of hawke just staring at it from under her pile of blankets.

why. ]

Why.

[ okay, yeah. then she reaches out to grab it with an annoyed grunt, burrowing back under her comforter to read merrill's texts. she'll get a reply after hawke has a moment to parse them through. she's honestly not even annoyed with merrill just because -- it's merrill, she kind of expects this. she's just happy to see her adapting. ]

you sent it to me, merrill its fine
me as in hawke
if that wastsn clear
wasnt*
hows your job no wait tell me later
we ca do something
can*
shopping!
we will get you nice socks
hows your foot
?

[outcast]

Thank you for asking!
It is doing quite well. It is still a bit tender, so I thought I should get some of these..
'Socks'.
Should I meet you somewhere?
Or, well.. perhaps you could meet me?
As in, here?
I'm not sure how to get to the shoppy places.
If it's not too much trouble!

[kirkwalled]

no worries i will meet you!
i may have forgotten where you live though
wont be too hard to find
just describe it to me
and tell me what number it says on your door
its like a scavenger hunt!

[ no it's not. ]

part one!

[thatdamnknight]

[different days sometimes lead flynn to patrolling different areas. today's orders involved keeping an eye on the sky bridges and surrounding area. not the worst place for an officer to patrol, that's for sure (it most certainly beats the pleasure district, which isn't bad but just... too intense sometimes).

right as flynn's about to check whether or not anyone has messaged him or if he's needed elsewhere, merrill approaches. he blinks, taken aback a little by the suddenness of the inquiry, but a smile quickly appears. can he spare a few minutes to chitchat? naturally! answering questions counts as helping and helping others is part of the job.]

Well, most of my days involve patrolling the city, as I am doing currently, but activities I enjoy are going to the gym or the arcade, going through more combat based ViViD levels and reading.

[training the body and the mind: no better way to spend a day. and the arcade totally counts training in hand/eye coordination.]

Why do you ask, miss?

[outcast]

An arcade? What is that?

[ there's the question, though. why was she asking? the real answer was probably embarrassing, that she was getting a little lonely and restless and often locked herself up in her apartment, but.. she'd try to dance around that one. ]

Ah.. I was just trying to pick up a, um, a 'hobby'? That's what they're called, yes?

[thatdamnknight]

Yes, you'd be correct.

[hobbies, huh? the arcade certainly is a good place to gain one of those. it has something to fit with most people's tastes, whether it be in reference to games or to actual food. the sandwich shop there has some phenomenal stuff. great and meaty goodness on bread.]

An arcade is a place which houses a wide array of games to play, ranging from fighting games to racing simulations to crane machines. The one I frequent also has several good eateries, as well.

[outcast]

[ well, all that went over her head. she'd just have to see it for herself. but eateries! she definitely knows what those are. ]

Ohh, I see. I've just been eating what you call 'premade dinners' since arriving. [ microwaveable food.. ] They.. aren't too enriching, so finding a nice market to buy food would be lovely. Thank you.

[thatdamnknight]

[seeing it for herself can possibly be arranged! flynn checks the time on his cerevice. hmm... it's about time to take a break (which he would've forgone otherwise cause who needs breaks) so why not spend it showing someone a potential new hobby? and with bonus good food, too.

once having checked, he smiles at her once more.]

If you would like and aren't currently busy, I can escort you there.

part I.

[specialization]

[when Merrill speaks, she catches him with a book in hand, looking up from where his eyes had been practically glued to the page. usually he didn't walk and read at the same time, but the fighting desires to go out and to finish this chapter had compromised in this, and he registers that he knows her. bandanna on his brows, looking a sight more rested than he had before, and Chrollo smiles like he always did.]

Before I answer that - it's good to see that you're alright, Merrill.

[outcast]

Oh! Chrollo! How lovely to see you.

[ genuinely — chrollo had assisted her in her time of need, and been so polite in doing so. it was rare she came across such courtesy for someone like her. as far as she's concerned, she thinks of chrollo as someone she could probably trust, which is an enlightening feeling in a place as foreign as this. ]

Yes, my foot has recovered a great bit. Though.. I suppose you don't want to hear about the gritty details of my foot, I'm sorry.

[specialization]

If you want to talk about it, go right ahead.

[he tucks the book away in his jacket, title half obscured by his hand as he does so, and he glances down at the mentioned appendage.]

I don't want to stop good news from being told - and it is excellent news that you're healing up.