Where's My Butler?

[lafreshia]

Who: Lili and you
When: Midday
Where: Town Plaza
Style: Your choice
Status: Open

Sebastian! Where are you? Look at the state of me. I got my new dress all wet. Fetch me some new garments.

[She was just in a fight moments ago. One last blow and she would have won. But before she could've delivered her coup de grâce, a force had pulled her back and blacked her out. When she came to, she was alone, dripping wet and in a place she didn't know]

Did I get kidnapped again? Father would be most displeased. I must find my way back. Sebastian! Where are you?!

[She was never without her butler. Though she did all the fighting, Sebastian was always there to tell her how proud he is of her or how fine a young lady she's turning up to be. Now without him, Lili felt... vulnerable... helpless...small]

Sebastian, you dolt. It's almost teatime and you're not here...

[She let out a long sigh before proceeding to scan the area and was pleased to find she wasn't truly alone. People! She brushed her clothes with her hand, fixed her hair and tried to appear the most presentable she could manage. When she was satisfied, she approached the nearest passerby and asked.]

Hello. I seem to have misplaced my servant. Where might I find another one?

Comments

[coolerthansora]

[Roxas turns at the voice to see a somewhat... waterlogged girl. She must be one of the new arrivals, but her question throws him off. It's not exactly what he'd expect someone new to ask.]

Your servant?

[Okay. The concept isn't completely alien to him. The Beast has servants. And he's pretty sure the Beast is some kind of royalty, so...]

Are you a princess?

[It seems like a logical conclusion.]

[lafreshia]

[Lili felt giddy and twitterpated. She figured it was just an honest question, but coming from such a cute little boy, she couldn't help herself. Affirming her status and pretty things will get you anywhere with her.]

Me? A princess? You think so? Why, I think so too.

[She then proceeded to hold a straightened palm vertically below her mouth and started laughing for a good two minutes. When she finished, she flipped her hair back and continued talking to boy]

But, yes. You may say I am a great princess stolen from her land. I would need a servant to help me. Unless... you would like to serve me?

[coolerthansora]

[Well... the laughing is a little strange, and he isn't sure if she's actually a princess or if she's using it as some kind of metaphor, but he'll go with it for now.]

Um. I don't think I'd make a very good servant.

[It's true. He doesn't know anything about etiquette or making tea.]

But maybe I can help you out, since you just got here.

[lafreshia]

How gallant. Very well, I shall allow you to escort me.

[She felt that she would at least be entertained by the boy. What she didn't mention was that she was just glad she didn't have to be lost and alone anymore. That and she didn't have to work any harder. She found a guide.]

Let us walk then. Here. [She beckoned the boy to her side]

Since you're nice, I will allow you to stand next to me. My name is Emilie de Rochefort. You may call me Lili.

[She chuckled, but it soon became a sigh. If Sebastian were here, he already would've commented on how fast she's making friends.]

What can you tell me about this place?

[coolerthansora]

[She definitely talks like royalty. He glances around and snags a towel from the closest shop before joining her.]

It's Roxas.

[He offers her the towel.]

The world we're in is called Vatheon. It sort of pulls people in from all kinds of other worlds and- times. Well, the coral does. [He points.] That's how you got here.

[sylphauxiliatrix]

[With the clouds up on the island Kanaya has been staying down here, getting extra work done in her shop and keeping an eye out for new arrivals like this. With her unique appearance; Fanged mouth, orange horns, white glowing skin, some might not think she is the best choice for a first encounter with people whoa re usually quite confused to begin with. She just liked to think that after meeting her anybody else they run into should be easy to handle. And so she moved in when she saw the girl arrive]

Oh, you must be a new arrival. Shame about your new dress, it looks beautiful. Well, it looks like it was beautiful, I mean. You have excellent taste. I run a small fashion boutique and tailor shop and I can make sure your dress survives this little event. But first I think we had better bring you up to speed. My name is Kanaya, and you are?

[She offered a glowing hand to the new arrival.]

