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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 29, 2019 2:19:42 GMT
Everything inside of her ached. She could still feel the swords impaled through her flesh, but they had magically disappeared since falling through that portal out of the dueling arena. Away from her opponent, her Prince, and her friend. She laid flat on the ground in the middle of shops and a large water fountain in the middle of the complex. She pulled herself slowly to a knee and looked around at the people who were staring at her.
"W-Where am I?"
She could barely speak. One person told her she was in Kansas City. America? How did she get here? Utena stood up to her feet and adjusted the fencing sword on her waist. She asked more questions, but the people seemed to shock to be able to answer her. Not getting any answers here she fought through the crowd and went further down the outside mall to find answers. Did anyone else from her location come here? Where were they? More importantly where was she?
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 29, 2019 2:50:13 GMT
Strange new world, indeed. The world that had once been familiar to everyone originally from this planet had now become a place of extreme uncertainties. People with unusual abilities and those who were non-human began appearing through portals all around the city. Some were not a threat and some were. On the subject of portals, one of them dropped another uninvited guest at the mall in the midst of a small crowd. Some people cried out in alarm, some whipped out their smartphones, and others were uncertain on what to do. One thing's for certain, Utena's method of arrival and her attire drew attention. Leah was among them.
The woman, casually sipping a beet smoothie--that's what she would tell someone what it was, anyway--followed her from a distance and tuned into her inquiries that remained unanswered. People did not seem all that eager to answer a woman in a uniform with a fencing sword. Leah polished off her afternoon snack, tossed it inside the nearest trash bin, slipped her hands into her grey long coat, and decided to catch up to her before someone decided to pick a fight. Security may approach her soon enough due to her weapon of choice.
"Lost, are we?" Leah asked. She would let Utena reiterate her questions.
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 29, 2019 2:54:38 GMT
Utena was startled by the sudden voice and jumped a bit before relaxing. The woman was clearly Caucasian and likely a native of the country she found herself to be in right now. In normal clothes unlike her. She didn't realize how much the Ohtori Academy's school uniform stuck out until she was in a sea of gray and black.
"Who are you?"
After all Utena have been through she couldn't be immediately trusting of strangers. Choosing to be careful who she trusted. As much as she wanted answers she needed to make sure the people of this place didn't eat her alive like they tried to do back at Ohtori Academy.
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 29, 2019 3:00:52 GMT
The girl was wary and rightfully so. Leah did not fault her for being cautious, in fact, she internally applauded it. Too many were willing to put trust in someone right away simply because they were kind to them from the get go. From behind her shades, she flicked her eyes up and down Utena's appearance. That pink hair was natural; how odd.
"Name's Leah." The woman gave her a friendly, closed lipped smile. "Where do you hail from?"
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 30, 2019 2:03:16 GMT
"Ohtori Academy."
The woman seemed friendly enough, but looks could be deceiving. Utena knew that much. But maybe this woman would actually be able to answer her questions as to how she got halfway across the world through some strange portal that opened up out of nowhere.
"How did I get here?"
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 30, 2019 4:14:41 GMT
"Hm, never heard of it." Much like a lot of things off-worlders told her. Leah shifted her weight to her right hip and pointed towards the sky from where Utena had fallen. "A portal. Think of it as a gateway between different worlds and dimensions. They have been opening up randomly and plucking people from their homes."
Leah walked in her direction, but not directly towards her. When she was right next to her, she continued talking, "Right now, getting back is not an option. People are trying to figure that one out, but in the meantime, I advise you adapt to your temporary home, starting with your clothes." Leah gestured down the walkway, "There are shelters being set up for off-worlders. I can direct you to one."
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 30, 2019 17:10:35 GMT
"It's in Japan. Have you heard of that?"
A dimensional gateway? So Utena traveled to another dimension? How? Why? Utena had to hold onto her head as the questions were starting to hurt her. Leah mentioned something about a shelter and finding clothes that fitted the area more than her own.
"I would appreciate that. Thanks."
Utena was ready to follow her to the nearest shelter wherever that may be.
