Encounterlogs
Ritsukas Odd Encounter Sr Isaiah 240904
In the early hours at the Black Rose Cafe, amidst a tranquil setting of stained glass and intricate decor, Ritsuka and Illyana encounter a human woman, visibly exhausted and struggling with her adjustment to a new morning shift job, having moved recently from Detroit for a fresh start. The cafe, a hub for such early gatherings, witnesses the woman engaging in a conversation with Ritsuka and Illyana, revealing her distress over her son's interest in studying abroad in Japan and her current state of sleep deprivation. Unbeknownst to her, a seemingly innocent act of wearing a found charm necklace thrusts her into a nightmare realm, a place between worlds where the ordinary rules of reality no longer apply.
Illyana and Ritsuka, realizing the gravity of the situation, brace themselves for what is to come. Illyana, showing signs of otherworldly abilities with fiery wings and Ritsuka, her elven nature evident, find themselves tasked with navigating the nightmare to rescue the unwitting victim. Despite the dangerous and unpredictable environment of the nightmare that challenges their every step, they manage to locate the woman, now lost and terrified. Utilizing a blend of supernatural prowess and quick thinking, Illyana incapacitates the woman to safely extract her from the perilous realm. Back in the safety of the real world, they ensure the woman is taken to a clinic, concocting a cover story to explain her sudden collapse while discreetly managing the aftermath of their intervention. This odd encounter at the Black Rose Cafe concludes with them performing an unspoken duty to guard the thin veil between the mundane and the mystical, a testament to their roles as custodians of a world hidden in plain sight.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SRIsaiah):SRIsaiah)
[Tue Sep 3 2024]
In Black Rose Cafe
Large columns support the high ceiling which has
a large stained glass roof that, in the day time
at least, dapples the small cafe below in shades
of rosy reds, greens and dark gray shadows. Each
of the black painted columns are ornamented with
leafy vines that wind their way around them. The
walls are covered from ceiling down with crimson
lake hued wallpaper, embossed in a subtle raised
pattern of more of the blooms that lend the shop
its name. From roughly head height the wallpaper
gives way to darkly stained wood panelling which
then gives way to similar dark hard wood floors.
In the center of the room is a circular counter,
inside of which serves as the hub for the little
cafe that offers patrons a place to sit and read
while snacking or sipping on some coffee or tea.
It is morning, about 61F(16C) degrees,
(Your target encounters a human who's become stuck in the nightmare, lost and frightened.
)
Ritsuka nods to someone "I think that is very true, Gabriella-san. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
Ritsuka nods to someone that was there not long ago. "I think that is very true, Gabriella-san. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
Ritsuka looks to Illyana. "I think what she said is very true. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
It's early morning in Haven- not even eight yet- and a few ladies have gathered around in the Black Rose Bookstore for breakfast and conversation. Ritsuka and Illyana sit at the counter, the barista behind doling out orders as other early birds file in and out of the space. In particular is a woman half-asleep, who sits at the counter nearby and orders herself a cappuccino. Groggy eyes with dark circles under them are scrubbed with the heels of her palms, and gently she utters a murmur under her breath about having gotten a brand new job, but hating her first shift assignment. Apparently she's always tired these days. She isn't speaking to anyone in particular besides herself, but the volume is just high enough for it to be overheard by the women nearby.
Nodding to Ritsuka, Illyana agrees, though as the woman sits, Illyana takes note; She's perceptive. Much more than most people, so these signs of lack of sleep do not escape her. The obvious thoughts are there- It's Haven after all, but this person just looks tired, and so Illyana is perfectly willing to see how this plays out. It's likely only a human, after all.
Ritsuka crosses her left leg over the other and looks over at the complaining woman. She looks her over, her eyes going from their face down to the middle and then back. "Konichiwha, ma'am. Gomenasai, but I heard you say you are tired. If you are tired, maybe you should sleep more and drink less coffee? Coffee can make you very tired when very careless."
It takes a little while for the woman to realize that Illyana and Ritsuka are speaking to her, not each other. Her brunette hair is up in a messy bun- but not in a good way. It's a messy bun that has been slept in and not touched since waking up, with stray alfalfa all around it and spikes of unkempt hair protruding. She warms her hands on her cappuccino cup, then looks surprisedly at the other girls. She smiles faintly, then shakes her head, saying, "Oh.. No. I just started a new job at a restaurant here in town." Her tired brown eyes blink slowly a few times as she waits for the caffeine to kick in. "I come from Detroit, Michigan, and I worked a night job there- graveyard shift- but the only job I could find here in town that would take my credentials had a single opening, and it was for morning shift. I'm normally in bed asleep right now, is all," she explains, then her mouth opens in a tired yawn before being filled with more of her steaming-hot drink.
