{cinq} video/action

[silencetoreason]

[The feed blinks on to a close-up of blond hair. The mic just barely picks up the sound of someone muttering in a thick French accent.]

How do I get this stupid thing to-- Augh, I hate these-- [The shot of hair is replaced by one blue eye, which quickly blinks in surprise.] Aah!

[France moves back until he's in the frame properly, and, contrary to how he just sounded, he looks vibrant. Sparkling eyes, pink cheeks, bouncy hair; it seems he's finally getting over his stint on his dead world (as much as a nation can get over something like that, anyway). What's more, there's a small white bird fluttering around his head, chirping noisily.

France greets the viewers with a flourish.]

Bonjour, mes amis! How are you feeling? Well, I hope! The chill of fall is setting in, and big brother France wishes to keep you all warm, ohonhon~

[He hugs himself and sways side-to-side in his seat, filled to the brim with energy. His bird seems just as cheerful as France does, its high-pitched chirps overlapping with his (very stereotypically French) laughter. After a moment of that, they both seem to tire themselves out, and France lets out a long sigh and purses his lips. The bird lands on his shoulder.]

Though I am afraid that is not why I am fiddling with this ghastly computer, friends. You see, these clothes of mine have gotten terribly dingy. I know how to make my own, of course, but... [He looks off to the side and shudders, like he's remembering some frightening memory.] The floor with all the sewing supplies does not have a very, euhh, shall we say, hospitable air to it..

[He smiles again and claps his hands together, bright and eager. The bird flutters in surprise.]

So! If any of you are bored, or longing for companionship while the weather grows oh-so-cold, I would love to have some company while I work. You see, my poor Pierre refuses to go back to that floor with me. Isn't that right, Pierre?

[He nuzzles the bird and tickles under its beak with the tip of his finger, and it chirps in affirmation. France gives a solemn nod and turns back to the computer.]

I would even be willing to make some clothing for you to show my gratitude. The quality of the fabric in this place leaves much to be desired, but rest assured, once I am finished, you will look like you have just stepped off of a runway in Paris!

[He leans forward and flashes the camera a softer, flirtier smile.]

Well then, how about it~? Any takers?

[action]

[For those who've decided to take France up on his offer (or for anyone who happens to be heading to the floor regardless), he's on floor 51, sketching designs into a book or fiddling with fabric. He glances over his shoulder often, paying special attention to the mannequins scattered all around. Friend or stranger, he greets whoever happens to be walking by. His bird is nowhere to be seen.]

Hello! Comment allez-vous?

Comments

[action]

[midgarhorizon]

[Okay. Normally Reno wouldn't even bother responding to something like this, but he's sort of desperate. And by desperate, we are talking about he desperately wants something other than his Raven uniform to wear. And wants Shion to have stuff of his own.

So he's showing up on that floor despite the creepy as hell mannequins, hauling some of his clothes with him.]

Hey, Francis. It's been a while. I don't think I've seen ya in over a year.

[Reno, at least, does have a good memory for faces, even if this is a totally different France.]

I heard y'were doing clothes. How much are ya charging?

[silencetoreason]

[Okay, France doesn't have the best memory sometimes, but he is positively certain he has not been in this place for over a year. He's used to people recognizing him from meeting this other France by now, though, so he takes it in stride.]

No charge, but tipping is always accepted.

[He flashes the redhead a quick, suggestive smile before turning back to the sketch he's working on. He taps his pencil idly against the paper.]

Though, I should let you know, I believe you met a different France. I have only been here for about half a year.

[It's been way too long.]

[midgarhorizon]

[Reno's taking it in stride, as well. Too many people passing through for shock and surprise.]

Yeah. Still, nice to see ya again. Other You were one of the first people to talk to me about all the weird crap that goes on around here, so I guess it kinda stuck in my head.

[Flopping the clothes down, Reno sorts through them and folds them up, somewhat neatly. The smile's sort of lost on him, though, he's a little too focused on what he's doing.]

Huh, ya like mushrooms? I could get ya a bunch if you're tired of that pumpkin stuff down in the cafeteria.

