Video;

[magics_pawn]

[Vanyel is sitting against an extraordinarily nondescript wooden wall. The video goes on for a few seconds, with Van frowning slightly off-camera, as if he weren't quite sure whether or not it was operating as advertized. Witness the Herald-Mage, outside his natural habitat. Isn't he pretty

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[video]

[xxii_thefool]

[Minako seems to be perched on a roof somewhere, judging by what the video feed shows of the scenery around her. She's got her naginata propped back against her shoulder, and she's a little muddy but smiling politely.]

I'm sorry that you're stuck here, Vanyel-san, but it's nice to meet you.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

It's none of your doing, miss.

[polite smile? polite smile. We'll just assume that "san" isn't an insult.]

I'm not sure this counts as 'meeting' anyone. But it is an experience.

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

Whatever you'd like to call it, then? In any case, I'm Minako Arisato.

[Her demeanor shifts a bit from easygoing to something a bit more serious and earnest.]

You might have already found this out for yourself, but if you haven't yet, it looks like for this "game" they're making sure we have a hard time getting back into shelter once we're out. [A momentary pause, and she makes a rueful face.] Or at least, I haven't managed to break back into anywhere yet. So, if you're going out to help anyone, please be careful.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

[A sharpening of his attention in concern. He doesn't know much about her, but she's a young lady of no obvious danger to anyone; a nominal innocent.]

Are you alright?

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

I'm okay for right now. There are some people gathering at the library the last I heard, so I'm headed in that direction. I'm just sort of, um, up a tree for a little while - so to speak - until the coast is a bit clearer.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

What are you hiding from?

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

[Blink.] Oh - you haven't heard yet? It's zombies. Again. It seems like they're coming out of that cemetery that appeared overnight.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

I'm...not familiar with the term.

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

Walking corpses. Not like the usual locals, or people who've died while they've been stuck here, but actual, rotting dead bodies, up and moving around. Mostly they try to eat the living.

This batch seems like they're smarter than the first batch I was here for. Luckily, they still don't move very fast or climb very well, which is why I'm up here.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

[Blood magic? Necromancy? That's dark and powerful stuff. Vanyel frowns in thought- but if someone is directing the dead to rise, or controlling the bodies of those who would otherwise rot int he ground, then why?

Why just let them wander around? There's no sense to it.

But, she seems exceptionally cavalier about it and after a moment of alarm, he resolves himself to merely frowning in an uncertain disapproval.]

You don't seem particularly worried about this.

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

[Not exactly cavalier, maybe - she has grown more serious as she explains this nasty subject - but certainly more conversational about it than one might expect.]

It's not that I'm not worried, but this is the third time since I've been here. Last time, it was zombie velociraptors - ah, giant carnivorous lizards.

It'll probably be over in a few days, and they'll disappear... at least, that's what I'm hoping. That's how things usually happen here.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

Do you...need help?

[Because honestly, he cannot tell.]

[video]

[xxii_thefool]

[She considers it for a moment.]

I think I'm okay for now. This bunch is a little smarter than the horde that came through the first time, but that's not saying very much. I'm just kind of waiting for them to forget I'm up here so I can make a break for the library.

[Here she becomes much more earnest.]

If you're indoors somewhere safe, you should stay there. Like I said before, they're locking us out somehow.

[video]

[magics_pawn]

Thank you. I'll take care.

[He accepts the sentiment without complaint, even if it means relatively little to someone who could just as easily blast the entire house down, nevermind getting a locked door open.]