the_campus | Effect Room: Amnesia

I just mean... if you had any reason at all, it was probably that. You must have had things you didn't want to lose, right? Being trapped in the past would have been a problem for you.

I... guess you wouldn't have had much of a choice.

[Ryou's voice is filled with concern and pity. Being plucked unwillingly from out of your time... that has to be a shocking experience,and a painful one. He pats her on the shoulder, gently.]

You don't really seem all that different to me, but I didn't meet you more than once before this. Sorry. I guess it's a pretty uncomfortable subject to have brought up.

[Harriet does appreciate all of the little consoling touches he's been giving her. Even something small like that can keep her rooted... she shakes her head.]

No, don't apologize. You've been very kind, and... to be honest, I'd freak out if they told me this themselves. It's a good thing I met you first, you know?

[Though she is still pretty much freaking out. Her mind goes in a ton of different directions, but finally she settles on another question to ask him.]

Ryou, how much do you know about dueling? If possible, I'd like to remember how before I meet those men again.

Ah... [Before she meets them? There's only one reason he can think of for that. Being without your memories is bad enough, but she must feel defenseless. Especially if she doesn't know the intentions of these people she lives with. It must be frightening.

He nods slowly. There's no danger to her, he's sure, but there's no reason to leave her feeling vulnerable either.]

Father's been teaching me, so I know some of it. It's mostly theory I've learnt so far, though. But even if you don't remember it, the ability's still there. All of your training will probably still kick in if you try it. You're already bonded to your monsters, after all.

[But he doesn't know what her deck leader is or anything. That's going to be a problem. Can she summon without it? He doubts it, somehow.]

If you take a look at your cards, there should be one that gives off a feeling of being closer to you than the others. If you can, try to feel it out. It might be a little difficult to find, but you need that card before you can summon any others.

[It's not just that she feels defenseless, although that's certainly part of it. But if she needs them to send her home, she's afraid of being seen as useless... she needs to meet them with some strength, at least.]

All right. I'll try...

[She stops and takes her whole deck out, checking the cards one at a time. As familiar as she was with these cards, she can hear each of their voices whispering to her. It's scary at first, but as she allows herself to listen to them, it starts to bring back a feeling of union and she relaxes. Eventually she settles back on Airknight Parshath - there were three of him in her deck, and each time she came across him and talked with him, she just got the feeling that he could help her relate to the others.]

Airknight Parshath- He's the one. He's been helping me this whole time.

What do I do now?

That's what they call your 'Deck Leader'. Through that card, you can summon others.

[He makes a mental note of that name. Not that he really needs to know the details of her deck, but it's good to keep note in case it's important someday.]

What happens is that you use your will to call upon it, and it manifests as a sort of spiritual armor over your body. You can't use its aggressive abilities when it's active, but it'll allow you to call up other monsters.

Luckily, you've done all the hard work long before this, so because it's a card that's close to you, it'll not be too hard to call upon it, even without your memories. You just have to focus your will upon it.

[Harriet nods, looks at the card again and holds it in both hands a bit awkwardly. Focus your will... normally that would be a bit too abstract to make sense immediately, but instinct kicks in. Ryou must be right- the knowledge of what to do is buried deep down inside. Floating to the surface is a phrase she was trying to remember, she mutters to try it on]

Transmute unto me, O deck leader...

[...and that did it. The armor manifests in a flash of light. Harriet looks down at herself, transformed into the costume.]

Ohh! I look like him now, that's brilliant!

[a sword on one hand, a shield on the other, and wings all over... it does feel powerful. It brings back more memories too, ones that put a smile on her face.]

I feel quite strong like this... I think I'm the strongest duelist I know.

[which is perhaps hilariously meaningless since she doesn't remember anyone. But at least she's pleased.]

[Considering the only duelist she can claim to know right now is Ryou... yeah, he doesn't doubt that. Laughing softly, he nods. It's actually a relief that the instincts within her kicked in, because he really isn't confident in his ability to teach her anything to do with this.]

It's really amazing, isn't it? Like that, you can probably stand up to anyone here pretty easily!

[A voice echoes mockingly in the back of his head. Oi, oi... Don't go that far! It's filled with laughter, as if knowing some secret he doesn't.

Linking his hands behind his back, he gives her a relaxed smile, as if he didn't just essentially have the voice of Satan teasing him.]

[Harriet remains blissfully ignorant to demonic other selves.]

Well, at the very least people will think twice about messing with me.

[She dispels the armor after that though. While she doesn't remember enough about fighting, she thinks this will be good enough for a bluff.]

Thank you for that.

[He shakes his head, smiling a little.]

It's no problem. You did most of the work anyway. It's a little awkward, but when we get to the dorm, I won't be able to enter. So it's better we at least get that out of the way first. It's not far, now.

That's good... [she supposes. She's still a bit skeptical about these 15th century warrior dudes, so it's disappointing to hear they might have to separate.]

...What do you mean you won't be able to enter?

There's a barrier over the door. I'm blocked from getting through it. Most people are.

