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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Feb 16, 2019 6:45:43 GMT -5
Sherlock made a face and jostled her back, folding his arms indignantly across his chest at the insult. “Oh shut up, can’t you at least snap a few pictures? It’s not that hard to just take the phone out of your pocket for a second, you don’t even have to stop driving or, or punching people or whatever it is you happen to be doing when things get really interesting.” To demonstrate he slipped his own phone out and waved it over his head. “See? Easy, even you should be able to do it. For that matter...” and she handed her his phone, his bright blue eyes moving for an instant towards the ceiling as though he expected the House to make some sort of protest. It restrained itself, so he looked back at her and smirked again. “Here. I doubt the House will let you take it back with you, but you never know, I think people have been able to take things before once or twice, worst thing that’ll happen is that it’ll stay when you blink out anyway. Besides, I can use John’s while he’s....” The detective broke off and cleared his throat to cover up his moment of confusion. Nore wasn’t the only one who didn’t particularly feel like digging into her world at the moment. Besides, she’d just challenged him, and that was more than enough of a distraction. His eyes narrowed. “Oh, fine then. You don’t know who’s after you, but you’ve got a few guesses so you do have to be involved in several potentially dangerous groups of people, one of whom either you, Jesse, or probably both have managed to upset, especially now that you’ve got and come to his assistance, which by the way is why I know it’s a group, one of them is dead. Jesse’s injured, but that’s all right because you’re the more active party aren’t you, I’m guessing you wouldn’t ask for help until you were unconscious anyway.” He looked her over carefully, thinking. Oh. Of course, obviously, her movie. Who would still be making a movie with their life on the line like hers was? Well, Nore probably, but he didn’t think she was being that ridiculous, not this time. “Your vision is coming back, isn’t it? Slowly, but it’s there. You’re trying to take someone down, aren’t you? Is Jesse helping? Or are you helping him?” He had to be careful. He knew by now how much harder it was to know everything in the House, just because of the sheer number of possibilities that he didn’t have much chance of thinking of. But he thought he knew Nore well enough by now to give her a decent run for her money, and if he was wrong she would probably correct him and tell him more than she would otherwise, so really he couldn’t lose, right?
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Post by <Raintalon> on Feb 16, 2019 8:29:24 GMT -5
</div>“Uhh...” Okay, this guy was taking denial to a whole new level. Either that, or wherever he had been before the blink looked weirdly similar to where they were now, and he actually hadn’t noticed. ”Noooope. No sign,” he confirmed slowly, mostly to buy time as he tried to see beneath the stranger’s hood. Ooh, he thought he was very mysterious, didn’t he? ”This ain’t your world anymore, dude. Look around - you’re somewhere new.”
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 16, 2019 10:42:35 GMT -5
Czeslaw watched Myrnin seemingly talk to himself for a moment. He was hanging there poised for a while as if Myrnin could spring up any moment and attack him, but no matter how much of a chance the kid gave him, it didn't appear to be happening. What L had said ran through his mind, and he very slowly, reluctantly lowered his right hand. Should he trick the other blinker into being devoured? No, Czes wasn't that kind of person anymore. He was better off leaving, even going into a room if it meant distancing himself. He had been given the chance to be safe. Something in him twinged though. Perhaps it was that Myrnin seemed harmless in that moment--his eyes were green like L had said, after all--or perhaps it was that he seemed lonely. Czeslaw didn't simply walk up to him, but he did step a few hesitant paces closer. "I... I'm not afraid of you," he announced quietly. His right hand was clutching his other sleeve, but it was ready to spring up any moment.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 16, 2019 10:54:58 GMT -5
Even you should be able to do it. Nore straightened up indignantly, mouth arcing open in protest. Without a moment's hesitation though, a cell phone was in her hand. She clutched it and ran the fingers of her free hand over the front to examine its surface. It was newer than hers, that was for sure. But the only reason she could use her current phone was because she had been using it before she even lost her sight. Her face turned from irritation to dullness. "You expect me to learn how to use a new phone? You really are demanding." She sighed helplessly, and tilted her head while she did it to accentuate the drama. Another accentuation followed: "Damn!" It was an excited exclamation after his description of how things went down. "You're... almost exactly right on every detail. You really know how to figure stuff out, huh?" The brightness returned to Nore's face for a brief moment. Fortunately Jesse wasn't injured other than technically bruises and such, and unfortunately she wasn't gaining her sight back any more than she had. She probably shouldn't say that part though considering it highlighted the fact that she was a complete daredevil on the road. She bent her arm inward and slipped the cell phone into her inner jacket pocket. When she settled down and the corners of her mouth relaxed, she murmured, "I'm the reason Jesse got caught up in this though. But you probably knew that already with all your detectiving."
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Post by HᥲꙆƒꙆɩɠᖾt on Feb 16, 2019 14:03:28 GMT -5
A placidly confused look slipped onto Vanessa's face. She was actually a wonderful actor. "Sorry?" she asked. "No, I'm not hungry. Why?" Her eyebrows knit together in confusion, her nose wrinkling. Her reaction to his reaction was a perfect image of mystification. Then she shrugged, eyes narrowing slightly, and said, "You're new. So you don't even know what this place is. Or how you got here. You truly have no ideas?" It wasn't a question so much as a request to hear his speculation. Okay, there was no way she wasn't just messing with him at this point. "Oh, I dunno. Just wondering." Astolfo replied, casually crossing his arms behind his head so he could rest on them in a sign of relaxation. He was pretending to pass the whole thing off now, but he planned on keeping an eye on her. Not even taking a moment to think of an actual answer to the question, he responded happily with "Yup. Yup. Yup. And nope!" Following Vanessa's example and acting like nothing had happened, the Rider quickly returned to his normal attitude. "Unless someone here somehow summoned me, you've got me for how I ended up here." He raised his shoulders in a lazy shrug. If you completely disregarded the whole 'being bit by some weirdo' situation, Astolfo was completely unfazed by not having any idea where he was or how he got there. If anything, he was having fun with it. After all, who was he to pass on visiting somewhere new and meeting new people?
