Community Feb25 Event: Vincent x Aedrianna

[Maverick Six]

Vincent
Interaction: Moonberry
Equipped Titles: Human [Mundane], Novice Tinkerer, Novice Blacksmith, Isekai, Mechanic
Language Key: Common | %Analog% |

With a cigarette still in his mouth, Vince only vaguely listens to what the host has to say. Keeping the cigarette in his mouth, he does naught but wait for the inevitable. Though his eyes do wander. And now there are two people who's names he knew. What he thought of them couldn't be more different.

A new name to know appeared before him. And now there was only a few things.

Round 3: The Festival​

A new time and a new place. "Wonder where my ride's at." He spoke audibly, hoping that there'd be answers. Unfortunately, it didn't seem like that was the case.

He scanned the area with a neutral gaze -- his eyes taking in a new environment. The dingier clockwork machines were replaced by humble lanterns. The air was cleaner and there was a scent of baked goods that permeated the place. Different stalls offered games much like the last one, but the area almost started to remind Vince of the Republic. Bits of forest seemed to be visible off in the background but he wasn't exactly sure of what.

He watched as jugglers tossed around balls with a casual ease and as fire was blown into the air. Yet Vince was one to go with the flow in this case -- as he'd figured that eventually, he'd feel lead to someone. Someone who stuck out. As much as he talked and chatted, many people didn't seem too keen on talking with him as they did more so to seem to amuse and guide him.

"You seen somebody named "Aedrianna" round here?"

"Maybe you'll wanna go that way, good sir."

Vince's approached would be announced by scent. Thankfully, he wasn't filthy but it obvious that he smelled like nicotine. He'd been in these rooms for a while and a second cigarette was understandable when it'd been about two hours and some change. Vince all but a pair of very modern looking jeans, a jacket with "Dallas cowboys" written on his back and a plain shirt. His shoes too looked modern, standing out among the crowd as he seemed to be the only one dressed in wear would be seen as modern.

With his hands in his pockets, he proceeded down the path towards where. Last time, he had found the person he was set up with. But this time, it was shaping up to be somewhere else. Maybe there was a game to be seen or something else to enjoy.

Let's see what they'll shack me up with this time. Maybe it'll be that fox. Maybe that knight or the walking furnace. The big demon guy? Nah. He doesn't look like an Aedrianna.

Out of nowhere, Vince chuckled to himself at the thought. This valentine was like a box of chocolates.

 

[Moonberry]

♫ A Near Miss ♫

Stats:
Strength - E
Precision - C
Intelligence - C
Vitality - D
Speed - D
Character Grade - D



Titles
[Isekai] [Born for This] [Mundane] [Healer] [Blossom Seeker] [Mother Hen] [Bugged] [Caster]

Aedrianna Belmonte
＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚.·͙*̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩̥͙　✩　*̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥*̩̩͙‧͙ .˚*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊​

Poof.

Aedrianna—Hikari—was back.

The weightless shift of magic tossed her into yet another scene, her feet landing solidly on cobblestone this time. A warm breeze curled around her, carrying the rich scent of something delicious; baked goods, sizzling skewers, the unmistakable sweetness of festival treats. Her skirts fluttered slightly as she steadied herself, blinking at the sudden change in atmosphere.

Not skirts, A yukata.

Hikari glanced down, catching the delicate folds of pastel silk draped around her, the fabric shifting with the gentle sway of her movements. The soft hues of lavender and pink blended into one another like the first blush of dawn, embroidered with intricate patterns of sakura blossoms and flowing water. A pale blue obi cinched the ensemble together, tied in an elegant bow at her back. She reached up, fingertips brushing over the delicate floral pins woven into her hair, strands of soft gold and streaks of pink, blue, and purple left free to cascade over her shoulders.

"Oh… this is just like a summer festival back home." The sound of taiko drums thumped gently in the distance, blending with the hum of cheerful voices. It was all so familiar. The golden lights, the distant crackle of fireworks, the vendors enthusiastically calling to passersby. For the first time all evening, she actually felt a little at ease. And then, the unmistakable scent of cigarette smoke. Hikari's nose crinkled instinctively. Without thinking, she pivoted, letting the flow of festival-goers naturally guide her away. It was a subconscious decision. One that had been ingrained in her long before she arrived in this world. It wasn’t until she was a few stalls down that it hit her.