Nodding understandingly, Illyana continues to hold her own council. She still observes the woman; There's possibly more about her, though by and large, she leaves it to Ritsuka to deal with. Sadism, observation, pure unadulterated interest? Who knows the reasons, but Illyana is more interested in how she feels- Positively and negatively, and if it's indicative of anything specific. Exaustion, yes, but to what degree? So Illyana stares from behind her sunglasses, bringing to bare both angelic and demonic empathy senses to *enjoy* this interaction, what ever may happen...
Ritsuka reaches up to touch her temple and lightly brush the three middle fingers down, along her skin. Though her shades hide her eyes, the light confusion is audible in her voice when she says "If you are not used to it, you will be. I spent a lot of nights doing extra homework. You have a lot of free time after work in America." Her hand does lower and she places it on the upper part of her own left leg. "You shouldn't be very tired."
"Mmmh.. You said 'konnichiwa'. Are you Japanese?" the woman wonders towards Ritsuka with a faint smile on her lips; as much as she can smile with her eyes itching from sleeplessness. "That's really cool- my teenager is interested in Japanese culture and wants to study abroad when he goes to college," she banters, though there's some concern upon her face. "I heard there's a lot of maliciousness against foreigners there, though. A lot like America. I'm afraid to let him leave the nest to go to a place like that," she mumbles apologetically, but also with a mother's natural fear and worry for her children. It doesn't take long, however, for her to notice an item on the stool beside her own- she picks it up, and it reveals itself to be a necklace of some type with charms made out of bone and turquoise all linked together by throngs of leather. "Oh... Someone left this," she says, offering it to the barista who shrugs and tells her to keep it; that it's apparently been there since last night. The tired woman seems hesitant at first, but gazes at the item and starts to put it over her head.
Illyana Is wearing sunglasses, even in these early hours, where people are only just showing to start their morning. But even so, likely with recognition of that charm necklace, Illyana winces, shielding her eyes, as if this can forestall what is likely coming next... A normal finding out about the supernatural. But this is Haven, and people cant avoid these things, so this now seems to be -her- problem. So as the woman slips it over her head, there's a mutter of "For fucks sake." under her breath. She doesn't stop the woman though, but her attention does snap, laser focused onto her. She has a child. That child needs to be protected. And that is a nightmare charm that was just left in the fucking open!
"I am from Japan," Ritsuka confirms with a slight nod of her head. "This is true. We don't like foreigners very much because you steal. And you take up a lot of space." Ritsuka says, despite being very, very tall in fact for a japanese woman. "And foreigners leave trash lying around everywhere. But I think if you come to study you can fit in. We young people don't mind too much, mostly old people will complain very much." Her shaded eyes do look to the charm, one that probably looks similar to her own, and there is that sudden curl of her lips and a sparkle in her deep blue eyes. She does not move to stop it, but does say "Point of no return."
"Is... Something wrong?" is all the woman has time to ask as Illyana and Ritsuka brace themselves for the worst, and the sleepy mother just finishes clasping the necklace about her throat, pausing to admire the way it cascades along her chest. It's chandelier-style, with a lot of hanging beads, charms, and otherwise, and she smiles faintly at it. "At least one good thing has come from having to wake up this early," she decides, grabbing a nearby metal napkin dispenser and pulling it towards her to admire her freshly-adorned reflection. Her fingers caress over the beadwork, but as she leans in closer to get a better look at the design... She fades, and then disappears entirely. Now she is in the nightmare, with Illyana and Ritsuka only having a vague idea of where she is- or what she's feeling. For now, she seems calm, as though she hasn't noticed that the world around her is warped and dangerous- but the two Aware women at the counter might soon find the situation more dangerous than was let on. An alert on Illyana's phone BLARES loudly.
