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Front Hall

"It won't open." Nisha didn't see who was trying the knob, but the distinctive rattle reached her even before she stepped into the hallway. By the time she caught sight of them, all eyes were turned her way.

What was this? Three kids, younger than her at least...and some rag tag pets? -Daemons, Nisha!- The loud thought reached her as her Daemon, Desperate, squeezed through the doorway...looming in the darkness behind Nisha's silhouette.

-Shut up. I knew that.- Crossing her arms, Nisha paused to study the three for a moment before strolling forward into the circle of the lantern. The thick golden chain at her waist gleamed in the shifting light, the dangling pocket watch thwacking silently against her hip with each step.

Was that...a frilly pink dress?! Lips twisting in amusement, Nisha shook her head. Another seemed to be missing an arm...she glanced around for it reflexively. Didn't look recent, but then, one could never tell here.

The young woman stopped just short of the group, letting her Daemon's bulk fill the hall behind her. A waft of incense reached them before she did, knots of smoke twining upwards from the sticks in her hair. Surely they'd tried the windows by now, and the door was locked as always...

No where to run! A slow smile appeared as an idea brewed. Rummaging in the pale sling bag she wore across her chest, Nisha withdrew a large and antiqued bronze key, tied to a rather tidy green ribbon. She let the key dangle and twist in the light.

The glow of the lantern flickered, sending the shadows to dance as a sudden wind hit the outer shutters. Glancing to see if the jolting racket startled any of the brats before her, Nisha smiled in the almost-as-sudden calm.

"You need..." Giving the ribbon a slight swing, letting the key sway, Nisha's eyes narrowed over her smile. "A key." The smell of incense seemed to swirl for a moment, the smoke around her shifting, and the glinting key vanished back into her fist. Still blocking the hall, the only exit aside from the jammed door, Desperate lumbered forward with a flap of his ears. Beady black eyes settled on each child in turn, dark below the golden cap and netting that adorned him.

"I'm Nisha. Who the hell are all of you?"

[Welcome! Please feel free to post ONE intro post/response. Description and details, please! Once everyone has posted ONCE, I will hop on to scoot things along. Today is a busy day for me, so please be patient!

I don't much care how everyone ended up together...perhaps that can work out over RP. What matters is that I'm sure you'd all love to either learn more about/get out of the creepy a** house, so we have our motivation, and we're all going to stick together because that's the way things work for now! The location will be noted at the top of my posts. If you MUST leave, and it is an option, please don't go more than one adjoining area away. <3

Have fun, looking forward to seeing your first posts! PM me if you have any confusion about my post, location, details, etc. <3]

Also (edit)...your characters should have minimal experience with the house. Let's have this be new and exciting! <3 Also, please give me an idea of what your character has in his or her 'inventory' within your first few posts. No pulling a crowbar out of your sleeve halfway through the RP. whee

Why did Mother let me come here...it's creepy. She could have just said no! I would've been fine with that! Seraphine frowned softly and stared at the locked door, leaning against a wall near a window. The girl had come in only a few minutes after that blonde boy had come in, and yet the entire time they'd been waiting she hadn't said a word except a polite greeting to him and then second boy that arrived with his daemon. Seduire was standing near the door as if he was inspecting it, his ruffled feathers being the only thing to show that he was not happy. Why don't you just...you know...pick the lock with your beak or something? Seduire's neck stretched straight up with surprise at Sera's suggestion. Pick the lock with his beak?! What kind if idea was that?! Sera shrugged and glanced down at the pink bag sitting by her feet. For once Claudine wasn't responsible for the dancer's thoughts of bringing supplies; she had her faithful oboe, a flashlight with extra batteries, she'd wrapped a kitchen knife with a few face cloths (You never know, the House was so unpredictable) and her watch...it didn't match her dress so she wasn't going to wear it.

Sera had her arms crossed over her chest, suddenly wishing she'd brought a jacket like the smart boy with the tench coat had. But she loved this dress, it was one of her favorites. As usual her hair was held up with a silky pink ribbon. The usual jewelry jingled quietly whenever she moved her hand or her foot. A one-armed boy, a...box...a boy dressed like someone from Underworld, a lovely winged cat, and then her and Seduire; this was a very interesting group. Hopefully it'd all have a happy ending!

This place was too creepy, too dark, and the fact that the door was locked didn't help any. That incense didn't help with her nerves either--wait...incense? Sera looked up to see an older girl walking up to them. Her mouth opened to greet her, but the sight of an elephant made her shut it again. How'd something that big get in?! She was too busy staring at the daemon to notice the amused smile on the other girl's lips, Seduire had to give her a gentle peck to bring her attention back just in time for Sera to see the key. This girl didn't look like she was going to give them the key for free. Sera jumped away from the wall when the wind suddenly blew.