Oh.

That’s how she used to avoid her manager. She almost laughed at the realization, shaking her head as she let herself drift toward the festival stalls, her fingers brushing absently over the edge of a display.

"Oh, look at these…" she murmured, pausing in front of a stand lined with delicate festival masks, each one carefully painted with intricate designs. The soft glow of lanterns reflected off their surfaces, casting playful shadows in the warm light. In the background, a vendor gestured vaguely in a direction.

"Maybe you’ll wanna go that way, good sir." Hikari turned slightly at the sound of a deep chuckle nearby, but before she could place it, something else caught her eye. Goldfish scooping.

Her face brightened, and without hesitation, she knelt beside the small water-filled stall, reaching for a paper scoop. The gentle ripple of water sparkled beneath the lantern light as she scanned for a target, her focus settling on a particularly lively goldfish darting through the surface.

She moved carefully, her grip light, her movements deliberate. The thin paper of the scoop barely skimmed the water as she tried to angle it just right, And then, just as she thought she had victory sealed, the goldfish flicked its tail at the last second diving back into the water, sending a small burst of cool water right into her face. Hikari blinked as a drop of water rolled down her cheek.

Then, a laugh bubbled from her lips, light, breathless, completely unrestrained. Still smiling and quietly laughing, she stood up, stepping back from the stall as she brushed hwe fingers against her cheek, to swipe away the water.

Her yukata sleeves fluttered with the movement, the embroidered sakura shimmering in the lantern glow. The soft breeze carried the sound of distant fireworks, the warm hum of the festival pressing in around her. She stood for a moment, in the middle of the street, gazing up at the supposed sky. Tucking a strand of hair behind her ear she sighed. The stars were breathtaking. Vast and colorful. Nothing like they were at home, where all the lights of the city drowned them out. She felt a small pang of homesickness, being amidst this familiar scene.

˚♩*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*˚＊♫* . °•★♪|•°∵ ♚ ∵°•|♪★•° . *♫＊*•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*♩˚

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Maverick Six​

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[Maverick Six]

Vincent
Interaction: Moonberry
Equipped Titles: Human [Mundane], Novice Tinkerer, Novice Blacksmith, Isekai, Mechanic
Language Key: Common | %Analog% |​

Round 3: The Festival​

---

It felt odd. Almost "magical". Not in the type of way he had come to associate magic, as with mysterious rituals and abominations. But in a way he would liken to something like a fairy tale. He was walking along without much any idea of where to go. Yet he never felt like he was going in the wrong direction. Forces were guiding him along as he walked towards something. Beyond a lot of logic, it felt like he knew when he saw it. Though, when putting it into words.

She wore a Pink Kimono and he could see her with something in his hand. He didn't stop and he didn't spy, but he seemed to be taking his time as he watch. A small grin appeared on his face as he watched a goldfish she caught splash water onto her face and then hop off into the pool.

Then again, he started to think. More than think. He became a bit more self conscious. It became pretty obvious she beautiful and dressed for the occasion. Meanwhile he was wearing the same exact thing he'd be wearing when he'd gone out traveling on the open road. He wondered about how his hair looked and a little bit about his breath. And he wondered a little bit if what he was doing was right. After all, he did already get quite close to Aureliana....

But then he thought, it's a set of dates. He had to get to know each one.

Making sure he looked at least half decent -- he dusted himself off and approached the bright-eyed woman without an ounce of expectation in his mind. And when he approached, he made what was in his mind open. He approached with a small smile -- one more of a slightly more upbeat mood.

"Hey there. You Aedrianna?" He asked with cigarette still in his mouth and smoke blowing out with each word. "You look like an "Aedrianna" and I'd say you're the best lookin' person here at the moment. You stick out in a good way." He looked left and right as if to confirm. And then his eyes settled back on her, once again with assuredness in what he said.

