Welcome to Gaia! ::

{ entering }

Everything had happened so quickly... it'd seem like just any other day, or well... a day better than most. He'd been having quite a lot of customers, and was feeling like things were probably just too good to be true. Looks like he was right... the image of the crashing castle still replayed in his mind, along with the screams and shouts of those all fleeing and running from the silver kingdom. They wouldn't be able to go back.. the home they all knew was gone. Just like that, with just a blink of an eye.

And now he was.. here. Vaska's unnatural eyes slowly scanned the area of the rather depressing setting, taking in its very different structure compared to his homes. Just the aura and air of this place... so vastly different. His little bone wings flexed slowly, folding, and flaring in an idle manner, while he continued to survey the place.. what did he do now? No longer did he work for his kingdom, now he was going to have to find a new life to live... here, apparently. Vaska's expression kept stoic, composed as he gathered the situation fully, deciding that perhaps meeting with the king of this place would be the best course of action to take first. He wasn't entirely familiar with the geography of this world, but he figured it couldn't be too hard to find his way.

Though if he was here... perhaps there were still others from the silver kingdom that would be arriving, and just maybe they might need some sort of assistance in finding their way. So he decided to simply wait for a few moments to see who else would turn up, figuring it would be better to travel together, than have other stray's attempting to find out what to do.

Some came forth so eagerly, others pushed forward by the crowd, despite their wishes otherwise. Thackery was sure to give them each attention, as much as he could manage for each of them - now wasn't the time to shatter the image of equality.

As time and several faces passed, he found himself with Millie before him, her approach a bit less enthused than some before her. He stared at her for half as long as she'd stared at him, trying his hardest to judge the expression fixed upon her face. When he finally moved, he broke into a smile, reaching to clap her on the shoulder in reassurance.

"Don't worry if this seems strange! I understand. Sometimes," he lowered his voice to a whisper. "None of this makes sense to me either. But you'll find clarity. We all will! Even if it doesn't seem like it, it'll be there. The Voice is sure of that, and so am I." With that, he pulled a key from his own nearby box and set it atop the one she held. "I believe in you."

As he turned to the next, he froze, fearing words that didn't come.

You need no introduction, he itched to say. To spill a dozen confessions of all that he knew. But now wasn't the time, before all these citizens and the task given by The Voice. Perhaps when the kingdom were less restless. He felt certain that there would be such a time.

"Henry," he repeated, and the name scratched his throat. "I'd drown in regret if I didn't grant this one request to you. I mean, not actually, because there's not any water named 'regret' here, but it would feel like it. I can't think of anyone better suited for that position. At the very least, consider this a token of my gratitude! I always really like good keys." He fished a different key from the pile in the box and reached for his hand, carefully slipping it into his palm. For a moment, his hand lingered there, as if it might hurt to pull it away; but there was work to be done, and no time to be selfish, so he offered a congratulatory nod and continued to the next.

Erebus and Tomoko were addressed in tandem, one clasped hand outstretched towards each of them. Presumably he held the keys he meant to give to them, but he didn't seem to have any intention of revealing that until he was done speaking.

"I wanted to thank both of you for your actions a few moments ago. You don't even need to say anything for me to know the merits you each have. Now is the time for action - more than ever! So these belong to each of you. Without question."

He opened the hand in front of Erebus first, proving that there was, in fact, a key waiting for him there. Surprise! He tossed it up and down twice, catching it each time in his open palm, as if he were testing the weight for some reason.

"For your quick thinking. More of us might stumble, and we'll need you there to catch us." He grinned, pleased that he'd been able to reference one of his extremely recent accomplishments.

The hand in front of Tomoko was opened when he turned his full attention to her, the key slipping down towards his fingertips for her to take it.

"And as you've seen, some of us don't really make the best decisions all the time. We'll need someone to keep us in line, and show us the way. I know you might not feel like you're ready for that task, but...trust me. You've never been more ready for something, okay?"

The introduction that followed elicited a little laugh from the Gatekeeper.

"Remi! I couldn't forget you so easily." Even if he were not one of the earlier entrants, the way he carried himself made him stand out in a way that was rarely seen in the citizens here. A vast majority of them seemed to have no care in the underworld for appearances, but the kitsune held onto his details, from ear-tip to tail-tip.

