A Small Fish In An Inter-Dimensional Pond

[potatolion]

The leaves and bits of snow and ice crunched under a small woman's mocasins as she trail blazed through the forest. The woman in question had elvish-like features but was comically too short to be of such race; Only standing at 5 feet tall. She had black hair pulled back into a bun and tanned skin. Her eyes were a light gray, but in a certain light seemed to glow like a desert's full moon of her old home. She wore clothes made from tanned deer skin, painted with blue markings on the hems. Leather tassels hanging around her arm and down her pants legs. She had a large satchel that hung across her torso, a tomahawk sheathed and hooked onto her belt and a wolf pelt tied to her shirt like a cape. On the right side of her neck was a distinct scar that ran horizontally across her skin.

She took in a deep breath of her surroundings, the smell of pine and oak trees filling her nose, the air was fresh and crisp. The northern winds bringing a chill over her face and turning her cheeks and nose a slight red. The air was quiet. The snow seeming to swallow up noise until her feet crunched through the snow. She had left her companions back in the city of Vertlea for now; Ansel, a knight and scholar wished to discuss business with some mages about disturbing rumors of how a dwavish mine had been suddenly abandoned with no sign of the miners. And Leyanin, that goofy warrior was sleeping in after a long day of sparring with the local guards to show off to his new lady-friend.

The small woman had gotten up early that morning. Needing to get out of the hustle and bustle of the city and enjoy the serenity of woods just outside the city walls. Maybe find a new pelt or plumage to add to her collection that she kept in Ansel's study. The corners of her lips pulled into a big smile at the thought, the idea of a new pelt making her excited like a child trying to sleep on Christmas Eve.

Her ears twitched somewhat as she heard a sound. Whipping her head to the source, her body hunched somewhat like a predator; Eyes wide and focused. It was strange, the sound almost sounded like a crowd. But the city was far behind her and a town was at least a day's walk from where she was. Her curiosity spurred she went from a leisurely walk to a jog to find the source of the noise. She weaved in and out of trees until suddenly, there were no more trees. No more forest.

Her senses now over-run by new sights, smells, and sounds. The change so sudden she almost got an immediate headache. She straightened her posture, but her muscles and form coiled like a rubber band about to snap from tension. 'Spirits, where am I?' She thought to herself. She felt her chest tighten and her stomach flop in a slight panic. She was back in a city, but it was...different. Extremely different. There were shops everywhere, strange carriages with armor that moved without being pulled from a horse. She stood on the sidewalk of Downtown. Just watching and absorbing the plethora of new information being tossed at her.

Comments

[loose_cannon]

"Hey, you alright, miss?" asks a grizzled-looking man in a worn duster and sturdy work clothes. Jesse can spot the "stunned newcomer" expression from a mile away by now; he runs into at least one or two every time he makes a trip. "Need some help?"

[potatolion]

Kasa was taking in deep breaths to help her relax her culture-shocked nerves. Even if it only worked slightly. She heard an unfamiliar voice call to her, her shoulders jolting surprise. It sounded gruff, when she quickly turned to eye the source of the voice his appearance was as rough as his voice with a hint of warmness to it. She remained quiet as she studied the man that towered over her, waiting for her heart to calm it's drum-like beat. She must have waited in silence for some time cause he posed another question to her, this time she responded much quicker so the kind pedestrian wouldn't leave just yet. "Ah... This one is ok...She thinks." She spoke with a small accent and very broken Common. Her words rolled off the tongue slowly, but her words started to speed up once a flurry of questions came to mind. "This one was in forest, but then she was not in forest. Where is this one? Where is her home? What is those things?" She asked and motioned to the horseless, armored carriages.

[loose_cannon]

The helpful stranger waits patiently for the woman to steady her nerves, taking the opportunity to get a better read on her appearance and possible origins. Certainly looks like she makes a good living for herself in the wilderness. No surprise that she'd be shocked by so much technology.

