Personification Life - IC Part VIII [open]

[The BranRiech]

"Of course you can, Swith." Rylli smiled and picked her own son up, nuzzling his cheek for a second before outstretching her arms to Swith, the tiny bundle of baby-in-blanket smiling innocently, then whimpering at the stranger. He'd seen her before, but barely, and for a few minutes.

Rachelle, noticing that the Twin's mother was about to take her brother, she shrugged. "We could go and play something too, hide and seek or something? I've got board games too."

[Tiltjuice]

"Wouldn't you just die if you ended up naked every time you knocked on that door?" Minerva asked. She was being carried her down the stairs by a man in an SS uniform. She still didn't seem to mind her nudity too much. She was half way tempted to mess with time just to undress the poor fellow, but Minerva wasn't known to follow through on ideas for practical jokes. Instead, the Chaos Quarters door swung open and the pair continued on their way down the dark stairwell, passing Naomi who was just coming back up again with a bathrobe.

Naomi crossed the threshold and smiled. "Oh, I see you have clothing. I was just bringing this to you so you wouldn't have to go around naked," she told the salesman.

"...All is well, yes. Thank you." The salesman nodded, still a bit out of sorts after being nude-ified and then confronted by that bizarre being and the two cultists. "Er...what is your name?"

---

Elsewhere, a being that appeared to be made up entirely of red robes was in the kitchen, rooting through the fridge.

---

Elsewhere, a white-haired man in a business suit and fedora paced the hallways near the Three Tails.

[Urran]

Yoshi timidly walked around trough the halls to find Katya. He had left his less than happy cousin to stew for a while, he needed to learn his lesson. He wanted to Buy Bran a birthday present but he needed to talk to his beloved first. He ran his fingers through his hair. He was not used to the new style but he need only keep it for a week.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

"Interesting, 265 is quite a lot. How many labs are there? And how many are for entertainment?" Arthur inquired as he lit another cigarette. He personally liked extradimensional engineering, it gave more space for storage and larger labs for larger experiments, even self contained ecosystems for experiments. However, his field of work didn't require much lab time.

Primordial tapped on one of the wards which the hologram instantly zoomed in on, showing an in depth image of the eight different rooms. Each of the rooms was massive easily the size of a mansion by anyone's standards, the pictured showed that no two where same and all were filled with a myriad of strange objects and device. "Only one of the wards is designated for labs meaning we only have sizteen laboratories. However each of them is focused on a different branch of science." He point to a room filled with floating multicolored shapes "The chemistry lab" another that looked like a butchers shop "Biology" another that's interior seemed to melt, shift and warp every second "Physics. You get the idea." He then zoomed out a refocused on another set of rooms "Two of the wards are designated for entertainment purposes so we have 32 of those. They vary for different forms of mental, spiritual and phsyical stimulation."

"Then what are the rest for? Storage?" Arthur asked as he though about the house's increasingly convoluted storage system.

---

Meanwhile in the storage systems of the Von Eldritch House...

Nevvie dropped a screwdriver and continued down the hall. Moments later she found the screwdriver in front of her.

"Milking Hell!" she cursed at the confirmation that she was stuck in a spatial loop.

Checking all the systems was taking a while, and now she had to deal with this setback. It would be weeks before it was all done. The diagnostics were offline since Fortu wasn't around to finish it all, so it was just her and the NurseBots left to fix everything. The self repair and emergency systems barely functioned, so everything had to be manual.

[Swith Witherward]

"Of course you can, Swith." Rylli smiled and picked her own son up, nuzzling his cheek for a second before outstretching her arms to Swith, the tiny bundle of baby-in-blanket smiling innocently, then whimpering at the stranger. He'd seen her before, but barely, and for a few minutes.

Rachelle, noticing that the Twin's mother was about to take her brother, she shrugged. "We could go and play something too, hide and seek or something? I've got board games too."

See that the adults were focused on the baby, the twins put their heads together with Rachelle.

"Want to see Paris?" Sydney asked.

Siduer rolled his eyes. "You know Mama will just send a cultist to beat your butt if you go, Nee."

