First Flake [action/backdated to the 14th]

[defyingfrigidity]

[Good morning, Paradisa! I hope those of you who reside on Floor Four don't mind a sudden drop in temperature, because it is cold today. And not just the sort of cold that comes from one too many people leaving their windows open. No, this cold -a harsh cold that usually comes with the promise of snow - seems to be coming from inside the castle, strangely enough. But what's even more strange is the ice. Ice creeping along the walls, floor, and ceiling, small tendrils snaking up and around like ivy. Follow it and one might see that it all leads to one point: the door to Room 419.

The door is closed. Locked. No amount of knocking will get a response. But if one were to press their ear to the door, if one had a fairly good sense of hearing... they might be able to pick up on the sound of breathing. The slow yet panicked breathing of someone desperately trying to calm themslves down from a possible panic attack. After some time, though, a voice can be heard from inside. The voice of a young woman, it seems.]

Calm down. Calm down... this isn't real. It's just a dream...

[And later on in the day, the ice thaws, shattering harmlessly and only leaving slightly damp walls and floors and ceilings in its wake. This is around the time the resident of Room 419 finally emerges. A young woman clad in an elegant blue dress, platinum-blonde hair tied back in a long braid, nervously looks around as she steps out into the hall, wringing her hands.]

Kai? Gerda? [The surroundings are so unfamiliar, she isn't really expecting to see her servants anywhere. But she still tries. More importantly, though, is a certain other girl's whereabouts....]

... Anna?

Comments

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus was just making his way up to his room in order to go lay down when he comes across a strange sight on the fourth floor. He pauses, pulling out his wand, before he steps out onto the hallway to investigate. Tendrils of melting ice line the walls and floor, like vines of ivy. It couldn't have been the Castle's doing, Remus was sure. A resident had to be the cause.

He steps back in surprise when the ice simply shatters suddenly, leaving the walls and floor damp in its wake. Remus reaches out to touch the wall gingerly. It had to be some sort of spell, that much was certain.

He turns when he hears the voice of a young woman only moments later, calling out to someone. Gripping his wand, he turns fully, catching a glimpse of Elsa leaving her room. She looks frightened, what with the way she wrings her hands; a gesture Remus is familiar with, surely. He calls out to her gently, not wanting to frighten her more.
(Though he'll have tough luck with that. If the bright red, jagged scars on his face from the last full moon have anything to say about it.) ]

Hello?

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

[Though he was not from the forth floor, Equius has still felt the disturbance in the castle. The colder drafts, the leaks from the ceiling. Something had to be the cause of it.

So the Troll made his way up the floors, glancing confusedly at the ice that had spread all over the walls. This entire place was a mess, he had to know who was responsible for it.]

You there. [He pointed a finger at Elsa, noticing as she stepped out into the hall.]

[Action]

[schrodingersghost]

[Most people would have bundled up little by now. Even with the ice thawed, it was still more than a little chilly on the fourth floor.

But Danny hadn't felt the cold in a long time. Not even the Far Frozen felt cold to him anymore. No, he had been perfectly comfortable all morning wandering around with no more protection than his usual short sleeved t-shirt and jeans.

That didn't mean he wasn't highly curious over the source of the new ice. He was almost entirely certain the sudden dip in temperature wasn't his fault this time.

And so when he spots the girl coming out of a room that he was mostly certain had been empty up to now? He waves at her and walks over.]

Hi there! You're new around here, right?

Action

[sugarwaffo]

[The cold doesn't bother Sugar. While other season fairies might feel uncomfortable with the sudden chill, she was a snow fairy. She's been around snow her whole life.

The ice though does catch her interest. Was an ice fairy nearby? It might not be a snow fairy but it's been been so long since she's seen a season fairy that Sugar doesn't care. She flies quickly, following the trail of ice. The tiny fairy reaches the door just as a woman walks through it and the ice goes away. She slows down, coming to a stop in front of Elsa]

Hello! You wouldn't happen to have seen an ice fairy, would you?