He smiles at the deluge of questions. "Well, I'm no expert, but I can tell you this place is called the 'Nexus' and -- to put it simply -- it's a space between worlds. Folks pop over at random. No real rhyme or reason to it that I've found."

Jesse glances at the flowing traffic of vehicles -- every model and make imaginable. "Oh, and those things? Cars. Powered by gas and electric engines, mostly. You come from a uh, simpler world, huh?"

[potatolion]

Kasa remained still, carefully listening to his explanation. Nexus this place was called. That must be why he was so quick to check in on her. People showing up in a similar fashion to hers sounded incredibly common. After the first question was answered, he answered the next.

"C-ahr..." She gave pronouncing the word a try. Putting too much of an emphasis on the letters but she nodded her head, thinking she got the word down. When he asked if she came from a simpler world she felt her cheeks heat up in embarrassment and mild annoyance, her brows furrowing stubbornly. He probably didn't mean it in an insulting way, but she felt her attitude spark a moment. "This one eh...She suppose so.." She grumbled and looked at the Cars that moved down the road. "This one...Her home does not have cars. Or...Buildings that go so high." She admitted reluctantly and rubbed the scarred side of her neck habitually.

Ah. She should probably introduce herself. She stood straight, trying to make herself seem tall, proud and powerful. She held her small hand out to the man and gave a thankful nod. "Many thanks for helping this one eh...relax. Her name is Kasa Yeenaaldlooshi."

[loose_cannon]

"Pleased to meetcha, Miss Yee ... Yeenadloo..." He laughs and takes her hand for a hearty shake before settling on the easier alternative. "Miss Kasa. I'm Jesiah Black, but I go by Jesse."

"You look like you'd be more at home in the area they call 'The Wilds.' Quieter. More natural. It's clear over that way, though," he says with a wave of his hand in (presumably) the correct bearing. The motion causes the soft jingle of various metal bits and pieces about his person. "Unless you take a shine to all this fancy technology. I've definitely seen some things that knocked my socks off."

[potatolion]

Kasa snickered as the man tried to pronounce her name. It was something she always enjoyed watching those who were not familiar with the Skin-Walker language attempt to say. Mostly because she understood the struggle of pronunciation. "Just Kasa is good, Yonva. It is good to meet Jesse." Her grin widened as she seemed to have less trouble with his name. She was also more then happy to see someone give her a strong handshake. People in the past would give her the limp-fish handshake because she was so small. They quickly realized she was fine when she gives them a python grip and a hearty shake.

This guy was different. She could respect that.

"The Wilds? That does sound like place this one would like more." She said in thought, then tilted her head to get a more calmed look at the city she now stood. City. Vertlea city! Ansel and Leyanin have no idea what happened to her! Her brows rose in realization and her shoulders slumped slightly and she turned her attention back to Jesse, "Yonva, is there any way for this one to return? This one's companions have been left behind" She asked with worry in her voice, referring to Jesse by a nickname rather than his actual name by accident.

[loose_cannon]

The repeated use of 'Yonva' gets an arched, bushy eyebrow, but he chalks it up as a feature of her language.

"Ooh. Getting back can be tricky. If you came through a door, you might be able to backtrack just fine. In my case, I had to hire a guy to make a portal for me. Naugus is his name." He clears his throat. "I say 'hire', but he offers his services for free. A little suspect if you ask me, but I haven't seen any ill come of it yet."

He scratches his jaw thoughtfully. "He can't be the only game in town, though. Portals are everywhere."

[potatolion]

Kasa nodded in understanding, her expression relaxed again. She had a chance to return to them, that was all she needed to hear to help her relax. "Ah, she understands. That is good to hear. She will find way back...But also explore a bit of this strange place as she does." She admitted with a playful smirk. This place was interesting. If she could show some technology to Ansel to prove her story he would try to get her to return to this place and just bring him with her. She chuckled quietly at the thought.

"Well. Until this one can return she should find place to stay. Where does Yon- Jesse, think this one should go?" She asked while looking up to him again. Crossing her arms over her chest.