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 16, 2019 16:49:08 GMT -5
Czeslaw watched Myrnin seemingly talk to himself for a moment. He was hanging there poised for a while as if Myrnin could spring up any moment and attack him, but no matter how much of a chance the kid gave him, it didn't appear to be happening. What L had said ran through his mind, and he very slowly, reluctantly lowered his right hand. Should he trick the other blinker into being devoured? No, Czes wasn't that kind of person anymore. He was better off leaving, even going into a room if it meant distancing himself. He had been given the chance to be safe. Something in him twinged though. Perhaps it was that Myrnin seemed harmless in that moment--his eyes were green like L had said, after all--or perhaps it was that he seemed lonely. Czeslaw didn't simply walk up to him, but he did step a few hesitant paces closer. "I... I'm not afraid of you," he announced quietly. His right hand was clutching his other sleeve, but it was ready to spring up any moment. Myrnin, who'd been staring at a wall with a miffed expression, turned his head to look at Czeslaw. Both of his eyebrows rose. "And that statement means ... ? Actually," he mused, going off on a totally different line than what Czeslaw had expected. "Those who say they aren't afraid are usually afraid. This is saying I also want or expect fear. While I might expect it I couldn't exactly say that I want it. So it's an interesting sentence." He blinked, focusing on Czeslaw again. "But good for you. Not being afraid of me is a good start, though possibly foolhardy. Anything else?" The last word twanged with a snap and Myrnin looked at Czes much as he had the wall. Miffed. The small immortal had caused, in Myrnin's opinion, a lot of harm in the forest room or whatever they were calling it. If he'd stopped screaming his head off, then a lot of people wouldn't have gotten hurt. He made no effort to push that away. He wasn't even sure he knew what the boy's problem was. If he was immortal, even more so than Myrnin, why was he worried about other immortals? Myrnin ... had run across mortals who liked to test his abilities. To see what they could do and how much he could come back from. But that had been a long time ago and it hadn't crossed his mind Czeslaw was scared of him because he knew the boy could die.
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Post by ®Hawkpath® on Feb 16, 2019 17:29:36 GMT -5
That was actually a fair point, Sherlock realized with a brief grimace as she accepted his phone. Not that he was going to admit it, when she was being so snarky already. “Oh, you’re smart, give yourself some credit. I expect you to figure it out.” He leaned back, relaxing into the couch. Her response brought a grin to his face before he could help it and he glanced at her, as a rush of satisfaction filled him. It was like finally sending in an impossible math test and getting a perfect score. He was curious about what he’d got wrong, though. Off the top of his head he couldn’t think of anything that sounded wrong, but that’s just how his deductions worked. He didn’t really expect to get everything right, just everything important. He would settle for 93% perfect with no resentment. “I pay attention.” He replied, and his grin went slightly crooked as he turned his head to look at her again. She still looked tired, but he thought she looked a bit more peaceful now than when she’d first blinked in, which had been one of his goals. If she was going to drive literally blind, he figured she should probably be as relaxed as possible. “Yes.” He agreed, his quiet tone intentionally matching hers. He had guessed as much. “And now you feel responsible. For saving him, and for taking down whoever thought they were allowed to hurt him in the first place.”
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 16, 2019 18:14:14 GMT -5
A placidly confused look slipped onto Vanessa's face. She was actually a wonderful actor. "Sorry?" she asked. "No, I'm not hungry. Why?" Her eyebrows knit together in confusion, her nose wrinkling. Her reaction to his reaction was a perfect image of mystification. Then she shrugged, eyes narrowing slightly, and said, "You're new. So you don't even know what this place is. Or how you got here. You truly have no ideas?" It wasn't a question so much as a request to hear his speculation. Okay, there was no way she wasn't just messing with him at this point. "Oh, I dunno. Just wondering." Astolfo replied, casually crossing his arms behind his head so he could rest on them in a sign of relaxation. He was pretending to pass the whole thing off now, but he planned on keeping an eye on her. Not even taking a moment to think of an actual answer to the question, he responded happily with "Yup. Yup. Yup. And nope!" Following Vanessa's example and acting like nothing had happened, the Rider quickly returned to his normal attitude. "Unless someone here somehow summoned me, you've got me for how I ended up here." He raised his shoulders in a lazy shrug. If you completely disregarded the whole 'being bit by some weirdo' situation, Astolfo was completely unfazed by not having any idea where he was or how he got there. If anything, he was having fun with it. After all, who was he to pass on visiting somewhere new and meeting new people? There was every way that she wasn't messing with him. He was new, however, so Vanessa knew he wouldn't at once jump to the fact blinkers could come from other worlds. Which she would have explained, had an excuse for, if Astolfo had dug any deeper. But he hadn't, so she left it. He'd be suspicious for a while, but she would be fine. She'd had to change her MO a little, but hopefully she had thought everything out. "You don't care very much about how you got here either?" Vanessa prodded. "Or worried? Or scared? Nothing? Unusual. But alright. I mentioned this was the Paradox House, didn't I? Well, it might or might not be a living entity which only looks like a house. It summoned you. You'll be tossed back into your own world sometime and then get pulled back here. You can't predict when either thing will happen." She nodded in the direction of the hallway. "There are rooms that way. The rooms are not always safe. So be careful within them."