"Outfit like that, you look pretty well dressed for the occasion. Almost makes me wonder where I could get one of those for guys-"

His eyes traced along where he'd seen the woman staring, and soon he too, would gaze at the stars. Though in truth, his mind was a little bit more on the woman. Her answers and her reactions.

 

[Moonberry]

♫ Lanternlit Introductions ♫

Stats:
Strength - E
Precision - C
Intelligence - C
Vitality - D
Speed - D
Character Grade - D



Titles
[Isekai] [Born for This] [Mundane] [Healer] [Blossom Seeker] [Mother Hen] [Bugged] [Caster]

Aedrianna Belmonte
＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚.·͙̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩̥͙　✩　̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩͙‧͙ .˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊​

Hikari blinked, still brushing the last bit of water from her face when a voice cut through the warm hum of the festival.

She turned, eyes landing on the man approaching her.

At first glance, he didn’t quite fit the scenery—the lantern glow reflected against his worn jacket, the bold lettering on the back distinctly modern. A cigarette hung lazily from his lips, the slow curl of smoke weaving through the crisp evening air. The scent of it drifted between them, threading itself into the mix of roasted festival treats and incense.

She didn’t hate it.

But it was noticeable.

And funnily enough, it reminded her of someone—her old manager, always pacing outside the dressing rooms, cigarette in one hand, clipboard in the other, sighing dramatically as he reviewed schedules.

"Hikari, do you know how hard it is to keep you on track?"

"Oh no! I can’t hear you! The music’s too loud! Gotta go!"

She’d dodged plenty of awkward conversations that way.

A small, private smile tugged at the corner of her lips at the memory—until the man before her spoke again, pulling her back to the present.

His words were easy, confident, slipping into a casual kind of compliment.

Hikari felt warmth rise to her cheeks before she could stop it.

Not this again…

She hesitated, fingers brushing idly over the embroidered sakura blossoms on her sleeve. It was a simple remark, but the way he said it—so matter-of-fact, like an observation rather than an attempt to flatter—made her pause.

Did she really look like an Aedrianna?

She still wasn’t sure.

Her memories were a tangled mess of Hikari and Aedrianna, and she wasn’t always certain where one ended and the other began.

Still, she managed a small, polite smile.

"I… suppose I do stand out a little." The words left her softer than she meant them to, carrying a flicker of uncertainty. Then, with a quick glance at him, she added lightly, "Though, I’d say that makes two of us."

Her gaze drifted to the bold Dallas Cowboys across his back, and she tilted her head slightly.

"You’re American?" The question came naturally as she gestured toward his jacket. "That’s a football team, right? Or, well… your kind of football."

A soft chuckle followed, something a little sheepish in the way she admitted,

"I never really followed sports, but some of my fans were very invested."

The conversation could have stayed there, simple and surface-level, but as her words settled, she caught something in his expression.

A flicker of something—something quick, something quiet, something almost hidden beneath his otherwise easy demeanor.

Hikari wasn’t sure what it was, but instinct had her shift just slightly, softening her own presence in turn.

She watched as his gaze drifted toward the sky, tracing the same path hers had moments before. The quiet between them stretched, not awkward but different—like he wasn’t just filling the silence, but actually thinking.

She let it linger for a moment before speaking again, her voice thoughtful.

"The host did say this was a magical mirage room, didn’t they?"

It was half a statement, half an open-ended thought.

She wasn’t entirely sure what to make of this man just yet—his presence was unlike the others she had met so far. Less sharp and deliberate than Edwin. Less steady and immovable than Stormbreaker.

Something about him felt different.

Not mystical. Not untouchable.

Just... real.

"I’m still getting used to the whole magic thing, but if it can conjure an entire festival, I’m sure there’s a stall somewhere selling men’s yukatas."

Her smile turned lighthearted as she lifted a hand in a vague gesture, as if offering a choice rather than a suggestion.

"Not that you need one, of course." She let the thought hang for a second before tilting her head slightly, her lips curving into a lighthearted smile.

There was no teasing bite to it—just an easy sort of curiosity, as if she was simply observing a fact.

"You do seem to wear it well."

