azume | First.

ENCOUNTER 1.

Your searching of the building won't be for nothing; in the end, it is a building, and buildings are wonderfully finite spaces. Eventually there's an exit, and the exit isn't sealed; in fact, compared to the impartial corridors of the rest of the place, the doorway leading out seems surprisingly professional. There's a reception desk and a small waiting area, and a vending machine in the corner - it looks the way one would expect the entrance to a professional corporation to look, as opposed to something housing the large number of strange people that seems to inhabit the building.

The wind is cool as it hits your face when you make your way outside - because surely, you do want to make your way outside? - and you're greeted by a city enveloped in the darkness of late-night; the building you woke up in is elevated, overlooking the rest of the buildings below from the highest point in the city. There are cobbled steps leading down to street level proper, however, and if you want to turn to get a better look at the building once you're down there, you'll find that it's not particularly inconspicuous, all things considered.

There are buildings once you're down on street level, several of them; almost all of them are dark. Whether they're abandoned, closed for the night, or simply housing sleeping occupants is a bit difficult to say at the moment; however, one building seems to be lit up brightly - isn't as massive as the place you just left but it's large enough, and perhaps most importantly there's a woman standing outside of it.

She's standing tall and still, and were it not for the large amounts of blonde hair cascading down her back and framing her face, she might be difficult to see - she's dressed all in black, in a long duster coat and pants, and her arms are folded across her body as she watches the building. Her expression is calm; it's difficult to tell much else without approaching her, to see if she's exactly like everyone else you just left behind, but as soon as you approach and she's able to take a look at the rest of you...

She smiles.

The expression is gentle, understanding, though there's a hint of concern in her features; it easily reaches her eyes, and she tips her head while studying those of you she can see in the light from the building behind her.

"Well! You are all a sight for sore eyes."

When she speaks her voice is warm, affectionate in a manner that one might expect from a friend or maybe an older sister; she glances behind her, toward the lit-up building with its orange roof, before she turns back to you, beckoning you inside after her.

The room you're led into is large and open, with a courtesy desk with a large set of machines behind it, and a woman stationed there as though it's her job; the blonde looks at her for a moment, pursing her lips as though bothered by something, and it isn't difficult to see why - the woman is one of the strange ones, one of the ones that don't seem to respond properly to much, stock-still and dead behind the eyes. She doesn't address her, though; she just gestures as though inviting all of you to sit - there are benches near the wall, though some of you may not mind taking the floor. There are stairs nearby, and that's where she takes up station herself, walking up a couple of steps before turning and settling on them, hands on her knees. She smiles again when she addresses you, though the expression is a little subdued.

"My name is Cynthia. I'm sure you have a lot of questions; we have a lot to catch up on."

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Sounds as reasonable a lead as any.

How far away are they? A group this big is going to need a lot of provisions.

[Apparently he's defaulting to them all walking on foot.]

They're all a good distance; the closest is Azelf, who resides in Lake Valor. You can find all the provisions you need here - Veilstone City is large, and it has several places that are well-stocked. I would suggest staying here for a few days to acquaint yourselves with the way things work here, and to gather up whatever it is you need.

...Such as different outfits. You probably don't want to be walking around like that.

About that, if I might interject; I'd like my uniform back. Do you know where something like that could be?

It's...important to me.

Unfortunately, no. I don't know what was done with your belongings...

I can try to find out, if it's important to you.

I would be in your debt if you did. It's a small material concern, but...I would like to have it back as soon as possible.

...On a similar low-priority note, you don't happen to have sunglasses I could borrow, do you?

The department store should have some, if nothing else.

Reasonable enough.

...One more question. What's happened to this world...does it affect the environment? What I mean to ask is if it's coincidence alone that led us to awaken at night, or if the sun simply doesn't rise in addition to everything else.

[Just, you know. Checking.]

...You all seem to have come from some interesting places, judging by the questions.

The sun will be up in the morning. It's just coincidence.

...You have no idea.

[A sigh.]

But that's reassuring; thank you.

[He shakes his head.]

No. I'd like to get out of this as soon as possible, to be honest.

What's the local currency here?

Don't worry about cost; I'll ensure it's taken care of. At least for now.

[A nod.]

All right. Thank you.

First.

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