(no subject)

[littlearrow]

[Lian wakes up... not in her room. She's confused at first, wondering what's going on. Maybe Roy came back and took her to a different place when she was sleeping? She tries calling out for him.]

Daddy...? [When only silence greets her, she calls out a little bit louder.] Daddy?

[Nothing. And now she starts to get worried and scared.] Daddy?! Uncle Ollie? Aunt Dinah? Mia? Where is everybody?!

[Getting out of the bed, she goes over to the door and opens it, taking a peek outside. It... looks like the inside of a castle from a storybook. She didn't go to bed in a castle. She was at Uncle Ollie and Aunt Dinah's house. She remembers there was... There was an earthquake. What if everybody was hurt? Or what if someone kidnapped her again? Fighting back panic, she sucks in a deep breath.]

Okay. Okay, don't be scared. Be brave. Gotta be brave like Daddy. I just... I just gotta find a phone or... or a police officer and they can call him and he'll come get me...

Comments

[yeahihidmypants]

Lian? [He's pretty sure that's her... which is, well late for the kids and Roy is gone... this is not good.]

Lian, can you find the book? It has my voice coming from it.

[littlearrow]

[... Whoa, what in the world is that. She looks around until she spots a book and goes over to it, giving it a suspicious look.] Hello...?

[yeahihidmypants]

Hi. This journal is going to help me talk to you for a bit. I need you to do me a favor, can you do that for me?

[littlearrow]

Okay... Are you a magic book? Is that how you know my name...? [The voice sounds familiar but she can't quite place it.]

[yeahihidmypants]

I'm [he laughs a bit] I'm not a magic book, but I have a book too and that's how we're talking to each other.

It's Oliver. [Though... without a beard and he's not married to Dinah and it's going to be confusing... but he knows her at least. Thank you, Roy.]

[littlearrow]

Ooooh. Uncle Ollie! [That makes her a little less worried.] ... Can I keep the book?

[yeahihidmypants]

The book is yours to keep. I need you to go tell me what room you're in. There should be a number on or near the door.

Then I can find you. [And probably explain why he looks different.]

[littlearrow]

I'll go find it! [She picks the book up and goes to see, then rattles the numbers off to whatever room it is.]

[yeahihidmypants]

[He waits and when she returns he's heading for the door.]

Alright, you sit tight and I'll be there soon, okay?

[littlearrow]

Okay. I'll wait right here.

[yeahihidmypants]

[And Oliver is there faster than my reply is... knocking on the door.]

Lian? It's Oliver.

[littlearrow]

[She is waiting on the bed and pulls the door open when she hears the knock, smiling brightly... and then looking confused. You do not look like her Uncle Ollie the last time she saw him, okay.]

[yeahihidmypants]

[Yeah...]

Not the face you were expecting, huh? It's okay, I get that a lot. You were expecting a bit older and more hair around here, right? [He gestures around his mouth.]

[littlearrow]

[She nods.] Why did you shave? You look funny.

[yeahihidmypants]

I shave every morning, so I'm sorry if I look funny to you.

Have you ever heard about alternate worlds? Ones that are super close to the one you live in, but just a tiny bit different?

[littlearrow]

Uuh... Like what happened with Aunt Donna...?

[yeahihidmypants]

[He thinks back for a moment... and then nods.]

Yes, like what happened with Donna. See, I'm Oliver, but I'm from a different universe. But it's okay, because I've met you here in the castle before so I know that you're good at being my partner.

[littlearrow]

I've been here before? But I don't remember...

[yeahihidmypants]

It's okay, because maybe it wasn't you. Maybe it was you from another world.

But now that you're here, let's get you something to eat.

[heloise]

[ Awh, poor kid. ]

What is your father's name, little one?

[littlearrow]

His name is Roy Harper...

[heloise]

I have never heard of him before. It could be that he isn't here.

[littlearrow]

Where is here...?

[heloise]

A castle. We call it Paradisa.

You will not be in want for anything here, except for freedom, perhaps.

[littlearrow]

... Does a princess live here? Is it a magical castle? [It's got talking books, so...]

[heloise]

More than one, and many princes and knights as well.

[littlearrow]

Can somebody take me home?

[heloise]

No, the castle keeps us here.

But there are many who would care for you here. I would.

[littlearrow]

But my daddy's going to be really worried if he gets home and I'm not there...

Dictated

[losemycherry]

[Yamada's heart aches at the sound of this child's voice. It reminds her of Chika, her little sister, whom she hasn't seen in...Almost a year? Can that be right?]

Don't worry, Lian. You've come to a great place! And you're safe, safe as can be.

[littlearrow]

It's not great.

[losemycherry]

Really? What makes you say that?

[littlearrow]

My daddy isn't here.

[losemycherry]

I'm sorry. What's your daddy's name?

[littlearrow]

Roy Harper.

[losemycherry]

I guess the best thing is to just ask around for him. He might be here, you never know!

[She avoids mentioning the likely possibility that the Roy Harper this girl may find her may not be the Roy Harper she remembers.]

[littlearrow]

The other lady didn't know who he is.

[losemycherry]

Don't lose heart. Who is this other lady?

[littlearrow]

I don't know her name.