"Bolluks." Illyana says. "Do you trust me?" she asks Ritsuka as she stands. There's a lowering of her sunglasses and she snags the gaze of the un-aware who have noticed the sudden vanishing, causing amnesia in those who may begin to panic- though of course, this isn't visible. It's the purely callous- But issential action of someone aware working on the general population to moderate a potential supernatural outcry. At the same time, Illyana presses the activation pin on her headset, speaking into it and calling for a cleanup crew to come take care of this mess. The location is given, but she waits for Ritsuka before anything else.
reaches for her empty cup to look into it, only to be reminded that it is free of tea again, which elicits a sigh from her. So instead she reaches around for her satchel, but then stops halfway to look at Illyana and the blaring phone. "I will rely on your proficiency, Yana-san." Ritsuka answers, not really answering the question but expressing her support. "What do you need me to do?"
"Stay there a second." Illyana tells Ritsuka. She steps out of the Black rose, out of sight of anyone and steps into the nightmare. Returning to the store, this time within the horrific world between, she exherts her will, pulling Ritsuka in with her. Then, she explains. "See things, run. See elevaters? Don't go in. See anything you don't like... find a mirror." Here though, Illyana has fiery wings. Her eyes glow with burning light from behind those glasses and each word comes with a puff of heat, warmth, light and brimstone. "This is a rescue... hopefully. And once we get this woman out, we wipe her mind. Follow on up." Then, Illyana walks to the wall and... phases through, looking for the now nightmared mother.
Ritsuka has her elven ears, and she does look greatly unfamiliar, but not like it is the first time she sees it. She nods to Illyana on the explanation and glances around and then follows after the fiery winged woman. "This reminds of dreams." Is the one thing she does say, looking around whenever he gaze sways from Illyana.
"It's not a dream." Illyana informs Ritsuka. "This is the nightmare. The place between worlds, where horrors are born, and the world- our world is twisted to -its- will. It's why so many strange things happen in Haven." This is a half-truth. The nightmare is dangerous. Very very dangerous, but she doesn't go into the gate just yet. It's for later.
Glancing around, keeping Ritsuka close, Illyana explains as they search. "Here you'll see things; Dark dreams, truths that are just not. It contradicts itself at every turn. There will be monsters and mysteries, but you should never focus on them. You can join the nightmare when fully active and the only way to leave is to find a mirror and leave through it. Like a reflection world, if you need to see it that way."
"This is why we hear strange laughter from walls from?" Ritsuka asks, keeping her eyes on Illyana, though she now does reach up to remove those sunglasses, and blinks once and then a second time. "If I think right, I was very right to not step into something I don't know."
"No." Illyana clariffies, continuing to look for the missing human woman. "That would be an eidolon exherting its influence on the world and causing ghosts to be more easily seen by everyone. Annoying, but not dangerous."
Ritsuka continues cautiously along with Illyana, her eyes still on the other woman after the many warnings to not trust what is seen. "Yana-san, you will have to teach me about eidolons later. I did not hear about that word before. But I think we should find the woman first."
Illyana answers simply to the comment on eidolons, "Pests mostly, but some are reasonable. Spirits." though that's all she says for now. Ritsuka is quite right, they have a job to do... hopefully.
The woman in the nightmare is... Simply human, and looking confused, then afraid as she starts to realize that the world around her has changed. She stumbles back, attempting to sit upon a chair only for her body to sink right through the immaterial- or, rather, she is now the immaterial. She falls to the ground, only to look up at Ritsuka and Illyana helplessly, eyes wide and mouth agape. "Wh-Wh-" she stutters and stammers, crawling backwards on her rear end- away from Illyana in particular. "N-No. This isn't real. S-Someone spiked my coffee!!"
Illyana seems to take unusual pleasure in that; Here it's oh so obvious that she is a hybrid. Not angel, not demon, but both, and Ritsuka is obviously fey, with the elven ears and the circlet manifested by faeborn. Never the less, Illyana smiles warmly-- Is there any other way when you are surrounded by fire. It's not cruel, but neither is it comforting. The effort is there. The intention is there, but Illyana is a monster- And she's active. She holds her hands up and lets Ritsuka try to calm the woman, but if Ritsuka doesn't do something soon enough, Illyana will likely take matters into her hands. Decking, in Illyana's eyes is not off the table.
"Someone did. Ma'am, how can we help you?" Ritsuka asks, the japanese accent still in her voice, but with a lack of empathy. Her gaze, set onto the woman is not cold, but analytical, studying the woman and her reactions closely. "I am a medical person. I can help until emergency arrives. You don't look very well. Yana-san and I are experienced." She does hold out a hand to the woman. "All is going to be well."
