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[Wherever you may be—at home on your farm, out and about in town, exploring the wildlife, or perhaps even wandering through the more dangerous areas—someone has come to approach you, seemingly patrolling the area with a confident stride.]

Excuse me. I wanted to inform you that I have assumed the position of Sheriff. My name is Munakata, first name Kyousuke, and I can be contacted under that name at any time if you have issues that require police intervention. If you are capable of taking care of yourself I encourage you to apply for a position under me. We could use greater numbers to enforce order.

[Kyousuke himself is white-haired and imposing, with large snowy owl wings on his back and feathers covering the area where his right eye should be, like so. He is visibly carrying a sword, with another one tucked hidden in his coat in a compact state. He doesn't give off the impression that he's going to be a very easygoing Sheriff... but at least if you're in danger, that might be reassuring?]

Do you have any further questions or suggestions?

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[Oh... There's an unexpected face. He can see the recognition in her eyes, too, which is all the better; he didn't really know her well enough to navigate the situation of knowing her double when she didn't recognize him in return, and he's grateful that he's spared it for now.]

"Your own job"? Do you mean in comparison to self-employment? I think that's variable. Certainly, depending on your skillset, you might be able to earn quite a bit of money through farming or otherwise. But if you'd prefer a steady paycheck it may provide financial security to work for the local government.

Such is society. Even if you're forced to live in it.

[A sigh. She had a basket with her, filled with herbs and ginger root. Actually trying to do something that wasn't physical labor, which she knew she would be USELESS at.]

Don't know how much stake I put into this place yet, but it looks like you got a better job than you did in Koriko. So good for you.

[She just let that slide. No point in hiding that she at least knew OF this guy.]

I do feel much more comfortable in a role of some authority again. The job I had in Arden Grove was similar to those in Koriko in terms of power...

[But he's more interested in the first bit of what she said. He cocks his head, peering at her curiously.]

You weren't forced to come here, were you?

[A nod.]

That's right. I'm here until the bus decides to work.

[She didn't sound too upset by this. Really, she wasn't. To think she could say she'd been in a worse situation.]

That makes this place my third rodeo now.

[Hmmm. Koriko had technically been his "choice" to enter, but the circumstances were such that his hand felt forced. This place, however, he'd come to with full knowledge and preparation. He's not sure how he feels if it's keeping people against their will.

If it's just the bus, though... It's probably just a fluke.]

I see. I didn't realize there were those who had arrived here on accident. But it doesn't sound as if it's too much of an inconvenience for you.

...Not really.

[That was honest. Really honest. Like she took some time already to think about it and was admitting it for the first time.

Really, she never had an issue being honest even if it could hurt her. But there was sincerity in her conviction.]

Maybe I've finally gone nutty but I've gotten used to these constant changes in my environment. Just trying to make it out alive at this point to prepare for the next one.

[Helps that she found friends.]

...People will normalize anything in the interest of survival.

[The ways in which he can relate to that are all very, very dark. Daria's situation sounds dark in its own way, but more of a low-key, passive kind. Still more appropriate for casual conversation.]

Do you have a place that you're still attached to? Or are you fine with never returning to any of those? Where will you take the bus back to?

The natural human condition. Or so we hope.

[This was getting a little bit more personal. But she was social savvy enough (now anyway) to pick apart that Munakata was asking in more earnest than interrogation. She's heard enough of the former and the latter to differentiate by now.]

This is even crazier; there's bits and pieces from all over I'd take and leave. I met some weird people in my time. But the best places are where I found the ones I liked hanging around.

I wouldn't mind going home. I'd take that chance if I had it.

[Pause. Consideration. She went too far to go back. In her continuous barrage of sincere honesty for casual conversation instead of cynical wise cracking, there was a sense of the words she was saying to be as real as she could make them to be.]

I guess I don't mind being here and seeing some old faces. I don't think going backwards is an option, but there's something-something about making with what you have in the present.

[His curiosity is more selfish than magnanimous, but it is at least earnest curiosity.

He frowns, considering her answers as he speaks. He decides to set aside the part about normalization; the conversation has moved on, and even though part of him disagrees with it being a good thing, he wouldn't make himself vulnerable enough to argue that it had affected him negatively in some ways, even to the people closest to him who could best understand. It's true that it can be often helpful as a human trait as well... He should just consider that as the more important part.

Daria's personal life and connections are less personal to him, and the ways in which he relates are much less fraught, so he focuses on constructing a response to that.]

Mm. I chose to come here willingly, because my primary concern is keeping my current company, and that seems to be aligned with the goals of this settlement. If you're invested in that goal for yourself as well, and have no strong attachment to any previous locations, perhaps you shouldn't plan to leave this place at all, even if you ended up here by coincidence.