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Post by HᥲꙆƒꙆɩɠᖾt on Feb 16, 2019 20:36:01 GMT -5
There was every way that she wasn't messing with him. He was new, however, so Vanessa knew he wouldn't at once jump to the fact blinkers could come from other worlds. Which she would have explained, had an excuse for, if Astolfo had dug any deeper. But he hadn't, so she left it. He'd be suspicious for a while, but she would be fine. She'd had to change her MO a little, but hopefully she had thought everything out. "You don't care very much about how you got here either?" Vanessa prodded. "Or worried? Or scared? Nothing? Unusual. But alright. I mentioned this was the Paradox House, didn't I? Well, it might or might not be a living entity which only looks like a house. It summoned you. You'll be tossed back into your own world sometime and then get pulled back here. You can't predict when either thing will happen." She nodded in the direction of the hallway. "There are rooms that way. The rooms are not always safe. So be careful within them." "Pretty much!" Astolfo hummed, arching his back in a stretch. Despite displaying a carefree attitude, he still listened intently as Vanessa went on. Just about to let out a yawn, he froze mid-action in shock when she began detailing the house. This place itself had done the summoning? Not a person? How was that even possible? It also wasn't permanent from the sound of it, although it would be a recurring event. The paladin let his pink eyed gaze wonder away from the other blinker as he processed the information he'd just learned. None of this answered the most important question, which was why it was summoning people... "Geez, here I'd thought I'd seen enough weird stuff in my lifetimes..." He let out a dramatic sigh, although it wasn't a serious one. First his original life, then the Great Holy Grail War, now this. It was just a non-stop train of crazy events... But it was something he took in stride. He had always been determined to make the most of it all and that wasn't going to stop here. Even if the prospect of the place he was standing in possibly being alive creeped him out a bit... "Not safe? How so?" Filled with curiosity, Astolfo turned his head to follow Vanessa's nod and saw a door he'd failed to notice before. Not even waiting for an answer, he spun around and began wondering towards it.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 16, 2019 21:28:15 GMT -5
Czeslaw withdrew at Myrnin’s statement. That was something Claire might say. It was probably the child in him, but he wanted to protest what Myrnin was saying just because it went against his expectations. Moreover, it seemed like the older blinker was mocking him. The boy gave a pouting look, and would have turned his gaze away if he weren’t worried he would be attacked any second. He had had far too severe of experiences in the past that transpired that way. Even with guardians now who cared for him and would never choose to hurt him, that didn’t erase Fermet from his memory. Even though there were some in the Paradox House who seemed to be kind to him, that didn’t mean there weren’t those who were malicious. He was no longer ambivalent toward pain. After what transpired on the train and the aftermath of those events, he had unconsciously realized that that was one thing that made him less human. The path to recovery was evidently a shaky one though. “Then... Then...” he tried to start his sentence, stepping back from the other blinker once more. It had clearly been a mistake to draw nearer in the first place. “Then don’t bother me,” he told him quickly. Before he could mull over the statement too much, he turned to head out to the hallway, reaching for the door handle with his left hand.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 16, 2019 21:33:46 GMT -5
Ougi wasn’t facing his direction, instead her back to him, and she seemed to have no intention of yielding even if he had said something against her plan. Without physically acknowledging him, she advised him on his sickness technique. “Motion will be most reduced if you lean forward and put your head between your knees.” She even addrd, “When I blink into my world, I’ll be sure to find medicine for motion sickness for when I return.” It was said earnestly enough, but the likelihood of that working was low enough that it was probably her being facetious. “An oddity,” she explained, “is a monster, an aberration, a supernatural phenomenon. Something extraordinary.” She rowed diligently, arms moving with almost expert level of skill and seemingly not getting tired from the strain at all. She was never one to break a sweat over anything. “My uncle is in the business of identifying them, and helping those affected by them.” Maladict didn’t need to see her expression to read it; it was written all over the back of her head where her black hair draped plainly down to her neck. She was deep in thought, but entirely reticent. Cryptic. “This makes me remember...” she started in a soft mumble. What she said next was a little louder. “What language are you speaking right now?” "Really?" said Maladict, who wanted to doubt her but at this point was willing to try anything. He had no idea what she meant by medicine. He was at once very wary. "N - no thanks. I'll be fine." You couldn't trust medicine. Whether he knew how low the likelihood of that was wasn't very likely either. "Oh those," he said dismissively at her explanation. "We have a lot of those." It was like saying you had a lot of pigeons which liked to hang around outside. They weren't usually bothersome; they were just there. He would have started a very, very long list had she not asked her other question. He hadn't thought of it. "What? Borogravian. Why?" Should he have been speaking something else? She was answering in kind rather easily, so he assumed that either she could translate what was being said or the House itself did. "As for ... oddities, to use your word, what would you like to know? I'm a vampire." Something told him she would have already known this. "But ... werewolves, orcs, trolls, dwarfs, gnomes, goblins, gargoyles - though you only get those in the cities, Nac Mac Feegle, Quantum Weather Butterfly, humans, golems, various gods and demigods though you actually have to be convinced they exist first, Igors, common or garden Swamp dragon, Anthropomorphic personifications but those are a bit iffy, gorgons, medusa, zombies, mummies, banshees, bogeymen, ghouls ..." Maladict seemed to trail off from lack of breath, which seemed unlikely considering his nature. He grinned sheepishly. "And I've heard a couple rumors about talking dogs, though those can't be right. I'm not really sure what you'd consider oddities anyway. Humans are rather odd themselves, at least certain ones I've met. And really only a handful of anything on the Disc is unusual. I mean ... vampires supposedly aren't common in other worlds, but there are a fair few on the Disc."
