Ceel, still dressed in the silken-belted kimono, a bright red against the formed village, appeared and fell upon her back with a soft thud. Her hands were folded neatly upon her stomach, her mouth wide open, soft snores emitted into the air. Underneath her right hand lay her antique, glassless-glasses.
A few moments later, and her eyes open slowly, her head lifting and turning about, before her lips press together, “Hmm. I am still, here?” Her gaze drifts about her form, before her lips form a wide smile, her hands carefully handling the antique glasses, lifting them and placing them upon the ridge of her nose. Her hands placed themselves at her sides, palms against the ground. A few yards away, were the other, more modern-dressed individuals.
Scrambling to her feet, her right hand tugged onto her kimono’s red, silken sash, tightening it slightly, her hands moving to brush dirt and twigs off of her checkered pajamas.
A few moments later, and her eyes open slowly, her head lifting and turning about, before her lips press together, “Hmm. I am still, here?” Her gaze drifts about her form, before her lips form a wide smile, her hands carefully handling the antique glasses, lifting them and placing them upon the ridge of her nose. Her hands placed themselves at her sides, palms against the ground. A few yards away, were the other, more modern-dressed individuals.
Scrambling to her feet, her right hand tugged onto her kimono’s red, silken sash, tightening it slightly, her hands moving to brush dirt and twigs off of her checkered pajamas.
What stopped her from venturing was not the fear of bumping into something, nor the fact that she actually had (an older woman, who she quickly apologized to and scampered off before she could see any sort of reaction on her face). Instead, it was the voice in her head. Now, Sabrina had a history of hearing things. Little things, though, primarily her name and some phrases she couldn't quite remember. She also had a history of talking to herself rather quietly, but thankfully it wasn't abnormal considering there were others who had that same 'habit.' Not that she knew that, of course.
The small woman stopped mainly because it wasn't a half-present voice in her head, but something forced and loud and generally unlike the others. Maybe not mean, but definitely much louder. She, of course, passed it off as one of her own and thought it was simply her mind attempting to cope with the situation by engaging itself in conversation, perhaps even attempting to get to the bottom of this on its own. However, it seemed like she was not the only one to have heard it.
Others were answering, too?
"I don't know," she said, quietly in case someone were to hear. She looked around; did someone else say that? Someone she didn't see? "I was at home. Then I was in the woods. And now I'm here...? Who asked that? It wasn't me. Was it me? I don't know... maybe. Hnnn..." she hugged herself tightly as she spoke again, hunching forward a little bit and walking toward the rest of the group. She still had that wide-eyed, shifty look about her, though now she sought the source of the voice.
She still suspected it could have been hers, though, somehow. But then there was the fact others seem to hear it.
The small woman stopped mainly because it wasn't a half-present voice in her head, but something forced and loud and generally unlike the others. Maybe not mean, but definitely much louder. She, of course, passed it off as one of her own and thought it was simply her mind attempting to cope with the situation by engaging itself in conversation, perhaps even attempting to get to the bottom of this on its own. However, it seemed like she was not the only one to have heard it.
Others were answering, too?
"I don't know," she said, quietly in case someone were to hear. She looked around; did someone else say that? Someone she didn't see? "I was at home. Then I was in the woods. And now I'm here...? Who asked that? It wasn't me. Was it me? I don't know... maybe. Hnnn..." she hugged herself tightly as she spoke again, hunching forward a little bit and walking toward the rest of the group. She still had that wide-eyed, shifty look about her, though now she sought the source of the voice.
She still suspected it could have been hers, though, somehow. But then there was the fact others seem to hear it.
