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 Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 4:54 pm
It was as any other day in Gensokyou. Lively, full of action, everyone going about their business as usual. However, on this day, an eerie silence seemed to have befallen the Hakurei Shrine, save for the blowing of wind. The sound of sandals hitting solid ground echoes throughout the surrounding area, the source, a tall woman appearing to be a Shrine Maiden. However, there was something off about her. That something being the fact that she wore her torn up robes in a way that would be considered insulting to Shrine Maidens everywhere, no matter the God or Gods they worshiped. In her hand, a Yumi longbow, an instrument through which meditation is achieved through action, as well as an instrument for self-defense, obviously. The bow was taller than the woman, being about 7' in length, possibly larger. On her back, a quiver of arrows could be seen, the quiver itself quite large, and the arrows, small javelins.
The oddities of her appearance did not end there, however. Having long, silvery white hair and dull golden eyes gave her the look of some Youkai of some sort, wearing the Shrine Maiden's garb as an insult, which wasn't entirely too far off from the truth. Approaching the shrine, the tall, shameless woman sets her bow down against the entrance, alongside her quiver. After doing so, she proceeds to enter the shrine, being sure to take her sandals off. The place seemed empty, and if there was anyone nearby, she wouldn't take notice, or didn't seem to take notice anyhow. Moving to the actual Shrine itself, the woman adjusts herself, brushing off her robes before sitting on her knees. Placing her hands on her knees, she goes through the motions of prayer and meditation. The entirety of it all only lasts a few minutes, the end of the few minutes being when she would finally stand again. The strange woman herself stood at 6'2", taller than most in Gensokyou, or at least, as far as she herself had come to discover.
"My, my, what an active place. I'm just getting lost in the amounts of lively energy present in the room." A smirk playing across her lips, she finally does take the time to examine her surroundings more closely.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 6:54 pm
"Do your senses decieve you, woman?" Asked a voice nearby, a girl of red and white sitting not too far from the shrine the strange, very un-miko-like woman had stopped to pray at. Hiding her mouth behind the brim of her tea cup, Reimu had one eye cracked open, that one eye gazing at the woman intently, obviously sizing her up for all that she was outwardly worth.
"There is little activity here," Reimu continued on plainly, taking a long sip from the tea cup before lowering it into her lap, held with both hands. "Judging by your... clothes, may I assume you are a shrine maiden? Or... perhaps once were? You certainly do not belong to this shrine, I can tell, and I doubt you'd be working for Moriya. Toyosatomimi and Hijiri have their own followers." Closing both eyes once again, Reimu lifted her chin slightly, face aimed toward the sky, a serene expression on her face.
"So. Who are you?"
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 7:09 pm
"Oh, I am no one in particular. Just a woman with too many thoughts." She pulls out a few slips of paper money, moving over to the donation box, before giving Reimu a side glance and a smirk, pushing some hair past her shoulder, a habit that seemed to have worsened in the time that she's inhabited the village. "I've heard stories about this place. The "Great" Hakurei Shrine. The humans in the village seem to view this place ominously, perhaps some hidden fear." Closing her eyes, the woman tilts her head downwards a little, her smirk becoming only slightly more apparent than it once was. "And you... must be Hakurei Reimu. I suppose you may call me Hartly for the time being."
Hartly dangles the money over the donation box for a moment, the soft paper held between two fingers as she uses both of her hands to keep it elevated. Without warning, she tears it in half, releasing the two pieces to slowly fall into the box. Turning around, she places a hand on her hip and looks over at Reimu. "I don't think a donation is necessary. If anything, it would be dishonourable, to have a homeless bum such as myself be the one that brings an offering to your ever-absent god, would it not? Ah... I shouldn't be so rude upon our first meeting. You will have to forgive me, Ms. Hakurei Shrine Maiden." Her tone seemed sincere, but had very clear mocking undertones, leaving it dubious as to whether she truly sought forgiveness, or was just being a b***h. Either way, she'd done a bang up job of the latter, or so she thought to herself. Messing with this little Miko would be fun.~
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 8:52 pm
At the sound of paper ripping, Reimu's grip on her cup tightened considerably. If she hadn't the peace of mind to keep her strength in check, she's risk shattering it. Though hot tea spilled over one's lap was never a good way to begin an afternoon of inactivity.