"Yes, but Paris has good candy. And you can stay here, you fuss bucket. Rachelle and I will go."


Swith purred at the Toyla and nuzzled his cheek with her nose. "Look how big you're getting!" she cooed at him. "So handsome, like your daddy."

--

"I'm Naomi," said the godling. She tilted her head to the side and regarded the salesman. "Are you from a top secret agency bent on world domination?"

[The BranRiech]

"Paris? Isn't that in England?" Rachelle asked. She thought that Paris, well, was in England, and London was in France. She shrugged and nodded, showing her a $5 dollar bill. It wouldn't be much worth in a foreign nation though, but she figured candy was universal in currency.

Meanwhile, her parents, unaware as to what the kids were planning, smiled as Swith cooed at their son, and Tolya giggled a bit. "He's a fan of Peek-A-Boo, try it!" Bran chuckled.

[Tiltjuice]

"I'm Naomi," said the godling. She tilted her head to the side and regarded the salesman. "Are you from a top secret agency bent on world domination?"

"Then this is for you," replied the salesman, handing over the large book with the red cover and jacket. "And...no, not as far as I am aware." He smiled. "What a curious thought."

[Primordial Luxa]

Primordial tapped on one of the wards which the hologram instantly zoomed in on, showing an in depth image of the eight different rooms. Each of the rooms was massive easily the size of a mansion by anyone's standards, the pictured showed that no two where same and all were filled with a myriad of strange objects and device. "Only one of the wards is designated for labs meaning we only have sizteen laboratories. However each of them is focused on a different branch of science." He point to a room filled with floating multicolored shapes "The chemistry lab" another that looked like a butchers shop "Biology" another that's interior seemed to melt, shift and warp every second "Physics. You get the idea." He then zoomed out a refocused on another set of rooms "Two of the wards are designated for entertainment purposes so we have 32 of those. They vary for different forms of mental, spiritual and phsyical stimulation."

"Then what are the rest for? Storage?" Arthur asked as he though about the house's increasingly convoluted storage system.

"Mostly" he replied "16 of them are living quarters and the control ward is another sixteen rooms but the other 176 are generators, storage and other technical supplies." He waved his hand turning off the nanite constructed hologram and sending the floating ball of metal back into the ceiling

[Tasarinan]

Finduin drank and drank from the flow of foamy water that had appeared out of nowhere. Ordinarily she would have spit it out upon tasting it, for it had a strange and unnatural bitterness about it, but she was so thirsty that she didn't care. After she had drunk for so long that she needed to stop and catch her breath, she straightened up from the water and sighed, breathing heavily as she allowed her gaze to wander around the room. It was then that she noticed a strange figure who seemed to consist of a red robe and nothing else. The being was rummaging through a cupboard that Finduin had not noticed before; indeed, she couldn't think how it could have been there without her seeing it. To her astonishment, wisps of water vapor were wafting out of the door of the cupboard, which was pale, and whose shelves were glazed over with ice in some places. She forgot all about the water, which continued to flow from its source, and, which, even had she not forgotten it, she had no idea how to stop the flow of. She instead concentrated solely on the strange phenomenon of Red Robes and the icy cupboard, trying with a struggle to make sense in her mind of what she was seeing. She was somewhat wary of the stranger, but she had the feeling that she was safer inside this house than she might be anywhere else in this strange world, so she was more curious than afraid.

[Tiltjuice]

Finduin drank and drank from the flow of foamy water that had appeared out of nowhere. Ordinarily she would have spit it out upon tasting it, for it had a strange and unnatural bitterness about it, but she was so thirsty that she didn't care. After she had drunk for so long that she needed to stop and catch her breath, she straightened up from the water and sighed, breathing heavily as she allowed her gaze to wander around the room. It was then that she noticed a strange figure who seemed to consist of a red robe and nothing else. The being was rummaging through a cupboard that Finduin had not noticed before; indeed, she couldn't think how it could have been there without her seeing it. To her astonishment, wisps of water vapor were wafting out of the door of the cupboard, which was pale, and whose shelves were glazed over with ice in some places. She forgot all about the water, which continued to flow from its source, and, which, even had she not forgotten it, she had no idea how to stop the flow of. She instead concentrated solely on the strange phenomenon of Red Robes and the icy cupboard, trying with a struggle to make sense in her mind of what she was seeing. She was somewhat wary of the stranger, but she had the feeling that she was safer inside this house than she might be anywhere else in this strange world, so she was more curious than afraid.

