CHAPTER 2 ; MINGLE

[themodsgrimm]

The Story Continues... CHAPTER 233 Narrators Remain ; There’s nothing to shake up the feeling of helplessness and betrayal quite like some renovations. Residents in the castle will find a gentle rumble stirring them out of their sleep on Monday morning, and if they choose to find the source of the noise, they’ll notice a newly constructed staircase on the second floor. It stretches up, up, up and will guide the Narrators to a third floor with all types of new installments to the castle. Go ahead, crack open a book, try your hand at some potion mixing. What could possibly go wrong? Just as last week, the morning that the dining hall opens, the tapestries of Ann Takamaki, Soo-won, and Dave Strider will all suddenly catch flame from the bottom, burning up and up until the entire tapestry is gone. Anyone who ventures outside will also find that the scenery has warmed up considerably. Snow no longer dusts the ground, but rather the warm sun and pleasant chirping of birds greet you to the castle grounds. The area has also been expanded, a new jousting grounds available for play and recreation. A set of stables stands next to the grounds, but anyone who ventures inside will find only hear the occasional, phantom whinny of a horse and – find some rather large feathers? Interesting. Finally, partners will find themselves unable to rest peacefully yet another week. While no paranoia creeps over anyone’s shoulders, when night falls and they find themselves sleeping, they’ll instead see dreams – or rather, some memories of their partner. Apparently the Crafters would rather that you all get to know each other sooner, rather than later. Hopefully you don’t see anything you’re not meant to. Welcome to Week 2, everyone! Today we've introduce new castle locations and brought a new round of partner effects, so please review those, including the Outside section on the Locations page. If you'd like to have your characters interact with the laboratory, please feel free to PP the mods! We would also like to remind players to submit all of their Prologue PCs and new PCs at the Private Conversations page and review the weekly ooc notes for important details in the castle. Something exciting will be arriving on Wednesday, June 20th so keep your eyes peeled for that as well. full navigation. locations taken (statuses) stories (profiles) info & faq wishing well private conversations

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[holybind]

[ Zelos reels in his knee-jerk reaction to react, loudly.

Instead, he takes a deep breath, and offers this once Kyouka is at least being tended to (see he's practical when he needs to be!!) — ]

Hey, idiot. You're bleeding.

[ Directed at Reyna, obviously. And then to Kyouka: ]

You doin' okay, princess?

[londonstar]

Yeah, she's doing splendidly. [ guess who's in an even worse mood than usual ] If you're going to be useless, then at least get us some water and alcohol to help clean the wounds.

[holybind]

Sorry, was I talking to you?

[ He says that, but he does go and get what Waver asks for (and he takes some satisfaction in leaving before Waver can answer) ]

I'll help with first aid if any of these ladies specially request little ol' Zelos, but otherwise it seems like you all have it covered. Don't wanna smother anyone!

[londonstar]

Then go away!

[ is he petty enough that he'll call out to zelos' retreating figure just to have the last word? yeah. ]

[holybind]

[ Zelos offers nothing more than a wave when he leaves, and when he returns he comes back with Waver's wishlist. ]

Catch, nerd!

[ The bottle he throws at Waver, the water and cloth he politely sets down. ]

Don't say I never did anything for you. I'm a hero and a saint!

[nivation]

[ Princess....

She hopes Zelos is different from Fitzgerald. ]

I'll be fine. I'm not dead.

[ Yet.

Don't pay attention to blood slowing seeping through her bandages. It's fine. ]

[holybind]

[ I can neither confirm nor deny that. ]

That sure is the spirit.

[ He smiles wryly and hunches down on his knees so he's more eye-level with her. ]

Mind telling me how exactly this happened?

[nivation]

.... Rabbits are my favorite animal.

[ There is one singular good thing that came from this ordeal, and she's holding it very, very carefully. It also doesn't answer his question. ]

[toughchoices]

[When she hears the sound of his voice, her gaze seeks his out - and then she registers what he's said. That's when she grimaces.]

Thanks. I hadn't noticed.

[...eh, if she can still sling sarcasm his way she's probably fine]

[holybind]

[ Zelos opens and closes his mouth several times— gearing up to speak and then relenting. ]

Actually, you know what— wait here for a second. I mean, not like you can go anywhere since you got yourself all banged up doing something stupid.

[ With a snort, he's off, gone to fetch someone who can drive his point home better than he can.]

[toughchoices]

[...waits here i guess!!!

but she doesn't look happy about it]

[resumed]

[Reyna will probably hear his voice before she sees him, mostly because he's asking Zelos to explain what the hell he's dragging him away for. This hadn't been a good day for a few reasons already but it was managable if he stayed away from other people. Then again, as they round the corner and he spots both Reyna and Kyouka (Kyouka being attended to, as she should, and this doesn't make him feel any better) he stops. His expression goes more blank than usual and he loses what little color he has left in his face. But those are the two most important people to him in this castle battered and bloodied and bruised (and holding a rabbit??) which gives him pause for all of fifteen seconds.

Before he starts yelling. Loudly. In Italian. He pulls away from Zelos and rushes toward her, arms flailing and gesturing at her and eyes manic and agitated as he continues to probably berate her and ask a bunch of questions in a rush of a language she might not fully understand.

Hi Reyna. Give him a second to calm down.]

[holybind]

[ Zelos does not smile or look all that pleased about any of this.

