The pain of settling in {Open to one}

[Jukan]

Depression was not a feeling a little girl expects to deal with at the age of 15. But it’s an unavoidable fate. Her life was on the line and she knew she had to do whatever it is she had to do. Her appearance was that of a twin-tailed 8 year old child. Her face, while cute and innocent, had a sad frown stuck on it. She knew hard times were to come but did not want to deal with them. ”Win 3 matches, we will send you more information after” she reads on a piece of paper in her pocket. A child, expected to defeat 3 people in order to fulfill her life or death goal? She didn’t know what to do. The thought of hurting three people to get what she wanted killed her inside. She would approach the arena with tears in her eyes. The time to register, and settle in was upon her, and she wished very much it was not so.

[Kismet]

With her professional yet adorable uniform, dazzling golden hair, winning smile, and amazingly stylish flower adorned sun hat, Aster was truly a sight to behold. She was the cutest of cuties. A stunner, a bombshell, a real looker, and a head turner. Yes, she was all of these things and more.

Armed with a purse, a pair of sunglasses, and a can-do attitude, Aster had struck the town like wildfire. She and Vertti had been working tirelessly since they’d arrived at the manor, and it was time for a little downtime. Aster was a consummate professional, but a girl deserves to receive some quality “me” time too. So while she and her young compatriot had diligently sowed mischief for the sake of their assignment, today had been all about sowing mischief for the pure, simple pleasure of it.

Really, Aster deserved a nice day off like this.

And really, Aster had deserved all the nice things she’d helped herself to. The power to equivocate the world around her made Aster a very good thief, though it’d be slander to label her with such a mundane title. Nor would it be entirely correct to label her as someone unconcerned with the effects of her actions on others.

The Tosatsu Manor was built around violence, and money flocked to its surrounding city like flies to a corpse. The criminal underbelly of this city was vast and bloated, stuffed putrid on the monetization of the arena’s bloodshed. And if the money was ill-gotten, they could hardly complain if it was ill-gotten back.

And so, ever so casually, without ever having to reveal herself in the slightest way, Aster had emptied the pockets of quite a few people that day. And she deserved every penny because she was lovely, fair, and clever, and they deserved to lose it all because they were greedy, base, and stupid.

Another win for the good guys, Aster thought pleasantly.

But, Aster was always mindful of professional opportunities, and though it was her day off, passing the registration office without at least a little corporate espionage seemed downright lazy.

And so it was that Aster found herself strolling towards the registration office of the Tosatsu Manor, and joining the company of one very strange Manor Guest as she did so. At first, she merely strolled behind the young girl, glancing down at her every once in a while to admire her cute twin tails. But as they both drew closer and closer to their destination, and the girl did not turn away, Aster’s glances grew more and more frequent, and more and more suspicious. And from behind, she could not see the girl’s tears. Eventually, she spoke:

“Excuse me, miss” she said cautiously, with the slightest inflection of concern. “Forgive my intrusiveness, but have you business with this place?”

[Jukan]

As she got closer, she could sense it. Someone was following her. She quickly tried to wipe the tears from her eyes. She knew she had to be strong. Even such, she found it very difficult to smile in the face of it all. She would continue to move towards the office, but was stopped right before she could get inside. She wanted to run, run far away, but she knew what was at stake. Not her life, but the lives of those she cared about. They would die. DIE if she did not do as she was told. She knew for a fact she was powerless to do anything, and with this she was ready to do as instructed.

“Excuse me, miss” a female voice spoke up. She stopped in her tracks. She was somewhat terrified. Knowing the nature of the place she was about to enter was filled with both violent, and tough fighters, she imagined them all as greedy, and barbaric. The voice didn’t sound like she imagined, but it still scared her stiff. “Forgive my intrusiveness, but have you business with this place?” She was being spoken too politely? She somehow imagined the person who would speak with her first would be some sort of bully why wanted her money, or worst, to murder her in cold blood! She was not sure how to handle the situation. Would she turn around? If she did, would her life be in danger? She had not yet unlocked any of these “hidden abilities” she was told about yet, she wouldn’t stand a chance!

She took a deep breath. She didn’t turn around, but stood still. With a massive stutter, she uttered one word. ”Y-yes…” She was about to collapse from fear. But somehow, she was able to stay standing, her legs began to shake though. It was a little girl, afraid to be in a dangerous place alone, forced to deal with people who would probably hurt her for the sake of hurting her, at least these were the things she was told before coming here. She knew she had to deal with things as they come, she could only pray that she wasn’t in any danger…..yet.

[Kismet]

Misami’s supposition that Aster was a bully was wrong. Aster was a lovely person. Her suspicion that Aster wanted her money was not wrong, but that was mostly out of general principle. Aster was a girl whose life had never included closed doors. If she wanted something, she could take it. If she wanted to go somewhere, she could be there. The questions in her life had never been ones of if, but of what. And what this small, frightened child was to her yet, she did not know.

But there were no closed doors in Aster’s life, so she was going to find out.

The girl stood rooted to the spot, terrified, with her knees practically knocking together in fright. With a resolute sigh, Aster marched around the girl, turned to face her head on, and raised an eyebrow.

