cape_kore | Day 204 ♪ voice

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Day 204 ♪ voice

[ It'd only taken him a few moments to orient himself once he 'woke up'.

And it was a strange feeling, that, for a being that doesn't sleep. It wasn't quite like he remembers it from his human years, as fuzzy and distant as those memories are. One moment, he's on the highway in his father's car, his path leading him straight to Alaska, and he blinks only to find himself standing in the middle of an unfamiliar room.

There was no understanding it. At least, not yet.

Frustration builds as he closes his eyes, reaching out with his senses in these unfamiliar surroundings. He can hear the thoughts of those nearby - muted, of course, but still there. He could smell the scent of humans...and others not quite as human. Vampires? He honestly can't say, a fact that unsettles him to his very core. All he can discern is this - there is nobody there that he knows. For a second, a flash of worry and what almost feels like fear shoots through him, but then he shakes it off.

Uncertainty would lead to mistakes, and he can't afford to make them. Especially now.

Tempted as he is to scout through the building (going at full speed should only seem like a random breeze to anyone around), he holds off on the tour. If there really are vampires there, bringing attention to himself in that manner could put them on the defensive. He isn't looking for a fight by any means. Opening his eyes, he glances over at the phone on the table nearby. He'd noticed it before, but there had been more important things to worry about. Now, it has his full attention.

Instantly, he's at the table, picking up the phone with a grim look on his face. After playing the message, he finds himself even more baffled than before, so really he has no other choice than to send out some type of message. ]

[The device is simple enough for him to understand. Edward wavers between text or voice - he's loathe to show his face to a group of strangers, especially considering how obviously not human he looks. It usually isn't a problem when he's with his family - whether it was intimidation or awe that made people keep their distance, it doesn't matter. He needs to be careful, more careful than he's ever been before.

Nodding to himself, he presses a button to turn on the voice option. There's a short pause of silence as he agonizes over what to say. ]

I suppose an introduction would be in order. [ He clears his throat, truly an unneeded action but it's a force of habit. ] My name is Edward - a recent arrival. I'm aware of where I am, but unfortunately it still leaves me with many unanswered questions. [ And for someone who is so used to knowing so much, it's more than a little disturbing. He chuckles softly at himself, so soft that many wouldn't be able to catch it unless their own hearing is supernatural in nature. ] I assume that's usually the case when someone arrives. If anyone could get into contact with me, it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

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Those are some nice manners you've got. Awfully formal, aren't you?

[As vampires go, Benny considers himself to be on the polite side, largely because he's not about to take a bite out of anyone anytime soon if he can help it, but formal introductions? Seems almost moot in a place like this.]

You get lost in the changing hallways yet, friend?

You could say I'm a little old fashioned.

[ Just a little. If only people really knew just how old. ]

Actually, I haven't left the room just yet. Wanted to see what others had to say before I started exploring. I'm having a little trouble wrapping my mind around this particular situation - I'm sure I'm not the first.

[ That's an understatement, but it's a vague enough reason that Edward can give without giving too much away. ]

Think I can relate.

[In some ways, anyway. Benny is very aware of the fact that he is a grandpa.]

Quite a bit of explorin' to be done out there. Be worth takin' a peek when you get the chance. But no, you got that right. You ain't the first.

Trust me, it's in my plans. [ Later. When the sun's not out - there's no telling how many windows might be in this place. ]

You mentioned the hallways changing. How exactly do you mean?

[ He wishes he could just hear the information from this man's thoughts, but that's not working out too well for him over a phone. Frustrating. ]

Exactly what it sounds like, I'm afraid.

[Which doesn't make much sense until you've experienced it firsthand, he knows, but still.]

Turn around while you're walkin' along, mindin' your own business, and the whole thing could switch up on you. Different doors than the ones you'd just passed by, or maybe the hallway will disappear completely and you'll find yourself starin' at a dead end.

Like an ever changing maze.

[ Said quietly to himself, of course, but Benny would hear it. As it is, Edward's holding all disbelief at bay until he can witness it firsthand. ]

I'm assuming we don't know who exactly are captors are, do we? Or how they managed to bring us all here.

That's about the size of it.

[He's really not quite as perturbed about it as he could be. Gives the place a little spice. Makes it interesting. Gotta love a good mystery.]

If they're around, I haven't seen 'em. [Or smelled them.] Haven't been here more than a handful of days myself, but seems to be the general belief that whoever's responsible ain't about to make themselves known. Interesting place, though, once you take the time to poke around a little.

It seems like it. I can say it's certainly not like anywhere I've seen before, and that's quite an accomplishment.

[ Yeah, he sounds about seventeen. Teenagers these days and their know it all attitudes. ]

I'd say I'm holding out hope they'll reveal themselves soon, but I'm sure they won't. Whoever has us here has some purpose in mind, and it wouldn't do good to show their hand.

Is it, now? You a man of the world?

[There's a derisive snort of laughter in there somewhere. No kidding, this kid sounds like a baby. Think you know a hell of a lot, eh, pal?]

Reckon you're not the first person here to come to that conclusion. Probably 'bout the twentieth. Can't count on anything being handed to us, even information.

There's a few that might still go unanswered. [ Sadly. It's frustrating to not have the answers, a little more frustrating when you have to tell someone else that there just isn't an answer - not one known ] What are you looking to find out?

