[Video]

[marno_malpercio]

[The screen clicks on, revealing Marno, hair damp from a shower, eyes tired.]

What's going on recently?  Has anyone else found themselves... in the wrong dreams?

[He hasn't had anyone wander through his yet, but that's only sheer dumb luck.]

This place just get's weirder...

Comments

[meno_nikephoros]

It would help entirely if I was to know where or what 'this place' is.

[He furrows his brows]

What's your name?

[marno_malpercio]

[His voice is soft as he answers.]

Jigoku Apartments.

My name is Marno. You must be new. Find the red tape, it's your only protection.

[meno_nikephoros]

..Sorry what?

Nice to make your acquaintence Marno, I'm Deven, but Dev's easier.

[He sounds jumpy, even if he doesn't look it. He's always had a good feel for places and this has his alarm bells going]

What's the significance of the red tape anyway..?

[marno_malpercio]

Jigoku Apartments. They tell me it's another word for Hell.

The red tape keeps the yureis, the ghosts, away. They don't like it, so they usually don't come near it. There are exceptions, however.

[meno_nikephoros]

Hell?

[Yes, now you've caught his attention]

Yureis? Ghosts? Please tell me this is some sick joke.

[marno_malpercio]

[A fluttering sound, like a caged bird stretching its wings.]

I wish it was, and it only gets worse. You're probably the only one from your own world here. Sometimes there's more then one from the same world, but all too often, you're on your own, with people who have no idea what you're talking about.

[meno_nikephoros]

[A subtle twitch. As emotions rise in Dev his accent becomes thicker - Irish.]

That's a comforting thought...

What was that fluttering?

[marno_malpercio]

[The fluttering happens again, as if surprised. A soft, embarrassed cough.]

Umm... like I said, not everyone is from the same world. Where I come from, it's possible to manifest what are called 'Wings of the Heart' in order to fly short distances or glide down from heights. Where I was born, they're also used to help convey emotions, extra body language if you will. [Someone has been reading behavioral texts from an empty apartment.] I'm the only one from my home, though.

But some of the others are stranger.

[meno_nikephoros]

[He blinks, but figures it's best to take this at face value]

Sounds interesting, even if a little strange...to my world's standards of course.

I don't suppose you know anyone from the City Sanctus around here?

[marno_malpercio]

No, I don't. Then again, I don't mingle much. There may be others I haven't met.

[meno_nikephoros]

Ah, yes I understand. Is there anything I should be wary of the most here..?

[All your talk of ghosts is doing nothing for me..]

[marno_malpercio]

Other then the yureis? Probably some of your neighbors.

[meno_nikephoros]

The neighbours as well? Jeez...is there actually anything safe here?