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[He watches how she prepares the tea out of curiosity, though he doesn't comment. He's just making sure you're preparing it to his liking, okay...!!]

[But Break scratches his cheek at the question as he thinks about it. It's not going to be an honest answer, because of course he has no intentions to tell a stranger about timeline and castmate shenanigans, but at least other events would be reason enough for his expression as well.]

Ahh, it's quite the process! I feel as if I've adjusted well, and there is some sense of routine and normalcy... But at the same time, I can't help but feel cautious all the time! It always seems as if something may go wrong at any moment.

[He chuckles, bowing his head lightly] Though that very well may be just too much caution speaking.

[well fake or not tea ceremony club WAS a thing?? So while it's definitely not devoid of a touch of oriental influence, she does it properly!! ~~it's just 3:30 am and i'm too lazy to google up proper tea brewing and describe it in a tag, cut me some slack~~]

You can never be too careful in a place like this either, though. Speaking of which, something will probably happen roughly a week from now, I think, so any caution is warranted by that point. [A small nod to herself...] Getting food and water hasn't really been a problem, then?

[From their earlier conversation, he had been roughly keeping track, and as such, had been expecting something either this week or the next. Hearing the confirmation makes him nod, and he'll have to mention it to Gilbert later. As much as he would prefer to just bear that burden on his own, Break has at least learned with his failing health, he'll have to rely on others at least somewhat.]

Thank you for the reminder, Miss Ciel. We'll make sure to stock up on supplies on our next trip through the tunnel.

[Though with the serious matter aside, his voice lightens again!] Ahh, but it's not terrible! If anything, I'm unused to having to take care of such menial tasks myself... But with regular trips through that tunnel, we manage to get along well enough. It would be better if it were easier, since it's still a rather tiring thing, but it's at least well worth having fresher food and the supplies.

[yep and then The Haven happened... but that's for another time! She nods.]

Let's hope for the best, the last one really shook everyone. Being prepared would be very good too, but that never hurts.

[ah yes back to the smiles n_n] Mm, it's a different sort of lifestyle entirely, isn't it? [not sure how many would casually chalk it off as 'lifestyle', but THERE YOU HAVE IT...] That's a relief, but speaking of food! Would you like a slice of cake now? [She gives a humbling chuckle.] You seemed like you were used to a fancier class of baked sweets, but I do hope this will be passable still?

[His serious expression immediately lightens at the mention of cake, though he'll return to those serious topics shortly, don't worry...]

Oh, quite passable, don't worry! I'm a fanatic for cakes of every class, so there's no need to fret. It certainly smells delicious! ♥

[it's ok she's used to massive derails we're all in good company here...!

She giggles a tad sheepishly, but mostly cheerfully.]

You're just saying that to make me feel better, mister Break. I appreciate the sentiments, but at least give the taste a try before going off to declare something like that!

[Speaking of which let's just assume there are plates already for conveniences' sake and if there wasn't a knife she would've brought one, so SHE HAD EVERYTHING SHE NEEDED to be now handing him a slice.]

[Of course!! Even if he's a shitty servant who doesn't do like 95% of the stuff he's supposed to, he's still a gentleman when ~~he has to be~~ it comes down to it. He takes the slice with a gracious nod of his head, but before he takes his bite, he'll return to that topic after all.]

Ah, but the "last one" does bring up an important question, I believe. How many of these "ones" have there been?

[Sitting back down and toying with her fork! Not going to stuff her face ~~yet~~, gotta look a bit more sober and answer the question after all.]

To my personal experience, 2 instances, but there has been at least two more prior to my own arrival, from what I could gather. [She's been here since end November and apparently came right after something big. Sat in the December and January disturbances, and heard about the one in October. Hm... Close enough?]

Ah, so at least four...

[He twirls the fork in his hand idly] What a troubling thing to hear, but I suppose that matches with my image of this place. Or perhaps it would be the image it wishes to portray, with the state of things, hm?

It is something to consider, yes. Haven North first appeared roughly 8 weeks ago, it was only Haven West before that. In other words, living used to be even harsher, before the North section opened up and became accessible for one reason or another. [a hum.] That time and the one after it disturbed people on very personal levels, it's worrisome to wonder if the trend will persist with what should be coming soon.

[...not worrisome enough to get her to take a sip from her cup again after, though. 's not like shit's going down now after all, y/y?]

I do worry about it, either way. I find it difficult to view even the opening of the North side of this city as something truly good. I may be a bit paranoid, but being suspicious in a dangerous situation is a good thing, isn't it?

