❦ 01

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[though it very much seems otherwise, he knows that it can't actually be a dream because of how immediately and distinctly not right he feels upon finding himself in this decadent little room. Doing his best to remain calm, he pokes around, finding an exceedingly strange book with his name on it, peeking through drawers and listening for sounds. Eventually, his search leads him out into hall of faceless doorways, down some stairs, and into a sprawling lobby. Just wandering, hypersensitive and quiet, until he hopefully walks into something that makes some sense. Just stay calm...

He finally stops when he reaches a window, staring--a little shellshocked--at nothing but fog. ...And there he stays for some time, silent in deeply unsettled thought.

Finally, he suddenly remembers the book in his hands. It gives him something to fiddle with, fidgeting with the little clockwork gears until something finally clicks into place and the thing falls suddenly open]

...That seems a bit much.

[and the book helpfully jots down his words for him]

--Oh.

[there is no way this could be a good sign]

Comments

dictated

[challengesworld.livejournal.com]

Oh, somebody new! Hi there!

[Somebody sound oddly cheerful.]

Welcome to, er, I actually don't know yet. But it's a good place. Many people have been taken here like you and me.

dictated

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[--oh holy hells, the book is talking to him.

Is he... supposed to answer it? Hesitating, with the journal kind of held away--]

Um... what?

dictated

[challengesworld.livejournal.com]

I hope the connection isn't going on me...er, I'm new here too! We've all been taken and we use these journals to communicate with everyone around the castle. Um, tower. I keep messing those two up, sorry. Because, you see, last time I was in a castle, and now a tower, and-

But yes, welcome! What's your name?

dictated

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

...

[hold up just a sec, go back]

You're using this journal to communicate? So, you're not... [a talking book]

dictated

[challengesworld.livejournal.com]

Yes, it takes your speech and sends it over to others. What did you think I was? The book itself?

[fuggum.livejournal.com]

[ NONE AT ALL. But at least no obvious misfortunes are befalling him right now--he doesn't get to meet adel yet :D he's spared! Instead he gets Nirel who's.....kind of wandering through the halls sniffing things when he catches wind of Tekhetsio's scent! And stops with a blink ]

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

...

[blinking back at you, friend. Standing there at the window, journal in hand, he' looking at you as if he's not quite sure if you're real or not]

[fuggum.livejournal.com]

[ that's okay :D in a second he's going to hold out his hand in frot of him in a 'stop' motion ]

Greeting!

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

['greeting,' huh? he eyes the weird gesture]

...Is that what that's supposed to be?

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he is sitting, balanced on the arm of a large chair, observing this new stranger with a bit of a stare. his presence was masked until he started wondering if the guy would turn around...]

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[it really does take him a minute or two to notice him. And then something nameless prickles on his skin and he glances over his shoulder to spot the boy.

He just watches for a moment, trying to make a quick judgement on what sort of person he's looking at. ...Real or imaginary would be the first thing that he would like to figure out]

[birdmetaphor.livejournal.com]

[he doesn't move much, but he picks up a sort of... edge. where he was stationary before, now he's ready to move. if he has to.]

Are you lost?

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[his stance is entirely casual, limbs hanging loosely even as he holds his journal. ...But he barely blinks as he watches the kid.]

You could say that, yes.

Would you be so kind as to tell me where I am?

1/2

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[Also in the lobby! She's claimed a couch and about half the pillows in the lobby, because she's building a little fort around Dog.

When this guy shows up in the lobby she's going to stop and watch him cautiously.]

[umbrare.livejournal.com]

[Buried in pillows yeaaahhh]

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[he doesn't really even notice her until he finally turns away from the window, wrapping his fingers thoughtfully around the edges of his grimoire, fidgeting.

And then he stops, canting his head to the side a little]

Hello there.

[actionlaced.livejournal.com]

[Stare.

Staaaaaaaaaaaaare.]

......

[sensate-surfer.livejournal.com]

Is someone there?

[Cautiously. These new books are a little alarming :(]

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[alarming indeed]

...Yes?

[sensate-surfer.livejournal.com]

Oh! Hi!

[awkwardawkwardawkward]

I didn't meant to bother you. I'm just still getting used to everything. Were you at the castle before?

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

If you have answers for me, then you aren't a bother at all.

[the second part makes him pause, confused, however]

Castle? I haven't visited any castle in years.

[efflare.livejournal.com]

They say the book is enchanted.

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[something prickles at the edge of his attention as she approaches-- not anything familiar, really, but it's something. It's hard to tell, with how numbed everything feels right now]

Enchanted, hmm? Pity, I was taught never to trust anything enchanted.

[and then he glances over, eyeing her quietly. Not fully engaged, as if he's not quite sure she's even really there]

[efflare.livejournal.com]

It appears to be harmless, but toss it if you wish. You do not have to keep it.

[heresyandlace.livejournal.com]

[he doubts that anything in a dream or his imagination would look at him so closely, so he affects a smile under the scrutiny]

It has my name on it. That seems significant, doesn't it?