Warm, genuine, but cautious—because she still didn’t quite know him yet. But that was the whole point of this, wasn’t it?

To figure that out.

˚♩•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊♫* . °•★♪|•°∵ ♚ ∵°•|♪★•° . ♫＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*♩˚

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Maverick Six

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[Maverick Six]

Vincent
Interaction: Moonberry
Equipped Titles: Human [Mundane], Novice Tinkerer, Novice Blacksmith, Isekai, Mechanic
Language Key: Common | %Analog% |

Round 3: The Festival​

---

Lost in Thoughts all Alone

While relaxed, those eyes of his could catch a blush when he saw them. Ever so slightly, his grin grew more.

The girl had a gentle air about her, it seemed like. Despite that, he couldn't help but think she had something on her mind. What it was he couldn't tell in the slightest. In a way she seemed a little bit distant and, in her thoughts, particularly given that she was alone. While his sight was good, it wasn't that good. He couldn't see what she was thinking. But at the same time, it seemed like she was being pulled into the moment. By him.

"Yeah, you're right." He replied. "Not exactly in my sunday's best." More formal events like this weren't usually the type of thing he was used to. In truth, he'd gone right into the workforce and one might

His eyes widen a little bit as he heard references that were only know to some. "You recognize this? Yeah I'm from America! Another version of it. Usually, it's pretty different from the one I talk to other people about but close enough."
For a brief second, he contemplated looking around for one of these "Yukata" shops. However, the thought was quickly put to rest by her saying he didn't really need to. "Woo! Thank god. It looks good and all but I feel more comfortable in something like this. Maybe it's just my culture in more ways then one." Though his momentary relief was offset by the realization that he'd just received a compliment.

"And uh, thanks!" He said, scratching the back of his head.

"Yeah Magic's still pretty weird to me. Existed kinda in my old world but in secret. However, I did the same thing I always did and used machines and a little bit of elbow grease. When I got to this place, you best believe I went straight for Widersia. Was a mechanic then and am a mechanic now still." A wave of his hand.

"Though enough about me. How about you? You mentioned having fans right? You make yourself sound like some type of celebrity and well, I'd believe it! And of course, ya mentioned me being American. Begs the question of where you're from." Who was he, asking such questions now. He'd yet to even tell the lady what he was called.

"The names Vincent by the way. And, you can call me Vince." He pointed towards his chest to give her his own name, though he'd already presumed to know her own name.

 

[Moonberry]

♫ Lanternlit Introductions ♫

Stats:
Strength - E
Precision - C
Intelligence - C
Vitality - D
Speed - D
Character Grade - D



Titles
[Isekai] [Born for This] [Mundane] [Healer] [Blossom Seeker] [Mother Hen] [Bugged] [Caster]

Aedrianna Belmonte
＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚.·͙̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩̥͙　✩　̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩͙‧͙ .˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊​

Hikari let out a small, airy laugh, the kind that slipped out effortlessly—unforced, warm, genuine.

"Don't worry! You look comfortable and handsome. It works." she admitted, her smile lingering as he seemed both relieved and slightly caught off guard by her compliment.

Something about his reaction was… refreshing.

She had met people before who were so confident, so self-assured, that compliments hardly fazed them. Some took them as their due, others barely registered them at all. But Vincent—he accepted it with an ease that felt natural, yet there was an almost boyish charm to the way he scratched the back of his head, as if it had been unexpected.

As he spoke about his world—his America, different yet similar—Hikari tilted her head, intrigued.

"So magic existed in your world too?" Her fingers tapped absently against the silk of her sleeve. "But in secret… like a hidden part of life most people didn’t see?"

Her voice was thoughtful. It was interesting to think about—how different people came from different versions of what she once knew. A multiverse of Earths, each just a little off from the other.

A mechanic.

She could see it now—there was something in the way he carried himself, in the way his hands moved when he spoke, in the easy way he described machines and elbow grease as if they were second nature.

"Widersia?" she echoed, testing the name on her tongue. "I haven’t been there, but I’ve heard it’s a place of invention. A perfect place for someone like you, I’d imagine."

Then, the conversation turned, and his question caught her off guard—not in a bad way, just in a way that made her pause for half a second.

