Introduction

[petapetakapu]

Who: Jade, Anise, possibly Asch and Jay...and anyone else who wishes to engage in early morning (or whatever time of the day it is) glee!
Where: Blessenwood Inn
Why: Jade said he'd treat Anise to something at the inn...that and he wants to familiarize her with her surroundings and possibly some members of Ad Libitum.

Comments

Wait a minute...

[iknowjj]

[As Jay silently made his way to Jade and Anise's table, he paused a few feet away, somewhere behind Jade and off to the side.]

(Wait...was Colonel Jade really waiting for me? They're probably just waiting on Asch to wait on them...)

[So he waited for some sort of confirmation that Jade really did call for him...]

Re: Wait a minute...

[daathiclolita]

[Anise looks up and watches as Jay approaches the table. She mentally traces his path back to the bar, and notices a sizeable pile of coins.]

[!] (Oh Yulia. He was just sitting there, wasn't he? Time to be super-extra charming!)

Oh, colonel~ I think Mr. Jay wanted to see you. ♥

...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[arisenfromashes]

[After seeing that Anise had spotted Jay, Asch made his way toward Table 7. He crossed behind Jay, eventually stopping at the side between the two at the table. His cheeks might have flushed slightly, but he could not tell.]

[He addressed the two in a rehearsed tone barely more lively than a monotone.]...Welcome to the Blessenwood Inn. May I take your drink orders?

(Huh. I'm glad I got to ask Tear about Eldrant before running into these guys...)

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[petapetakapu]

[Jade nodded at Anise. He had been vaguely aware that someone was behind him. Given Jay's absence from the bar, he considered the possibility that the purple-clad boy was behind him, especially after Asch came to the table. Turning around, he spotted Jay in the corner of his scarlet eyes.]

Ah, Jay! So good to see you. I would like you to meet someone.

[He turned back around and made no effort to stifle his amused chuckle upon seeing Asch the Bloody of all people waiting on the table.]

I suppose it is a bit early for alcohol. Some black tea will do for now. Also, would you mind fetching a chair?

Oh, and I do believe it is Anise's birthday today... (It will be her birthday in another month if he does not seem to take notice.)

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[iknowjj]

[Jay nervously made his way to the table. Nevertheless, he presented the colonel with his cheerful smile.]

And it's good to see you as always, Colonel. So...another one from Auldrant, I presume?

[He then looked up at Asch, assuming that the chair Jade had requested was going to be for him.]

Oh, don't worry about the chair. Colonel, I have something I'd like to discuss with you...privately. So, let me know when you're finished here, and I'll go back over here and organize my information...

[With that, he began to slide back over to the bar.]

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[daathiclolita]

[Anise puts on her 'charming' act.] Oh, please don't go~! You're welcome to stay with us, Mr. Jay. A friend of the colonel is my friend, too! (Well, as long as he's got money like that~)

And colonel... you remembered my birthday?! I don't even remember telling you about it...

{OOC: I find it uncanny that you post this today, Katana. My birthday is tomorrow. o_o}

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[petapetakapu]

You didn't--I have the uncanny ability to read minds. I thought you knew.

(...Well, I didn't expect to be right...most interesting indeed.)

[Jade looked back at Jay, his usual facade of innocence and sincerity lightly veiling his ambitions of indolence.]

Indeed, you are more than welcome to join us. Besides, having just arrived here, Anise is unfamiliar with the current situation. Might you care to explain, Jay?

{OOC: You're joking, right? I guess both Jade and I guess well...? Well, happy birthday in advance! 8D}

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[iknowjj]

U-um...

[Jay became confused at both Jade and Anise beckoning him to stay, as well as Jade's request to explain things.]

Um...what am I explaining?

[After taking a few seconds to put it together, he continued.]

Well, a lot of us were summoned to this world by Martel, the spirit inside the World Tree, which would be that large tree in the forest. From what we understand, this world is dying, and Martel has summoned us here to save it. As of now, we don't know how, or what's causing this land to die. I'm currently trying to research the situation, but our leads are few and far between.