Hm.

She shifted her weight to one leg, brought her hand to her chin and squinted her eyes ever so slightly, examining poor, timid Misami.

Hm.

But then she smiled warmly and shrugged. “Pardon my asking; I was merely surprised to see one so young here! But what business have I to question the business of another?”

She knelt down, keeping herself balanced on her tip toes, and extended a hand. “My name is Aster. Nice to meet you.”

[Jukan]

The voice was calming, and she was pretty too. He knew though, looks can easily deceive. She wanted something from her? She carried little money. She had JUST enough to live on for three weeks and nothing more. If she lost this money, she probably would not survive to her first fight. The fact remained, she was scared stiff still. She could hardly bring herself to respond. Her voice would continue to stutter, but she avoided the question entirely. ”W-what do you….w-want f-rom me?” She knew this wasn’t the time to ask, she would have probably been better off answering. She looked over at the registration office. Just a few feet away, that’s all she needed, to get in, and settle in. But she was afraid; afraid they would see this nervous wreck and laugh her out of the building! The last thing any audience would want, a cowardly child.

[Kismet]

Aster blinked.

Then she sighed, withdrew her hand, and scratched the back of her head instead. A small frown graced her lips as she considered the girl.

"What do I want? Your name, I suppose" she answered, bemused. "Though it is yours to keep secret, if you wish. Indeed, say the word and I shall depart! Never again shall my shadow haunt your steps!" She rose dramatically, tilting her head back and throwing up her arm, covering her face in mock despair.

"I am a resident of the Manor, and our paths may yet cross! But my eyes shall be downcast, never troubling you, no! Disturb you I will not." She turned from Misami, covering her face in her hands bowing her head. She was starting to get into it. It was her day off, after all, and she could cut loose a little.

"Only when you've gone, when you've left the soft corner of my eye, shall I raise them once more. And as we part ways, silently, never speaking, I shall recall this fateful encounter and its lingering questions. Who was that girl? What has brought her to such a place as this? What silent burden bears upon her soul? Why was she so mean to me?"

Aster swooped the sun hat from her head, pirouetted in place, spread her arms wide, and collapsed onto the ground, defeated. She placed the hat on her bosom, covering her heart, and draped her other arm over her eyes.

"Go on, leave me" she said. "I shall remain here to gather my courage. Be strong, Aster, be strong! Someone else will be your friend, I know it."

[Jukan]

It is definitely not fun, being her age, and her appearance, to be stuck in a situation like this. Misami wasn’t sure what to do. Would she co-operate? Make a potential friend? With the vast possibility of being killed in that option as well, or lose that opportunity, register safely, and potentially be torn to shreds by her later on? Her mindset only saw horrible outcomes, but then a voice came into her head, a familiar voice, one she trusted. ”Be strong Sami, this woman won’t harm you. Do you trust me?” Her eyes grew two almost twice their current size when she heard those words. She then closed her eyes, and the shaking stopped.

The woman said she was a resident of the manor, a fellow combatant, and possible opponent after she was registered. After a deep breath, she spoke. “My name is Misami. My reasons for being here are personal. Registration will only take a minute right? I will be right back. If one is to survive here, especially someone like me, I need someone to show me around. Am I right?” She gave Aster a big adorable smile just before she ran off to the registration office. After finishing her business, she would definitely return to confront this girl once more ”I do trust you Khota, I’ll save you all I promise” She thought to herself. Just once sentence from her friend was all she needed, even though she was still unsure how he was able to communicate with her.

((each incarnation of Misami is slightly different, but the main story around her remains, Khota is the name of her best friend, and something ALWAYS ends up happening to him))

[Kismet]

Hm.

That was what Aster thought as she noted the dramatic difference in tone and confidence in little Misami's voice. But Hm is not what Aster said. Oh no. What Aster said was this:

"Right you are!" Her right hand rocketed skyward, index finger extended triumphantly towards the heavens. "Onward, brave Misami, and well met!" She exclaimed. She was, incidentally, still laying on the ground with one arm cast dramatically over her eyes, but that did nothing to curb her enthusiasm.

"It is not I, nor Fiery Arietta, nor Elusive Lynette who are your enemies here! It is Tosatsu Manor itself! Do not let slip humanity from your heart, that precious compassion for those around you!" Aster remained exactly where she was, lying right in the middle of the registration hall. Several guests walked around her, and the woman behind the desk lowered her glasses to take a look at the commotion taking place in front of her.

"Go, do your business" she said, twirling her finer in midair and pointing towards the registration desk. I shall remain here until you return."

With that, her hand plopped back down to her side, and Aster was still.

[Jukan]

A sign here, disclaimer there, waiver signed here, tosatsu manor is not liable for deaths of blah blah blah you will probably die blah blah blah. She didn’t want to sign, but she had her hand forced. She heard every word the girl said. Her heart was still heavy, but the words of her friend still echoed in her mind. She was not her enemy, and that’s all she needed to know. After being assigned whatever it is they assign to someone who registers for the matches and such, she walks back over to aster and holds out her hand, offering to help her up. Somehow, in the back of her mind, some fear still lingered, she was afraid still, but she was facing her fears, because of a little re-assurance.

