[Video] ♪ 01 : FOOL ♪

[childofblue]

I don't think being dropped into a lake is very much of a welcome.

[The speaker is currently soaked to the bone, apparently not having thought to go dry out before using the orb he's gotten. Thankfully, the clip in his hair is keeping most of it out of his face, drowned rat look or not, and his dragonfly is making odd little melodic tones behind him.]

So, I took a look through the Guidebook... and it seems I'm here for a specific reason. A "fixing of a magical drain" or something like that? Does anyone else have any more information on that? It's kind of vague, and I generally mucked about with cards more than anything.

[While it's true in multiple forms, Chou carefully omits the fact they were magical cards.]

...Also, somewhere I could dry off and maybe get a change of clothes would be nice too. At least until mine dry out.

Comments

[video]

[markedviolin]

I take it that you don't need much of a rundown by this point? Although if you have any questions, I could probably answer them.

... Ah, my name's Marie, by the way.

[video]

[childofblue]

Chou Yoshihisa. A pleasure, Marie-ch-- err, Miss Marie.

I'd appreciate anything you could tell me. Even if it's just a repeat.

[video]

[markedviolin]

Likewise... ah, is it all right if I just call you Chou? [How does one international etiquette, that is the question.]

Well, this world, Avalar, has been losing magic, and nobody seems to know how or why. In its effort to get this magic going again, it's been bringing in people from other worlds. From Summer Forest, where you are, you can also get to a world inhabited predominantly by dragons, as well as... I believe they're called the Forgotten Worlds? Forgotten Realms? I'm... not entirely certain. They're certainly not forgotten about now, at least. The natives are offering housing and jobs to us Outsiders, so we're welcome to make ourselves comfortable here.

[video]

[childofblue]

Yes, that's perfectly fine. I don't really mind people being casual with me.

[He listens quietly, nodding occasionally or just tilting his head. A world of dragons, and a different world connected to this one that isn't theirs...

He's surprisingly calm about this for a teenager.]

I see. That's awfully nice of them... I guess they want to help us figure it out?

[video]

[markedviolin]

[She nods.] I assume that's the case. Either way, it's very kind of them. [She smiles a bit.]

[video]

[childofblue]

It is. Most people would just kick out an unwanted guest, world traveled or not.

[video]

[markedviolin]

Indeed. I guess it's because for the moment, we have no way to go home.

[video]

[childofblue]

Yeah.

[The thought is kind of painful, in a way Chou doesn't really understand. It's not like any of the people he left behind are going anywhere...]

[video]

[markedviolin]

... Perhaps it's best to avoid dwelling on what we can't control.

I don't suppose you have a place to stay, do you?

[video]

[childofblue]

No, I don't think so.

[He sincerely doubts that he can get to the Velvet Room here, if all this is right, so that leaves him high and dry.]

Not besides "sleeping outside," anyway.

[video]

[markedviolin]

I have a house out in Idol Springs that I share with a friend, and we're both used to living around more people. You could stay with us, if you'd like.

[video]

[childofblue]

Ah, that would be great, actually. I'm used to living with other people as well, so I'd prefer sharing to living alone.

[video]

[markedviolin]

Excellent. I'll let Minato know then. Would you like to come out here now, or would you prefer exploring a bit first?

[video]

[childofblue]

I'd like to look around some, to actually get a feel of where we are now. It'd be kind of embarrassing if I got lost, wouldn't it?