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[changethings]

I can't believe I'm doing this. [ Henry said use the journal, so she is using it. To talk to other people. With their own journals. Supposedly it's 'magic' but Emma has her doubts. Magic isn't real. Neither are curses and happy endings. ]

Hi. [ Best conversation starter ever. ] Can someone please explain to me what the hell is going on here? I keep hearing things about magic and castles and god knows what else--just, I need someone who isn't ten years old with an overactive imagination to enlighten me here.

However, mention anything about Evil Queens or curses and I reserve every right to throw this damn book into the fire. [ And punch you. But she'll keep that part to herself. ]

Comments

[fluthlu]

[How's "fourteen years old and precocious" for you, Emma?]

I'm afraid any correct answer you'll receive is going to be thoroughly doused in magic, castles, and a healthy slice of "god knows what else."

[changethings]

[ NOT ALL THAT BETTER. ]

You're joking. [ A beat. ] Please tell me you're joking.

[heloise]

Shall I start by saying welcome?

[fluthlu]

My deepest condolences.

[Just tellin' it like it is!]

[spongetastic]

You don't have to use the word "magic", but that's how a lot of people like to explain things that happen around here.

But we are in a castle. There's really no other word for the building.

[changethings]

[ Groans. Clearly everyone else in this castle is completely nuts, or delusional, or both. ]

Thanks.

[changethings]

Oh, so it's not magic? [ Excuse her while she gives Henry a look. ]

Yeah, that much I figured.

[changethings]

If you want, go ahead.

[heloise]

Well then, welcome.

And how active is one's imagination allowed to be?

[spongetastic]

The scientist types like to call it an alternate dimension.

[changethings]

There really isn't a limit, it's just my kid thinks I broken a curse and we're in a land where fairy tales are real. [ BUT WE'RE NOT. HAHAHAHAHA... BECAUSE FAIRY TALES AREN'T REAL. ]

[changethings]

That sounds just as crazy as the magic theory.

[spongetastic]

Then I would go with whatever theory makes sense to you.

[heloise]

[ She's of the opinion that fairy tales are real enough, in a far away land... ] You may need an overactive imagination to understand this castle.

[changethings]

Problem is neither of them make any sense.

[changethings]

Try me.

[fluthlu]

My pleasure.

[Y so skeptical??]

I can't assure the absence of any curses, but you'll be delighted to know that I haven't seen an Evil Queen in several months, at the very least.

[changethings]

Boy am I glad to hear that. [ See Henry, no Evil Queens. :| ]

[spongetastic]

I don't know how else to explain it. Sorry.

[changethings]

[ A sigh. ] It's fine. [ So she isn't going to get a sane explanation. ] Why don't you just tell me what you do know? No need to translate it to save what's left of my sanity.

[spongetastic]

Okay. What I do know is that the castle is called Cair Paradisa. Most of the time it looks just like a castle, but it can change and take us to different places and times.

People come here from different worlds. In some of those worlds, magic is very real. We have talking animals, demons, angels, aliens, gods... Just about every creature imaginable.

There's a city close by where you can live if the castle isn't your thing. And beyond that is a lot of unexplored land.

[changethings]

[ Emma's silent, giving herself a moment to process everything he's said so far. Honestly? It sounds crazy, absolutely insane. And she wants to argue the opposite, her view of the world demands as much. ]

So I'm stuck, in a castle, with a bunch of people from different worlds--but not only people, there's also all manner of creatures here. Angels, demons, gods? [ Henry better be enjoying the look of utter disbelief on his birth mother's face. ]

Who the hell brought me here? And why? I'm not anything special. [ Despite what her son keeps saying. ]

[spongetastic]

That one we haven't completely answered yet. Most people will say that the castle brought us here, but I personally think there's more to it than that. After all I've seen and experienced the last two years... I don't know, I guess I like the idea of there being more to it than a magic castle taking people away from home.

[rogueofheart]

[Doing the math. A solar sweep is 2.17 Earth years. Multiply that by her six and a half solar sweeps... OH GOOD SHE CAN ANSWER THIS.]

You're in luck! I haven't heard a single thing about any evil queens here. [Which is actually a relief for Nepeta, as well.]

[littlearrow]

What's wrong with being ten? [Or six for that matter.]