Yasashii nihon no joochan yo...

[therealrisette]

Who: Rise Kujikawa and OPEN
What: A possibly familiar little girl, barely old enough for grade school, is wandering around the castle unsupervised. What do?
When: Today!
Where: The castle grounds, lobby, Four Seasons beach, Music Room - any of Rise's favorite places!
Rating: PG-ish?

[Well, it's been a few days now. Rise hoped she'd only be this small for her birthday and the castle would give up on its latest little prank. But after a day or two of going back and forth between sticking close to a convenient friend (new or otherwise) or sulking alone somewhere, it's getting really boring not going out when she wants just because she's not as big as she should be. She's even been a fairy before, and that never stopped her!

... Though, at least she could fly then. Having to run around everywhere makes the castle somehow seem even bigger now, against all logic. And no matter where she goes, everything looks different.

Before she knows it, a quick trip outside of her own room has become a full-blown exploration of the entire castle. From the hallways, to the grounds, to some of her favorite rooms to visit. She's not exactly alone, but not everyone notices such a small child running around.

... Of course, someone probably will sooner or later.]

Comments

[heloise]

[ She knows how strange it is, having spent more than a year now brushing her shoulders against so-called modern people. The reaction is still amusing. ]

How old should be old enough to have children, I wonder?

[therealrisette]

I dunno... I guess if you were ready...

[Rise can't imagine being ready that young, though. She'd want to at least wait until her twenties, when her career as a teen idol would most likely be over and she could transition into acting or modeling full-time. And that's assuming she could find someone to settle down with...

With a sigh, she continues.]

It won't be anytime soon for me!

[It is kind of weird talking about how she has no plans to have kids anytime soon in the same conversation as she admits to missing her daughter...]

[heloise]

[ There was never the question of being ready for anything, for her. She can't imagine otherwise, though, and sees little reason to complain. But her next husband will be of her own choosing.

They reach near the lobby, and Lucrezia takes the time to look about before continuing on her way. ]

Might I ask how old you are? Commonly, I mean.

[therealrisette]

[That's an unusually complicated question given the nature of Paradisa, but at least she can leave off the part about how she looks now. Lucrezia already knows what she usually looks like...]

I'm supposed to be seventeen now.

[She glances down at herself.]

This... I woke up like this on my birthday...

[Wait... she's not really sure how old Lucrezia is, either, is she? She looks up at the other girl curiously.]

You're close to my age, right?

[She just kind of assumed when they met...]

[heloise]

I should have turned eighteen this year.

[ But of course time in the castle moves strangely, or is that only because she shares a home with Joshua. Does it even matter? ]

Which makes me an adult, does it not?

[therealrisette]

[Not in Japan, it doesn't. But Rise knows she's not Japanese, so... yeah. It probably does...

Suddenly, she's even more embarrassed about the way she looks right now.]

... I guess.

[She tries not to blush and look away. Tries and fails. Better change the subject before she finds out if it's possible to feel even more awkward.]

U-um... where are we going?

[They were close to the lobby, weren't they? She doesn't mind following Lucrezia or anything - at least she's good company. But she's not sure where exactly she's being led...?]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia doesn't stop for her, letting go of her hand if Rise does. She has a mission to accomplish after all and she would wait for no one. No one else. ]

As I said. Home is Joshua's mansion. It was Zelman's once, do you know of him?

[therealrisette]

[Well, Rise does look a little surprised. But she doesn't let go of Lucrezia's hand, or stop following along. Having company is obviously a higher priority than their destination.]

... No, I don't think so.

[The name doesn't sound familiar. Also...]

There's a mansion?

[She's pretty sure they didn't mention anything about a mansion when they first met!]

[heloise]

Some ways from the city.

Are you to follow me there?

[therealrisette]

I... don't know...

[That sounds pretty far to go on a whim... but she still can't bring herself to outright ask for help finding her way around a castle when she knows her way around. And having company is much better than feeling kind of lost in her own home...

Then again... was Lucrezia expecting her to follow the whole way? Was there an implied invitation? She doesn't know her well enough yet to even guess...]

You live there? With Joshua-san?

[So are they, like, really a couple? Not just random people that were given a child back during that week?]

[heloise]

[ It is a sort of invitation. Joshua dislikes most company, especially those who might fear or hate him, and she thinks Rise might fall into that category too. Most people do. But he isn't here. She doubts she would find him lounging on one of the sofas once she comes home, then again who really knows when it comes to a Joshua? ]

I do. [ Not did. ]

My steed can bear your load, should you wish, unless you wish to be led elsewhere.

[therealrisette]

No...

[Rise unconsciously tightens her grip on Lucrezia's hand just a teensy bit at the mention of being led elsewhere, scooting ever so imperceptibly closer to the other girl. She might not be thinking like a child, but she's certainly doing a good job playing the role. Whether she wants to or not.]

... I mean, if you really don't mind? I'd like to see the mansion!

[It's a convenient excuse to follow Lucrezia. And sounds less childish than admitting she just doesn't want to be left alone here... though that might carry through in her tone. She's not trying that hard to cover it up.]

[heloise]

[ She returns the gesture too, squeezing her hand in reassurance. She knows she would rather have company when she is feeling so alone, too, every little bit helps. ]

Have you ever ridden a horse before?

[ She can just hold on, but a gallop or a trot may be uncomfortable for those unused to such methods of transportation. ]

[therealrisette]

No, not really.

[Hopefully that won't be a problem...]

We'll be together, though, right? I'll hold on really tight!

[Because falling off is the only problem she can imagine...]

[heloise]

[ At least the walk to the stables isn't too far and it's a pleasant day to be out despite the shadow over her mood. Too pleasant even, that it makes her resentful. Damned sun. ]

You can hold on to me.

[therealrisette]

Okay!

[Rise smiles and nods. It's pretty hard not to be a little more cheerful on a day like this... but she does notice Lucrezia still seems a little... sad? She doesn't even know what it is. But she seems willing to have company at least, so maybe visiting with her will cheer her up a bit?

Then, as they draw closer to the stables...]

Oh, wow! I didn't even know this was out here!

[Your own fault for barely ever leaving the castle, Rise...]

[heloise]

[ Lucrezia has placed her steed, her brother's, in the most spacious stall yet. A chestnut Andalusian because why would anyone bother with Iberian horses or god forbid the European ponies. Her smile returns at the sight of him too, cooing at it in Catalan while offering it an apple before moving to open the stall for her and Rise to come in. ]

Where would you keep your steed otherwise?

[ Because everyone uses horses, obviously. ]

[therealrisette]

[Even being a modern girl who's only seen horses from a distance, Rise can't argue with that. It does seem kind of obvious now that she thinks about it.

She's kind of awestruck at the size of the horse, too! Well, she knows her perspective is all messed up now, but still. She's pretty sure it's bigger than any horses or ponies she's seen in Japan.

That's not what she reacts to the most, though.]

Wow! He's really pretty!

[She guesses it's a he, at least? That's kind of what her brain defaults to with horses.

The return of Lucrezia's smile is nice, too... and infectious. It brightens up Rise's own demeanor just that little bit more.]

What's his name?

[heloise]

[ Her smile wavers at the question but only for the briefest moment, then it only seems sadder, somehow. She never asked Cesare for his name so she had to give him another. ]

Arion.