[video]

[deathtrapping]

[It's nighttime. The only light illuminating the scene on the vine comes from the moon, but if you look closely at the background, you might be able to tell the broadcast is coming from near where the newcomers wake up. And, speaking of newcomers-the girl in the image is one of those. She clasps her white-gloved hands in front of herself as she

Comments

[notvitiligo]

[Jessica was about to go to bed, but is always ready to Be Helpful!]

Oh, wow... um, porphyria, right? Here, check out the sky- you should be able to see some towers above the treeline. Just head thataway.

[deathtrapping]

Th-that's right... Oh! All right.

[As a vampire, her night vision is several times better than a humans, but she still pretends to have to squint into the darkness for a few moments before being able to make out the outline of the towers.]

I see them... B-but to where am I going, exactly? [She'd like to know the details before heading there.]

[notvitiligo]

It's a fortress. There's other places to stay, of course, but I've got a lot of room and I can kind of give you the rundown while you're here.

Oh, um, I'm Jessica, by the way. Jessica Boyette.

[deathtrapping]

A fortress...? O-okay. I'll start heading in that direction now...!

[She offers a small, shy smile.] I'm Grace Harlow.

video -> action

[notvitiligo]

Nice to meet you. I'll keep a lookout for you.

[And once Grace arrives, she's ready with the door open, panting slightly.]

Hey. I don't think I've seen a new person come in at night before.

[deathtrapping]

Nice to meet you, too...! I-I'll be there as soon as I can! [And then she moves out of view of the mirror. The Vine, no longer having a target to record, closes up.]

[When she arrives, she offers another one of those tiny smiles and curtsies.] H-hello. Thank you for helping me...! [Straightening up, she tilts her head to the side slightly, considering Jessica's comment.] Maybe the...Queen? [She says this uncertainly, not really having any idea what she's talking about beyond what the scroll the cat had given her said.] Was trying to be accommodating of my condition. I-I don't really know for certain, though.

[notvitiligo]

I guess. Either way, it's a good thing, right? It'd suck to suddenly show up here to... OK, I admit I don't know what happens to you in the sun, just that it bothers you.

Anyway, um, welcome to the Gardens. You're kind of stuck here, sorry to say. On the plus side, it's got just about everything you need to survive, and it's usually comfortable and safe. Ish.

[deathtrapping]

It's... It hurts my skin. L-like a sunburn, almost, only worse.

St-stuck? B-but...! I, I can't be stuck here. My parents will be really worried... [Lies. She doesn't even have parents anymore.]

[notvitiligo]

[She sighs and looks at the ground.] Yeah... sorry. The powers that be here don't give a- don't care.

[deathtrapping]

That's...

[Truthfully, she doesn't care all that much. She had no family or friends back home-or even a permanent home, given that she was nomadic. Still, it's the principle of the thing. She doesn't like people having power over her.]

Why...?

[notvitiligo]

[Shrug] Because they're crazy?

Uh, hang on, I've actually been working on a thing... [She power walks over to a tower, disappears into it, and- after a few minutes- reappears with a handful of looseleaf, which she hands over.]

This is probably all you need to know.

[deathtrapping]

[Grace just tilts her head to the side again as she watches Jessica go, waiting patiently enough for her return. It's not like she has anywhere better to be, so... Taking the papers gingerly, she peers down at them for a few moments before remembering normal people can't read by moonlight.]

U-um... Can we go inside? It's, it's hard to read out here, so...

[notvitiligo]

Oh, yeah, sorry... There's lights inside. C'mon. [She leads her to the keep.]

[deathtrapping]

[She follows, blinking against the light as her eyes adjust. Then, she gets right to reading, her eyebrows furrowing more and more the farther she gets into the material. What the fucking shit is this bullshit? Finally, when she's finished, she asks, doing her best not to drop her facade:]

Is... Is this serious...?

[notvitiligo]

Yeah. I know, it's really crazy. You kind of get used to it.

You gonna need a bed or anything?

[deathtrapping]

U-um! I don't want to impose or anything... M-maybe just until tomorrow night. I could go find a place in the...Necessities? then.