Geeze! This Nisha girl was rude! Sera could already tell she wasn't going to like her before the night was through. Again she opened her mouth to answer Nisha, but this time she had to wait for Dimitri to finish introducing himself and his daemon. "I'm Seraphine, and this is Seduire." She nodded her head to the crane beside her, Seduire bowed his head respectively.

Front Hall

"Dimitri, Sera, and Thanes?" Arms still crossed, Nisha eyed them each in turn. -And Remember! And Rotary! And Seduire!- Dismissing Desperate's input with a snort, the young woman finally took a step forward...eyes narrowed as she peered at the three.

Wait...why were they all just standing there? Wasn't there something going on today? Hadn't Declan mentioned...?

Well, whatever! Desperate sighed as Nisha dropped the train of thought, any sense of duty trickling away. Rubbing her hands together for a moment to warm them, Nisha glanced at the wall as the wind shrieked. The gaps between the old wooden floor boards were pronounced, just wide enough to wiggle fingers through. Lightning lit the sky at odd intervals...the glare slicing in through the shutter slats before fading. A few seconds later, the entire house shook with the roll of thunder.

"Well." Arms crossed over her chest, she offered the group a slight smile as the growling echo faded. "Sounds like fun! Since it looks like you'll be sticking around for a bit, I'll tell you what. Bring me a little something in trade...and the key is yours. Ah, 'yours' being whoever has the best trade, at least. I'm too delicate to go spelunking." Her bottom lip poked out a bit. Poor Nisha.

Settling one hand over the sling bag that rested across her hip, Nisha glanced at her Daemon...urging him to retreat with a lift of her chin. Desperate did just that, lumbering backward with a groan of protesting wood, and flapped his ears in consternation. The doorframe bulged, dust drifting from the plaster overhead. Across from him, the East Hall could now dimly be seen. The window at the distant bend of the hall flushed with light as the storm outside flickered and howled.

"I'd recommend staying together." As Nisha spoke, one of the many doors in the dusty East Hall clicked open...swinging a few inches wide before stopping in the cold grey light of the storm. Staring at it for a moment, amber eyes narrowed, Nisha looked back with a slow smile at the others. "At all times. So! Eager for your tour?" They looked like a capable bunch...in a gloomy, malformed, frilly sort of way.

[We'll stick to the same posting order, just for now! I'll let you know when it's free for all. XD]

((I bid my virginity for that there key! You know you want it.))

Sera nodded when Nisha said her name, and for once she actually appeared to be calm, cool, collected and confident. That didn't happen very often so quickly. She caught a flash in the corner of her eye and made the dumb mistake of looking in its direction, blinking and just staring at the shutter for a moment before she heard the loudest thunder in her life. Her green eyes widened until they hurt and she froze completely, her arms lowered to around her stomach...was she even breathing? Don't pay any attention to it, darling. Seduire cooed to the girl, getting between her and the window and gently nudging Seraphine away from it to a safer spot in the middle of the hall.

Of course they'd be sticking around! What fool would go out in this weather? Sera's attention was far from the window and now on Nisha once more, listening quietly to the older girl's proposal. "Oh mon. Un commerce? Que semble la foire... What kind of trade?" It was only out of habit that she accidentally addressed Nisha in French, she heard so much of it at home nowadays that it just came naturally. It should have been easy enough to figure out though, commerce was used as an English word, and foire sounded like fair. Too delicate? That had to be a lie! Clearly Seraphine was the most delicate one here. Seduire watched as the large elephant left the hall, draping a protective wing over Sera when the dust drifted down.

Staying together? Yes, that was a brilliant idea. Looking from Nisha to Dimitri and then to Thane. Well, since neither of them seemed to be making a move Sera would start following! It was ladies first, after all. "Sure." She answered Nisha, fixing her dress, picking up her bag and walking a few steps behind the other girl. Looking back at the boys, Sera smiled and waved a beckoning hand. "C'mon! Don't want to get lost, droite?"

Why would anyone want to get lost in here? Seduire sighed. Teenagers, eh? The last bit was directed to the other two daemons.

Front Hall

"What kind of trade? Well." Hands on hips, Nisha tilted her head at Sera...gazing sidelong at the girl from the corner of one eye. At least the glum looking boy was agreeable...she liked people that simply agreed. The one armed boy seemed a bit quiet, however...and silence made Nisha a bit edgy. "That's a good question, hmm? How about...whatever you find that you think I would like best! Don't bring more than two things, though...I don't want to waste my day trying to pick."

Behind her, Desperate shifted...trunk extending to tap the girl tentatively on the shoulder. Waving him away with a brush of her hand, smoke curling in alarm above her head, Nisha's brows met in annoyance. "Oh, please. No one has lived in this part of the house for ages. It's just a souvenir!" Twisting to glare at her Daemon for a moment, Nisha shook her head. "If people weren't allowed to take things, we'd still be on a shelf!"