[fuckelves]

[Thorin Oakenshield is clad in thick furs, on his way outside anyway. But even so, he feels the frigid chill brought on within the castle's walls. His brow furrows in curiosity. Cold comes from the wind outside, typically - and he's never known the castle to be so cold inside.]

[He spots the woman, who looks rather frightened. Thorin knows that look - he wore it not too long ago himself. Slowly he approaches her, hands up in an almost calming gesture.]

Are you well, lass? I do not recall seeing you before...I trust you are new to the castle?

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa turns at the voice, and indeed, she jumps a bit in surprise at Remus's appearance. Thankfully, it doesn't seem to frighten her any more than she already seems to be, but it definitely stops the gentle tone of his voice from calming her at all.]

Who are you? [There's a slight waver to her voice as she speaks.] Are you the one that brought me here?

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa visibly jumps at the voice, turning-- and letting out a yelp of surprise, taking a few steps back. That boy's appearance...!]

Wh... what are you?!

[defyingfrigidity]

[All the others got reactions of shock, and even fear with a few of them... but now? Aside from the general unease of being in an unfamiliar place, and a brief raise of her eyebrows at the man's height... Elsa actually seems to relax the tiniest bit. Perhaps it was his manner of dress - the others she had run into were clad in such bizarre garments, but this man in his cloak and furs... he reminded her of some of the ice harvesters she would see in the markets. It was a familiar sight, and she was incredibly happy to see something familiar amidst all this strangeness.]

I... yes. I suppose so? I suddenly woke up here this morning...

[defyingfrigidity]

[Today certainly seems to be a day of shock and surprise. It's definitely taking its toll on poor Elsa's mind - she's doing all that's in her power to keep her magic at bay, and after her brief outburst earlier, it's been working. Even when this tiny being flies up to her, she just barely manages to keep herself in check.

But... the shock fades now. The surprise is still there, yes, but there's something... curious in the young woman's expression.]

A fairy? [She could lie. That would explain the ice. But she can't just make something like that up.] Um... no, I haven't.

[Her head tilts to the side a bit, and she takes a cautious step forward, a hint of a smile on her face. She's read about fairies. She still holds those memories so close to her heart; memories of reading stories about brave heroes and fantastical creatures from a large, leather-bound book, Anna tucked against her side or sprawled in her lap.] Is that what you are?

[defyingfrigidity]

[She can do this. She can definitely do this. Elsa has gotten herself under control, and it is a control she will keep an iron grip on no matter what.

So she still looks a bit shaken when she turns to face this strangely-dressed boy, but much less panicky than she was before.]

Where exactly is "here"?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus blinks and shakes his head, a soft, reassuring smile. She was obviously very new here, and still very scared. He'll keep his distance and allow her to approach on her own terms. ]

No, no. The Castle itself brought you here.
I'm Remus Lupin. Who are you?

[defyingfrigidity]

[She may be confused, uneasy, and still a bit frightened over her current situation, but all of that can't undo an entire lifetime of etiquette training. So when Remus introduces himself, Elsa inclines her back in a small bow in return.]

Queen Elsa, of Arendelle. [Her brows furrow.] I'm sorry, I think I've misheard you... don't you mean the master of this castle?

[lupinotuum]

Arendelle? I'm afraid I've not ever heard of such a place, but ...
[ He bows in return. Not often he meets a Queen, after all. ] It is a pleasure to meet you.

[ He shakes his head. ] No, I mean the Castle. It's called Cair Paradisa and it brings people from all sorts of different worlds here.

[defyingfrigidity]

[... This boy is speaking absolute nonsense, but even so... Elsa finds herself curious. And very, very confused.]

Different... worlds? I'm sorry again, but you're not making any sense. Can you... explain, please?

