01 West Side~First Level

[unholydecree]

[For a man as paranoid and prepared as Cesare finding himself in this bizarre place with no clue as to why is very disorienting. While he may be near panic inwardly it shows only in how quickly he is walking, how cautious his eyes keep aware of his surroundings, and the fact he has his sword unsheathed and at the ready. He steps carefully, eyes

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[walksonrooftops]

[It's not the man that's worrying--it's the sword he's holding. While Asato has a sword of his own, and now carries it with him at all times, ever since Gamzee caught him so off-guard, he'd definitely rather not get into a fight right now. Human beings seem to react kind of...oddly to creatures like him, he's noticed. They may not really understand what cultural stigma are already against a ribika like him, but he doesn't trust them not to hesitate to just invent their own.

But he's not just an animal that cowers in fear, either. He can see the way this man's eyes are darting to and fro. Maybe this human is just as afraid as he was when he first came here, and only wishes to be prepared for the worst. Can't blame him for that.

If there's a sword, though, he'd rather not be enemies with its wielder. Cautiously he steps forward. He doesn't notice he was hiding his presence; he never does, it's as automatic as breathing is. The effect can be startling.]

Are you lost? [His voice is soft, as cautious as his stance.]

he's so cute :l

[unholydecree]

[Cesare turns quickly, sword pointed right at the man, but he is obviously startled by the look of him.

...and quickly decides the ears are fake. This has got to be some kind of jester costume or harlequin fancy. Cesare sets his jaw and is quiet before answering.]

Yes. Perhaps you can give me directions to Rome, or Italy if we are that far away. At the very least a pigeon messenger coop?

[walksonrooftops]

Rome. [He repeats it a few times to himself.] Rome....Roam...Roam? You're roaming? Then I don't think it really matters which way, right?

[There's no shortage of pigeons, though, and he points to a few roosting overhead. He's never heard of messenger pigeons, but maybe if this man can locate the birds in the first place, it would be a good start.] Should I catch one for you?

[unholydecree]

[Staring at the young man does nothing for his lack of understanding of what is being said to him. Cesare closes his eyes and tries to calm himself before he explodes in anger and does something he might regret. Not that shoving this man would cause him any loss of sleep but injuring the locals isn't a good way to make an impression in a city where you have no food, shelter or hardly any money on you.

He can't say he blames God for doing this to him. He may be a Cardinal but he's the most lapse priest in all of Rome he's fairly sure.]

Rome, Italy. It is the city I am from.

[Cesare opens his eyes and cannot help the irritated look on his face.]

No I do not want you to catch me a pigeon, I need a trained messenger bird to send word to my family, in Rome, where I am.

[walksonrooftops]

Oh. I've never heard of Rome or Italy. But...I don't think it would work even if you did find a bird. This place is separate from the rest of the world. Any world. All the worlds.

[He gives him a conciliatory look, black ears drooping.]

I think you're stuck here. Same as I am.

[unholydecree]

[The movement of the man's ears catches his eye and Cesare stares at them, frowning, for a second. They shouldn't be able to move like that. They're fake. They have to be fake.

And this is all a dream.

Cesare sheathes his sword and covers his face with his hands.]

Is this what it feels like to lose one's grasp on the world? Have I gone crazy?

[walksonrooftops]

Um. [He half-heartedly reaches a hand out, uncertain of whether or not a pat on the shoulder would be at all reassuring.]

If you've gone crazy, it means everyone else must be crazy too.

[unholydecree]

[When he feels the pat on his shoulder he drops his hands and gives Asato an odd look. It passes quickly enough. Cesare is at least comforted to know he's not the only one losing his mind here.]

So, what are you?

[He's looking at your ears.]

A performer?

[walksonrooftops]

[His own eyes follow Cesare's, up to his ears, and he reaches up to tweak the tip of his left ear, pulling it down a bit and letting it spring back up.]

Performer? No. I'm just me. I'm a ribika.

[unholydecree]

A what?

[He would be more interested if he weren't in such a terrible mood over all of this.

When he sees that ear move and act like a real ear he is pretty amazed though, and his expression finally softens. Without thinking, Cesare reaches up to touch that same ear Asato had just tweaked.]

[walksonrooftops]

A ribika. [The closest human word is "lybica", after the African wild cat.]

A ribika is just--[His words cut off abruptly when the man touches his ears. They're definitely real, warm and furry, and if Cesare held the thin skin pinched between his fingers he should be able to detect the beating of the little blood vessels that permeate the feline features. But ear-touching is a rather personal gesture, so the contact confuses him. He's not repulsed but he definitely seems to be surprised and unsure how to react.]

[unholydecree]

[Unfortunately perhaps for Asato, Cesare is not only self-absorbed, he's also a noble and used to doing as he pleased, and added to the fact that Italians are very affectionate people he doesn't even notice or care that the touch may be too personal.

Instead he's curiously feeling the warm furry ear. By God it really is...real.]

Ribika. I have never heard of such a thing. Are there many of you here?

[walksonrooftops]

Just me, as far as I know. [He pulls back a little, having decided that that was enough ear-fondling for now.]

[unholydecree]

[Cesare is unaware and unconcerned by any inappropriateness on his part. Instead he looks around where they are and huffs a sigh.]

Do you have a name?

[walksonrooftops]

Asato. Asato Kayason. [He's getting quite used to presenting himself by that name now. If it means he can be just a little more comfortable around humans, it's worth the little bit of effort it takes to remember. He reaches up to rub the ear Cesare had touched, briefly licking his hand and running it over the fur to clean it up.]

And you?

[unholydecree]

Cesare Borgia. [He quietly laments that his name, prestigious as it is in Rome, will mean nothing to this ribika. Nor would his rank as Cardinal, he guesses, so he keeps that to himself.]

I am a priest of the Holy Roman Catholic Church. Have you ever heard of that?