* Millie grumbles as she continues to head/storm off, not making any effort to walk like a lady as she usually does. [Millie storms off! If she took any time to look, she'd see that the place is marvelously kept, but she isn't, so she doesn't.] * Suzunosuke follows, silently, almost nervously. He seems to be trying to look in all directions at once. * Millie stops and waits for Suz to catch up. "So everyone thinks I'm just a tactless beast is that it? What do you think?" ... * Suzunosuke stops cold, the mental gears visibly grinding as he searches for an appropriate answer. ...truthfully? * Millie turns around and faces Suz fully, just a touch of anger in her expression. "Yeah?" * Suzunosuke shrugs. A warior shows no fear... Truthfully, I think you are no more offensive than any Westerner with no knowledge of our culture. * Millie watches Suz carefully for a while, and it seems like a long while, before breaking into a slight smile. "Good answer." [Right about now, Ryoichi walks by. He nods to the two of you, then continues on his way, rubbing at his forehead.] I do sometimes wish you would say... less. Sometimes you're a little... overwhelming. But then, I imagine I must seem equally alien to you. * Millie takes a deep sigh and pats the front of her thighs slightly. "I'm honest. I'm honest with myself, I'm honest with other people..that's bothersome. People ain't used ta that." I think you are too Suz...that's one of the things I like 'bout ya. * Suzunosuke nods. "I admire your straightforward nature as well. I wish I had the... courage to say some of the things you do." * Millie smirks slightly. "It comes with practice. I guess..." * Millie takes out a deep breath and looks at Suz directly in the eyes. "Growin' up the way I did..ya had ta take a slight look at everything...do ya know what it's like ta grow up in a place where you're a half-breed an' people are so stuck in their ways that they'd hang someone who stood out?" ...no. * Millie shakes her head and turns towards the temple doors. "I didn't think so..but the fact is...everyone ain't friendly out there. So if they know ya mean business, they may not like ya, but they won't take advantage of ya either..." No, my childhood involved entirely different traumas. * Millie takes a moment to stretch and looks over her shoulder at Suz. "Should we check out what's so secret outside then?" Of course. * Suzunosuke takes the lead, for once! [You guys head outside! Like it's hard to find.] ( With Suz, it had better be easy. ) [The moon's shining particularly brightly tonight. It's cool, and there's a faint breeze. It's also quiet, aside from the insects.] * Millie looks up at the moon and feels the breeze on her cheek. "Pretty moon." ...for once, I can't think of a poem. [Perception check, then Soul.] I wish, sometimes, that I could find words of my own, rather than someone else's. Moon shinin' brightly in the sky, glitterin' down amongst the bright pool below, sparkles shinin' in the eyes, quiet breeze the wind does blow. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6) and gets 10. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 12, a CRITICAL FAILURE!!! "You always hurt the ones you love. I love you very much." 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6) and gets 8. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 11. [You're both suddenly filled with dread. Dread!] * Millie pales and shivers, looking around. "...Suz...ya feel that...?" * Suzunosuke stands his ground, but draws his sword reflexively. His eyes flick back and forth, the only sign of his panic. ...yes. [Perception again. -4.] 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 3. 2d6-4 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6-4) and gets 3. (Soul again.) 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Millie (2d6) and gets 9. 2d6 * Dicesuke throws the bones for Suzunosuke (2d6) and gets 7. [You spot a fire burning in the distance. Even from where you are, and that it's in the forest, it seems very clear to you.] * Suzunosuke turns and raises the sword in a high guard pointed towards the fire. The tip trembles uncharacteristically. * Millie looks towards the fire, almost like her eyes can't dart away, though they look like they want to. She reaches for her rifle, a bit shaky though she's trying to control it. Ma..maybe this wasn't such a good idea... [The unnatural feeling begins to fade. In a few minutes, it's all but gone.] * Millie draws out her rifle, looking around, and feeling a little silly, keeping her eyes steadily on the fire. [The fire burns merrily!] That's gotta be it... * Suzunosuke finally gets the courage up to raise his voice and call for the rest of the troop. "HEY! HEY! HELP!" It ain't that bad...err..I think. [Ryoichi comes running out. "What? What is it?"] * Suzunosuke will worry about his dignity when he's no longer scared silly. * Millie advances a bit towards the fire to get a better look, keeping a cautious eye out, the rifle raised and poised at the ready. She doesn't seem like she's going quite straight for it though. What... what is that flame? * Millie looks over her shoulder at Ryoichi. "This the thing you were talkin' 'bout...?" [He blinks. "What flame?"] Can't tell me ya don't see it..over there. * Millie gestures towards it with her rifle barrel. [He peers, then shakes his head. When Millie looks back, she doesn't see it, either.] * Millie looks out where it was and then lowers her rifle. "Huh...that's weird..coulda sworn..." ...what? It ain't there no more. * Millie runs her fingers through her hair. "Well, I don't think I'm seein' things...I hadn't had any of that sake stuff you were talkin' 'bout earlier..." * Suzunosuke turns to Ryoichi, gesturing with the sword. This horrible sensation of... terror washed over me, and then we saw this bright, clear flame out there. ["It's... oh no, we don't have sake here. But if you're seeing fires, we really, really should get inside." He nods at Suzu. "That's happened to me, too."] Y'know...I think there might be somethin' to it.. ["Anyway, I don't want to stay here any longer than I have to."] * Millie walks up to the priest straight on, blinking a bit and stopping in front of him, looking straight at him. [He cringes. "Really, it's not- it's not safe. The spirits, they're angry."] * Millie lets out an awkward, but sincere immitation of the Shomuran style bow, looking straight at the ground. "Sorry 'bout earlier.." [He blinks a couple times, then bows hesitantly back. "Apology accepted."] ...angry? Why? ["I don't know! If I knew, then I could fix this. Or I could get someone to, maybe."] * Millie straightens up and sighs. "We'll all get to the bottom of this. Millie Reinhart's as good as her word." ( I scream for help, and all I get is a lousy priest. --; ) (Yes, because we know your voice from outside will carry to the other side of the temple.) [Kazue opens the doors and pokes her head out. "You missed dinner," she says, teasingly, before peering at Ryoichi. "I thought you were the one who always told us not to go outside."] (Millie's would, at least everyone seems to think so. :P) [Ryoichi blinks. "Oh, well these travelers, strange things have been happening... we really should get inside. It's safer there." He hurries in.] * Millie looks at Suz and nods. "Let's tell the others 'bout it." Fine. * Millie heads inside. * Suzunosuke heads back in, turning around once more at the door to look briefly out to where the flame had been. [Ryoichi seems very troubled and heads to one of the altars. Kazue just sighs and leads you all to the rooms.] ...little high strung, ain't he? I was feeling a little high-strung, myself.