"I.. I don't know," the woman admits, her eyes darting about frantically as the two women approach her, unsure of what she sees- is it fact, or fiction? Do her eyes deceive her, or is it all little more than a drug-induced hallucination that she desperately wants to escape from. She glances at the time on her phone. "I- I'm gonna be late for work-" she tries to make a call that does not connect, and due to such she begins weeping. There's a small amount of time where she's completely still, processing, fearful, hesitant, and then shakily trying to stand. "I need to get to work.. It's my s-second day. I'll get fired," she insists, tears welling up on her lower lashes.
"Yeah, sure. We'll get you--" Illyana begins. It's genuine, calm, looking at the woman like she's the insane one. Then, with supernatural reflexes and angelborn speed, Illyana is no longer where she was, but up in this woman's face-- This was taking far too long and there's the removal of her sunglasses, her eyes blazing, a gaze snagged into a trance, a knockout punch. Then, Illyana picks up the unconsceous woman, slings her over a shoulder and quite casually, like this were a walk in the park, Illyana says to Ritsuka, "Let's find a mirror, get this nice lady in the hospital- The story will be..." Snapping her fingers, Illyana decides, "Something she took and or was given-- No, she was sleep deprived and she just collapsed from fatigue. Lucky we were there to get her really. She could have had something very bad happen. This is Haven. It's dangerous." Then, in full authority because-I-can mode, Illyana begins to walk, just expecting Ritsuka to follow her, holding the unconscious woman over a shoulder.
Ritsuka does only look on pensively when the woman is knocked out, there really is no empathy at all and she turns around and begins to follow after Illyana. "Sleep deprived and fell unconscious. Looked to have a nightmare. Recalling is fragile. I think she will think it was a dream, not enough tangible to prove otherwise. But will be more prepared for an I knew it moment in the future if left that way." Still very clinical, she raises a shoulder, stretching it a little and briefly glances to the side.
"There wont be any need for an awakening in future." Illyana tells Ritsuka. She's whispering into the sleeping woman's ear, doubling down on persuasions as she moves. That annoying charm is removed and is tossed off into the middle distance and when she emerges, walking through walls, it's the bathrooms of the Webster clinic. Showing Ritsuka how to step out of the nightmare, she brings the two with her, finding a place in A-and-E and telling the story. A bribe is given, a psychic nudge and a job well done, because Illyana is a fucking hero and how wonderful she is. Not a bitch at all. This was not kidnap.
Ritsuka follows on out after Illyana, looking into the mirror and after the earlier by chance demonstration and now being shown again, she evidently has an idea by now. Enough to replicated it someday in the future. "If you toss the charm away, can not another pick it up again, Yana-san?" She says, watching the charm being tossed off into the middle distance. When the medical staff gets involved, she begins to observe closely, on the precise procedure. The bribe, observing the nudge as far as she may, all with a pensive look that is more studying than concerned. At the end of the process, she does turn to Illyana and asks "Do you often help with these situations, Yana-san?"
Smooth and seamless is this transition, the mere mortal dropped like a sack of potatoes and then carried like one as well. Luckily enough for the women, the walk to White Oak is brief, painless, a brief glimpse of a monster in the nightmare being assaulted by some obscure subfaction and thusly posing no danger to them. It's some sort of satyr, but a sheep rather than a goat, and massive- at least two stories tall. While it does make a valiant attempt to reach the unarmed and unprepared femmes, it never makes it, and the protection over White Oak prevents its access, much to the beast's disdain. From there the woman is dropped off, a name given from her identification card: Susan Smith Freeman. Mother of three, husband deceased, caught in the crosshairs of a gang war in Detroit that left her widowed and her children fatherless. Apparently she moved to Haven to live with her mother until she could get back on her feet.
stares at this information; There's clear conflict. It's almost palpable, and Illyana makes sure to strong arm her boss after the fact so she keeps her job. Illyana also gives her $100, tucked into her purse as she sleeps. (Angelborn empathy is so very annoying, even in someone as callous as Illyana is." She makes a point of explaining to Ritsuka that in the nightmare it doesn't matter. Anyone walking through it knows its nature and is aware enough to not be harmed by it."
Two good deeds in one day- Illyana really is on a roll. If she isn't careful, people might actually think she's kind, and we can't have that. Regardless, she has cleaned up someone else's mess, whether intentional or not; and the day is crisp and cool with a light breeze flowing through. Who knows what the rest of the morning holds.
FIN
Ritsuka hears the information, but there is just not much empathy at all. She does look the woman over, analytically again, and when Illyana donates money, she adds twenty dollar of her own to the woman's pocket, but not because Illyana donated some, more something she hand intended to do anyway. "Maybe I will be her son's professor someday if I don't work at a clinic." She does ready up and looks ready to leave the woman behind.