The second the forest faded to blackness, Gifford felt a nasty clenching in his stomach, the kind that usually precedes a long fall; when he could feel consciousness again, he felt like every part of him was changed. His eyes slowly flickering open, he saw the town surrounding him and his mind raced with questions and ideas. Was he dead? Was this death? The forest, fire, how long ago was that? Just turning it over in his mind, he felt like the fire was...distant, as though it had been months ago, but everything he perceived, from the position of clouds in the sky to the apparel of his companions seemed to discredit that feeling. Was this escapism, then? Hadn't he read a book, or seen a Twilight Zone episode, or heard somewhere about a man who was just about to be executed by hanging but had escaped at the last moment, only to realize that the entire escape had transpired in his mind, just before the rope was to drop? Perhaps he was still back in the forest, about to be charbroiled by a wayward fireball, and all of this was just a product of his imagination.
Maxim slowly came to his other senses, only to find that every part of him didn't just feel changed, it hurt. His ears were ringing, his vision blurry, he felt no strength in his body; there was wetness around his nose...his nose was bleeding. Then came the voice, that wasn't his; just turning his head to see who was addressing him broke the stillness over his body and the blood rushed to his head. The world was spinning around him and he fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Maxim slowly came to his other senses, only to find that every part of him didn't just feel changed, it hurt. His ears were ringing, his vision blurry, he felt no strength in his body; there was wetness around his nose...his nose was bleeding. Then came the voice, that wasn't his; just turning his head to see who was addressing him broke the stillness over his body and the blood rushed to his head. The world was spinning around him and he fell to the ground in a crumpled heap.
Oh, man. Oh man oh man oh man.
Austin knew that voice. He knew that voice. What was it, though? Where did he know it from?
Wait, was it in his head? No, it couldn't...
Oh shoot.
Austin raised his voice above normal speaking levels.
"Um, guys...? That's Thilga's voice you just heard. Like, my character. From the Repository." His eyes were wide: if characters were real, then what did that mean? Where did that leave them? Had someone just plucked them out of wherever they were and threw them into a random place on Earth with their characters?
If that was Thilga, then they could be in serious trouble. Sure, fire was manageable for other role playing characters of that caliber, but when a magical rogue knight comes across a group of people with no powers, no fighting skills, and no weapons?
"We probably shouldn't make him angry...." He whispered to no one in particular as he saw the character in the flesh. Typically, he would be excited. But today was traumatizing so far, and right now things seemed like they would only get worse.
Austin knew that voice. He knew that voice. What was it, though? Where did he know it from?
Wait, was it in his head? No, it couldn't...
Oh shoot.
Austin raised his voice above normal speaking levels.
"Um, guys...? That's Thilga's voice you just heard. Like, my character. From the Repository." His eyes were wide: if characters were real, then what did that mean? Where did that leave them? Had someone just plucked them out of wherever they were and threw them into a random place on Earth with their characters?
If that was Thilga, then they could be in serious trouble. Sure, fire was manageable for other role playing characters of that caliber, but when a magical rogue knight comes across a group of people with no powers, no fighting skills, and no weapons?
"We probably shouldn't make him angry...." He whispered to no one in particular as he saw the character in the flesh. Typically, he would be excited. But today was traumatizing so far, and right now things seemed like they would only get worse.
Lucy remembered him talking about Thilga a few times. Mostly when she was performing Moby Dick and he was trying to get her to make her voice go deeper and asked her about the twins and Leon and Anthony and then he said he could replicate Austin the character and Thilga's voice pretty well-
SO MANY RABBIT TRAILS, GOOD CHRIST. But she remembered them all so that was good.
That was interesting- 'Thilgsies' was here? How odd; last time she checked, he had just been a profile. Was he the only one who had been translated to real life, or were there others? Which others were there, if any? Any she knew, or were they all Oaky's, or other people's too?
What if some of her brain children were here? The excitement she recieved from the idea almost made her giggle, but there were more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
SO MANY RABBIT TRAILS, GOOD CHRIST. But she remembered them all so that was good.
That was interesting- 'Thilgsies' was here? How odd; last time she checked, he had just been a profile. Was he the only one who had been translated to real life, or were there others? Which others were there, if any? Any she knew, or were they all Oaky's, or other people's too?
