Personification Life - IC Part VIII [open]

[The BranRiech]

While she attempted to stay strong for Aleki, and succeeded in doing it, she was in tears the second the dropship pulled away from the roof. Her shirt ended up stained a few minutes later, and she looked off to the sky wistfully.

"I should have gone with . . . I-I can't take him leaving." She whispered.

[Primordial Luxa]

Katya was starting to get scared. Even Torii was, though she was reassured somewhat by Primordial's glance. The sisters squeezed each others' hands for comfort, and watched the ritual take place.

Katya still felt uneasy. She tugged at her collar some, jostling a small chain around her neck. A necklace moved around, hidden under her shirt.

Torii's eyes shifted, though this was hidden by the darkness, and her shades.

Slowly the words began to take on a life of their own and work their way into hidden parts of the listeners mind breaking links so their attention was focused on the chant. Steadily each of the cultist took a small sphere of ceramic from their robes and held it above the metal disk in the center of the circle. With a single motion the all dropped them at the same time yet for some reason two of them completely defied Galileo falling much slower than the others while one of them fell faster. As they landed on the disk the clay orbs exploded into a shower of yellow and gray powder that turned into a purple liquid as soon as it touched the metal surface. It ran through the groves of the basin and pouring out onto the floor where it spread like a conscious fungus inching its way towards the candles, once it touched them the flames exploded upwards surrounding the center of the chamber in a circular barrier of cascading red fire which the cultist looked into with amazement.

[New Aksarben]

"Huh...So, they're quite literally everywhere and nowhere at the same time? So does that mean they exist and don't exist all at once?", Ray questioned with some certain curiosity. He'd honestly felt troubled within recent days about his own beliefs. After all, who wouldn't after encountering a goddess and hearing stories that there are more within the apartment block? It was easily enough to make one question their own ideas about pantheons and gods, and to put a little sense of wonder within a person's eyes. This was very much the case for Ray, who had been wondering on and off whether his own concepts were even right in the slightest sense.

"Hm? Well, um...", he began to trail off at Albert's question, and sighed when he hanged his head in confusion. "Honestly, I don't really know. I once worshiped Christia- I mean, the Abrahamic God...But then I stopped believing in Him after a while, and then I started believing in him again...I'm honestly really confused about it right now. I don't even know if he exists now, judging by what I've heard ever since I arrived here..."

"Some do. Some don't. It's very complicated, one needs to be able to think in abstract and loose terms. Even I'm not totally sure," sighed Giovenith, feeling a bit stupid. "All I know, is that gods are not superpowered animals sitting on high-horses together in some reachable other world whose stuff we could potentially considerably mess up if we had heavy enough guns." She rolled her eyes a bit at this description. Apparently she had encountered people in her days who possibly thought this way. "You'd do better to ask a fully grown god, but basically they... are the lines and the between them. It's spirity." As if that made sense. "And don't worry Ray, your god is very, very real and respected. You would do yourself good to continue following him."

"Yes. I would assume that if Giovenith and her pantheon exist, then why shouldn't any other god?" Albert said with a nod. He felt more certain that his own existed after meeting the gods that lived here, like Giovenith. He gave a small smile to Ray. "I would see no reason that you're god would not also exist."

It was then that Jacob spoke up again. "You are Jewish, Ray? I had no idea about that...." He had assumed that Ray had meant the Jewish god when he had said 'Abrahamic God' that he was referring to the god of the Jewish people. Especially since in his world, Christianity had never existed as its own religion, because it had not spread as rapidly as in other universes. It was thought of as one of the larger sects of Judaism, as many other beliefs were still worshiped, like the ancient Pantheons of the Mediterranean. There were also some other religions that were powerful as they arose during the darkness after the Great War. One of them even worshiped the power of the atom, with their holy sites containing undetonated atomic and nuclear weapons.

[Erucia]

"Some do. Some don't. It's very complicated, one needs to be able to think in abstract and loose terms. Even I'm not totally sure," sighed Giovenith, feeling a bit stupid. "All I know, is that gods are not superpowered animals sitting on high-horses together in some reachable other world whose stuff we could potentially considerably mess up if we had heavy enough guns." She rolled her eyes a bit at this description. Apparently she had encountered people in her days who possibly thought this way. "You'd do better to ask a fully grown god, but basically they... are the lines and the between them. It's spirity." As if that made sense. "And don't worry Ray, your god is very, very real and respected. You would do yourself good to continue following him."