FIN
If you two go down, you should arrive where you departed from. If not, let me know and I will summon you!
Thank you for accepting.
Illyana and Ritsuka, realizing the gravity of the situation, brace themselves for what is to come. Illyana, showing signs of otherworldly abilities with fiery wings and Ritsuka, her elven nature evident, find themselves tasked with navigating the nightmare to rescue the unwitting victim. Despite the dangerous and unpredictable environment of the nightmare that challenges their every step, they manage to locate the woman, now lost and terrified. Utilizing a blend of supernatural prowess and quick thinking, Illyana incapacitates the woman to safely extract her from the perilous realm. Back in the safety of the real world, they ensure the woman is taken to a clinic, concocting a cover story to explain her sudden collapse while discreetly managing the aftermath of their intervention. This odd encounter at the Black Rose Cafe concludes with them performing an unspoken duty to guard the thin veil between the mundane and the mystical, a testament to their roles as custodians of a world hidden in plain sight.
(Ritsuka's odd encounter(SRIsaiah):SRIsaiah)
[Tue Sep 3 2024]
In Black Rose Cafe
Large columns support the high ceiling which has
a large stained glass roof that, in the day time
at least, dapples the small cafe below in shades
of rosy reds, greens and dark gray shadows. Each
of the black painted columns are ornamented with
leafy vines that wind their way around them. The
walls are covered from ceiling down with crimson
lake hued wallpaper, embossed in a subtle raised
pattern of more of the blooms that lend the shop
its name. From roughly head height the wallpaper
gives way to darkly stained wood panelling which
then gives way to similar dark hard wood floors.
In the center of the room is a circular counter,
inside of which serves as the hub for the little
cafe that offers patrons a place to sit and read
while snacking or sipping on some coffee or tea.
It is morning, about 61F(16C) degrees,
(Your target encounters a human who's become stuck in the nightmare, lost and frightened.
)
Ritsuka nods to someone "I think that is very true, Gabriella-san. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
Ritsuka nods to someone that was there not long ago. "I think that is very true, Gabriella-san. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
Ritsuka looks to Illyana. "I think what she said is very true. If you know how to turn it around, it is very good." She leans lightly against the counter with an empty cup besides her. "Maybe a lot of people are not very smart to do it well and then get caught?"
It's early morning in Haven- not even eight yet- and a few ladies have gathered around in the Black Rose Bookstore for breakfast and conversation. Ritsuka and Illyana sit at the counter, the barista behind doling out orders as other early birds file in and out of the space. In particular is a woman half-asleep, who sits at the counter nearby and orders herself a cappuccino. Groggy eyes with dark circles under them are scrubbed with the heels of her palms, and gently she utters a murmur under her breath about having gotten a brand new job, but hating her first shift assignment. Apparently she's always tired these days. She isn't speaking to anyone in particular besides herself, but the volume is just high enough for it to be overheard by the women nearby.
Nodding to Ritsuka, Illyana agrees, though as the woman sits, Illyana takes note; She's perceptive. Much more than most people, so these signs of lack of sleep do not escape her. The obvious thoughts are there- It's Haven after all, but this person just looks tired, and so Illyana is perfectly willing to see how this plays out. It's likely only a human, after all.
Ritsuka crosses her left leg over the other and looks over at the complaining woman. She looks her over, her eyes going from their face down to the middle and then back. "Konichiwha, ma'am. Gomenasai, but I heard you say you are tired. If you are tired, maybe you should sleep more and drink less coffee? Coffee can make you very tired when very careless."
It takes a little while for the woman to realize that Illyana and Ritsuka are speaking to her, not each other. Her brunette hair is up in a messy bun- but not in a good way. It's a messy bun that has been slept in and not touched since waking up, with stray alfalfa all around it and spikes of unkempt hair protruding. She warms her hands on her cappuccino cup, then looks surprisedly at the other girls. She smiles faintly, then shakes her head, saying, "Oh.. No. I just started a new job at a restaurant here in town." Her tired brown eyes blink slowly a few times as she waits for the caffeine to kick in. "I come from Detroit, Michigan, and I worked a night job there- graveyard shift- but the only job I could find here in town that would take my credentials had a single opening, and it was for morning shift. I'm normally in bed asleep right now, is all," she explains, then her mouth opens in a tired yawn before being filled with more of her steaming-hot drink.
