Welcome to Gaia! ::

Daichi was about to open his mouth to answer, when suddenly another being appeared before he and Evelyn, causing the young Illusionary to jump in suprise. He held his hands in the air, almost as if in a defensive position, but quickly put them down when the stranger greeted them. It was that Voice from before, but it didn't really suit the more child-like appearence of this person.

"Oh, uh..nice to meet you December, my name is Daichi," he answered; cal ming his starteld, fluttering heart. So many people seemed to be popping out of no where. But when Daichi heard the name 'Kallistrae' mentioned his attention was peaked even more. He turned, and looked back and forth at the two before posing a question, "Is this... about the test that Ms. Strae mentioned?"

Evelyn blinked. "Test? I was told this would be more like a game by Miss Kallistrae..."

Not that she could perceive what Miss Kallistrae thought a test was, but perhaps to her they were like games. This disappointed Evelyn, but she didn't let anyone know.

"There are two others?" she questioned.

"Well I think it would be a bit rude to start without everyone here don't you? Unless we don't have a lot of time then I suppose it would be alright..."

December was about to make a reply when he suddenly became aware of something. "Oh! Never mind what I have said before. It seems that they have already arrived." Two figures, one blue and the other red, had appeared behind him. Judging from their size, they seemed to be around the same age as the current crowd. "I don't mean to be rude," December called pleasantly to the new arrivals, "but I rather think the introductions can be skipped for now. I am a little short on time." He chuckled at that. "My sister thinks I need to obey a curfew. Says the discipline will do me some good."

Those other two...December hopes they like that little trick he had performed. All children want to just grow up, don't they? Until they become old enough to realize their desire had come at the price of losing wonderfully precious things.

He'll give them plenty of opportunities to philosophize over the meaning of existence later.


"Well, without further ado and any more of my chattering, let's get started, shall we?" The boy declared with a grand gesture.

The white space blew into an inferno of colors that did not exist before. The strangest sensation, perhaps, was the fact that there was not the slightest breeze in the air -- a truly disturbing feeling when all the visual cues are screaming HURRICANE to the mind. As quickly as it had began, however, the whirlpool of images settled down into a single, solid setting.



The four children found themselves sitting in the large living room of a bungalow furnished with a tropical theme in mind. The decor was simple yet tasteful, full of a light, warm, and open atmosphere. The large windows open onto a beautiful beach of white sand, turquoise waters, and gently waving palm trees. Soothing tropical breezes drifted in past the half-open shutters, bringing the lulling melodies of the ocean with it. A door (the front door, it can safely be assumed) leads directly onto the pristine oceanfront.

A small sheet of paper drifted down from the ceiling. A note was printed on it by a hand that bore all the qualities of elegance yet does not quite seem fully-grown.

"It lies beyond The Door" was what the note said.


((to clarify: Nevada and Solomon have been transformed to around the same age as everyone else by December for the time being. For the duration of this plot arc they will have the potential to gain full mental and physical capabilities of 10-year-olds. The actual extent of this is up to you. Note that they will revert to their actual age when this is over, so certain things (speech, complex ideas, etc) will be partially or completely forgotten when this ends.))

Evelyn's breath caught in her throat.

Was it possible to suffocate if things around you moved too quickly for you to adjust?

Well, it doesn't look like she'll find out. She finally remembered how to breath once everyone finally settled down in the bungalow. And it was a good thing too.

Never before has she been in such a lavish building, so she didn't think once about how she ever got there in the first place. Though the note falling from the ceiling practically screamed "LOOK AT ME" written all over it.

She gazed at the pristine oceanfront beyond the door. "Now I know why Grandma named mommy that... It's beautiful..."

Color.

The rainbow and every other color under the sun launched a personal attack on Nevada's eyes and the boy cringed, burying his face against his counterpart (what's going on?) until the visual assault was over. The icy blue lad blinked his eyes and shivered once, looking around. Solomon had already wandered off (no, don't leave me!) staring at all the strange things outside, leaving Neva to fend for himself.

"What is this?" the boy hissed, words feeling foreign in his mouth. He licked his lips and rumbled, frowning as he stretched his arms. It was so warm. As a child of winter, he distinctly did not like the warm. Nevada ran his hands along his sides and found pockets, jamming his hands into them as he shuffled over to the other children. Why couldn't he remember anything past?

"What's going on?"

Certainly, December was not laying out empty promises when he left the four children that tiny note. If only they dared to go beyond that door...But is it The Door? Either way, something strange lies past it.

Of course, if they ever hope to get out of this false world he had placed them in, they would need to find the exit themselves. They are not alarmed by their rather nonthreatening situation yet. He will give them some reasons soon enough.

The piece of paper fluttered almost nonchalantly in the soft ocean breeze.

The frigid, clipped words of his twin stopped the youth from bounding straight out the door, only then taking notice that there were two others with them. Wherever they were. Light grey eyes were nearly colorless in the softly lit setting, the mote of blue stark against the muted hue, resting on the cold child he called a brother. Solomon slowly returned to the other, slightly bent over, for all the world looking like a pup who had done something wrong and was seeking forgiveness.

"Neva," he murmured softly, although the word came out sounding more like Nay-vah. With one hand, he touched his twin's elbow, turning his gaze to Daichi. "What does it say?" he inquired slowly, the words still unusual and funny in his mouth. If it was important, they all should know, right? Sol curled closer to his brother but was very mindful not to hug him completely, knowing that his comfort of the weather meant the chill twin would be very unhappy with it. (How do I know that?)

He set his rationality behind him - it wasn't very difficult for the dark-skinned boy - and looked between the three. "We'll get out of here," he assured his pale-skinned counterpart, trying not to look out the window. What had enticed him mere moments before was now stirring something in his mind that he could not grasp; like a bad dream, he could only recall smokey tendrils that danced out of his reach. It left a heavy feeling in his gut, one he did not like.

Solomon genuinely tried to listen and understand what the other youth was saying, but most of it went over his head. The boy was too simple minded to make sense of riddles and possibilities, choosing the straight and narrow because it was all he really knew. Turning his light eyes to his twin, he gave a reassuring smile, hooking his other thumb against his chest. "I'll go out," he told Nevada just as much as he was telling those around him. "Neva (Neyvah), you stay in, okay?"

He wasn't being bossy; in truth, he was looking out for his cooler-inclined brother, not wanting him to suffer under the sun's rays (why was that making me feel cold?). Solomon wasn't entirely sure what to make of all the strange thoughts and memories he hadn't had minutes ago, and decided instead to let it pass. The wild-haired youth made his way to the door, giving the trio a glance over his shoulder.

Speak now, or forever hold your peace.