From one foreign world...

[not_mafia]

[When Tsuna woke up, he was on the ground, laying in the soft grass. The bright sun hurt his eyes and he winced as he sat up with a groan.]

What the...?

[And then he realizes that he's outside. He looks around, alarmed.]

Ah...!

[This was... a world change? But where was everybody?]

Uh... hey? Guys? Is anyone there?

[There's a tug at his mind, and he hears a step behind him. He turns around.]

Oh--!

[...that

is not a person.]

Hiiiiiiiiie!

[He falls over and scrambles backwards as it growls.]

S-such a huge wolf! D-don't eat me!!

Comments

[not_mafia]

[Tsuna grimaces, though his eyes open when he hears Zelos and the wolf. And just in time to see it get up and size up the situation. An unarmed pipsqueak would've made a good meal, but an armed adult? Yeah, screw that. The wolf turns and bolts.

Tsuna gives a relieved sigh.]

Thanks, Zelos... I would've gotten it, but... my dagger's not on me...

[He looks around the ground with a sigh.]

I didn't drop it, did I?

[wilder]

[he watches the wolf run off with a smirk before turning back to the kid, tilting his head a little. He seems familiar, but enough to be on a first name basis? Weird.]

Not sure. What were you doing, taking a nap out here?

[not_mafia]

[He bristles indignantly at that.]

O-of course not! This is just where I appeared!

... don't tell me I was the only one out here...

[god he really hates his life sometimes]

[wilder]

Appeared?

[he looks confused at the kid]

Yeah, only one I saw out here. This whole area's monster infested, you know that?

[not_mafia]

Well, I sure know that now...

[...there's something weird about all this. Wouldn't Zelos have started teasing him by now, or at least berating him for not keeping his guard up? Something?]

Um, so, where's everyone else? In a town nearby, or something?

[wilder]

About fifteen miles south of here, yeah....

Do you really not know where you are? [It didn't seem like this kid was on drugs. And why did he get the nagging feeling of deja vu here?]

[not_mafia]

[you never know zelos. meanwhile, tsuna looks a bit bewildered by the question.]

Uh...

[He looks around. The scenery is pretty nice-- lush green grasses, and then a few woody-looking areas-- but otherwise nondescript.]

Not really... Should I?

[wilder]

Hmmm....

[musing to himself] Maybe some bandits did something to him? [Big enough of an injury or something to make him forget, sure, he could see that]

Well, where you from? Maybe it's not far.

[not_mafia]

[That finally gets his attention.]

Eh? But you... [Already know. Unless he doesn't, because the magic castle decided to alter his memories.

Great. Well.. at least now he knew why he was acting so weird.]

Er-- nevermind. Um... can you tell me where the nearest town is? [He should be able to find someone there, at least.]

[wilder]

[So frowning.]

Meltokio. About fifteen miles from here.

[not_mafia]

Meltokio...

[Huh, he feels like... he's heard that before...

Wait, how long was a mile again? Well, either way it's far enough he can't see it in his surroundings, so that kinda sucks. Maybe he should at least check the journal first, to make sure he wasn't going in the opposite direction of everyone else or something.

Y'know... if he had his journal. He mutters miserably to himself as he goes through his pockets again.]

Why can't I ever find it when I actually need it...?

[wilder]

[he's noticing that confused look. Woooow]

...You a Sylvaranti? Because seriously, everyone in Tethe'alla knows what Meltokio is.

[not_mafia]

[how do you even pronounce those words you just said]

W-well, it's kind of a long story...! [annnd he's pretty sure you wouldn't believe him as you are now]

Is that where you're headed, then? Meltokio?

[wilder]

...Yeah. I'm getting that sense.

[what a weird kid....] Me? Nah, I just came from there. I'm heading for the port. I got business in Palmacosta.

hi

[not_mafia]

A-ah, I see. [no he doesn't]

Well, I should get going! I don't want to worry my friends. [...not to mention Reborn is probably going to kick his butt for this.]

I'll see you later, then, Zelos!

[la-dee-dah yup just going to start walking down the road apparently unarmed, don't mind him!!]

[wilder]

Hold up.

[yep you're not getting away, he's following after]

What friends? Two seconds ago you didn't even know what Meltokio was.

[not_mafia]

[He pauses in his walking at that.]

U-uh...

[QUICK COME UP WITH A CONVINCING LIE]

U-um, yeah! Actually, I think I've heard of it before... I'm pretty sure one or two of my friends moved to it! They should be able to help me out.

[wilder]

Oh yeah? Which district do they live in?

[not_mafia]

[..............uh]

... I forgot? [:D?] I-I'm sure I'll be able to find them when I get there, though!

[wilder]

Small chance of that, the city's huge. Especially when you're trying to find some non-existent people.

[not_mafia]

H-hey!! They definitely exist!

B-besides, all I'd have to do is ask around, right?

[wilder]

Sure, if you wanna get snatched and never heard from again. And that's assuming you make it to the city without getting mauled by monsters first.

And no, they don't.

[not_mafia]

[sdlkfhsHASDJF] Wh-what?! Why would they do something like that?

[wilder]

[he shrugs] Black-market slave trade. It's depressingly become more common in the last couple years.

[not_mafia]

[S-something like that, so casually...!!

Of cousre, this was Zelos he was talking to. Slave trade, though. How awful...

Oh right, he was getting distracted. He had to get back to his friends. He glances back down the road, then sighs.]

Okay, okay! So I don't know any friends who moved into that place, but... I still think I have friends there! It's just... a feeling I have.

[Actually, the feeling he had was more of a sick feeling, like something bad was going to happen. He hoped his friends were okay, especially in a place like that.]

[wilder]

[He puts a hand on his hip]

Really.

[He sighs]

Look kid, you're unarmed and don't seem to have a clue to what's going on around you. Even if you're not a beautiful woman, I can't leave you on your own in good conscious.

[not_mafia]

I have a name, you know! ... it's Tsuna.

[Maybe that would ring a bell?]

[wilder]

[...]

Why was there a pause before you said your name? Did you have to think about what it was?

[NOPE]

this is my only angry icon whups

[not_mafia]

[B||||||]

Jeez, do you always have to pick on me?

SORRY THIS IS SO LATE

[wilder]

Always?

[So confused. And mildly concerned. Maybe this kid has a concussion]

What are you talking about, kid? I just met you.

SHAMES AND DISOWNS

[not_mafia]

No I--

[He gives a sigh. There's no use explaining it. There is just no feasible way he could talk about a magic castle and not be accused of getting high or something.]

Nevermind. Can we just go, then?