"Oh...W-Wow...I felt for a second you would say he's a horrible god...I almost felt that I would be better off worshiping another, or none at all," Ray appeared rather confused for a few moments, mainly at the amount of deities that actually existed. Still, he was obviously relieved to know he hadn't wasted the better part of 27 years of life on a non-existent deity, that was for sure. Of course, he was also rather curious as to all of the other things that Gio had mentioned. "...So, do you know of any gods or goddesses I can ask about this sorta thing? I'm sorta interested in learning more."

When Albert and Jacob interjected as well, he felt a little bit better. He didn't honestly expect to be taken seriously, and he'd assumed his boyfriend didn't actually hold much faith in religion. It was nice to be able to talk about these things, since it was such a touchy subject in his country. "...I-I'm not Jewish, Jacob. I eat pork, don't I? I'm a Christian, as I was trying to say...But I haven't been in a specific denomination ever since I left my parent's house."

[The New Lowlands]

Two Weeks Earlier
Stadtholder's Palace, Batavia, Java, The New Lowlands

Light flowed into the room, bright light from the cloudless sky outside which seemed somehow inappropriate in the environment of creaking wood, old books, and green-leather-topped tables that was the study of the fourth most powerful person in the New Lowlands. This study, a small registered corner of the gargantuan Office of Defence building that had survived over three-hundred years of use by four successive governments divided into uncountable administrations, was the workplace of Maria Yusgiantoro, former Officer of Defence and current Officer of Internal Affairs.

"You're sure about this?" inquired the tired voice of Yusgiantoro as she suppressed a wheeze. "This Bielefield place has had more than a few disturbances in it."

Anya nodded curtly, her hands folded in her lap. She'd chosen today to show up in her dress uniform, a well-maintained piece of cloth that dated back to the Mencekik Offensive in 1944. The green cloth of the uniform suited the room in it's age,and it suited the young-looking woman who wore it, as well.

"I've filed all the paperwork, packed my bags, and found a place there," Anya responded, tone the epitome of politeness as she observed her superior. "And it's nothing I wouldn't be able to handle, assuming such things even happen again."

Yusgiantoro sighed, holding in her decrepit hand the travel document. "I don't understand, though. You have a perfectly good life here, don't you? Why leave?"

Anya nodded. She'd anticipated the question. "Too many memories," she retorted simply.

The elder paused, then nodded, placing down the thin slip of paper. "Go, then," she spoke, sliding it towards Anya, who accepted it with a polite nod, rising from her seat.

---

The cab rode smoothly over the street, quietly approaching the location of the address they had been given. Anya smiled softly as she watched the city passing by; compared to the gargantuan metropolis that was Batavia, Bielefield seemed positively small.

Small was good.

Small was manageable.

She hoped.

She glanced at Phillip, who sat, lightly dozing, at the other end of the car. Gently, she poked him, and he stirred, blinking at her. "What?" he groaned, and she gave him a small, motherly smile.

"We're here, sport," she declared, as the cab came to a halt in front of the block. "Wake up."

Reluctantly, the boy rose as Anya negotiated briefly with the driver, before handing him a few bills and leaving the car. Phillip had taken the liberty of heading out and opening the trunk to drag his two bags out of the back. Anya, for her part, tugged out her black backpack and a large duffel bag, and the two of them stepped slowly into the building.

"Nice place, isn't it?" Anya remarked as she entered the lobby and glanced around quietly; Phillip let out an indifferent teenage grunt.

[Torsiedelle]

The sisters looked on. For a moment, their nervousness was replaced by wonder and awe. The ritual was starting to become quite the sight, they thought.

[Tiltjuice]

"A talking rabbit. How cute."

Dimitrus looked down at the thing with some disdain. This was what she'd see at her newly assigned residence...

She longed for her luxurious mansion.

With a sigh, and a roll of her eyes, the woman spoke again. "So...I don't suppose you're the one who works the front desk...right?"

I am. Feed me for further assistance, or alternately, ring that bell for someone else. The rabbit pointed off to its right (Dimitrus' left).

Two Weeks Earlier
Stadtholder's Palace, Batavia, Java, The New Lowlands

Light flowed into the room, bright light from the cloudless sky outside which seemed somehow inappropriate in the environment of creaking wood, old books, and green-leather-topped tables that was the study of the fourth most powerful person in the New Lowlands. This study, a small registered corner of the gargantuan Office of Defence building that had survived over three-hundred years of use by four successive governments divided into uncountable administrations, was the workplace of Maria Yusgiantoro, former Officer of Defence and current Officer of Internal Affairs.

