01 - Audio & Action - take your pick! Phone call or gun to the face...

[swooshycape]

[audio]

[ Vincent isn’t normally one to just try calling out of the blue, but he really wants some intel on this place - enough that he is willing to at least try, even if he is quite suspicious of, well... everything about this place. ]

Where is this? And to whom... am I speaking?

[ His voice is deep and quiet and mostly toneless - though there is a dark edge to it. He wants answers, and he expects to be given them. However, he has one last thing to add... ]

Yuffie, if this is your doing... [ ... well, if she’s listening, he’s pretty sure she can imagine the unspoken threat. ]


[action]

[ But even as he waits for any sort of response, Vincent doesn’t keep still. Instead, he carefully explores the mansion, moving quietly as he swoops down hallways, checking rooms and keeping to the shadows. You wouldn’t expect someone in a red cape to be particularly stealthy, but he manages it very well - unnaturally so.

However, stealthy or not, he is expecting a fight, so if he opens the door to a room someone is in, his gun is out and aimed right at them. ... really, he’s too used to a world where every space that isn’t a town or city is crawling with hostile wildlife. Don’t worry, though. He won’t shoot on sight. .... probably.

But you’d also better be careful if you meet him in a hallway - or more likely, he sneaks up behind you - as he is armed and dangerous and isn’t the friendliest looking person...

In either case, he won't waste time in asking questions. Unless he's already had the basics from someone else, in which case he'll probably lower the gun if he's sure you're not a threat. ... probably. ]

Comments

[action]

[cetra]

There is. I can't claim it as my own exactly, it's way too large.

[ There's a hint of mischievousness in her eyes. Really, she hates that people she's fond of are showing up here to be stuck, too, but on a level deep down she's still happy. It's a slightly selfish feeling she would never voice, but it's still there. ]

What were you doing before you showed up here? It seems like people are pulled from different points in time, so I'm curious to see if you're in the future or the past.

[action]

[swooshycape]

[ He doesn't respond right away, watching her with a blank expression while he contemplates what he does and does not want to say. She is alive and bright and sparkling in the way only she can manage, and so with the knowledge that people come from different points in time, he... doesn't really want to explain what may be in her future. ]

... I suspect I may be from after you. What... were you doing?

[action]

[cetra]

[ Maybe she should have started with that before demanding to know where he's from (or when, actually). She gives him a slightly sheepish look before she answers. Sorry, Vincent. ]

Probably should have said that, huh? I was entering the Sleeping Forest when I showed up here.

[ Technically, she appeared in the woods but details. ]

I've actually been here a few months, but I've been told stop sort of comes to a halt back home until we're returned. And there's no telling when that will be.

[action]

[swooshycape]

[ He nods. ]

Mm. Considering I've seen you again since then, I imagine that is correct.

[ And then he pauses, shifting a little and crossing his arms as he considers the best way to explain his own position without telling her anything she does not yet need to be burdened with. ]

It's... been about two years for me... since we stopped Sephiroth.

[ That seems good enough. He thinks it's all right to confirm that she will be successful, at least. ]

[action] holy crap what was that last sentence I wrote? /headdesk

[cetra]

[ There's no small amount of relief to hear that they do succeed. A part of her wants details, of course, but they can always wait. ]

I'm assuming Sephiroth here is from before that time then...

[ Because he's alive and well and still a bucket of sunshine. Unless they didn't kill him, which would be surprising, to say the least. It's just always been something assumed, that they will fight Sephiroth and defeat him, and defeat would mean death for him. ]

It's strange, for a couple of months I was the only one here, and then Sephiroth showed up. Now Zack and you arrive on practically the same day. I wonder if anyone else will show up soon?

[action] It was a sentence about stop coming to a halt. :3

[swooshycape]

Mm...

[ She can assume away, and he'll just grunt non-comittally instead of answering outright. But the prospect of others showing up... he wonders, as well. ]

I suppose we must wait... and see.

I swear i know how to word properly most of the time

[cetra]

[ She frowns at this because waiting can be excruciating when there's the prospect of her friends finally joining her.

But, there's no choice in the matter. ]

That's all we can do at this point, isn't it? [ This is more to herself than anything and she gives herself a little shake, giving Vincent a bright smile. ]

So! Have you decided where you're going to room yet? This place has an endless amount of rooms, I'm sure we can find you the right kind.

[ Or maybe that basement, but it might not be damp enough for it to truly feel like home. ]

xD Aerith plz... the *real* problem with the basement is not enough bats

[swooshycape]

[ He blinks at that and then simply shrugs. ]

No... not yet. I haven't really thought about it...

they can just grab a few out of a closet, bam! insta bats

[cetra]

Well, now's the time to think about it!

