text/ACTION

[dhil]

It is too cold.

[That is the warning. What is it a warning to? Amalu is in someone's house. Somewhere, someone has a part of their house that is obviously a lot darker than the others.

It may be a whole room, or just a corner, or maybe your closet or under your bed just will not illuminate no matter how much light you shine on it.

You can't blame them! They're not used to cold! And shoes are passe.]

[[ooc: No really, feel free to assume they are anywhere in your character's house or business. They don't like being chilly and chances are, they've probably already taken some food. Gomen]]

Comments

[Action]

[badly_behaved_priest]

Some houses are much more dangerous to appear in than others. Some contain grumpy, trigger happy monks who are all too used to the sudden, unwelcome appearance of creatures they don't want around.

Sanzo was displeased to wake up to the knowledge that something was in the house that wasn't Drake or the birds. Adrenaline snapped him awake, bypassing his usual sluggishness when getting up. He snatched his gun off the bedside table and slid out of bed, bare feet silent on the hardwood floor. Drake was still away, he noted and was grateful for that, it was just him and the whatever-that-was.

It was close, on the second floor? Yes. There were only two other rooms on the second floor, a bathroom and a spare bedroom. He'd check the latter first. He pushed the door open and held the gun out, hammer pulled back, ready. With his elbow, he flicked the light on and scanned the room. The closet. The light refused to banish the shadows just inside the half-open door.

"Out," he barked at the closet. In an oversized sweater and pajama pants, he didn't strike quite the imposing figure he did with his robes, but the gun was enough.

Re: [Action]

[dhil]

They are woefully unaware of guns. They do know they are being given an order though, and the shadows ripple. For a moment, things would seem... wrong. Painfully, terrifyingly wrong. Like there was something in there that no one should ever have to see, something that certainly didn't belong out in the light-

Until all seven feet of them materialized, looking at the gun with no small amount of curiosity and confusion. They tilt their head this way and that, looking from Sanzo, to the gun, and then back at Sanzo again as the wrongness in the air would fade. Other than the brilliantly glowing eyes, they'd seem human enough...

And they'd sort of... gesture at the gun. Even make a motion to try and touch it. Pretty much as if they've never seen one before, which honestly wouldn't be that surprising.

[badly_behaved_priest]

Sanzo felt a chill that spread to his stomach as the thing started to move. It was not quite the same as the wrong darkness he'd seen before, but close enough. He showed no fear, however, his hand was steady as it formed into... something more person like. Taking on a more recognizable form didn't exclude it from being a threat, so he did not relax. If it made one wrong move-

He jerked his hand away from their touch, the barrel pointing at their head instead of their chest. As far he knew, it could be trying to disable the gun. He didn't trust it one bit.

"Back."

[dhil]

They still didn't seem to understand the importance of the gun, but when he told them to get back, well... They were polite enough to stop, backing up a bit and letting out a soft, dry squeak. Alright, look! They aren't touching it. No games, they promise. They even held their hands up to show they themselves had no weapon on them, and didn't intend on attacking.

They knew that gesture, at least.

The being still seemed deeply confused, staring at Sanzo and then back at the gun with growing curiosity. Apparently no one told them hiding in other peoples houses was bad.

[badly_behaved_priest]

"Can you speak?" Sanzo asked coldly. The creature seemed nervous, non-hostile, but that was no reason to cut it any slack, not yet. It was still in the house and still a threat, whatever it was. Shadow monsters didn't get a pass until he was damn sure it wasn't going to lunge the second he lowered the gun.

[dhil]

Speak? They shook their head, letting out another dry, almost inaudible squeak. Sorry, Sanzo. They shouldn't let you hear their voice, that would be irresponsible. They mimed typing, before pulling their communicator out of their robe, gesturing at it.

They could always type, though! Sanzo wouldn't mind that would he?

[badly_behaved_priest]

Sanzo eyed them for a long, tense moment before finally lowering the gun. So at least it could understand him. It was a 'real' thing, not like most of the residents of this strange world. That didn't necessarily make it any better than the 'fake' people.

"Fine. Go ahead. Explain what the hell you're doing in my house," he growled.

[dhil]

They start typing away, and the answer comes quickly enough, the being appearing apologetic enough.

It is cold.

... That's it! They're cold, so they figured they could just hide in a house somewhere. They didn't figure someone would find them.

[badly_behaved_priest]

Sanzo squinted at the text and then at the intruder. Seriously?

"You broke into my house because it's cold? You have a better excuse than that?" This thing might be serious or it might not. Sanzo didn't put much stock in being trusting.

[youfool]

Ted, filthy tramp that he is, doesn't have a permanent residence. He has his bag; a small opening into a big void that serves as his dewlling. Thus, he lived the life of, at best, a knight errant who traveled where fancy or duty took him.