What if some of her brain children were here? The excitement she recieved from the idea almost made her giggle, but there were more pressing matters to deal with at the moment.
By the time she approached the group, Maxim appeared and had his, well, issues. The girl looked around for a moment to see if anyone looked like they were going to help him, and when she saw no one immediately running for him, she did. Once she arrived, she adjusted her glasses so they wouldn't fall when she'd abruptly collapse to her own knees.
Her hands hovered over him, hesitant to touch him for fear of upsetting him in some way. "Hey... H-hey, you okay? What's wrong?" she asked. And by that time, she did let herself touch him, lightly nudging him just a little bit. "Do you need help getting up?" Still, she sounded quiet, almost afraid to talk to the guy! She did it though. I deserve a medal, she thought to herself sarcastically. Yeah, seemed she didn't seem too fond of her own timidity.
When Austin spoke, she looked over her shoulder toward him. She blinked a little bit. "As in RPR...?" she asked. Well duh! What sort of repository site would he be talking about? Lots probably, but that was the one one she knew of.
Although Sabrina never played with Thilga, she remembered glancing over someone's profile and seeing the name there. And then it hit her! "Oaky!" she cried out, grinning. She was actually loud for once! GASP! But then she remembered of a crumpled up Maxim and just barely overheard Oaky's whisper, only catching a couple of those words (but enough to piece together what he meant).
Her hands hovered over him, hesitant to touch him for fear of upsetting him in some way. "Hey... H-hey, you okay? What's wrong?" she asked. And by that time, she did let herself touch him, lightly nudging him just a little bit. "Do you need help getting up?" Still, she sounded quiet, almost afraid to talk to the guy! She did it though. I deserve a medal, she thought to herself sarcastically. Yeah, seemed she didn't seem too fond of her own timidity.
When Austin spoke, she looked over her shoulder toward him. She blinked a little bit. "As in RPR...?" she asked. Well duh! What sort of repository site would he be talking about? Lots probably, but that was the one one she knew of.
Although Sabrina never played with Thilga, she remembered glancing over someone's profile and seeing the name there. And then it hit her! "Oaky!" she cried out, grinning. She was actually loud for once! GASP! But then she remembered of a crumpled up Maxim and just barely overheard Oaky's whisper, only catching a couple of those words (but enough to piece together what he meant).
Scratch going to the town square. He heard Austin's voice. Good! His group had come along as well! He rushed over to him, barely hearing that a character of his named "Thilga" was apparently here as well. Now that was something Dylan refused to belief.
"Are you sure?" He asked Austin as he appear from behind a hovel. Then again, why wouldn't he be? Dylan himself constantly made up voices for his characters. He'd probably recognize them instantly as well should he hear them."What kind of a sick twisted place is this?! What are we to make of this? That my little fantasies of living in the same world as my characters is reality now? I just can't wrap my head around all of this." He ran his fingers through his hair, looking around. Who knows what psychotic character of his walked around.
But those thoughts were put to a halt when he too noticed Maxim on the ground."Oh geezes, Witness!" Like Sabrina, he too ran for him, trying to offer aid. He wasn't keeping any medicine on him, but if Maxim was simply dazed from the sudden teleopration he could at least offer a tissue."You're looking worse than I do. Can you walk?"
"Are you sure?" He asked Austin as he appear from behind a hovel. Then again, why wouldn't he be? Dylan himself constantly made up voices for his characters. He'd probably recognize them instantly as well should he hear them."What kind of a sick twisted place is this?! What are we to make of this? That my little fantasies of living in the same world as my characters is reality now? I just can't wrap my head around all of this." He ran his fingers through his hair, looking around. Who knows what psychotic character of his walked around.
But those thoughts were put to a halt when he too noticed Maxim on the ground."Oh geezes, Witness!" Like Sabrina, he too ran for him, trying to offer aid. He wasn't keeping any medicine on him, but if Maxim was simply dazed from the sudden teleopration he could at least offer a tissue."You're looking worse than I do. Can you walk?"