Nodding understandingly, Illyana continues to hold her own council. She still observes the woman; There's possibly more about her, though by and large, she leaves it to Ritsuka to deal with. Sadism, observation, pure unadulterated interest? Who knows the reasons, but Illyana is more interested in how she feels- Positively and negatively, and if it's indicative of anything specific. Exaustion, yes, but to what degree? So Illyana stares from behind her sunglasses, bringing to bare both angelic and demonic empathy senses to *enjoy* this interaction, what ever may happen...
Ritsuka reaches up to touch her temple and lightly brush the three middle fingers down, along her skin. Though her shades hide her eyes, the light confusion is audible in her voice when she says "If you are not used to it, you will be. I spent a lot of nights doing extra homework. You have a lot of free time after work in America." Her hand does lower and she places it on the upper part of her own left leg. "You shouldn't be very tired."
"Mmmh.. You said 'konnichiwa'. Are you Japanese?" the woman wonders towards Ritsuka with a faint smile on her lips; as much as she can smile with her eyes itching from sleeplessness. "That's really cool- my teenager is interested in Japanese culture and wants to study abroad when he goes to college," she banters, though there's some concern upon her face. "I heard there's a lot of maliciousness against foreigners there, though. A lot like America. I'm afraid to let him leave the nest to go to a place like that," she mumbles apologetically, but also with a mother's natural fear and worry for her children. It doesn't take long, however, for her to notice an item on the stool beside her own- she picks it up, and it reveals itself to be a necklace of some type with charms made out of bone and turquoise all linked together by throngs of leather. "Oh... Someone left this," she says, offering it to the barista who shrugs and tells her to keep it; that it's apparently been there since last night. The tired woman seems hesitant at first, but gazes at the item and starts to put it over her head.
Illyana Is wearing sunglasses, even in these early hours, where people are only just showing to start their morning. But even so, likely with recognition of that charm necklace, Illyana winces, shielding her eyes, as if this can forestall what is likely coming next... A normal finding out about the supernatural. But this is Haven, and people cant avoid these things, so this now seems to be -her- problem. So as the woman slips it over her head, there's a mutter of "For fucks sake." under her breath. She doesn't stop the woman though, but her attention does snap, laser focused onto her. She has a child. That child needs to be protected. And that is a nightmare charm that was just left in the fucking open!
"I am from Japan," Ritsuka confirms with a slight nod of her head. "This is true. We don't like foreigners very much because you steal. And you take up a lot of space." Ritsuka says, despite being very, very tall in fact for a japanese woman. "And foreigners leave trash lying around everywhere. But I think if you come to study you can fit in. We young people don't mind too much, mostly old people will complain very much." Her shaded eyes do look to the charm, one that probably looks similar to her own, and there is that sudden curl of her lips and a sparkle in her deep blue eyes. She does not move to stop it, but does say "Point of no return."
"Is... Something wrong?" is all the woman has time to ask as Illyana and Ritsuka brace themselves for the worst, and the sleepy mother just finishes clasping the necklace about her throat, pausing to admire the way it cascades along her chest. It's chandelier-style, with a lot of hanging beads, charms, and otherwise, and she smiles faintly at it. "At least one good thing has come from having to wake up this early," she decides, grabbing a nearby metal napkin dispenser and pulling it towards her to admire her freshly-adorned reflection. Her fingers caress over the beadwork, but as she leans in closer to get a better look at the design... She fades, and then disappears entirely. Now she is in the nightmare, with Illyana and Ritsuka only having a vague idea of where she is- or what she's feeling. For now, she seems calm, as though she hasn't noticed that the world around her is warped and dangerous- but the two Aware women at the counter might soon find the situation more dangerous than was let on. An alert on Illyana's phone BLARES loudly.
"Bolluks." Illyana says. "Do you trust me?" she asks Ritsuka as she stands. There's a lowering of her sunglasses and she snags the gaze of the un-aware who have noticed the sudden vanishing, causing amnesia in those who may begin to panic- though of course, this isn't visible. It's the purely callous- But issential action of someone aware working on the general population to moderate a potential supernatural outcry. At the same time, Illyana presses the activation pin on her headset, speaking into it and calling for a cleanup crew to come take care of this mess. The location is given, but she waits for Ritsuka before anything else.
reaches for her empty cup to look into it, only to be reminded that it is free of tea again, which elicits a sigh from her. So instead she reaches around for her satchel, but then stops halfway to look at Illyana and the blaring phone. "I will rely on your proficiency, Yana-san." Ritsuka answers, not really answering the question but expressing her support. "What do you need me to do?"
