* Oh. That was actually a new one. Disappointing.
* “A…vampire? I haven’t seen anyone down here at all, actually.”
* How would you even pick a vampire out from any other person anyway? Didn’t they just look like normal people?
* They happily accepted the handshake. Being treated as an equal indeed worked on Chara.
* “’The name’s Chara! And I know my way around here pretty well.”
* “Maybe I could help you find your friend …Mistress?”
* They gave one of their “famous” smiles.
“Ah, her name is Flandre. Flandre Scarlet. As for her appearance… she is dressed in what many outside the border would consider… Victorian? A red dress, golden hair… and peculiar wings, in case you see her.” She elaborated, not wanting the other to get confused.
“Pleased to meet you, Chara.” The name was no stranger than any back home. “I’m relieved to find someone who knows their way around. Tell me, are we the only ones here? It appears that this place was abandoned, but was once inhabited.”
* [Chara vaguely understood.]
* “Ok, I think I get it! So… like all frilly like you but more… vampire-y?”
* “Got it!”
* They gave a thumbs up and a wink.
* “Nice to meet you too!”
* “I can only assume we’re the only ones here, because we’ve passed the places all of the sane monsters hung out.”
* They pulled at the neck of their jumper. “Hotlands” wasn’t named that for nothing.
* “Everyone’s escaped to the surface now.”
* “I don’t think Flandre would be down here. Vampires don’t like the hot, right? Or is that just the sun?”
* Chara thought on that; It made such little sense to them.
Escaped to the surface...? It sounded to Sakuya like Gensokyo wasn’t the only place that tried to seal underground the beings that they feared. Apparently, it was a theme of sorts... “I see. May I ask what you are doing down here, then? It seems a bit odd for you to choose to stay here.”
“You’re right. The fact that the sun would kill her is the reason I traveled into the cavern leading here in the first place. She would have entered this mountain in an attempt to evade the sun.” The motion of the young human refocused Sakuya’s attention. “Let’s try and find somewhere cooler to talk. Do you know of a place nearby that’s less sweltering?”