1st Arrow [Action]

[threeweeksago]

[Oh man. Oh man this was not good. Not good at all. Last night had been one of those rare nights where Ellie actually got a good night of sleep, a mercifully dreamless sleep where she wasn't haunted by the Infected or the hunters or the faces of all the people she had known and lost.

So of fucking course something had to happen the next fucking day. The morning had started so nicely, and then suddenly everything kind of went weird and she woke up in... wherever the fuck this was. Not cool. What's even less cool is that she woke up alone. Outside of That Incident at the resort in winter, she can't remember the last time she woke up alone. Even in the present, Joel always hung around their tiny little cabin at least until she was awake before heading off. So... being alone in a strange place with no memory of how she got here? That sent a clear jolt of panic lancing through her.

Not even stopping to really absorb her surroundings, Ellie takes off running with no real direction.]

Joel? [She's trying not to sound panicked, but she's not doing a very good job of it.] Joel, where are you, you asshole?!

Comments

[threeweeksago]

... Damn. [It's hard to tell if Ellie is impressed, shocked, or awed. Probably a mix of all three.]

What do you think a life that long is? Good or bad?

[heal_theworld]

I think it depends. I know that nobody should live beyond their natural lifespan, that much is true. But I can see where a life that long can become a curse, if you lose everybody you ever cared about. They'll all grow old and die and you'll still be there.

[threeweeksago]

So... you think it's a bit of both.

[Seeing everyone you care about die or leave... dying from old age is pretty different, but Ellie can sure sympathize with the pain of friends and family going away like that.]

... Yeah, I could see how that would suck.

[heal_theworld]

[She smiles sadly.] ...But I think we're off-topic. And I haven't even introduced myself.

[Martel takes a few steps closer and holds out her hand.] I'm Martel Yggdrasill.

[threeweeksago]

Geez, that last name's kind of a mouthful. Still, nice to meet you, Martel.

[Ellie reaches out to take her hand.] I'm Ellie.

[heal_theworld]

Just a bit. [She shakes her hand.] Pleased to meet you, Ellie. Welcome to Paradisa, as welcoming as it can be.

[threeweeksago]

Paradisa? Geez... whoever created this place has a pretty lame imagination if the only name they could think of. And, you know, totally inaccurate, what with the whole creepy kidnapping thing and all.

[heal_theworld]

It's more like a pretty cage that nobody can get out of.

[At least Ellie was mostly calm now. Or at least calmer than when Martel had met her. Martel glances around a bit, though, because she realizes Ellie doesn't have her journal with her.]

...We should probably find your journal.

[threeweeksago]

Er... I don't have a journal. I always thought it was kinda weird to just write shit down that nobody else will ever see.

[heal_theworld]

Oh, no. When everybody arrives, they get a journal from the castle. It's how people communicate here long distance. It will actually take down what you speak as well as write, and broadcast to every other journal. You can also filter just to certain people.

[She pulls hers out of her bag to show Ellie.]

They're also kind of impossible to lose.

[threeweeksago]

More magic shit... damn, I'm starting to get a headache.

But that's pretty neat, I guess. Sure saves everyone a lot of trouble trying to hunt other people down in a castle this big.

[heal_theworld]

Pretty much. Also, some people live in the city, so it's easier to get ahold of them that way.

[threeweeksago]

There's a city here too? [Neat! Maybe she can see what cities looked like before they fell into crumbling ruin.]

What's it like? Is there anything to do there?

[heal_theworld]

Yes, City Royale. It's very nice. Some castle people run shops down there, and there are shops that the natives run and things. You need the currency, but you can wish it up pretty easily in the castle if you have to.

[threeweeksago]

... Oh. Is that it really it? Just a bunch of stores? There aren't any kind of entertainment places? [She may sound just a bit disappointed. But only a little! Because a real city's still a city, and getting to see one not completely ruined is still a chance she's damn happy to have.]

[heal_theworld]

Oh, there's probably other things too! The town is huge. You'll just have to explore properly. But if you really want something like that, I know there's a game room in the castle with anything you can imagine in there.

[This place basically has everything.]

[threeweeksago]

... Do they have video games there?

[She's trying to keep her tone calm, but there's definitely a hint of excitement in her voice. She's heard some of the adults - and Riley - talk about video games before, and GODDAMN she's always wanted to try one...!]

[heal_theworld]

I'm pretty sure they do, though I've never actually been in there.

[threeweeksago]

[AW YEAH.]

What floor is it on? Damn, I'll definitely have to check it out later...

[heal_theworld]

[Martel can't help but smile at her enthusiasm.] It's on the seventh floor, I'm pretty sure.