~ Tнє Pαяα∂σχ Hσυѕє ~ now back to regularly scheduled chaos

"I've been here for three years now," Myrnin said easily, perched on the railings. "Trust me when I say I've been upstairs before." He was almost tempted to flip backwards over the banister and hang from his knees. He did not do this on the grounds he might get stabbed. Instead he bounded off the railing and across the new floor he'd reached, dancing around the width of this level like it was a playground.
"I told youuuuuu I could dodge the knife," he said brightly. "You didn't believe me."
He was grinning like the madman he claimed to be and this seemed to be the perfect excuse that he had for all of this sort of situation.
"Now what, dear blinker friend?"
He'd say friend. It sounded awesome.

It hit Sam all right. Right in the shoulder, where it exploded into powder and shocked Sam into jumping and almost falling into the snow. It was very amusing to watch. Not only that, but it was actually even better when Sam grinned. Then he picked up a handful of snow and tried to toss it at Nico. It burst into snow flakes almost at once and the only thing which hit Nico was a couple of stray white. It wasn't clear whether he'd toss had been too hard and it had broken apart in mid-air because of that or whether he hadn't packed it hard enough together in the first place.
The small vampire scrambled away across the snow, looking a bit playfully nervous that Nico would work out another snowball before he figured out how to throw his.
"Heh heh heh heh!"

Rowlin looked forward ahead, then back at Myrnin who was clearly taller then him. Right off the bat, he noticed the Myrnin was completely off for this job. He seemed to have been ready for the beach or something- Secondly, the other vampire was tall- hence letting him borrow his own clothes was out of the question.
“Blinked in is one way to mention it.” Rowlin replied agreeing on the thought. “Though … appearing isn’t exactly a new occurance. One minute you are here, the next minute you are there. Well not you exactly, but anyone. From science, to magic- there’s so many entities that can bring you from one world to the next. Of course, interworld travel isn’t used much anymore, not after the gates had been sealed by the dragons, as an attempt to stop the demons, entities, and devils from taking over the human world in early days. But there was more factors behind those restricted travels-anyways.” He shook his head now, snow falling off his head, only to be coated by more snow.

“We could be in the house, if you want to look it at that way. We could be in the woods… Either way, my setting hasn’t changed, and I sorta want to check out the hotspot since I’m so close.” He started walking in the direction once again. “you’re here, I’m taking you along for the ride. My partner is miles from here, and there’s no way he’s gonna get here that quickly…”
He pulled out his phone, wanting to check the temperature, as Myrnin asked about his bloodtype. He unlocked the phone to see it was on the brim of midnight- he also noticed no reception which just made him put his phone away once again. “Well, no reception- makes sense since we’re in this neck and gaining on the storm.” He shrugged, “But my guess, it’ll reach negative 15 at some point this morning.” He further inquired. “But if you really need a building- we can go back say- after we hit the spot I need… a few miles north of us. Then it’ll only take us well… maybe over an hour back..” His voice slightly died down on the thought. They weren’t gonna make it fast back the way they came, even with enhanced speed or gimmicks-
“I’m cold too- but… I been cold for a long time at this point. Like… my body temperature doesn’t match the normal body temperature, so I have to get around thermometer checks like my life depends on it. But- nonetheless, I guess in a way I am warm blooded- and bleeding isn’t really an option. I been told repeatedly by my wife to refrain from hurting myself and attracting say… every vampire in the room from well- turning me into a body bag.”

“We could teleport but the problem is that these woods could affect us. … “ He started to look around. “These woods are sacred ritual grounds. Bascially the group that once roamed these lands, believed in the other; an entity that would cross between the living and another world that cannot be explained. Hence their beliefs, and offerings to these others. That to those who ascended, to the highest degree, would someday step foot in the otherside, a world outside their own.” He paused to examine the trees up ahead, he could only see the outlines faintly- but they were stakced, meaning he needed to go around in order to continue.