[ It's Vincent's lucky day, because Aerith loves making people do things. Like pick out a room. She'll just tap a finger on her chin, looking toward the staircase. ]

Do you have any preferences? I mean, you could move into the basement. [ Mischievious smile in his direction at this. ] But I believe there's a few people already down there, if you don't mind company.

spiders too! :< I do wish he'd willingly live in the basement, though.

[swooshycape]

[ w o w he is really not amused by that, Aerith. And so he frowns at her. ]

I have spent more than enough time in basements already.

... what are the rooms here like?

[cetra]

[ She only wrinkles her nose at his frown. Nobody went wrong trying to lighten the mood, Vincent, don't be a crabbypants. ]

It really depends on the person, actually. The rooms seem to orient around whoever is staying in them. Mine changed as soon as I claimed it, I suppose. [ Not that she put up a flag and declared it for the world - it was more of a silent decision on her part. ]

It's also changed, depending on what I need at the time. If I need more light, a new window pops up. It's actually a little nice.

[swooshycape]

[ Nope. Too bad. His middle name is 'crabbypants.' ]

hn... It sounds both nice and... somewhat disconcerting.

[cetra]

[ He has a good point, but compared to everything else that happens in the mansion it's actually very nice. ]

A little of both, but it's really convenient. I know you spoke with someone earlier, did they explain anything about the closets?

[ They seem to be the unanimous favorite for all who live here. ]

[swooshycape]

Not really... Is there something special about them?

[ Do they eat people?

He's expecting them to eat people. ]

[cetra]

[ Sorry to disappoint, Valentine, but those closets are pretty harmless. Well, depending on what's being asked for. For example, if someone summons a rampaging rage lizard that could possibly eat people. ]

They'll give you whatever you want. Within reason. [ Because magical gift giving closets are so reasonable. ] You just open the doors with whatever you want in mind and it'll be there for you.

You can't actually summon a person, but you can get yourself a pet! [ She has a tiny kitten of her own, courtesy of an angel who popped in and handed it to her one day. Good times. ]

[swooshycape]

... is having a closet bring more living beings here really... a good idea?

[ He doesn't object to pets, but... where do they come from? Can the closet create life? Or is it pulling kittens and puppies from some other world? ]

[cetra]

[ That's something she's never considered. The closets have no explanation behind them whatsoever, other than 'Magic!'. ]

Hmm, probably not. Nobody's really sure how they work, so there's no telling where they come from or even what they are.

[ Hey, who knows? Maybe the place is giving kittens but they're really some kind of killer cat. Aerith really wouldn't put it past the mansion. ]

Otherwise, it provides most of what we need. It's useful, but I actually miss going to stores and actually interacting with people.

[swooshycape]

I suppose... currency isn't much use here...

But... I suppose others here could always... set up an exchange...

[ Part of the nice thing about stores, after all, is finding things you didn't realize you needed or wanted or that you forgot about until you saw. Like going to the grocery and remembering you needed milk when you just went in for eggs. ]

[cetra]

I haven't had to use any of my gil here. I actually just have it laying on a dresser in my room right now.

[ Not that she's tried to buy anything from the vendors - they're a little strange. She likes her vendors to be friendly! ]

There are vendors outside, but there's something a little off about them. I've only been down there once.

[swooshycape]

What do you mean... off?

[ As in... they're secretly monsters? They're robots and uncanny valley? Or just... strange? ]

[cetra]

[ Their lack of faces tend to add to that whole 'off' aura they exude, but Aerith's only really seen their masks. ]

They don't really talk much. [ Hey, she's a talker, and she's used to merchants actually trying to sell things to her. ] That, and they seem to just be there all the time. They don't really interact with anyone up here.

[ Not too big of a worry, just something that rubbed her wrong. ]

whoops I forgot to tag this before sorry

[swooshycape]

... I see.

Perhaps I shall... go meet them another time. They sound... strange.

[ He wonders if they are robots or something. ]

it's cool!

[cetra]

They are.

[ Aerith sounds very certain of that fact, and determined to push aside the unpleasant thought of the vendors aside, she folds her arms over her chest, smiling at Vincent. ]

I guess it's time to take you on the grand tour then! Come on, let's start on this floor and work our way up.

((OOC: Want to just handwave the tour at this point?))

[swooshycape]

[ A chill runs down his spine...

Not really, but he nods and prepares to follow her and well... just listen to her chatter. He's sure she has plenty to say about this place, after all. ]


(( fine by me! ))