[The Turk suit was folded neatly, as was his spare set of black slacks and shirt. And the badly damaged half-finished black shirt Cid had torn holes in with Shiva.]

I wouldn't be askin' if it wasn't kinda urgent.

[action]

[sageprincess]

[Zelda doesn't pay much attention to the network these days (far more stress than it's worth, really), but she does pay attention to her clothes and quite a few of them have become worn and torn recently. Especially the ones she's tried to make herself. Her sewing skills still leave much to be desired - as evidenced by the simple cotton dress she's carrying that's practically falling apart at the seams - so she's looking for someone she knows is better at it.

She blinks in obvious non-comprehension when someone other than the one she's looking for greets her in a language she doesn't understand (though... some of those words sound vaguely familiar, like something she's heard in Ruler's memories), but she offers a small smile and a slight bow of her head all the same.]

Ah, hello, sir.

[She never did quite catch his name before all hell broke loose in the barricades.]

[silencetoreason]

[Immediately, France perks up. He remembers meeting this woman in the barricade. It's hard to forget a beautiful blonde with pointed ears and an angel's voice, after all. And so polite, too. He feels his heart beat a little faster in his chest.

He puts down the fabric he'd been examining and turns to greet her properly.]

Oh! It has been quite a while, hasn't it, miss...?

[Did he ever ask her name? It was so long ago, and the scare from those monsters had him all confused. He's always been much better with faces than with names.]

[sageprincess]

Zelda, Princess of Hyrule.

[She rectifies that particular problem quickly, and with little ceremony or fanfare. She's doing better than she was a few weeks ago, but she's still feeling a bit too drained to fuss with formalities.]

And, indeed, it has, but at least we are not meeting again under the stress of crisis.

[though the likelihood of a growling monster bursting through a wall is exactly the same]

[video]

[ladyliberty]

You have a bird? He's so cute!

[silencetoreason]

[Oh, he recognizes this cutie. France puffs out his chest, and Pierre chirps on his shoulder.]

Oui! I had many birds back home, in fact. I have only just now gotten my dear Pierre back.

[It dawns on him a moment afterward that she's the one with the huge bird wings. He feels like this should be awkward, but he's nothing if not the king of playing things off.]

What can I say? Cats and dogs, I have never liked them quite as much as my beautiful feathered friends.

[That's flattering, right? He sure hopes so. He's never actually hit on anyone who was half-eagle before.]

[ladyliberty]

[Very smooth. She grins. She sees what you're trying to do there.]

Pierre's his name? That's cute. I've never had one. I'd like to though! Does he talk?

[Action]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch doesn't have very many clothes, and none of them really need to be repaired, but he wouldn't mind some new ones. And some company while he works on his cloaks for the winter would be nice, too.

So he goes to the floor and returns France's greeting with a smile.*

Hello. You were looking for someone to accompany you while you worked?

[silencetoreason]

[France gives a happy little hum in response.]

Oui! How honored I am that you would decide to grace me with your presence, mon joli ami.

[He will never get over how gorgeous Enoch is, he swears. Probably because his flowing blond locks remind him of himself. That's not too egotistical, is it?]

[warriorscribe]

*Enoch chuckles at France's usual behavior, even if he can't understand what he called him, and finds some fabric of his own to work with.*

I happen to be working on something similar. I'm making cloaks for the winter.

[text]

[bashfulshifter]

...Well I could always use the practice sewing. I'll come join you, if you don't mind my company.

--Patrick Dawn

text

[silencetoreason]

Of course I don't mind! The more, the merrier.

I will be waiting with bated breath. ♥

-Big Brother France

[to action!]

[bashfulshifter]

[Rick takes France up on his offer--somewhat hesitantly. A...heart? A bit strange, but the gesture is nice. Also, he actually goes by "France" and isn't using it as some kind of affectionate "bringing a little bit of France wherever I go" thing as he initially guessed. So he's an odd character, but...seems ultimately harmless. Hopefully he'll be pleasant company!]

[...Which he appears to be, from the enthusiastic greeting Rick gets upon cautiously wandering onto floor 51. He gives a small, embarrassed smile and half-wave in return.]

...A-Ah...h-h-hello. [His face goes bright red.] ...s-sorry, I...c-come a-again?

