01 [ Video ] || Action Open to Sigyn House peeps

[silentmode]

[ Having long perfected the art of stealth, Chane Laforet has been a silent presence on the network for a few days, now. She's gathered the information she could, done the proper exploring once the sun had set each night in this strange, grey world, and made sure to trust no one.
The communication device was unlike anything from her time or world, but was basic enough in design that she caught on after a few fumbles, that would have been more noticeable to the network had she not been a mute.

And so. A woman with short, black hair looks at the community with a determined, if slightly confused, expression, and holds up a set of FLASH CARDS, as if she's presenting a project to a bunch of colleagues. She holds up one note, which reads: ]

"I have misplaced the map I was given by the maid-woman."

[ Then shuffles it to the back, pulling out the next. ]

"Please, if anyone can reproduce something like this for me, I would appreciate it."

[ Her expression becomes slightly uncomfortable, as she's now second-guessing this entire decision. Nevertheless, she holds up another awkwardly floppy poster board. ]

"Can the people here see if some have no eyes? Some speak though I do not see their mouths."

[ And another one. This time she's holding it up in front of her face, so she doesn't have to feel as awkward... ]
"If I could be shown where to go to acquire the proper materials to arm myself,
that would be very helpful too."

[ Final note! ]

"Thank you for reading this message."

[ And she just slowly ... puts down all the notes, and sits, staring way too intensely at the video feed. She seems to be RIGHT outside the Sigyn House, so that should be recognizable enough, and is very under-dressed for the weather! ]

Comments

[hotshit]

If you look at me, maybe I'll be able to understand. [He puts both of his hands in his pockets, ducking his head a bit to try to catch her eyes. He looks concerned!]

[silentmode]

[ Her chin raises as she looks up, with her fingers pushing in between the loops of the bow at the veil. Her line of vision shoots directly at Claire's irises, uninterrupted aside from fluttering shut as she takes another calming breath. This action is bringing her a bit of peace with the situation, as she's forgetting about all of the dislodging elements of it and now only regarding the familiar warmth of Claire's eyes. ]

[hotshit]

[DEEP BREATH. His shoulders move with exaggeration as he exhales.] I love you.

[A beat.] Do you love me? [He holds his breath, but its not something he's doing intentionally. He's giddy, but it's only noticeable by his erratic breathing.]

[silentmode]

[ Claire! That expressionless face you fell for? It's quite expressive at the moment, as her eyes widen, blinking in a blitz of embarrassment. She blushes -- it's not that they haven't confirmed this with one another yet, of course. However, it's the novelty of it all! Claire never really stops acting like a teenage boy with a crush, throughout the engagement, but he's saying this with so little information on her. Just as he did before, and Chane understands the subsequent devotion and patience that accompanies these words.

She nods, quickly holding the veil up to her chest, as if it can smother whatever fire is going on there. ]

[hotshit]

[Claire's face burns up, turning an even deeper shade of red as his own eyes widen, despite expecting the answer. He swallows, hard, and keeps his lips upturned in a very, very wide, tight-lipped smile.] I - I think I understand, now. It's all in your eyes, anyway -- you came here already knowing me and bein' certain about your decision to marry me, meaning ... meaning you must be from some part in our future. Ahh, does that even make any sense? It sounds like somethin' out of a movie, don't it? It's quite romantic when you think about it, though, or at least I'd like to think so.

Last I saw you there was a lot of uncertainty in your expression. I didn't think our meeting would end up like this, but that's not a bad thing, is it?

[silentmode]

[ A wave of relief floods her expression as it relaxes. She could always trust Claire to take the burden off of her to bring clarity to a situation like this.

He thinks this is romantic? Her thoughts are not bewildered, because, well, Claire thinks almost everything is romantic regarding any conflict that might arise between them. I definitely wasn't her idea of romance, though.

-- She nods when he asks if it makes sense, and shakes her head when he asks if it's a bad thing, as a shy smile brushes at her lips before she instinctively bites it down, looking down at the extravagant dress that had been fanned out around her. ]

[hotshit]

This is it! You gotta be the woman for me... I can't think of any better sign than the one before me now. The worlds we're in -- they didn't keep us apart for long, did they? It's gotta be fate, or something like it. My world has gravitated towards yours, only to become a part of it.

That's why you're here, now, I think. [He smiles, nodding gently. He's too nervous to touch her, but he wonders if it'd be okay with her.

He leaves out some of his thoughts though. He had asked a girl the other day to marry him, but now Chane's here, willing and accepting of his love. It meant something.]

But enough about that -- if you really do know me, then I think it's only fair that I get to know you.

[silentmode]

[ Yeah, you might want to run that by her, Claire.

In a swift movement, Chane's back up to her feet, having gathered the ends of her dress up above her calves and holding it off to one side -- sort of wrapping it around her effectively in the entire process. She then holds out her hand to Claire in a graceful, more traditionally-feminine gesture, wrist a bit limp and palm facing down.

