illusional | 5th l o s t s o u l ~ [Action]

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5th l o s t s o u l ~ [Action]

[It was Sunday today. That meant today was the day Cheyenne had to do something she hated doing more than anything else in Luceti.]

[Grocery shopping.]

[She can be found walking around inside the grocery store, holding an empty bag at her side. Every so often she picks something up, frowns at it, and then puts it back. Occassionally she might shake something, maybe even peek under her blindfold in the hopes of getting a better look at it, but so far that bag looks pretty empty. She'll keep this up for about an hour until she's filled the bag, most of it either produce or something microwavable, and then make her way back to CH 6 to drop her things off. Unfortunately, all the snow from the day before was still covering most of the paths, so she'll probably trip once or twice on her way there.]

[That out of the way, Cheyenne moves on to how she usually spends her day: finding various places to relax and perhaps listen to the spirits passing by throughout the village. More often than not, that place is a bridge; the running water of the river underneath is one of the few things she's always able to see, after all. It's much more comforting than the stillness of her apartment, even if it is chillier sitting near the water.]

[And in the evening, after a failed cooking attempt that she won't be in the mood to talk about, she heads to Seventh Heaven to get something to eat there. All in all, a rather normal day for this illusionist.]

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[It was Kaori's first day being outside of the clinic and fully able to get around on her own in nearly two weeks, so of course she's taking full advantage of it to walk around the village like she often did, adjusting to being able to walk again despite the occasional wave of pain rolling through. Heck, she's even trying to hum a little again, though it's not very loud.

But when she comes within close proximity of Cheyenne she stops abruptly, feeling unsettled. She knows there's someone there, but for someone who was so finely tuned in with emotions and often used them as a means of getting around and identifying others, there's little doubt someone who... lacked didn't seem like the best word, but how else to describe it. Kaori will be looking her way, curious as usual.]

["Lacked" might very well be the best word, given how Cheyenne is very literally missing a good chunk of her soul. Although she doesn't realize Kaori is looking her way, she does sense that someone is nearby and they've stopped moving. She doesn't recognize the soul as someone she knows, but it is one of the ones that has stood out since it appeared in Luceti.]

[Despite the blindfold, she turns and looks directly over at Kaori. Not creepy at all, right?]

[Not at all if she can't see it, right? She can't help coming closer, drawn to the lack of emotions from Cheyenne, even though it might just be dangerous. Too bad she's never been one for self-preservation, or she would have bolted in the other direction by now.]

[Cheyenne watches Kaori slowly make her approach for a few moments before deciding to speak up. She wasn't usually the sort to start a conversation when she was just relaxing, but something about this girl interested her. She's never seen a soul like hers before, after all.]

Hello. Are you looking for something?

Uh... I'm not sure, really... [How to explain to a person that you're intrigued by their lack of a soul? Was it even a polite thing to say?]

Your name, what is it? If you don't mind me asking...?

[Forgoing politeness is pretty easy when the person you're talking to is nearly incapable of feeling offended.] I do not mind such a question at all. I am Cheyenne.

Might you tell me your name in return?

It's Kaori. [That was giving her name out faster than she normally would have, but this curiosity.] How long have you been here in Luceti, I don't think I've seen you around before.

In two weeks time I will have been here for four months. However, I suppose you have not seen me as I am the sort to generally keep to myself. It is a rather difficult habit to break.

Why would you keep to yourself? [This is a concept Kaori can't understand, being alone too long leaves her terrified.]

I suppose it is simply something I had long grown accustomed to in my previous world. My kind is not known for being very friendly.

But you seem plenty friendly to me. [From what she can read, anyway.]

I do? [That curiosity is going both ways here, it seems.] Although it is true I am rather different from other illusionists, I have never known someone to go so far as to call me friendly.

Why not? [But the first part of that sentence is really catching her attention.]

... Illusionist?

[Thankfully, she can answer both with one answer!] I am an illusionist, a monster that must feed on souls to survive. In my experience, one does not typically associate "monsters" with "friendly".

[A pause.] ...of course, that is not to say I mean any harm. Compared to others of my kind, I am rather peaceful.

[Being called a monster – she can relate all too easily. But that part of feeding on souls... If it weren't for her natural curiosity over this girl, she would have been running in the other direction already.]

If you don't mean any harm, that's what matters, right?

That is what I have been told, but even so, it is difficult to readjust. Those in my world would not dare risk believing the words of an illusionist. To be treated as something other than an object of fear is a thing I have not experienced prior to Luceti.

[And after over 200 years of living like that, it really makes the "habit" a bit hard to break.]

What makes you so different from them...? [Aside from your lack of a large part of your soul, anyway, she can't see that you're blindfolded.]

Do you mean that aside from the necessity to feed on other living creatures? [A head-tilt. Can she not tell?] I have been told I stand out somewhat in the village, given my kind is incapable of what most humans consider to be regular vision...

[A pause.] ...have you not noticed that I am wearing a blindfold?

[She's dealt with soul-eaters back home, so even though it's a terrifying concept to her, Kaori knows what can happen if those who rely that method of feeding are deprived of it, so she assumes Cheyenne is similar. It was never a good thing.]

... No, I haven't... [This girl couldn't see either? Even if it's only a blindfold...]

[A pause as she thinks for a moment.] Assuming you are not merely over-unobservant, is it safe to assume you are blind?

Uh... [Is that enough of an answer? She hates having to admit that she can't see anything, especially if a person notices right away.]

[While not enough of an answer for Cheyenne to know whether she means yes or no, it is enough for Cheyenne to get that she doesn't want to answer. But as for why...]

...my apologies. Was it perhaps out of line for myself to ask such a thing?

I'm just... not used to having people notice... [She'd prefer if no one knew, ever.]

Edited 2011-01-29 08:41 (UTC)

[She'll just muse quietly over that for a second, not quite understanding why but making a mental note not to point it out again. Unfortunately, if this girl was blind, that left one more important question.]

If you would not mind my asking, then, how is it that you were able to see me? [Tilting her head.] I noticed you were looking at me before I called out to you. Could it be you have a form of vision not dependent on sight, as well?

It's a combination of things, it took a while to train myself to identify people. [How best to explain something that she still had trouble understanding herself, sometimes?]

The best ways are by recognizing someone's 'presence,' which is made up by their souls and emotions...

[Action] Placeholder while I sleep! o/

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