[Ah. There was a lot to say here, and it was very hard to not find some kind of relation to it. And yet, there was something very different about it. He obviously meant the company of Maera and Peony, probably also most definitely Mallory. That made sense. She'd follow Jane anywhere, that's how close they were. Then there was Mallory for her. That was where it got complicated.

The largest part of her felt it was best to remain sincere. So, she tried to find a reasonable response.]

Well, like I said, I wouldn't mind going home. I have a lot there. But I made a lot in other places, that's where things get a little trickier. It just so happens a great chunk of that appeared here.

I'm not sure what's going to happen next and all I have are just the cards I'm dealt now.

[It was hard. It was.]

But having friends around that really matter make it better. I somehow found a lot of that. I'm not keen on giving that up. At home or around these parts.

[In an ideal world, she'd want to have all her friends in one place. But she felt she didn't need to say that. It wouldn't be that easy.]

That's what I mean. It seems the girl in charge of this place is devoted to allowing us to be with all of the people and places we care about, without heed to dimensions or to life and death. Even if you are not in the same physical location, you may travel back and forth freely. You shouldn't have to choose to abandon someone you care about, simply because you also care for others.

If that is not the goal she is working towards, it is the goal I am working towards, and one that seems best explored here. So I implore you to assist me in this endeavor.

[He extends a hand towards her, like the charismatic asshole he is, or at least was, once.]

It doesn't suit you to act so passive and resigned to what life hands you. Potential can only work towards an aspiration. It serves no purpose without a path.

[Daria already felt exposed and weakened, she could tell it was a great big concern she laid out for him to take. It was a scary situation, and it left her vulnerable.

The difficulty of leaving what you care about for someone else was a sore spot she grew to have. After so much acceptance of her situation and letting fate deal with it, really though, what good did it do her? All she wanted was to not be alone, despite her aspiration for solitude and isolation since she was a small child.

It proved to not work. She couldn’t be without her friends and her family. She was humble enough now to know that was no real damper on independence, at least it didn’t have to be.

She looked at his hand, and hesitated for a moment. She was being asked to trust in someone else for a very sensitive topic. She’d done alright on her own, but a part of her hated to admit that he was right. He was totally right.

And that was scary.

Daria spoke a big passive game, and soon enough...that would really just leave her alone. Kyousuke called her out big time, and put it into a better perspective. Wasn’t that was she aimed to gain no matter what happened to her? The idea of letting other people take he wheel of her fate sounded bad. Really bad.

She shouldn’t stand for it.

....

She took that hand.]

When you put it that way, you’re right. Guess my logic is beat.

[Kyousuke shakes her hand once, firmly and decisively. He may not be very practiced at displaying his own vulnerabilities, but he feels like he's in his element when he can identify them in others through projection, and give those people some reassurance and direction. It makes him feel confident in a way he never feels while trying to reassure and direct himself. When he lets go of her hand, he has a smile on his face.]

Good. There's no shame in catching yourself before it's too late. Better than the alternative.

[He even feels like the part of himself that winces inside and goes too soon!! when he makes comments like that is getting quieter as time goes on.]

[It honestly helped that he was in close leagues with Mallory. One of the reasons why she made efforts to get to know Luna was because he was the most important person to someone she cared about. A lot happened with that.

But, anyway, she told herself there was probably no reason to distrust Kyousuke. No reason to counter point or get defensive, so she offered a small smile of her own.]

I'll hold you to that. Your pragmatism is that contagious.

[It's okay, though. Her comments vary from the sarcastic to sincere scale. This was sincere, with a hint of teasing light sarcasm. A sign of respect more than anything else.]

I'm glad you think so.

[...Which is actually pretty genuine—he lost a lot of his confidence in himself as a charismatic leader after, events. So it does make him feel better to think that he won over someone with the same skills that he used to be praised for.]

[She wouldn't dwell on it. After working with someone like Jodie Landon, who was active and pragmatic as well, it was a lifestyle she understood and respected. Even if she wasn't the type to really be either. Though she has done such things on occasion these days. What it would pay to make an honest living being honest about herself, and all.]

I guess we're at the part where I just say "let me know if there's anything I can do". Per my skill set. You know the schematics.

[She gave a tilt of her head.]

I'm not too familiar with the specifics of your skillset, but as it is, I don't have much set up yet. Currently we're in the phase of gathering information, and so that's all I can ask of you for the time being.

[It kind of hit her just how seriously she was taking this, and how she was actually willing to be a part of a somewhat bigger picture.

It’ll hit her even more later.]

Well...I have been trying to find any place that has old records and lore for around here. Since it’s new and all. I guess I could let you know what I find in my research.

Ah, that would be a great help. I don't have the time to properly scour the information available, myself, but it's of great interest for me to outsource that task. Please tell me your findings.

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