The Underground City

I never thought I'd say this, but I'm going to agree with the players-

I think he's from Earth, Lex whispered, staring with wide eyes at the boy who had been singing only moments before. He has a headphones in, and he's actually listening to music! Aleks, I've got to talk to him. See how the world's changed, and just get to see someone else from my world.

You can't.

W-Why?

He folded their arms and leaned up against the railing. They think we're normal for wherever we come from, remember? Tell me how you're going to explain to him that you're from Earth without revealing something like that. Go on. Do it.

He was silent. How could he possibly begin to explain that without addressing how he was even like this in the first place? The questions would get too invasive, and he didn't have the foggiest idea of the lie he would create to deflect them.

A sigh echoed throughout their mind. Fine. I won't talk to him. But let me do the talking again, okay? I don't trust you with this many people.

"That sounds like a good idea to me," Lex said, the smile spreading across their lips not reaching their eyes. "But before we do that, we should probably introduce ourselves. I'm Lexal."

"I've searched a few of the buildings," Camille said. He'd spent most of his time here outside searching for other people, but he had spent some time searching the buildings. He'd found little in the ways of clues. "I've found very little, but perhaps the other buildings will have something."

He didn't give his name, he didn't know if anyone would recognize it.

Casey glanced at the older boy with blonde hair, waiting for a name.

"I'm Casey." He said when he didn't receive one.

Knowing that eyes were on him now, he tried to unconsciously brush a few grey strands of hair that were peeking out back under the brim of his cap.

Ryder calmly strolled back to the rest of the group, ignoring any strange looks he might have been given.
"Name's Ryder," he said, slipping his phone out his pocket to pause the music. He took out his earphones and stuffed them in his pocket. He walked up next to Casey and patted him on his back.
"Lemme just say,
I talk in rhyme
like all the time
don't worry I ain't bein' funny
but I guess I do this cuz I'm bored
and I ain't got any money
So don't be surprised when your less is my more."
He took his hand away from the boys back and slid it in his pocket, before looking to the others.

Casey shivered at Ryder's touch, flinching and hoping that the boy didn't cast some sort of spell on him. His jacket was very bright. So bright that Casey wasn't sure that it wasn't magically colored.

"Nice to meet you.." he mumbled.

Enide walked over to Ryder and Casey. "I am Enide Hyusei," she said. She knew there was some risk in stating her last name, since it was a royal name, but she felt reasonably sure that nobody here knew who she was. Those that did know her wouldn't rely on something as simple as a name.

"A pleasure to meet you," she said to Ryder, extending a hand. "I admire your...music?" It was a good enough distraction for her to nimbly pull whatever he'd just stolen out of his pocket and hold it out for Casey to take.

He noticed how uncomfortable Casey felt when he was speaking in rhymes, so he decided to hold off on that for now.
"Nice to meet you, and thank you," he said, before holding out his hand.
"Could I have my earphones back, please?" He wasn't an idiot. He put the necklace in his other pocket when nobody was looking. So all this red fox lady got was his earphones.

Casey looked between Enide and Ryder, confused.

"Um- those aren't mine." He tipped his hat's brim down in greeting, "nice to meet you, though."

Enide looked at her outstretched hand. She blinked, then smiled. Like she was going to admit being tricked. At least she was able to gauge that the young man was brighter than he looked.

"Ah!" she said, handing the earphones back to Ryder and laughing. "My apologies. I suppose my age must be catching up to me."

Casey cocked his head.

"Your age?" He said, mostly to himself, "but you don't-"

He swallowed what he was going to say. Polite. Be polite. His ears grew warm and his hair melted to a magenta color.

"Sorry. Excuse me."

Yes, now that she was closer, she could see his hair certainly was changing colors. She wasn't sure if that meant anything, but she'd keep an eye on him.

"Ah, I look much younger than you may suspect," she said, smiling faintly. "We age rather slowly. Or, you humans age rather quickly. I have just recently celebrated my 74th birthday."

He grinned in surprise and searched her face.

"That's miraculous!" he paused, "you aren't human? What are you then, if I may ask?"
He glanced down at the hilt of a weapon at her hip.

Enide gestured to her face. "This certainly is not a mask," she said. "I suppose that, wherever you come from, you may not be familiar with foxes, much less ones that walk and talk. Yet, here we are."

Casey frowned. So, her interesting face had features he should know. Fox. He mouthed the word. He was used to being around very... unusual people. Maybe that's why Enide put him more at ease than the other people. They were dressed strangely, yes, but their faces were all so normal.

"I'm sorry if my staring offends you." he said suddenly, looking down at his boots.

He was starting to feel very off, like he was trying to pull thoughts out of a fog in his head. It was probably time to inject himself again, but he wasn't comfortable doing it in front of these strangers. It was a good thing, he supposed, that he had filled some extra vials in his amulet, seeing as how his stock had been lost in whatever journey had brought him here.

They had been silently taking this all in, trying their best to construct some idea of where they were. It appeared that they had all been brought here by something - or someone - and that they all came from a variety of places. What took them by surprise the most had to be Enide's apparent age, but they spent the majority of their time with gods. It was hard to be surprised by a relatively young looking woman being in her seventies when they knew several people who were so old that they had lost count.

They opened their mouth to ask exactly what Enide was - she certainly wasn't a normal fox - but were abruptly cut off before they could even begin.

Aleks! Lex!

They clamped their hands over their ears out of habit at the sound of the voice ringing out through their mind. It was unnecessarily loud, but when had it ever not been? They should have been be more careful when it came to how they were acting, but they were both too startled by the voice to think clearly.

I hate when he does that, Aleks growled.

The feeling's mutual-

You guys! Are you here, somewhere? I can't find anyone and I think I just- There was a startled cry, which immediately caused them to sigh.

Calling it now. He thinks he saw a ghost.

I think I just saw a g-ghost!

Told you.

I didn't doubt it. Well, the last thing that they wanted to do was alienate their god - especially when he was notorious for the cold shoulders he could give. They didn't last long, but Lex always felt horrible when he looked at them like that. We can hear you, Telós.

Oh, thank the Ether! It's really scary right here, and I haven't been able to find anyone yet. Besides the ghost, but I'm hiding in the corner so hopefully it won't find me.

Where?

Where what?

Where are you, idiot?

Their god thought for a moment. I'm not sure. Wherever I am, the building is enormous. I've been wandering the hallways for at least an hour and I still haven't seen them all.

They glanced behind them and stared at the giant building jutting out of the side of the cavern. I think that's the place, Lex guessed. Don't worry, Telós. We're on our way.

Now how were they going to explain what just happened to the other people on the bridge?