paradisa | Happy? Valentine's Day Back dated to the fourteenth

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Happy? Valentine's Day Back dated to the fourteenth

[Bruce Banner went to sleep in his own bed, feeling only the vaguest sense of unease. He is never truly comfortable in the castle, knowing the games the castle likes to play. Holidays, he has learned the hard way, are worse. He's not exactly planning on fasting on Valentine's Day, but he is going to keep his food plain and simple. Of course, it won't surprise him, if the castle decides to spike the water.

What Bruce wasn't expecting was to wake up somewhere other than his own bed, but that is exactly what happens. Sitting up, he sees himself surrounded by forest and...not alone. Moaning, Bruce draws his knees to his chest, covering his face with his hands, while massaging his temples. This is just so not good!]

Uh...miss?

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[The previous day had been a mentally exhausting one for Sheena, and she had climbed into bed gratefully and with the plan on staying there and away from any castle shenanigans that may arise. Holidays aren't safe in Paradisa, and who knows what the castle had planned for everyone?

Certainly not her.

Of all the things she may have expected--including the tainted candy from last year--what she had woken up to hadn't been one of them. Smelling the forest plants around her, she had initially thought she was dreaming and had kept her eyes closed--until a distinctly masculine voice intruded the "dream". Then, eyes popping open, she bolted upright and stared at the man, shocked.]

What the...? Who the hell are you? And what the hell's going on?

[Yeah, she doesn't take surprises well.]

I'm not really sure. [Bruce smiles ruefully at her, keeping his hands visible and still.] My name is Bruce Banner. Um. I woke up here, next to you. I guess the castle is active again.

[Sheena just stares at him for a moment before sighing heavily and rolling her eyes in frustration.]

If I didn't know better, I'd swear it "played dead" to trick us into thinking we were safe this year.

[At least he hadn't taken advantage of the situation, for which he earns several respect points. She takes a breath to relax and puts her hand out.]

Sheena Fujibayashi. Any idea where we are? It looks like a place near where I grew up.

I know what you mean. I was really hoping to avoid all of this by fasting.

[He looks around, then shakes his head. Smiling wryly, he shakes her hand.]

Um, no, I can't say this looks familiar, just very forest-like. Where did you grow up?

[Sheena stares at him, confused, for a moment, before nodding her head in realization.]

Does that mean you were here last year for the weird candy?

[It's obvious she had been, and she immediately looks around quickly, trying to see if there's some in the room, sighing in relief when she doesn't see any.

When she turns back to him, it's in time to answer his question, and she deadpans:]

Near a forest. [Then she's chuckling.] Seriously, I did. There was a forest right next to the village where I grew up. And this [She points.] looks a lot like it.

No, but I've heard plenty about it from people who were. I started receiving warnings about it around Christmas time, actually.

[He gives an unamused laugh, shrugging tightly. He smiles at her answer.]

Fair enough. If we're near your village, do you think you could find your way to it?

[Once again, Sheena nods.]

I had tried to stay away from the castle last year, thinking it would help, but it hadn't. I learned that no matter where you are, the castle's going to do things to you if it really wants to.

[She shrugs and gives out a small chuckle.]

It's not exactly being prepared, but at least when things happen, the shock wears off fast.

[Looking around, she thinks she can spot a path through the foliage and nods.]

I used to play in the forest all the time, and went through it again before coming here, so yeah, I should be able to.

[The idea that it's not really home hasn't quite hit her yet.]

[Bruce nods.] It's frustrating, not being able to do anything, but expect the worst. Unfortunately, that's the only option I can see, yeah.

[He gives a tight smile. He's just grateful the castle didn't take away his pajamas.]

Great. I think we should head there. It might not be any safer, but we can see what's going on and if there are others from the castle here.

[Sheena's smile fades.]

It's not an option I like, though. People tend to start being suspicious of everyone and everything after a while. Don't get me wrong, a little suspicion can be a good thing, but paranoia isn't. I just hope I don't become someone like--

[She suddenly stops and begins looking around, her eyes narrowed.]

Then again, maybe I should be.

[She turns to him, her attention wandering from him to all around them.]

Did you go into a lot of forests back home?

No, I don't like it, either, I admit.

[Bruce looks around, frowning, hoping nothing was wrong.]

