001 ▲ video.

[sylvan]

[The video comes at an odd angle, all wild waves of vivid green hair, occasionally rocking nauseously to reveal pale, creamy skin and the flash of dark blue eyes or part of a nervous but friendly smile -- much like the voice that comes over the airwaves.]

I've... never used something like this before, so I hope it's working! [Her laugh comes soft, chiming a few times before dissipating. The screen shakes and a slender hand comes into view, gesturing as she speaks. Slowly her appearance becomes a little more visible; a sideways angle of about two-thirds of her face comes into focus. Though the angle is odd, it's clear that she is an attractive woman and while uncomfortable, she radiates warmth.]

I'm not really sure where I'm going with all of this, I hadn't had much of a plan in mind when I started. [Another soft laugh that implies she's lost in more than one sense of the word. It doesn't reach her eyes, nor does the smile any longer.]

I do have a question, though, if no one minds it. What now?

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[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo is accompanied by both a meow wow and a meowjesty; the presence of a meow wow just seems to emphasize how large the meowjesty is. He inclines her head to Rydia as he arrives.]

I've always felt that everyone should endeavor to be polite, even in difficult circumstances. But truthfully, it's easy to be polite to people who are being polite themselves.

[Ienzo offers over a bag with some bread and cookies in it; he wasn't sure whether she preferred sweet or savory things and had decided not to ask.]

[sylvan]

[ She gets to her feet with a bit of a bounce, offering a smile that quickly widens when she notices the accompanying creatures. She doesn't mean to be rude, but it can't be helped. ] Ah, you have one, too! They're really cute. [ Her first reaction is to touch them, but she manages to act her age and avoid that. Though she'd love to chat about these things forever, she realizes now that they're in person, she can be more candid. ]

Unfortunately some people don't bring out the best in me. [ By which she means Edge. She always reacted so outrageously to him. He was the only one that really got her so angry and annoyed and... well, most things on the negative spectrum. ] I apologize that you had to see the exchange between the two of us. He did something to me that I can't quite forgive just yet. He doesn't see anything wrong with it and likely never will, so it's up to me to deal with it.

[ She's a touchy-feely person, gently swiping her fingers over his when she takes the bag from him. ] Thank you for meeting me.

[shadearchivist]

Yes. The dream eaters act as our companions and protectors here, though I would venture to say that most of us can take care of ourselves.

[Ienzo hesitates at her next statement. Really, it's none of his business, though he'd like to know so he can avoid giving discomfort to anyone.]

I can understand that. There are some people here who I am quite definitely not friends with, for certain reasons. It's harder when you have friends in common, I've found.

[Ienzo isn't generally touchy-feely, but he manages to resist the urge to pull away quickly. He doesn't want to be rude.]

You're quite welcome. Shall we?

[sylvan]

I'd like to think that I can. [ She places a hand on her hip, gesturing toward the whip looped there. ]

Understandable. [ She isn't eager to think about it, let alone talk about it. If anything, it would be easier if her other friends were here. ]

Mm! Sure. Please lead the way. [ She looks to her unnamed Meow Wow, making sure it's going to follow them. She can't seem to get into its head the same way she can other creatures. Hopefully that will change with training and more time together. ] Have you been here very long? [ He has a shop and knows his way around, after all. ]

[shadearchivist]

Some months, I'm sorry to say. We have more clues than we did at the start, so I'm hopeful we'll find a way out sooner rather than later.

[Ienzo heads for the nearby stairs; those will take them to the double doors that lead to the second district.]

[sylvan]

I'm sorry to hear it. [ But there's clues. That's good news -- better than any she's heard so far, at least. ] I'm not in much of a rush to get home, but I'll lend a hand wherever I can.

[ Her footfall is soft and her strides long. Hopefully there was some rhyme and reason to the layout here. She was pretty good at puzzles. Once they connect, they come together for her. ] I should prepare for an extended stay, shouldn't I?

[shadearchivist]

Unfortunately, yes. It would be nice to think that we'll be out soon, but given past experience, preparing for an extended stay is for the best.

[The large doors are surprisingly easy to open, and the second district is ahead of them now.]

The hotel is to the left there. It does cost to stay, but the nightmares drop munny and items when you defeat them, which is an unfortunate necessity here. I can put a map into your communicator so you won't get lost wandering around, as well.

[sylvan]

[ She lets her hand fall to the doors, catching them and pushing them closed behind her. She wonders what the purpose of the doors were at all... ]

Someone already told me that. I'm pretty used to that being how it works with monsters, so it's a bit of relief. I'm much better at fighting than potentially holding down a normal job. [ Not that she is flaky or unable to follow simple directions. She liked things to be a touch more exciting and she thought the reward was potentially greater this way. ]

You have many talents, don't you? I'd be grateful if you could. I've gotten to be really good at reading maps.