[But he'll take his bite of the cake, smiling brightly in delight, but it returns to a more neutral level as he continues with the conversation at hand]

North and West are distinctions that interest me, though. Where did those names come from, out of curiosity? It implies that there's a South and East, after all.

[She shakes her head.]

What you're saying is perfectly reasonable. In fact, people who were here when the North side was first revealed all have more reasons to be suspicious of it, considering the decay and hallucinations that many have experienced. Nevertheless, it's our only source of fresh food and more luxurious goods, so we can't be picky over the matter.

[Her eyes light up at the reaction too, but she won't address it as she regains her calm fairly quickly to continue the explanation.]

Haven West is what's written at the entrance of the Subway station, the same goes for North on the other side, and you would be correct on that assumption. I wasn't here back then, but I do know that at some point, everyone in the apartment complex has been brought over to Haven East during their sleep for a few days. There was a Hospital there, and people met the doctor Philip Kite for the first time. People then woke back up here the same way they were taken over, Haven East hasn't been reaccessed since. [a beat.] It's the same way how we were taken to Haven North too, as a note.

[Break listens again with serious, rapt attention, and it's almost clear on his face that he's memorizing and filing away every detail. The more he learns, the stranger things become, but that in itself was rather familiar, honestly...

So he nods, taking another bite of cake before he continues.]

Your information is invaluable, Miss Ciel. I'll have to be thankful for every meeting that there's at least one person who can give me reliable information.

[oh gross is that a compliment it sure sounded like one]

But in any case, all I can think of is to simply keep ourselves well-stocked to react to what may come. It's hardly ideal, but without actual people to interrogate... Ah, it makes waiting the only real action, doesn't it? I would love to speak to the good doctor myself, though I would also venture to guess that he has little of use to say.

It's okay, really. [She gives a small sigh, and leans back a bit in the chair.] It would help everyone to learn more, so I pass on what I can.

[it's ok she'll wash her hands after and everything, we'll keep things clean!!]

In part, yes. [...

she does seem to grow more thoughtful.]

We do have the option of making a move too, but... the Convenience Store is a really dangerous place. [just saiyan.] And that would be right, unfortunately. There was a time when Kite was put at the mercy of everyone here. Most took the chance to beat him up or kill him, but he regenerated on the spot every time, kind of like a reptile. And before that, he just antagonized everyone through random murders, so... well, you could imagine the type of person he is from that sort of thing, right? [Her expression turns sheepish at that. Cray cray doctor off his rockers playing with our lives, nbd just another day in Haven etc...]

The Cnvenience Store? You'll have to tell me more about that, since I haven't heard anything about it. [He sips at his tea, then adds,] Why would that be the place to "move" towards?

The building is next to the Subway station, and as you may notice, it's boarded up. It's also the only other place in Haven West that has electricity, this apartment complex set aside. People have tried organizing raids and attempted break-ins in order to find out more about Haven overall, but the place also makes rampant use of everyone's worst secrets and fears, emulated to very impressive degrees that can truly become hard to distinguish from reality. [All that is said more quietly as she simply stares down into the cup. There's a certain air of detachment, though that may or may not be just a figment of one's imagination...?

She briefly closes her eyes.]

Well, it's the only place accessible through effort inside the barrier, which marks it as a 'goal', I suppose. Does that explain it?

[Break watches with sharp eyes, and he really can't help it. With such an interesting and tantalizing piece of information in front of him, he can't help but want to dig at it.]

It does. And the fact that it actively uses our skeletons, as you've said, makes it even more interesting. Logic says it's to protect a secret inside.

["But..."]

But how far have people been able to breach it despite that?

Of course, that's a very reasonable conclusion.

[she gives a small sigh.]

I don't know about that, unfortunately. You could ask around though, there are some people who've been here longer who've attempted investigating from the very beginning.

[That's about as much info as she's willing to give out, alas... Nothing personal to you, Break. More personal to her, let's say. At least... she's putting on a relatively convincing act of a bystander...?]

[Enough to where he'll accept it, so he sighs in turn, twirling the fork whimsically between his fingers]

Ahh, too bad! But I'll ask around, as you've suggested... Still, it gives me something interesting to consider. I wouldn't venture in there myself without a very good reason, from the sounds of it, but... [shrugs] If there's something worth the time after all, I might take a gamble.

Aha, you may as well find a way to go to Haven North and spend some time at the library there instead. I'm sure more attempts to infiltrate the store will be organized in the future, you could stay alert for announcements about that, if nothing else.

[She smiles in a nondescript way as she continues to calmly sip her own cup. ...Yeah, nnnnot really keen on going back. Not now, at least, small miracles that she's fake enough for her autopilot mode to still work ok despite it all.]

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