But is he absolutely satisfied about the talking to Reyna is currently getting?

Oh, you bet. ]

[toughchoices]

[zelos wilder is a dead man]

[holybind]

[ W O R T H IT ]

[toughchoices]

[...

Zelos Wilder is a dead man.

Panic crosses Reyna's face as she hears Nico approaching, but - she can't get up and leave, either. So she doesn't have any choice but to sit there and wait for the moment when Nico spots Kyouka and then spots her.

It goes about as poorly as Reyna expects.

Latin and Spanish are close enough to Italian that she can pick out a word or two (and, honestly, just judging by the tone of Nico's voice and knowing what she does of him, she can sort of guess what he's saying anyway). Sadly, she doesn't have the Italian vocabulary to try and calm him down, so she'll just have to try and get through to him in English.]

Nico! Nico, calm down, we're going to be fine--

[None of the others who wandered off somewhere have died yet; they'll be okay too.]

[resumed]

[Zelos Wilder is currently his hero.

Nevertheless it takes him a few more moments to actually calm himself down and he's fuming. It's hard to say what he's mad at but they're both injured and he hates that and he hates this castle and he hates everything about this situation.

He's glowering because Reyna speaking up gets him to shut up, but he doesn't reply for a few seconds before composing himself enough to choose his words.]

Fine? Fine? Both of you! [Another hand gesture. It's easier for him to express frustrations to Reyna because he knows she won't be offended, but also:] All morning, Reyna! Both of you!

[He assumes she'll pick up what it is that he's referring to and why he's spent the good chunk of this morning paranoid and unsure.] Whose idea was it?

[holybind]

[ Okay, he feels a little bad now.

Just a little. He knows it's not his place to tell Nico to calm down but— ]

Deep breaths kid— they deserved all of that, but don't give yourself an ulcer, we're already short-staffed with the mess this weeks been.

[resumed]

[He just kind of glances up at Zelos because yeah, it's not his place to tell him to calm down.

...on the other hand, he has a point. So he settles for a frown.] All the more reason nobody should have gone back out there.

[toughchoices]

[Nico chooses his words well, if intense guilt is what he was going for - Reyna, who has so far managed to stay stoic through the experience in the woods and the pain of the wounds, actually flinches at all morning.]

I'm sorry.

[She doesn't know what else she can say to that. It wasn't like she wanted him to worry, but it happened anyway.]

...it was my idea.

[Even if it wasn't, she wouldn't tell anyone otherwise. Kyouka might be an assassin, but Reyna was supposed to be older and wiser - their safety was her responsibility, and she failed.]

We-- we planned on staying near the outskirts, but...

[They hadn't realized just how far in they were wandering until it was too late.]

[holybind]

[ Yeah Zelos doesn't buy that for a second. But he says nothing, Nico's taken care of all the #ReynaShaming for the day, after all. ]

There's always a 'but'.

[ he rolls is eyes even despite his concern cause yeah, he's Zelos ]

I'm gonna' need you to refund me for the minutes of my life you wasted yelling at me for venturing into the maze from hell.

[resumed]

[A derisive snort.] Yeah, you're just as bad as she is, by the way. [But he's more comfortable with Reyna. Still...]

...people should maybe stay away from the maze and the woods for a while. [A gesture to Zelos.] You're also the perfect example.

[At least he's calmed down a little more and he's back to being mostly sulky.] What were you guys even doing out there? What happened?

[toughchoices]

[the simple answer to nico's question is "kyouka wanted a pet rabbit so we went to go get one" but that, uh, sounds kind of silly in retrospect. so.

reyna glowers at zelos - with both eyes, because at least she didn't lose one! - and grumbles a response.]

You sicced Nico on me. That's your refund.

[like, seriously, zelos???

Anyway - her expression softens a little when she addresses Nico.]

...it got... dark all of a sudden. The trees, they... [Her voice trails off.] Their branches... moved. To block out the light.

[As for what came next...

Her hands are actually shaking a little, now, but she balls them into fists to try and disguise it.]

...there was a ghost. It - it looked like... [Reyna pauses, then shakes her head.] And then--

[She sucks in a breath. Hm, maybe her back injury is hurting her more than she thought.]

...there were so many ghosts. I didn't see what happened to Kyouka until after I... got out of that. I grabbed her and we ran.

[holybind]

As much as I typically adore and relish in unnecessary attention, I don't think this is the time to focus on yours truly.

[ Wow!! He didn't come out here to be attacked!!

He frowns at the mention of ghosts, however. ]

So they got you that way too, huh? Figures, murder castle never plays fair.

[resumed]

[That would definitely sound silly if Nico hadn't already decided he'd probably burn down the castle if that would make Kyouka happy, but probably best she doesn't say that right now. There's a little grin because it's funny to see Reyna assert her authority on other people like the praetor she really is, but the amusement immediately disappears as he listens.

Ghosts. It's a particular interest to him and he gives her a curious look instead. Reyna...doesn't like ghosts. And he knows that.]

...you'll tell me later about this. [That's not a question, and it's probably a dick move, but it's a demand because he needs to know.] This castle seems to fixate on the things that will get to us the most. Zelos is right, it doesn't play fair. [But his shoulders are hunched and he frowns again.] Thank you for coming back. And bringing her back.

[...a glance to Kyouka and then back to Reyna.] Both of your wounds are pretty bad. Yours probably needs to be stitched closed.