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[princeproblems]

[The first thing Makoto experiences upon waking up is disorientation. One moment, she was in Tokyo, coming off of the high that came with their concert in the Tokyo Dome and chilling with her friends post-concert. The next? Well, she was washed up on some beach somewhere with a load of scratches covering her body and nothing seems to make much sense. It's quiet and eerie and Makoto is decidedly not good at handling that sort of thing.

She's jumpy and nervous at best, and probably prone to screaming if someone catches her by surprise. She wanders across the beach cautiously, trying to figure out what the hell is going on. And maybe, just maybe, there's a tiny voice at the back of her head reminding her that she's normally braver than this. Not that this situation is her fault, really.

After awhile of searching, though, she decides to call out for help.]

Hello!? Is anyone there!?

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[miell]

[ He's never quite been good at the cold. A shiver runs through him before he stirs, raising his head when he hears an echo of a voice. A person...? But where is he? This isn't Petir... it's not even Cydrea. He thought it might be at first, but the sand is too damp for the desert. The sky's too cloudy.

A shallow pain strikes him all of a sudden and he squirms with discomfort, raising his hand to cast healing magic--but it won't come to his fingertips. What?

He swallows his panic and sets his brows together, closing his eyes. No king, no guards, in nothing but his uniform. He brushes the sand off of his vest, colors fading from orange to white over his bare chest, pants sheer and sticking to his legs--as he walks, the small bells of silver and gold around his waist jingle. It's so cold.

He wraps his arms around himself and strains to hear, unfolding his wings with caution. If it's a threat... ]

Who is there?

[princeproblems]

[She whips around, a frightened yelp leaving her lips. With how cold and eerie and quiet it was, she wasn't actually expecting anyone to respond. She's actually frozen in place now that she's heard the voice.]

J-Just me! No one else!

[miell]

[ ... well, that wasn't very threatening.

Actually... it sounded kind of young. Perhaps a girl, too? He can't help but want to sate his curiosity, ambling towards the voice until he sees the figure in the distance. His wings droop slightly. Ah, he was right... no need to try and make himself seem too big and threatening, then. He lets his voice be gentler. ]

Just us, then. Not especially comforting, I suppose.

[princeproblems]

[Makoto prides herself on not being super threatening unless she's chasing down a bad guy dramatically or something. The fact that he has wings make her hesitate, even if he sounds somewhat friendly. He doesn't sound threatening, really, but her paranoia is in overdrive and she isn't quite sure how to react. Wings? Who has wings? Who has wings on a weird deserted beach??? Not normal, non-threatening people, as far as she knows.

No matter what though, she's not making a point to approach. She's definitely frozen in place in fear, still.]

Not really. [She's honest, at least.] Um. Who... are you?

[miell]

[ He blinks, points to himself, glances at his wings, and then looks back to her.

She... doesn't know who he is? ]

I am Aspen, of Petir. [ He bows neatly, one leg behind the other and long hair falling over his shoulder when he does so. ] I serve the king. Yourself?

[princeproblems]

[Wow okay, what. But she does her own bow, one that's much stiffer and it's not very deep because she's trying to keep her eyes on him as much as possible.]

Makoto... Kikuchi... of 765 Productions? I'm an idol.

[miell]

Ma... koto? Idol?

[ He tilts his head, brows furrowed and confusion written all over his face. ]

I don't understand. [ Oh, wait. ] Are you hurt?

[princeproblems]

I'm... I wasn't supposed to be. I don't know what happened! I was in Tokyo and then I wasn't!

[She's still unsure, though. It's the wings. She's never seen anyone with actual wings before.]

[miell]

It's the same for me.

[ He frowns, bringing a hand to his face as he thinks, eyes lowered. ]

Strange... I've never heard of this 'Tokyo', either.

[princeproblems]

[She gives him a long, hard, considering look. Nothing's happened.... so far, at least. That's something. So she relaxes, at least a little, while wracking her brain. How could someone have not heard of Tokyo, though? And she hasn't heard of this Petir place, either.]

Maybe... there's something around here that can help us? I don't really know what's going on, though.

[miell]

Nor I. What a pair we make.

[ He gives her a wry smile, letting his shoulders shrug helplessly. ]

Are you afraid of heights, Mah... [ He hesitates and purses his lips. ] Mahkoto?

[princeproblems]

Not... really? Why, what are you planning?

[Though the answer seems obvious enough.]

And it's Makoto, not Mahkoto.

[miell]

My apologies. [ He bows his head again in apology. ]

I would ask if you would mind soaring into the sky with me. You might spot something I do not.

[princeproblems]

[By now, she's at least decided that he's probably okay. There's a niggling thought in the back of her mind that's telling her that this probably isn't safe, he's a stranger no matter how nice he seems, but... it's better than just wandering the beach.]

... Sure. We can try. It's probably better than searching the beach...

[miell]

[ He catches her hesitation and frowns gently, reaching out towards her but pausing himself, unsure. Humans are... so strange. So alike but still different... ]

You don't have to. I understand if you're nervous around a beast.

[princeproblems]

It's not that you're a beast! It's—I've never seen anyone with wings before that wasn't in an anime. You won't drop me, right?

[She lets out a nervous chuckle.]

[miell]

Ah-nee-may?

[ He questions, confused, but then shakes his head as he tries to focus. These strange words of hers, he'll ask about another time. Perhaps his knowledge of this language is less than he thought. ]

I am a beast, [ Aspen corrects her gently as his wings ruffle a bit, more out of humor than anything. ] You needn't be kind. I won't drop you, though. Would you like me to carry you like a princess or like a child? I unfortunately cannot carry you on my back for... obvious reasons.

[princeproblems]

I'm not just being kind, though...

[But that's not the important thing right now. Not really.]

Um... what would be easiest for you?

[miell]

[ He gives it a moment of thought before canting his head to the side, letting his long hair swish. ]

Child-style, I suppose. But you would need to hold onto me as well.

[princeproblems]

I can do that. I'm a lot stronger than I look, you know.

[She's steadily relaxing more and more as they talk, so that's something. And she's actually taking a few steps towards him, finally.]

[miell]

[ In that case, he crouches before her and holds his arms out to her. ]

I'll put an arm under your legs and support your back with my other hand, and you'll need to wrap your arms around my neck.

[princeproblems]

Got it. Let's do this.

[While there's still a small degree of hesitation, she does what she's asked to do. This is better than nothing. It's better to just roll with it.

Once they do get up in the air, though, there'll be a small town in the distance, though it looks a little cold and uninviting. But it's still a town, and there might be people there.]

[miell]

[ He has to be careful--they're of similar height... actually, she's a little taller. He'll put aside his bruised pride in favor of flying carefully, spotting the town with a small frown. ]

Most definitely not Petir... I suppose the best course of action would be to ask around that town. This is not your home either, I take it?

[princeproblems]

No. It's not. Tokyo's supposed to be a massive city, not... this...

[But she nods, they aren't going to find anything just flying around up here.]

Let's go. Someone's gotta be there, right?

[miell]

I'd hope so...

[ But he's also seen towns overrun with silence and weeds. He's careful as he flies, touching down with caution with his wings still spread wide as if to ward off anyone who might come in with the intent of harming either of them. ]