Luministi

[when Sophie activates her CAT, her expression is determined. behind her, the scenery of the town square is visible as she's currently walking through it--and at a brisk pace, too]

Anyone who means to search for the item Nathan mentioned, I'll be in the space station. If you get there soon, I'm starting in the mayor's office.

[with that said, she moves to turn off her CAT--but stops, looking to the side as though distracted. she snaps:] No, I'm not going to be that specific over the CAT! What if someone is listening? [she pauses--and scowls] It's not a lie. I'll tell them more when I see them. [and after one more pause, she bursts out:] Gah! Would both of you be quiet!? [and she continues on her way--stomping rather. it seems something has annoyed her]

[ooc: Sophie is going to search for the blueprints to lead them to the missing lab--and hopefully the film. Feel free to join her! Or, if you'd prefer, just have a conversation over the CAT~ Also, threadhopping is welcome if you want to search without her!]

[the CAT activates, seemingly by itself, to show Sophie Smith tending her flower shop. at the moment, she is arranging flowers in the front window, mumbling to herself as she does so. occasionally, she glances up to peer through the window--painted with the curly-lettered message "H. JENKINS FRESH FLOWERS DAILY"--to see if any customers might be coming]

[a voice drifts through the air, saying with a thick Welsh accent:] "If you were expecting an ultraviolet violet or an infra-red geranium, you got it wrong, Mrs. Mad Scientist."

[Sophie jumps at the voice. an expression of worry crosses her face for a moment--and then it passes. she goes back to her work as though nothing has happened, mumbling cheerfully as she puts a final sprig of Baby's Breath into a pot teeming with strange, navy blue roses]

[ooc: Sophie has assumed her resident persona for the current plot.]

[Sophie is in the Town Square again, though this time with a very large shopping bag set on the ground at her feet. while she is standing calmly enough, there are some subtle signs of the anxiety and exhaustion that she's been feeling lately. her hair isn't quite as neat as usual, and her dress looks a tad wrinkled. in fact, it's a new dress--forest green, edged in lace, but a very simple design overall. the skirt of it is very loose, clearly designed with plenty of leeway, for a reason that those looking closely at her might notice. at this point in her pregnancy, Sophie has started to show a small baby bump]

Hello again, everyone. [she clasps her hands in front of her as she talks, that calm expression becoming a bit more nervous. she glances around, as though concerned about being overheard, before she continues] Many of you asked me for charms before, and I've finished them all. If you'd like to meet me in the Town Square, I have them here.

This would also be a good opportunity to discuss other recent...events, as well. In person is best, I think. [she smiles somewhat grimly]

I look forward to talking to all of you. [reaching out to the CAT, she ends the transmission]

[ooc: Feel free to use this post as a mingling post! You can interact with Sophie, or you can interact with each other in the Town Square so that information can freely be shared. Also, feel free to notice the baby bump or not as you prefer~]

[at the moment, Sophie is heading a little uncertainly into the town square. she's wearing the cream-coloured dress with anemone flowers--the dress she charmed for protection--but between its colour and her hair, it's only making her face look rather pale today. she has, in fact, been somewhat ill. in particular, she's been experiencing a bizarre aversion to the smell of certain fruits, resulting in Sophie's mostly confining herself to her townhome recently, as the pies made her quite nauseous.]

[however, she is relieved to see that the tables of pies are gone now. she stops in the Town Square, detaching the CAT from her dress, and activates it set to video]

Is this...ah, yes, it is!

Hello, everyone. [she smiles politely] My name is Sophie Hatter. I know many of you are new to this town and have only just begun to experience some of the absurd events that happen here--[she wrinkles her nose]--but I imagine you have an idea by now. Which is why, if you have a moment, I would like to speak with you. I'm not an expert, but I can sew protective charms into clothing for anyone who would like it. You would just need to meet me in the square with an item of clothing similar to the charmed clothing you would like, and I'll sew it for you using that. I'll be spending the afternoon here, so please do come by.

[she pauses, considering shutting off the CAT for a moment before she decides to add after all:] And Doctor, I have yours ready.

[it probably comes as no surprise to anyone who knows her that, when Sophie's CAT activates seemingly without her consent, it shows Sophie looking terribly annoyed] What do you mean by asking questions like this just to go in!? I have a headache, and I would like some tea, and you are going to open this door!

[she is standing outside the tearoom, her hands on her hips and definitely not a mood to deal with the hologram in front of her, currently displaying a trivia question: What is the name of the reptilian race that, by the 25th century, dominated a large portion of the galaxy matched only by their rival and sometimes enemy the Earth Empire?]

I have no idea what you're even referring to! Open the door! [grabs the knob, but the door doesn't budge. instead, an angry tone sounds to reveal to Sophie that she has answered incorrectly]

[she lets out a cry of frustration] Curses! Open!

[unfortunately, as she tries the knob again, another hologram appears, this time with the question: What is the name of the weapon that can both unlock all doors and people's hearts?]

[gapes] Whatever it is, it must be black magic indeed! Stop this nonsense and let me in!

[observers might be able to guess that she's been at this for a while. in fact, one by one, strands of her hair have been changing to orange yarn, though not enough to be easily visible yet. she's also about two inches shorter than she should be and her left foot is composed of fabric rather than skin. this is not a good day for Sophie]

[when the CAT activates, a young woman with reddish-gold hair and blue-green eyes is leaning very near it, almost fully blocking the view, and her broadcast seems to be opening with the tail-end of something she was saying before it began] -to everybody, won't you? Oh, a light! Does that mean they can hear me now? [Sophie takes a step back, revealing that she is wearing a very plain, drab gray dress and that she is outdoors. she is worrying her lip, clearly uncomfortable with either the technology, the situation, or a combination of both] Hello? Are you there? I've only just arrived in this strange land, but it seems like a terribly complicated sort of trap--far too elaborate to be for just me.

[her previous look of worry disappears now, replaced by strong-minded determination] If you are there, listen for a minute. I arrived in a room in some sort of fancy cottage. After I heard that girl's message, I left it and found her, though she wasn't inclined to be terribly informative. [makes a face] But she did give me this. [holds up a small slip of paper, then reads off it:]

Gather round or pass on by
Or stop for a moment to say hi
You'll find I'm really quite versatile and fun
Whether in the rain, snow or sun

I thought it might be a spell, but it sounds far more like directions to something. I'm going to go around the town and see if I can find anywhere that fits. All I can guess is that it must have something to do with the method of getting back to my own land.

If there are others here--I'm sure there must be--I suggest you go into town as well. You may be able to find out more from that girl, and if we can find each other, we'll stand a much better chance of getting to the bottom of this strange riddle--not to mention what sort of spell brought us here and how we might reverse it!

[hopefully] Oh, do any of you happen to be wizards? And...I think that's all for a start. I hope that worked...