"Aha!" the being said at length, straightening up and examining a quart carton of black cherry ice cream in satisfaction. The lime green broken halo atop its topmost point began having a disco ball-like effect, beginning to rotate. "With this at my disposal, I should be able to - "

It had been turning around in the process of speaking to itself, and stopped when it caught sight of Finduin. This made it hide the ice cream behind its back.

"Who might you be?" it queried, studying her cautiously. The refrigerator door closed, leaving only the sound of running water in the sink. "Are you new here, then? I don't remember seeing you before."

[Cerillium]

"That I did!" Chrys replied, mostly cheerfully. She swung Hans up into the fireman's carry, and sped off to the apartment in a blur. Opening the door drew the attention of Luce and MB.

".....", 'said' the former, as he stared at them rather blankly. "Er - well, I suppose this explains a set of armor, some clothing, and assorted weaponry landing on me some time ago, while I was taking a nap on the couch." He sipped some more coffee.

Chrys yelped in delight and stood Hans up in the middle of the dining room as she rushed off to put everything on again. Behind her back...I told you she would be like purple-hair eventually! Pay up! the latter signed gleefully, twitching his nose for extra emphasis.

---

Dora sighed, shook her head in pity, and decided to let Jacob himself deal with the stranger. She wasn't going to be able to change his mind, even if she'd wanted to.

"That sounds like a good idea. Sorry, Ogoti. I'm sure there'll be time enough, later." She smiled gratefully, beginning to wonder if the old lady was trying to get her to rejoin the Conservators or some equally half-baked idea that could only be accomplished through her powers as Fate. There had been quite a few interruptions lately - the explosions preventing their dinner and now Katya and this short-sighted stranger taking over their coffee date. Still, that was life and attraction, and she'd long since learned to deal with it.

To Katya, she answered, "Not anymore. Come on. I know I haven't had much time to spend with you, but we've all been busy. Let's fix that right now, what? We could go down to my place, or Chaos, or wherever you like." As a parting shot to Michael - with whom she was quite done talking for the moment - "She's my girlfriend."

Behind Michael, Katya, Dora, and Ogoti, unnoticed by everyone except possibly Ogoti, there was a very subtle swishing of robes.

The naked former Nazi stood in the dining room. "Guten Tag Mr. Luce, Odd Rabbit."

He seemed nonplussed regarding his nudity as he surveyed the Conservators' apartment. He scanned it curiously before returning his attention the man and furry companion. "Naked fairy. We're going to the Succubus to pick up new clothing for me."

---

Ogoti shimmered for a moment as replacement clothing formed and then he tugged his sleeves into place. He'd still make it in time for a hot latte if he hurried. Dora and Katya had catching up to do.

He caught the drinking elf from the corner of his eye. New arrival? She was unique, certainly, and not from this dimension. Curious about her being, the old god wandered towards her. He'd observe her for a while.

[Swith Witherward]

"That's settled then," Sydney said, grasping Rachelle's wrist. "And it's in France, and Siduer, are you coming?"

The young boy sighed. "I might as well, just so I'm not stuck here with the adults."

Sydney pulled them both into Rachelle's bedroom, and then they vanished without a sound.

They arrived in a park just in time to see children launching toy boats in a reflecting pool. Siduer studied them a moment and whispered, "Well, that looks like fun. Should we ask them if we can play, too?"


Meanwhile, Swith played several rounds of peek-a-boo with Tolya.

--

"Oh, a cook book!" Naomi held the book to her chest, absolutely delighted. She smiled at the stranger. "Thank you! I love cook books. Would you like to work for a top secret agency bent on world domination?"