“Anyways- these parts of the woods are rarely visited by normal people- but some recent rumors popped up online that have started to bring people here. Red eyes in the darkness, growling, hissing, and the feeling of being followed. People started to disappear, so the team I have back in town is forming a list tonight before we come out here in the morning. We also been hearing rumors of things appearing out of nowhere…. Items that shouldn’t be out here. Again still forming the evidence.” He made his way around the wall of tress. “We’re wondering if this area had been reached by a group of teens, a club or a cult- something that may be creating rituals that could have accidentally set off something that shouldn’t be here. On the other hand, we are also afraid that it could have awoken one of the sleeping spirits or released something that shouldn’t be here.”

Rowlin couldn’t help but raise a brow across the initial comment, it was far left field but not entirely thrown out the window. “Yea, this could be the house. It could also not be the house. This is still- well … the place I was initially in. If it isn’t fine – but I could still benefit by scouting ahead.” He looked on the bright side of the discussion. “Besides, we’re in the middle of map planning. So I’d rather take advantage if I’m here. If the end result is different then it’s different.” He briefly stopped in his steps to look up once more towards the trees brushing in the distance. “World Rooms? Hmmm… sounds like a fanxcy word for world hoping… Anyways.” He stretched his shoulders back before proceeding onwards, the wind blowing against their desired directions. “Might as well.”

“I’m certain you being here is for a reason. Don’t question it, just roll with it, otherwise- I guess you could freeze… “ He looked briefly up once again before looking forward, “I guess, you did mention that.” He now recalled the previous statement.

“But I totally get it , if you are finding it hard to believe that this place was and is technically still sacred.” He paused to briefly glimpse at his pocket, “Tech doesn’t work- well the service doesn’t. I can see the time… and probably my saved content. Full charge too.” He added. “But yea- useless at the moment, so we gotta rely on good-old hands on skills.” He was trying not to get nostalgic.

“Yea, my wife. Selene, nice gal. She leads a group of vampires in the area she lives in. Basically a head of the family… just like there exists other head of the families. They work together, have fueds… Kinda like a mofia or a guild..” He tried to think of other ways to interpret it.

“My blood is part of the reason that my family is dead.” He waved a friendly gesture back at Myrnin. “Though my family were hunters, let’s just say that my family-remaining family, is pretty cautious on the nature. Consider it catnip, but for vampires… actually my family wasn’t vampires… people. Just the type to be well- cared for by vampires in exchange for blood…. Sorta. Fam never gave in, still don’t. Apperntly healing and hunger properties that fill a vampire. I dunno… haven’t tried….” He shrugged the idea-probably explained his rare lack in hunger.

“O-Oh time limited…” Rowlin considered now, seeing the other person excited. “Gonna be a little tough, given that we are a long ways away from warmth.” He further added. “Though. I guess that’s part of the excitement.” He nodded slowly. “Basically I just want to get to the source of a hotspot… one of the rumors online, had a terrible picture taken miles away… someone had one of those long lenses. I have the image on my phone, and I was hoping to see if we could find any traces of residue or tamperment that could point if something was staged or-“ He paused, as something from his other coat pocket started glowing an immense light blue. He looked down, and pulled out the glowing object to reveal to the other vampire a crystal. The crystal was glowing bright blue, and as Rowlin stepped further, the brightness increased. He pursued the glow’s strength, turning his head back to assure that Myrnin was following. Closer and closer he got to a faint outline of trees, and white large mochi balls in between. As Rowlin got closer, the same bright blue glow started emanating from the white coated mochi balls up ahead, as he got closer the light between the two items; crystal and the surface ahead were brightening up the surrounding area, that it stopped the thick wall of icy air from covering visibility. The clearing was clear, and visible despite it still being cold. His attention turned back to Myrnin as he started to brush the soft snow off the Mochi round balls, to reveal rocky sturdy rocks-three of them. The rocks themselves had markings, and along the ground, almost etched into the rocks, there was visible shards of the glass- almost the same material as the crystal Rowlin was holding, which made the rock glow.

“Ah, so we’re getting closer.” He beamed with relief.