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 16, 2019 21:47:41 GMT -5
That was actually a fair point, Sherlock realized with a brief grimace as she accepted his phone. Not that he was going to admit it, when she was being so snarky already. “Oh, you’re smart, give yourself some credit. I expect you to figure it out.” He leaned back, relaxing into the couch. Her response brought a grin to his face before he could help it and he glanced at her, as a rush of satisfaction filled him. It was like finally sending in an impossible math test and getting a perfect score. He was curious about what he’d got wrong, though. Off the top of his head he couldn’t think of anything that sounded wrong, but that’s just how his deductions worked. He didn’t really expect to get everything right, just everything important. He would settle for 93% perfect with no resentment. “I pay attention.” He replied, and his grin went slightly crooked as he turned his head to look at her again. She still looked tired, but he thought she looked a bit more peaceful now than when she’d first blinked in, which had been one of his goals. If she was going to drive literally blind, he figured she should probably be as relaxed as possible. “Yes.” He agreed, his quiet tone intentionally matching hers. He had guessed as much. “And now you feel responsible. For saving him, and for taking down whoever thought they were allowed to hurt him in the first place.” Nore leaned out a little from Sherlock and let him soak in his success with all the deductions. Well... most of the deductions apparently. She was clearly proud of him too, and willing to dish out the approval only because she had been praised in addition. “Of course I’m reponsible. I mean, obviously...” But she was fairly certain Jesse didn’t think of it that way, and that he didn’t even know that it was her who put him in that situation. “But that just means I have to take care of this. And I will, just you wait.” One pointer finger stuck out at him and her smirk grew back. She had relaxed considerably since her blink in, but the bouncing of her toes said she was prepared for trouble as soon as she blinked back into her world. And that’s just what happened. Without warning, Nore disappeared from the Paradox House.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 16, 2019 21:49:29 GMT -5
Czeslaw withdrew at Myrnin’s statement. That was something Claire might say. It was probably the child in him, but he wanted to protest what Myrnin was saying just because it went against his expectations. Moreover, it seemed like the older blinker was mocking him. The boy gave a pouting look, and would have turned his gaze away if he weren’t worried he would be attacked any second. He had had far too severe of experiences in the past that transpired that way. Even with guardians now who cared for him and would never choose to hurt him, that didn’t erase Fermet from his memory. Even though there were some in the Paradox House who seemed to be kind to him, that didn’t mean there weren’t those who were malicious. He was no longer ambivalent toward pain. After what transpired on the train and the aftermath of those events, he had unconsciously realized that that was one thing that made him less human. The path to recovery was evidently a shaky one though. “Then... Then...” he tried to start his sentence, stepping back from the other blinker once more. It had clearly been a mistake to draw nearer in the first place. “Then don’t bother me,” he told him quickly. Before he could mull over the statement too much, he turned to head out to the hallway, reaching for the door handle with his left hand. "I haven't been," said Myrnin with a sigh. He rubbed at his face, wishing the House would blink someone else in to take care of things. Someone who was good with kids. He was bad with even the immortal type! How was that possible? He pushed himself to his feet. "Don't got that way by yourself. The rooms are dangerous and going alone isn't a good idea." He wasn't mocking, but patronizing was a good word for it. "What's your problem with me anyway? I've never tried to hurt you, nor do I particularly have a desire to. Why are you throwing every attempt into getting away from me even if it's just to run into danger? Isn't that a contradiction to you in any way?" He didn't say more, because something told him Czeslaw was going to bolt. And what? Well, Myrnin would go after him. Because he really didn't want the kid getting hurt - particularly since it would feel like his fault. He had enough blood on his hands, even if Czes' wouldn't stay there.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 16, 2019 22:04:50 GMT -5
There was every way that she wasn't messing with him. He was new, however, so Vanessa knew he wouldn't at once jump to the fact blinkers could come from other worlds. Which she would have explained, had an excuse for, if Astolfo had dug any deeper. But he hadn't, so she left it. He'd be suspicious for a while, but she would be fine. She'd had to change her MO a little, but hopefully she had thought everything out. "You don't care very much about how you got here either?" Vanessa prodded. "Or worried? Or scared? Nothing? Unusual. But alright. I mentioned this was the Paradox House, didn't I? Well, it might or might not be a living entity which only looks like a house. It summoned you. You'll be tossed back into your own world sometime and then get pulled back here. You can't predict when either thing will happen." She nodded in the direction of the hallway. "There are rooms that way. The rooms are not always safe. So be careful within them." "Pretty much!" Astolfo hummed, arching his back in a stretch. Despite displaying a carefree attitude, he still listened intently as Vanessa went on. Just about to let out a yawn, he froze mid-action in shock when she began detailing the house. This place itself had done the summoning? Not a person? How was that even possible? It also wasn't permanent from the sound of it, although it would be a recurring event. The paladin let his pink eyed gaze wonder away from the other blinker as he processed the information he'd just learned. None of this answered the most important question, which was why it was summoning people... "Geez, here I'd thought I'd seen enough weird stuff in my lifetimes..." He let out a dramatic sigh, although it wasn't a serious one. First his original life, then the Great Holy Grail War, now this. It was just a non-stop train of crazy events... But it was something he took in stride. He had always been determined to make the most of it all and that wasn't going to stop here. Even if the prospect of the place he was standing in possibly being alive creeped him out a bit... "Not safe? How so?" Filled with curiosity, Astolfo turned his head to follow Vanessa's nod and saw a door he'd failed to notice before. Not even waiting for an answer, he spun around and began wondering towards it. Vanessa snorted, a silent 'you and me both'. She'd seen weird. Different magical preserves, what have you, but this was a whole .... bigger. But she didn't say anything. She refused to show much sign of relating to the other blinkers. "Because," Vanessa said, her rich accent making the word seem a whole lot more important. "The rooms lead to many different locations. Some impossible by most standards. Often dangerous." Even though she said that, he was still walking toward the exit. Vanessa sighed and trailed after him, still talking. "It is," she said. "A place which messes with your mind. I wouldn't trust the rooms. Particularly not unless you are not with a senior blinker." She pointed to him. "'Blinker'. That is what you are. The act of appearing and disappearing here is called blinking. Now will you please stop eyeing the hallways as if it was an exotic land full of interesting things instead of the death trap that it is?"
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 16, 2019 22:31:47 GMT -5
Ougi still revealed nothing of her inner workings or emotions at his questioning, but did provide some answers. She said them in a way that meant she was telling it for telling’s sake, because she just happened to be talking about it and he just happened to be in her presence. Which was an ironic delivery considering they were the only two around, trapped inside a rowboat in the middle of a tropical sea. Her posture did seem to shift though when he paused in his list of oddities to explain that one had to believe they exist first. So then, it worked the same way in his universe. “Perhaps what you would consider uncommon just isn’t noticed much by those in other universes,” she said of his comment on vampires. “There are vampires where I am from. In fact, I was speaking to a vampire just before I showed up here,” she informed him. Ougi rowed steadily, showing no signs of relenting. The island, their only point of reference, got farther and farther away. The House was to be tested by this. What Ougi was hoping was to put enough pressure on it to maje a decision, to make something happen that they would not expect. And the key seemed to be showing no fear, and no suspicion one way or the other. It was a fake-out of sorts. “Where do you believe the boundary between language and understanding lies? What is the difference between this place translating our two different languages and it translating our modes of comprehension? After all, it is not as if common phrases and sayings translate directly.” She was rowing faster even while she thought, as though being distracted automatically increased her pace. “Do you think there is even a chance that this translation has a basis that is already a connection between these universes? There is a way we are all connected that this place is simply highlighting to us?” Caught up in what she was saying, Ougi was jolted forward when the boat ran aground. They were at the island. The island they had been rowing away from. Palm trees towered above them slightly inland. It reminded her of one of the first rooms she ever entered here; the Paradox House had a habit of caticature.