[The BranRiech]

"Fine, honest mistake." Rachelle shrugged before they were suddenly the newest Illegal entrants to the nation. But none of them probably knew it. "Yeah, maybe they know where the candy is too, right? They're like our informants or something, they just don't know it yet." She nodded, pretty sure the kids would be willing to help a few foreigners find some sweets.

Meanwhile: The parents were still quite oblivious, having only seen the children go off to Rachelle's room, probably to play with toys or something. Tolya was laughing up a storm anyways, covering up the eerie silence coming from their daughter's room.

[Swith Witherward]

"Fine, honest mistake." Rachelle shrugged before they were suddenly the newest Illegal entrants to the nation. But none of them probably knew it. "Yeah, maybe they know where the candy is too, right? They're like our informants or something, they just don't know it yet." She nodded, pretty sure the kids would be willing to help a few foreigners find some sweets.

Meanwhile: The parents were still quite oblivious, having only seen the children go off to Rachelle's room, probably to play with toys or something. Tolya was laughing up a storm anyways, covering up the eerie silence coming from their daughter's room.

"He has such a sweet personality," Swith said, nuzzling him again. "I can't wait until he starts walking and talking." She sat on the couch and laid him on his back in her lap so she could play with his feet, gently moving them to teach some muscle memory. "You'll be galloping along! Yes, you will," she assured him.


Meanwhile, Sydney nodded to Rachelle. "Good idea! Come on!"

She walked up to the group of boys. They were older than her friend and brother, but seemed nice. "Um, bon jer. Pardon Mmmmua. Par ley vou Eng-leh?"

One of the boys fell down laughing and the other nudged his companion. "Eh, on t'a berce trop pres du mur?"

Sydney turned to Rachelle and Siduer and shrugged. She didn't speak French.

[Tasarinan]

Finduin drank and drank from the flow of foamy water that had appeared out of nowhere. Ordinarily she would have spit it out upon tasting it, for it had a strange and unnatural bitterness about it, but she was so thirsty that she didn't care. After she had drunk for so long that she needed to stop and catch her breath, she straightened up from the water and sighed, breathing heavily as she allowed her gaze to wander around the room. It was then that she noticed a strange figure who seemed to consist of a red robe and nothing else. The being was rummaging through a cupboard that Finduin had not noticed before; indeed, she couldn't think how it could have been there without her seeing it. To her astonishment, wisps of water vapor were wafting out of the door of the cupboard, which was pale, and whose shelves were glazed over with ice in some places. She forgot all about the water, which continued to flow from its source, and, which, even had she not forgotten it, she had no idea how to stop the flow of. She instead concentrated solely on the strange phenomenon of Red Robes and the icy cupboard, trying with a struggle to make sense in her mind of what she was seeing. She was somewhat wary of the stranger, but she had the feeling that she was safer inside this house than she might be anywhere else in this strange world, so she was more curious than afraid.

"Aha!" the being said at length, straightening up and examining a quart carton of black cherry ice cream in satisfaction. The lime green broken halo atop its topmost point began having a disco ball-like effect, beginning to rotate. "With this at my disposal, I should be able to - "

It had been turning around in the process of speaking to itself, and stopped when it caught sight of Finduin. This made it hide the ice cream behind its back.

"Who might you be?" it queried, studying her cautiously. The refrigerator door closed, leaving only the sound of running water in the sink. "Are you new here, then? I don't remember seeing you before."

Finduin couldn't help staring in surprise at the strangeness of the person who was addressing her, but not wanting to be rude, she stammered in reply, "Ah- y-yes, I... I only arrived here, well... just the other day, I think." She hesitated, then realized she hadn't fully answered Red Robes' question. She hastily added, "Oh, my name is Finduin." She waited politely for the being to reveal its name. She noticed that it seemed at least as uneasy about her as she was of it, if not more so, which half-reassured and half-reinforced her wariness.

[Tiltjuice]

Luce seemed wrong-footed, despite having grown up in Rome. Having to match other societies' ideas of modesty and clothing as a traveling "diplomat" for the boss-couple, he'd gotten less and less used to nudity. Well, from non-Conservators.