"You're very right. There's only one of me - it's really sad, I know - and I'll need someone to mirror me when I can't be around. So, if you think I'm worthy enough to ask this of you..." He presented this key with both hands, cupped and displayed towards him. "I would be proud for you to be my Queen."

There were no keys here that were set aside for merit in eloquence, and it wasn't of particular importance at the moment, so Soren's response was more than enough to satisfy Thackery's request.

"Of course you can! Oooh, and you will. I know just the place for you, where you can show off everything you know well." To him he presented a key that matched a few of the others, albeit chosen for reasons relevant only to him.

As Saya approached, her enthusiasm was so intoxicating that it was very clearly bleeding over to Thackery, his eyes widening with every word.

"You can bring a lot! You don't need me to tell you that, though - you'll know it soon. And then you can see yourself as important as I see you!" He clapped his hands, feeding from the excitement she'd offered to her fellow citizens; when he stopped, a key fell into his palm, kind of like magic (but mostly just tumbling out of the sleeve where he'd left it).

"For you," he began, handing it to her. "To remind you of your strength!"

With a warm smile to Sherry, he moved to tuck the fallen lock of hair back into its place beneath her hair ribbon. Though she seemed reserved, proving as much by her brief silence, he knew that there was conviction in the words she spoke.

"We need that," he said, reassuring. "And we need you to remind other people to not give up too, okay?" Her key was placed atop her box, as he'd done to some others before, though it looked slightly different from the rest.

[Entering]

This was definitely not one of the places he would have chosen to go on a leisurely trip, however peaceful it technically was... but the plus side was, it was not in the midst of crumbling and crushing people to death. Not that he had a problem with death, it was the crushing part he wasn't too keen on. Also being what it was, some of the dead might have ended up here anyway.

He attempted to regain his composure, tugging at his sleeves and trying to pretend he hadn't just had his feathers vigorously ruffled, that he wasn't abruptly homeless and unsure what to do next.

In a stroke of curious fortune, he thought he saw a glimpse of the other hunter who's pelts he'd been petting just before the collapse. He wasn't sure what kind of fortune to call it, but it wasn't entirely unwelcome to see at least one person he recognized, even in an 'I met you a few minutes ago' sort of way. The entire demolition of one's kingdom could, he supposed, be looked upon as a vaguely bonding experience. Not the sort you'd reminisce over cheerfully, however.

Upon watching others from his home gather, he spied one that he vaguely recognized... only because they'd literally just met moments prior. He'd been a possible customer that had ventured to his booth, and... taken a liking to the furs that were on display. He noticed others seemed to know each other already, and decided perhaps it would be best to do the same in checking on the other.

Approaching the man, he gave a small nod in acknowledgement once he was close enough, noting the bedraggled state he seemed to be in. But it didn't appear that he was too worse for the wear. "Sir, I believe we met briefly.. and it appears we have been whisked off to a random kingdom now with the downfall of our own.." his unnerving gaze shifted slightly to glance around them in gesture, still absorbing the new scene he was thrust into. Poising his eyes back on the other, his petite wings flexed, "if you haven't any course of action composed, I think it best we find the king of this land, and gather up any others who might have been placed here as well." to Vaska, sticking together seemed of a high priority sort of interest. He was a loyal man, and even if he didn't know these people, they were his kin. And he wouldn't leave them behind if he had the ability not to.

However his attention was caught as he saw an individual from the clustered group call out to him, his wings twitching slightly in reaction, before he looked over to spot the owner of the voice. Glancing back to the man he'd been conversing with, he made a small gesture with the tip of his head for him to follow, as he approached Harland and his party.

"No I am fine, thank you. What of you, sir? and your acquaintances?" he did a scan over the group collected here, Harland getting the first look over, then his companions, "Unfortunately... I did not think to grab bandages on my way escaping.." there was slight remorse to his tone, even apologetic, as if failing a duty... probably being a little too hard on himself than he should have, the black of his scelera seeming to swallow up some of his icy blue iris as he narrowed his gaze just a touch in self reflection. He should have been more prepared...

"Ah, Harland!" Crispin's face spread into a wide, startled smile. He hadn't expected to see his friend again. Even as Alastair prowled forward, seemingly out of nowhere, Crispin could push away his private disdain, grateful to see him.

"No need, no need," he said hoarsely. "I'm well. Just a bit bruised, inside and out."

