vatheon | (no subject)

Entry tags:

(no subject)

Characters: Prussia + Anyone who wants to join
Where: The shops
When: Late Monday morning, 9th April
Style: Prose or action
Status: OPEN

Gilbert tugged the scarf closer around him, burying his slightly pink nose into it to try and fend off the cold. He found it weird that an underwater dimension could reach close to freezing, and wondered if things would actually start to ice over. It would be fascinating to watch, that's for sure, but Gilbert didn't really want to have to watch out for Glaciers or the like just for going out for a walk. He was glad that the cold came just after he did his clothes shopping though. Would've sucked wandering about in nothing but the clothes he arrived in - i.e just his boxers. He would've frozen to death.

And he knew from experience that freezing to death was simply awful.

"Wish I had Gilbird. Shopping's fun with him..." Gilbert grumbled quietly, sorely missing his little bird companion. He lifted his hand out of his pocket, holding a rumpled piece of paper in his grasp. Thank God stuff were for free here otherwise he would've been living in a cardboard box. He still found it fishy that the apartments and furniture and food were for free, but the mystery could be placed on the back burner while he secured a good headquarters - with a fridge full of food. He still felt a bit uncertain wandering about in the streets though. So many strange beings with their own strange abilities and their strange customs - it was both exciting and worrisome. Gilbert remembered his altercation with a blond Superman-wannabe the last time he was here. It did not end well for him.

He shook his head to clear his thoughts. The cold always made him a bit woozy and tired. Shopping and scouting. Focus on those things.

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[Gilbert looked up from examining his shopping list, and almost did a double take at the...furry? No, that didn't look like a anthropomorphic fox suit - or if it was, it was a /really/ good one.] Er...yeah, Gilbird... [he says slowly, before shaking himself and looking the fox-guy up and down briefly. Weird...but he had seen weirder. Like Russia in a Panda-suit playing with China. That had been...trippy.] Who're you, Fuchs?

[It was interesting the way some humans reacted that way and some didn't. Cultures like his were used to dealing with other species, but with humans it seemed like a mixed bag.]

[Fuchs?]

Er, the name's Fox. And you?

[Hah, so Gilbert got his name right the first time, although Fox-man used the English word for 'Fox', rather than German.] Gilbert Weillschmidt, but Prussia's fine too. Whichever's easier. [Gilbert's stare becomes a bit more intense. He looks a bit fascinated.]

...this is so cool. So you're...like, a Fusch-Mann? Er, Fox-man? What's that headset thingy? Are you an alien like Pascal? [with each question, Gilbert looks increasingly excited. It wasn't everyday you got to see a beastman after all!]

[He takes an involuntary step back.]

I. Uh.

[Weird looks were one thing, but this was a first...]

...oh! [Gilbert pulls back his enthusiasm a little, and laughs sheepishly] Oh, er, sorry...just, this is the first time I've seen a Fusch-Mann. I mean, I've seen Fu- foxes, but, y'know, they were the small sort and- [and Gilbert probably shouldn't say that he only saw foxes when he was hunting them with his Kings' courts] and they were small. [He finishes lamely]

[Fox puts a hand on the back of his neck and tries to not look overwhelmed. It's a moderately successful attempt.]

That's, uh. Pretty normal around here. For what it's worth I'd never met humans before this city.

[Humans probably looked totally weird to Fusch-Mann, and that was a mouthful, so Gilbert reminded himself that he was /Fox/] There're a lot of weirdoes in this place...but what do you expect from a freaky underwater dimension?

[He raises an eyebrow.]

You mean your dimension isn't underwater?

[That drew a snort from him] Do I look like I'm built for aquatic life? I hate water... [he glares upwards with a smidgeon of distrust in his gaze] ...not a fan of it.

It was a joke anyway. Nothing about this place makes sense.

[He gives the shop a slow glance around.]

Yeah... [Gilbert copies Fox, looking about them] It's a mystery alright, one which I'm determined to crack. I need something to entertain me while I'm trapped here, y'know? [And mysteries were fun.]

If you plan to crack it, I'd say you're doing more than just entertaining yourself.

[Fox himself hadn't put much effort into figuring this place out. Not that he wasn't curious, but it seemed like something everybody was secretive about. Uncomfortably so.]

[Gilbert chuckles] I guess so, it seems like a difficult mystery. Everyone's all...hush-hush. It's like trying to figure out the classified information stuff back home. [Being a 'retired' nation, there were some matters that his bosses thought weren't his business. Gilbert, of course, then made it his business, and he usually succeeded] But I never turn down from a challenge, and the curiosity is eating me up inside.

I can respect that.

[This place has seemed kind of like a break at first, once the existential shock wore off. But lately he'd been feeling the boredom a bit too, and it probably wasn't going anywhere on its own.]

So is that why you're out here in the cold like this?

Yep! Well, not exactly. I'm out in the cold because I need...supplies! [Holds up the shopping list] Supplies like...chocolate, and coffee, and...sausages, and...hm, apparently I need toothpaste... [mutters as he reads over the list himself before remembering Fox] Er, but, once I have these important supplies, my sleuthing will commence.

[That was right. He had things to pick up too, didn't he? Funny how getting ambushed by questions made you forget things.]

I wouldn't get too excited.

[He looks out into the street.]

You should probably wait until after this weather clears up.

Pfft, I'm not bothered by the cold [A total lie, but Gilbert had braved Russia's cruel winters regularly enough that he could withstand temperatures around freezing. He still hated the cold though. Loathed it. /Hated/ it. Reminded him too much of Russia.] Besides, one has to be ready to sleuth rain or shine!

[At least he was committed to the cause...]

Maybe. It just seems like you could get more done without the weather in your way.

Well...it's not like it's raining or anything. It's just a bit chilly. Not exactly a massive obstacle... [unless the weather report proclaimed otherwise for the rest of the week. He didn't know. He didn't have a television yet - if they sold televisions here. God he hoped they did, along with video game consoles]

I guess you're right. But it has been pretty quiet around here lately, and this weather is a little odd...I guess.

[Maybe he was overthinking things. This place made him suspicious.]

Yeah, it does seem peaceful...suspiciously so... [hums contemplatively] It reminds me of a horror film. You know, one of those where the protagonist go to this sleepy innocent looking village or town, and then it turns out that the locals are eating babies in their basements, or worshipping the devil or something, and there's always a stupid couple who get killed when they go off to have sex in the woods, or any other ridiculous place.

[Looks about] ...I just creeped myself out. Definitely locking my doors at night...

Heh. When you put it that way, I feel so much better.

[He was right, though. Or maybe it just seemed that way, given......the way the month started. Now he was creeping himself out.]

I wonder if there's some evil conspiracy? [Gilbert started to smile, excitement overcoming caution. It wasn't like he could /die/, if he stumbled across something he shouldn't've]

I'm not sure that's how the thought of "evil conspiracies" is supposed to make you react...

What? C'mon, where's your sense of adventure? Evil conspiracies mean there'll be car chases, and gunfights, and - and lasers, and lots of sneaking and cool knocking out moves [Gilbert watches far too many James Bond movies]