"Well, er, yes. Don't let me bother you."

MB sniffed in disdain. Glasses man is less fun than purple hair. Or even golden hairs. He hopped down off the table and loped toward Hans.

"Right, ready!" said Chrys, suddenly materializing alongside Hans. MB's ears shot straight up and he glommed onto Hans' ankle.

---

"I...it is possible," said the salesman uncertainly, wondering if he should start edging away. Naomi was cheerful, but one never knew. These people were quite strange.

[Tiltjuice]

Finduin couldn't help staring in surprise at the strangeness of the person who was addressing her, but not wanting to be rude, she stammered in reply, "Ah- y-yes, I... I only arrived here, well... just the other day, I think." She hesitated, then realized she hadn't fully answered Red Robes' question. She hastily added, "Oh, my name is Finduin." She waited politely for the being to reveal its name. She noticed that it seemed at least as uneasy about her as she was of it, if not more so, which half-reassured and half-reinforced her wariness.

"Hello Finduin. I am - well, please call me Deader. I am a traveling alchemist. And the stranger over

Ogoti shimmered for a moment as replacement clothing formed and then he tugged his sleeves into place. He'd still make it in time for a hot latte if he hurried. Dora and Katya had catching up to do.

He caught the drinking elf from the corner of his eye. New arrival? She was unique, certainly, and not from this dimension. Curious about her being, the old god wandered towards her. He'd observe her for a while.

...he seems very supernatural. Though I am not quite sure what group he represents. I do not get out much, you see."

The outside of the ice cream carton was beginning get slippery from all the condensation, so Deader circled around toward a table and put it down.

[Swith Witherward]

"I...it is possible," said the salesman uncertainly, wondering if he should start edging away. Naomi was cheerful, but one never knew. These people were quite strange.

Naomi giggled. "Well, thank you for the book, and if you ever want to join such an organization, let me know, okay?"

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the stranger's cheek, then walked off with her new gift.

[The BranRiech]

"I don't know French, either." Rachelle shrugged, throwing up her arms in confusion. "Candy? You know where it is?" She asked. "Or wait, English?" She asked of them next.

Her efforts at diplomacy were rudimentary at best, and in her world, this was what politicians always squabbled over, simple candy.

--

"He's a gem to us, a better gem than the ones in our rings, we both think." Rylli smiled and prepared to take her child back. "I think the kids want to see them, Rachelle, come out here, you can see your brother now!" Bran called out to the kids, receiving no response. He figured they must've forgotten, and decided to let them be, having their fun.

[Tiltjuice]

"What!? But...spend time with me. Sure."

Katya glanced away for a second. Something was fighting around in her mind. Suddenly, she saw an opportunity.

"Whatever you want.", She answered. She really didn't want to be around other people, though. She often found it to be tiring nowadays.

"Name a place," Dora said, taking Katya's hand.

Naomi giggled. "Well, thank you for the book, and if you ever want to join such an organization, let me know, okay?"

She stood on her tiptoes and kissed the stranger's cheek, then walked off with her new gift.

The salesman blinked. Rubbed his cheek lightly. Blushed. Blinked some more.

He resolved to leave that part of the encounter out of his work report, and left the lobby to go back to his office for another bag, carrying the oddest assortment of items.

[The New Velociraptor Empire]

"Then what are the rest for? Storage?" Arthur asked as he though about the house's increasingly convoluted storage system.

"Mostly" he replied "16 of them are living quarters and the control ward is another sixteen rooms but the other 176 are generators, storage and other technical supplies." He waved his hand turning off the nanite constructed hologram and sending the floating ball of metal back into the ceiling

"Sounds reasonable, it does take a lot of power to keep the dimensions in line and not bleed out to the outside world." Arthur observed. "What is there for mental and physical stimulation?" he asked, his culture completely ignored the spiritual.