Her? A celebrity?

Hikari let out another soft laugh, this one touched with something more delicate, something reminiscent of a memory just out of reach.

"I suppose I was," she admitted, brushing a strand of colorfully streaked hair behind her ear. "In my world, at least."

Her fingers absently traced the embroidery on her sleeve. It seemed to be an unconscious nervous habit.

"I was a pop idol, in Japan. I sang on stage in front of thousands, sometimes even more. I loved the music, the people, the energy of it all." Her voice softened, a quiet fondness woven into her words. "I think that was the best part—knowing that, even just for a moment, I could make someone smile, or cry, or feel something real."

She let the thought linger in the warm air between them.

Then, with a small, self-conscious chuckle, she lifted her gaze back to him.

"But that was another life, I suppose."

She didn't want to weigh the moment down, so instead, she turned his question back around.

"What about you?" she asked, tilting her head slightly. "A mechanic, a traveler… What’s the story behind Vincent?"

There was genuine curiosity in her voice, an easy kind of warmth that invited him to share if he wished.

But before he could answer, her stomach made an untimely grumble.

Hikari immediately flushed, clasping her hands lightly over her midsection as if that might somehow undo the sound that had just betrayed her.

A beat of silence.

Then, laughter. Light and airy, filled with good-natured embarrassment.

"Well. I suppose that answers one question—I’m still perfectly capable of getting hungry in a magical illusion."

She looked toward the stalls, scanning the rows of food vendors lit up beneath the paper lanterns.

"How about this?" She glanced back at him, an amused sparkle in her eyes. "If we’re both going to be wandering this festival, we might as well do it with takoyaki in hand."

Her lips quirked in a small, playful smile.

"That is, if magic food even counts as real food. Guess there's only one way to find out."

She took a step toward the stalls, but paused just enough to see if he would follow

˚♩•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊♫* . °•★♪|•°∵ ♚ ∵°•|♪★•° . ♫＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*♩˚

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Maverick Six

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[Maverick Six]

Vincent
Interaction: Moonberry
Equipped Titles: Human [Mundane], Novice Tinkerer, Novice Blacksmith, Isekai, Mechanic
Language Key: Common | %Analog% |

Round 3: The Festival​

---

Lost In Thoughts, All Alone (Piano Arrangement by SheetMusicDesu)

The first expression made Vince feel a little loose. He'd only been talking to her for a few seconds and he already felt like he'd something to lose in blowing this. He felt almost out of character. Overthinking isn't like him.

"Huh. No Cameras around these parts, are there?" He asks. "Seem almost too down to earth to be a celebrity." He was always unsure of how a celebrity would be. So far, she seemed nothing like what he'd imagined.

"Yeah you got it right pretty much. I can't say it everywhere like in here but it was around. I'd say you could do a lot more with "magic" here then in my old world." Part of him wanted to tell more, but certain parts might not have been suitable for going over.

He motioned to the outstanding mirage all around them. The flowers. The lotus. The distant smell of food. "Nothing like this." This place was amazing. He wasn't exactly sure of what to exactly make of this place. But one thing was for certain, it was pretty impressive. Either in being a tiny little pocket dimension that felt exactly reality or somehow linking people across the country into one dreamscape. Maybe it was all a dream. But, some things about the people felt all too genuine to him with their ups and downs.

He nodded. Even a lot of the clothes he had was made there and in the fashion he had liked. Something told him he wasn't the only one that was nostalgic for some of the closer things he could get to modern times, though thankfully his jacket was in tact.

Soon however, he found his question answered. She was a singer and one who seemed to enjoy every moment of it. "Easy there. No Cameras round here. You can just a little snobby, you know?" He said in gest.

There was a moment of profound silence, however. And even amidst the crowd, he could well spot the sound of a rumbling tummy. A brief snort is accompanied by him covering his mouth -- a useless attempt at masking immature snickering. He was beginning to think that was no part of a script. After a few seconds however, he regained his composure. Plucking the cigarette out of his mouth. Dropping it on the ground, he ground it into dirt.

