Welcome to Gaia! ::

It was dark and chilly outside. A light drizzle crept from the cloudy sky, which was lit with a purple hue from the city lights. The elements were as lifeless as the ancient cast iron pipes and rods that littered the architecture down the city streets and alleys. A man could be heard shouting off in the distance, obviously angry about something. A dog incessantly barking at God knows what. And, always, the gentle hum of motors, the hiss of steam, and the clank of old metal- all groaning forlornly of better days long past.

Shasta had slipped in through a lose window in one of the many obscure parts of the great library. It was evident that not many came back to this quiet section of the library, judging by the old, dry leaves that were scattered on the floor and a hobo, who had either passed out or died, that had comfortably nestled himself between a large desk and bookshelf. Shasta never picked the lock on the window to get into this area, not even the first time.

He walked with awareness. The tall ceilings, numerous corridors, winding stair cases, and ornate banisters all worked to throw off his sense of direction. What floor was he even on?

He hadn’t walked far; “There you are…” a girl with bright red eyes and red hair stepped out of the shadows directly to his left, “You’re a bit early…”

“Is that a problem?” Shasta dryly asked.

“No,” she replied, “just a little unpredictable.” She smiled as she spoke and moved closer, sniffing a few times. Shasta moved away a little. Furrowing her eye brows she paused, “… You are strange.” A mirthless grin grew upon her face, revealing sharp fangs. “Did you bring me what I want?”

Shasta drew a small cloth bag from his pocket. He revealed a blood-red opal, about the size of a golf ball. She smiled and her eyes widened for a moment. Shasta closed his hand around the opal, “Do you have what I want?” The girl pulled out an old, rolled up map from behind her. She retrieved it neither from shelf or satchel; it seemed as though it was simply removed from the dark shadows at her back. Shasta looked at it, and for a brief moment expressed dissatisfaction. He looked at her calmly, “What’s this?”

“This will take you to the location of the item you desire-” “But you don’t have it?” Shasta cut off the end of her sentence. She smiled and rolled her eyes; they both knew she had lost ground, but she maintained her composure, “No. That I was able to retrieve this was difficult enough.” She drew the map back and held it to her chest, “But if you’d rather I go and get it, I can. Or… you could take matters into your own hands and relinquish your bloody little rock. Either way…”

Shasta thought for a moment. He preferred to trust in his own abilities than the wiles of a vampire.

“Deal.” Shasta handed her the opal and she gave him the map. She palmed it in her hand calmly at first. Another creepy grin grew on her face as enthusiasm shot through her eyes. With a disturbing elation she licked it slowly and then popped it in her mouth. She sucked on it, savoring the flavor, and swallowed it whole.

Shasta hid his discomfort, making no facial expressions at all. She looked at him from the corner of her eye and smiled while licking her fingers, “Parry was right about you! You’re as cold as the dead.” She chuckled at the irony and sauntered off, disappearing behind one of the many bookshelves.

“He was right about you too…” Shasta always keeps his unpleasant comments to himself.

Shasta kept himself in the secluded area of the library, making sure no one was nearby to observe him. He found an old, isolated desk to spread out his map. He turned on the aged electric desk lamp and flicked it a few times to get a dim light out of it.

“… This… leads through the Ruined Wing…?” he spoke only in slight mutters as he observed the map, committing it to memory. It was just of a simple trail, providing few markers to keep one on a specific path.

"Parry was indeed right about this girl..." Normally, there were no maps at all of the castle, save for the Library. How the vampire achieved this would likely have been beyond a mere mortals abilities. That it did in fact lead through the Ruined Wing, however, perturbed Shasta.

“That damn girl…” he hadn't been there himself before, but from what he's heard he'd avoid it if possible. Could this be a trap? No self-preserving vampire would drink of his blood. Still, Suspicion and Caution have always been reliable allies of Shasta's.

He folded up the map and deposited it inside his vest pocket. He walked w/ a purpose, but not w/ so much haste as to draw attention to himself.

[Awareness Check]

Matthias looked up from his book and down to the entrance. The door was ajar. Smiling, he held up his hand and the door closed by itself. "I wonder who left that open?" he muttered to himself. He took a good look around.

Mitsotsu looked toward the man who had spoke, then towards the door that had closed as soon as the man reached out a hand. This guy seemed to have not seen him, so at least some of his skills were still in place... But thinking about it, if this guy had that much control over the library, he must be some sort of power around here. If that was the case, exposing himself now on his own terms would me a much more likeable situation then being found out later. With a sigh, he walks towards the man, pausing about 12 feet down an aisle away from him. "... So... what are you reading so intently Mr...?" Mitsotsu never was good at introductions...

"It's... Mitsotsu." His muscles were a little tensed in spite of himself, his eyes scowering to pick up any hint or sign of attack. This was a strange place they had sent him to, that much was for certain. "Great sieges, huh? Is that how you got control of a place like this, or did you just... obtain it somehow?"

Unseen behind his small scarf, Mitsotsu bit his lower lip with a fang, a nervous habit of his. "I know nothing about you, only that you seem to be able to control the doors around this place." Thinking it best to keep the fact that he knew even less about the world around him than he knew about this Scorver character, he leaned against a shelf lightly to fain calmness.

Looking out a window and almost speaking to himself, Mitsotsu mumbles, "I don't know... it's not that bad..." Regaining his composure and wheeling his focus back to Scorver. "I... I suppose you could say I was sent. So no, I'm not from around here..."