The New Person

[individualized]

Who: Echo + Pandora House & Friends
What: Meeting or reintroducing yourself to the new housemate.
When: Arrival time in April.
Where: In and around the Pandora Hearts house.

Content Warnings: Allusions to abusive conditions

Oz just happened to find Echo on the boardwalk after she finally made it to shore and got her bearings. She followed him home! ...Well, maybe it was more like he dragged her. Although "dragging" would imply she hadn't willingly grabbed his hand...

ANYWAY, regardless of semantics, he's taken her to the house the people from his world (and then some) inhabit. Oz will be handling the initial settling in, making her pick a room that's more than a storage closet with a place to sleep, etc.

For everyone else, there's a good chance Oz proceeded to tell you Eko-chan was here! Or maybe you saw her arriving or are just seeing her for the first time around the house. And Echo will definitely be around the house, as interesting as it is. At some point, you could find her just about everywhere she can reasonably get to. Echo won't intrude on some's personal room without invitation, and she probably wouldn't spend too much time in any of the stranger places like the basement, because she spent enough time in Vincent's room already, thank you. She has a habit of just quietly observing from one out-of-the-way spot with a good view and not showing much emotion. Unless you're very perceptive, you may not even spot her at first. She does need to do things like go from place to place and eat, so you can certainly find her moving about, as well. Echo could also be found in her room.

Since I'm still learning about the house, I'm going to trust you guys with the exact settings this time if that's okay.

Comments

[swornto]

Because sometimes weird is fun?

[He laughs nervously, aware that he is digging his own grave. He appreciates her pronouns, which do help him to behave.]

But alright, I'll stay in line. We'll only pick up the basics today~ Weird stuff some other day?

[individualized]

[...So admittedly, she does find him weird on a regular basis (like right now) and has ended up liking when she spends time with him, but she's pretty sure that's not what he's talking about.]

......No. That is, it would depend on what exactly you mean when you say "weird".

[Would it really, though? Here she'd thought Oz had helped her figure everything out about herself when it turns out she still doesn't understand much at all. She really wants something about this to end. And she's pretty sure it's not the "being with Oz" part.]

J-Just! Whatever is considered to be basic. Yes.

[swornto]

Right, right. We'll find a basic desk and chair today... Maybe we can find a shelf to display stuffed animals on or a wardrobe to put dresses in tomorrow!

[Oz leads her out of the house, waving farewell to their haunted housemates, and pauses at the gate. He debates using the 'lamp friends' to teleport them into a shopping district, but ultimately stays his hand. He's sure that Echo wouldn't mind a walk and this way he can keep her longer.]

Let's go! Weather is great and your desk awaits, Eko-chan!

[individualized]

Uh...?

[Dresses? Displaying stuffed animals? ...Well actually that would be safe now, and it would be a lie to say she didn't miss her Jyanta plushie, but he was sacrificed for a more worthy cause.]

Yes, but...you s-seem to be thinking somewhat too far ahead, Oz-sama...

[swornto]

Of course I'm thinking far ahead!

[He adjusts his hold on her hand, insistent in how he links their fingers together.]

We've got a looong time to be together now! Unless you're thinking of slipping away~? Should I be worried that you're a Cinderella?

[individualized]

[How did he just make her feel worse? Or, feel it more strongly? What is she feeling? Whatever it is, it involves her heart pounding in a potentially troubling way.]

I— I...do not think I would like to leave again, in the foreseeable future... However, I am not familiar with that term?

[swornto]

It's from a fairytale I read recently. Guess I'll have to read it to you next time.

[Oz flashes her a carefree smile;] But I'm glad that you aren't gonna leave me again. I don't think I could stand it, if I'm to be honest.

[individualized]

... Okay.

[Not that she can't read it herself, but it's another chance to do something with Oz. That alone is pretty incredible right now.

His last comment makes her frown a bit, though. She'd really been focused on her own experience at that point, but given all the circumstances that wasn't wrong of her. And she could accept that was how things had ended. In retrospect, though, Oz hadn't seemed as okay with it as she was.]

I— I should apologize, if you were hurt before...

[swornto]

[He maintains his smile, even if her apology hurts him deeply. It isn't her fault. It's the memory of those last moments and watching her turn into dust... Knowing that Echo was gone forever and they had only just started to understand each other.

Unconsciously, he tightens his grip on her hand.]

It's okay. I was hurt because I like you, Echo. And I was so happy that we met. You don't have to apologize for that kind of pain.

[individualized]

[She still feels bad, if only because the idea of him suffering in any way is painful to her. She may only have a rough idea of what he's been through, but she certainly understands how difficult it would be. Not just from her own experiences but from watching Noise's, and her suffering was hard enough for Echo.]

Oh. All right.

[She mumbles that, but in spite of her concerns his words made her feel good somehow. She kind of has a ghost of one of those smile things, actually. And she finds herself returning that tighter squeeze on his hand.]