[ He apparently knows where he is. That saves one strange explanation ]

I had a feeling I wouldn't be able to have all the answers just yet. I imagine it must be just as irritating for everyone else.

[ There's a small part of him resigned to not knowing all the answers, irritating as that may be. He is determined to get them, one way or another, but it's looking to be easier said than done. ]

Would one of those unanswered questions be who is responsible for all this?

Yes and no. I haven't been here long but from what I've been told this wasn't where everyone used to be. There was a small town, with some scientists that oversaw it all. Then everyone was forced here and the scientists haven't been seen since.

[ But there are sentient machines... and moving halls ]

It's unfortunate there's no way to learn what forced the change.

[ Especially since that could be a key clue in who is keeping them there. No sense in dwelling on it too much, at least not now. ]

Are there people trying to figure out who is behind this, or is everyone just taking it each day as it comes?

Apparently what's behind this is a machine. ( Yeah, she's not so sure she believes that. I mean, there's JARVIS and then there's... this ) Taking it one day can help until you know more.

[Christine's honestly still caught by surprise every time the device turns on and a face of sound pours out of it - she jumps a little, even though she'd like to think - she keeps telling herself, anyway - that she's getting better at this.

Still, when she speaks into it, she holds the device still much too close to her face to talk.]

It's good to hear from you, Edward. You may call me Christine. Sadly...I'm afraid I can't give you as many answers to your questions as I should like. I'm new here, as well.

[Well, newer than some, it seems.]

[ He's actually a little relieved he's not one of the only new arrivals, even if she's been there a bit. She might not have his particular oddities, but that doesn't really matter. He doubts there are many here who refuse to leave their room on account of how the sunlight reflects off their skin.

Not that he's going to be talking about that. ]

It's nice to meet you, Christine. At least, considering the circumstances.

Maybe you could fill me in on what you have learned so far?

[She doesn't leave her room much, though for an entirely different reason. When she first arrived, she was assaulted by red blobs. She's been a little wary of the whole place since then.]

Well, to begin...I suppose I could say this place is like nothing I've ever encountered before. It's been said that it may be run by scientists, or even some sort of machine. There are people here who can use magic - though they've been nothing but friendly to me - and...to be frank, I think the building itself has some sort of otherworldly forces working within it, though I'm not sure. It's the only explanation I can come up with for the halls changing their paths on their own or the oddities I've found in the kitchen.

Edited 2014-06-20 19:32 (UTC)

[ He takes this all in, not interrupting her as his mind races. The concept of magic, though considered something of a myth by world standards, isn't quite that far fetched to him. Who is he to claim this area isn't otherworldly? Considering his own...species are straight out of horror novels, anything's possible. ]

Someone mentioned the hallways to me earlier. It's a little difficult to picture, but I've never run into such a thing before. What have you found in the kitchen?

[ He doubts it's his type of meal. ]

There's hardly anything I'm accustomed to. No chicken or anything of that sort, and the food is stored in these humming, glowing metal boxes.

[She's never seen a proper refridgerator, of course.]

Some of what they call food seems to glow. I try to stay away from that.

I'm afraid, Edward, that we don't have too many answers to give you. Most of us are in the same boat. We've just been in it longer. Well, some of us.

[Meja would offer a friendly smile, were this a video call. She tries her best to sound sympathetic; she remembers her first day.]

Still, you can ask.

I'm starting to understand answers might not be that easily found now.

[ It's said softly, because he isn't pleased about it by any means. He's also aware it's not anyone's fault - or anyone who would be answering him, at least. ]

I've already asked about our captors, and know we have little to go off of. I was wondering how many others are here?

It fluctuates, somewhat. There used to be close to forty. Now I think we're closer to... twenty, but it's hard to tell without a census or a sign-in sheet. [She's kidding, although, hey, a sign-in sheet might not be a terrible idea. Just for a rough estimate of the flow of people.] And we're a very diverse group of people.

Given that this area seems to be larger than it appears, I'm not surprised it's difficult to keep track. It seems like people come and go often, is that right? Without warning, at least. That's especially troublesome to monitor.

[ And she's certainly piqued his curiosity now with that last statement. ]

I would say diversity makes the world more colorful, but that would also depend on the kind of diversity you're talking about. Clashing personalities?

Ja, there's no way to tell if someone has gone home except to call them directly on these devices. People, regrettably, slip by. [Meja does sound a touch remorseful about that. But in the end, what can you do? This isn't exactly in any training manual.] Clashing personalities, sometimes, ja. But also clashing races.

[No use keeping it a secret. He's going to meet one of the resident non-humans at some point.]

[ That's interesting information, at least for Edward. Personalities he can understand, but races? ]

Would you mind elaborating on that a little more for me? I like to be...prepared, if there's a way to be so. [ Less about being startled and more about keeping himself on alert. He could just scan someone's thoughts when he meets them, but surprises rarely work out well.

Including his most recent one, which has him conflicted. ]

That's a... difficult word, in this place. [Meja chuckles.] I'm not certain it's possible to be truly prepared. But I can tell you that we've had angels, shifters, beings from worlds other than Earth...

[That might be a bit to absorb. She pauses.]

I've been here a few months, now, and there doesn't seem to be a limit on what this place can bring.

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