He got into it again, retiring from the day's activity. It was always dark inside, and only artificial light could help him settle comfortably, even though the conents of that void made themselves available to him. One by one he lit some lamps, wondering if some reading wouldn't help him wind down.

One lamp was very odd; the one nearest his bed. It seemed to be working; but the light didn't travel as far as the others, though the bulb was in just as good condition. This gave him a terrible shock. Was the darkness getting thicker? Would he need more intense lights?

Hold on...the light only stopped in certain directions. As if something was blocking it. This made him afraid again. He had a love-hate relationship with the bag; ultimately, he thought it was bad and only fit for someone like him who'd deserved it. Was something else here? It shouldn't be. Or...should it? Was something there to take him to task?

"Hello?" He's not the most cautious person.

[dhil]

Oh! They didn't know this was Teds house! Oh! How lucky!

From the shadows, they collect themselves, looking pleased to see him, wiggling their fingers pleasantly. Hello, Theodore! They missed you!

The familiar tone from the communicator would hint that they've already started 'talking'.

Hello, Ted! I did not know this was your house. I hope you do not mind, it is getting very cold outside, I wanted to come inside to stay warm.

[youfool]

"Oh, Amalur! Fancy seeing you here." Delight momentarily eclipsed embarrassment. But it didn't take long for shame to resurface.

"This...isn't really a good place for that or anything else. Come, I'll see you out." Not in a huffy way, mind. He liked company plenty, so long as it were in the blessed outside proper.

"Weren't you staying with some others? They let you use their cookery, if I recall correctly. Your robes do look a little thin; have you tried warmer or thicker layers? I don't know if I've got anything quite your size, but I can check just as soon as we make our exit. How have you been making out, apart from the cold?"

[dhil]

See them out? They just got here! Their face, what one could see of it, fell.

But it is warm in here. And Ted was in here, and they liked talking to Ted. Can I not just stay the night? Please? It is nice to speak with someone again, I missed talking to you, Ted. As for the rest of it-

I do not want new clothes. I like my clothes. Change wasn't something they enjoyed, they'd remained pretty static over the years and shifting up to something else was an uncomfortable thought.

Why is it so cold? Why can it not be warm longer? I do not understand.

[youfool]

An appropriate expression; Ted's heart fell at the thought of being base enough to receive company here, of all places.

"Even so, it's really no place to entertain. We'd do better at the bottom of the ocean. Anywhere outside would be better than this; let's talk in more pleasant places. I can even put us up in an inn if you like."

Step step, almost there. Keep up Ammy!

"Oh, well that's the beauty about layers: you just wear things on top! Thus you can keep your old clothes and have new ones simultaneously. Talk about having your cake and eating it too!"

Ah, philosophy of weather.

"Prefer something more tropical, eh? It's a pity nothing lies on an equator in Genessia, or else you'd probably have sunny and hot places year-round. Though I'm surprised you'd prefer it; I'd think a desert-dweller like yourself would appreciate anything to get away from the heat. Much like my Cactuar likes moisture wherever he can get it, despite coming from sandy places himself. Ah, but deserts get very cold at night too, don't they? How did you cope then? Well, trust that just as there is a time to create and a time to destroy, so there is a time to be warm and a time to be cold, in keeping with the wonderful rhythm of everything."

[dhil]

It seems fine here, Ted. They didn't understand the haste to leave, they were getting so comfortable too! But they didn't lag or linger, their strides were more than wide enough to keep up with Ted, no matter how energetic the human was.

What is wrong with the house? Because that seemed to be the issue. There must be something wrong with the house.

I have never looked for clothes before. More nervousness, something else they didn't really want to do. Bother looking for something new to cover up something old and... Well it wasn't because they were lazy, exactly. Just not in any hurry to try something they didn't see a big point in. It couldn't stay cold for that long, could it?

I miss the desert. It was warm and dry, and at night it was cool. We had blankets for that, and then in the morning, it was back to our usual clothes. It was very predictable. That had been nice, even if they knew they should be more eager for adventure. They liked the predictability.

It was warm for most of the time though. How long is it to be cold? It cannot be cold for much longer, it has already been cold for some months now.

[youfool]

"That's kind of you to say," he marked in a mildly mournful way. Amalu is very kind, he thought. There is most something definitely wrong with the house. Same thing that was wrong with Ted. And it wasn't even a house, so there's that.

"Let's not speak of that. Ah! We're almost out." He spoke as if they had just escaped a stay in prison. The mild lights from outside shone their way in the preternaturally dark void, and Ted offered his hand to come out.

When someone says texts things like "I've never done that before", Ted takes that as the perfect opportunity to do just that. Novelties are the greatest pleasures of all! Of course Amalu was raring and willing to go.