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 30, 2019 17:29:29 GMT
"Japan, yes. Your Ohtori Academy, no." Then again, Leah wouldn't have heard of any of the schools over there, but she was certain that uniform would have appeared in pop culture somewhere. It was unique and eye-catching, as could be attested by the curious onlookers. "If you need to get to Japan, someone could help you on that, but I'm positive it's not the same as you believe it to be."
For one, no one had naturally pink hair. Leah motioned with her head and would lead on once Utena started following her. "I don't believe I got your name."
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 30, 2019 17:32:49 GMT
"Utena," she replied as she started to follow Leah to the nearest shelter for 'other-worlders' as she called them. So Japan wasn't what she remembered it to be? She wasn't sure if that was a good thing or a bad thing with how her last duel went. Strange things happened at home. But they weren't much stranger than what she already learned while being here.
"Where am I exactly?"
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 30, 2019 19:44:27 GMT
"Utena," Leah turned her head at the neck, nodded in greeting, and continued to lead the way. She knew the mall here had some sort of charity going for other-worlders, somewhere. It was nothing her hearing or powers of intuition couldn't find, and she was certain it in the area just ahead.
"To be specific, you're in the United States of America, in the state of Kansas, in Kansas City." Leah wondered if she should show Utena a map to help her out, but the charity should have some to spare. "Also, word of advice, when you do get your new clothes, I'd suggest finding a weapon that you can conceal. Weapons stand out in this world."
And to some newcomers who like a challenge.
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 31, 2019 1:08:02 GMT
"Kansas City?"
Utena was trying to remember her geography. She knew about America and the bigger cities like New York City and Los Angeles, but Kansas City drew a blank until she thought about it harder.
"Aren't there two Kansas Cities in this country?"
Utena vaguely remember there being a Kansas City in Missouri right next to Kansas, but she never understood why there were two. She then looked to her fencing sword when Leah mentioned a better way to conceal weapons.
"Oh, I didn't even think about that. Thanks."
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Dec 31, 2019 1:24:24 GMT
So, her world wasn't all that different from this one. Good, that would be a boon to her. "Correct." The remaining concern were the differences, but she had her doubts those would be immense enough to sweat over.
"You're welcome." Leah stopped at a crosswalk, looked to the left, and motioned for Utena to follow her that way. Now she remembered where it was. "So, any good with that thing?" People could carry weapons all they wanted, but if they could not wield them, they were useless.
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Dec 31, 2019 1:28:00 GMT
"Uhh... I do all right."
Utena was modest. Though it was mainly her prince who helped her win the matches back at the school, she was still a good fencer who knew what she was doing. Though there was one opponent she never truly beat during the duels for the Rose Bride. She followed Leah down the crosswalk wondering how much farther it was to the nearest shelter.
"How much farther?"
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Post by Leah Auria Tome on Jan 2, 2020 20:39:45 GMT
Leah nodded, satisfied with the answer, but wondered if there was some hesitation in honesty with her skill. People from different planets displayed prowess she did not anticipate. That was one of the dangerous aspects of these newcomers--they were an unknown even in appearance.
"About a mile." Leah squinted, and decided to convert to kilometers just in case,"Around 1.6 kilometers." She had to remind herself that, outside of this country, not everyone used the same measuring system. Did people use the same means on other worlds? Another thing to consider.
"They may ask you a lot of questions on where you're from so be prepared for that. They try to keep track of who is who." That didn't always pan out, of course. "I advise caution. Some...'people' who go there aren't overly friendly."
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Post by Utena Tenjou on Jan 3, 2020 1:18:47 GMT
Utena wasn't familiar with miles, but when she said 1.6 kilometers she understood better. At least she'd get her exercise for the day. She didn't like the idea of these people asking her a bunch of questions, but if she was on the opposite end of the scale she'd probably be the same way. She didn't know what to expect as this idea of a multiverse was all so new to her.
"I can take care of myself, but thank you for the concern. So, do you live close by here or are you from another world too?"
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