[center][h3]Kirsty Ramaswamy[/h3][/center]

Her throat ragged from hyperventilation, Kirsty struggled to get a grip of her surroundings, especially since she felt exhausted enough that she might pass out at any second. Despite all the work she did she didn't have many hours in the gym or around the block, so hers was far from a runner's physique. Having a pack of bloodthirsty hounds at one's heels was a remarkable motivator, of course, but now that the adrenaline was wearing off she could feel every step. She wanted to teeter over to the nearest chair and throw herself upon it, but first Kirsty shot a look behind her for any trace of the vicious dogs. Instead she saw only Alina, safe and sound, without so much as a bite or scratch on her. Letting out a relieved sigh, Kirsty thanked her lucky stars for that, but she could only feel so happy to know one ally made it to safety. That left two yet to emerge from the mist, that nice guy and that brute. Hopefully the boys just escaped in a different direction, and hadn't tried to fight it or anything. Then again, that big fellow did seem to be itching for a brawl.

A few words from Alina pulled Kirsty out of her thoughts, and her eyebrows went up at what she had to say. “O-oh...I thought I did.” Her embarrassment writ large upon her face, she tried to muster up a friendly smile as she fidgeted with her hands. “I'm Kirsty. Kirsty Ramaswamy. Sorry, I didn't mean to...to be impolite. My mind's a little, um, scattered at the moment.” Even though it did strike her as a little ridiculous that Alina would be stringent rather than sympathetic given the circumstances, Kirsty didn't hesitate to take the blame for herself. [i]Man, I so didn't mean to be rude,[/i] she thought, wincing. [i]I've been distracted all day. Maybe something I did this morning made her upset?[/i] Just another thing on the pile of today's wonderful experiences. Still, Kirsty had light, warmth, and peace, and there wasn't any sign of being able to go back to reality, so all told things were looking up.

She stood for another moment, looking around, before there came a crackling noise. Looking up, she spotted a speaker mounted on the wall, and others spaced evenly up and down either side of the street. A moment later a voice issued from them, smooth, silky, and a little familiar, albeit masked somewhat by audio corruption.

“Good evening, and welcome! You poor dears must be tired, confused, and scared half to death. Well, I won't stand it a moment longer. Please, come to the end of the street, and I'll take care of you.”

The voice did make Kirsty jump again, but much less than the last time she'd been startled. Given what she'd been put through so far, a definitively human presence felt like a luxury. An offer of help was even more comforting. She did not consider the possibility of a trap, since she couldn't do much else anyway. After looking once at Alina for confirmation, Kirsty started making her way down the avenue. Gilded temples, immaculate statues, and warmly glowing lamps passed by in a blur, a formless parade of gorgeous excess. Kirsty felt like she was zooming through a theme park ride, moving too quickly to make out the details around her. In short order she reached the end of the street and found herself looking at a raised balcony peering out of what might have been a palace, or maybe a cathedral. Golden light shone from the aperture, and silhouetted in its middle stood an indiscernible figure with some sort of microphone.

“Ah, there you are!” The voice came again, both through the speakers and the air. “Hold tight, I'll be right down.”

And so she was. She left her microphone behind and turned right to descend a two-party flight of flawless marble stairs to ground level. As she turned at the halfway point and faced Kirsty, she got her first real look at the stranger, and her jaw just about hit the floor. Coming down the stairs was a gorgeous woman, the sort of beautiful that hurt just to look at, inspiring instant envy and inadequacy. She wore a lavish white silk dress sporting black flowers that danced with every self-assured step she took, just revealing enough to be alluring without being tacky, and instead of a sash she sported a clergyman's fascia wrapped about her shoulders. It took a few moments of Kirsty staring through all the makeup, gold-rimmed glasses, and hair products to get hit by a sudden realization, as hard and abrupt as a truck hitting an isekai protagonist: [i]this woman looked a lot like her.[/i] 

The woman gave a wide smile, putting her hands on her hips and posing. “Ohoho! Captivating, aren't I? This must be quite a shock for you...” In a flash, her mood changed to serious, and she bowed her head while holding out her hand toward a nearby banquet table. “But never mind me. Please, take a seat.”

Totally at a loss for words, Kirsty couldn't do much except accept, grateful for a moment to rest. The woman sauntered to a nearby waiter's cart and collected a pitcher of water that she carried to the table. For a moment Kirsty just watched, but connecting the dots in her head prompted her to stand up suddenly. How could she sit there like a useless lump and let this clearly very important person humiliate herself for her benefit? “Oh, please don't trouble yourself!” she said.

The lady beamed, the very picture of kindness and generosity. “It's no trouble,” she crooned.

Kirsty felt like buckling, but she knew she couldn't betray her principles. Not until she was sure she could, anyway. “I'm sorry, ma'am,” she started again, nervously. “This is clearly way beneath you. I should be...I mean, please allow me...”

“No, allow me,” the lady insisted, placing a hand on Kirsty's shoulder. Even through her glove, her touch was electrifying, and Kirsty felt herself sit back down. “Nothing gives me more pleasure than to serve my fellow man,” the lady explained, pouring Kirsty and Alina a glass of water. “But I do appreciate the offer. That is so like you.” She seated herself opposite Kirsty, fixing her with a penetrating look. Only now did the college girl notice the lady's yellow eyes. “So, what do you say, now that you've been helped?”

Kirsty straightened up. “Oh! Thank you! Thank you very much, ma'am, you're too kind.”

“Aren't I?” The lady unleashed another broad smile. “And you're most welcome.”

A second or two of quiet passed before Kirsty piped up. “Um, if you...if you don't mind me asking, who are you?”

The lady blinked twice, then tilted her head. “Isn't it obvious?”

“Uhh...” Kirsty blanked, a look of half-panic on her face. [i]Crap! Should I have known? She must be a celebrity! Think![/i] “...A supermodel?”

Giggling, the woman shook her head. “Not quite, darling.” Kirsty frowned, at a loss. She felt like she should know this lady, and something about her was awfully familiar. But nobody she knew was even close to perfect, least of all herself. A distant relation, maybe...? The lady allowed the silence to extend, amused by the look on Kirsty's face.