voice/action ♫ something always brings me back to you

[ofhymns]

[The woman's voice is clear and firm. It sounds more like a military report than a distress call.]

Pardon the interruption, if I can be heard at all... This is Locrian Sergeant Tear Grants speaking. Information on the dangers present would be much appreciated, as well as an inn or somewhere I can stay.

[She pauses. The anxiety of the situation is

Comments

Voice;

[seethelanterns]

....Oh. Tear! Luke was look--.....Oh. Oh, so...I see. Um, Luke, Asch, and Natalia are here! I think there might be others too. I'm Rapunzel, and, er, this place is called Splendor. It's....a long story, but, we're sort of stuck here until the Locals figure out how to send us home. You should have a key on you? That will tell you where you're staying.

voice;

[ofhymns]

[So the Seal really does function as a communicator. Strange and unusual, but very handy. However, Luke's name makes her heart lurch.

... Perhaps she heard that wrong.] I-- I see. Thank you very much.

[But she has to know something. Tentatively:]

Did you say that Luke and Asch are here? That's... impossible.

voice;

[seethelanterns]

Sure! I know it can be pretty confusing when you first arrive, so I like to try help. But yes, Luke and Asch are here, along with Natalia, that I know of, from your home.

voice;

[ofhymns]

[Someone this bright and honest is hard to doubt. Clearly, Tear needs to take a step back and stifle the uncertainty, the relief warring with the panic.

She shouldn't be taking it out on anyone else.]

How long can I expect to stay?

[Voice] Also if this list is inaccurate I'm sorry. OTL

[claim_my_place]

[Someone was just woken up from an enforced nap. Not his decision.]

Luke, Guy, Natalia, Jade, Ion, and Emperor Peony are here. I can't confirm the presence of the others.

[Asch hasn't seen Anise, Arietta, Sync, or the cheagle around in a while. And since experience has taught him that trying to explain the ins and outs of this place to newcomers is a waste of time, he doesn't bother.]

[voice] that is totally okay :|b 1/2

[ofhymns]

[Her heart jumps into her throat. There's a soft gasp from her side of the conversation and not much else. The coolness in that voice is achingly familiar, but not just because Asch was an ally. It reminds her of someone else.

Auldrant lost so much that day.]

[ofhymns]

[She stops where she is in the street, gloved hands tightening around the musical note-embossed seal.

She knows that voice. She's shocked to hear it, but also... strangely relieved.]

Asch.

[She swallows hard, tries to get a hold of herself. Emotions be damned, they're both soldiers and they need to act like it. This isn't the first time she's heard Luke's name mentioned since she got here. It haunts her. What she walked away from haunts her.]

[Voice] "The it..."

[claim_my_place]

[Tear's reaction tells him all he needs to know. She must be aware of how things turned out on Eldrant, otherwise why would she sound surprised? Probably recent, too. Still, it irritates him for some reason, as if he really needs another reminder that he shouldn't be here.]

[There's what might be a grunt from his end. Asch doubts she has any information that he needs, but he'll wait a minute more in case the melodist has any reasonable questions.]

{Action} Serving one amused Colonel

[mystic_heresy]

[Jade happens to be in the area, as he has been relentlessly exploring since his arrival and he smiles at her.]

Hello again, Tear. It would seem you've been dragged here as well~ As for an inn, the key you have will lead to a house.

1/idk

[oldest7yearold]

[Sitting in the kitchen, thinking about wishing himself up a meal - food still worked for him, despite many saying it didn't... Worrying a lot a little about Asch...]

2/?

[oldest7yearold]

[Wait... that voice... over the seal.

Kid had disappeared for a while. Had the same thing just happened here...? He didn't know but...]

3/3 okay I think I'm done

[oldest7yearold]

[He's halfway out of his seat, grabbing his seal. He had been so worried that day she'd just disappeared. Maybe Peony had been right, maybe he'd been overreacting, but... He didn't care. He cared about her. He liked her, and when she'd just... left like that...]

Tear! Tear, you're back!

[The only question now, was, did she remember?]

1/4

[ofhymns]

[Tear hasn't moved from her spot in the street since Luke and Asch were first mentioned to her. Unable to find the voice to cry out, to look for him herself, she's been standing there and trying to wrap her head around it. But there he is. There's no mistaking the way he says her name.

Her fingers begin to tremble. She can't say anything. It's too terrible. It's some kind of sick, cruel joke...]

[mini_meteor]

Good evening, Miss-- Sergeant Grants. [unsure if that's correct... But Seles will stick with the military title for now, unless corrected.] I am Seles Wilder. [Because it's just proper to introduce yourself.]

This place is known as Splendor. I have not been made aware of any dangers in the area [not that she's been out much, anyway], and your assigned place of residence is likely printed on a key that is somewhere on your person.

[She assumes, anyway.]

I also know that there is a Princess Natalia, of Kimlasca-Lanvaldear, somewhere in this city... but I don't know anything about the other places you've listed.

[ofhymns]

[She's surprised, to say the least. Also her title is a mouthful and she prefers:] You may call me Tear. It's a pleasure to meet you, Seles.

Splendor... It is beautiful, but I didn't ask to be brought here. I'll have to examine the key in that case.

[A pause.]

Natalia is here? [Both good and bad news. Kimlasca will want their princess.] I wasn't aware that she was missing...

[mini_meteor]

[bows head softly in greeting.] The pleasure is all mine.

From what I've come to understand, nobody asks to come here, Ms. Tear. [Sorry, you still get the 'Ms Tear' treatment, if nothing else!] I certainly didn't. [Bitter? No, not at all! Except yeah totally]

[blinkblink!] We've only spoken once, but it seemed to me like she had been here since before my arrival one month ago. Surely news of a missing princess would have spread like wildfire within that time.

[Weird time stuff? What weird time stuff? Nobody told Seles about any weird time stuff!]

[ofhymns]

If she had gone missing, I would have been one of the first to know. At least... I believe so. [She places a white-gloved hand over her heart, suddenly uncertain. Something strange is going on here. Very strange.]

Do you know where I can find her?