I. IN THE SILO

( There's barely time to process anything before Shinichi feels himself pulled into a nightmare. But— no, this isn't a nightmare, this is very real, even if it all feels impossible. Then again, Shinichi Izumi is no stranger to impossible things.

This is certainly a new one, though. The young man blinks widely, eyes struggling to adjust to the space he's so abruptly found himself trapped in, to make sense of it. He realises that he's having a hard time moving and his heart gives a panicked jolt, limbs thrashing a bit, but each movement is weirdly slow, like he's fighting against sand. No.... not sand, the strange little objects sifting around his body and that his hands uselessly scoop against are a bit bigger than that..... Seeds?! )

Migi—! ( Shinichi immediately cries out the name, but there's no response, no grotesque shift of his right arm into something that can help save him from this. His heart's skipping beats now; is the alien sleeping? Or..... maybe he's not here at all? How's he going to survive this on his own?

Suddenly Shinichi hears movement from somewhere that sounds close (is it someone else trapped in here, too? Or maybe someone who's managed to escape, peering in?) and the boy's calling out for them, coughing against grain dust and a few rogue seeds that make their way into his mouth as he struggles. Each shove of his arms and legs only seems to push him further downwards.... the mental image is of quicksand, and there's something desperate to his tone. )

Is someone else there??

II. ON THE WAY TO ALDRIP

( Shinichi has survived the bowels of the grain silo....... and has found himself in the center of a whole new confusion. It's all decidedly overwhelming, and although he spends a bit listening in to people's conversations and asking a few questions to those who seem to know what they're doing, he soon enough needs to Take A Moment. The boy finds a quiet spot a bit off and away from the chaos of things, moving to sit down right on the ground, long legs folded inwards and crossed.

This is.... insane. He's been brought to a new world? But how...? Why? (He hasn't examined that parchment yet, doesn't know what it says, which for the moment is likely a mercy. Reading what it says will change everything.)

Shinichi sits there quietly. He was told he should head to a town — Aldrip — but it's not a name he recognises, doesn't sound anything like where he comes from. Fear tightens his throat, and he's starting to feel overwhelmed again when suddenly a soft voice stirs awake and pipes up from his hand. It's robotic, feminine, devoid of emotion or much nuance. Usually that voice makes him cringe a little, but right now Shinichi's feeling a sweep of relief. Migi.

He sits there for a few moments, explaining to the alien what exactly has happened up until now, the both of them chatting quietly to each other. Shinichi's always careful, keeping his hand tucked close to his lap as he leans over it — if you amble up, you might see what looks like a young man... talking to himself. To his palm? He's probably fine.

Or, if you're quiet enough to draw near before he can take notice of you, you might actually see what it is that the young man's talking to. You might catch a glimpse of it — a round, golden eye peering up from the palm of that hand, and a mouth. Of course, as soon as you spot the Thing, the Thing will also spot you— and that eye will swivel to stare widely in your direction. )

( Shinichi's method for dealing with all of this is just to kind of, go along with it. A mindset that's certainly encouraged by Migi, who's wanting to observe and learn as much about this world as he possibly can, the analytical parasite making notes on everything and everyone. And so while parties of any sort are hardly Shinichi's choice of environment even back in his own world, here he finds himself forced from the safety of the inn and standing awkwardly around the festivities.... Migi guides him where to go and what to do — mostly hovering around watching people so he can get closer to what's going on and give the parasite plenty to observe.

Throughout the evening, Shinichi can be found doing just that, at several times with his hand cupped gently to his ear so that Migi can speak to him like that (pay no attention to the boy wandering around whispering like he's on an invisible cellphone....) Or maybe you encounter him ambling up to sample some food or drink (once again, this is for Migi's Observation Purposes). Shinichi looks nervous and a little nauseated, but he'll offer shy smiles nonetheless, and speak up to people along the way — "What world do you come from?" or "How long have you been here?" as conversation starters.

Or maybe you become the victim of a Migi Crime..... The alien's careful, sneaky, but you might catch him in the act regardless. A hand deftly reaching its way into your coat pocket to steal an item, or trying to gently swipe jewelry or other such things that might be on your person..... Anything remotely interesting or simply shiny is at risk, here. )

( It's Migi's Curiosity that led Shinichi here, too — carefully poking around whatever spaces he can, nervous but perpetually led around by the one who really wears the pants in this relationship.... Certainly medical care and what exactly may be offered here would appeal to the alien's interest. It's also a prime environment for learning more about the residents of this place.

Inevitably, it means Shinichi ends up helping out around the place, suddenly roped in to playing nurse for a few hours. And so he's bustling around carrying supplies or helping administer medicines for various purposes — and he does have the added advantage of housing an entity who has an extensive knowledge of human anatomy. The thing is, everyone here might not actually be human.... Oh, there's plenty for a curious alien to wonder about.

Maybe you're also helping out and Shinichi keeps gently bumping into you as he hurries here and there, or maybe you're a patient here for some reason. In which case, the boy will make his way to your bedside, wearing a shy but warm smile as he asks you what's going on and offers to help. )

WILDCARD / ETC