Summer 1 - Greetings and Welcome - Action

[kollomods]

[ It's a mild sunny day when the first group of guests make land at Norrhamn. A gentle breeze rustle the birch trees and tangle in the bunting that's hung across the buildings in celebration of this very special occasion. Aina has been busy gathering up guests over the last few hours and now the ferry is approaching the port, waves breaking gently against the bow.

Olivia is waiting on the jetty, clipboard hugged close to her body. She's excited and nervous all at once, anxious to get to meet these people that she's read so much about, the faces behind the pleading letters. This is the first day her new job becomes hands on. Hopefully she'll be good at it.

As the ferry lands and lets the guests off, Olivia raises a hand in a cheerful greeting. ]

Hello! Welcome to Norrhamn!

Comments

[ggs]

[ The reaction nearly makes Hana laugh, but she does her best to stifle it. Since she's used to having a face for the cameras, this is pretty easy to do. ]

Don't worry. I doubt I could have knocked you over.

[ Hana in her mech is a completely different beast, but Hana on her own is a nineteen year old slip of a woman and it looks like a stiff breeze could knock her over. ]

[burntviolet]

[ Hanako slowly... slowly... lowers her arms, taking one step back, her gaze avoidant. She feels like an idiot for how she reacted, but since she can't take it back she'll wallow in shame while acknowledging the other girl's presence as little as possible. ]

Sorry, ah... i-it was on reflex. I'll be more careful.

[ She mutters fretfully, one hand covering the scarred side of her face. ]

[ggs]

[ Well now Hana feels a bit bad about almost laughing. The girl looks traumatized. ]

I think I'm the one who should be watching where she's going.

[ She takes off her sunglasses and sticks them around the front of her hat to hold them there. ]

New cast. I'm still getting used to it.

[burntviolet]

[ A glance is spared towards the cast. Injuries? Oh. Somehow she feels bad, but she holds her tongue from apologizing again. ]

... I see. [ There's a short awkward pause. She practically forces the next words out. ] I'm Hanako... Ikezawa. I s-suppose we're going to see each other often...?

[ggs]

I'm Hana.

[ So their names are kind of close there. ]

And I guess so? I don't know how many people are expected to show up, but until I figure out the best way to get around, I'll probably be around the cabins.

[burntviolet]

[ She gives a little nod, acknowledging the similarity of their names. ]

It's all so new, a-and... I need to figure things out, too.

[ Does this place have a library and is there an option to stay there all day... because she would take it, at least momentarily. ]

[ggs]

It should be fine. No one's rushing us along, and there doesn't seem to be any schedule set up that I've heard of.

[ Not that she'd probably abide by it if there was... ]

[burntviolet]

... T-True. I'm fretting over nothing, s-sorry.

[ The idea of having a schedule, a map, anything already settled for her other than her cabin, would actually be nice. In truth, stepping into the void and having to figure everything out...worries her more than necessary and it won't be of any help.

She shakes her head a little. ]

May I ask... why you d-decided to come here?

[ggs]

Oh, my friend convinced me it'd be good for me.

[ It took a lot of convincing. ]

I was only sold on it once I learned that time stops at home while we're here. I'm totally testing that on the next ferry back to make sure, but once I'm sure I won't be missed, I'll do it for him. He thinks I need a break from my duties.

[ And from always pushing herself too hard. ]

[burntviolet]

... Ah, I see.

[ It was a curious question and she's now at loss of words after hearing the answer.

Talking with people is so... hard. ]

I decided t-to come here on my own... needed a break from... things.

[ Nailed it. ]

[ggs]

I doubt you're the only one to do that. In fact, there are probably fewer people here doing it because their friends wanted them too, like me.

[ She shrugs as much as she's able with her crutches tucked under her armpits. ]

Life was busy, huh?

[burntviolet]

[ Busy is not the word she'd use for how her life had been up to now, but Hanako will go along with it since she's not going to share much. The less Hana knows, the better. ]

I... uhm... s-something abrupt happened, and that helped with my decision.

[ Helped... is not how she'd like to define it, but details are best to be kept underground. ]

... I'm n-not sure this was a good decision, but the only way to f-find out is to stick around...

[ggs]

[ Wow, she sure sounds guarded! That only makes Hana more curious, but given how... delicate Hanako seems, Hana isn't sure if she should be letting out her "big" personality. It's mostly for crowds of people anyway. One on one, she can be much calmer. ]

You can always take the ferry the next time it comes back to check on things at home. That's what I'm doing, just to make sure time actually stands still there.

[burntviolet]

... I'll think about it.

[ She may have her doubts, but it's still better than staying where she was. Better stick with the plan for now.

Quietly, she bows her head. ]

I'm sorry f-for taking a lot of your time. Feel free to be on your way.

[ggs]

[ Hana returns the bow as best she can on her crutches. ]

I'm just making my way to the cabins, so don't worry about it. I wasn't like, on a tight schedule or anything.

[ But she adjusts her crutches to get going. ]

You headed that way yet?

[burntviolet]

... Yes. Actually, I w-was headed that way.

[ Her bag feels heavy, her arms hurt a little, and the anxiety from being surrounded by people inside the ferry exhausted her. There is no intention to go for exploring until she refills her energies. ]

We could, uh...

[ go together, she'd say if the words didn't get stuck in her throat. ]

[ggs]

Head that way? Totally what I was thinking!

[ She lurches forward on her crutches, a determined look on her face. ]

Let's go!

[burntviolet]

[ Briefly startled by such determination, Hanako hesitatingly steps closer, offering support if Hana needs it. ]

Ah, please be c-careful...