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[foin]

[Location: Lobby

Time: Afternoon

Mood: Confused as hell

Off to the side of the castle lobby stands one young woman dressed in white and red, looking thoroughly confused and slightly panicky. The sword at her left hip stays sheathed for the moment, as her attention is currently occupied by the floating menu in front of her. Tapping and swiping, she soon gives a frustrated noise slightly akin to that of a distressed water fowl. Unknown to her, the journal sits open on a table a few feet away.]

Where the heck's the map? It was just here! [She pauses before groaning loudly.] Oh, come on! Don't tell me this is another glitch-- that's the last thing I need right now!

[With another aggravated swipe, the menu vanishes, and she whirls around to face the room.]

Godfree! Are you still around? [Pause.] Kirito-kun?? [Another pause.]

Geez! What just happened?

Comments

[foin]

You don't sound certain! [Regardless, the grip on her sword loosens a little as she studies him.]

Paradisa, huh? Tell me about it.

[dupable]

Well that's because this place is kind of one big mystery? I mean, we know a lot about it, but there is even more we don't know. What we are all pretty sure about is that it is a castle on another planet, and probably also in another universe than whatever one you came from. And it definitely does like to play games with us, but I don't think that is actually what you meant.

[foin]

Hey, hey, slow down! Who's "we" and what's actually known?

[dupable]

We... like everyone else in the castle that was brought here the same way you were!

And oh man... I don't have everything written down, but it's a lot of information. Maybe it'd be easier if we started with you asking more specific questions and I just answer those?

[foin]

There's more? How many?

[She nods slowly at the last bit, letting her hold on the sword drop.]

[dupable]

[ He has to pause to think about it. The castle isn't as bustling as it used to be, but it's still pretty full, so... ]

Maybe... a couple hundred at least.

[foin]

Were they taken from their worlds, too?

[dupable]

As far as I know. I don't think I've met a single person who lives in the castle that was originally from Paradisa. ... No one out in the Dead Zone either.

[foin]

[She looks at him curiously before moving to take a seat on a nearby chair.]

Dead Zone?

[dupable]

[ He'll remain standing for a time being, but sort of twists around to point towards the front door before turning back to face her. ]

Yeah it's...

[ Trying to think of a good way to describe this. ]

Do you have any magic or powers?

[foin]

In a sense. Why?

[dupable]

Because they won't work at all out in the Dead Zone! It's basically a place where no magic or electronics work, which is why it's called that, not because there are a bunch of dead bodies out there.

[foin]

Nothing works out there? How's that possible?

[dupable]

[ He's trying to remember exactly what he was told during the one expedition. ]

I'm not sure exactly, but I know magic travels in a funny way out there. It moves around all over the place, and so I'd guess that probably messes with people who have it? But I don't know how it affects other things. Like my powers aren't magic based at all! Or the fact that nothing that runs on batteries works without-

[ He adjusts the plate in his hand so he's only holding it with one and he can reach into a pocket and pull out his crystal that he carries on him at all times. ]

One of these things.

[foin]

[Asuna leans closer to look at the crystal in his head.]

It's like a power source out there?

[dupable]

[ He's holding it out to her like he's offering it to her... just give it back though! He still wants it. ]

Something like that! Only they were given to us as a gift, so we don't know where you'd find them if they really are out in the Dead Zone somewhere.

[foin]

[She reaches out and takes it, looking it over with interest.]

Who gave them to you?

[dupable]

[ He drops his hand. ]

A woman we met that lived out in the Dead Zone. Her name is Flora, she sent them to us for Christmas.

[foin]

That was kind of her. Did anyone ask about them at all?

[dupable]

When we were visiting her we did! But she basically told us what I told you about how they work. At least, that was what I remember, someone else might have asked her more about them if you wanna ask around some time?

[foin]

I think I'll save that for another time. Thank you! [She reaches to hand the crystal back.]

I'm Asuna.

[dupable]

[ Takes it back and pockets it. ]

I am John. Nice to meet you, Asuna!

[foin]

You, too. Is there anything else I should know?

[dupable]

A lot of stuff! Uh... Well you will probably want to explore the castle a little sometime when you settle in more, but you will more or less have everything you need provided for you here, and should have a room somewhere on one of the upper floors. Also if you need something and can't find it in the castle you can just wish it up and it will magically appear in front of you.

[foin]

We're provided everything here? That's almost too good to be true.