"You are certainly a bold one, Hartly, marching up here and presenting yourself in such a manner." Reimu said firmly, a slight twitch in one eyebrow. "I am indeed Hakurei Reimu, and what you call fear, I call respect. I protect humans from Youkai who seek to disregard the spell card system in favor of returning to much more grisly methods of hunting, and such a job requires the necessary ability to do so, as you would imagine." She took another sip from her tea, letting the warm beverage relax her tension. Swallowing the liquid, Reimu let out a sigh and set the cup aside, standing. Reimu opened her eyes and gazed upon Hartly fully this time, and despite standing nearly a foot shorter than the woman, still held a rather intimidating presence of her own.
"So if not to make donations, why did you come here, miss Hartly? Is there something I can help you with, or is there another reason for your pilgrimage?" Pausing and regarding Hartly's torn shrine maiden garb, Reimu added, "If you're to inquire about work, I'm afraid I have no money to pay you - although there is plenty of work to be done around the shrine."
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:08 pm
"Bold? You mistake lack of a filter for boldness, Reimu." Hartly brings a hand to her mouth, letting out a bit of a giggle, her eyes just barely narrowing, still locked on the Miko in front of her. "I'm afraid it's something you will have to deal with. I've not come to look for work, no. I serve my deity, as well as others, no longer, and would not be caught dead actually working to help with the shrine of a God whose existence is... questionable at best. No. I've come because I have nothing better to do, and you seem like an interesting little plaything. So I think I will stay here a while. "
Hartly's expression softens considerably, and she crosses her arms across her chest, her smile seeming much more welcoming, though the tone of her voice remained the same throughout, as her words came out heavily saturated with sarcasm, scorn, or a soothing tone, giving quite the odd mix of emotions being conveyed at once. "Don't worry. I won't interfere. Much. There is no point, when one is dealing with a mid-boss worthy character. Hm. At least you've got your looks going for you, I suppose." Hartly walks towards Reimu, moving passed her and placing a hand lightly on the other girl's shoulder. "I do apologize if I get a little too... rambunctious." Trailing her hand up Reimu's neck, then chin, Hartly removes her hand and continues walking with a low chuckle.
Having gone outside, she grabs her bow and arrows, moving to another part of the general area to start setting up her living space.
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Posted: Wed Sep 17, 2014 9:44 pm
"Plaything?" Reimu repeated with audible distaste, a nerve having obviously been struck. Eyes narrowing, she glared at Hartly coldly as she approached, once again trying to size up her "opponent". The woman was difficult to read, and that was putting it lightly. The hand placed on her body was... uncomfortable at best, and it took a clenched fist to keep herself from noticeably twitching. Thankfully, the gesture was hidden in the sanctity of her sleeve, or else it might have been taken as a mark of aggravation. Irritation, maybe, but it hadn't quite reached that level yet.
She turned to follow the woman with her eyes as Hartly made her way outside, pausing to possibly contemplate the woman's gall, before simply joining her on the shrine's grounds. The grounds were indeed somewhat unkempt, with leaves decorating the smooth stone walkway while a few broken clay shingles dangled precariously from the shrine's, and the few small neighboring storage houses', roofs. One could also spot a cracked floor board here or there, but we won't talk about those.
Reimu placed her hands on her hips, watching Hartly going about her business as if she HAD business at the shrine. The very nerve this woman had was astounding. "And just what do you think you're doing?" Reimu protested, marching down the steps of the shrine, onto smooth (if cracked) stone. "This is not a place for freeloaders. Especially those who intentionally attempt to instigate the shrine maiden in attendance - namely, me." Reimu's cheeks were a bit puffed up now, her face flush with indignation. "I'm going to ask you nicely once; leave the shrine immediately and seek your shelter elsewhere."
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