[open] the nirvana principle

[beautifulleopard]

Who: Juri and you!
Where: Around the Aldrip
What: your typical catch-all log
Warnings: mentions of underage drinking?



Outskirts - Stick to your routine

[Ok. Now that the fiasco involving lodgings and so is somewhat handled, Juri can focus on settling down in her new 'home.' Which, of course, means establishing some routines. The Duels and fencing tournaments might be on a hiatus for her but that's hardly a reason for her to get lazy.

So, just in a few days Juri has formed a habit of waking up early and go out for a jog around the town as a warm up, and then go back to inn pick up her sword and head off to the outskirts. There, she finds a quiet and calm spot where she can train.

It's really a shame that she doesn't have an opponent to spar with, leaving her to just follow through basic routines and practices. Such as focusing on footwork, stances and simple strikes. Her form is, as usual, right on point on and her movements are fast, all indicating that yeah. She's done this before.

Juri keeps repeating her routine until she's all tired and out of breath, actually enjoying the feeling of breaking sweat and pushing her body further.]


Lupin - Where all the cool kids are

[Juri isn't someone who'd spend her time in a bar just for fun. But when in Rome and so on. Besides, she's not here just for the leisure time. Being new to Aldrip means she really has to start everything from the scratch. Long gone is her status, connections and the secret network she had established in Ohtori Academy. But oh well! She's not one to turn her nose up at the idea of doing the leg work.

So off to the Lupin she goes!

Despite not being too accustomed to these kinds of establishments she walks in with a confidence of an old-timer, her posture straight and chin up. Look, she's done lot of fancy balls, galas and modelling. The elegance and poise just comes naturally to her. With a smooth movements she walks up to counter, takes a seat and orders a cocktail. Ok, she knows she technically shouldn't be ordering an alcoholic beverage, but it's going to be funny to see if anyone is going to stop her.]


Town Square - Oh Romeo, oh Romeo

[It's dead at the night and the city of Aldrip is sleeping peacefully (or less peacefully, if you happen to live in the Inn). The moon is high up and shining it's pale light over the buildings as Juri is making her rounds. But unlike in the mornings, she's donned up in the silky evening gown that had (miraculously) somehow arrived with her. Muff and high heels included.

It really did feel like she was being mocked.. by this world or the entities ruling it. She's definitely glad for the second set of clothing but there's definitely certain sentimentality associated with this one. So, when one night she finds herself unable to sleep, feeling the familiar ache squeezing her chest -- like a merciless viper reaching out to coil around her heart, she does the usual thing: gets dressed and heads out to brace the night on her own.

She settles to sit down in front of the fountain at the town square, looking at the water dancing in front of her with a pensive expression on her face. And it's during nights like these when she can't escape the whirlpool inside her, feeling the abyss sucking her in to join the demons haunting her mind. The golden necklace around her neck feels heavy like an anvil, dragging her down.]

Hm. [She hums a quiet laughter to herself. It seems like no matter how vast the distance is, she still can't be free.

So, she just sits there. Basking in her sapphic tragedy like a damn Shakespearean character, all while mulling over her thoughts and idly playing with her necklace. However, if someone happens to out there for a reason or another, Juri does raise her gaze from her own misery and summons a playful smile on her lips.]

Evening. I see that insomnia is a common occurrence around here.

Comments

[beautifulleopard]

[Well, it's hardly the first time she's had an audience during her practice. Although, never this quiet. Normally there was always some sound around her, be it giggling from the girls' or the gasps of the awe from the fellow club members. But Juri is not going to let the silence of her current observer bother her and proceeds to continue with her routine.

When she finally decides that it's time for break Juri is already breathing heavily, a few pearls of sweat running along her temple. She flips her thick curls over her shoulder, opens the top buttons of her shirt to get some fresh air and turns around to face her newest 'fan'.]

Hm? No. [She breathes out hard.] I'm just training.

[entreats]

"Just"?

[ Seems like that's the word that sticks out to the girl, especially since Ange faintly tilts her head sideways as if she's considering it before looking back at Juri.

It's got to be part of the other's routine then, Ange figures. After all-- ]

Most people wouldn't show up in a place like this and immediately go back to training. [ Ange assumes Juri isn't a local, anyway. She supposes it's possible, but there's something about what Juri radiates that makes her assume the other was dragged here, just like her. ] You must be pretty dedicated.

[beautifulleopard]

[Hm. What a curious girl. Juri quirks her brow up as she watches her, leaning against the tree as she watches her. There's something very familiar with her attitude, it was like she lacked the connection to the words and to her surroundings.

Huh. At least Anthy Himemiya was good at pretending.

With a soft hum Juri raises her shoulders in a shrug.]

Seems like I missed the memo of what to do after being spirited away to another world. So, what does the 'most' do then if not train?

[entreats]

[ Ange huffs - and though nothing about her expression changes in particular, that sound does give away a vague hint of emotion.

You don't huff unless you're bothered by something, after all, even if it's only vaguely. Not that Juri is the source of it, not at all. Instead Ange is thinking back on some of the things she's seen already, and-- ]

Sit around and do nothing, apparently.

