Welcome to the Netherworld!

[lazyvassals]

[It is difficult to define what a normal afternoon is by Netherworld standards. In the dark, torch-lit halls of the Overlord's Castle, penguin-suited prinnies totter about pretending to do work, while most other vassals make no effort at all to pretend. No fights have broken out yet, but it is questionable how long that will last with the Overlord being awake. It is just the sort of calm that comes before something unexpected happens, or someone makes it happen out of boredom.

And that is precisely when the first stranger comes through the swirling vortex of the Dimensional Gate.

It doesn't seem so unusual at first, because people use that gate on a daily basis. But more people start to show up, people who aren't demons. The Gatekeeper herself has no idea where they've come from, or how they've found their way to the Netherworld.

Unfortunately, neither do the unexpected guests.]

Comments

[nerveball]

But it's not to protect myself, I-I can do that just fine without it.

[So why is she dragging it with her, and why is she suddenly being awkward and fidgety about it?]

I-it's a prop.

[vulcanblazer]

A prop? What, are you an actor or something?

[Seems like a natural question, but despite the wording, he's at least not being utterly dismissive of the idea.]

[nerveball]

So—something like that.

[vulcanblazer]

Well, wouldn't it be just as important to keep the sword in good condition so it can look like the most badass prop on the set?

If you need help moving it, I can do that, no problem.

[nerveball]

[Stella stops and glances around nervously. She's honestly a bit surprised at the offer, but at the same time she has no idea where to even go.]

I-I'm not sure where any of the others would have went, we didn't really have a specific meeting spot this time...

[It hasn't actually occurred to her just yet that this is not where the academy's gate was supposed to send her, and she's presently under the assumption that the others had gone ahead and left her to try to find them.

It wouldn't be the first time that they did.]

[vulcanblazer]

[He blinks, looking confused again.]

Who exactly are you looking for, anyway? Your other castmates, or a production crew? I haven't heard of anything about a movie or play being done in this castle...

[nerveball]

It'snotforamovie. [She practically cuts him off, then pauses for a moment when she realizes that at this point, she'll need to explain.]

O-or for a play. Not—not in the sense you're thinking of, at least. I'm...um...well... ["C'mon, Stel, get it together!" ...is probably what Kyrie would be yelling right about now.] I-I'm part of the tabletop club at Maritsu Evil Academy. And the club's leader likes to have us go out sometimes to play our characters for real.

[Totally expecting to be judged and/or ridiculed here, because that's what always happens at this point.]

[vulcanblazer]

Maritsu Evil Academy? Never heard of it.

[Yet. Anyway. Still, he just kind of observes her, but his tone at least doesn't sound judgmental, at least.]

...That's different. I've never quite heard of something like that before. So you're out playing a game, and that's why you have that sword. Okay, that makes sense.

[For demons, having actual weapons while playing a game actually does seem sensible.]

What did your friends look like, anyway? I don't know if I would've seen them, but if I have, maybe I could point you the right way.

[nerveball]

[The unexpected response gives Stella a pause that is probably more-awkward than the one she would have had if she had gotten the response she was expecting.]

W-well, they're... One's cleric with a gun, another one's an archer who talks a lot, then there's a nekomata, a pair of magic knights, and a red skull who likes hugging people a little too much.

[vulcanblazer]

I'm sorry, none of them ring a bell with me off the top of my head.

[Well, he's pretty sure Tileyfa back home was packing heat, but he never could prove it, and he doubted very much that's who she was talking about.]

...Hey, wait. Did you use the Dimensional Gate to get here from that Academy place?

[nerveball]

[Friday's probably nowhere near as chatty as Kyrie can get, either.]

Y-yes? Why, is that important?

[vulcanblazer]

[...Well, great. Now he has to think about how to say this without freaking the poor girl out.]

Well, you might want to go talk to the Gatekeeper, considering she knows Gate magic or whatever way better than I do. But from the sounds of it, a lot of people have ended up here mistakenly through the Gate, myself included.

Not sure exactly why it's acting up, and I'm not sure she is either.

[nerveball]

[Oh. Well. That...explains why she's seen none of the others, then.]

If that's the case, she's probably already swamped with questions. I—I'll just try to figure out what to do for now instead of bothering her. [Well, that's awfully considerate.]