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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[divineth]

[Nooooooo no more secrets...]

Yes, let us see what else this castle hath to offer. It could almost be mistaken for Ishgardian make...

[Except there is no way this is actually Ishgard. For one thing, it's not eternal winter outside.]

[ocenon]

[ He seems to relax a bit and slightly withdraw at the affirmation of Ayaka's well-being, but obvious that next bit just kind of. Makes him blink. ]

Did she? It's not an incorrect statement – she is a very important person, for a multitude of reasons.

[ He seems kind of confused for why that came up though... were they talking about him? His ears weren't burning... ]

[coldseep]

That's really humble of you to say, as a mortal. What was their role in this argument?

[stygiomedusa]

Yes, it's one of the few remaining city states around.

[Don't Worry About It.]

I see... So, you'd know better than I am how abnormal a place like this must be. It seems almost... too luxurious, doesn't it?

[ocenon]

[ He laughs at that, nodding in agreement. ] Very gracious indeed – this is certainly not the worst place to be interred in.

[ He takes a step back for Hwylryn to roll off, before nodding. ]

I don't see why not. You can call me Saber. It's a pleasure.

[ The name might not be sticking for long, but it's better safe than sorry. He nods again and starts to head over to the way out of the suite. ]

[allrounder]

It certainly could! Though Ishgard is quite a bit more...

[ Hmmm, how can he say this politely. ]

Sparse in its decor. Though I may be convinced we were in the dwellings of one of the major families were it not so sunny inside the solarium.

[allrounder]

They betrayed the trust of the dragons and killed one of the members of the first brood, partaking in her eyes, seeking power.

[ He looks up at Hwylryn. ]

You mention that magical beings are solitary on your star. 'Tis quite the opposite when it comes to the dragons and great wyrms. They care deeply for one another, and thus did mortals earn their distrust and ire.

[whileaway]

A guest [ he’s being polite, but Vanis can still hear the amused twist he puts on that word—-it was obviously not the one he was initially going to use.] to the highest-ranking house still holds quite the favor in these kinds of circles, blood member or not. You’ve given me no reason to think he doesn’t also have refined taste in houseguests, as he apparently does in material goods.

[Would a servant be of equal standing to a guest? Not if you asked most people, though the Rainsworths were more willing than most to cross those kinds of social lines.

A demon’s house… an ugly word, but could that really be so far removed from the way Chains are used by the four houses? The definitions would matter more than the terms by themselves.]

[antline]

Mm. I don't think of it that way...but for mortals, I think I understand it. Lives are only so short.

[goes by in the blink of a primal beast's eye]

[whileaway]

[Cain making so many notes, he’s going to end up as the math meme


Break is a bit taken aback at the abrupt volume from right next to him, though this does confirm more on the statues than just a name plaque.

His apprehension on what else is on them the takes a back seat for the moment, and should hopefully be masked by confusion for the moments he spends processing Cain’s exclamation. ]

Yes…? My family were knights. I don’t use the title so much now, but I still act as my lady’s bodyguard if needed.

[coldseep]

( bro... this Is chisme caliente......

He seems really sad to hear this, though... )

... I'm glad this has a happy ending. But... that must have been really hard for the dragons, until then.

( ... )

I've envied human communities, but... I've never thought of attacking them because of it. I don't think the other creatures I know would, either. Though...

( Hmm... He really doesn't get himself involved in human communities beyond the casual, so this didn't occur to him earlier, but... )

... I have heard that humans where I'm from started hunting down wizards. Though, I think they do that on and off anyway. I wonder if this sort of thing is a part of human nature, sometimes.

[allrounder]

It was. I know that when your years extend beyond the typical years of a mortal, time bends and feelings linger much, much longer. 'Twas as difficult for them as it was for the mortals impacted by the war.

[ That kind of pain... he can't imagine it. ]

I would like to believe 'tis not human nature, as cruelty exists in every form. I think any being with the capacity to be cruel will have those that make the choice to be so.

[littlegentleman]

I don't get paid.

[But he's not denying that he's killing people, which seems to be intentional. Both of Junior's hands shift behind his back as he leans tensely against the wall.]

Do you think that makes it better or worse?

[frostlight]

. . . All right. Say that I've joined. Who else is part of this alliance?

[oncefallen]

[Vanis notes the tone for that particular word, the corner of his mouth quirking ever more slightly upward in amused response. Adder would likely have several things to say about that term being applied to him...]

Haha, you flatter me. I'm merely a wandering artist trying to make myself useful.

[It isn't entirely a lie. He is making himself useful, and it is in part by being an artist. But his real purpose comes in the connections he makes via his art, the people who jump at the chance to become his patron and then let slip all sorts of fascinating and useful information around him, all with little more than a few coaxing words.]

In this case, it's more of a matter of practicality than of taste-- my paintings just happen to be quite well-received in the demon realm, that's all.

[distain]

[No "sir," then, just a name that sounds strange to her.]

Grace. My name is Andrew Grace.

[This time, at least, she politely supplies her name without having been asked.]

I'll let you keep the adventure. But let us do our best to avoid a horrific outcome to this tale.

[If they can agree on that, then maybe they can move forward, and we can rejoin them another time.]

[coldseep]

( omg 🥺

Hwylryn smiles, bright and warm. )

... That makes me really happy to hear.

( And it might be silly for him to care for her opinion - by dragon standards, anyway - but coming from a time of fragility as he was, he can't help but exalt it a little bit. )

My review isn't quite as thorough, but I think you're wonderful, too. I'd be honored if you could remember me when you ascend the throne.

( not if, but when! )

[allrounder]

I take it you’ll assist me in avoiding such an outcome?

[ That’s what he’s going to assume and expect of her, at the very least. She has a bit of an attitude on her, but G’raha sees that as fire rather than impolite. ]

[spotsalone]

[ He stares for a moment, waiting to see if Yoru will continue. ]

Omelette rice. I see. Quite a selling point.

[ It's not! ]

Though it's not as if I've anything nice to say about London, either.

[ He chuckles. ]

[spotsalone]

[ Hickey's lips scrunch tightly as he considers the question. ]

Suppose it depends on your motivation. And the sorts of people you're killing.

[frostlight]

[Why is he so happy about that? She blinks at his equally earnest evaluation, then sighs mildly, choosing to take his sincerity in stride.]

I couldn't forget someone like you even if I tried. . . . But you're right. Sooner than later, I'll ascend the ice throne.

[spotsalone]

[ DO NOT MAKE HIM KING HELLO?????? ]

Oh, don't worry about me. I can take care of myself. He sounds like an interesting character.

[ But whether or not Hickey cares enough to go seek him out remains to be seen. ]

Are the two of you friends?

[coldseep]

( His lips purse slightly when G'raha says that first bit - it's a pain he won't let leave his lips. The pain he felt from Gwawlyn's death is as fresh now as it was when it happened - a thousand thousand years ago. Perhaps it's his grief, as much as his longevity, that makes the centuries pass that much quicker. )

... Is goodness a given - something to be expected, then? Or is it still admirable, because it is a choice?

[arbalestrier]

[It's not like there's anything stopping from Sousuke from simply walking away even if Hwylryn does try to press him for something, but at least the negotiation was successful.]

I'll start. What were you doing before you came here?

[distain]

Of course. I'll exercise the utmost caution. The sooner we're free of this place, the better.

[At this point, it's still a mystery... so if he will take her side in solving it, that's a useful agreement. Be he Miquote or devil, she'll take that oath until they have more answers.]