[shadearchivist]

I like to try to be helpful; it encourages learning many ways in which to do so.

[Ienzo holds a hand out for her communicator.]

Here, I'll take care of it now.

[sylvan]

The complete opposite of him. [ She mutters, still thinking about Edge and how much of an idiot he is. She gathers her composure quickly and smiles as she hands him her communicator. ]

Can you do it so quickly? [ She only asks since they didn't stop to sit or anything. ]

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo doesn't respond to that; not knowing the situation, he'd rather not open it up for discussion. He takes the communicator and types into it.]

I've done it several times; as the world expands, we need to put new maps in so that we know what's out there. I need to examine the new world that's appeared a bit more before I feel comfortable with it.

[sylvan]

[ She was really hoping he wouldn't comment on it. She doesn't really have anything to say beside the fact he's a jerk and he's frustrating and she's frustrated. Enough that she might mention him again. If it had been anyone else from her world, they wouldn't even get another word. She'd be on her merry way to meet up with them.

At least she has the decency to look a bit embarrassed about it all. ]

The new world? Is that the... pony one I heard about? [ She didn't even know what a pony was until she arrived here. ]

[shadearchivist]

Yes, it appears to be a portion of the ponies' home. Thus far, everyone who's gone there has turned into a pony for the duration of their stay as well. It's difficult to tell if this is normal magic for the world or not. At any rate, they don't have humans there.

[Ienzo finished up and offered the communicator back.]

[sylvan]

I'll keep that in mind if I plan on going there. [ She can't imagine functioning like that, but she could make due if it was necessary. The perks of using magic more than a weapon, she figures. ] Are there many worlds like that? Where you change so drastically? I've never even heard of a pony before coming here.

[ She graciously smiles with a small nod. ] I appreciate this.

[shadearchivist]

It depends on the kind of magic you use to travel to other worlds. Usually it would only happen in cases where one physically wouldn't be able to cope with said world without a transformation, but it doesn't seem to be the case here.

[Ienzo smiles back.]

You're quite welcome.

[sylvan]

I suppose I have to see for myself, then? That's fine. Is there anything else I should be prepared for other than abrupt changes in my appearance?

[ She only fiddles with the thing for a second, thinking it to be rude not to pay attention to her company. ] We don't have this sort of technology where I come from. I hope I don't accidentally break it.

[shadearchivist]

I don't believe there's much to look out for, other than nightmares and the form change in that world. Most of the people here are humans or ponies, but there are others as well, just so you're aware.

[Ienzo hums thoughtfully.]

I doubt it's easily breakable; it's designed for people who don't necessarily have facility with such things.

[sylvan]

[ Her arms reach behind her back and she folds her hands together. ] I'm used to fighting monsters, so I'll be fine. I haven't tried all of my magic yet, though. [ But she's got her whip, too. She isn't as strong as Cecil, Kain, or Edge, but she can paralyze or blind a creature and take her time on it. ] I am also use to things some might consider strange in appearance. I don't look at them any differently.

[ Everyone's the same on the inside, right? It's how they act that matters. ]

That's good to know! I'll still try to be careful with it.

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo pushed open the door to the hotel.]

Your magic should work normally here, I believe. Most people's seems to; interestingly enough, not everyone here has magic in the worlds where they come from.

[sylvan]

[ She offers a nod of thanks and enters behind him, gently pulling the door closed a little with her. ]

I can still feel it, so I think most of it should work the way it is meant to. Summoning Eidolons, though... [ It would stand to reason if something is powerful enough to pull her here that it would be powerful enough to seal certain abilities. She doesn't think she'll be seeing the Hallowed Father, Bahamut, anytime soon. She'll call upon the Sylphs, though, when she gets a chance. Just to see if she can. They're sprightly and compact, unlike everyone else she can call. ]

[shadearchivist]

If you choose to try something very showy, you should probably notify people over the network first so they don't get concerned.

[Summoning was never a particularly small magic, and the last thing they needed was people mistaking eidolons for a new type of nightmare. It wouldn't be a very good introduction.]

[sylvan]

I've already come to that conclusion. It would be a mess somewhere like this, so closed-in and full of people.

[ She pauses, then laughs quietly. She lifts a hand to her mouth, trying to stifle more from coming out. ] Although I've never had it described as being "showy," I think it likely fits.

[shadearchivist]

[Ienzo smiles at her; summons are always a bit showy, aren't they?]

My abilities tend to be showy as well.

[sylvan]

[ Her hands swing around to her back and clasp together and she bounces, rocking her feet from side to side. ]

Well? You're going to tell me, aren't you? You can't just say something like that and leave a girl hanging.

[shadearchivist]

If you insist.

[Ienzo's tone shows that he doesn't really mind. The hallway around them seems to disappear, replaced by a garden lined with fountains and cobblestone paths. The sun seems to be shining above them, and looming above them is a tall castle with elaborate turrets.]