Jay was literally about to leave everyone to die their own deaths and head North when Maxim's big dumb blonde head fainted. The redneck hesitated, then looked at Sanne and the others before looking back down to Wit. Two separate but equal traits and/or qualifications warring briefly against his learned nature before he turned back to the group and gently tried to shoo Lucy away, taking off his hoodie and folding it into a quick pillow while he did a quick first responder check for and brain of spinal injuries.
"We claim the right of guests." Jay had wanted to ignore the voice, he really, really did, but with everyone else seeming to respond, he guessed that it wasn't entirely in his own head. "We don't know why we're here, but this man might be injured, and I need water and a litter so that I can see to his care."
Cushioning Maxim's head and elevating his feed, Jay then turned to face the voice, this Thilga person. Maybe not the most impressive specimen of the group, Jay left it mostly to his eyes to separate the men from the boys, as it were. "We claim the right of guests, and a curse be upon you an yours should you harm a refugee."
Whatever anyone else might think of him, the grumpy one was disinclined to back down from confrontation without a more reasonable voice whispering in his ear.
"We claim the right of guests." Jay had wanted to ignore the voice, he really, really did, but with everyone else seeming to respond, he guessed that it wasn't entirely in his own head. "We don't know why we're here, but this man might be injured, and I need water and a litter so that I can see to his care."
Cushioning Maxim's head and elevating his feed, Jay then turned to face the voice, this Thilga person. Maybe not the most impressive specimen of the group, Jay left it mostly to his eyes to separate the men from the boys, as it were. "We claim the right of guests, and a curse be upon you an yours should you harm a refugee."
Whatever anyone else might think of him, the grumpy one was disinclined to back down from confrontation without a more reasonable voice whispering in his ear.
Lucy couldn't help but smile slightly at Jay's response to Thilga; the guy, frightening as he was, had guts. Still, she'd have to build some trust up in order to fully like him, so until then she'd keep her distance. The girl now sort of hovered on the outer rim of the group, having obediently skittered away when Jay made the shooing motion, and now hung awkwardly back, playing with her hands like she always did when she was nervous and needed something to occupy her time.
He said he needed water. She didn't know where to find it, but Lucy really hated feeling useless, so she slowly started to wander off to try to find some water and be of some help. Her survival handbook would really be helpful right about now; under pressure, all she could remember was that the feet had to be kept elevated in shock. But Jay probably already knew that- and look, he had already done that, surprise surprise- so she kept quiet as she started to walk around and look for a water source.
This was a small town, so she wasn't really worried about getting lost. Even if she did get lost, all she'd have to do was start screaming and they'd be able to find her again. She was a very loud person, although she didn't realize she was loud half the time.
Oh well. That wasn't important. Jay needed water and Lucy didn't like the feeling of being a fifth wheel, so she wandered off to find some, not paying attention if anyone was following her or not. She hoped Thilga didn't blow anything up while she was gone, and that none of these random villager people were hostile. Last thing they needed right now was something else trying to kill them.
He said he needed water. She didn't know where to find it, but Lucy really hated feeling useless, so she slowly started to wander off to try to find some water and be of some help. Her survival handbook would really be helpful right about now; under pressure, all she could remember was that the feet had to be kept elevated in shock. But Jay probably already knew that- and look, he had already done that, surprise surprise- so she kept quiet as she started to walk around and look for a water source.
This was a small town, so she wasn't really worried about getting lost. Even if she did get lost, all she'd have to do was start screaming and they'd be able to find her again. She was a very loud person, although she didn't realize she was loud half the time.
Oh well. That wasn't important. Jay needed water and Lucy didn't like the feeling of being a fifth wheel, so she wandered off to find some, not paying attention if anyone was following her or not. She hoped Thilga didn't blow anything up while she was gone, and that none of these random villager people were hostile. Last thing they needed right now was something else trying to kill them.