[lafreshia]

[Such a strange appearance she has. It was not repulsive, but still strange. Lili, however, was no stranger to strange. She had encountered demon patriarchs, boxing kangaroos and a pink-haired Japanese-speaking Russian robot with a detachable head. Nope, strange was fine with her. She wondered however, as she reached her hand to Kanaya's, if everyone here looks like the kind lady.]

My name is Lili. I'm afraid I've been kidnapped and my butler is missing. Did you say fashion boutique? How delightful.

[Lili shouldn't be this friendly. Usually she'd want to pick a fight, but right now she doesn't know her place. She's lost and Sebastian-less. But right now, she too isn't in a position to pass up friends... or at least the possibility of friends.]

[sylphauxiliatrix]

Yes. Believe me, I understand what you're going through right now. I was brought here a few months ago myself, and the situation can be a bit hard to understand at first. Just trust that what I am telling you is the truth.

[Kanaya smiled in what she hoped would be a reassuring manner. You never know just how different cultures will interpret body language, even if some things like handshakes seemed at least somewhat common between universes.]

You will be returned eventually, and when you are it will be as if you never left. You won't remember this place, and your body will be the same as when you were taken. No time will have passed, and you'll never know anything happened at all. I know it sounds unbelievable, but that's what you need to understand first before anything else. You are trapped here, but it's ok because none of this will change anything back where you came from.

[lafreshia]

I see. So this is all just like a dream then...

Lili rested her chin in the cup of her hand and closed her eyes in contemplation. That did calm her a bit. If what the horned lady was saying was true, then there really isn't that much to worry about... except for time to kill.

As she was thinking, her face "voiced out" her inner thoughts. One could see turmoil and relief and a thought she may have found funny clearly on her face.

Since she figured she'll be here for a bit, she might as well make the most of it. She was about to go through a list of things she could do when she couldn't help but ask...

Uhm... Not that there's anything wrong with it, but when people stay "here", do they... uhmm... begin to look like... you?

[sylphauxiliatrix]

Oh, no. This is just the way I am. Occasionally the bubble will suffer from a curse, and sometimes that changes what people look like. The curses are very unpredictable, but usually only last for a week or so. You're not too far off to see this like a dream. Some see it as a vacation of sorts, and others as a second chance away from what was going on in their home reality.

[ Kanaya pulled a pamphlet out of her sylladex, the papers seemingly appearing in her hands out of nowhere.]

Here, this is the introductory pamphlet put together by some of the others that have been brought here. It should help you figure out what's going on.

[xthecorvus]

[ And... just... have this guy looking... every bit confused as he'd managed to appear in the plaza from restocking the manor's larders just as he hears his name.

So yes, one butler coming up towel in hand because he is ever the perfect gentleman no matter how dire the circumstances. ]

My apologies, madam, but you seem to be rather mistaken. Unless you seek some other servant named Sebastian.

[lafreshia]

[He was a butler. And he did imply that he was also named Sebastian. But he was not her Sebastian.]

My, my. The last Sebastian I had wasn't nearly as handsome and strong-looking as you. Perhaps there's a shop here with Sebastians where I can find a stand-in for the one I misplaced?

[xthecorvus]

[ Nope. This Sebastian belongs to a spoiled little princess ]

Such a thing would certainly be quite a sight to behold, miss. However, I am already in the employ of Earl Ciel Phantomhive who is in residence in this city. This place is called Vatheon and it seems it has chosen you as its newest resident.

[lafreshia]

Oh that's such a shame. You seem like such a high caliber butler as well. I was just thinking how wonderful it would be to have someone like you under my charge.

[Under her heel was more like it.]

No matter. I'm sure I'll find one soon enough. But, this Vatheon, you say? This world pulls in people? How rude. I was about to have to tea when it got but I must say that this world has good taste for choosing me.

[Lili took this moment to be pleased with herself and started laughing, her head high up in the air with the back of her hand above her mouth.]

[xthecorvus]

You would find, madam, I charge rather excessively to find myself under someone's employ. As it stands, my master and my master alone is the only master I wish to serve.

[ You willing to pay a soul for that, Lili? He's... just going to stare at that laugh though. Someone's not exactly impressed. ]

The city itself certainly isn't discriminating when it comes to who it summons, I must say. As for the whys, well, I must apologize as no one seems to have the answers for this question.

