Welcome to Gaia! ::

Asiya watched as the group as a whole split off into smaller groups. Thorne and Zac were going one way, and Jeremiah and Algie were going another. Asiya's eyes followed up the staircase and looked off to the hallways to the side. What should she do? While there was a bit of uncertainty rolling about in her brain, it got pushed back when she saw that Temperance was looking at the stairs.

"I figure I'd go up and to the left. Care to join me," Asiya asked. This was accompanied by a smile to the blonde girl. Considering she made friends with Erin in Other Ashdown the last time, it was fitting to make another new friend the second. The hijabi noticed that Temperance had a hand on the railing, and she moved over to the stairs as well.

Two of them going together was probably a safer bet. "It's dangerous to go alone," she went on to say, quoting Zelda. Asiya then began to walk up the stairs, eager to go off to the left to see what she would find.

Left. Always go left. Never not left.

It had to be a trick of his mind that it felt like the portrait was staring at Jeremiah. No matter where he walks in its gaze, the eyes follow. But paintings can be painted that way, and whoever built this house could very well have it out to make the detective have a bad day.

And yet, in the portrait, Autumn seems sadder.

The specter of Autumn actually sent a chill up Algie's spine. It wasn't that he was frightened, but of all the strange and disturbing things in other ashdown, this was the closest to what he'd always imagined supernatural things were supposed to be. It was like his books- It was all very strange.

"Everyone be careful and stick together." Algie glanced at the gathered people before heading with Jeremiah towards the back door. "No rash decisions.. and I think Autumn would encourage us all being calm."

She had saved their asses last time with calm, even if she thought it was a dream. Cool heads always prevailed.

Jeremiah pushed them forward through the back door, the freely offered option, and Algie followed. He could appreciate a warm room and glancing at Jeremiah could tell that he wasn't holding himself with the edge he did when he sensed something dangerous.. which meant this room was alright for now.

"Is that Autumn?" He stood closer to the portrait, adjusting his glasses a moment to get a better look. "The portrait... the ghost.." He glanced at Jeremiah, "Besides in looks, she's very somber. Sad."

Which wasn't much like the Autumn he'd met at all.

Asiya laughed at Temperance's joke, and extended her hand out in return, as was customary.

"I'm Asiya; it's nice to meet you." Despite the creepiness of the house, the smile on the artist's face was warm. She was glad she didn't have to go alone up into an unknown part of the house. It was nice to have someone to go with.

When Temperance asked about Autumn, all Asiya could do was shrug. "Maybe there's some magic that prevents her from telling us," she suggested, unsure as to why the specter didn't give them more clues. "Or maybe she doesn't know." As she said this second possibility, she reached the top of the grand staircase, only to pause and wait for her new acquaintance. Another thought then came to her. "Or she could have forgotten when her spirit left her body, possibly. " It was a swing in the dark, but it was one of the only things that came to her mind.

"Things work differently in Other Ashdown, so it could be anything, really..."

Asiya then peered down to the hallway to the left once the stairs ended. It was dark, and she couldn't see what was beyond, but they were bound to find something, surely.

"Leila," Thorne echoed, glancing at Zac and her. "It's a pleasure. I just wish it was one in more inviting circumstances. I'm not a sight for sore eyes even on a good day." He shook his head and blinked at the introduction of a fourth "member" to their group.

A... termite?

Well. Weirder things were happening. Had happened. Were probably about to happen. Thorne tried not to let it get to him, lest his mind start ******** up trying to accept it all. "I guess any help here is welcome." He murmured, and gestured for Zac and Leila to follow him down the corridor to the right of the main hall. What was down here, he had no idea.

But he already had a bad feeling.

He was in a room full of books. It was also other ashdown. Perhaps they would see memories-

"You know we have to be careful about books here. But usually," He glanced up, "I supposed I need to focus on something we're looking for. It's worth a shot. And jesus if these shelves don't just go up and up..."

Autumn. How did she get here? What took her? The keys to get her free. Where was the next key?

Algie moved to a shelf and dragged his hands along the spines. He never just opened any old book, finding the idea of prying into memories a bit intimate (but not even sure that these books would do that - this place could be a trap or an illusion), but his powers usually brought needed information to him, even if it was roundabout information.

He pulled one down to open.

The book Algie picks is titled Beware th- but whatever it was melts off the cover, melts off the pages, until the book itself is blank. The letters blow away, as if nothing more than ash.

But then, from one of the others, a specific book falls with a THUMP. If they look back, the portrait of Autumn is no longer staring at the two of them- it is pointedly staring at the book.

The Language of Flowers.