≻ CHAPTER 1; VIDEO ≺ (pre-sirens)

[holdsthekeys]

AAAAAA! I-IT'S S-S-S-S-O C-C-C-OLD!

[That would be Lucy and in case you haven't figured it out yet, her teeth are chattering and she's really rather cold. The video doesn't show her yet, just the snow falling lazily to the ground and covering the video feed with tiny flecks of water.]A-And I h-h-h-have no i-idea where I am! I've f-f-f-followed t-t

Comments

[voice]

[firefreckles]

Ah? ... [A little laugh.] Well, it's no wonder you're cold..

[voice; please wait for her to figure it out...]

[holdsthekeys]

HAH!? W-wh-who said that!?

[voice]

[firefreckles]

Name's Ace. If you tell me where you are, I bet I can help you out, miss.

[voice]

[holdsthekeys]

C-c-c-can't it wait? [Sob.] I-I-I-I'm L-Lucy!

[voice]

[firefreckles]

Wait for what? I'd want to get indoors and warmed up if I were as cold as you.

[The sound of a door opening and closing can be heard faintly.]

[voice]

[holdsthekeys]

I-I-I do! B-b-b-but I c-c-can't even see you!

Wait-- What was that!?

[Huddled on ground, frantically flipping through NV trying to figure it out... She thinks she's starting to get it.]

[voice-->video!]

[firefreckles]

[Ace lets out a small sigh. This poor girl was hopeless - but he can't blame her for being confused. Siren's Port had that effect on a lot of people. He flicks on his video, revealing his freckled face and dark, tousled hair. He even offers a friendly little wave. And hey, guess what, he's out walking in the snow, too!]

Yo. See me now?

Re: [voice-->video!]

[holdsthekeys]

[Just when she was starting to get it! She let the book fall into the snow, jumping up in surprise and releasing a small shriek of surprise.]

D-Don't do that! I-I-I nearly had a heart attack!

[video]

[firefreckles]

[Ace's smile grows wider in amusement but he shows restrain by not laughing at the funny display. He pulls his video back a little which shows he's just wearing a tee out in the cold weather. Sorry, Lucy, he doesn't share the "freezing" look that you're pulling off so well.]

Sorry about that.. I guess you've figured it out by now that this thing lets you talk to other people here.. So will you tell me where you are now?

[video]

[holdsthekeys]

Y-Y-You c-can s-s-s-see me t-too, r-r-right?

[Just to be sure, she picks the book back up and holds it up in the opposite direction so he can see her surroundings.]

[video]

[firefreckles]

Right.... [And Ace takes a moment to peer at the video he's seeing curiously. Everything is covered in snow, but that definitely looks like its near the baseball field... She hadn't made it too far. Not surprising, with how she was dressed in this weather.]

You're in luck. I recognize it. [Another friendly grin is flashed.] I'll be there in a minute. [Ace just got off work at one of his jobs so he's free for a while. Why not help a particularly pitiful girl for a change of pace? He takes off at a sprinting pace, jostling his video image horribly.]

[video]

[holdsthekeys]

I always knew I was lucky! [Aaaah, she's feeling a little better not but she's still FREEZING. She's just going to stay here, jumping foot to foot while waiting for him.]

[action]

[firefreckles]

[It's probably a little longer than one minute, but Ace knows where he's going and he's not taking his time - she was in a bathing suit for crying out loud - so he's showing up sooner rather than later. It's really not hard to spot her, wiggling around to keep warm in her skimpy clothing out in the snow. Ace lifts his hand in greeting. He's not wearing his trademark orange hat or he'd tip it forward.]

You've gotta be Lucy.

[His approach is casual, one thumb hooked into a pocket on his black shorts. Over all, he's not very threatening looking, if she's worried about strangers... Shorts, t-shirt, ruffled black hair, and a charming, boyish face.]

Did someone tell you about the apartments yet?

[action]

[holdsthekeys]

A-A-A-Apartments?

[Wow. He's kind of... She holds out a shaky hand in return, giving it what is likely a far too enthusiastic shake. With everything that could be going through her head right now, one thing sticks out more than everything else...]

A-a-a-aren't you c-c-c-cold?

[action]

[firefreckles]

[If she was really observant, she would notice that snowflakes were melting long before they got near him. It likely grew noticeably warmer once he stood next to her, as well. He's expelling extra heat in effort to sooth her shivering. In response to her question, Ace.... pulls off his shirt and holds it out to her. Go on, it's warm.~]

Not a bit. This might sound weird to you.. [That friendly smile goes a little lop-sided.] I can turn into fire. [One hand gestures through the air, bursting into orange flames as example.] See?

[action]

[holdsthekeys]

Y-YOU'RE A FIRE MAGE!?

[Everything in her hands immediately fall to the ground and anything she might have wanted to say has been... completely forgotten.]