If spiritual things tried to make their way into the Raptor Empire, they were thoroughly eradicated through any means available. A fate that almost unknowingly befell Naomi and Gio during their visit to the Raptorverse. It is safe to say that Raptor culture avoided it at all possible costs.

[Swith Witherward]

"I don't know French, either." Rachelle shrugged, throwing up her arms in confusion. "Candy? You know where it is?" She asked. "Or wait, English?" She asked of them next.

Her efforts at diplomacy were rudimentary at best, and in her world, this was what politicians always squabbled over, simple candy.

--

"He's a gem to us, a better gem than the ones in our rings, we both think." Rylli smiled and prepared to take her child back. "I think the kids want to see them, Rachelle, come out here, you can see your brother now!" Bran called out to the kids, receiving no response. He figured they must've forgotten, and decided to let them be, having their fun.

Swith handed Tolya back to Rylli. "All life is precious," she said, "but it's always most precious when it's your own child." She frowned at the lack of response from the twins. It was entirely too quiet.

--

The French boy crinkled his nose. "Non!" He nudged his friend on the ground and the three set off to find something to do. These were "little kids", and they weren't interested in playing with them.

Siduer glared at his sister. "This is dull. Let's go back."

[Tasarinan]

Finduin couldn't help staring in surprise at the strangeness of the person who was addressing her, but not wanting to be rude, she stammered in reply, "Ah- y-yes, I... I only arrived here, well... just the other day, I think." She hesitated, then realized she hadn't fully answered Red Robes' question. She hastily added, "Oh, my name is Finduin." She waited politely for the being to reveal its name. She noticed that it seemed at least as uneasy about her as she was of it, if not more so, which half-reassured and half-reinforced her wariness.

"Hello Finduin. I am - well, please call me Deader. I am a traveling alchemist. And the stranger over

Ogoti shimmered for a moment as replacement clothing formed and then he tugged his sleeves into place. He'd still make it in time for a hot latte if he hurried. Dora and Katya had catching up to do.

He caught the drinking elf from the corner of his eye. New arrival? She was unique, certainly, and not from this dimension. Curious about her being, the old god wandered towards her. He'd observe her for a while.

...he seems very supernatural. Though I am not quite sure what group he represents. I do not get out much, you see."

The outside of the ice cream carton was beginning get slippery from all the condensation, so Deader circled around toward a table and put it down.

Finduin turned sharply in the direction Deader had indicated, and noticed Ogoti with some uneasiness. She had been feeling very lonely only a moment earlier, but now, meeting two strangers all at once, who didn't even seem to know each other particularly well, was beginning to feel like too much. She realized, now that she had had a sizable drink, how achingly hungry she was. She knew she ought to greet the newcomer out of courtesy, but at the moment she all she could think of was food. She gave a polite nod to Ogoti and managed a small smile, before turning back towards Deader. "Please pardon me if I am disturbing you, but do you know where I can find something to eat? I am so hungry..." She trailed off, feeling rather embarrassed to be so dependent on a stranger for her most basic needs.

[Torsiedelle]

"How about the rooftop?", Katya immediately said. She didn't think it often that Dora took her hand, and she found those moments to be special. She also felt a little bad when she thought of Yoshi.

"The rooftop. Or your place. Maybe Chaos. I need to tell you something."

[Cerillium]

Luce seemed wrong-footed, despite having grown up in Rome. Having to match other societies' ideas of modesty and clothing as a traveling "diplomat" for the boss-couple, he'd gotten less and less used to nudity. Well, from non-Conservators.

"Well, er, yes. Don't let me bother you."

MB sniffed in disdain. Glasses man is less fun than purple hair. Or even golden hairs. He hopped down off the table and loped toward Hans.

"Right, ready!" said Chrys, suddenly materializing alongside Hans. MB's ears shot straight up and he glommed onto Hans' ankle.

"Son of a mammal!" (Hans had spent too much time spying on the raptors.)

He lifted his afflicted ankle and began to hop around on one leg. "Get it off! AAAGHHH! What I do to you, verruckte Hasen?!"

---

Ogoti sat down at a table close to the kitchen. He smiled at Finduin. "Good morning."