[ A pause though. ]

My apologies, rushing into such things so soon without a single introduction. My name is Sebastian Michaelis. And you are...?

[asea]

[Suddenly engaged in conversation, Walter stared at the woman with a neutral expression as she spoke. His face remained that way, though his initial silence may have suggested that he really wasn't interested in talking, much less lending her a hand. And how was he supposed to know where one might find servants?

Finally, he replied:]

Ask someone else.

[lafreshia]

In that short silence, Lili felt that she was led on. She had been grand a spectacle. She always has been, and she always expects something that eats her time to be worth it. She could've easily brushed it off as someone who didn't really know the answer to her ridiculous demands, but this time, she just felt challenged.]

How rude. It appears I am not good enough to talk to you. Is it because of my appearance? Well, I'll have you know that I am the daughter of an important international businessman. People would be lining up to talk to me.

[She suddenly blushed as she stated how she thought how important she was. She chuckled and flipped her hair at him as she turned her back on him.]

Well, now that you know how sought after I am, I'm sure you now want to talk to me. But guess what, I'll be right here, taking my time not answering you.

Haha! Aren't I clever? What say you about that, huh?

[asea]

[Walter was speechless, and perhaps a smidgen bewildered. In the span of less than a minute, she'd went from scolding him to blushing from her own boast to laughing to attempting the cold shoulder -- and most of all, she didn't seem to quite understand that he was simply disinterested. Her appearance, though telling of a new arrival, meant nothing to him. Nor did her station.

She came from a man of power. What did he have to say about that, she asked?

Nothing.

He had nothing to offer, no opinion other than that she was continuing to waste her breath on him. The ambition and wealth she suggested stimulated not a cell in his mind. So he said nothing.

Silence washed over them again.]

[lafreshia]

Oho! Still ignoring me? Well, I can ignore you more. It shall be a battle then! Your challenge will be met by defeat!! Have at thee!!

[She then proceeded to turn away from him, her chin high up in the air.]

[asea]

[This woman was nonsensical. She made no sense. This, Walter was beginning to be convinced of in his otherwise uncaring nature, and after another moment of silence he resumed his pace, intending to step around her. He'd let her dwell on this . . . game of hers.]

[candidblue]

[ Approached!! Needless to say, she wasn't really expecting the question Lili was asking. She was used to the whole 'where am I what am I doing here' spiel.

But okay, seriously? What, does she think butlers grow on trees? ]

I don't think you can just go and find another servant. You need to like, put a "Butler wanted" add in the paper or something. [ Not that Vatheon has a paper or anything. ]

[lafreshia]

I can't?

[Lili was genuinely perplexed. Having been raised in an environment where everything she wanted she can take, by permission or by force, and everything else was done for her, the concept of "can't" surely didn't go well with her.]

I usually would have my butler do those for me... but he's missing....

[Lili shouldn't risk angering a person when she didn't have the safety of an ally or her father to fall on. She can hold herself in a fight, but right now she tried her hardest to be polite.]

Uhmm... Would you like to be my servant...uhh...please?

[candidblue]

[ Eyebrow. Raise. Though she does her best not to laugh at the request, shaking her head with a smile. ]

Uh. Yeah, no. I don't do the servant thing. [ She looks Lili up and and down, before shrugging. ]

I can help you out a little. You know, get you somewhere to stay and direct you to a few stylish clothing shops. But servant? No, not happening.

[lafreshia]

YOU MEET ME WITH REFUSAL?! WHY?! I CAN AFFORD IT?!

[Lili's hand dug into her pocket and just scattered a lot of paper bills, probably amounting to thousands of dollars, to accompany her outburst.

Silence fell as Lili sustained her pose and the shower of money slowly dropped to the ground.]

...

Oh right, I was being polite... Y-yes, I would take you on your offer.

[candidblue]

And you think I don't have money? Newsflash, my mom owns a company.

[ And she'll just raise an eyebrow and shrug. Throw a tantrum allll you want Lili, because Bulla does what she wants. ]

Cool. I'll show you one of the best clothing places in this bubble, then. Follow me. [ And she'll start walking towards where some of the shops are. ]