Mesdames et Messieurs, Voilà, C'est Vous

[lesmodsalouette]

Bievenue

You're wrapped in a soothing, all-encompassing darkness.

Well, perhaps not perfectly all-encompassing -- you can see some slivers of light here and there, just enough to realize that your current space is literally wrapped in something, and that you are a highly customized burrito at the mercy of an entirely too fluffy bed and set of blankets. Moreover: you are definitely not alone.

Depending upon the contents of your bed (two of you, waking up dressed exactly in what you wore last you remember back where each of you came from, in the exact same state as those last moments no matter how illogical or disjointed), it may not be comfortable or feasible to stay cocooned up for much longer. There's a low, muted GONG, GONGG coming from not far away, your bed creaks like a beleaguered ship in an unannounced storm, and it is joined by even more noises of movement beyond the bed canopy as you try to take stock of where you are.

Eventually, you either fall out of bed or drag yourself into this world: your new and strangely crowded personal rooms, the clock insistently sounding out the hour, and the halls and heraldry of the venerable Château Ambregris -- a lavishly decorated and fully furnished version of a more-or-less authentic French castle (assuming you know what France or a castle are).

Left to your own devices for the moment, you may find it helpful to explore the castle for your own purposes, check out the suspicious statues and personalized plaques in the Promenade of Reflexion, or perhaps to try to get to the bottom of the mysterious and frankly alarming amount of bread piled up in front of the place settings in the Banquet Hall. (Were you thinking of escaping? Any attempts to leave the property will be met with no forward progress at all, treadmill style). There's just about every kind of loaf, roll, boule, baguette, croissant or even animal-shaped bread you can think of stacked in baskets. There's absolutely nothing else save for plain bread, but at least you won't starve.

[OOC: Welcome to Château Ambregris, a perfectly normal castle receiving perfectly normal guests. Feel free to ask any questions in discord! The NPC Meet & Greet will be later today, March 8 at 6 PM EST/3 PM PST.]

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[coldseep]

( Cain's impact is met with a cute Wah! because that really did surprise him - hurt, a little, but not in a way that he hasn't been hurt before.

Still, not unlike most wizards Cain's met, Hwy is used to his supernatural qualities compensating for lack of physical training - so he stumbles back, only just barely managing to keep from tripping, given how much that surprised him. Not having his dragon senses really is inconvenient... )

Now you've been rude twice. Shouldn't you at least say sorry?

( No answers for you, young man. Not that he knows the answer, himself. )

[cleansheets]

[ Angelo freezes upon being spoken to. Until just now he'd felt like the only person in the universe, but the voice of another brings him back to his present much more miserable situation. ]

... it's not enough.

[ He doesn't know what would be enough. Not this, not anything here. ]

[remainsilent]

[ He will let go right after Blade does so. ]

You tell me. [ A nod towards their surroundings, while he maintains eye contact with him to watch for any shift or change in his mood. ] Was any of this mentioned?

[coldseep]

( He considers this, but doesn't need too long. )

... I want to be with the people I like and love, and I want to relax with them; have fun with them. I'd be happy with just that.

[cleansheets]

[ Angelo inhales sharply at that. It is really taking him a lot of effort to not just clock Hwy right in the face this very instant, but somewhere under several layers of emotional breakdown he remembers that he has no authority nor backup here and it's not wise to get into a fight with someone who's strength you cannot at all gauge. ]

And I suppose you've got it all figured out? Know right what you need to do to get yourself out of this mess?

[uiscebeatha]

[ Floating napkin... ]

Oh, thanks.

[ Cain knows an opportunity when he sees one; he'll take the chance to grab more of the napkin than he needs (good thing he has big ass hands). Inevitably, his fingers brush G'raha's, and the other guy pops into existence. He doesn't have to look now, he can look later. ]

Man, I forgot about that... [ Plops the napkin in the wine glass, just to cover his mistake. ] Do you think they're gonna actually feed us, then? What else are we supposed to eat?

[calamitish]

[ running a hand down his face. ]

And I have about as much desire to you all naked as you do! That requires bringing you here with clothes.

[antemeridian]

... Hopefully no one tries to use one and have it explode in their face, then.

[ Love that. ]

Are such ... [ overdone. ] Opulent displays normal for a place like this, do you know?

[antemeridian]

I think I agree. The one this place belongs to ... It is very hard to think of them as trustworthy.

[ She's not very sure what to think of all this, all things considered. Magic certainly makes a lot of things possible, but...

Well, she'll leave it at that for now. ]

[cleansheets]

[ Angelo clicks his tongue in annoyance, though it's certainly not at Homura. ]

I'd bet they are. Those rich old bastards love to flaunt their power in any way they can.

[ So yeah. Overdone. Gaudy. He's right there with you. ]

The castle on Palau didn't have this much weaponry in one spot, but there was still quite a lot spread out among the rooms.

[baebladie]

[ Blade watches, still where he's seated, still half-uncertain whether or not his surroundings are reality or fantasy.

Really, maybe he is just in denial. Even for being a stoic, serious man. ]

It's unnecessarily extravagant.

Our kidnappers must be seeking our approval so we don't try to strangle them at first glance.

[ Blade's considering it but he has to kind of be in the mood to try to strangle someone, and wasn't in the middle of anything important, so... ]

plaques

[divineth]

'Tis a visage most familiar, wouldst thou not say?

