faterecanted | [action] A glorious return

[It's probably a peaceful enough day, as Luceti goes. Maybe people are out looking through the shops. Maybe they're strolling through the plaza. Maybe they're sitting on the edge of the fountain, reading a book or having a snack.

Maybe there's a 6'2", 180 lb man in new feather pants being dropped into the fountain from a height of, oh, about 3.14 feet.

Wait, what?

Van is falling. That doesn't surprise him, it's exactly what he should be doing; except then he blinks, or thinks he does, and instead of purple and glow, there is blue sky. He has the barest of moments to register confusion over this development, and then he hits the water ass first. Shortly followed by the bottom of the fountain which, for the record, is hard. He's not feeling any better about the day he's had so far, either, now that it also includes being doused and viciously spanked by an inanimate object.

He may need a few moments to sort out what just happened to him.

Handily, that's about how long it takes for his regular clothes and journal to follow after, and land in the general vicinity of on his head and also his ruined pride. In case he needed a reminder that his boots are really heavy.]

What? [What else can a man possibly say in a situation like this?]

[Somewhat later, after he has recovered from his terrible butthurt, better remembered where this even is, and maybe picked up a change of clothes that isn't soggy, he will squelch over to his house. Oh, house 47, he barely knew you. He hopes it's still his house, because if it isn't someone's getting a terrible surprise when he barges on in through the front door and leaves puddles all the way to the laundry and shower.]

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[This is definitely not Asch.]

Oh! Ah... [Ginji's actually never seen this guy before. Not face-to-face, at least - he'd have remembered otherwise. A friend of Asch's?]

Then I guess she's still outside. She goes off in the mornings a lot. [He says this as he carefully sets the bags down on the floor. And yet. It's something about the way the stranger responds (like he's completely at home here) and the fact that he came from the hallway. Does that mean...? No, it couldn't be. He's probably just drying off in their bathroom.]

[But it's still a possibility. And there's only one way to find out for sure. Ginji bobs his head slightly - a stiff motion.]

Sorry, I haven't introduced myself yet. I'm Ginji.

Edited 2012-07-11 02:03 (UTC)

[He is very at home here -- or at least, as at home as Van is anywhere; which means that regardless of his own personal comfort, there is a sense of him owning the space instead of merely inhabiting it.]

Asch was expecting you earlier.

[He is very notably not giving his name yet. He is, however, studying Ginji with those cool blue eyes of his, which are, as always, unreadable. There is a spark in them; but is it interested? Confident? Predatory? It is not, at least, overtly cruel, nor is his overall demeanor. Imposing, perhaps.

Effortlessly so.]

[Van will find one (1) average young man. Average in just about every way possible upon casual analysis. He's got the look of someone who's used to menial labor and he speaks with a rural accent. More obviously are the tool belt at his waist and the flight goggles perched on top of his head.]

[Ginji's caught slightly off-guard by the lack of introduction. But he guesses it isn't too surprising. After all, his housemates are quite the conversationalists. What's more nerve-wracking is the way he's being assessed. It's kind of intimidating, though for Ginji's part he manages to keep eye contact. Honest eyes. Puzzled. A little unsure.]

He was? That's no good. [Means he must have taken too long. Or Asch had some other chore for him.] Maybe I should go see what he wanted.

He simply mistook me for you, that's all. I take it you're living here?

[When is this man ever going to cough up his name?

Well.

When it's time.]

[Sure seems that way.] Yes sir, that's right. Mr. Asch said I could stay here for awhile.

[Since he was visiting pretty frequently anyhow. Ginji couldn't just leave him to fend for himself when he seemed so frustrated with being blind.]

['Sir,' hmm? That may be the most respect Van's ever gotten under this roof. But since this is, apparently, his new housemate, it's time to quit playing games. And that means holding his hand out for a handshake.]

Then it seems we've become housemates. Van Grants.

[Come now, Ginji. Shake the murderer's hand.]

[...No, that's okay. He'd really rather not.]

[A flicker of hesitation passes across Ginji's face after Van's given his name. So it really is General Van. Asch and Luke's teacher, and...]

[Sometimes good people do bad things because they can't see any other way. Ginji gets that. But for all that this man seems perfectly, unarguably human, he can never forget that this is also the man who killed Hencken and Cathy. And, so he'd guess, the one who ordered the knights to attack the people of Sheridan. But then, isn't it because everyone would've never backed down?]

[...Right. Ginji reaches out to give the offered hand a shake. It's not quite as firm as he'd like, but it'll have to do.]

Sure looks that way. I hope we can get along. [Yeah, that.] Ah, is it 'General Van' or...?

[That question elicits a rise of Van's very impressive brows.]

Either Asch has said something not entirely derogatory about me- [maybe on a pleasant spring Sylphday in the Qliphoth, with sunshine and wandering butterflies...] -or you are from Auldrant.

[As on top of things as he is, Van is an important person, and he really can't be expected to know the background of every random stranger he meets. That would be ridiculous.]

[Admittedly, Asch didn't speak about Van as much as "the stupid replica" or Princess Natalia. Ginji's heard things, though. Not especially favorable things, and not all from the same source, but things. One he's decided for himself is that Van must have instructed Asch in the art of avoiding questions.]

Well, it's true I'm from Auldrant. For what it's worth. [He's not going to lie about it, in any case.]

[We just can't understand why Van didn't memorize all the character data for everyone in Luceti as well as the host of one- and two-shot NPCs from his own world. You know, just because they lack three different titles and a six-syllable surname and their sidequests are mostly pointless.]

[That fact confirmed, Van merely shrugs.] Call me what you wish.

[He's not refusing 'General Van', but he's not ruling out 'you dirty bastard' either. Consider it a gift of generosity... though it isn't as if insults could get under his skin at this point. He's heard them all before.]

I take it you've been doing the housework? [Although the blind man missing would explain a few things around here...]

[Huh.]

[Either way, for once Ginji's grateful not to be given an opportunity to recite his backstory. As awkward as that would be, there's also a few things he should keep under wraps - for everyone's sake. If he can help it, that is.]

General Van, then. [It's not respect so much as...well, being on a first name basis with this guy seems a little weird.]

Mhm. Mostly cooking, cleaning, and laundry. And some general maintenance. [All the appliances should be working smoothly. He's mostly left the care of the animals to Asch and Arietta. And as for the houseplants? Well, he's not entirely sure what to do with them.]

I'll be the first to admit that I'm not usually left in charge of meals, so they might not be on par with what you're used to.

[Van will just be taking one of those grocery bags, thanks, and doing a cursory inventory of its contents before he's even in the kitchen. Hope Ginji doesn't mind him barging in and taking charge.]

I'll handle the cooking.

[He likes to keep things running smoothly. Also Asch is less pissy when bribed with chicken.]

[It's not really what he expected, but Ginji doesn't mind. And has no reason to object. Things'll go a lot more quickly this way, and--]

[Ginji hesitates for a moment before old habit wins out and he goes to fetch the remaining groceries. He can't just leave things laying around unfinished; it's an unwritten hangar rule. You just do it. Oh, and there's the floor too. He needs to clean up those puddles so no one will slip...]

Are you sure? I don't mind helping out. [Clearly. He's already putting the rest of it away.]

[action] A glorious return

[Action] Hey, I think I've seen that one!

[Action] It's a tale of creeping horror.

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