witchesreign | [BBS] + [ACTION for Claire] Whereabouts.

[BBS]
[After playing a bit of catch up on the BBS, Shadow encountered an odd message from Claire. It was succinct, as usual, and it didn't explain why she isn't around. It isn't like her to just disappear without a trace, unless it was the happenings of Time Compression. Again.]

Where's Claire Farron?

Shadow
SeeD #83425

[ACTION]

With bit more digging around, he finds out that she left, giving some clue to her whereabouts just in case. It wasn't a good clue, since it's been a month, but it was better than nothing. It meant less hacking into the database for him. It also meant less time to waste. Without a note left behind, and essentials packed (tent, flares, food, medical supplies, etc), Shadow manages to get a lift to the nearest area of Claire's location.

He'll start north of Esthar, make his way south, and ask people if they have seen this grumpy looking woman in the only photo he has of her.]

What is she thinking when she left?

[It'll take at least half the day, even with running, to traverse the wilderness. No thanks to the monsters.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

She resigned.

That's not what I'm asking. I'd like information I don't already know.

[Someone's grumpier than usual.]

[ The last month or so hasn't exactly been the best time of Claire's life, spent mired in a state of burning internal conflict, confused about the very basis of her beliefs, stuck laying low by lying to most she meets in a foreign land...

... Not sure where to even start in addressing the problem of what to do with herself outside the guidelines of Garden's assigned missions...

That said, it could have been a lot worse, too; despite what her abrupt departure and barren explanations may have implied, she hasn't really been living in the wilderness, ostracized from society entirely or whatever else. People here might find her odd, perhaps even a bit suspicious, but at least that means she can keep her interactions with them simple. She leaves them alone, they leave her alone, and she does the job she's been hired for smoothly.

Right now she's certainly not expecting to run into others she knows out here, and especially Shadow, of all people. Not since like so many others, he too had disappeared months ago; she assumed he'd gone home for good and didn't really expect to ever see him again.

But one way or another, she hears that an offworlder someone is looking for her, and decides to show herself before he spends too much more time doing so. She still can't help but stare though, when she catches sight of him, her back pressed to a tree as she waits for him to get closer.

Of course, the fact that her hair's been dyed to brown to blend in likely hasn't helped in his search for a woman whose defining trait is pink hair, but... ]

[Speeding through the trees, Shadow is only keeping half his mind on his path. The other part is wondering why no one has seen Claire, or at least the woman in the photo he has been showing around. Pink hair is not quite common in this world, strange as that may seem to him.

During his travels, he notices a woman leaning against a tree in the middle of no where more or less. Shadow stops his sprint and backtracks to her, looking to her suspiciously. It isn't difficult to tell he's an off-worlder, but she doesn't seem to be disturbed by that.

But as he approaches her, the familiarity reaches his mind. The hair is a different shade, but the other features are not. Shadow raises an eyebrow.]

...no wonder I'm having such a hard time tracking you down.

People here don't really trust offworlders.

[ As plain and simple as that; safe to say she harbors no love for the current hair color and has no trouble knowing exactly what he's referring to.

... Even if it's more complicated than it seems, and doing something so superficial only goes so far...

But, more importantly, why in the world is Shadow here in the first place? She doesn't offer anything else for the moment- arms crossed, she just looks down, studying him with a soft frown. ]

It's nice to know that some things don't change.

[He crosses his own arms, thinking of the best way to break the awkward silence. Fortunately, there is no best way to do so.]

After getting sent back here unwillingly, I backtrack a few entries on the BBS and found yours. No explanation, which is not so unusual, but it's sudden, and no one knew where to find you. So I went looking. [Shrugs] If this isn't intelligence gathering, I don't know what is.

[He pauses, looking to her indifferently.]

I don't expect you to give a reason for resigning, but what do you plan to do out here?

[ A frown. Some things don't change, no.

... And sometimes, they do. He doesn't ask for her reasons, so she doesn't give them-- although it's obviously deeper than the sparse reply she's about to give. Her lips press together and head tilts toward her shoulder, following the gaze she casts to the side. ]

I have a job. It wasn't worth explaining.

[The reply he gets is more telling than she may think.]

'There isn't much we can do in this world without revealing ourselves as Off-Worlders, unless something more official came up.'

Seems that way, since no one else joined me. So, I'm guessing this job of yours isn't done?

That's right.

[ She half-shrugs, mostly non-committal... though it's more the beginning of his comment that catches her attention rather than the question. Her thoughts are stingingly bitter, to think of anyone from that place being anywhere near concerned about her welfare. She's probably doing most of them a favor they don't deserve, by removing herself from their presence. ]

... Why are you here?

I thought that was obvious?

[ ... Claire's eyebrows immediately come together slightly, her lips tugging down into a frown at the unexpected turn of having her question thrown back at her. Her hand slides up her hip to rest there on her belt, but she doesn't answer even in the breath or two marking the seconds that follow.

Apparently, no, it's not obvious to her. She could take a guess, but there's no guarantee it would be anywhere near the truth. That bothers her enough to stay silent. ]

You disappeared, so I came looking for you. [It seemed obvious to him, at least.]

Garden knows where I am.

[ ... For the most part. Her voice is oddly thick though, and she affects a strange expression as if Shadow has just casually admitted he's always dreamed of being a moogle and she's attempting to hide her baffled reaction.

At its core, it's still pretty much the same sentiment, though. She wouldn't have pegged Shadow for being someone to not only notice her absence, but to come looking for her. ]

Being on a mission isn't always obvious to fellow SeeDs, especially when you resign. Also, if Garden knew, I wouldn't be here.

[He does smirk a bit.]

How long is the mission?

[ Claire just stares at Shadow throughout that-- mild chiding, expression unchanging. After a moment the back of her hand finds solid placement on her hip again though, as she snorts the softest of scoffs, looking away. Her voice remains still pretty defensive, but also drops until it's considerably softer. ]

There isn't really a set date or anything- I'm mostly playing bodyguard, here.

[ Which is just fine with her. ]

[BBS] + [ACTION for Claire] Whereabouts.

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....I am so sorry, ugh

I was starting to worry >.>

v_v