Um, I wouldn't say a lot, but I've spent some time in them, when traveling.

[She can hear birds chirping, but she can't see them, which isn't so unusual, but...]

Are there monsters in those forests? I don't mean normal large forest creatures. But monsters.

[Because where the heck were the ones here? If this is truly home, there should be some heading towards them now.]

Uh, no, not really. Most of the monsters in my world are human shaped. I mean, even the ones that are big and scary look human at times. Did that make sense?

[Of course, any forest that has him in it has at least one monster.]

[She nods in response. Human-shaped monsters exist on her world, too. Except...]

I don't think this is my world. There aren't any monsters. And why would the castle send us to a place on a bed?

[She's got a bad feeling about this.]

[He may think he's one, but she doesn't.]

Why does the castle do anything? It not only like annoying us, but I think it likes being weird too. Personally, I'm glad there are no monsters, so far. If this isn't your world, we should try to find a water source. Human settlements tend to be near them.

[She can't argue with that. And in fact, she chuckles a bit.]

"Weird" is a good way to put it. "Unpredictable" is also another.

[And Sheena usually doesn't handle surprises well, but her time in the castle may be making her immune to them.]

Yeah, you're right. [Nothing like a pair of strangers in pajamas suddenly showing up, but you gotta do what you gotta do. She looks around and spots what appears to be a thicker span of plant life and points.]

How about we head that way?

Yeah, unpredictable works. [He gives a grim chuckle. One day he hopes someone gives the castle an equally nasty surprise. He looks at the thicker vegetation and nods.] Yeah, that way looks promising.

Edited 2014-03-26 05:21 (UTC)

Mmm-mmm. [She nods emphatically in agreement, and his hope had already become reality--when the residents blew up a good portion of it. They just need to do that again.

Taking a deep breath, she nods again.]

All right, then let's go.

[And she starts in that direction, her steps still cautious even without the presence of monsters.]

After you. [Bruce followed, keeping alert, feeling the Hulk growl in the back of his mind. Bruce knew, if Hulk was here, he would leap, not walk, smashing trees and roaring.]

Okay. [Sheena takes off, but doesn't get to far when she stops and tilts her head, looking at the "forest" ahead of them.]

Something's wrong. This doesn't look right.

[She'll try to keep him calm if that's what Bruce needs, but what she's discovered may not work out that way...]

[Bruce can't help tensing a bit, but he controls his breathing and his emotions, turning to logic.]

How long has it been, since you were here? I mean, a forest doesn't stay the same, really. Even old trees can change a bit in appearance and memories can go hazy...

[Sheena shakes her head.]

It's not that it's changed, really. But how it looks. It doesn't look like it should. Like it's almost flat--like a painting.

[She reaches out slowly. Seriously, if she touches a wall, she's punching it.]

[Bruce frowned, watching her.] Be careful, even if this is all fake, we don't know what the castle might have done to create this scenario...or where we actually are.

[Sheena pulls her hand back slightly as a certain memory comes up.]

This had better not be another portal or something into that weird world we went into once. I really don't want to deal with painted flowers again.

[She hadn't been too fond of Wonderland.]

But there's really only one way to find out, isn't there?

[And she reaches out again, her look determined.]

You're right. Go ahead. [Bruce prepares himself, ready to unleash the Hulk at the first sign of real danger. His eyes go green and he feels the Hulk rumbling.]

[Sheena doesn't see the change in his eyes, since she's too busy focusing on her hand at the moment. Although, the moment her hand meets a hard resistance and splays out flat, a low growl can be heard.]

You've got to be kidding me! A wall?! It is a painting!

[Bruce touches the wall, too, grimacing.]

Okay. Let's follow the wall and see if we can find either a door or window.

[Sheena nods, her expression solemn.]

Somehow, I have the feeling that we're not as far from the Castle as we originally thought. At least, not on another planet.

[Because they could still be anywhere, right?]

[Bruce nodded.]

I think you're right, but we won't know, until we get out of here. Far all we know, the castle could change the rules as we go along.

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Happy? Valentine's Day Back dated to the fourteenth

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And then they walk into a wall...LOL

LOL Just his luck...

LOL Hers, too!

Re: LOL Hers, too!

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