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Post by HᥲꙆƒꙆɩɠᖾt on Feb 16, 2019 22:53:11 GMT -5
Vanessa snorted, a silent 'you and me both'. She'd seen weird. Different magical preserves, what have you, but this was a whole .... bigger. But she didn't say anything. She refused to show much sign of relating to the other blinkers. "Because," Vanessa said, her rich accent making the word seem a whole lot more important. "The rooms lead to many different locations. Some impossible by most standards. Often dangerous." Even though she said that, he was still walking toward the exit. Vanessa sighed and trailed after him, still talking. "It is," she said. "A place which messes with your mind. I wouldn't trust the rooms. Particularly not unless you are not with a senior blinker." She pointed to him. "'Blinker'. That is what you are. The act of appearing and disappearing here is called blinking. Now will you please stop eyeing the hallways as if it was an exotic land full of interesting things instead of the death trap that it is?" "You're only making it sound even more exciting!" Astolfo retorted back, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Doorways that can lead anywhere? Count me in!" If that was true, perhaps one led to the Reverse Side of the World. If so, maybe he could see his Master again... "Since you seem to know so much about this place already, wouldn't 'seniors' include you?" Flashing her a carefree grin, he picked up the pace and quickly arrived at the door. At her last statement, he gave the other blinker a thumbs up. "Dully noted!" His mind was already made up about exploring, so there was no way she was talking him out of it. The paladin pushed it open and stepped out, both eyes and mouth widening in awe at the endless expanse that awaited them. "Wooow! It goes on forever!" That wasn't an understatement either. The hall stretched so far into the distance that there was no seeing the end.
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 17, 2019 0:13:44 GMT -5
"I haven't been," said Myrnin with a sigh. He rubbed at his face, wishing the House would blink someone else in to take care of things. Someone who was good with kids. He was bad with even the immortal type! How was that possible? He pushed himself to his feet. "Don't got that way by yourself. The rooms are dangerous and going alone isn't a good idea." He wasn't mocking, but patronizing was a good word for it. "What's your problem with me anyway? I've never tried to hurt you, nor do I particularly have a desire to. Why are you throwing every attempt into getting away from me even if it's just to run into danger? Isn't that a contradiction to you in any way?" He didn't say more, because something told him Czeslaw was going to bolt. And what? Well, Myrnin would go after him. Because he really didn't want the kid getting hurt - particularly since it would feel like his fault. He had enough blood on his hands, even if Czes' wouldn't stay there. Czeslaw flinched and froze in place when Myrnin stood, instinctively taking it as a threat. The boy's dark eyes were still locked onto the other blinker, and his feet were indeed prepared to make a dash for it. I think we both know that's not true, he thought at the mention of danger, but didn't dare say it aloud lest someone else in the room hear it. Who knew, maybe his secret was out to the whole place, and there were more immortals to come? His hand hovered by the door handle. You say you've never tried to hurt me, and yet I've been hurt by you. He was worried about Myrnin being a threat, yes. But he was also worried that he was wrong. After the explanations from L, and the chances the other blinker had not taken, he was beginning to have doubts. He turned the handle and opened the door, moving quickly but not quite running when he escaped the living room. His arms hugged each other in front of his chest as he walked down the hallway, not desiring to be anywhere in particular. Just away. He wasn't worried about what may happen in a room, especially when alone... if that was possible in the House.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 17, 2019 4:54:28 GMT -5
"I haven't been," said Myrnin with a sigh. He rubbed at his face, wishing the House would blink someone else in to take care of things. Someone who was good with kids. He was bad with even the immortal type! How was that possible? He pushed himself to his feet. "Don't got that way by yourself. The rooms are dangerous and going alone isn't a good idea." He wasn't mocking, but patronizing was a good word for it. "What's your problem with me anyway? I've never tried to hurt you, nor do I particularly have a desire to. Why are you throwing every attempt into getting away from me even if it's just to run into danger? Isn't that a contradiction to you in any way?" He didn't say more, because something told him Czeslaw was going to bolt. And what? Well, Myrnin would go after him. Because he really didn't want the kid getting hurt - particularly since it would feel like his fault. He had enough blood on his hands, even if Czes' wouldn't stay there. Czeslaw flinched and froze in place when Myrnin stood, instinctively taking it as a threat. The boy's dark eyes were still locked onto the other blinker, and his feet were indeed prepared to make a dash for it. I think we both know that's not true, he thought at the mention of danger, but didn't dare say it aloud lest someone else in the room hear it. Who knew, maybe his secret was out to the whole place, and there were more immortals to come? His hand hovered by the door handle. You say you've never tried to hurt me, and yet I've been hurt by you. He was worried about Myrnin being a threat, yes. But he was also worried that he was wrong. After the explanations from L, and the chances the other blinker had not taken, he was beginning to have doubts. He turned the handle and opened the door, moving quickly but not quite running when he escaped the living room. His arms hugged each other in front of his chest as he walked down the hallway, not desiring to be anywhere in particular. Just away. He wasn't worried about what may happen in a room, especially when alone... if that was possible in the House. There was a deep sigh from Myrnin and he pushed up his shirt collar so it covered around his ears. This was more of a pain than he outwardly wanted to admit and harder to understand than he might sometimes think. Czeslaw clearly didn't believe him. But how many times did he have to explain that the time at the river hadn't been what the boy thought it was? Probably till the end of time, considering their own individual lifetimes. Nore ... Nore and Czeslaw made him almost wish to have those gold eyes. Just so he could look into their head to see how they worked, because interacting with them never really made him sure. At least with Nore he could be ignorant without it getting in the way. With Czes it was constantly and constriction of pain. And of course the boy hadn't even answered anything he'd said. Why would he want to be helpful and explain things to the poor confused vampire? He reached into a pocket, pulling out a small bag. He opened it, digging into it and pulling out a peanut. He popped it into his mouth without much consideration as he scuttled after Czes. He didn't run, since that would just case the boy to run, and then he'd get that look of wide-eyed panic and ... "Peanut?" he offered, from about a dozen yards behind and holding out the bag as if he expected Czes to have stretchy arms and reach that far.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 17, 2019 5:02:56 GMT -5