"You're sure about this?" inquired the tired voice of Yusgiantoro as she suppressed a wheeze. "This Bielefield place has had more than a few disturbances in it."

Anya nodded curtly, her hands folded in her lap. She'd chosen today to show up in her dress uniform, a well-maintained piece of cloth that dated back to the Mencekik Offensive in 1944. The green cloth of the uniform suited the room in it's age,and it suited the young-looking woman who wore it, as well.

"I've filed all the paperwork, packed my bags, and found a place there," Anya responded, tone the epitome of politeness as she observed her superior. "And it's nothing I wouldn't be able to handle, assuming such things even happen again."

Yusgiantoro sighed, holding in her decrepit hand the travel document. "I don't understand, though. You have a perfectly good life here, don't you? Why leave?"

Anya nodded. She'd anticipated the question. "Too many memories," she retorted simply.

The elder paused, then nodded, placing down the thin slip of paper. "Go, then," she spoke, sliding it towards Anya, who accepted it with a polite nod, rising from her seat.

---

The cab rode smoothly over the street, quietly approaching the location of the address they had been given. Anya smiled softly as she watched the city passing by; compared to the gargantuan metropolis that was Batavia, Bielefield seemed positively small.

Small was good.

Small was manageable.

She hoped.

She glanced at Phillip, who sat, lightly dozing, at the other end of the car. Gently, she poked him, and he stirred, blinking at her. "What?" he groaned, and she gave him a small, motherly smile.

"We're here, sport," she declared, as the cab came to a halt in front of the block. "Wake up."

Reluctantly, the boy rose as Anya negotiated briefly with the driver, before handing him a few bills and leaving the car. Phillip had taken the liberty of heading out and opening the trunk to drag his two bags out of the back. Anya, for her part, tugged out her black backpack and a large duffel bag, and the two of them stepped slowly into the building.

"Nice place, isn't it?" Anya remarked as she entered the lobby and glanced around quietly; Phillip let out an indifferent teenage grunt.

More peoples! Excellent. How may I help you in exchange for food today? MB turned lime green in anticipation.

[Germanic Templars]

As the number of clones started to dissipate, things began to settle down. In the dropship Thriller was in, Thriller looked at the trooper.

The trooper bowed his head.

"What's wrong?"

The trooper took off his helmet and looked at Thriller. "Levi, I feel kinda bad not telling Swith I was not going to be using my mech suit."

"Eh, well all of that is in the past now, best get this done and over, right..Me?"

"yea, yea whatever." Things were silent again before Cornelius spoke up again. "Say, where are your clones?"

"Oh them? Well I have both of them in my head."

"Both?" He asked with a bit of worry.

"Yea, the other two I lost, just gone upped and left me, ungrateful bastards. Wonder where they could be?"

---meanwhile---

Siberia, Russia

"So, Levi, what are we looking for?"

"I don't know, something bright green and that can wipe out shit."

"God if I had nipples and balls they'd be frozen over, and off."

"Yea and if I gave a damn, well... I'd give a damn."

---meanwhile back on the ship---

"So, my Kaiser," Levi stated "what is your first order of plan?"

Thriller rasied his head. "First order of plan is to kill, or subdue ever ungrateful son-of-a-bitch." he then had an evil grin on him when he looked at Levi. "Just like old times."

"How old?"

"Before time travel."

As the ship flies out to War, the ending song and credits start to role.

[The New Lowlands]

-snip-

More peoples! Excellent. How may I help you in exchange for food today? MB turned lime green in anticipation.

Anya blinked in mild surprise at the small Leporidus talking to them, but Phillip, as was his manner, was unfazed. He tugged a granola bar out of his pocket and placed it before him like some kind of offering.

Anya paused as Phillip looked at her quietly, then cleared her throat. "We're here for an apartment..."

[Torsiedelle]

She stared at he rabbit for a long time...

"I'll ring the bell."

As she turned and walked back to the desk to ring the bell, she noticed the two newcomers. She nodded, then turned back to ring the bell. "I suppose you're just arriving as well?", She asked.