That seemed to quiet him somewhat. Glancing back to the group, Nisha's annoyance magically faded back into her sweet smile. "So, are we clear? The other wings are inhabited, so we won't bother with them. This way, though..." Pointing into the East Hall, Nisha shrugged. "Well. We'll just have to see."

With that, Nisha strolled forward...motioning for her Daemon to stay put. She wouldn't go far. In fact, she couldn't go far...it was becoming increasingly obvious that the house simply wasn't built for convenient elephant passage. Waving aside the cobwebs that gathered in the corners of the door frame, Nisha ducked into the East Hall.

East Hall

Pausing to peer down the corridor, Nisha squinted into the dim light. The hall bent sharply to the right, far down towards the end...but gaping holes in the rotting wood floor discouraged passage that far down. Ten wooden doors, five on each side of the hall, were spaced with guttering lanterns.

Nisha's hand quested blindly for the light switch as her eyes settled on the third door on the right...the one that had swung silently open just a few minutes before. The switch clicked with a hollow sound, but no light appeared. "Looks like the breaker is out. I'll go try to find the box...and you all figure out where you're headed." Favoring them once more with her sharp smile, amber eyes glittering in the dim light, Nisha quirked a brow.

"Any questions?"

[The posting order has been removed! Please post as you will, but try to find a pace that works with the others. If you wish to renegotiate a posting order between the lot of you, that's up to you! I will be setting the scene and controlling the house...make no assumptions, and only claim what I allow your character to find! All IC conflicts/questions should be worked out IC. Good luck! <3]

Seraphine tilted her head to the side. What they thought she'd like? But none of them knew her well enough to know what she'd like! At least they were given the option of finding two items to offer her. She put her hand lightly on Seduire's back to make sure he was still close, Sera obviously didn't trust the House. When Nisha suddenly started arguing with her Daemon Sera and Seduire exchanged worried looks. Were they not supposed to take things from the House? What could possibly happen! It was a house! It wasn't as if houses were alive or anything. That was just silly.

The girl glanced back for a moment to make sure the boys were following. They were so quiet! "So you don't know if anything's down there?" Sera asked, staring down the east hall uncertainly. The lanterns made it look somewhat decent...but it was so dark!

She kept herself from whimpering like a small child at the very idea of having to walk through the dark, especially when Nisha had said that the power was out now. She didn't want to walk around in the dark! Sera? Didn't you bring a flashlight? Seduire cut in while Sera was clinging to him with fear in her eyes. The girl blinked and stared at the crane, suddenly smiling brightly and nodding.

"Well until the power's back I've got a flashlight we can use!" Sera was already digging through the bag for the flashlight. She nearly cut her hand off right before finding the item in question, slinging the back back over her shoulder and turning on the flashlight. And the lord said, let there be light! Seraphine giggled softly. Seduire rolled his eyes and shook his head.

You're so witty, Sera. One could see the sarcasm dripping from that comment. Although I'm sure we'd all prefer to learn about the house in more favorable weather. He said in response to what Remember had said, looking back towards the other Daemon. Seraphine's mother has a very twisted sense of humor, which is the only reason she was able to come.

Thanes had been strangely quiet for some time now, and that was for a simple reason. He was thinking, and when he bothered to think, he did it right. Something, in his mind, felt off about the situation, and that required delicate thought. It was easy enough for him to ignore anything his peers said, and he knew Rotary would at least pick up instructions from the little group's "leader". Sometimes it was very useful to be split in two.

The young wizard only broke out of his thoughts at the mention of the key possibly being of the skeleton variety. He opened his mouth to speak, but was suddenly forced to cough into a hand. The smoke of the incense infiltrated his senses as it passed by, and he deemed it to be rather unpleasant.

By the time Thanes was sure he had recovered, the young woman had already gone on her way. The male Forgotten could only sneer a little. "Rotary, what are we doing?"

We are looking for one or two items to give the lady, the trunk responded truthfully, shifting her weight from one reptalian foot to the other. She had been, as Thanes expected, paying attention to both Nisha and Desperate's words of advice. There was no 'brains and brawn' dynamic between the daemon and her Forgotten. They were both, definitely, the brains. I think we should go in a room.

Thanes nodded lightly, purposefully looking away from where the flashlight beam lay so that he might adjust his eyes to the darkness. His daemon had far better nightvision than he, but it would be best if he could search in a room without stumbling all over himself. The last thing he needed was to start depending on some little girl.

"We're going ahead," he stated briskly to the two other pairs of Forgotten and daemon. A quick scan of the doors and he located the one that was open just slightly. Obviously, Thanes could depend on that room to not be locked. Motioning for the living treasure chest to follow him, he sauntered his way over to his room of choice, nudging the door farther open with a foot.