EX Nine !3pk6cJwc5M 2008/10/02 (Thu) 19:03 No. 11276 ▼ File 122299939970.jpg - (65.75KB, 439x504 , Lunasa001.jpg)
"Hmm..." Lunasa looks at her plate as she thinks. "I... guess that she can wait for now. Right?"
Kana nods assuredly, now rocking back and forth a bit in her chair.
"Yeah, we need to go ahead and eat." She grins warmly towards Lunasa, now with her arms behind her head. "Well then, lets-"
Placing your hands against the table, you boost yourself up out of the seat. Kana stops in mid-sentence as you do this, falling to the floor with a loud thump.
"..." Lunasa slowly averts her eys from the spectacle and softly mumbles to herself. "I knew that would happen..."
Ignoring this turn of events, you make a brisk walk to the nearest door, which appears to be that same one you went through before. Just as you get a grip on the handle, Lunasa speaks up.
"Aoi, wait!"
Turning around to look at her... you once again feel like an absolute idiot. Here you go once again, running off from your hosts for no voiced reason. You ready yourself to answer whatever the eldest poltergeist might say as you turn to acknowledge her.
"...What are you doing so suddenly, Aoi?"
"Ah." You grin, breathing out happily. "Well... I thought that it'd be bad to eat while that person is running about the mansion. I mean, who knows? Maybe she's really hungry right now, as we chew our food?"
A silence lingers for a minute as you, Kana, and Lyrica look at Lunasa, while Lunasa and Merlin stare back at you. Once a few more seconds pass, the responsible one of this bunch sighs, heavily sitting down in her chair.
"I suppose you're right, Aoi." She picks up her glass and holds it near her lips, then hesitates. "...I really think one of us should be the one looking for the guest, but... I guess that I can't stop you if you wish to look for her."
"...Thanks." You nod, feeling a sense of respect for this girl seep into your heart. "I'll be back soon, then."
Lunasa simply waves her hand at you as you leave, politely sipping her beverage. As you leave that room, you happen to overhear some mumbling going on back there, though you can't really make out the words that are being said.
***
As you walk along, you can't help but notice how the halls are a bit cleaner in this area of the mansion. Honestly... it's really kind of odd, how clean they are. The only spots of grime that seem to remain are the few cracks along the walls and cieling. The floors are surprisingly clean, with no picture frames or other forms of loose oddities lying in the way, and the walls themselves are a little whiter, probably from being free of all of the dirt and smudges they likely had before.
As you ponder this phenomenon, a faint sound meets your ears, much like the sound of someone rubbing a hard object into a soft surface. It seems to be coming from one of the hallways up ahead, to the right, where it's noticeably cleaner. As you draw nearer, you notice that small, likely portable spray bottles that line the wall, and a large broom metal broom that accompanies them.
Turning the corner, you're met with the sight of a young girl's rear moving about as she rubs something into the floor. Her skirt is short and a bit tattered, like the rest of her outfit. It also seems that she's in a uniform, since her clothes are all black and white, with some kind of frilly thing resting on her head.
As she continues about this business you manage to get a better look at the girl's face. Upon seeing it, you suddenly realize just who this odd person is.
"...Eliza?"
The girl turns to look at you, and she seems confused for a moment. Then, after a second or two of silence, she jumps up from her spot.
"Aoi!" She sounds abolutely estatic. "Aoi, it's really you!" She pauses, and swiftly regains her posture. "Erm, I mean... Master Aoi. It's nice to see you again."
Taking note of her keeping up the maid act, you happily reply.
"It's nice to see you again too, Eliza."
She nods, and you then feel the urge to ask a question that had suddenly burrowed itself into your mind.
"Wait a second... How did you get here, and... what were you doing?"
"Oh?" Her eyes light up, and she looks down at a rag on the floor. "I was just cleaning the hallways is all. A maid should always to be on duty, sir."
"Right, right, but..."
Turning to look back, you feel that lingering here may make it so that Eliza loses any chance of having something to eat. You casually turn back to her, pointing to what you assume are her supplies on the ground.
"Go ahead and get those things, we need to get to hurry on to the dining hall."
"Yes sir, right away."
It takes but a moment for her to snatch up the smaller supplies, but what fascinates you is how she pulls her broom apart into three pieces, which she hides in a large pocket on the inside of her apron.
The two of you then take off to the dining room, hopefully to find that there's still some food left for her.
***
Meekly opening the door, you stick your head into the room to look. You're met with the sight of an empty dining hall, at least as far as activity goes. A few dishes lay on the table, some of them missing, and the food itself still rests in its place, with a well-sized serving left behind by the others.
"Oh!" The maid raises her hands to her face, looking at all the dishes that have been left over. "It looks like we're a bit late, doesn't it?"
You nod, looking off at the other doors in this room, wondering which way everyone went.
"Yeah, I wonder where the others went to..."
Turning your attention back to Eliza, you see that she has begun to stack the dirtied plates and silverware, balancing them all in one hand in some kind of feat of service-based talent. It takes you a second to get past her carrying of all those dishes in one hand, and to speak up.
"Eh? Eeeeeh? What are you doing, Eliza?"
Giving you a stern yet honest look, she quickly replies.
"A maid should always be on duty, sir."
...You sigh, bringing your hand up to your face. Honestly, this girl is a bit too dedicated to the service industry...
"...You're a real workaholic, you know?"
Eliza grins, still balancing all of the plates, now picking up cups to take along with her.
"Yes, sir."
The doors to the kitchen suddenly swing open, and Lunasa comes strolling out with that apron about her, and a plate in one hand.
"Oh, my." She briefly looks at the two of you standing there, before focusing her gaze on you. "It seems you found her, then. Congratulations!"
"Ah, yeah..." You nod, blushing a little. "She was kind of easy to find, since the hall was really clean where she was and all..."
Eliza smiles warmly, and you could swear she was trying to pat your head before she remembered the dishes that she was holding.
"Just doing my duty, is all."
She then walks elegantly towards the kitchen door, still balancing all of those plates of hers, only to have Lunasa snatch the plates from her, and then hand her the clean plate that she had been holding.
"No, no. You can't do that!" She wags her free finger at the maid. "You were working so hard earlier, so it'd be a shame if you put off eating to do what you've already done more than enough of."
Eliza grips the rim of the plate in both hands, now looking at Lunasa pleadingly.
"B... but!"
"No, no buts. Go ahead and eat, Eli... Eri..."
"Eliza."
"Right, I'm sorry." Lunasa laughs briefly, then returns to her previous disposition. "Anyway, go ahead and eat what's left. I'll take care of these."
"...Ugh..." Eliza nods, and walks over to the table obediently.
Lunasa walks off to wash those dishes, and then a thought then enters your mind... Where did Nyom run off to, you wonder?
[ ] Stay with Eliza while she eats, then ask her a few questions about what all has happened to her up until now.
[ ] Go help Lunasa with the dishes, and ask her about the Mansion as you do so.
[ ] Go looking for Nyom.
