mandalus :: the city of fates.

[The video turns on to reveal Vanille's bright and chipper expression, which, strangely, is not as bright and chipper as it normally is. What she says a moment later makes everything perfectly clear, however.]

Hello everyone! I don't know exactly who was acquainted with her, but I thought I should share that my - [She pauses, clearing her throat and glancing away from the screen, cheerful expression wavering. Saying it out loud was harder than she'd expected.] that Fang has gone home. She's not on the list in the phone and I haven't seen her since...

[Another pause, and she looks back up at the camera with a more determined look on her face.] So. I've got to assume she's back home where she belongs.

And if anybody still needs help cleaning up after those monster attacks, or needs patching up with a little cure magic, let me know, okay? Anything I can do to help! The name's Vanille, if we haven't met yet. [She smiles, much more sincerely than she had at the beginning of the broadcast.] Thanks for your time.

[Vanille is piiiissed when she turns on her phone. Probably the most pissed anyone in Mandalus's seen her be thus far. The cause? Well, that's pretty darn obvious once she starts talking.]

Okay, where the heck is Fang!? She never came home and she's not answering her phone so whoever's got her - you, you Cultists or whatever better give her back!

[She huffs loudly, frowning.] They're arresting people, right? So where's this prison? 'Cause if Fang's there I swear I'll - I'll burn the whole place down to find her, don't think I won't.

Fang, if you can hear this, I'm coming for you. I promise.

[The video turns on not to reveal Vanille's perky face, but instead a rather dilapidated building, rusting metal marking it as a fairly old building. Yet when Vanille speaks, she sounds excited to see it.] Fang! You'll never believe what I just found!

[The camera is carried up the steps into the apartment up top, feed blurring for a moment as Vanille uses two hands to push open the door. The building's interior doesn't look much better off than the outside, as if nobody has lived here for a long time. Vanille surveys the damage, then flips the phone over so she can speak to the camera.] It's going to need some work, but I think we can do it. And then we'll invite everyone over for a housewarming party!

[Suddenly she gasps, a wide grin breaking out over her face. The camera is turned again so a small robot of sorts is in view.] Bhakti's here good as new too! I don't know how this happened... [Vanille turns the phone over again, smiling at the camera once more.] But thank you, whoever it was that brought our home here. I've really missed it.

Hello, is this thing on? [A pink-haired girl with a worried expression can be seen fiddling with the phone. She gives it a shake, as if that will help in any way.] Better? [She smiles, waving shyly once she realizes it is indeed working.]

Right, now can anyone tell me where I am? Just a little information would be nice, I'm not really sure how I got here. [Especially considering, well, what just happened with Orphan and Cocoon and Fang - Oh!] Fang? Are you here too?

[She sighs softly. There wasn't supposed to be anything after saving Cocoon.] What am I supposed to do now...