vatheon | (no subject)

Who: Naoto and YOU [Open]
What: A freezing detective
Where: anywhere in Vatheon (I.T. logs done near/around/in the agency)
When: During the week
Style: I'll match

Naoto was freezing.

That's not to say she hadn't been fine earlier. In fact at the start of her day, she had been fine. Going to patrol had been normal. It was a rather warm day and so she wore something akin to what was her usual summer outfit but with the blue shirt mimicking more that of the Yasogami High's summer shirt.

As the day progressed, however, she started to feel a chill. It hadn't bothered her for a while. As the day went on she started to feel colder and colder. Her body started to tremble and shake. Being independent as she was, she didn't want to bother anyone. She just wanted to keep warm, so she hugged herself to try to get warm.

She stopped for a moment, looking up. The young detective found that she was a one of the cafes. Perhaps she should go in and get something warm to eat or drink? That sounded good...

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Tear wasn't normally the type of girl to go and eat at a cafe, but she was feeling particularly cold today. After her discussion with Saber during the strange moving picture feature, she now understood why she was so cold.

However, it was hard for her to reach out and just touch people. She wasn't a very tactile person to begin with, and if you added in all the crap with Van and Luke, it made it a little more difficult for her to open up to new people. Really, superficial conversations about things were fine. Even attempting to make new acquaintances she could do. But to actively seek out a stranger and touch them for long moments, even to keep warm, was a bit more than she was ready for.

But to stop for a cup of hot cocoa and spend some time outside of her home up on the island? That was perfectly acceptable. And the one that caught her eye was really very cute, with the pretty lace curtains and the flowers outside of them. So, she opened the door and nearly walked into another person.]

Oh, I'm sorry! I didn't know you were there.

[Naoto tried to avoid her as the other moved toward her. It was hard for her to move with her trembling so much. However the lady stopped first, missing her by little less than a foot. Naoto took a step back as she looked up a the lady (why did she have to be so short?) and realized that she must be new.]

I-i-it's fine. I-It was m-m-my own fault f-f-for stand-d-ding in the m-middle of the w-walk area.

[As the other person spoke, Tear recognized the signs of near hypothermia setting in. It hadn't been that long since she was almost like that. If she hadn't run into Saber, she would have been much like this, she was sure.]

Excuse me, but I'm a...healer. Have you attempted to find a way to warm yourself yet? I was told that this is a curse, something that is quite common here, yes?

[Naoto blinked a little as she heard the questions asked. Warm herself?]

I-I w-was a-about t-to g-g-g-get something to d-do that. Th-this curse isn't l-l-l-like th-the other o-o-ones I've b-been th-through.

[And she wasn't lying. This one was certainly different by any means.]

[Tear felt sorry for the girl(? boy?) before her. It was obvious that no matter what s/he had attempted before now hadn't worked and no one had explained what it took to get the curse to abate.

She bit back a sigh and took off her gloves before holding out her hands.]

The only cure is skin-to-skin contact with another person. Saber explained that contact with a stranger is best because it requires the most effort to obtain.

[Take her hands, Naoto.]

[Skin to skin contact. While she was not terribly surprised, she also was a little off-put by this curse's cure. This was honestly the first time she had heard of this for the curse.

She looked to the other's hands.]

I-if y-you're s-sure...

[She shakily reached out her hands, her entire body still trembling.]

[Tear only nodded as she took Naoto's hands in her own, holding them to make sure that she can share the warmth that builds as they continued to touch one another. This and the talk with Saber were the most she's allowed another human being to be so close to her physically in the last few years.

After a full minute has passed, she let one of Naoto's hands go, relieved to feel that the cold in her body had abated almost completely. She shook the one she still held firmly.]

My name is Tear Grants. And you are?

[As they touched, Naoto felt a warmth start to come over her. This woman had not been joking around. The touch between them really was helping her out.

Soon the touch became more of a handshake, but they didn't lose contact. Naoto inclined her head slightly. She wasn't sure how badly her near frozen voice had given her away. However she made sure her voice was more of a male pitch now.]

I am Naoto Shirogane. I suppose you are new here, then.

[She let the hand she held go gently so as not to alarm Naoto.]

Yes, I've recently arrived here. And yourself? How long have you been prisoner here?

[Naoto understood now why she mentioned about the curse's 'cure'. She knew it probably wouldn't last long, but the contact had been welcomed.]

I've been here since the end of last September.

[She stopped for a moment before clarifying.]

About nine months give or take a week or two.

Thank you. I am still getting used to how short the years appear to be here on this world. Auldrant's years are so much longer. [She replaced her glove and looked at the other person.] I also understand that it is now the month that you call July, so it has bee nearly a year for you, yes?

Longer years... Strange...

[Naoto nods some. A year... And she was still trying to change her look from that of a male to a female. She had backslid hard and far but she was coming back.]

Yes, it's been almost a year...

No stranger than being whisked away to a place like Vatheon, I suppose. [She understands that there's something on the other person's mind, but she didn't push.] Do you miss your home?

True, I suppose it's not that strange.

[Naoto thinks about her question for a moment.]

I would be lying if I said I didn't. However, the arrival of a couple of my friends recently has made it easier.

I...yes, a few of my own friends are here, so it's not that bad, but I do miss certain others of my party.

That's... quite understandable.

[Small talk was never one of Tear's strong points, but it's something that she knows is important for everyday conversations. Especially with strangers.]

I'm not used to having so much unmitigated free time. I'm still attempting to find my footing in this city.