[Hi, G'raha. Here's the Elezen in the flesh.]

[baebladie]

[ Judging look.

For, you know, comedic effect. ]

[baebladie]

[ Imagine if there was only one person stuck here. That would probably be pretty sucky. ]

What would be?

[ Blade looks at the flowers that sit. Ones that will eventually wilt sooner or later. More fleeting, unlike people, until they are made to be. ]

[uiscebeatha]

[ Help what is UP with this guy

Cain pauses for a moment as he stares at Yoonhee...

And then he bursts out laughing; it really echoes in this hall. ]

You're not actually the head of a household? Phew, I thought I was gonna have to be stuffy with you! Thank go— Oh right, no touching.

[ He was || this close to clapping Yoonhee on the shoulder. Aren't you glad he stopped himself...

Cain takes a step back and bows regardless. ]

You may not have nobility where you come from, but I am a knight, and I do serve royalty. My normal might seem a little weird to you.

[ When he's standing up straight, he's smiling like >:D ]

I'm Cain.

[baebladie]

[ There is a change. Less ready to spring and drag Dan Heng-down-into-hell-with-him type of change, but there is a notable...something. Though a brighter look in his eyes nonetheless. ]

This may be beyond that scope. But, just because he hasn't mentioned it doesn't mean he hasn't foreseen it.

He doesn't always tell us everything he witnesses.

[ There is a 'but...' in the comment, though, if Dan Heng sees fit to ask. ]

[uiscebeatha]

Haha! I see, good thing, then!

[ Cain does not take the hint at all. Willfully? Hard to tell. But Team Dad (tm) talks a lot like him, so it might, unfortunately, just be reflexive.

He gives him one last firm pat on the arm again before stepping back and grinning. ]

Was I in your way? What're you looking for?

[remainsilent]

[ While he isn't the most familiar with this expression, he does recognize it as something different. He isn't going to lower his guard, but he does consider his words ]

Continue. [ but what? ]

[uiscebeatha]

[ Cain's stance is lowered; if he had his sword, his hand would be on the handle, ready to draw. Instead, he remains in a defensive posture, clearly ready to fight back if Hwylryn decided to attack him.

He didn't have the luxury of hanging out with him all that much. So no, he doesn't really know his circumstances. But he remembers the desperation and hurt on Rutile's face. Rutile is...kind, to put it lightly, but his opinion still matters.

More question marks in his mind. ]

I will. But only until I know you won't hurt the people in this mansion.

[ His bangs fall back in place, red vanishing from view. ]

Why are you here? I thought you'd been taken care of.

[snakeblood]

Yeah. I am. Of my household. Not whatever idea of your noble household stuff. A mystic household.

[ He doesn't like things not being clearly laid out, so he's correcting. And he notices the motion and takes several steps back, looking mistrustful. Cain, you aren't to be trusted. ]

Oh. A westerner. [ That's just another description. He doesn't give his name back... ]

[coldseep]

( "Taken care of." What a way to put it. Not a way he likes.

Hwylryn presumes Cain assumes - Cain had been dismissed, so he hadn't witnessed Hwylryn's final fate. His death is probably what would come next, yes. Because he can't bring himself to strike down a friend.

He could barely bring himself to bring down the guillotine on Snow and White. )

I didn't want to fight you guys.

( A little less light and breezy, but not yet frank and stern. He doesn't like getting serious.

He slips past offering to make any kind of oath - his words are hardly as binding. Why bother promising a wizard anything when his actions will be as they are? )

You should think about things from my perspective. I was just trying to protect my friend.

( His eyes get - a little misty. But he does not dwell here. He continues: )

... I was just trying to protect him, without hurting anyone Akira liked. I kept trying to make you guys leave, unharmed, but you didn't. You're the ones who attacked me. Why do I have to be the bad guy here?

[uiscebeatha]

[ Is it the red hair? Cain laughs again. ]

You're funny. I'm actually Central, but don't worry about it.

[ Standing at ease— ]

Then do you have a name, Head of the House of Snakes?

[allrounder]

[ He raises his eyebrows. They don't? Power can cause rifts, that he knows well, and he wonders if that might be the cause for it. It's a thread that he's interested in picking up and pulling on, just to see what comes of it.

But...

Perhaps that wouldn't be the best thing to do, not right this moment. That the other man is so blasé about it is telling, too, in a way that tugs on his inquisitiveness, but he'll save it for later. ]

We've got the issues that arise from those who seek power—dangerous magical constructs, world-ruining spells, those who turn to a more powerful being to do their bidding. There is no end to it, really.

[coldseep]

Whether I know something now or learn something later, I might not feel so inclined to tell you if you're not so inclined toward conversation.

( How gracious he is, not even asking Angelo to be nice. :) )

You don't have to tell me what's hurting you, if you don't want. But we can talk about what else you might like. Sweet jam from the kitchen; instruments for a song... Or is punishment for your absence the only thing you can think of?

[allrounder]

[ The act is subtle enough that it feels like nothing more than a little momentary fumble to G'raha, and he pays it no mind, napkin and brush of their fingers out of his hand metaphorically and literally. ]

Well, we simply wait and find out if the bread has any negative impacts. I'm certain you are not the only one who decided to partake in what's on offer.

[ Sucks to wait, but it shouldn't be too long. He figures they can make a decision on eating the food here by evening. ]