[Swith Witherward]

While she attempted to stay strong for Aleki, and succeeded in doing it, she was in tears the second the dropship pulled away from the roof. Her shirt ended up stained a few minutes later, and she looked off to the sky wistfully.

"I should have gone with . . . I-I can't take him leaving." She whispered.

"Yes, you can," Swith placed her hand on Natiya's shoulder and peered into her sad face. "It's painful but we'll get through it."

[The New Lowlands]

Anya blinked at the stranger. Social interaction. That was good, she supposed, as she turned to smile faintly at the other newcomer.

"Why, yes. Just hopped off the plane, to be frank. Is the rabbit some kind of gag?"

[The BranRiech]

"Gee, Swith. Thanks." Natiya groaned and looked at the hand on her shoulder, avoiding looking at Swith directly. "How'd the rest of your family take it? I'm just glad I didn't have any kids to have to tell, that their dad's going off to war."

Her tears stopped, and she finally looked Swith in the eyes. "I should be getting to bed soon, but I'm going to stay and watch them depart."

She pointed to the two huge ships in orbit.

[Swith Witherward]

"Gee, Swith. Thanks." Natiya groaned and looked at the hand on her shoulder, avoiding looking at Swith directly. "How'd the rest of your family take it? I'm just glad I didn't have any kids to have to tell, that their dad's going off to war."

Her tears stopped, and she finally looked Swith in the eyes. "I should be getting to bed soon, but I'm going to stay and watch them depart."

She pointed to the two huge ships in orbit.

"The twins took it bitterly, cried in sorrow, got all the sadness out and came around. Children are resilient but only because they don't know any better."

Swith gave her shoulder an encouraging squeeze and then folded her hands together and placed them on the small of her back. She looked up at the sky. In the distance, thunder rolled across clouds. Although the area above them was clear, it began to sprinkle and then lightly rain.

[Torsiedelle]

Anya blinked at the stranger. Social interaction. That was good, she supposed, as she turned to smile faintly at the other newcomer.

"Why, yes. Just hopped off the plane, to be frank. Is the rabbit some kind of gag?"

"I don't believe so. I think I've seen it before."

Dimitrus glanced back to the rabbit, then rang the bell.

"Plane, eh? I do that, usually...I'll be living here for good, now. Assignment and whatnot."

Dimitrus wasn't used to speaking with others. This was awkward to her.

[Giovenith]

"Some do. Some don't. It's very complicated, one needs to be able to think in abstract and loose terms. Even I'm not totally sure," sighed Giovenith, feeling a bit stupid. "All I know, is that gods are not superpowered animals sitting on high-horses together in some reachable other world whose stuff we could potentially considerably mess up if we had heavy enough guns." She rolled her eyes a bit at this description. Apparently she had encountered people in her days who possibly thought this way. "You'd do better to ask a fully grown god, but basically they... are the lines and the between them. It's spirity." As if that made sense. "And don't worry Ray, your god is very, very real and respected. You would do yourself good to continue following him."

"Oh...W-Wow...I felt for a second you would say he's a horrible god...I almost felt that I would be better off worshiping another, or none at all," Ray appeared rather confused for a few moments, mainly at the amount of deities that actually existed. Still, he was obviously relieved to know he hadn't wasted the better part of 27 years of life on a non-existent deity, that was for sure. Of course, he was also rather curious as to all of the other things that Gio had mentioned. "...So, do you know of any gods or goddesses I can ask about this sorta thing? I'm sorta interested in learning more."

When Albert and Jacob interjected as well, he felt a little bit better. He didn't honestly expect to be taken seriously, and he'd assumed his boyfriend didn't actually hold much faith in religion. It was nice to be able to talk about these things, since it was such a touchy subject in his country. "...I-I'm not Jewish, Jacob. I eat pork, don't I? I'm a Christian, as I was trying to say...But I haven't been in a specific denomination ever since I left my parent's house."

"There's tons here, aren't there?" gave Giovenith, tilting her head. "I'm not really supposed to interrupt adult god work unless I have a damn good reason. You know?"

[The New Lowlands]

Anya let out a chuckle. "Assignment? Oh, my. I've had a few of those, myself," she remarked, glancing at Phillip. She frowned slightly when she noted that he was lying against the desk, asleep, but decided to leave him for now.

"What kind of assignment, if you don't mind my asking?"

[The BranRiech]

"No kid should go through that, but that's just a fact of life, happens all over the world these days, what with all the wars, even them. I never even thought that their way if life could be destroyed. They were so powerful too." Natiya sighed, somewhat in relief at the rain.