[loose_cannon]

"Absolutely. This place is a goddamn treasure trove of ... well, anything you could hope for. Don't waste the chance to look around while you've got it."

Jesse's mouth skews to one side. His protective dad instincts are kicking into high gear; he's not about to let her get caught up in any seedier parts of the Nexus. "If you need a safe place to rest, I've seen a few hostels around that offer free room and board to stranded folks. But trust your gut: if they're giving you a bad vibe, keep walking. Plenty of bad folks around here, same as anywhere."

[potatolion]

Kass chuckled as he explained how the place was a treasure trove. That was good to hear. She wanted to be able to collect some interesting souvenirs to show her companions. Taking this odd mishap of being tossed into another world and twisting it so it was like she was on a mandatory vacation...For an undisclosed amount of time...Yeah. That's it.

When Jesse went on to explain the various hostels that would take in those who've been stranded, she listened carefully. Absorbing the information he gave like a little, tribal sponge. She couldn't help but smile somewhat at how much he reminded her of a father. Carefully wathing over the young ones. She appreciated the gesture from a stranger.

She nodded to show she understood and smiled to the one she dubbed 'Yonva'. "Understand. Many thanks. Do not worry, this one will be sure to surprise those who try to mess with her, yes!" She exclaimed and puffed out her chest in pride.

[loose_cannon]

Jesse grins at that response, his tanned, leathery skin cut deep with laugh lines. "I like your energy, kid! I think you'll do just fine."

He raises a finger, wags it a little. "Just uh, don't be too eager to pick fights, okay? You never know who has crazy powers or wild future tech that can blast you clean off the map."

[potatolion]

Kasa's expression beamed with pride in herself and from Jesse's compliment. Yes! She did have energy! She felt better knowing that a tough-looking guy like Jesse thought she'd do fine in this world, enjoying the confidence boost.

She let her arms rest at her sides as she watched his finger waggle like an easily distracted cat. But despite her distracted appearance she caught every word he said. Crazy powers and wild future tech, eh? He did have a point. Despite her confidence in dealing with difficult situations, Yonva was right. This place was still completely new and unknown to her. Best be careful.

She gave him a reassuring smile and nodded in response. "Do not worry. This one will be careful. She does not go looking for fights..." She drifted off and rubbed her hands together suspiciously. She was not the best liar. And it was obvious. Her cheeks flushed a light pink before she almost immediately blurted the truth after her white lie. "Well...Asking for friendly spar does not count." She grumbled stubbornly, then flashed another wide grin to the tall man.

[jinmenken]

Downtown is a bustling, sometimes grimy place. Look at this mess over here; an overturned trashbin, the contents scattered across the sidewalk. Perhaps from the fall, perhaps from some unknown vermin rummaging in it. What a disgrace.

What eventually peers from the depths of the trash is not, uh. Exactly normal? It's a the face of a middle-aged man, wearing a pair of horn-rimmed glasses with a grievous crack down the center of one lens. But when the rest of him skittishly chances a look out, it appears the face has a pair of floppy poodle ears on either side of his head and a green pouf of hair on top. A bag with two hot dogs (and plenty of garbage juice) is between his teeth as he looks one way and then the other, checking if his escape route is clear. Turns out it's not. There's a lady standing there, looking really tense. Like she's angry! Ready to strike at easy targets like ugly dogs!

Manjimutt does his best to dart back inside of the trash bin without being noticed, but he does so rapidly enough that his motions cause the can to loudly rock back and forth with metallic ringing.

[potatolion]

Before Jesse had arrived and Kasa was still tense and confused and lost. She was unaware that there was a strange dog with a human face that was staring at her in a misunderstood fear. It retreated away into the garbage can that it was rifling through. Causing the metal trash bin to rock back and forth, a metallic ring echoing through the alley and reaching Kasa's pointed ears.

Kasa quickly turned to confront the noise. She narrowed her eyes suspiciously at the strange sound. By the time she turned the garbage bin stopped teetering. She turned forward again when she heard Jesse's voice. She made a note to investigate the noise once she finished her conversation with the gruff man in front of her.

