Across the Sky [Active/Open]

[dollsy_npcs]

Characters: The Lanternkeeper, open
Setting: The Grand Room
Time: Night 012
Summary: The Lanternkeeper will take your questions. Note: I will respond to each thread individually, so this moves at a reasonable pace. You may threadhop if you wish.
Warnings: none

Comments

[snipersogeking]

Questions? Acedia? What the hell?

The house was insane tonight, but the thought that there might be questions to be answered . . . Usopp was terrified it might be a trap but he had to know what was going on.

He found no one in the Grand Room but a strange girl sitting on the couch, her mouth sewn shut and a lantern at her feet. Usopp raised his mask and walked slowly over to her. "You know what's going on here?" he asked.

[dollsy_npcs]

She smiled a little, awkwardly, and nodded. "W-well, a little. More than most of the people here... I think." Her voice was quiet and hesitant, and she squirmed a bit when she spoke, but was confident in her knowledge, at least.

[snipersogeking]

Usopp swallowed. What should he ask?

Duh.

"What is this place and why can't we leave?"

[snipersogeking]

Usopp shook his head. "Oh, sorry! Uh, it's rude to ask questions before introducing yourself. My name is Usopp - I'm a pirate flying under the flag of Monkey D. Luffy."

[flowing_alchemy]

The voice was unexpected and suspicious - but Alphonse wouldn't leave it without investigating it. It was a woman's voice... greeting them, and offering to answer questions. If that wasn't strange and unexpected, well...

He was quick (and exceptionally careful) to make it to the room shortly after he heard the voice. There was a woman there (with blood on her), perfectly calm, and... it looked safe. Something seemed off, and he was suspicious, but...

"Who are you?" he asked, voice quiet as he took a step forward. That was the best place to start.

[dollsy_npcs]

The Lanternkeeper smiled, and if there was a touch of regret there she did her best to hide it. "I can't remember my name," she said. "I'm the Lanternkeeper. You can call me that if you wish."

[flowing_alchemy]

Alphonse frowned a little bit, but he was beginning to feel a little bit more at ease. She was far from malicious - in fact, she seemed rather well mannered, surprisingly enough. "A-all right..." he said, hesitated a moment, then spoke again: "My... my name is Alphonse... Alphonse Elric."

He wasn't sure what good introducing himself would be, but she'd answered his question about her name, so it was only fair.

[dollsy_npcs]

"It's nice to meet you," she replied, still smiling. "I hope you've been able to fare--decently within Acedia?"

[slavetoyuuko]

Watanuki had heard the voice, and followed the rush to the room, answers would be nice. But he was suspicious of anything free gifts. He kept Pipe Fox tucked safely under his collar and looked at the woman, others were arriving quickly.

"Madame, you have offered us information...but you have not named a price....What do you expect in return?"

Yuuko had taught him to never offer anything without knowing the price, because it might be more than you were able or willing to pay.

[dollsy_npcs]

A price? She blinked at him, uncertainly. Though they would have no reason to trust her, so perhaps it was a reasonable question. "I request that you use the knowledge to... Try to escape."

[slavetoyuuko]

He watched her face for a moment, thoughtful. "Are you a prisoner here as well, then?"

What to ask about the House? And if she were a prisoner....well, she wouldn't know much more than they did, would she?

[dollsy_npcs]

"I used to be like you," she said. "We tried to figure out what was going on, and... Failed. Now I'm like this, and the others--"

[maidencircuit]

Cherry heard the summons and came. If somebody really could offer answers... Well, she would appreciate it.

She listened to the other questions, and offered her own. "How can we return home?"

[dollsy_npcs]

"I'm not sure, or--" Or she wouldn't be here, seemed to be the unspoken question. "But it has to do with the--the phantasms." Her voice dropped instantly, as if she was afraid someone might overhear.

[maidencircuit]

Cherry regarded the woman curiously. Phantasm: An apparition or specter. A creation of the imagination. "Who or what are the phantasms?" she asked softly, sensing fear in the lanternkeeper's voice.

[dollsy_npcs]

"Have you seen them? I know some have. They have masks for faces, and wear long coats, and they do not speak much. But they're responsible for--this place."

[chaotic_unmaker]

"Who has brought us here, and what is their purpose in doing so?" asked a quiet voice, almost a whisper, though it carried well despite that.

[dollsy_npcs]

"No one knows," she said, apologetically. "I'm sorry. Not even the phantasms know, unless they're lying."

[chaotic_unmaker]

The young looking man smiled a sad sort of smile. "I see. You must have suffered greatly here." An observation based on information already given to the others. "Can you tell me where I might find these phantasms?"

[dollsy_npcs]

"They only show up when they want to," she said. "And they're dangerous. I--I wouldn't go looking for them."