Now letting that smile show in acceptance, Chane turns her cheek to him and averts her gaze downward, seemingly waiting for Claire.

It might be confusing now, she thinks reassuringly, Time will fix this. He and I will fix this. ]

[hotshit]

[He takes her hand, staring up at her.

And leans up to give the back of it a smooch. EYES OPEN, WAITING FOR HER REACTION.]

[silentmode]

[ She laces their fingers together, instead, and tugs both of their hands in a slight gesture, closer to her, before he can land that kiss. ]

[hotshit]

[He follows her movement swiftly and fluidly, using her tug to help himself up to his feet.] Ah, sorry!

[silentmode]

[ Her hand slips out of his in a seamless movement, sliding up the sleeve of his coat as she loops her arm around his, positioning herself at his side. Her other hand continues to gather up her dress, before sort of offering the ends up at Claire's hand. :) ]

[hotshit]

I - if you want, I could carry you back. [HE BLUSHES, staring down at his feet, almost meek. He does take the ends of her dress, holding it tighter than need be.] I didn't think you'd put it on so soon.

[silentmode]

[ ...

Okay, so she wasn't really sure she wanted to be carried throughout town, it seemed pretty attention-grabbing. Not only that, but Chane's well aware they're at very different places in their relationship, and perhaps she shouldn't let Claire get too ahead of himself.

She gives him a disciplining look, shaking her head, before she gently rests both of her hands against the arm she's linked to. The veil is pressed at Claire's side, between her fingertips, as she stares up at him with a thankful expression. Her eyes look down over to her dress, then back at Claire, to show that she put it on because she did, indeed, think it was a beautiful dress. ]

[hotshit]

Are you sure? [He grips the ends of her dress with both hands now, fiddling with the fabric with subtle twitches.] It's pretty muddy through this area, and while I hear mud's easy enough to clean off, I imagine you still wouldn't want to get it dirty.

You look beautiful. [Randomly thrown in.]

[silentmode]

[ She looks over at him, lashes blinking leisurely at his insistence. When he's complimented her, she'll reach one hand over to grab at his scarf again -- it's a very gentle tug, as most of her movements were softened in some way with him, and wait for him to meet her gaze. ]

[hotshit]

[He meets her gaze!] In that dress. [THAT WAS AN ADD ON TO HIS PREVIOUS SENTENCE BTW.]

[silentmode]

[ She turns to face him a bit more, running her hand down the scarf, releasing the end gently as she brushes her fingers over his gloves, then back up his coat. Her hand finally rests at its left lapel, pressing the fabric between her fingers and petting at it.

This is her way of saying she really likes how you look right now, too! All the while looking a bit shy, but much more intensely focused on him, though her eyes now fall to his chest. ]

[hotshit]

[Claire is like entranced by this action, completely enamoured. His mouth drops open, and he blinks hard, as if he's trying to convince himself to believe that this is happening. Of course, he does believe it, but


yeah... HEART BEATS FAST, BREATHING GETS HARDER.]

[silentmode]

[ She notices his...reaction, and slips her hand just a bit under his coat, against where his boob heart should be, to calm him down a bit. Think of in Bambi when that beared-lady rabbit had to stop Thumper's foot from thumping.

She tries to give him a soothing look, parting her lips a bit and tilting her head. It's okay, Claire. ]

[hotshit]

[He raises her dress, feeling the urge to make gestures.] Um, I don't know if that's gonna help! It might... even make it a bit harder for me to calm down, actually.

[He lowers his chin, keeping eye contact with her still. His heart is beating to an odd beat now, like club music.] But thanks, anyway...

[He doesn't want to tell her to stop touching him, but THIS IS SUCH AN UNCOOL POSITION TO BE IN.]

[silentmode]

[ She raises her eyebrows at him in a slight manner. The expression's enigmatic and neutral enough that it could be that she's amused by his reaction, or judging it, or perhaps just embarrassed for him.

Nodding, Chane turns to begin walking, expecting Claire to hold that dress up properly. She assumes he wanted her to stop touching him, and her feelings aren't hurt by it -- after all, it might be too much for him to take in at the moment. She still was overwhelmed by certain touches, herself. ]

[hotshit]

[Well, he feels embarrassed, even as he follows after her from behind!] Th-that felt nice, that's all! You're just so beautiful and cute and your hands are so gentle!

Ah... [Blushblush.] Chane.

[silentmode]

[ She glances over her shoulder at him, looking slightly flustered at that. And of course, she might have looked at him for too long, because she does step into some mud... :C ]

1/2

[hotshit]

[Claire reacts fast, just as her shoe steps in the mud, reaching around her to bunch up the skirt of her dress entirely, bringing it up to her mid-thigh so none of the mud splashes the fabric.]

...