Testing the Waters (Open)

[Zyvonia]

It was completely dark when Zyv woke up. She yawned as she sat up. As she stretched, her hand bumped into something above her and suddenly, something hard hit her on her head. She felt around in the darkness around her and found the culprit. It was an empty, wooden cup. Now more awake, Zyv remembered that she had spent the night in the pantry, curled up on bags of flour. She fumbled around, feeling for the door. She found it and opened it, quickly stumbling out of the cramped pantry. Now with more space, she properly stretched and cracked a few joints. She glanced out the window. The sun was just starting to peek over the horizon. This place would be brimming with busy workers, cooking and cleaning and other stuff you do in the palace. She would have to hurry if she wanted to avoid that.

Zyv walked as quickly and quietly as she could to her room. While the pantry wasn't exactly the most comfortable and the room she inherited was quite luxurious, it was also very big and spacious. It was about the size of her old home and all the extra space made her feel uncomfortable. She wasn't able to sleep at night in it, so she started finding smaller places to sleep, which turned out to be surprisingly difficult. Everything in this palace was spacious and big. And she had to sneak around, or else people would fuss over her and try to convince her to sleep in her own room. It was all a pain.

When she reached her room, she quickly changed clothes, brushed her teeth, and grabbed a jacket and bag. She carefully left the palace, as to avoid waking anybody. As she walked through the courtyard, she threw her hoodie up and shoved her hands in her jacket pockets, absentmindedly rolling a metal orb in her fingers.

The sun was shining in the cold morning when Zyv reached the mountains. She managed to avoid running into anybody in town, keeping her head down low and covered. She found a small cliff off of the moutain and cleared some snow off of it. She perched herself upon it and stared out towards the direction from which she came. The town looked so small from there. She pulled her knees to her chest and hugged them. She never asked to be the Empress of this stupid world.

Zyv lost track of time as she sat there, just thinking about things. However, she found she couldn't feel her toes or fingers.

"Better head back soon," she mumbled to herself.

[Kaleido_Krystal]

Krystal never really got out much, but when she did, she made sure to look around all these places that existed within the universe. Admittedly half of them were found on sheer accident, but hey, it was her luck. Speaking of her luck, why the heck was it so cold up here?

Apparently Krystal had wandered into some snowy mountains. She noticed a town in the distance but didn't go right away, mostly out of curiosity and the fact that she was feeling explorative. And you really couldn't be explorative if most towns functioned the same way! Well, she thought so, at least. Krystal was one who thought of exploring as visiting things that weren't quite familiar, and towns...well, nuff said. Krystal wasn't even sure where she was going with this. Silly thoughts.

But now it was really cold. She didn't exactly expect this and didn't bring the right kind of clothes with her, so she was just going around in her skirt instead of something like winter pants...heck, did she even have winter pants? She just knew she had to handle the cold somehow. Heck, maybe that town didn't sound like a bad idea after all...and she would've gone there too, if she didn't trip over a rock or something and fell forward, banging her head against the side of the mountain, before stumbling a bit down the mountain, landing near a small cliff.

"Owee," Krystal moaned, rubbing her head as she sat on the snow.

[Guest]

Oddities came in all shapes and size. In this case it was disguised as a wee female dressed in a questionable attire. To wear such a short skirt in snow that could freeze the flesh and wind that could further chill to bone. Children, capable of the most illogical behavior but who could blame them. They were still developing, learning, adapting. The rights and wrongs be damned along the way until they could fully comprehend the pros and cons to any situation.

While the girl did stumble down the mountain-side she would come to stop at the presence of another's toes. If she bothered to pay mind to this she would realize that a person was standing there. More specifically a man of unusual grace and poise. Just his stance along suggested a tone of sophistication. However, he too was skimpily dressed against the weather condition. The difference was his body remained unaffected. Oh the benefits to being a wielder of the heat elements. Such as turning once self into a physical furnace for instance. He was warm enough to be okay and at the same time not enough to cause any problems.

The moment the girl had caused a commotion Altuo had been observant to her display. In the distance watching as she had tripped over her own feet only to end up tumbling down towards the cliff where he had been walking. Now she was here, at his feet, a result in the aftermath. Though it had been rather amusing he knelt down towards the girl. Offering his hand out to her for a lift up while also making sure to check if she was okay.

"Quite a tumble. Are you going to be alright little one?" His tone of voice was both gentle and sincere. The trace of an elegant accent could be heard within each word. On his face a soft smile curled itself upon his pale lips as his head titled slightly to the side. Overall there was a pleasant friendliness about him.

[Zyvonia]

Commotion could be heard a short distance away from Zyv. Were there perhaps other people present here, on this mountain? Zyv stood up and stretched out her legs, deciding to investigate. She looked around and saw two figures further down the mountain, though not very far. She quickly made her way to them and as she neared, she saw that it seemed like a girl had fallen down the mountain and had landed at the feet of a slender man. From the way the girl dressed, Zyv could tell that she wasn't from around here. The man also was not dressed for the weather and probably the same as the girl. Strangers. People like her.

"Are you alright?" Zyv asked as she approached them.

[Kaleido_Krystal]

Krystal blinked when she recovered from her sudden fall and looked around.  Some other people were concerned about her, but one was really questionable about whether or not it was a person.  But that would be rather rude so she would refrain from it.  But more importantly, she needed to stop looking like she was in trouble!  Well, she didn't think she was in trouble.  She didn't feel too injured and didn't really notice anything on her.  So yeah, that actually went better than she expected.  Who would've thunk it?