[Not that he'd be much help with them, he's sure.]

What, you mean like a magical forcefield?

... Is there a reason we have it barricaded? It seems a bit paranoid, unless this place is more dangerous than it looks.

[...this is hard to explain, so he does his best to be diplomatic.]

I don't think it's really paranoid. It's there for security. It's like having a permanent lock on your door, only you can come and go as you please. This island isn't very large, so if you make enemies, there's little chance you can avoid being found unless you make it into the jungle.

But by doing it like this, if you do make enemies, there's no chance of anyone being taken down while they're sleeping. It gives everyone the chance of having peace of mind. Besides, it's easy enough to go to another room if you want to entertain someone, and more private, so it's not like it's too much of a hassle.

Well, if you can't see how "assuming we'll make enemies and they'll probably try to kill us all in our sleep" can be mistaken for paranoia, then I don't know what to tell you?

[She's starting to feel like she's in really deep shit here.]

It can be mistaken for paranoia, but in this case, it's a justified security measure. You don't consider people paranoid for keeping the chain on the door, right?

Besides, one of your roommates includes a king, so it's pretty guaranteed that he'll have enemies that might want to kill you all.

Right, so, when I get there I should just... ask him who's trying to kill us all.

[pause.]

You did say you're friends with them, yeah?

[Oh no, please don't tell him she was remembering the other him. The last thing he needed was her pulling her sword on him or something.]

Un, I am. Actually, nobody's trying to kill you all right now, but because people might, it's a policy that was set up. Even though I'm related to two of the people there now, I'm not allowed in.

[No prizes for guessing why.]

Anyway, it's really a safe place here. Don't worry. It's just so they can all sleep at night safely.

Edited 2013-12-18 23:38 (UTC)

[Even if there's no prizes, she's going to try anyway. Because what else can you do with information when you have amnesia?]

Related- then the father you spoke of is one of my roommates? [Even still, he won't let you in? His own son? Why? A faint picture is forming as she tries to fill in the blanks. She presses a hand to her forehead. She's remembering a feeling... nothing else to support it reasonably, but it's strong.

You're dangerous.

Even just thinking that, the way she looks at Ryou is different. She doesn't know why he is, only that he is. But also that... he isn't? Because he was still adopted by that 'father.' He may be dangerous, but he's not lying, probably.]

I ... I understand.

Edited 2013-12-19 22:23 (UTC)

...

[The way she's looking at him is kind of unnerving. Does she remember about 'him'? He hopes not. But he grasps onto the subject change anyway.]

Un. Henry informally adopted me a few months ago. He's been very kind to me. I hope I can repay his kindness some day.

...How does that adoption work, if he's from the fifteenth century and you're presumably not?

[She's doubting him. It's all so bizarre. She can sense his nervousness, too. It's going to create a feedback loop of bad vibes if this doesn't stop... even if he's dangerous, she doesn't want to push him away. There must be something she's missing. She has to try to let it go.]

Sorry. I don't mean to be so negative.

That's why I called it informal. Actually, I'm from the twentieth century. We'd never met before we got pulled into this place.

[Ryou smiles, a little sheepishly. To think he's explaining this to her... it's kind of comical, in a way.]

[His voice turns sombre.]

Even though my father still technically lives back at home, I've been living alone for some time now. He's an archeologist, and he's rarely in the country. My mother and sister are both dead, so I've been on my own for most of the last few years. It's kind of lonely... But it can't be helped. And I don't think there's an easy way off of this island, so I can't get back to him anyway, yet. Maybe not for a long time.

So while we're here, Henry's taken on the role of my father. He doesn't have any kids of his own, so we fit together, in a way. There's a chance I might go back with him, but... that's not definite. I'm fond of him, but I'm not sure I can do it. It's a big decision. I don't have many attachments in my time, but the ones I have... I worry about them. And he knows that.

So we made an agreement, that in the meantime, we'd act out the role as if it's official.

...But, you don't really want to hear me ramble, right? Sorry.

[He rubs the back of his head awkwardly, smiling at her.]

And don't worry about being negative! It's probably really scary, right? Not remembering things... I'd be terrified.

[Not least of all because of what blackouts mean to him.]

[Well, she's unaware of what blackouts mean to Ryou, but let it be said regardless; No matter what goes wrong in her life, at least she doesn't have a Yami.

Harriet had listened to the somber rambling thoughtfully, though her lack of any other expression surely may have made it seem like she was bored. She looks surprised when he apologizes.]

It's all right! I find it sort of interesting...

[Ryou never sees his father because he's far away. They don't have a relationship... that stirs a painful and nostalgic feeling inside of her.]

... I feel like I somehow relate to that. I wish I knew why. It seems important.

Maybe you're the same as me.

[Important...? Come to think of it, he doesn't know anything about what Harriet was like before the war. He knows that she was trigger happy after it, but before it... nothing. Giving her a sympathetic look, he lifts his hand and points at the door.]

That's your dormitory.

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