[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

[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.

[fortune_sought]

[aghast] Mental issues!? How dare you!

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

Well, either this is your dream and you've got serious problems separating fantasy from reality, or this isn't your dream but you still think wizards are real. So, what would you call it?

[he rubs his brow]

[mostly to himself] And if I could just find my totem, I could tell you which...

[fortune_sought]

[raises an eyebrow at him] Wizards are real. What are you talking about? [steps outside into town, wondering if he really is nearby]

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[waves, languidly, out of the front door of his house]

Okay, not really in the mood for an argument right now. You're a wizard, I'm probably a goblin or something, let's get to the important part. Do you remember how you got here?

[fortune_sought]

[shocked] I'm not a wizard!

[frowns] No, I don't, unless I left the castle without knowing it. Do you know where we are?

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[darkly] I have my suspicions.

[he steps out and closes the door behind him, then walks over to where Sophie is standing] Three-dimensional human being here... [under his breath] unless I'm a goblin. Come on, let's see how this place is set up.

[fortune_sought]

[snaps] Yes, I can see that!

[nods] All right.

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[starts walking] So, tell me more about this castle.

[fortune_sought]

It's my home right now. It's in four places at once, but I've only seen three of them. It's possible this is the fourth...

Where are you from?

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

[just lets the weirdness float on by without comment... four places at once, seriously?]

Are we talking originally, or 'last known location'? Originally, California. Most recently, I was on a really well-deserved vacation in the Solomon Islands. Kinda anxious to get back to that, actually.

[fortune_sought]

[frowns] I've never heard of either of those places. They must be quite far from Ingary.

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

Well, I've never heard of Ingary. Where's that?

[fortune_sought]

[blinks. now that's just odd!] It's quite a large country. But it's close to Strangia and not terribly far from High Norland, if that helps?

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

Not as much as you'd think.

[sarcastically] The places I'm talking about are on Earth. Have you ever been to Earth?

[fortune_sought]

[unfortunately, she's serious] Earth? Is that the name of your country? No, I've never heard of it.

[arthurcosgrove.livejournal.com]

Figures.

You really don't know Earth? Um, America? France? England? Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean? North and South Poles? Any of this ring any bells?

[fortune_sought]

[shakes her head, frowning] No, not at all.

What about Rashput? Alberia? Farqtan? Thayack? Peichstan? Inhico? Dorimynde? Jahm?