empxrical:
“Not what I’d say, but ‘spooky’ is one way of putting it,” he agrees mildly, no offense taken. “The castle itself has always been a somewhat haphazard – different areas added by different rulers, hidden pathways everywhere – but the decade we left it behind didn’t really do it any favors.” Nor did Maleficent taking over temporarily, but that’s a story for when Terra is a bit more caught up.
At least this particular corridor is short, at least, only passing through the outer wall. They reach the end of it soon enough, an apparently featureless dead end that reveals itself to be a door when Even pushes it open. He steps through and to the side with a mock-dramatic flourish. “Here we are. Welcome to the castle.”
It’s…kind of an underwhelming hallway, all things considered. This area of the castle isn’t nearly as ostentatious as the entrance hall – though it is well lit and more lived-in. There’s still pipes exposed in the ceiling (at least they aren’t leaking), but the plaster on the walls has clearly been patched up.
“…Now that you’re here, you have a choice. There’s a room you should see – but only if you think you’re ready. If you want me to tell you my–” he abruptly corrects himself– “our side of the story first, I’d be happy to. It’s up to you.” Even has his arms folded, the fingers of his left hand drumming away above one elbow. He’s nervous, but subtly so. Showing Terra the study first likely isn’t the best idea, but making it a choice absolves him of direct responsibility. That’s fair, right?
“It sounds like a maze,” he says with a faint laugh. “I’d be pretty lost if I had to live here. I guess you get used to it, though?” He can’t really imagine what it was like, if he’s honest. Different rulers, different additions...it’s more than he can really picture adequately. Even visiting other worlds, he’s...only ever lived in one, one with only three other people -- the same three other people. Different rulers is a bit mind-boggling.
He looks around and nods to himself, though...some locked-away part of him recognizes some of it, the pipes and colors of the floors and walls and ceiling. It’s eerie, memories from something he never experienced, but that’s been happening a lot lately. And he feels like he’s about to find out why. Or at least part of why.
He swallows. “I’m not ready,” he admits openly. “But I gotta see it. I have to know.” He fidgets. “I mean-- it’s not fair to anyone if something happened I’m involved with and I just walk away from finding out anything. So...yeah. Show me.” He’s afraid, he really is, especially because he has a suspicion of what he’s going to find out. But he has a duty to know, doesn’t he? If it’s his fault...he sighs. “You can tell me on the way?” He suggests as an afterthought. “Or once we’re where you wanna show me. I don’t mind either way, I just...know I need to know.” For Aqua and Ven’s sakes, and for...for Even and his friends’, too.