Vanessa snorted, a silent 'you and me both'. She'd seen weird. Different magical preserves, what have you, but this was a whole .... bigger. But she didn't say anything. She refused to show much sign of relating to the other blinkers. "Because," Vanessa said, her rich accent making the word seem a whole lot more important. "The rooms lead to many different locations. Some impossible by most standards. Often dangerous." Even though she said that, he was still walking toward the exit. Vanessa sighed and trailed after him, still talking. "It is," she said. "A place which messes with your mind. I wouldn't trust the rooms. Particularly not unless you are not with a senior blinker." She pointed to him. "'Blinker'. That is what you are. The act of appearing and disappearing here is called blinking. Now will you please stop eyeing the hallways as if it was an exotic land full of interesting things instead of the death trap that it is?" "You're only making it sound even more exciting!" Astolfo retorted back, casting a glance over his shoulder. "Doorways that can lead anywhere? Count me in!" If that was true, perhaps one led to the Reverse Side of the World. If so, maybe he could see his Master again... "Since you seem to know so much about this place already, wouldn't 'seniors' include you?" Flashing her a carefree grin, he picked up the pace and quickly arrived at the door. At her last statement, he gave the other blinker a thumbs up. "Dully noted!" His mind was already made up about exploring, so there was no way she was talking him out of it. The paladin pushed it open and stepped out, both eyes and mouth widening in awe at the endless expanse that awaited them. "Wooow! It goes on forever!" That wasn't an understatement either. The hall stretched so far into the distance that there was no seeing the end. "You have a weird definition of exciting," pointed out Vanessa. "I would have thought the possibility of death would, in fact, be the opposite of exciting." She braced her hand against the doorframe, feeling a wave of vertigo come on. She really needed to sleep, but it was keep herself like this or stab herself with her own sleeping darts. And she couldn't afford the latter. She looked back up at Astolfo and his excitement over the long hallway. The novelty had warn off ever so slightly for her. "It does, in fact, go on forever. Or at least a very long time for you to walk down." She nodded at the nearer doors. "Usually it makes no difference which you choose." She sighed, well aware by now that they would probably be entering a room. "I'm not particularly senior. I haven't had as much experience as to be that far past 'newbie', I am saddened to say. But I have been in several rooms, some of which have been deadly." It was going to come down to it one way or another. "Did you wish to go into one?"
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 17, 2019 15:31:10 GMT -5
Czeslaw was moving down the hallway at a moderate pace, managing to calm himself as he went. He had passed several rows of doors, not even glancing at one. But when Myrnin spoke from behind him, the boy's feet seemed to lodge in the floor. He was at an impasse. He could just keep saying what do you want, but it had become obsolete. He was beginning to understand what the other blinker wanted. At the same time, that didn't remove the frustration that it wasn't what Czeslaw had believed it to be. Steadily, the boy was being forced to see past face-value. Myrnin's persistence was working, at least so long as its intent was to abate the loathing directed at him. Convinced, Czes would not be. But doubt in his assumptions had taken over. It must have been the longest pause before such a response in the world, a response to say whether or not he would accept a mundane gift. His caution got the better of him, as would be the case for a while, but there was not the anger of before. "No." The boy's hands were together in front of his chest, clutching each other while he stayed restrained from Myrnin. His feet were less planted now than merely still, a minuscule change in his presence but one notable enough to suggest that the other blinker was allowed to approach. Not come too near, but approach. For Czes, such an allowance was enough to be equivalent to an apology.
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Post by HᥲꙆƒꙆɩɠᖾt on Feb 17, 2019 16:57:58 GMT -5
"You have a weird definition of exciting," pointed out Vanessa. "I would have thought the possibility of death would, in fact, be the opposite of exciting." She braced her hand against the doorframe, feeling a wave of vertigo come on. She really needed to sleep, but it was keep herself like this or stab herself with her own sleeping darts. And she couldn't afford the latter. She looked back up at Astolfo and his excitement over the long hallway. The novelty had warn off ever so slightly for her. "It does, in fact, go on forever. Or at least a very long time for you to walk down." She nodded at the nearer doors. "Usually it makes no difference which you choose." She sighed, well aware by now that they would probably be entering a room. "I'm not particularly senior. I haven't had as much experience as to be that far past 'newbie', I am saddened to say. But I have been in several rooms, some of which have been deadly." It was going to come down to it one way or another. "Did you wish to go into one?" "That's probably true!" Astolfo admitted, but then he continued. "But if we all decided to always hide away indoors because we were terrified of all the ways the outside world could kill us, then we'd be missing out on everything else the world has to offer!" That was how he felt anyway. Why throw away the life you were given by doing nothing with it and simply hiding away in fear? A wave of nostalgia hit the paladin hard after he finished, and he had to look away as he rubbed at one of his eyes, trying to hid the fact he was tearing up slightly. Even if he and the others had been fighting in a war they knew they might not survive, he still missed those times together. Sure, there had been death around every corner and some... rather unenjoyable events scattered throughout, but it still had been fun regardless. By the time he was back in the present, Astolfo just managed to catch Vanessa's final question, having missed everything else she said during his trip down memory lane. "Heck yeah! Let's go!" There was no pause to pick a door, or plan anything out, he just immediately chose the first one he looked at and went on through. The first thing that greeted the Servant was a huge tree, which he barely managed to stop himself from running into in his excitement. "Woah!" Skidding to a stop a mere foot away from it, he let out a sigh of relief. Seemed they ended up outside... A cool night breeze grazed his face as he began examining the area around him. A dark forest spread in every direction as far as the eye could see. Large glowing mushrooms grew all around the forest floor and fireflies danced through the air. The night sky was visible through the canopy of leaves over head, the light of the moon giving the whole place an even more otherworldly appearance than it already had.
