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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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 Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:15 pm
As Setsushi and Kouyo have gone to their morning jobs, Rika feels no need to maintain any semblance of propriety. She's tossed off her outer robes, helped herself to a big scoop of Setsushi's most expensive tea, and now sits at the inside table, sipping from her teacup in between fiddling with one of her devices, this one another glass tube and several metal gears at either end.
Since it is still before Setsushi normally opens the udon-ya for customers, she hardly expects anyone to barge in...
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:23 pm
Which is a pity because Tenkyuu opens the door, once more sipping at a cup of coffee--truly the Heavenly Bow is on the fast track to addiction. Feelings of happiness float off of her as she seems to ignore the world around her--Kouyo and Setsushi are at work which means she can just sit down, lean back and enjoy...
... Rika in her semi-nakedness.
Tenkyuu blinks for a few moments, taking in an eyeful of Rika before seeming to notice her lack of propriety. Tenkyuu bows her head, seemingly unsurprised at Rika's mysterious appearance.
"Imperial Princess, welcome to this humble abode," says Tenkyuu with a faint smile.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:28 pm
Rika pauses in the midst of lifting the cup to her lips, staring back at Tenkyuu as if she isn't quite sure what's the matter... ... ... Then, suddenly making a realization, looks down at herself, and tugs slightly at her under-robes to fit them over her body a bit better.
"Dame Tenkyuu," she replies, nodding slightly -- her face still as expressionless as ever, without any sign of embarrassment. "We missed you last night; hopefully nothing unfortunate kept you?"
She puts the teacup down and gestures to the pot sitting on Setsushi's counter. "If you want some, help yourself."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:34 pm
Tenkyuu raises a hand in the air to dismiss Rika's offer, her opposite hand raising a cup of coffee. Tenkyuu is afraid that she has been savoring the Gaian "coffee" though she does appreciate the Imperial Princess' kindness.
As for her disappearance, RTenkyuu assures the Imperial Princess all was fine--she was merely visiting with her daughter. She has found that they both can become far too involved in their individual lives and thus miss out each other's company.
"How can I make you more comfortable, Imperial Princess?" asks Tenkyuu as she steps forward.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:38 pm
"I'm already pretty comfortable," Rika replies, glancing down at herself once more, a slight smile cracking her lips before it is folded up and hidden again.
"How are your children?" she asks. "I hear they live rather far away; are they doing all right without their mother?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:41 pm
And Rika's reply only makes the smile on Tenkyuu's lips widen. Tenkyuu seems to think on Rika's words as she takes a sit near the inventor, the introduction of coffee to her palate slowing the process.
"I would have to say badly," says Tenkyuu with a slow nod of her head, her chin settling on her hand as she teases, "Few children are able to function correctly without the micromanaging of their mother."
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:45 pm
"That would explain two other dysfunctional tots whom I know," Rika replies, setting her device down, watching it roll a few inches before coming to a stop.
She yawn, takes another sip of tea, then scratches her chin, watching Tenkyuu. ... Presently, she asks, "What are their living arrangements like? I hope that they at least have a full complement of furniture?""
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:49 pm
Tenkyuu shakes her head faintly as she laughs pleasantly. No, they started out with nothing in this world and have had to climb for every small necessity. Tenkyuu is afraid that she grew far too lazy and pampered after settling into retirement--she found adjustment hard at first.
However, Gaia has many advances in medicine and science that Tenkyuu never imagined to be possible in the Golden World. As an inventor, Rika must see the technology that has blossomed--Tenkyuu would be most pleased to see the Imperial Princess improve upon it.
Tenkyuu's smile fades when she changes the topic: what of the Golden World? What has happened since Tenkyuu arrived in Gaia?
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 4:56 pm
When Tenkyuu asks about the Golden World, Rika's postue and expression do not change at all; though she pauses a moment, she replies, "Nothing much. People are concerned, naturally, about unexplained vanishings. I understand there have been some rumblings in Bukoku about Chourou's disappearance, but no one has yet made a move, politically.
"The Imperial Scholars have been working on this problem for more than a month, however. And apparently our theories were correct, as here I am." She smiles slightly.
... ... ... And then, suddenly, asks: "What is your salary in this world?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:05 pm
Tenkyuu laughs and shakes her head. She does better than a Bukoku farmer: Tenkyuu has enough to eat, comfortable lodgings to live in, and even a few creature comforts. Tenkyuu cannot complain at her current job nor her lot in life.
... However, she is still the Heavenly Bow of the Empire. Disappearances of important figures, from Sorcerers to Knights, have been occurring, and Tenkyuu cannot sit idly by while forces manipulate their kingdom for its detriment. Tenkyuu finds herself especially fearful that the Imperial Princess is in Gaia while her sister sits at home, unopposed, with her mother sick.
Tenkyuu asks Imperial Princess Rika for an immediate return to the Golden World.
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:09 pm
"I meant the precise wage," Rika interrupts. "In Gaian Gold?"
... But in response to her request for an immediate return, Rika sinks back in her chair from which she had been leaning forward previously, giving off a little sigh. "It will take a little while," she responds after a moment. "The materials need to be recharged and a new pathway must be built. I imagine it will take some weeks at the fastest.
"However, we should have communication with the Empire sooner," she says, her tone lightening a little. "And I do not believe Souken will do anything silly -- ... well, rather, that there is anything silly she will do that she would not go ahead with when I was at home anyway."
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:23 pm
Tenkyuu cannot smile at Rika's attempt to lighten her spirits, her lips pursing as she sips thoughtfully at her coffee.
Tenkyuu hopes the Imperial Princess is right. However, the time to return still fills her with uneasiness. It gives their enemy added time, and Souken might grow bolder which would only divide their strength. The cup parts from Tenkyuu's lips as she begins to speak.
"Whoever it was that banished us to Gaia was do so with the effort you would expend to extinguish a candle," says Tenkyuu faintly, "He did not even mind being pierced by a blade--he merely eyed it as if it was some sort of curiosity."
Tenkyuu fears for their world. Especially with their attacker's words which have haunted her since that day.
"The Empress has reviewed this case, and she has decided that she no longer needs any Dragon Knights in this world, "says slowly, reciting the figure's statement word-for-word, "You are all dismissed, no, you are freed. She has cut your strings. You are now free to die."
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:25 pm
Rika's eyes widen; she forgets the question of the wage.
"Someone did this?"
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:36 pm
A beautiful man, who could easily be mistaken for a woman, with silver eyes and supernatural grace. With ease he sapped their wills before sending them to Gaia.
A group is behind all of the disappearances--why else would so many important players be gone from the world? Tenkyuu's eyes slip to the floor, her features betraying worry. Setsushi's disappearance brought all of the Dragon Knights together--it seemed planned that they should be dispersed together.
And Tenkyuu's head jerks up, her eyes meeting Rika's own as a grim possibility digs into her mind: What if Rika's discovery and voyage were also a part of the plan? Another major player taken from their world...
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Imperial Princess Rika Vice Captain
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Posted: Sat May 09, 2009 5:38 pm
"I came here under my own power," Rika insists, slightly off-put by Tenkyuu's suggestion. Yet she is plainly troubled as well.
"I have never seen or heard of a person of that description. In fact, we have found no evidence that any particular people were involved with the disappearances; we had operated under the assumption that it was a natural or pseudo-natural phenomenon. And furthermore, it is not only important figures such as you, but also a number of children who have gone missing..."
Rika falls silent. Though her walls continue to conceal her thoughts, from her facial expression and the slightest hum of activity her mind seems to give off, she seems to be thinking deeply.
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