open!

[internalizings]

Who: Tear and YOU!
When: Day 13
Where: all around!
What: arrival, investigation

flower shop/inn

[ it's lucky that Tear's found herself a job pretty much off the bat. working in a flower shop is a lot different from her duties as a soldier, but it's not bad. it's actually nice. ... strange, though, when she comes to her room each night and finds letters addressed from... someone? they're love confessions, too. ]

... Excuse me, [ she says to the nearest person she finds, holding the letter up, ] you wouldn't happen to know who's been leaving these, would you?

beach

[ it's warm, but it's nothing Tear can't handle. she actually thinks the beach is lovely, with the curious shells (she's picked up a few, herself) and-- ]

HEY SWEETCHEEKS, WHY DON'T YOU SHARE SOME OF THAT ICE CREAM WITH US? YOU COULD LAY OFF THE SWEETS ONCE IN A WHILE, YOU KNOW!

[ ugh. ]

Was that really necessary? [ she calls up at them, looking completely exasperated and done with the whole thing.

additionally, she can be found strolling along the beach, which is where she spends quite a bit of her free time. ]

Comments

[glorious]

[Van used to have certain fondness for the beach but never quite had a chance to relax and enjoy it. However, after his most recent experience in the labyrinth that led to him washing up on shore with a missing ear, the idea of spending a day off on the beach was...unappealing to say the least. Instead, Van has chosen to take an aimless walk through the center of town -- if only to keep himself in motion and to allow the bustling of the city to keep himself from thinking too hard about his most recent mistakes or the current situation...]

[It's a plan that works better than he anticipated, as he catches sight of a very familiar young woman by the flower shop -- a sight that causes him to hesitate as a countless other thoughts run through his mind. The hesitation only lasts for a moment. There's only one way he can proceed, and if the worst case scenario has occurred then he'll simply have to keep his wits about him and compensate accordingly.]

[Van walks casually towards his sister with a bright, yet gentle smile on his face.]

Mystearica! I'm sorry to have missed your arrival.

[internalizings]

[ she's just cleaning up for the day--her hands are slightly dirty from the various tasks she's done. for someone who's used to wearing gloves, it's both a freeing and strange feeling.

... almost as strange as hearing that voice. it's funny, that she should meet him, considering her request to the queen. at first, she's not sure what to say; she's so surprised to see him, after all. ]

--Vandesdelca? I... didn't expect to see you here.

[ ... considering their last meeting, she's a little unsure. ]

[glorious]

[Van notes the hesitation in his sister's response, but it's nowhere quite as startling as the response he received from the replica. Something that immediately alleviates most of his concerns, leaving him only with the tiny detail of the fact that his younger sister followed him into a place that will undoubtedly expose her to the same torture he went through only yesterday...

[He'd need to find some way of dealing with that, but for now reintroductions take priority.]

I arrived on the first ship to this place, but that was only two weeks ago. It's likely my message simply didn't reach you before the Queen's did.

[Possibly because he never sent any messages, but Tear doesn't need to know that small detail.]

[internalizings]

[ ... ?? immediately for her, something is wrong. it's not customary for someone to just forget their sister has broken into their student's home and attempted to murder them. what's going on, then--? and he's been here two weeks already?

there's something definitely... strange going on here. ]

No, I haven't received any messages. You've been here two weeks, [ she replies, more to herself. ] I saw you only earlier today. [ again with the hesitance. what's going on? ]

[glorious]

[...Ah. The odd situation of time is still a factor here as well. At least now he can drop the smile and display some (mostly) genuine concern.]

I see. There have been instances of time behaving unusually in this place. Most likely this is merely another one of those instances.

Can you tell me about earlier in your day today? Just so we can see how much of a difference in time we're dealing with, of course.

[internalizings]

[ ... are you sure you want to know, Van... she'll oblige, but... ]

I left the Qliphoth and found you in Baticul, at the fon Fabre manor.

[fauxfabre]

[Luke is returning to the inn after his shift at Weapons N' More. He's not really paying any mind to his surroundings or the other tenants, still tired and emotionally worn from the last labyrinth, but a very familiar voice jolts him into awareness.]

No way...

[He looks about until he finds the source, and sure enough there's Tear... holding up and asking about some sheet of paper? It doesn't matter– Luke practically dashes right up to her, looking happier than he has in quite a while.]

Tear!

[internalizings]

...!

[ yes, she knows that voice. true, they haven't known each other long, but it's hard to mistake that voice for anyone else's. Tear's shocked, at first--what happened to his hair? and there's something different about him, she thinks... ]

Luke!

[fauxfabre]

[It's definitely Tear! But that look she's giving him is.. a little odd. Like more than just surprised to find him here.]

You okay? When did you get here?

[internalizings]

[ shouldn't she be asking him that? it's not like Luke to be so.... considerate. ]

I'm just fine, [ she says, more than confused, her brows furrowing. ] I've only just arrived. Have you been here long, yourself?

[ he must have, if he's cut his hair and everything. ]

[whopraysfor]

The seagulls are worse than most. Do you need any help?

[Zack had been reading. Despite the weather, he's still fully dressed, but he was sitting out in the Sun. It seemed to be helping his healing after the last labyrinth.]

[internalizings]

[ SIGHS. she turns to him. ]

Unless they intend to attack me, I think I'll be just fine. Thank you, though, for your offer.

[whopraysfor]

If they decided to attack you, you'd probably be better poised to defend yourself than I would, to be honest.

[internalizings]

I'm lucky the Queen allowed me to keep my weapons. I'd feel far more vulnerable if she hadn't.

[ a pause. ]

My name is Tear Grants.

[whopraysfor]

Zack Marshall. And, I imagine she had no reason to ask you to disarm. Especially considering you're here to clear out labyrinths.

[internalizings]

It would be unwise for a competent ruler to consciously hinder the progress of whoever they've gone to for help.

[ ... ]

Can you tell me a bit about the labyrinths? I'm still unsure of exactly what they entail.

[ninetyninelives]

[wearing an eyepatch over his brown eye oops]

They're not good to eat, either.

[whopraysfor]

I can't say I'd have tried that normally.

[ninetyninelives]

I was hungry, and it was being obnoxious.

[whopraysfor]

Do you normally eat things that you catch?

[trying not to judge, but he is curious]

[ninetyninelives]

[wearing an eyepatch]

The letters? I wouldn't worry about them.

[internalizings]

[ noting that... ]

Do you know who's behind sending them?

[ninetyninelives]

No, there's lots of options.

[internalizings]

I never would have guessed. The town doesn't seem all that large.

[ninetyninelives]

Large enough to have options!