[ It almost feels like some people gave up right after showing up here. Or.. you know, they spend time on social activities.

Imagine. Horrifying.

Maybe that's why Ange found herself subconsciously watching Juri. At least the other is doing something. Fencing ought to come in handy if things get dangerous here at any point. ]

I'm not exactly much of a fighter, so I'm trying to gather information instead.

[beautifulleopard]

[It is quite amusing to see the way how the tiniest signs of emotions try to push through that exterior hers. She's not entirely sure if it's done on purpose or not.]

I see. [a soft chuckle escapes from her lips.] So, what kind of information did you gather from watching me practicing?

[entreats]

That there are some people here with some capacity for combat.

[ It's not like there's that much to glance from it - other than maybe things about Juri herself, but Ange isn't really trying to dig into other people here. It doesn't feel as important, aside from whether or not she can trust them.

And that last part is always a whole lot harder to determine. ]

.. though I suppose it's to be expected. [ She slowly continues. ] If you'd take a random sample of people from anywhere, you'd end up with at least a few people who know how to fight.

[beautifulleopard]

I'm not sure if I'd go as far as to call my skills combat ready.

[A half-truth. Juri is confident in her own skills. She's more than competent fencer and teacher -- and a duelist, which honestly is most important part to her. Now, whether she has it what it takes to smash the world's shell and obtain the power of miracles is left to be seen.

In duels the rules were simple and clean, knock off the rose with your sword and you win. But in an actual combat it's different. Depending on the situation there might be no rules or even goals, other than the pure survival. (Then again, wasn't that the same with their duels).]

So, you believe we have been picked here by a random selection only?

[entreats]

[ Ange doesn't seem to remark anything about the first part. Her face is unmoving enough that it's hard to tell whether she decided to just believe Juri on that one, or might be silently questioning it in her head instead.

Because, after a slow blink, what Ange instead asks is: ]

Do you think we haven't?

[ A question for a question. Apparently two can play at this game.

Not that Ange really minds sharing her theories - aside from having one slightly odd encounter due to it before. She's just curious to see what other people think with the very little information they've been given. ]

I do believe the reason we have been provided as to why we were brought here is a facade, at the very least.

[beautifulleopard]

Hmm. [She stretches her back against the tree and then prompts herself forward to grab her sword again. Alright, the break time is over.]

Interesting claim. What is your evidence? [Turning her back to the other girl, she assumes the fencing stance, back straight, one hand extended and one behind. It's not that she necessarily disagrees with the point given. The whole business behind the parchments and crimes is a rather lousy performance of justice in her opinion. Everyone has committed a crime of sort. Some more grave while some more mundane.

Then there is her 'crime'.

She tightens the grip on her sword's hilt at the thought of it, but still maintains her focus. Then, she takes a two lightning fast steps forward and strikes the air. Pulls back and repeats the motion.]

[entreats]

First of all, there's the fact that some people claim that either they or others they know have not committed the crimes listed on their parchments.

[ Apparently she's entirely unbothered by the fact that Juri seems to have returned to practicing - or rather, the fact that Juri is basically multi-tasking this conversation over here. Ange still speaks on easily, like she believes the other is still listening to her all the same.

She shrugs her shoulders. ]

Though I realise it's technically weak evidence. Most people would claim innocence upon being confronted with a crime, even if they actually did commit said crime. [ A rather cynical view of the world, sure, but one she easily believes in enough to present the other here. ] .. which, I suppose, leads me to my second reason. Which is that this is similar enough to other situations I've been in before that I know it's bullshit.

sorry for the late!! feel free to drop~ o/

[beautifulleopard]

[Continuing her practice serves another purpose than just keeping up her routine: it gives her an excuse not to answer to the other girl immediately. But that doesn't mean she's not listening.

It truly seems like she's put her time here into a good use, investigating and putting threads together. Hm. Quite commendable, in fact.

Her strikes are slightly more harsher and erratic compared to her previous form. Maybe there's something on her mind. Though, this time when she's about to finish her routine Juri suddenly spins around on her heel, turning to face the girl with a lightning fast movements -- her sword pointing at the other girl's direction.]

Ha. [A soft sound leaves from her lips as she observes her reaction.] So, you've been spirited away before?

it's totally fine! i'm always okay with late tagging c:

[entreats]

[ Ange - unused to any form of fencing or swordfighting, let alone Juri's great form - doesn't see it coming that the sword is suddenly pointed in her direction.

And yet, despite the fact that it does come to her as a surprise, she doesn't let it show up on her face. Thankfully her pokerface doesn't seem to fail her, not even at a moment like this. Instead she doesn't flinch or move, just staring Juri directly in the eyes, despite the sword between the two of them now. ]

Sure have.

[ She doesn't sound like she's worried about being called a liar, or someone thinking that's ridiculous or impossible.

It's just a fact, after all. Ange knows she's telling the truth. ]

This would technically be my third time. Though usually the entity doing it likes showing themselves a lot earlier than whatever is doing it here.