"Always liked Rain, you know? People say it's dark and depressing, but it's kind of cleansing." She said softly, smiling just barely at the encouragin squeeze to her shoulder.

"We'll be fine, they'll all come home to us, with smiles and stuff, it'll be saccharine for sure, and probably cliche' as hell, but I wouldn't prefer it any other way. It'll be like those old newspapers from when World war 2 ended or something, with confetti everywhere, everyone's happy . . ."

[Germanic Templars]

Lucius took the food and gave Xanthe a kiss on the cheek before leaving with Gluttony.

Cain, not having much time, quickly grabbed onto Superbia, and his clothes, and threw them into the portal with him.

The four would meet up and join in on the final fight for the stability of hell and a universe there.

[Tiltjuice]

Anya blinked in mild surprise at the small Leporidus talking to them, but Phillip, as was his manner, was unfazed. He tugged a granola bar out of his pocket and placed it before him like some kind of offering.

Anya paused as Phillip looked at her quietly, then cleared her throat. "We're here for an apartment..."

She stared at he rabbit for a long time...

"I'll ring the bell."

As she turned and walked back to the desk to ring the bell, she noticed the two newcomers. She nodded, then turned back to ring the bell. "I suppose you're just arriving as well?", She asked.

Anya blinked at the stranger. Social interaction. That was good, she supposed, as she turned to smile faintly at the other newcomer.

"Why, yes. Just hopped off the plane, to be frank. Is the rabbit some kind of gag?"

The bell rang.

Good. Now two carrots, please. MB then turned to help out Anya and Phillip.

'Help out', of course, being used very loosely. He chuffed in annoyance. No. No gagging. People trying to use me as gag disgusting. I get fur wet and then I smell bad. A quick pause ensued while he tugged out a rental form and clipboard.

Here. Fill this out and then put in box on the opposite wall. Then apartment key and mailbox key appear. As usual, there is communal kitchen/dining room/sacred place of foodstuffs, communal rec room, and gym. Food and entertainment places are upstairs. Gym down the hall. Also, a pool outside. Any questions?

He sat back and waved an ear cheerfully at the pair. Behind Dimitrus, Anya, and Philip, a door opened and a sweat-soaked Tasia stepped out of it in T-shirt, shorts, and mini-towel around her neck. The rabbit began strobing all sorts of colors, which drew Tasia's attention.

"Right. Which one of you am I helping to get away from the crazy rabbit?"

Anya blinked at the stranger. Social interaction. That was good, she supposed, as she turned to smile faintly at the other newcomer.

"Why, yes. Just hopped off the plane, to be frank. Is the rabbit some kind of gag?"

"I don't believe so. I think I've seen it before."

Dimitrus glanced back to the rabbit, then rang the bell.

"Plane, eh? I do that, usually...I'll be living here for good, now. Assignment and whatnot."

Dimitrus wasn't used to speaking with others. This was awkward to her.

Anya let out a chuckle. "Assignment? Oh, my. I've had a few of those, myself," she remarked, glancing at Phillip. She frowned slightly when she noted that he was lying against the desk, asleep, but decided to leave him for now.

"What kind of assignment, if you don't mind my asking?"

The rabbit chuffed again in deeper annoyance. Never mind, former snakecharmer. Rabbit gets away from these peoples in ...something Bielefeld. All yours!

He vanished in a nimbus of red and blue.

[Torsiedelle]

Anya let out a chuckle. "Assignment? Oh, my. I've had a few of those, myself," she remarked, glancing at Phillip. She frowned slightly when she noted that he was lying against the desk, asleep, but decided to leave him for now.

"What kind of assignment, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Military-related."

She said nothing more, as she had to answer Tasia.

"That would be me. I require an apartment."

[Swith Witherward]

"No kid should go through that, but that's just a fact of life, happens all over the world these days, what with all the wars, even them. I never even thought that their way if life could be destroyed. They were so powerful too." Natiya sighed, somewhat in relief at the rain.

"Always liked Rain, you know? People say it's dark and depressing, but it's kind of cleansing." She said softly, smiling just barely at the encouragin squeeze to her shoulder.

"We'll be fine, they'll all come home to us, with smiles and stuff, it'll be saccharine for sure, and probably cliche' as hell, but I wouldn't prefer it any other way. It'll be like those old newspapers from when World war 2 ended or something, with confetti everywhere, everyone's happy . . ."

