[Voice / Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Voice; Filtered 100% to the Abyss cast (sans Van)]

Van is here.

He's not an immediate threat, but you should know.

[With the announcement dealt with (and perhaps an intermission with the replica) Asch heads out, his goal being the south end of the village. He has a certain house he needs to visit

Comments

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[A certain house, you say? Stella was actually just about to head inside, having finished her routine Kyoshi training. Thus, she has a lavender outfit of sorts on and a fan in her hand as she heads around to the front door, letting out a sigh of minor exhaustion as she tilts her head up -

And spots a familiar redhead on the path to her house. Well, the sight of Asch always brightens her day, although something's... off, right now. Something about the tense air around him...

She might have guessed wrong, though. Still, instead of the grin and meeting him halfway, Stella merely smiles and tilts her head, as if to ask what's wrong just from that.]

It's good to see you, Asch.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch doesn't return the smile; that in itself isn't exactly unusual, but the overly serious expression he's wearing certainly is. ...Well. Excessively serious. He steps over to her and pauses one step away from passing her, gesturing towards the house.]

I need to talk to you.

[And- just to be certain, he glances over his shoulder. Van isn't the type to be sneaking around after him (that was Sync's job) but even so, he can't help being cautious.]

[Action]

[goldenfirefly]

[Stella has never seen a more serious expression in her entire life.

The way he says that, though, and how he glances over his shoulder... Stella briefly leans her body to the side to look behind him as well, then nods slowly and walks the rest of the way to the front door, where she opens the door and steps aside for him.]

All right.

[Action]

[mirrorbirth]

[With a shake of his head - paranoia and imagination, nothing more - he heads inside, waiting for her at the entrance. He doesn't take off his boots, though, demonstrating that he has no intention of staying.]

[Action] - placeholder.

[lookinforlight]

[Upon entering the house with Stella, Asch may see a new face snoozing away on the couch in the living room. Her new favorite spot, aside from her room, and she made claim to the comfy and squishy couch this morning, after breakfast. She's not entirely asleep, and blearily opens one eye once she hears the door open and footsteps enter the house. Hm...sounded like Sweetie.

...And someone else. A guy. Both of Norma's eye slowly open - only when she's sure their backs are turned - and she looks at the guy Sweetie brought home and--

. . .

Is bringing home a homicidal looking man a thing now? 8|a Regardless, Norma will wait until after the two speak to make her introduction to this new sourpuss. Maybe he's a little nicer than Little D is. ...Maybe.]

[Action] - you people and your placeholders

[mirrorbirth]

[After he's finished speaking with Stella, he moves to let himself out, not paying any attention to the other occupants of the house, really. He did what he came here to do, and that's that.]

[Action] - you love my placeholders

[lookinforlight]

[And just as Asch passes by the couch, Norma springs, much like a Jack-in-the-box. She appears leaning over the back of the couch, hair slightly tussled and with a big grin on her face.]

Hi!

[Action] - sob maybe

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch lurches backwards, his hand half-reaching for his sword before he realizes he hadn't brought it with him. A foolish oversight on his part. It's just a girl, though, so after a moment he merely looks wary rather than outright aggressive.]

...What?

[Voice | Filtered] - also placeholder. :|b

[its_rose_damnit]

Van?!

[Dist nearly chokes when he gets this message. As if he hadn't been troubled with everything under the Sun these past weeks already, and now this. This is...not good. Even if Van is not a so called "threat" at the moment, that doesn't negate that he is still very well a snake in the grass and a lying, conniving--

Breathe, Saphir, breathe. Okay. Calm, rational thoughts...]

What in blazes is that brainless ape doing here?! [Ahem, one more time.] Rrgh...what time is he from? Did you happen to get any information out of him at all?

[Voice | Filtered]

[mirrorbirth]

[Brainless ape? If Asch were the type to roll his eyes at that, he'd do it; as it is, he just scowls down at the journal. Who's the real idiot here?]

Of course I did, I'm not a fool. He's from before the Outer Lands were lowered.

[Voice | Filtered]

[its_rose_damnit]

I beg to differ, but... [Dist clears his throat.] I'm glad you were able to ascertain that much from the the Commandant.

[Dist files through his journal, looking for a post, anything. It's possible Van locked it, but if so...Dist could hopefully crack his filter. As he searches, he also thinks. Before the Outer Lands were lowered...hm. That could be both beneficial and a hindrance. He at least didn't have Lorelei's power.] How much does he know now? About this place? You haven't told him I'm present here as well, have you? Or your replica...his big mouth is more irritating than yours.

[Dist would really, really, rather not have Van know he's here. As well as Asch, Dist is the only God-General available in Luceti. And Dist isn't stupid enough to think Van won't try to coerce him back to his side if need be.]

[Voice | Filtered]

[mirrorbirth]

[....Wow, Dist, are you expecting cooperation from him here after all that?]

Why don't you seek him out and ask him yourself?

[lostinmyway]

[There's the sound of cheerful humming drifting from one of the bedrooms. Make enough noise, Asch, and you'll have one absentminded woman, coming to say hello. Beware.]

[mirrorbirth]

[He's not exactly a noisemaker, but she can catch him on his way out of the house after he's finished talking to Stella. He's a man on a mission (or post-mission, close enough) so he's a bit heavy-footed, if that helps her hear him.]

[lostinmyway]

[It does! Especially since she was just leaving her room to borrow some crayons from Sophie.]

Hello? [Now why does that back look familiar?]

[mirrorbirth]

[Asch glances over, brows lifting a little- then narrowing. Oh, it's the really weird one. So much for escaping quickly.] ...What?

[voice]

[seleniahymn]

.... Is there any particular reason as to why you are telling me this?

[voice]

[mirrorbirth]

...So, you don't recognize his name?

[He figured as much. Damn.]

[voice]

[seleniahymn]

I don't believe I've ever heard it before, but you mention that he's not an 'immediate threat'...?

[Whether you like it or not, Asch, you have her full attention.]

[voice]

[mirrorbirth]

[Oh, he's thrilled.]

If you don't remember him, you shouldn't worry about it