Maxim was back as soon as he was out; opening his eyes and taking in Jay, Rynh, and Sabrina standing over him, the first thing he did was let his feet slide out of Jay's hands and thump unceremoniously against the ground. He tried sitting upright, bad idea, and quickly slid back onto the ground with a low moan.
"I'm fine," he said with the most convincing tone he could muster at the time, which is to say, not convincing in the least, "really. All that happened was that I must have gotten lost somewhere..."
He trailed off at that point, already lost in thought; lost, indeed, for didn't it feel like he'd lost something? Someone, more accurately? He was missing someone, no, two, and that meant...oh. He snapped himself out of his reflection to stare at Thilga for the first time.
"I've seen you before, on RPR. You're Oaky's character, right? If we're all from RPR, and that's Oaky's character, then we have to get out of here, I'll lead the way."
Maxim tried sitting up again, but found that he simply didn't have the strength; unsurprising, really, given that he'd lived through having the essence of a 13,000 year old, bitter, vengeful alien king who had been more like a part of him for every day of seven years than a creation of his imagination suddenly fight its way out of him. All things considered, he could have been a lot worse off, or dead, instead of just finding it hard to stand up and feeling slightly embarrassed at how he was the center of attention.
"I'm fine," he said with the most convincing tone he could muster at the time, which is to say, not convincing in the least, "really. All that happened was that I must have gotten lost somewhere..."
He trailed off at that point, already lost in thought; lost, indeed, for didn't it feel like he'd lost something? Someone, more accurately? He was missing someone, no, two, and that meant...oh. He snapped himself out of his reflection to stare at Thilga for the first time.
"I've seen you before, on RPR. You're Oaky's character, right? If we're all from RPR, and that's Oaky's character, then we have to get out of here, I'll lead the way."
Maxim tried sitting up again, but found that he simply didn't have the strength; unsurprising, really, given that he'd lived through having the essence of a 13,000 year old, bitter, vengeful alien king who had been more like a part of him for every day of seven years than a creation of his imagination suddenly fight its way out of him. All things considered, he could have been a lot worse off, or dead, instead of just finding it hard to stand up and feeling slightly embarrassed at how he was the center of attention.
Ceel’s gaze drifts towards the group, remaining where she was, separated from the others. Then, her gaze drifted to her surroundings. Her right hand’s fingers pinched together, her thumb and index finger. Her right foot took a step forward, away from the group, but she stops, turning her glassless-glasses towards the group, her eyes widening.
Yet here’s a spot. Out, damn’d spot, I say! One; two: why, then…Tis’ time to do’t.
Ceel’s head glances towards the ground, her eyes half-closed, her lips quirking upwards and revealing her teeth, until she walks towards the others. Standing behind the others, but not behind Jay, Ceel’s arms wrapped them about her front, her hands clutching at her shoulders, “Your character? If he is here and this happens to all of us, who do we have on the roleplay repository? I don’t want to run into a chaotic evil character, one of those baddie-bad, over-powered, immortals. I know that –I- don’t have any.” Ceel’s left hand lifts up and presses its fingers elegantly against the red fabric of her kimono, her head turning upwards, her gaze closing shut. But still, the frown remained upon her face.
Yet here’s a spot. Out, damn’d spot, I say! One; two: why, then…Tis’ time to do’t.
Ceel’s head glances towards the ground, her eyes half-closed, her lips quirking upwards and revealing her teeth, until she walks towards the others. Standing behind the others, but not behind Jay, Ceel’s arms wrapped them about her front, her hands clutching at her shoulders, “Your character? If he is here and this happens to all of us, who do we have on the roleplay repository? I don’t want to run into a chaotic evil character, one of those baddie-bad, over-powered, immortals. I know that –I- don’t have any.” Ceel’s left hand lifts up and presses its fingers elegantly against the red fabric of her kimono, her head turning upwards, her gaze closing shut. But still, the frown remained upon her face.