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 17, 2019 19:34:41 GMT -5
Czeslaw was moving down the hallway at a moderate pace, managing to calm himself as he went. He had passed several rows of doors, not even glancing at one. But when Myrnin spoke from behind him, the boy's feet seemed to lodge in the floor. He was at an impasse. He could just keep saying what do you want, but it had become obsolete. He was beginning to understand what the other blinker wanted. At the same time, that didn't remove the frustration that it wasn't what Czeslaw had believed it to be. Steadily, the boy was being forced to see past face-value. Myrnin's persistence was working, at least so long as its intent was to abate the loathing directed at him. Convinced, Czes would not be. But doubt in his assumptions had taken over. It must have been the longest pause before such a response in the world, a response to say whether or not he would accept a mundane gift. His caution got the better of him, as would be the case for a while, but there was not the anger of before. "No." The boy's hands were together in front of his chest, clutching each other while he stayed restrained from Myrnin. His feet were less planted now than merely still, a minuscule change in his presence but one notable enough to suggest that the other blinker was allowed to approach. Not come too near, but approach. For Czes, such an allowance was enough to be equivalent to an apology. "They have salt on them," said Myrnin. It wasn't something said in an attempt to get Czeslaw to second guess his refusal. Instead it was a bland statement, like someone commenting on the weather. He'd stopped walking, not twelve yards away, but with enough distance as to be seen as some form of respect. He tossed a couple around, almost juggling them, before catching them in his mouth. One could think he was showing off, but he expression was as bland as the comment about salt. "What food do you like?" he asked suddenly. "Any preference? Just wondering. I know nothing about you ..."
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 17, 2019 22:17:19 GMT -5
Ougi still revealed nothing of her inner workings or emotions at his questioning, but did provide some answers. She said them in a way that meant she was telling it for telling’s sake, because she just happened to be talking about it and he just happened to be in her presence. Which was an ironic delivery considering they were the only two around, trapped inside a rowboat in the middle of a tropical sea. Her posture did seem to shift though when he paused in his list of oddities to explain that one had to believe they exist first. So then, it worked the same way in his universe. “Perhaps what you would consider uncommon just isn’t noticed much by those in other universes,” she said of his comment on vampires. “There are vampires where I am from. In fact, I was speaking to a vampire just before I showed up here,” she informed him. Ougi rowed steadily, showing no signs of relenting. The island, their only point of reference, got farther and farther away. The House was to be tested by this. What Ougi was hoping was to put enough pressure on it to maje a decision, to make something happen that they would not expect. And the key seemed to be showing no fear, and no suspicion one way or the other. It was a fake-out of sorts. “Where do you believe the boundary between language and understanding lies? What is the difference between this place translating our two different languages and it translating our modes of comprehension? After all, it is not as if common phrases and sayings translate directly.” She was rowing faster even while she thought, as though being distracted automatically increased her pace. “Do you think there is even a chance that this translation has a basis that is already a connection between these universes? There is a way we are all connected that this place is simply highlighting to us?” Caught up in what she was saying, Ougi was jolted forward when the boat ran aground. They were at the island. The island they had been rowing away from. Palm trees towered above them slightly inland. It reminded her of one of the first rooms she ever entered here; the Paradox House had a habit of caticature. "Hum," said Maladict, finding the idea that vampires would ever go unnoticed hard to fit within his idea of his world. The Disc made such a big deal about it - " We are expected to fit into their ideal world," hissed his father. "To give into their weaknesses. And when we do not, then they send someone to 'fix' us. For what? To become tame. To become safe. As if a lust for blood was somehow lesser than theirs of money and power." - that hiding away seemed impractical. But Mal didn't dwell on those thoughts and instead watched as the House shifted around to allow Ougi to run aground regardless of what she wanted. "Well," he muttered. "You got a reaction." He stood, but didn't get out of the boat. Instead, he cocked his head and asked, "You're move again, I think?" Until she'd mentioned language, he wouldn't have thought much about it. For a second, he wanted to say it had to be the House only translated language. That there could be no connection between them. But then he grudgingly rethought. "Language isn't just what you say. It's also body language and culture and several dozen other nuances. Either the House is having each of us perceive a completely different set of mannerisms and expected culture ... or there is some basis which doesn't makes us similar. As for expressions ... some already grate against what I know and mine to other blinkers. So either the House is picky about what it translates or there are commons between that as well."
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Post by mintedstar/fur on Feb 17, 2019 22:41:30 GMT -5
"You have a weird definition of exciting," pointed out Vanessa. "I would have thought the possibility of death would, in fact, be the opposite of exciting." She braced her hand against the doorframe, feeling a wave of vertigo come on. She really needed to sleep, but it was keep herself like this or stab herself with her own sleeping darts. And she couldn't afford the latter. She looked back up at Astolfo and his excitement over the long hallway. The novelty had warn off ever so slightly for her. "It does, in fact, go on forever. Or at least a very long time for you to walk down." She nodded at the nearer doors. "Usually it makes no difference which you choose." She sighed, well aware by now that they would probably be entering a room. "I'm not particularly senior. I haven't had as much experience as to be that far past 'newbie', I am saddened to say. But I have been in several rooms, some of which have been deadly." It was going to come down to it one way or another. "Did you wish to go into one?" "That's probably true!" Astolfo admitted, but then he continued. "But if we all decided to always hide away indoors because we were terrified of all the ways the outside world could kill us, then we'd be missing out on everything else the world has to offer!" That was how he felt anyway. Why throw away the life you were given by doing nothing with it and simply hiding away in fear? A wave of nostalgia hit the paladin hard after he finished, and he had to look away as he rubbed at one of his eyes, trying to hid the fact he was tearing up slightly. Even if he and the others had been fighting in a war they knew they might not survive, he still missed those times together. Sure, there had been death around every corner and some... rather unenjoyable events scattered throughout, but it still had been fun regardless. By the time he was back in the present, Astolfo just managed to catch Vanessa's final question, having missed everything else she said during his trip down memory lane. "Heck yeah! Let's go!" There was no pause to pick a door, or plan anything out, he just immediately chose the first one he looked at and went on through. The first thing that greeted the Servant was a huge tree, which he barely managed to stop himself from running into in his excitement. "Woah!" Skidding to a stop a mere foot away from it, he let out a sigh of relief. Seemed they ended up outside... A cool night breeze grazed his face as he began examining the area around him. A dark forest spread in every direction as far as the eye could see. Large glowing mushrooms grew all around the forest floor and fireflies danced through the air. The night sky was visible through the canopy of leaves over head, the light of the moon giving the whole place an even more otherworldly appearance than it already had. "You probably think that statement is logic," said Vanessa. "But going rushing out into the middle of the road when you haven't learned to look both ways yet is foolhardy." If she noticed him tearing up, she didn't call attention to it. She had no way to look into his head, but she didn't want to pry - yet. He left as quickly as she thought he would and she slowly followed after him with a sigh. Him nearly running into trees seemed ... almost usual. She somehow doubted she'd have to use a sleeping dart on him very often. It looked like he'd knock himself out. She looked around, eyes narrowed and body tense. There had been peaceful rooms before ... they never ended well. It was dark as well, which means all her other senses were focused on hearing something, anything, out of the ordinary. It looked otherwordly, yes, but she was used to that. "Notice the door disappeared," she pointed out. "I did warn you about these rooms. There isn't an exit until a task of some unknown part is completed."