Rue | Lodge | Iceclaw

Rue nodded once, and it was more a promise to herself than it was to him. She hadn’t known that blades needed to be sharpened, but it made sense. One more thing they either hadn’t bothered trying to teach her in the training room, or one more thing she hadn’t expected to need to learn.
For all her brave words during the interview, it occurred to her now that she hadn’t ever expected to survive. To win. Maybe that had been a mistake. Maybe she should have been learning everything she could, as fast as possible.
“I’ve always been better at hiding and running.” She told Daud, her dark eyes meeting his. “If they can’t catch you, they can’t kill you.”

Sasha | Lodge | Lark strider Cloverleaf

Sasha shook his head. Then he shook it again, white blond hair falling in his face.
“The Paradox House.” He repeated, staring at the girl with dark hair and clothes. He narrowed his eyes at her. She could have been an assassin, but why hadn’t she attacked? Whatever this was, she appeared to be unarmed, but that could have been a trick to get him to lower his weapon.
He should make a run for it. He was pretty sure he could do it. The only thing holding him back was how crowded it was in here, but then, that could play to his strengths as well. A crowd meant he could disappear. Chaos meant he could slip out while everyone else panicked.
It was the best plan he had. He just needed to do it, before his moment passed and they decided to kill him.
He hesitated, conflicted.
Then he ran at Eurydice, dagger raised, a determined look in his eye.
Attack first. Attack first. Attack first.

In an instant Zuko was blocking the boy’s path to Eurydice, back in the battle stance he’d been in when he had first blinked in. His eyes were narrowed and he was grateful for the armor he was wearing, although he had blinked in without the helmet. Oh well. It wasn’t like he had any vanity left to protect if the kid aimed for his face. Flames burned to life in his hands and he did his best to hold strong and not flinch away from them. His fire bending had been erratic since the Agni Kai. Iroh said he just needed to control himself, that it would come to him with time, but he didn’t have time here.
“Back. Off.” He managed, a muscle working in his jaw.
It was mainly a show of force – he hoped the boy would actually back off at the sight of fire. If he didn’t… well, then Zuko needed to get real good at fire bending real fast, or one or more of them might not make it out alive. He wished he had his broadswords. He’d have to make a habit of carrying those around in case the Spirit World decided to claim him more frequently. Iroh would likely chalk it up to desperation, and in this case Zuko was willing to let him.

Kelsier | Lodge | <Raintalon> and others

Kelsier watched Sol find the door, figuring if she wanted help, she would ask for it. He didn’t really want to sneak up on her, after all. She seemed likely to stab him. Not that he thought she would succeed at that, but still, he didn’t really want to startle her.
He couldn’t resist glancing over at Nico and the other boy again, just in time to see Nico shadow travel behind him. He grinned, something interestingly like pride in his chest.
He didn’t even know the other boy. Well...that wasn’t totally true. He had seen him briefly in the room where he had died, after Nico had been killed. He had been worried then, and he had reacted to Nico’s death fairly strongly. A friend, then.
He felt a bit like camping out here and watching them, but maybe that was better done inside the House.
“Nothing there.” He told Sol, and stepped past her, into the Lodge. It was much warmer in there, and he immediately glanced over at what he now knew as hot chocolate. Excellent.
“There is food.” He added, glancing over his shoulder at the girl. “If you’re interested.”

Sasha | Lodge | strider Cloverleaf Lark

Sasha stumbled back, shock obvious on his features, his mind unable to fully catch up to what he was seeing.
The dagger slipped from his fingers and hit the ground, and he couldn’t look away from the fire, and then the shield that jumped between him and the other boy.
He had a feeling he’d just made a terrible, terrible mistake.
“Witches.” He managed, his voice definitely shaking now. He’d just attacked a group of witches. Of course they were witches, how could he have been so stupid as to believe he had done this? They must have caught onto his magic somehow and decided to intervene themselves.
He backed away, his eyes flicking between Harue and Zuko, then Eurydice, who hadn’t yet showed any sign of magic. Not that he was fooled. They were probably all witches here.
He was going to have to learn how to use his abilities very quickly, it seemed.
He didn’t speak. What was there to say?