Those of us who were summoned to this world have joined a guild called Ad Libitum. The Blessenwood guild leader is Yuan Kafei, and Colonel Jade here is the guild leader of the Ouin branch. We work to fulfill the various requests of the townspeople here, while trying to find a way out of this situation.

I have learned a few things...something that may help us move forward. But I'm not quite ready to reveal it to everyone yet. I'd like to give

Re: ...This would only be worse if the dreck showed up.

[daathiclolita]

Luke, I didn't know that you-!

...

Asch?!

Why do Asch and Luke have the same face?!

(...Now that I think about it, Luke did look very familiar. Maybe they're twins?)

[arisenfromashes]

[Asch scowled visibly at the case of mistaken identity. While the Fon Master Guardian had addressed him by his given name, he knew that she was referring to the replica.]

...Wrong Luke. It's A--

[He stopped as Anise corrected herself. Even without the tabard, it seemed that his Daathic attire served as an adequate distinction. Then, he shot a hard glare at her. Despite this, he did not know exactly how to answer her.]

Is this some kind of joke? You know why!

[daathiclolita]

No, I don't! [She stands up and tries to distance herself from Asch. This is getting to be a little too freaky.]

Unless... you and Luke are the same person? You could have disguised yourself and let yourself be captured. Then you could get close to Ion!

[arisenfromashes]

See? You do know--Wait a minute. We're not one person! You've seen the two of us together at the same time! How could you even think that!

[Asch tilted his head, utterly confused.]

(What's going on...Why am I repeating things she should know?)

...Besides, one of his conditions at Eldrant was for me to accept him as a separate person. I'd expect one of his groupies to acknowledge him before I would.

So, are you going to order anything else?

[daathiclolita]

[Her head reels. She clutches at it with two hands.]

No, that can't be right. I've never seen you outside of Daath! And... I didn't meet Luke in Daath...

[She slowly takes Tokunaga off her back and into her hands, clutching him tightly.]

Eldrant? The promised land? That's just a myth!

[Anise backs up into the wall, confused as all hell. This doesn't make any sense. Even if they're both from a different timeline, everything Asch has said so far sounds impossible.]

Colonel, I... don't feel hungry anymore.

[arisenfromashes]

(She really doesn't know anything about what happened? I'll be pissed if this is some bad joke.)

...You, you're right. And it's not like I met Luke outside in Daath either.

[His frown relaxed slightly.]

Wait! Anise... [He stopped for a moment to collect his thoughts. Her responses had raised his suspicions of something, but he wondered whether or not it was wise to actually tell her outright.]

(How do I ask her whether or not she's from the past...I mean, I'm the one suspicious of that, but even I'm having trouble believing it!)

I was badly injured before showing up here, so I might be a little behind on what's happened. Could you fill me in? You can sit at the bar if those guys feel like talking in private...Though I don't really like being kept in the dark if it might give us a clue on how to get back. [He shot a pointed look at Jay.]

[petapetakapu]

Asch, would you rather know a rumour or a confirmed fact? I do hope you display some patience, even if it does not appear to be one of your strengths.

[Jade rose from his chair and lowered his head slightly. It seemed that the waiter was frightening her. Pity.]

My apologies, Anise. I am told he is to be trusted, though I cannot say I am convinced. You did take part in the kidnapping the Fon Master on several occasions. That and you've made several attempts on the life of a certain noble.

[iknowjj]

I apologize, Asch...I haven't found that part out yet. I can't even guarantee that the information I have will help much - it still depends largely on Yuan. Besides, the last time we spoke, you didn't appear interested in any of my ideas. However, you are more than welcome to contact me if you'd like to arrange a meeting. Besides...

I have...other things...to speak with you about as well...

[Jay turned to face Jade now.]

Thank you, Colonel. So...was there a particular place you wanted to go?