vulpeculaet | OC Call Me Out Meme!

[ shiori follows kotoha's glance, then...

what. what? her eyes widen in surprise, just for a moment, and she nods. ]

... Okay. Thank you. I'll see you then, Kakimoto-san.

Yes. I'll...

[wait

wait, did i just invite this incredibly hot goth lady to my house

technically it's my store but it's also my house because i live upstairs

oh god

oh god i'm going to die I HAVE MADE SOME MISTAKES.]

I'll see you then. I hope I'll be able to answer your questions.

[ ... yeah that's sinking in for her too actually ]

I'll--yes. I hope so too. Thanks again. [ and she's just. going to fumble in her bag for her cigarette case as she steps out the door now-- ]

[OKAY.

OKAY, KOTOHA. YOU HAVE THREE HOURS TO PREPARE YOURSELF FOR THIS.

YOU'VE GOT THREE HOURS TO make your living space presentable organize your information pray that she actually is involved and not just a chuuni, or even worse, some kind of stinger trap to catch her being actually insane and a bad influence on children and that's assuming she doesn't think she's crazy already and just doesn't show and

No. Okay. Calm down. She can do this. She can. She's a hero. She's Rewrite. She can't just... go into a fit over a pretty lady. She needs to face this challenge like any other.

Three hours later, Kotoha flips the sign on her store to 'closed' and waits, trying to ignore the twisted feeling of nervousness in her stomach.]

[ after a few minutes, shiori just... walks up outside and takes a moment to finish her cigarette, before trying the door. she has bags from a couple of other jinbocho shops in one hand. ]

[The door opens, and Kotoha is all smiles.

She's good at faking her smiles. It's how she's dealt with her life this long. If she can force a smile, everything will be okay... right?]

I'm glad to see you again, Miss Askelund.

[she says it right this time, though. guess what she did with three hours of time to practice.]

... And I'm glad you didn't seem to think I was too crazy.

[ shiori steps inside, nodding appreciatively. ]

I know that I'm crazy, so I suppose I can't judge. I just know that I'm not this kind of crazy, even with... how all of this sounds.

[ she... doesn't have a self-deprecating laugh in her. she usually doesn't, but there's just. nothing amusing here. she's so tired. ]

I... a doctor that I was seeing. Turned out to be a story. He said he was a... Seitegeist. It's German, it means something like... page spirit.

A "Seitegeist"... Even I've never heard of that.

[She's listening attentively, but.]

... If you'd like, do you want to come upstairs? I've put on some tea, and it may be... easier to show some things, up there.

[ ah. ah. she blinks, but nods after a moment. ]

Thank you. That would - yes.

[Internal screaming.

Externally? She's fine, a calm smile as she leads the way to the back of the store, and then up to her home- A little sort of studio apartment-styled place, very few walls, a futon folded in the corner and a table with two chairs, a laptop, and a desk with a TV, and a VCR.

She may be the last person in the world who has a VCR.

She gets the tea from the stove, pouring two cups for them, before sitting down.]

... Who have you met? If I may ask.

[ this is... far more simply appointed than the apartment over her uncle's shop, but kotoha obviously doesn't have the backing that basically any of the askelunds would. she's been in far simpler places than even this, though, and she takes a seat across from her, taking the tea with a nod. ]

... The Erl-King. Maybe others, too.

I see.

[She doesn't. Not really. Their situations seem so similar, but so distant...]

... Was that "Seitegeist" the first one you met?

That I know of. [ she takes a sip of her tea, thinking. ]

There's a famous Goethe poem about him. It was set to music later. Do you know it?

[She pauses, thinking, as the misunderstanding she's having should become clear.]

I've read a lot of Goethe, though he isn't my favorite... But I don't recall the word 'Seitegeist' in any of them?

I do know of the Erl-King, however.

The way the Erl-King said it, Seitegeist sounded like... a rank, almost?

[ she sounds uncertain about that. it's some kind of group designation, at least. ]

A rank... I have never known them to work together, though.

[She reaches into her skirt pocket, and pulls out a small object- it seems to be a heart-shaped ornament of pink glass, or maybe a gemstone, inside an elaborate gold filigree. In the center of the heart, the image of an open book can be seen faintly.

To most, it would look like nothing more than a fancy trinket, a bauble for young girls, something like a magical girl show. But Shiori may be able to sense something about it- That it's an object with a story. That strange little heart has a narrative weight to it deeper than any person, as though it's simply more than anything else.]

... Do you have one of these?

[ she... leans in to look at it. she doesn't want to presume to take it for a closer look. and she feels... something, all right. ]

I have... this. [ she holds out her hand, showing the silver bracelet with the nine-spoked wheel design. around the edge of the wheel's rim, a ring of runes are etched in--the elder futhark--along with knotwork patterns and braiding along the solid band of silver hanging on her wrist like a shackle. at the center of the wheel is an etched eye with an inlay of blue gemstone for its iris. feathered wings and something a bit like... a tiny blade? rounded save for the very narrow tip. seem to branch off of the wheel design.

the feeling it gives off is similar. but darker, heavier, as if it has history and compounded story upon story taken within itself. ]

[There's a long pause, as she examines it, looking at the bracelet, taking in what she sees, and what she feels. It feels... Dark. Unpleasant. It feels as though something is trapped.

It frightens her.

She rests her hand on top of the Heart, and looks down, as though addressing it...]

Do you know anything about this, Scheherazade?

[She goes quiet, like listening to something that Shiori can't hear.]

[ shiori pulls her hand back, watching kotoha curiously. she doesn't say anything yet. better to see where this goes. ]

[... well.

Well, it doesn't seem to be going the right direction, as suddenly, Kotoha's red up to her ears.]

That's not- That's beside the point- I know- Scheherazade!

[have you ever been bullied by your own superpowers before]

... Är du okej?

[ yeah her surprise knocked her to swedish ]

[Wait. What.]

W- Was that English? I- I am fine...

[no, kotoha.]

[ she actually laughs at that, shaking her head. ]

No. No, it's Swedish. I was just surprised. So... Scheherazade?

O- Oh! Yes. Um.

[Okay. Deep breaths. She can do this.]

... It's a bit of a long story. But... This is a Story Heart. The 'core' of a story. And it is Scheherazade's story that gives me power.

[pause.]

And that kind of humor is not helping!

[ she listens with interest. and she's fascinated, really, but... ]

I don't... think that's how mine works. But what's she saying?

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