Action @ the Bay/Genessia City

[chaosvessel]

[When he first wakes, he doesn't attempt to open the coffin, instead, he spends time wondering if everything over the past five years had been just another dream...another nightmare, that that is reality. The soft interior of his coffin is strange, though, and it gets his attention. This isn't his coffin. It was far too luxurious to be the one he'd been confined to for 30 years.

The cover slides open, and the pale man inside takes a look around, frowning down at the things he's been left with before stepping out into the waters surrounding the coffin, metallic boots sliding easily enough through the pool.]

Mmm.

[The only sound he makes at first as he off-handedly pockets the bills and makes his way to the ramp and up to the street level. Crimson eyes dark as a hand moves to his hip and a very large three-barreled pistol at his him. He doesn't draw the weapon, but relaxes quickly enough, clearly seeing that the danger has passed. The holographic glow makes his face, partially obscured by the wide color of a tattered red opera cape, seem to glow in the low light of the early evening. He tilts his head to the side once the recording comes to a close, turning his gaze toward the map stand, thin eye-brows lowering as he turns toward it.]

...maps. Captives. [He lets out a quiet sigh.] What's next?

Comments

Hello

[clevermind]

[Belle is singing softly as she makes her way from the library. She has a basket under one arm with a few books in it, all are famous literary works written by writers from the early turn of the century. She's slowly filling in the blanks of her history and future while also taking recommendations from friends and acquaintances.]

How does a moment last forever?
How can a story never die?
It is love we must hold onto
Never easy, but we try

[Memories of her father rise to mind as she fondly looks down at the books that she's borrowed. Her path takes her near the bay and her home isn't far beyond. At first she isn't paying attention to it's opening and continues the sweet words of her song.]

Sometimes our happiness is captured
Somehow, our time and place stand still
Love lives on inside our hearts and always will

[Her voice trails to a pause when she notices the dark figure handing in the shadows of the bay. Belle doesn't plan to be a welcoming comity of sorts but she also can't rightly ignore him either. Holding her basket close to her front she steps forward, her light colored dress swirling around her ankles.]

Hello. Have you just arrived?

Hello

[chaosvessel]

[Her singing catches his attention, pulling him from the darkness of his thoughts back into the reality that is the strange situation he's awoken to. If it weren't for her dress, he'd swear he'd lain eyes on a ghost and he watches her approach raptly.

He hadn't expected anything less than being addressed by someone who walked through these darkened streets so much like Aerith and he nodded when she did.]

Mmm.

[His gaze moved to her basket before returning to her face.]

You seem out of place here.

[clevermind]

[Belle can feel her smile widening at his remark. She can't take issue with the comment when she knows it to be true.]

You seem out of place too.

[Her voice is sweet and kind while her gaze is clear and warm.]

Is that a bad thing?

[chaosvessel]

[He hazards a glimpse toward the hologram, then back to Belle before shaking his head once, slowly.]

No.

[He motions with his left hand toward the hologram, clad in it's gleaming, bronze gauntlet.]

If that tells the truth, we're all out of place here.

[clevermind]

[Belle's gaze follows his hand to the hologram and then returns to his features. She prefers to look at people when she speaks to them and Vincent isn't nearly as terrifying as the Beast that she'd once been held captive by.]

I'm afraid it's true but I'd like to think it isn't all bad.

[She's skilled at looking on the bright side.]

I've been told that the time in our realms don't continue without us.

[chaosvessel]

[It was never wise to believe everything you were told, but the hologram had claimed the same. Of course, she could simply be quoting what it'd told him. If it weren't true, there were things he desperately needed to return to.]

I see.

[But why wouldn't time move on without him? His time should have been ended long ago as it was.]

Handy welcome message. [He turns back to her, his arm once again getting lost in the shadows of his cloak.] This must happen often.

[clevermind]

[Belle's expression saddened around it's edges, turning bright lines into soft somber edges.]

Yes. People arrive and are taken home without any noticeable pattern. I can't say very much about this place despite living her for a few months now but I do know that the hologram is accurate.

[After all, Gaston doesn't remember everything that Belle does.]

[chaosvessel]

I wonder what they want.

[He comment isn't made to anyone in particular, and he turns back toward the Bay, toward the coffin he'd arrived in, back to the hologram, and finally back to Belle.]

It's hard to say.

[clevermind]

Perhaps if you learned more.

[Belle spoke with a slight raise to her eyebrow. She wasn't used to someone who said so few words, half of which were speaking to no one in particular.]

[chaosvessel]

[He gave a nod and turned toward her.]

What have you learned?

[clevermind]

[Belle's smile widens slightly.]

I know a lot but not nearly as much as I wish. I have some notes at home, I'd be happy to share them with you though I can also resist what I remember here. It's a lot of information though, I'm worried I might leave something out.

[She wonders what he's specifically curious about.]

[chaosvessel]

What do you know of the people who brought us here?

[He has a feeling he should probably be getting home. Things were getting...intense.]

[clevermind]

Nothing.

[She looks back at the bay with a thoughtful expression.]

People come and go but there isn't anything about those who brought us here. The cities have spirits but I don't know if they are the culprit or not.

[chaosvessel]

Mmm.

[Another noncommittal response from Valentine.]

Does anyone know?

[clevermind]

I don't think so but it might be worth asking. You can address everyone on the odd machines they give you upon waking up.

[chaosvessel]

[His brows furrowed slightly at her description and he looked down at the phone she had, mind drifting to the phone in his own pocket.]

...it's a phone.

[clevermind]

[Belle looks down at the device.]

Is that what it's called.

[She has no reason not to believe him.]

[chaosvessel]

[He casts his gaze in her direction for a moment before looking forward once again and nodding.]

Yes.

[clevermind]

[Belle inspects the phone again, a frown pulling at her lips.]

I believe that's what they called it in the reading material but I always thought of it as a magic mirror of sorts. [Technology is new to Belle though she has a very steep learning curve.]

[chaosvessel]

Magic...mirror?

[Vincent had never heard of such a thing, of course, magic wasn't something to be manipulated to his knowledge. It just was. Materia contained it and it couldn't do anything aside from what it was designed to do.]

[clevermind]

[Belle looks up at Vincent and nods her head softly.]

Yes, I am still learning about technology and magic. Genessia has a bit of both, depending on where you go.

[It is very strange for Belle but she's naturally curious and open to new things.]

[chaosvessel]

[His world also had both, much more technology than magic these days, but there had been a time...]

...you mean...an enchantment. Something from a faery tale.

[clevermind]

Yes. I hadn't thought they were real but...

[Her head tilts to the side as she remembers the last few days before she arrived in Genessia.]

-before I arrived here I found myself in an enchanted castle. I'm being to think that anything is possible.

[chaosvessel]

...and enchanted castle?

[He blinks.]

...what do you mean?

[clevermind]

I don't know really. Everything happened rather fast. I had..

[She pauses, wondering if she should mention her father.]

I was a prisoner there. The candelabras and clocks talked. There was no one in the castle except for a beast.