"Stay there a second." Illyana tells Ritsuka. She steps out of the Black rose, out of sight of anyone and steps into the nightmare. Returning to the store, this time within the horrific world between, she exherts her will, pulling Ritsuka in with her. Then, she explains. "See things, run. See elevaters? Don't go in. See anything you don't like... find a mirror." Here though, Illyana has fiery wings. Her eyes glow with burning light from behind those glasses and each word comes with a puff of heat, warmth, light and brimstone. "This is a rescue... hopefully. And once we get this woman out, we wipe her mind. Follow on up." Then, Illyana walks to the wall and... phases through, looking for the now nightmared mother.
Ritsuka has her elven ears, and she does look greatly unfamiliar, but not like it is the first time she sees it. She nods to Illyana on the explanation and glances around and then follows after the fiery winged woman. "This reminds of dreams." Is the one thing she does say, looking around whenever he gaze sways from Illyana.
"It's not a dream." Illyana informs Ritsuka. "This is the nightmare. The place between worlds, where horrors are born, and the world- our world is twisted to -its- will. It's why so many strange things happen in Haven." This is a half-truth. The nightmare is dangerous. Very very dangerous, but she doesn't go into the gate just yet. It's for later.
Glancing around, keeping Ritsuka close, Illyana explains as they search. "Here you'll see things; Dark dreams, truths that are just not. It contradicts itself at every turn. There will be monsters and mysteries, but you should never focus on them. You can join the nightmare when fully active and the only way to leave is to find a mirror and leave through it. Like a reflection world, if you need to see it that way."
"This is why we hear strange laughter from walls from?" Ritsuka asks, keeping her eyes on Illyana, though she now does reach up to remove those sunglasses, and blinks once and then a second time. "If I think right, I was very right to not step into something I don't know."
"No." Illyana clariffies, continuing to look for the missing human woman. "That would be an eidolon exherting its influence on the world and causing ghosts to be more easily seen by everyone. Annoying, but not dangerous."
Ritsuka continues cautiously along with Illyana, her eyes still on the other woman after the many warnings to not trust what is seen. "Yana-san, you will have to teach me about eidolons later. I did not hear about that word before. But I think we should find the woman first."
Illyana answers simply to the comment on eidolons, "Pests mostly, but some are reasonable. Spirits." though that's all she says for now. Ritsuka is quite right, they have a job to do... hopefully.
The woman in the nightmare is... Simply human, and looking confused, then afraid as she starts to realize that the world around her has changed. She stumbles back, attempting to sit upon a chair only for her body to sink right through the immaterial- or, rather, she is now the immaterial. She falls to the ground, only to look up at Ritsuka and Illyana helplessly, eyes wide and mouth agape. "Wh-Wh-" she stutters and stammers, crawling backwards on her rear end- away from Illyana in particular. "N-No. This isn't real. S-Someone spiked my coffee!!"
Illyana seems to take unusual pleasure in that; Here it's oh so obvious that she is a hybrid. Not angel, not demon, but both, and Ritsuka is obviously fey, with the elven ears and the circlet manifested by faeborn. Never the less, Illyana smiles warmly-- Is there any other way when you are surrounded by fire. It's not cruel, but neither is it comforting. The effort is there. The intention is there, but Illyana is a monster- And she's active. She holds her hands up and lets Ritsuka try to calm the woman, but if Ritsuka doesn't do something soon enough, Illyana will likely take matters into her hands. Decking, in Illyana's eyes is not off the table.
"Someone did. Ma'am, how can we help you?" Ritsuka asks, the japanese accent still in her voice, but with a lack of empathy. Her gaze, set onto the woman is not cold, but analytical, studying the woman and her reactions closely. "I am a medical person. I can help until emergency arrives. You don't look very well. Yana-san and I are experienced." She does hold out a hand to the woman. "All is going to be well."
"I.. I don't know," the woman admits, her eyes darting about frantically as the two women approach her, unsure of what she sees- is it fact, or fiction? Do her eyes deceive her, or is it all little more than a drug-induced hallucination that she desperately wants to escape from. She glances at the time on her phone. "I- I'm gonna be late for work-" she tries to make a call that does not connect, and due to such she begins weeping. There's a small amount of time where she's completely still, processing, fearful, hesitant, and then shakily trying to stand. "I need to get to work.. It's my s-second day. I'll get fired," she insists, tears welling up on her lower lashes.
