[004]

[fortune_sought]

[Sophie's small, human body succumbed to the fog very quickly, and she has just woken up very confused indeed. she's found the CAT in her pocket and is pushing buttons on it, which has resulted in an accidental transmission as she continues to fiddle with it]

What is this? Some sort of charm? Is that why I've changed back? [holds the CAT up near her face, as though asking it her questions] But why, if you changed me back, would you take my pincushion? "Good hands" indeed! [hmphs]

[sighs and stops abusing the CAT for the moment, keeping it in her hand as she turns to take a better look around the room--the living room of her own townhome]

But where am I? This certainly isn't Howl's castle! It doesn't even look like any of the locations outside. Did the door get turned black-down somehow and send me out there? Or could this be Calcifer's doing? [to the CAT again] Do you know? [frowns as she looks down, however. strands of her hair have fallen into her face, and she brushes them back in annoyance] Gracious! It's strange to have my hair back again. But...it is such a relief. [pauses for a moment, patting at her face as though she doesn't expect it to feel as it does. she smiles, sighing, relieved] Yes, very much a relief. Though I wonder what broke the spell. And why take my pincushion? That sounds more like Howl's doing than Calcifer's, but he should know that I'll have to clean if I can't sew!

Once I've found where I am... Calcifer! Calcifer, are you here?

Comments

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[he's holding the CAT in the assured manner of someone who's spent a lot of time talking on videophones]

Hey there, ma'am. Did you know you're broadcasting?

[fortune_sought]

[about jumps out of her skin when the image of Arthur appears before her. in fact, she drops the CAT] Gracious! I didn't mean to disturb you. Have you been in that charm long?

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[furrows his brow] Not quite sure I follow.

[fortune_sought]

[confused] You...did just come out of the charm, didn't you? If you're the one who broke the spell, thank you.

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[hell, if she's in the mood to feel obliged to him, why not?] ...glad to help. My name's Arthur, by the way.

[fortune_sought]

I'm Sophie. You...aren't a demon, are you?

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

Not that I'm aware of. [significant pause] Are you?

[fortune_sought]

No! Of course not.

What are you, exactly? You aren't bespelled, are you? [pokes at the image of him in the air]

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[she's either dreaming or really drunk, he thinks... or maybe he is] Ordinary human being, same as you.

Well, not quite ordinary.

[fortune_sought]

A wizard, then? [this is, of course, the next logical conclusion]

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

I think you've been reading too much Lord of the Rings, lady.

[takes a look at her surroundings, visible in the CAT's viewscreen] Which room are you in? I'll come over and talk to you in person, if you want.

[fortune_sought]

[surprised] You mean...you're not an apparition? [embarrassed. snaps] You shouldn't pretend to be one when you're not, you know!

I'm not certain... [goes to the front door, stepping out to check outside] This is B2, but I don't see a name for the street.

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[slightly annoyed- how can he pretend to be something he's never heard of?] Hey, I was just playing along. These are your mental issues, not mine.

[he checks outside his own room] I'm B14. Hey, I think I can see your door.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Smiling brightly]

You sound about as confused as I feel! You don't know where this is either, ne? I thought we might still be in Tokyo, but we don't have a 'Howl's castle'.

[fortune_sought]

[jumps as another person appears, but at least she knows they're real now] Tokyo? No, I'm from Ingary. Have you come here unexpectedly as well?

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

I have indeed, and not a clue as to how, or where this is.

[Pronounces it carefully] Ingary. I'm sorry, I'm afraid I don't know it... oh, but I guess where we're from is not so important right now, except to say that it's simply places we are not. This is clearly not Tokyo. And I take it we are not in your Ingary.

Oh, please pardon me. [bows deeply] I'm Fuu Hououji. A pleasure to meet you.

[fortune_sought]

No, I've certainly not seen anywhere like this in Ingary.

[is surprised by the bow] Oh...I'm Sophie Hatter. It's nice to meet you as well, though I wish the circumstances were different!

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

A pleasure, Miss Hatter.

Yes, I wish so too! However it's always nice to see new people.

If I may, what happened to your hair that you're surprised to have it back?

[Count on Fuu to pick up on the oddest points...]

[fortune_sought]

Oh, it's not just my hair! I was...[pauses, glancing around her as though expecting something to happen before she can continue]...I was under a spell. [glances around again, surprised] It seems I can even talk about it now!

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

Wait, you mean, you were under a magic spell? But magic doesn't exist...

[Glances around the room]...Although, given the circumstances, I might revise my opinion on that.

[fortune_sought]

[scoffs] What do you mean? Of course it does!

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[Fuu's honestly interested, and very curious!]

Really? Can you present me with an example? I'd love to see real magic at work!

[fortune_sought]

Oh, I'm not a witch! [not that she knows of yet, at any rate] But there must be others in town who are, if you really would like to see magic.

[wind-of-reason.livejournal.com]

[ditto!]

Oh, that would be exciting! I'm afraid that I won't be going out just yet though. However I'm sure that if there are any witches out there, I can ask them to do magic later!

[fortune_sought]

[surprised] Why do you want to stay inside?