Taking off her look of surprise, she quickly responded.  "I'm fine.  Somehow.  Not really a problem-" Krystal had started before getting some snow from the hill above to fall on her hat, distracting her momentarily before finishing, "-Nothing wrong here.  Sorry if I was being a bother."  She took some time to quickly get standing again, taking her hat off and brushing the snow off of it as she did so before perching it back atop her head just the way she liked it.

[Guest]

Though denied in respects to helping the young lady to her feet. There was still gratification to be had in the knowledge that she remained unharmed by the harsh nature of the tumble she had taken. Children, so mistaken prone but troopers to the bitter end. Until something trapped them in a corner without chance of escape. Not that he would instigate such an action against this innocence. Well not outright without provocation of course. Then again, such a heart teeming with light was almost a delicacy in youth. One that could satiate hunger exquisitely if he were of a lesser morality and sense of control. Besides, hearts were often dull to partake in these days unless their origin had a bit of spice to provide towards the essence.

In her lead Altuo did rise as well. Back to full posture where the presence of another young women became known. She too expressed concern for the child as she approached the two. A pleasant change it was to know that the two were unaffected by his unusual appearance or at least they were polite enough to restrain their concerns. More often than not he was met with scowls or confusion when traversing the realm of light. An unappealing but common habit that he had grown used to. No doubt they too would express their comments about him in fair time. Until then he would continue as if all were on equal terms.

"A bother you say. Never." He reassured the girl. "Though I am glad that you are unharmed Miss." Whether she would allow him a name was her decision. It was then he turned his attention to the other female. Who was slightly older than in comparison. No more than a teenager in years he believed. Rather charming for her age at that. Wonder how long that would remain. Teenagers as an archetype had an affinity for strange personality transitions at the drop of a pin. Perhaps she was different. A bow of the head and Altuo acknowledged Zyvonia's arrival with fair respect. "My how interesting it has been so far. Graced by the company of two lovely girls. Wonder what the occasion is." A bit of light humor as he engaged her in conversation.

[Zyvonia]

Zyv couldn't help but chortle at the girl, having to cover her mouth up to seem less rude. She seemed like a person with her head in the clouds. It would certainly explain the way she had dressed, though she didn't seem cold at all. Perhaps she was resistant? Or maybe she just didn't care. But, regardless, it seemed like she was okay despite the fall, which Zyv was appreciative of. It would have been more complicated and unfortunate if she had been seriously hurt.

The guy talked in a way that Zyv found...odd. He spoke in a dignified fashion. The guy certainly cared about being poised. His movements and manner of speaking was suave. A charmer. Zyv figured that he was one of those guys who spent much of their time chasing skirts. Not that Zyv particularly minded. She didn't care much for flattery, or even people in general. Plus, there was something about this guy that bothered her. He seemed...different. And not just in a "from another world" kind of way.

"I'm Zyv, by the way," she said, introducing herself. She turned towards the girl. "I'm glad you're not harmed."

[Kaleido_Krystal]

Krystal stared at the two and ended up grinning softly. She liked these people, really. She could call them different but at the same time they felt familiar. Maybe Krystal just felt odd herself. After all, what was normal, exactly? Considering everything that she knew of, she really couldn't be the judge on what normal was. Actually, she couldn't really be the judge of a lot of things probably.

With a cheerful grin, the girl simply responded, "Ah, it's no problem, I fall down all the time! I'm Krystal!" She held her hand up as a friendly gesture and took a step forwards with her right leg...only to have her foot sink deep into the snow up to her knee. Having bent forwards a bit, the girl processed the situation before simply going, "Oopsies."

Huh, who knew snow could be so troublesome to one person? Krystal never expected it, and yet here it was. She blamed the humidity.

[Guest]

"Could you perhaps use a little help Miss Krystal? I could offer you a place on my back if the snow should prove troublesome for you." Altuo offered to the small girl in kind intent. Her exploits with snow were definitely amusing. The way she tried to overcome it's persistence like that of a barrier in comparison to her actions. Only to set foot and sink into the frigid depths knee high. It verged on the potential of almost swallowing her whole with one wrong step. A notion which made him offer this service of aid. Wouldn't want to lose track of such a precious little spirit on an accidentally account.

While attention was mainly towards the youngest. Some was spared towards the other in intervals. A vibe of either arrogance, lack of care, or even perhaps a mixture of the two emanating from her appearance alone. For what reason was uncertain though there was much to consider as a possible influence. Being in the presence of a Heartless was definitely up there. That was to assume that she knew which was doubtful at best. As out of ordinary as his appearance was. The two would be hard pressed to claim his true origin straight from the get go. Unless they already retained some kind of prior information. Which given their ages he found just as hard to believe.

This was simply one of many that might have had an impact. Whatever the matter it would not sway him from the moment. Regardless of what the teenager had in mind Altuo would disregard for the enjoyment of their company.

[Zyvonia]

Zyv gave Krystal a look of confusion and concern. She was certainly a klutz. Zyv wondered how she managed to climb up a mountain and survive, though clearly that didn't go well for her considering she had fallen down. "Um, Krystal, would you want to go somewhere warmer possibly safer?" Zyv asked. They could go into town and find a nice shop to stay at and get warm. At least, somewhere safer for her. She gave the guy a weird look after he offered to carry her on his back. A bit shady.

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