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Post by Razzle Dazzle on Feb 17, 2019 22:46:16 GMT -5
Czeslaw turned to face Myrnin at this point. He kept his hands were they were, partially at the ready just in case. But he made no motion to either defend himself or run away. The question wasn't worth answering. Why would the other blinker want to know anyway? The boy genuinely struggled to comprehend his reasoning. Anyway, after being alive for two hundred years, he had to become accustomed to whatever trends in cuisine were currently going on. He wondered if he could name his likes and dislikes. "Who are you?" he countered. It was as though he hadn't even expected to say it. "What are you?" The words were hurried out of his mouth so that he couldn't take them back. He looked adamant though, back a little straighter as he faced him. He had to know these things; not just know, but hear them said to his face from the most direct source. His steadfast expression said he would not progress further without the information.
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Post by HᥲꙆƒꙆɩɠᖾt on Feb 18, 2019 0:13:26 GMT -5
"You probably think that statement is logic," said Vanessa. "But going rushing out into the middle of the road when you haven't learned to look both ways yet is foolhardy." If she noticed him tearing up, she didn't call attention to it. She had no way to look into his head, but she didn't want to pry - yet. He left as quickly as she thought he would and she slowly followed after him with a sigh. Him nearly running into trees seemed ... almost usual. She somehow doubted she'd have to use a sleeping dart on him very often. It looked like he'd knock himself out. She looked around, eyes narrowed and body tense. There had been peaceful rooms before ... they never ended well. It was dark as well, which means all her other senses were focused on hearing something, anything, out of the ordinary. It looked otherwordly, yes, but she was used to that. "Notice the door disappeared," she pointed out. "I did warn you about these rooms. There isn't an exit until a task of some unknown part is completed." "Huh?" Caught up in awe at the beauty around him, Astolfo hadn't noticed the door vanish. While he hadn't been expecting that to happen, it didn't concern him that much, even less so when Vanessa said there would be another exit. "Oh! You mean we have to figure out a puzzle? Sounds simple enough." That would probably be a lot easier to do from a better vantage point. Deciding on his next course of action, plus wanting to show off a bit now that the opportunity presented itself, he gave Vanessa a wink and held two fingers up in a V-sign. "Leave it to me!" Raising his other hand to his lips, he let out a loud whistle. And then stood there for a few awkward moments as nothing happened. "Uh, hello!" The Rider shouted at the air, a pouty frown crossing his face. "You're ruining my moment!" Deciding to try again, he repeated the whistle, only for it to achieve the same results... Letting out a frustrated sigh, "Ugh, fine. Let's go! Hippogriff!" The beast had to come when it's True Name was called. Or so he'd thought... When even that failed to summon his steed, Astolfo's expression changed from pouty to genuinely worried. Why wasn't his Noble Phantasm working? He was certain he had plenty of Mana. As a test, he decided to try a different one and held out an outstretched hand. In a yellow flash of light, a golden lance materialized in his grip, showing that this one still worked. "That's strange... What's keeping me from using Hippogriff?" Was it the House? How was it capable of just out right nullifying something like a Noble Phantasm? Meanwhile, a small ways off from where the two blinkers were standing, a suspicious looking pair of fireflies lazily hung in the air, as if observing them.
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Post by <Raintalon> on Feb 18, 2019 18:58:46 GMT -5
"Are you sure about that?" Joey questioned doubtfully. Sketchy as it was he continued to linger around this stranger for awhile longer. Dude was eventually gonna break one way or another. "I'm all for jokes b - I'm sorry another world?" Okay, now this was reaching towards some twilight zone level of nonsense earning the detective his undying attention. He sighed tiredly, propping himself on his steadied feet. "Alright, O' wise one, what have you got for me?" “Yyyyeah...pretty sure?” said Matt slowly, getting more and more confused by the second. Couldn’t he see? Well, maybe he couldn’t. He shouldn’t assume things like that. He chuckled at the ‘o wise one’ jab, and sat up a little straighter, ready to give him ‘the speech’ even if the circumstances were a little strange. “I got quite a bit, actually,” he said, crossing his arms. “You’re in the Paradox House. It’s like, an alternate dimension...or at least that’s what people say. That’s our best guess...but it’s definitely not wherever you’re from. I mean, have a look around - surely this place doesn’t look just like where you were before.”
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Post by <Raintalon> on Feb 18, 2019 20:07:50 GMT -5
“Nope, nope, not impossible,” countered Matt, leaning forward and bracing his head on his hands. “Just super unlikely...and well, not anywhere near scientifically proven, until now. So, I mean, I don’t blame you for not believing me. I’m still not even sure I believe me.” He knew denial when he saw it. The poor guy was too jittery to even take off his hood and have a look at where he was. He was a bit clueless as to how to proceed, though... “So, mystery man...what’s your name? Mine’s Matt,” he offered at last, deciding to start with a simple introduction. Nice and friendly, not likely to scare him into thinking about alternate dimensions if he wasn’t ready to.
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