Swith turned and looked at Natiya. The wetness on her cheeks had nothing to do with the rain. "I- she said, and then "Ye-." Her eyes pinched tightly shut and opened again to stare wide-eyed at the sky. She began to hiccup short breaths, standing there stupidly like some lost child. She wasn't a god or a matrix or a splinter. She wasn't crushed and wilting, either. She was simply sad and didn't know any other way to express it.

[New Aksarben]

"Some do. Some don't. It's very complicated, one needs to be able to think in abstract and loose terms. Even I'm not totally sure," sighed Giovenith, feeling a bit stupid. "All I know, is that gods are not superpowered animals sitting on high-horses together in some reachable other world whose stuff we could potentially considerably mess up if we had heavy enough guns." She rolled her eyes a bit at this description. Apparently she had encountered people in her days who possibly thought this way. "You'd do better to ask a fully grown god, but basically they... are the lines and the between them. It's spirity." As if that made sense. "And don't worry Ray, your god is very, very real and respected. You would do yourself good to continue following him."

"Oh...W-Wow...I felt for a second you would say he's a horrible god...I almost felt that I would be better off worshiping another, or none at all," Ray appeared rather confused for a few moments, mainly at the amount of deities that actually existed. Still, he was obviously relieved to know he hadn't wasted the better part of 27 years of life on a non-existent deity, that was for sure. Of course, he was also rather curious as to all of the other things that Gio had mentioned. "...So, do you know of any gods or goddesses I can ask about this sorta thing? I'm sorta interested in learning more."

When Albert and Jacob interjected as well, he felt a little bit better. He didn't honestly expect to be taken seriously, and he'd assumed his boyfriend didn't actually hold much faith in religion. It was nice to be able to talk about these things, since it was such a touchy subject in his country. "...I-I'm not Jewish, Jacob. I eat pork, don't I? I'm a Christian, as I was trying to say...But I haven't been in a specific denomination ever since I left my parent's house."

Jacob blinked, more than a little confused. "Is Christianity not a sect of Judaism in your universe?" He asked, scratching behind one of his ears in thought. That's what it was in his universe, and he wasn't familiar with what it was in other universes. "Did it accept non-Jewish people during its early years? I remember reading that there was an argument between some of the early founders on whether to accept non-Jewish people into the sect or keep it only for Jewish people. I believe they chose the later. Did they not do that in your universe?" Albert looked confused as well, and he looked at Ray with an expression asking for more clarification.

[The New Lowlands]

Anya turned to blink at Tasia, turning briefly towards the rabbit and clipboard, opened her mouth to say something-

and then the rabbit disappeared.

"Well," Anya remarked, "it's certainly not the strangest thing I've seen," reaching for the clipboard.

Phillip stirred in faint awareness that something had occurred and glanced up at Tasia, blinked, and got up.

"Hi," the teenager said awkwardly.

[Tiltjuice]

Anya let out a chuckle. "Assignment? Oh, my. I've had a few of those, myself," she remarked, glancing at Phillip. She frowned slightly when she noted that he was lying against the desk, asleep, but decided to leave him for now.

"What kind of assignment, if you don't mind my asking?"

"Military-related."

She said nothing more, as she had to answer Tasia.

"That would be me. I require an apartment."

Tasia sized up the albino Torsiedellie officer, noting the uniform, which she recognized as similar to the Dimitrovs'. A bit wary, she approached nonetheless, confident she could take Dimitrus if a fight broke out.

"Well, sure." She reached into the same stack, out of the middle of which MB had tugged a form and dragged all the ones on top out of a neat column, and straightened them absently. "There's your form, that goes in the box on the wall as the nutter said, and then you'll get your keys."

Anya turned to blink at Tasia, turning briefly towards the rabbit and clipboard, opened her mouth to say something-

and then the rabbit disappeared.

"Well," Anya remarked, "it's certainly not the strangest thing I've seen," reaching for the clipboard.

Phillip stirred in faint awareness that something had occurred and glanced up at Tasia, blinked, and got up.

"Hi," the teenager said awkwardly.

She stepped back to look at Dimitrus, Anya, and Phillip. "Hi," she replied, nodding politely. "You all are new in town, right? I haven't been here much longer than yourselves, but I can answer a few basic questions if you want to know about the place. Or the people."