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus honestly can't blame her. This is all very confusing and it certainly sounds like it should be impossible. Not to mention the fact that being ripped from your own world and placed here can be quite the frightening experience. ]

Err well, let's see... It's quite confusing to me as well, to be honest, but I'll try to be as clear as I can.
As far as we know, there are many different worlds that exist within the universe. Some are different versions of the same world, others are entirely distinct from each other. Paradisa sits in its own pocket world and it regularly takes people from other worlds and brings them here for an indiscernible amount of time, for a purpose that is still very much unclear.
It is apparent, though, that the Castle enjoys playing with its residents and it can be both benevolent and dangerous.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa's trying to follow, she really is, but... it's hard. She's read stories of different realms, where strange monsters and spirits were said to live, but... realms where normal people could live? And a realm where people from these places could be brought against their will? This is just a bit much for her to wrap her head around.]

I've never heard of magic like this before... not counting stories, at least. [She's fidgeting with her hands again.] And the people here... they just... accept this magic?

[lupinotuum]

Well, most do. We don't have much of a choice, really. Besides, I come from a place that is filled with magic. I went to school in a castle that was similar to this one, though it is not sentient. [ He shrugs. ] I find it all hard to believe sometimes as well, but we have no choice but to accept it.

[ Speaking of magic... ]

Err, if I may ask, were you the one who caused all of that ice to appear earlier?

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

[Equius frowns at the surprised woman. Had she any kind of decency? Or did people just express their surprise or fear freely where she was from? Well, she was a human.]

Hmph. Such shock. I shall have you know that I am a Troll. A Troll of noble bloodrank, thank you very much.

[defyingfrigidity]

[There's a noticeable pause when Remus asks that question. Elsa's come a long way in accepting her power, but that was because she knew the people around her accepted it - or at least pretended to accept it. Here, in this new and foreign castle, where people have already been inconvenienced by magic... who knows what they might think?

But he said that he came from a land filled with it. That there was a school, and oh, Elsa can't keep the awe off her face at that. If he's used to it, then... this should be okay...]

Yes, I was. [She looks a bit sheepish at that.] I'm sorry. I've been able to get a grip on controlling it, but after waking up in unfamiliar surroundings, it just... slipped.

[defyingfrigidity]

[Elsa looks apologetic almost immediately after her small outburst.] I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I'm just terribly confused, and... [A pause, and her brows furrow.] Excuse me... you said you were a troll?

[She remembers trolls. She had first seen the creatures on what was possibly the worst night of her life, so how could she forget? But this boy... save for the skin color, he bears no resemblance to those small rock creatures.] You're... different from the trolls I've seen.

[lupinotuum]

[ Remus smiles and nods in understanding. He would never say it, but he did understand that feeling. Being brought to a new place with a power that was hard to control and dangerous? He definitely understood that. ]

You don't need to apologize. It happens to all of us.
I was just curious. The Castle can do a lot of things, but I was sure that all of that ice was not something that Paradisa caused. Is it a spell of some sort?

[cant_breathe_no_heir]

[He nods curtly.] I am a Troll of Alternia, so it is unlikely that you have seen one such as I.

[Especially since his world is gone now. But details...]

You've seen trolls before?

[schrodingersghost]

Paradisa. That's the name of this castle.

[Danny shrugs.]

We're all stuck here.

Action forever I TOLD YOU I'D DO IT

[indirectcause]

[Ben steps out into his hallway, mostly to try and find out exactly why there are icicles starting to form at the bottom of his door. What he finds is what looks to be a highly elaborate prank]

What the fuck? It's making it snow indoors now?

[And out he steps, his foot going out from under him on the sleek ice of the floor. Shrieking, he careens into Elsa's door. That would be a loud THUD on the other side, girl]

Ow.

[fuckelves]

[Thorin smiles softly, trying to keep her calm.]

You're not alone. We all started that way - you're in the Castle Paradisa, m'lady.

[He gestures to himself, massive fist pressing to broad, strong chest.]

I am Thorin Oakenshield, son of Thrain, son of Thror, King Under the Mountain. Might I ask your name, m'lady?