[Honestly, he'd never even thought about different languages in the Tower--it's never been a problem, at least. Now that it's come up, Rick suddenly realizes how odd it is that most everyone here speaks fluent English, save the occasional strong foreign accent. Huh...probably not important.]

[action]

[faithstaynight]

[Ruler pays no attention to the network - so many people use text to communicate, so with her illiteracy, using it just seemed like a waste of time. She knew that if there was anything highly important going down on the network, one of her companions would inform her... so she never felt as out of the loop as she might have.

That means that she didn't see France's post, but even so, she's still on this floor. Like others, she intends to do some work of her own; over a year of living in the same five outfits meant that Ruler's civilian clothes are looking a bit shabby, so she came to this floor intending to fix that.

But of course, she's quickly distracted from that plan when she notices who else is on the floor with her. A bright smile crosses her face, and she immediately approaches France.]

Ah, bonjour! I was not aware you were going to be here today.

[silencetoreason]

[That familiar voice gets France to turn away from what he's doing immediately. Instead of remaining seated, he gets up and holds out his arms, inviting her in for a hug.]

Ma cherie Jeanne! What a pleasant surprise.

[If he's allowed, he'll swoop in and give her a chaste kiss on each cheek.]

[faithstaynight]

Indeed, it is.

[Setting down the clothes she brought with her, Ruler gladly accepts France's offer of a hug. It's a bit funny; for the longest time, Ruler did her best to keep an arm's distance between her and anyone else in the tower. It wasn't because she was particularly afraid or cautious of the men in the tower; it was just... force of habit. A habit she had to drill into herself the moment she decided on the path she had chosen in her first life. So it had taken a long time, but she was finally opening up.

It also helped that France was... well. France. Even though he proved to be a very affectionate person, he knew Ruler and her history, and so she trusted him more than she trusted almost anyone else. Which is why he will be allowed to kiss her cheeks, with a slight blush being Ruler's only reaction.]

What are you working on down here? [When she finally pulls back from the hug, she'll cast a curious look over his shoulder, trying to get a look at his sketches or the fabric he's collected.]

[Action] Pretend italics are French

[brbtalkingtogod]

[Honestly, all he has needed to hear was clothes and fashion. Also, why not take the chance to get something suitable for winter? Archangel or not, human fashion is fascinating to Lucifel and especially a certain brand of jeans got him bad...

So here he is.]

I'm fine, thank you.

[silencetoreason]

[France sticks another pin into a piece of fabric that he's leaning over.]

That is good to hear. [Whether he means the French or that Lucifel is doing fine, he doesn't specify.] Are you just passing through, or are you here to pass the time with your dear friend?

["Dear friend" here means "Frenchman that you've talked to once or twice."]

[brbtalkingtogod]

[Either way, it doesn't matter, does it?]

I wouldn't mind talking with someone who has at least a bit of a sense of fashion for a change.

[Nothing against the people he's usually bothering around with.]

( action )

[wrigurun]

[And directly over his shoulder there's a short firefly youkai watching him draw]

Comment what now?

[Wriggle had seen his video in passing and decided that after returning to the tower she could use her company herself, so she'd floated into the room curiously, either she didn't remember or she'd just never been there before]

[silencetoreason]

[He flashes her a friendly smile - unsettling as it still kind of is to see her flying around like a fairy - and speaks in a calm, teacher-like tone.]

Comment allez-vous. More or less, it means, 'How do you do?'

action (hiatus what hiatus)

[puppy_lancer]

[Lancer, having seen the video, decides to take the offer. He waves at France as he comes up to the floor]

Fine. As far as anyone can be fine in this place.

[He goes to lean up against a mannequin.]

[silencetoreason]

Ah, that is good to hear.

[France has a considerable pile of fabric in front of him that he's hoarded from the far corners of the floor. His sketchbook has gotten particularly messy, and there's a graphite smear down one side of his right hand.]

Have you come to ask a request of me? [He looks Lancer up and down, shameless as ever.] Or perhaps you just want the pleasure of my company?

[This is seriously how he greets, like, 3000% of his friends. Make of it what you will, Lancer.]