[Hanako] Chapter 9: Life in the Estate

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 09:14:35 PM

《Chapter 9: Life in the Estate》

Location: Herr Klein's Estate - Falah's Room
Date: Day 8 - 7 PM

"She's... fine. I suppose." The soldier said, rather noncommittally.

You opened the door quietly, and you found Falah in her bed. Her body was heaving in short spasms, and it took you a moment to realize that she had been crying.

When she noticed the door was opened, she froze up, and quickly wiped her face.

"Hanako! Umm... Hi! I heard there was a party downstairs earlier... Was it fun?" She asked, she had forced a smile as well, trying to keep her tone light.

Asta · January 15, 2019, 10:01:00 PM

"Uh, I guess?" Hanako answered the question with a question, taken a little by surprise to find Falah in the midst of crying.

"Everything going okay here? You look... upset." she walked across the room as she spoke and sat down on the bed.

I wonder if people have been mistreating her.

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 10:09:07 PM

She nods her head, perhaps a bit too quickly.

"Mhmm! Things are fine."

Asta · January 15, 2019, 10:14:23 PM

"You sure about that? Pretty sure I walked in on you crying just now." Hanako probed. "If there's a problem you really should tell me."

She tried to be soothing, but Hanako was never really one to play guessing games. It takes too much effort when you could just come out and say what needs to be said.

"I can probably help. Probably." she offered.

Diplomacy:

Rolled 1d20+3 : 5 + 3, total 8

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 10:17:23 PM

Falah squirmed uncomfortably, as her eyes drifted away from yours.

"Mhmm... Things are okay here."

Asta · January 15, 2019, 10:29:24 PM

"I don't buy that for a minute, but if you don't want to tell me now I'm not going to force you." Hanako said, knowing full well that if she wanted to she could force the girl to answer and make her forget she had done so. It seemed like a gross miss use of the power however so she abstained.

"Let's just talk about something else then. Trudy got you set up cleaning right? How is that going?" she asked, trying to take a more tactical approach to figuring out what was wrong.

I should have played more galge when I was back on Earth... this seems like one of those scenarios.

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 10:32:51 PM

Falah nodded.

"Trudy is nice, and she had old some of the others that I am to help clean around... But the cleaning didn't really work out... But nevermind about that. Umm... Oh, so I heard there's some new people here now?"

Asta · January 15, 2019, 10:47:15 PM

Mmmm... sounds like that might be something there... she thought.

"Ah yeah, a few folks have come here to help do some... clerical stuff. Nothing interesting really. I'm glad you think Trudy is nice, shes a hard worker and I've come to rely on her quite a bit. Did she show you around the estate? How does it compare to the castle you mentioned before? I never spent any time in a place as opulent as this prior to coming here, so it's still kind of impressive to me how large it is."

Maybe if she danced around the issue some more Falah would end up revealing it on her own, or at least give enough clues to guess.

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 10:54:48 PM

"Mhmm, we went around the estate. Everyone... seemed to clear out of the rooms though, or if they didn't, they shot me glares... Why... why are humans mean to me, too? I never did anything wrong...!"

Asta · January 15, 2019, 11:12:07 PM

You know... I probably could have guessed that was it. Hanako thought.

She sighed. "It's not you personally, obviously you've never done anything to them. However, the people of this country distrust and generally dislike demons. The fact of the matter is your people, that is to say demons, came to this country and took away the freedom of the people here. They treat the humans here like garbage, which I'm sure you can agree is wrong. Because of this, the people of this country have grown to dislike all demons on principle."

Hanako placed a hand gently on Falah's shoulder. "When they look at you, they aren't really seeing you. They see just another demon the source of so many problems for them. It's sad, but that's the truth. It may take some time, a long time, before they can see past that but sometimes proving that you don't match their prejudices can be enough to change opinions. Does that make sense?"

Throndir · January 15, 2019, 11:23:39 PM

"I guess... I guess it does. I want to help somehow, but... Umm... no it's okay. I'm the one being silly. My father never liked it when I got upset back in the castle. But, back there too, everyone was still mean to me. I thought I was used to it, but... I hoped here, with you who saved me, would be different from the castle. And different from that company."

She moved her eyes to stare into yours, then broke eye contact as she lowered her head.

"I'm sorry Hanako, I just want to fit in."

Asta · January 15, 2019, 11:35:17 PM

"I know" she replied. "I know it's hard too. Before I came here, I didn't fit in well either."

She chuckled softly. "My own parents didn't think much of me to be honest. I think I was a disappointment to them. But I think, given time... If you can show the others with your actions that you just want to be part of something, and that you don't mean them harm they'll come around. Just give it some time."

Hanako placed a hand on Falah's head and ruffled her hair a little. "I know you're a good person, and everyone else will see that eventually too."

Technically I guess I don't really, but it's not like it matters. If she's trying to manipulate me I'll figure it out eventually.

She changed topics. "I know its only been like a day, but are you getting enough to eat and all that? Bed still comfortable?"

Throndir · January 16, 2019, 12:05:26 AM

When you ruffled her hair, Falah blushed slightly.

"Thank you Hanako, that means a lot." She smiled softly. She nodded at your question. "Trudy and sometimes Minette comes by with some food for me."

She then purposefully plopped herself on the bed with her arms stretched out.

"This is the best bed. I could sleep here forever." She glanced over to you. "It's so soft, and bouncy, and warm. It's really big too!"

Asta · January 16, 2019, 10:32:39 AM

Hanako smiled, "Yeah it seems pretty nice, I'm glad you like it." She reclined as well, it had been a busy day and her back kind of hurt from setting up the firing range downstairs so she didn't see a problem with stretching out a bit.

"Do you need some stuff to do up here when you're not out of the room? Books or whatever? I forgot to ask what your interests were, but I could probably get some things to do in your downtime." she said, putting her arms behind her head like a pillow.

Throndir · January 16, 2019, 12:32:41 PM

Falah blushed a bit when you let her use your arms like a pillow. She decided then to snuggle closer to you.

"Books? No... I never learned how to read." Falah explained. "I've been spending my time sometimes sleeping, and sometimes cleaning this room. Umm... how about a sword? It doesn't have to be a real one... Like maybe a long hard stick? The trading company took mine, saying that weapons weren't allowed, but it would be nice to swing one around again."