"Damn if I'm not hungry. This place must make ya feel good if this is Japan. Never been. But I have been to Republic. No offense but I was in a real bumfuck village called "taeko." Love the place to death but what's here is probably better then what they're able to eat." Towards her, he held out a hand for her to take if she liked. Not the prettiest thing. Calluses had formed on from hard labor and various scars seemed to come from brushing up against metal rather than any fighting. But it was his hand.

Would she take it?

He wouldn't keep it up for long and would be content to go on his merry way. "Let's see if imaginary magic ramen tastes as good as my nose is tellin' me." A suggestion from himself.

"Vincent's story huh, huh?" He said, walking along. "I dunno if I have a background as interesting as yours. Lived in a single parent household. I stayed out of just enough trouble to not end up in Juvie. Got out of highschool and became a mechanic." He said, summing up a large swath of his life in a mere two sentences.

"A lot of all the stuff you say checks out. We had a country called Japan. I knew it was generally somethin' like this. For a while is kinda the same. But after a point in time, things kinda went tits up in my world. How'd I say it? Vampires. And not like the ones you're used to. Basically took over a good amount of parts of the world. It was real chaotic towards that end stint." While he spoke of his world in the past -- all the while moving forward.

The smell of various food stands made it easy to find food. Strong fragrances alluded to the presence of meals both hot and cold. Meat and without meat. Rice was nearly everywhere and noodles weren't too far behind. Of the colder foods were sushi and pickled vegetables which had been soaked in Around them were meals practically fit for a shogun.

Yet all he seemed to want was a nice place to settle down with Aedri and try some authentic ramen.

 

[Moonberry]

♫ Hands Touching Hands ♫

Stats:
Strength - E
Precision - C
Intelligence - C
Vitality - D
Speed - D
Character Grade - D



Titles
[Isekai] [Born for This] [Mundane] [Healer] [Blossom Seeker] [Mother Hen] [Bugged] [Caster]

Aedrianna Belmonte
＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚.·͙̩̩͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩̥͙　✩　̩̩̥͙˚̩̥̩̥̩̩͙‧͙ .˚•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊​

Hikari let out a soft hum of amusement at Vincent’s comment, tilting her head slightly.

"Too down to earth to be a celebrity? Well, if you were expecting paparazzi and an entourage, I’m afraid I’ll have to disappoint." Her lips curved into a lighthearted smile. "But I suppose I’ll take that as a compliment."

She listened as he spoke about his world—his America, similar yet different. Magic had existed there, but only in secret, unlike the ever-present force it was here. Her gaze drifted to the glowing lanterns, the warmth of the festival pressing in around them.

"I can’t imagine keeping something like this a secret." She lifted a hand slightly, letting the golden light flicker against her skin. "It feels so... alive."

At the mention of Japan, her interest piqued.

"So your world had a Japan too?" There was a thoughtful curiosity in her voice. "I wonder how different it was from mine. Maybe every world has little echoes of each other."

Then—vampires.

She blinked.

"Wait—actual vampires?" A short, incredulous laugh escaped her. "Like, horror-movie, bloodsucking, cape-wearing types? Or are we talking full-scale world domination?" She shook her head with amusement. "I suppose that wouldn’t be the strangest thing I’ve heard tonight." She thought about pressing for details but let it be. for now. Then, her gaze flicked down as he offered his hand.

For a moment, she hesitated—not out of reluctance, but because something about the gesture, its simplicity, felt… grounding. Then, with a small breath, she slipped her fingers into his.

Warm.

She hadn’t expected that. Why? She shook the thought from her mind, focusing on the man whose hand she was holding now. Her lips quirked slightly as she tilted her head up at him, a playful glint in her eye.

"Well, if you want me to act snobby, I could demand the most expensive thing on the menu when we get there." She teased. The lightness lingered between them, their steps easy and unhurried as they wove through the festival. The hum of conversation, the distant crackle of fireworks, the lantern glow painting everything in warmth—it all felt so familiar. Without thinking, her fingers curled slightly against his, absorbing the quiet steadiness of his grip. A soft sigh slipped past her lips, unbidden.

