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[sworn]

[Backdated to Saturday morning]

[When Vereesa's eyes snap open, she's immediately aware that something is very wrong. She doesn't hear the shuffling of Alleria preparing for her day long before most people would rise from bed.

Instead, there's a man in her bed and it's definitely not her husband.

By now, she ought to be familiar with Paradisa's tricks, but even this is a dirty trick. She swiftly leaps from the bed to distance herself from the still-sleeping form that she does not recognize, and quickly reaches for her open journal, which records her movements and words.

She plans to throw it at him if necessary.]

You. Wake up.

Comments

[syndicswillpay]

[John had fallen asleep in his chair, in his own room, clothed, thankfully. And even more thankfully, the castle didn't see fit to strip him of his clothes.

...He is kinda sprawled out, though. He grunts as he hears the voice. Female. Different, but familiar...

He opens his eyes and looks around.]

...Not again!

[sworn]

[Vereesa only grips her journal tighter. The voice is somewhat familiar, but then she's likely heard it over the journals once before. Still, she's wary.]

This had better be the castle's doing.

[syndicswillpay]

[John immediately stands up and backs off from the bed.]

Trust me, it is. I've only been here a few days, too.

[He was warned about this.]

[sworn]

[Eyeing him warily, as if searching for a bit of truth to that, she lowers her journal and relaxes her posture.]

Very well, then.

[She's dressed in a modest nightgown, but still, she reaches for a robe to throw around herself.]

You sound familiar. We've met before?

[syndicswillpay]

[Geary, politely, averts his eyes as she does this.]

I was thinking the same thing. We've probably spoken over the journal.

[He notices his under the bed by his feet, and bends down to pick it up.]

I'm Captain John Geary.

[sworn]

[There's recognition in her expression. He's the captain of the not!Alliance Alliance. She gives him a nod of respect.]

Vereesa Windrunner. We spoke upon your arrival. I did not imagine that we would meet under such circumstances. [But then with her luck, she usually meets new people under these circumstances...]

[syndicswillpay]

[Geary rubs the back of his head, sighing a bit in exasperation]

Does this sort of thing usually happen?

[He then happens to take stock of the décor.

No comment, but have some staring.]

[sworn]

Not always, but often enough to be irritating.

[She follows his glances and--Oh no. This is not how she decorates. She's now painfully aware of what is going on.]

This is likely the castle's way of celebrating the holiday.

[syndicswillpay]

Holiday?

[Geary sounds genuinely confused. Considering that the Alliance has been at war for about a hundred years, there's been no documentations of holidays since before John went into Cryo.

...Meaning, he has no idea which holidays go where any more.]

[sworn]

It's a... [How to word this.]

It's a day centered around love. The castle is particularly fond of forcing this holiday upon its residents, by whatever means it deems necessary.

[syndicswillpay]

...You're kidding?

[So this is...] So this is the castle's way of saying we should love each other?

[sworn]

Something to that effect. You needn't worry, though. I am a married woman. Still, I do apologize in advance if any actions are forced upon me. That also seems to be a holiday tradition.

[syndicswillpay]

Well, I'm not exactly a free man, either.

[A pause.] Well, I am, but... [Another pause, then a sigh.]

It's complicated.

[sworn]

You need not explain. [She wraps the robe tighter around herself.]

Hopefully, we will not be further inconvenienced by Paradisa's whims. I'm certain you'd like to get back to your own chambers.

[syndicswillpay]

Yeah, I don't want to impose any further.

[He turns to start heading for the door.]

[sworn]

Perhaps we will meet again on our own terms. Shorel'aran.

[She doesn't mean to kick him out but this is kind of awkward...]

[syndicswillpay]

Yeah, I'd like that.

[Oh, Geary's more than happy to leave, considering he's just woken up in a stranger's bed.

He turns to face the door, but...

...There's no door.]

Uh.

[sworn]

[Oh. Well this is very problematic. She narrows eyes at where the door should be. Impossible? Not here.]

It-- [She's quickly glancing around the room. There's a window, but that's quite a fall.]

Damn. I should have known it would not be so easy.

[syndicswillpay]

...I take it that there is supposed to be a door there, yeah?

[Geary shifts slightly, considering he had nothing on his feet apart from a pair of socks. It kinda makes him feel awkward, not being in uniform fully.]

So, what do we do? The castle's made us prisoners in here, it seems.

[sworn]

Of course there's supposed to be a door. [She's defensively pulling that robe tighter around herself.]

Neither of us have magic to speak of, either, though I doubt it would do little to help.

[syndicswillpay]

[John turns to look back to Vereesa, his eyes fixing onto a point slightly to her left.]

Well, it's locked us up in here for a reason. We're probably not supposed to get out until we do something.

[sworn]

[Ohhhhh no. She's not playing by the castle's rules.]

Whatever it is, so long as I have my own will, I will not be coerced into doing it.

[syndicswillpay]

And I won't do anything you don't want me to.

[A pause, and he throws the next bit in.]

On the honour of my ancestors.

[His gaze then drops to Vereesa] What do you suggest we do?

forgive me for the late 8(

[sworn]

[She pauses, and looks down at herself. Step one should probably be to get dressed...]

Perhaps we should discuss this after we are both decent, hmm?

[Watch her quickly skidaddle over behind that fancy divider of hers. She'll continue to speak with him regardless.]

You may ask of the castle some proper clothing. I doubt that it would deny us that, at the very least. I will remain here until you are ready.

No worries!

[syndicswillpay]

[He looks down at his mostly stripped uniform, leaving him only in his shirt and pants, really.]

Yeah, I guess you're right...

[He starts to wish up suitable clothing, mostly his uniform...

But all that shows up is jeans and a casual checked shirt. It suits him, sure, but it's not what he asked for.]

Well, I guess it's a causal dresscode, then.

[This was going to be odd. Geary hasn't been out of his uniform in over a year. A hundred if you count the time in stasis.]

[sworn]

[Once she's dressed as well, in Azeroth-casual fashion, her ears perk and wait until she can tell that he is dressed. And even then, she calls out to him. Just to be on the safe side.]

Are you finished?

[syndicswillpay]

[John is fiddling with a button on his sleeve, trying to get it to fasten, but other than that, he's decent.]

Yeah, I am.

[It feels odd, being in civvie clothes...]