"Yeah, sure. We'll get you--" Illyana begins. It's genuine, calm, looking at the woman like she's the insane one. Then, with supernatural reflexes and angelborn speed, Illyana is no longer where she was, but up in this woman's face-- This was taking far too long and there's the removal of her sunglasses, her eyes blazing, a gaze snagged into a trance, a knockout punch. Then, Illyana picks up the unconsceous woman, slings her over a shoulder and quite casually, like this were a walk in the park, Illyana says to Ritsuka, "Let's find a mirror, get this nice lady in the hospital- The story will be..." Snapping her fingers, Illyana decides, "Something she took and or was given-- No, she was sleep deprived and she just collapsed from fatigue. Lucky we were there to get her really. She could have had something very bad happen. This is Haven. It's dangerous." Then, in full authority because-I-can mode, Illyana begins to walk, just expecting Ritsuka to follow her, holding the unconscious woman over a shoulder.
Ritsuka does only look on pensively when the woman is knocked out, there really is no empathy at all and she turns around and begins to follow after Illyana. "Sleep deprived and fell unconscious. Looked to have a nightmare. Recalling is fragile. I think she will think it was a dream, not enough tangible to prove otherwise. But will be more prepared for an I knew it moment in the future if left that way." Still very clinical, she raises a shoulder, stretching it a little and briefly glances to the side.
"There wont be any need for an awakening in future." Illyana tells Ritsuka. She's whispering into the sleeping woman's ear, doubling down on persuasions as she moves. That annoying charm is removed and is tossed off into the middle distance and when she emerges, walking through walls, it's the bathrooms of the Webster clinic. Showing Ritsuka how to step out of the nightmare, she brings the two with her, finding a place in A-and-E and telling the story. A bribe is given, a psychic nudge and a job well done, because Illyana is a fucking hero and how wonderful she is. Not a bitch at all. This was not kidnap.
Ritsuka follows on out after Illyana, looking into the mirror and after the earlier by chance demonstration and now being shown again, she evidently has an idea by now. Enough to replicated it someday in the future. "If you toss the charm away, can not another pick it up again, Yana-san?" She says, watching the charm being tossed off into the middle distance. When the medical staff gets involved, she begins to observe closely, on the precise procedure. The bribe, observing the nudge as far as she may, all with a pensive look that is more studying than concerned. At the end of the process, she does turn to Illyana and asks "Do you often help with these situations, Yana-san?"
Smooth and seamless is this transition, the mere mortal dropped like a sack of potatoes and then carried like one as well. Luckily enough for the women, the walk to White Oak is brief, painless, a brief glimpse of a monster in the nightmare being assaulted by some obscure subfaction and thusly posing no danger to them. It's some sort of satyr, but a sheep rather than a goat, and massive- at least two stories tall. While it does make a valiant attempt to reach the unarmed and unprepared femmes, it never makes it, and the protection over White Oak prevents its access, much to the beast's disdain. From there the woman is dropped off, a name given from her identification card: Susan Smith Freeman. Mother of three, husband deceased, caught in the crosshairs of a gang war in Detroit that left her widowed and her children fatherless. Apparently she moved to Haven to live with her mother until she could get back on her feet.
stares at this information; There's clear conflict. It's almost palpable, and Illyana makes sure to strong arm her boss after the fact so she keeps her job. Illyana also gives her $100, tucked into her purse as she sleeps. (Angelborn empathy is so very annoying, even in someone as callous as Illyana is." She makes a point of explaining to Ritsuka that in the nightmare it doesn't matter. Anyone walking through it knows its nature and is aware enough to not be harmed by it."
Two good deeds in one day- Illyana really is on a roll. If she isn't careful, people might actually think she's kind, and we can't have that. Regardless, she has cleaned up someone else's mess, whether intentional or not; and the day is crisp and cool with a light breeze flowing through. Who knows what the rest of the morning holds.
FIN
Ritsuka hears the information, but there is just not much empathy at all. She does look the woman over, analytically again, and when Illyana donates money, she adds twenty dollar of her own to the woman's pocket, but not because Illyana donated some, more something she hand intended to do anyway. "Maybe I will be her son's professor someday if I don't work at a clinic." She does ready up and looks ready to leave the woman behind.
FIN
If you two go down, you should arrive where you departed from. If not, let me know and I will summon you!
Thank you for accepting.