Welcome to Gaia! ::

Paris was bitter at that moment in time when he felt a nearby source of chaos. Normally, he’d run, avoid it, maybe stick around just to you know, take a peek. But tonight, after his recent encounter with the code and wanting to punch said code because it was a d**k, he was fine with being accosted by somebody from the less light side of the cosmos.

“Hey.” He yelled up at the sky, trying to get some attention.
“You wanna answer some questions because I kind of have a few-“ He muttered the last bit, “if you don’t mind.”

Paris looked to the sound of the voice and-
“oh.”

Oh indeed. It was the woman he’d once thought to take to his wonder. How.
Well. This was a bit awkward. Coughing and adjusting his helmet to get a better look at her he nodded as he was sure this was the same woman. ‘”You do. I uh, I’m Paris.” He pulled off said helmet, giving up on balancing it on his head.
“I uh, got better, and stuff.” Very convincing.
“Just trying to well, sort some stuff out is all.”

"Er-" Paris took a beat longer to remember Stella. Mostly because he was just that terrible at faces and names. Once he did realize who it was, a half smile graced his features, and he slightly relaxed. Slightly.

"Ye-Yeah I guess. I mean I did, but, it was kind of without warning. You uh- look good." He was a champ of this small talk stuff.
"Nice. You know um, uh-" He was blushing under the helm and took another hot second to clear his throat. Pretty women paying him compliments just wwre not a thing he normally had to handle.

"I mean sure! It should be okay. I know most of the pathways now and where not to go. Assuming yeah, you want to go. Like, right now? Is it a good time? I mean, I don't want to impose and it's pretty sudden but um. Yeah, we can go. It's kind of easier to travel there and whatnot. So long as you're okay with me asking about um, how your side well, Negaverse.. operates? I dunno. Just the whole-" He waved a hand about.
"It's getting messy whenever I ask people and the code about it. Our so called sides I mean."

Paris made small nervous sounds in his throat. She was all personal and giving him nice compliments and gosh he didn't know how to deal with pretty older women.

"Thank you." He managed a squeak. "I- it's my item. I can understand people when I wear it. In other languages I mean. I can take it off but erm. I just kind of like it on..." He muttered, feeling a red hot rush of embarrassment. It was his heavy bone security blanket. Made him feel just a bit more confident.

"I can take it off though! If it really is bothering you miss!" He didn't want to make her feel like he was trying to be rude but-
Man, taking was hard.

"I- if- if you are okay, we can go now, just grab my arm and hold on? Sometimes you can stumble over things and fall down. We'll probably end up in the catacombs so, it might be pitch black until the lamps warm up."

He smiled under the helm.
"I'm glad you got a promotion though. That must have been nice."

Under the Mask, Paris was beat red and deciding that nope. The mask was far safer on than off.

That way he could hide his embarrassment. Pretty ladies paying him compliments? He was not ready.

"I-I-" OH NO.
She was touching him. Stammering and trying his best to just focus, Paris did indeed manage to get them to his wonder, the catacombs of Paris, where the walls were made of bones, the air tasted of dust and earth, and the entire underground glowed with dim luminescence.

"WE'RE HERE." He semi-shouted, head tilting forward trying to hide his pure flush.
Which resulted in the helm falling off with a clatter that just made the poor boy jump and look like a living beetroot.

He wasn't sure where to start. Stand still like he was a statue? Scramble and pick up his helm? Try to explain about his wonder and oh gosh they were just near the antechamber that was good but wow sorry for the bad lighting?

His reaction settled for 'be loud and assert that you're totally not always weirded out by your wonder'.

'IM FINE." He said, reaching down to grab at the helm quickly placing back over his face to hide his shame and embarrassment.
"Just uh well you're my first." He looked at her then began to stammer again.
"That I brought here I mean! It's just creepy and weird and I don't think people actually would want to come here but-" He sighed offering her a hand.

"I can show you around? It's easy to get lost, and the poisons in some of the caverns hasn't cleared yet. The main antechamber is just a bit off so we can start there?"

At least she felt special and okay? Paris comforted himself with that thought as he led her down the hall of the dead and guided her to the main antechamber.

As they rounded the corner, the room slowly illuminated, dim light flickering and casting long shadows yet gave a sense of somber welcome. It was a place of contemplation of offerings and welcome. It was his main place of reflection as of late, outside of what Paris assumed had once been his personal 'shrine'.

"Um, so this is the antechamber. The big one. Main I guess?" He walked over to a small well in the center that held a freshwater spring.
"The fountains are safe to drink from. We had them to help filter the air in parts and to offer a form of.. respite for pilgrims. The Temple is on the floor below us and is, hrm." He shuffled, feeling awkward once more.
"I mean we have a scroll room, theres my office shrine place, there's also the code's cavern but it might get angry that I brought you here. It's not been happy with me as of late."

What did it- oh. Paris stopped mid-stride, not sure how you explained you were basically the priest of a giant system of catacombs and ritualistically maintained them in a past life? No 'how to' wiki existed for that, he was pretty sure.

"It's well. It's sort of like the main gateway. People would go there to be greeted, begin any rituals needed or wanted, or to just offer up prayers. I used to have to give sermons sometimes, but that was for special occasions." He didn't stammer, and he looked at one of the skull fondly. It was for some reason one he just liked in particular. "It is just a room really. Fancy, but just a room now."

That was kind of sad really.
"Code is.. the code. It's like a floating ball of secrets and knowledge that hates chaos I guess. I think it's stupid and yes!" The Yes came out far too high pitched.
"I mean, you're nice and pretty and wow um, sorry. You're just so nice to me, and you don't try to kill me. I wish more of the negaverse was like you." And not murderous crazies.