one | voice | seelie & unseelie

[duplicitoussight]

It's been a few days since we arrived, hasn't it? That's right, I was wondering how many of us have gotten nice and cozy in our new homes! But it's a reeeal shame for the less adventurous. After all, setting foot outside with all this magic flying around seems a little scary, don't you all think?

[Kano gives a small laugh.] Ah, but staying safe inside is real dull, too! So, so, until my friends pick me up, let's play a small game, okay? The rules are veeeeeery simple. I'll give you my name and two facts about my world. You'll give me yours and we'll both try to figure out who's lying.

[He chose to leave it open to both sides--after all, looking at a broader sample wouldn't hurt much.]

I'll even start off, just to make it easy. My name's Maru! I come from a place that's always summer--and crawling with monsters!

Comments

[redsea]

[ Does she want to fight this guy? She doesn't know. He is the first person in this world she's ever played a game with, but if there's a chance he's an Unseelie...

She doesn't want to think about it right now. ]

Your name is not Maru. It is too cute.

[duplicitoussight]

[There's a moment's silence from his end. Then, peevishly:]

Well, Kouha's a rough name for a cute-sounding girl, but I'm not saying anything.

[redsea]

[ She struggles not to react to being found out. And being called cute. Again. ]

Kouha... is my brother's name. [ She huffs. ] I am Kougyoku.

[duplicitoussight]

Using your brother's name like that... how sneaky. [He laughs.] All right, then, it's nice to meet the real you, Kougyoku! That was a decent lie, I'll give you that one.

[redsea]

Thank you.

[ Wait, why is she thanking someone who just complimented her on how well she lied!? Her irritated tone isn't because of this, though. ]

Now wait just a moment! I introduced myself, so it follows that you must give me your name in return, right?

[duplicitoussight]

[Oh Kougyoku.]

I gave it, didn't I? Has Kougyoku already forgotten? It's Maru, Maru~!

[redsea]

Oh. R-right. My apologies. [ So that was the truth.

SHE BELIEVED IT. ]

Then where you are from—that is true, too, isn't it? ...It must be lovely... I-is it a place near the sea?

[duplicitoussight]

I'll forgive you this time. [DECEIVE IS SUCCESS.]

Yeah, yeah! In fact, it's an island. It's a rather nice place to spend the summer at, even if it gets reeeal hot. [That's true, at least, in a vague way.]

[redsea]

Oh. Um, I-I like the sea. It's very beautiful. I wish I could see it as often as I'd like. [ Hmm, so she can finally ask these sorts of questions. Let's try them out. ] What do you like the most about your home, Maru?

[duplicitoussight]

[Oh... he actually gives some thought to his answer for that.]

It's not so bad during the summers, even if I complain about it. Ah~ What I really like, though, are the nights--they're really nice and cool then, you know? A sunset's such a romantic thing to look at too. The cuisine's reeeally good, too. I wouldn't want to live anywhere else, that's for sure.

[Though, out of everything, his friends were what made it so important to him.]

[redsea]

That sounds wonderful! I mentioned it earlier, right? That I have a friend who is from a land like that. It's a small kingdom by the sea, but its ports are always busy, and the cuisine is delicious, and the streets lined with shops are so pretty and lively! Ah, I have only been there once, though.

[ Her tone is brighter and more cheerful compared to before, but then... ]

He did his best to protect his country, so I want to do that, too. I don't want his homeland to disappear.

[ That's why the Seelie have to win. ]

[duplicitoussight]

[She sounds so earnest that it makes him smile.]

Is that so, is that so? That's an awful heavy duty, though. He must've been a good friend to you to make you so happy to take it.

[redsea]

Yes! He's my best friend! [ Her only friend. ] It's selfish of me, but sometimes I wish he was here...

Are your friends from your world here, Maru?

[duplicitoussight]

Me? Well, well, I think I recognized one or two people during the feast! [A tiny lie.] Since they're kinda familiar, I'm staying with them for now.

1/2

[redsea]

Oh, I see. Th, that's good! That you are not alone, I mean.

[ Ooh, keeping up a conversation with a stranger is harder than she expected... ]

The servants tell me this is not the first time they have brought people from other worlds. Perhaps more will arrive soon, and our friends will be among them.

[redsea]

... Not that I would wish this predicament upon anybody...