Sol | Lodge | ®Hawkpath® |

"Liar," said Sol reproachfully, but without deep malice. "I hear voices."

But despite that, her stomach growled at the mention of food, and she slipped inside, her knife still gripped firmly in her hand. She began to walk, running her hand across the wall until she hit the table, and then her free hand snaked over the surface as she began to grab everything she touched, stuffing both her face and her pockets with rolls, candy, desserts, and anything else she could get her hands on. Her hands flew to a large glass bowl full of wrapped candy, and she picked the entire thing up, hastily pulling her backpack off onto the floor and dumping the contents inside one of the pockets.

Hook followed the man’s movements with his eyes, giving a bored raise of his eyebrow at the fancy title. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to impress him, or if he was always just an ass, but he’d concluded he wasn’t going to like the Survivor of Hathsin. “Okay,” he prompted flatly.
He kept his hand on his blade as Kelsier approached, confusion drawing across his expression while the man spoke. After a long pause he gave a slow exhale, trying to mask his grin for only a moment before breaking into progressive laughter. He chuckled in the strangers face for several seconds, then shook his head slightly. “I don’t think I would. Mate. Because firstly,” he leaned forward slightly, “you couldn’t do anything about it if I did. And secondly, I don’t give a [oops] about Nico di Angelo.” He leaned back with a dismissive sniff, glancing towards the hallway. “I don’t think the kid gives a [oops] about me in return, so blow yourself.” He looked back at Kelsier with raised eyebrows, eager for his reaction. 

Kelsier | Living Room | ~∂єѕтιиу

Kelsier had been aware that he wasn’t going to like the other man. He had known that from the moment he watched Nico on a screen in a place he had no way of reaching. The moment he had stood between the boy and the room, defending him from friends as well as enemies.
He had not been prepared for the rush of hatred he felt for him, though. Anger as fierce as molten rock flooded him, hot and deadly, as he stared back at the man.
His eyes darkened. He was still smiling, but there was no humor at all behind the expression.
“That’s an interesting theory.” He said, his tone low and almost lazy. Hook was armed. A sword...his dark smile deepened. Was the hook metal as well?
So it was. So it was.
He tilted his head very slightly. Then he burned iron and Pulled on the hook, aiming to knock the pirate off balance while expertly Pushing the sword away from them both, trying to make it slip from its place and fly across the room. If it flipped and embedded itself in the wall, he’d be pleased, but he wasn’t too concerned if it didn’t.
He was betting on the element of surprise. If all went well, he would catch the man by his hook arm, spin him once, and pin him neatly against the wall. If it didn’t, he was confident it wouldn’t take more than a couple seconds longer to do the same.

Nico followed after, practically bursting with questions while simultaneously trying not to openly demonstrate how excited he was by the idea of being on an actual real life pirate ship. Sailing wasn’t all that it was cracked up to be, especially when the rest of the crew was terrified of you, but piracy still seemed exciting.
He hesitated outside the other quarters, making a bit of a face at the smell, but going inside anyway. It wasn’t terrible, all things considering. And he was curious what kind of things a person might own if they were the crew of a pirate ship. He expected the captain to be rich, of course, but what was the crew getting out of it?
“Does the crew stay cause they have to or usually because they want to?” Was that a rude question? Was it likely to poke at something Hook might not want to be touched? Entirely possible. Still, if Nico didn’t get a few questions out he felt like he was going to burst.
He frowned a little, poking through some of the crew’s belongings. Old clothing, no small amount of alcohol – best make sure Hook didn’t notice that – and… well, he had expected to find something a little more exciting.
“Can I go see what’s up in the crow’s nest?” Nico asked, almost without meaning to. If there was something the House wanted them to find… then maybe getting to the highest point on the ship could help. Maybe what they were looking for wasn’t on the ship at all.