”I’m sorry for the way I was acting earlier, I was told that everyone at Tosatsu manor were all monsters, and would devour someone like me without a second thought…” She says with an adorable smile on her face when she first starts talking, but it slowly fades as she reaches the end of her sentence. As she helps the girl up, she wonders, are all participants actually nice? Are they also forced to fight? Her biggest concern was, she didn’t know any martial arts, she didn’t have supernatural powers, at least that she was aware of. What was she to do?

[Kismet]

Aster lips twitched upwards at the soft pit pat of Misami's footsteps, but she lay where she was. It was only when Misami extended her hand did she raise her own. Taking it, she she arched her back and launched herself off the ground, springing to her feet and spinning about in a tight arabesque. She returned her sun hat to her head as she rounded back to Misami, bowing neatly as both feet returned to the ground.

"Thank you very much" she said, straitening. Her smile was contained but bubbly, as if cheerful for no reason but the simple joy of her dance. "No apology is necessary, Misami."

Misami smiled too, though it faded as she spoke. This seemed to be a girl in far over her head, but Aster knew she was here for a reason - nor had she forgotten her change in demeanor. There was more to this girl, she knew, than timid knee-knocking and tears.

"Aye, the Manor guests are monsters, but only insomuch as they are people" she said with a nod. "You will find both heroes and villains within these walls, and all manner of Man and beast that lies between. Their reasons for coming are many, and you must judge them each in their way. But come. Let us find you your room."

With that, she bounced her weight onto her toes and clasped her hands expectantly behind her. Misami would lead the way, but Aster could provide some guidance herself. "Though the wolves be in the walls, they too are shackled. Outside the arena none may do you violence. And who knows? Perhaps you've fangs yourself."

[Jukan]

This girl was sure cheerful. She liked that. What misaim needed was a friend, someone who could help encourage her, help her get though the hell she was about to endure, perhaps even find a way to fight and survive. She liked Aster, she seemed kind, yet kind of strange at the same time. She didn’t know if she could fully trust her, seeing as blind trust is what got her into this situation. Her ability top trust kind people hasn’t been destroyed yet, although she knows to be on the defensive, and isn’t sure how much she can believe. But she is still inexperienced enough to see things in a black and white perspective. On one hand, she could be totally earnest and truthful, or she could be spouting lie after lie and trying to lure her into an unguarded state, where she would then kill her without a moment’s hesitation. She wanted nothing more than to stay optimistic, so she would try and see her as the former, and pray she was not the ladder.

After listening her words, her explaining a little of how this place worked, she did say something that she would defiantly need help with. “But come. Let us find you your room.” Her…room? That’s right, she has to live here now. She started feeling a bit down. Her home taken from her, her best friend was being tortured, and she was forced to leave all of them. All she remembers before being sent here was how she was engulfed by a strong bright light before awakening to the ultimatum she was given. ”That’s right….I live in this place now…” She really sounded depressed. Her tone of voice was soft, it was almost at whisper level. "Though the wolves be in the walls, they too are shackled. Outside the arena none may do you violence. And who knows? Perhaps you've fangs yourself." Aster spoke, and she looked up at her. Fangs? Could it be that she had some latent power within her? She knew she was weak, and couldn’t harm a fly in serous combat. How was she to defeat three people and save her friend and family?

”C..could you show me….where I’m staying?” She said in a nervous voice. What she said gave her some courage, not a lot, but those words held something that would help her move forward, potential that she could possibly succeed in her goal. For the time being, she had to trust Aster, even if she wasn’t sure how much she was able to. Her friends words echoed in her mind as she awaited a response.

[Kismet]

Aster nodded her head once, her smile turning gentle and unassuming. "Aye, of course. Let us take a look at your key."

A quick examination revealed the room number and floor, and they were ready to be off. Misami had been sequestered up in the west wing of the fourth floor, but that was not their immediate destination. Oh no. If this girl was going to live and compete here, she was going to need more than a place to sleep.

Aster nodded again, this time to herself, and began spinning Misami's key about her finger. "Your room is strategically located next to your floor's laundry center. A fine victory indeed! But a warm bed and clean clothes are not enough. The Manor has many facilities with which you must acclimate yourself!" She accelerated the spin of Misami's key, and with a deft flick of the wrist, launched it high into the air.

Aster spun about, pointing her finger past the registration desk. "Through yonder door lies the food courts of the Manor. Criminals, the lot of them! Beware their mediocre, overpriced garbage disguised as food! Do not be taken in by the free samples; take them and run. Laugh! Laugh in their faces and be rid of them!"

She spun about again, pointing the way they'd come. As she extended her finger, it snagged Misami's now plummeting key ring. "From whence we arrived lie the shops the surrounding town. Acquire your food there; there are many fine establishments." Aster took a moment to raise her still extended finger in front of her face, admiring the key now suspended from it.

"Hee."

She tossed it back into the air, gently this time, and snatched it back with her other hand. With a triumphant grin, she extended her arm, palm up, to return it to Misami.

"There are also a number of pools outside, as well as one on the second floor. But come! Onward we go, the elevators are ahead."