<span style="font-weight: bold"><span style="font-size: 150%; line-height: 116%;"><span style="color: #008040"><div style="text-align: center;">Tessa</div></span></span></span><br/><br/>“I asked first.” Tessa snapped in the childish way. “Bowler hat?” She was confused as to what the boy was talking about, and then he stepped past her and was opening the door she had just come through. When he did though it wasn't the subway, it was some garden looking yard. An actual yard. She was stunned. Completely stunned. Where the heck was she?<br/><br/>Tessa reached out and placed her hand on the wall. It had been papered, and the paper was slightly textured, just enough that she could feel the bumps and crevices as she ran her fingers over it. The physical reality of it felt weird because of how much it all felt like a dream.<br/><br/>“I don’t know where we are. I don’t even know what’s happening.” The boy walked over to the staircase and sat down. “My name’s David Léo Noé Matthieu de Clermont.” Sounded foreign. Who was he? The name was non-sense to her.<br/><br/>“Uh, Tessa Green. I don't have a middle name. I guess nice to meet you David.” That was the only thing she could think to say, she supposed it was nice to meet the boy, well David she supposed she should start calling him. “I haven't the faintest idea what is going on.” She shook her head, and pulled her guitar case off of her shoulder.<br/><br/>Tessa was just about to ask a question when a voice came from a hallway. “Ah, hello Monsieur de Clermont, Miss Green,” The man paused glancing between them, Tessa also fully realized that David was foreign, French specifically. “Welcome to the House. I am pleased you made it. I am afraid it will just be the three of us then.” He was an elder looking man, probably in his 60's, or late 50's. The man was well dressed, and held himself in a fashion that Tessa thought highly proper, something only seen in Television.<br/><br/>“I am the caretaker of the House. If you have any questions or needs let me know and I will try to accommodate. Monsieur de Clermont, you'll be happy to know we have a room for Savate, as well as some other such rooms you'll appreciate.” The Caretaker waved them to follow after him. Tessa's mind was reeling. “Miss Green, we have an extensive library, and some lovely trails around the House if you so desire. I must warn you both though that until you get your bearings it is best to stay in the main hall, this hall to be specific, and not to venture upstairs. Hopefully I will have time to get both of you fully acquainted with the House before anything happens. Until then I have dinner prepared for us in the dinning hall.”<br/><br/>Tessa had followed after the Caretaker holding her guitar case close like it was her only connection to the real world left. A million questions were brimming in her mind, and half a dozen of them fell out of her mouth all at once in a jumble of words and confusion sounding something like “How are we? Where is Savate? Who dinner?”<br/><br/>“I assure you that no one is dinner, well except the cow. Neither of you are vegetarians right?” Tessa only shook her head, and wondered briefly how long the hall was. “The rest of the questions I'll explain as best as I can over dinner. As for what savate is, Monsieur de Clarmont, would you do the honors?” The old man almost seemed to bounce as he led them the rest of the way to the dinning hall letting David explain to Tessa.<br/><br/>Then with a deep bow, that seemed unreasonable from someone of his age, the Caretaker opened the dinning room door. The room was beautiful. The table and chairs were all made of solid wood, a dark one Tessa couldn't identify, probably oak. A giant chandelier hung over the dinning table, the lights flickered as if they were real candles, but it was obvious they were leds. Something that set Tessa on edge slightly. For as ancient looking as the home was, there was little things like that that reminded her she was not in some untouched home.<br/><br/>“Go on, eat. I promise it is not poisoned and I know you'll find something you like.” Tessa took a tentative step into the room, and the aromas of the spread hit her. She saw a dish that looked exactly like one her mother used to make, not her foster mother, but the beautiful woman who had adopted her when she was just an infant. “I know I probably went a little overboard, but it has been a long time since we have had guests.” Tessa frowned and looked at the Caretaker. What did he mean 'we'? As if he sensed her unasked question he grinned at her. “All in good time.”