"Really… I guess I’m going through a bit of a thing right now." Her voice softened, not sad, just thoughtful. "A lot of things are mixed up for me. There’s so much I don’t understand yet. And trying to get used to it all in a place I don’t know has been…" She hesitated, then exhaled a small, self-aware laugh. "Hard, honestly." She paused for a second, her blue eyes drifting along the stalls ahead of them absently as she spoke.

"But this?" She gestured toward the festival around them—the bustling stalls, the scent of sizzling skewers in the air, the paper lanterns swaying gently overhead. "This feels right. No confusion, no second-guessing… just home."

She let the thought linger between them, as she considered the truth, she was just realizing in that. Then, shaking herself free of the moment, she glanced at him with a teasing glint.

"Maybe I should visit the Republic sometime. Though… obviously not Taeko." A smirk accompanied the remark as she shot him a sideways glance.Then she laughed, shaking her head.

"Ah, I'm sorry. I was just blathering..." She chuckled nervously just a bit, before squeezing his hand and changing the topic. "Okay Mr. Vince! Pick out a ramen stall and treat me to the best bowl they’ve got." Her lips curved into something playful as she tugged lightly at his hand.

˚♩•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙˚＊♫* . °•★♪|•°∵ ♚ ∵°•|♪★•° . ♫＊•̩̩͙✩•̩̩͙*♩˚

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Maverick Six

​

 

[Maverick Six]

Vincent
Interaction: Moonberry
Equipped Titles: Human [Mundane], Novice Tinkerer, Novice Blacksmith, Isekai, Mechanic
Language Key: Common | %Analog% |

Round 3: The Festival​

---

Lost In Thoughts, All Alone (Piano Arrangement by SheetMusicDesu)

"Relaaaaaax. I'm glad I'm with you so far." Vince said in gest.

He'd barely known her. But she felt as though she be a pleasant person to speak to in general -- let alone to date. Yet here she was, being pulled along in his hands and listening to him talk about vampires and crap.

"They're weird. Pale. A lot of 'em are bald and malformed. Big claws. Saw of run around naked. Some are smart. But some are kinda...like lackies. Goons. Drones. All controlled by some hivemind from different vampire "lords." Honestly, I say vampires but you'd probably wanna think of zombies on steroids. Thank god they could only be out at night." He said as though it were more some distant nightmare. He about it almost as though it were some distant, bad dream.

"I managed to fix up a car and help me n' my folks out of a city. And uh, basically was one of the few people to make it out. After that, we managed to meet up with a crew of vampire hunters and military folk. Since I was a mechanic and a good driver, they needed me. So they looked after my family with other survivors. Think I was the only one in my group that'd never seen any type of real combat before. Weird huh?" A lot of details were spared, yet his tone almost implied it was silly despite all that had happened.

I think there was one thing I'm glad I did before I died, it was that. "That I got 'em to a better place. Weird as it is, I think I'm better off here then I where I was." He'd said.

"Even that town Taeko. I didn't say not to visit! Just maybe might not expect him to have the best food." He snickered. To be truthful, he felt attached to the place.

Her wish was his command. And he was glad she was fine with his wishes.

"Want something to eat? Here. Enjoy. Your time draws near, but you've just enough time to enjoy." He had said, placing a menu before him that conspicuously, both could read.

It was nothing like what he had. Miso, Doubanjiang, Sesame seeds and sesame oil, chicken broth, White pepper powder, green onion, pork and all topped with a soft boiled egg. As he looked at the menu offered -- he hardly understood what any of it was.

"That." He said simply, pointing at the menu. And the chef would slip away to begin preparing.

"Might be able to fix doors, but problems like that are a little harder." He said, having no idea exactly of what's bothering her. "If we knew eachother -- I might help ya like I do any stranger. And not just cause you're pretty but you seem good people too. Makes me wanna do something about it. Hope to meet ya one dayl."

A pair of chopsticks were presented to Vince and he picked them up with an unpracticed hand, trying to remember how best to hold them before his fingers finally find the position.

As he took a sip, he spoke.

"For now though, let's make sure to dig in, before they beam us out." He chuckled with a smile, before sloppily taking in the noodles.