[jinmenken]

He stays huddled among the rubbish for what feels like a safe amount of time. Surely she's gone by now, left to take out her frustrations on less homely targets. Manjimutt creeps back out again slowly, his canine claws clanking on the metal of the bin underfoot, carefully peering around the rim of it again.

...NO! She's still there! He's going to die in here! Well, at least he won't starve right away, right? He's got those hot dogs.

Wait.

Where are the hot dogs.

The yokai looks further out, now a little frantic. Where are the hot dogs! That's lunch for the next three days! He's pulled his canine body halfway from the trash by the time he spies the missing mystery meat.

The alleyway must be made at the slightest of incline, because the hot dogs (still in their bag) have been rolling slowly toward Kasa and soon bump up against one of her moccasins. Gross. Garbage.

[potatolion]

While Kasa let Jesse think on his answer for where he recommended she should find shelter for the nights she'll now be spending in this odd world. She felt something bump against her foot and the smell of something like old meat(?) entered her nostrils. Her nose scrunched and she looked down towards the culprit. The bag of old food made Kasa's stomach do a flip, what kind of disgusting thing was this? It looked...odd. Better get rid of this thing. "One moment, Jesse." She asked politely, kneeling down to pick up the back of garbage between her pointer finger and thumb in mild disgust. She made her way towards the metal bin. She stopped with a small yelp of surprise when she saw what was in the garbage bin.

A dog with fluffy fur that smelled like garbage from having been hanging out in some. But that's not what caused her to yelp. It was a fact that this dog had a face. A human face! She simply stared at the creature. Dumbfounded. Judging by how the creature was facing here, maybe it wanted the odd meat that rolled against her moccasins? Cautiously she held out her hand that had the hot dogs; Seeing if the strange creature would take it from her hand.

[juststeverogers]

Congratulations Kasa, you are not the shortest person in the Nexus!

Or at least, there's a very slim man who seems to be about your height watching how lost you are wandering around the Plaza.

"Is...everything alright miss?" He sounds worried when he approaches. "Are you new here?"

[potatolion]

Kasa looks toward the voice of the slim young man with a jolt of surprise. Her hand reaching down to rest on her tomahawk instinctively as she faced him, but she quickly relaxed upon seeing that it was just a young human boy that was around her height with blonde hair.

She took in a deep breath and nodded in response to both his questions. "Yes...To both. This one is very very new to this...Place. She was in forest one moment, but, then here next." She explained.


(( OOC: So question, does rp's here happen linearly? or does it start a-new with each reply? o.o 'cause I've been trying to tie them together but idk if others do that xD ))

[juststeverogers]

((OOC: It's up to you! I usually handwave the exact time each person is commenting to me unless something happens that I definitely want to be established as happening before anyone else comments.))

No need for weapons here miss. This human would probably snap and arm by the force of the blow alone before he cutting edge ever got to do it's job.

"That tends to happen." He gives her a sympathetic nod, hands slipping into his pockets. More frequently than she'd think, too. "The Wilds are back that way." He gestures off in a direction from where they are in the Plaza. "In case you want to try to hurry home. Sometimes....the doors back to peoples' places leave."

He'd know.

[potatolion]

((Ooc: gotcha. Thank you c: ))


She furrowed her brow somewhat at hearing this. It tends to happen a lot? She relaxed her posture farther, but still trying to give an air of pride, confidence, and strength...despite her diminutive size. She listened patiently to what he had to say before speaking up. Obviously looking confused. "Why would going in those directions bring this one back? She had appeared here not there."

This place was weird. She took a moment to study the boy who stood in front of her. He was short and wore simple clothes. He had blue eyes and blond hair. He was very thin, she actually started to worry about what would happen if her tomahawk _did_ mare contact with the boy. His face reminded her a lot of Ansel...Just a bit more gaunt and solemn.

Change his expression to something more content and he'd be pretty cute. But, back to subject. "So, this one can return to her home? It is possible?" She asked with a hopeful tone.