That star is the tear of a warrior...

[jupiterjazzman]

The first thing Gren notices is the warmth. It's not just warm, it's hot, though he couldn't swear to whether or not it really was or if it was just by comparison to his memories of snow, and space. He puts a hand to his ribs but the pain is gone, though the iron taste of blood still clings to the back of his tongue. He turns his head to the

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[silvereyedphage]

He might hear footsteps coming around the corner of the porch, approaching, then pausing a few paces away. If he looks in the direction of those footsteps, he'll catch sight of a tall, slim, pale figure, silvery grey hair framing a narrow face. But the hair is shorter, the fringe covering one grey, reptilian eye peering through rimless eyeglasses. And he's dressed in a white, summer-weight business suit, rather than a long grey jacket.

A flicker of confused recognition and doubt shows in the stranger's one visible eye.

The summer warmth has troubled Muraki's sleep, bringing dreams of the world he left behind, the few trusted people there. The long-suffering Oriya in particular. And he wonders if those dreams have become a reality, and somehow, his protector and confidant has found his way to this place...

[jupiterjazzman]

Gren turns at the footsteps and for a moment the illusion is powerful, his arm twitching at the urge to reach for a gun that isn't there. His shoulders tense and his hand tightens almost painfully on the music box in his pocket before he makes himself breathe deeply and take a second, longer look at the man ahead of him.

It's not Vicious. Just someone who looks enough like him that they could be brothers. It doesn't do much for his racing heart, especially with the man looking at him like he knows him.

"...Hello," he says when he finds his voice. "Is this your house?"

[silvereyedphage]

The stranger blinks, shaking his head as if to clear it and the confusion passes, replaced with a calm, thoughtful, but somewhat calculating look: his mane might part enough to reveal his right eye, the pupil a bit wider than it is in the left and the look in it fixed and expressionless.

"Alas, no, though I do live here, and I've served as one of the house physicians since I settled into it," the pale stranger replies. Bowing his head, he adds, "I'm Doctor Kazutaka Muraki."

[jupiterjazzman]

"My name is Gren," he says, returning the gesture. He also notices the eye...it reminds him of Spike. Spike whose eyes are two different colors. Maybe this is all some sort of dying dream, and this man is a result of seeing the two of them. He's strangely calm about that possibility. "Who does own the house, then?"

[whutobjection]

Nice Convict, meet a Nice Lawyer.

If Gren has his bearings, he might find a kindly face and spiky hair around the kitchen, looking for something to eat.

[jupiterjazzman]

Gren wanders into the kitchen for the same reason, still feeling a little off-balance from everything but he's starting to get the hang of things. He gives Phoenix a friendly smile as he surveys the cabinets. "Hello."

[whutobjection]

"Why hello there. You look new here." Phoenix greets the stranger.

[jupiterjazzman]

"I am," Gren says. "I just...arrived, today." And it's still weird when he thinks about it too much so he's trying not to.

[in_summer_leaf]

Hisoka is beginning to work on his Japanese Gazebo project. He's out in one of the side gardens, on a lawn between richly blooming shrubs and flowerbeds, hammering together the platform on which the rest of the structure will rest. He's in his jeans and tank top, and he's got a bandana tied around his head for a sweatband.

Near his bag of tools on the grass is his shotgun on its sling for easy grabbing. He never goes anywhere unarmed. Not even in the daytime and near the house.

[jupiterjazzman]

Gren's wandering around outside, enjoying now much nicer the weather and...well, everything outside, is much nicer on Callisto when he sees Hisoka working, and he goes over to see what he's doing. He doesn't notice the shotgun on the ground until he's already there and it makes him a bit nervous, though he does his best not to show it. "Hello."

[in_summer_leaf]

"Hello," says Hisoka. He pauses in his work and lowers the hammer. "You must be new." If he notices the nervousness, he politely pretends he didn't.

[jupiterjazzman]

"Yes, just today. I'm trying to learn my way around." And because he decides that it's better to just have it out in the open he nods toward the shotgun and adds, "Is it common to carry weapons around, here?"

It makes him wish he still had his handgun, but he's not entirely certain if it was even on his ship when he was dying. Even in Blue Crow, though, he didn't carry it with him every day.

[caniaskyouaqstn]

If Gren comes out into the main room later, he might spot another musician. Will's sitting in a chair, tuning his mandola. It's been a while since he's played.

[jupiterjazzman]

That does catch Gren's eye, and he approaches with a smile. He's hoping that another musician might be able to tell him how he can find a new saxophone, as well. "Ah, you play?

[caniaskyouaqstn]

"Some," Will replies, with a little self-deprecating smile. While he may not be exceptional, he does play quite well, and tends to sell himself short when it comes to his own musical ability. "I don't think we've met," he adds. "I'm Will."

[jupiterjazzman]

"Gren," he introduces himself in turn. "It's nice to find another musician, I play saxophone."

[killedthesnake]

If Gren explores the Mansion grounds, he might find Neville in his greenhouse situated around back. He's tending plants, his usual routine, though it's hotter inside during the summer. He's thinking about leaving off early today, so he can go inside to shower off the sweat and dirt. Still, he'd like to finish potting this last flower.

[jupiterjazzman]

Gren pokes his head in the greenhouse door as he explores the grounds, just to see what's inside. He hadn't actually expected to find someone there, though in hindsight he probably should've. "--Oh, sorry. I didn't mean to intrude."

[killedthesnake]

Neville looks up and smiles. "No intrusion. People drop in often enough," he answers. "I'd offer to shake your hand, but...," he nods to his dirty hands. Every single pair of his gloves were dirty and in need of laundering, but Neville wasn't going to let something like that stop him from herbologizing. "I'm Neville. Are you new to the Mansion?" He figured he was, because by now he'd at least seen if not met most residents.

[ooc: I saw a few eps of Cowboy Bebop several years ago and loved it. I have no idea why I never finished it. Too much good TV, too little time! Anyway, I never saw Gren's ep(s?), but I couldn't resist a CB char. Hope you don't mind me tagging late to the party. ^^]

[jupiterjazzman]

"That's alright," he says, moving farther into the greenhouse and looking around with a great deal of interest. There wasn't anything like this on Callisto. "And yes, I'm new. I'm still learning my way around."