Watching the two of them lean on each other was touching. Crispin swallowed a dry lump in the back of his throat, feeling tears sting the corners of his eyes. He glanced away to give them some privacy, discreetly wiping at his face, and trying to hide a sniffle or two. Whatever his opinions on the pair of them, they were all together now, for better or for worse, and they were his friends. They had all lived! They alone had lived and made it to this kingdom... what were the odds of that?

Ah-- or perhaps there was one more.

"Greetings, fellow," the wobble in Crispin's voice was unmistakable, as he smiled and clapped the newcomer on the shoulder. "Glad to have you here with us. My name is Crispin. Worry not. We're together, and together we can find some stable ground in this mess. Right?"

He glanced back pointedly at Harland and Alastair.

Did the dead have hearts? Pulses? A beat that thrummed and thundered? To feel the hand against her head, even so briefly, the girl felt as if she might possess one. A softer smile, one of relief, set her features to an almost childlike wonder for a moment as she stood before the Gatekeeper. His words bolstered her pride, though she was of course aware she wasn't the only one receiving such encouragement. Yet each were given different words, ones that did not--to her at least--sound practiced or overused.

Though the fact he bowed to her... the enthusiasm on her face quickly warped into almost horror. Polite? Yes. But something about the King bowing to a subject... Agsil, in an attempt at calming her composure, accepted the key with a second, albeit smaller, bow and disbelieving smile. Her head was for the moment reeling on how to otherwise properly respond. Of course, the chance to move back into the crowd helped. Staring at the key grasped in her hand, feeling its weight with a marvel, she looked to the purple ribbon tied around one of her bangles. A gift to hold a gift. Perfect!

Towards the edge of the crowd, she came to a halt. Fiddling with one of the trailing ends of the ribbon, she pulled it through the center hole of the key. It required her taking off the bangle to maneuver a few knots into place on the key, but it was done. The bangle back in place, she was comforted by the feeling of the key striking her leg now and then. Proof it was there. Proof of faith.

From where she stood at the edge of the crowd, she was able to see the majority of those gathered. Including a few who'd spoken before her. In particular, her eyes caught on a man with long orange hair (Joachim) and another beneath a hood (Nyyrikki). Both had spoken had spoken as if their strength was not enough. A tragic belief, in her opinion. Though they'd at least spoken up to offer it. She moved towards them, raising a hand each to place on their shoulders--even if the contact was brief, and some stretching had to be done to get both of them.

It was somewhat lost on her what she was doing. Easily her attempts could backfire on her. But to stay silent did not seem... right, either. Not when they were part of the same forces. "Forgive me for intruding." Her voice was kept relatively low. Friendly, but not interested in shouting in the crowd. "But I noticed we received similar keys." She raised her arm from which hers hung in example. "It will be an honor to fight 'long side both of you, should our paths fold in such a way. Perhaps we can even make it fun. After all, how much more should the dead have to fear on the battlefield?" Her teeth flashed in a grin, glancing between each to see if either--if any--shared her optimism.

Or perhaps she would find herself an odd-ball here.

The Gatekeeper had continued to speak to others as she'd gone to speak to the two men. It was then her eyes trailed to where he'd gone, having taken notice when he'd gone to someone. Considering all others were walking up to him, it was a change worth noting. Curiosity had her moving back to peer through the fringe of the crowd, struck by what figure greeted her silent question.

The girl was... so frail. So tiny. Though she did not hear what the Gatekeeper said to her, Agsil did not like the idea of the small one being left alone should he move on. To the two she'd spoken to, she offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry, I will just be over here." They were welcomed to join her, or they could remain behind. Her feet were already moving, the weeds and grasses barely noticed.

The closer she got to the small girl (Temes), the more she hoped the girl would find her strength... outside of the battlefield. Surely Agsil herself could snap her in two if she wished, never mind any other. Could she even stand..? Glancing from the untouched gifts nearby and the girl, she flicked on a warm smile as she approached her. "Greetings." A bow of her head, a smile turning sheepish. She didn't want to come too close. At least not until she was sure the girl wouldn't mind the proximity. "Sorry. I was... wondering if you wanted some help with your key?" She gestured to how she'd fastened hers to her bangle. "I could do something like this for you, if you'd like." It was an excuse to speak to the girl. A blatant excuse.