"Mm, well it might be colder for some months yet; perhaps as far as March. That's the trouble when Persephone eats the seeds she shouldn't. Have you heard that story? Oh, let's walk while we talk. Get the blood flowing." [Does Amalu have blood, he wondered? Probably.]

"I've got a selection of coats you can try. Oh, how about a leather jacket?" Assuming they're both well out of the bag and Ted has since retrieved it, he'd fish one out. "A rougher texture than your robes, I'm sure, but the aesthetic if very gruff."

[dhil]

There's nothing wrong with it. It's a great not!house, Ted. Learn to love what you have. I like it. May as well put that out there now, maybe that would help cheer Ted up!

They took his hand as he offered it, and out they went, the shadow blinking owlishly at the light outside. No Ted, they do not want to go, they were hoping you'd change your mind and decide to stay in the nice dark not!house. Maybe play some games or tell stories or something, you know. Fun inside stuff because it is cold.

I have heard the story of Persephone, yes. But there is no winter in the desert. In Greece, perhaps, but not the desert. Walking and texting was a difficult feat, considering they had to watch where they walked, but they soldiered on, making sure to keep close to Ted.

Can I not just stay inside during winter?

[hellish_butler]

[In Everglade, anything can happen, right? And Amalu happens to find refuge in a demon's mansion (classical English Victorian style) which is his subarchway, and within the living room with the fireplace that is cold with no fire. Amalu can enter it as long he has a pendant on him.

Sebastian gave his...surprised guest some regard, when he complains of the cold. Sebastian is a classic demon, the Faustian kind, and he can...well, he tell what Amalu is by the sense of his dark aura, though he wasn't sure if the both came from the same realm of hell. Hell is a big place.]

I apologized. I don't expect visitors. If you wait here, me and my staff* shall get the firewood for the fireplace.

[OOC: *NPC sprites created by Everglade spirits within the subarchway]

[dhil]

[To be honest, they didn't expect to be seen either. So that made the two of them very surprised.

They'd be offended at the suggestion they were some hell created being though. Excuse you, they're not a demon in any sense of the word]

I do not want to take your time.

[Text on the communicator, it seemed]

I just do not like being cold. Inside is warmer than outside.

[hellish_butler]

[Oh pardon that then. Doesn't make a difference considering everyone is stuck in Genessia for an indefinite amount of time anyway.

Still, the demon doesn't want anything from him and it's not his style to shoo people away. Sebastian, at best, is very neutral. Just a neighborhood businessman.]

It's no trouble at all. It is cold. If you give me a moment.

[With the help of his staff, they gathered the firewood to put into the fireplace, and it took a while for the fire to build up until the entire living room is warm.]

My name is Sebastian and this is my manor. It's snowing outside. Would you like to stay for the night until you're ready to leave in the morning? I mean, I have so many spare rooms. [Shrugged.] About 300 of them, and I'm the only occupant here.

[dhil]

Why do you have so many rooms if you live alone? Would it not be better to have a small house?

[They began to wander a bit, curious of the massive place. Since it was indeed warmer inside than it was outside, they found no issue with snooping.

A little]

Is that snow? I have never seen it before. How amazing it is. If it weren't so cold I would like it, it is like wet sand.

[hellish_butler]

[That's fine with him, having Amalu snooping around a big house meant for rich people. Considering it's a subarchway and Sebastian sacrificed a piece of himself to get it, the mansion cost...literally free. Everything looks real, but it's really a replica of the real place back in his homeworld. That's why the demon is pleased to have someone appreciate the fine decor of the house and use it.]

Probably, but mansions are better with more space. Yes, that's snow. It's really water made into ice that falls from the clouds in the sky. Like very...icy rain.

[Anyway, some hospitality is in order.]

If you're cold, would you like something to drink or eat? I usually offer guests coffee, tea, or wine, and serve dinner.

[dhil]

Icy rain. How interesting. I have never seen it before.

[They were debating using their real voice, as their senses began to settle on the demon in the room with them. Surely he could tolerate listening to them, right? Demons were beings of darkness, weren't they? They'd just have to slip it in at some point and watch for a reaction]

Yes please.

[The text was calm. Their expression and body language was excitement at the mention of food.]

I would greatly appreciate a meal, if it isn't too much trouble for you.

[hellish_butler]

Well, that's a first.

[He's a demon to a core, and he can only feed on a human soul he made a contract with...which is one. Sound simplistic, but true. Other than that, nothing special, other than he took a form and appearance of a human to make himself look passable in the human world.]

Not at all, if you follow me to the dining room, the staff will make a meal for you. What do you like? I got steaks, potatoes, chicken or if you want fish, we have that.

[dhil]

Fish?

[They've never eaten fish before. They wouldn't mind trying that.]

May I try a piece of fish?

[Just don't let them in the kitchen or they'll eat it raw.]