first design [ dictated / action ]

[arealwoman]

Well since this thing's already decided to announce that I'm here it seems pointless to stay silent on it, although I still don't really know how I feel about the whole thing.

[ If you can hear the sound of chopping in the background? That's because she is. She's making a sandwich ]

I find it hard to believe that I'd be the only one to say this but it's crazy. Magic and castle's that can bring you here? It's not right, although neither is a lot that I've known about but that's slightly different still.

And an even better part than that? I've heard that even worse things can happen, although to whoever told me that's not exactly the kind of thing that you want to hear when you've just been whisked off to some strange place. It's not exactly comforting when you know absolutely nothing about any of this stuff.

And for everyone else here? I don't know how you can handle it. Kids running around and things just happening? It's madder by the minute.

[ There's a pause as Christina thinks, and stops chopping ]

I guess what I want to know is how do you handle it? Especially when this kind of thing just doesn't exist? Because I'm already starting to wonder if I've gone crazy, although I certainly couldn't have come up with anything like this. I hope, anyway.

[ And anyone around? Come find her in the kitchen ]

Comments

[blue_sniper]

Sorry. You did ask. But really, this place in some ways is better than the life I left. [There were people trying to kill him, and they actually succeeded.]

And there are a lot of people who are incredibly nice here. I know some people may feel like it's a prison, but... it's not all bad.

[arealwoman]

Aye but I wasn't expecting anything brutal.

[ It may have been a little too honest? ]

And how exactly is it not so bad?

[blue_sniper]

[Bucky is usually incredibly blunt, unless your name happens to be Steve, and even then he's still pretty blunt.]

Well, for one there's not a war going on, so you're mostly safe. People don't generally die here. Sometimes you might even get people you know. My best friend is here. Arrived about the same time as me.

...We're two years apart in time, I'll admit, but it's better than nothing.

[arealwoman]

[ Oh she's used to blunt, she usually is too but right now she doesn't want it ]

That's not making me think that here's any better. There only wars going on are fashion wars and usually the only casualties there are the designs, and pride. And my friends are home, I don't need them here when they're already there - I need to be there.

[blue_sniper]

...Fashion wars? [Bucky is amused. He didn't think there were such things as fashion wars.]

Sorry, I can't really help with that. This place does what it wants. All you can really do is make the most of it while you're here. ...Has anybody told you that time doesn't pass when you're here? You get returned the second you left.

[arealwoman]

It isn't something that you want to be caught up in, trust me. [ And sadly she sometimes was ]

I'm sorry, what? [ That was just getting added to the pile of things that she wasn't sure how to comprehend ]

[blue_sniper]

I'm already caught up in a real war, what more could a fashion war do to me? [He's trying to make a joke and get her to lighten up.]

That's at least what I've heard. When you're here, time doesn't pass for you. When the castle decides to send you back, you'll return the second it took you.

[arealwoman]

Sorry. [ She is. And his joke? Sadly doesn't work as well as he'd probably like ]

Well that could be a bit of a problem.

[blue_sniper]

I wouldn't worry about it. [He looks at her, though, taking her clothes.] You're from around 2010, right?

...How is that a problem?

[arealwoman]

[ Given the 'two years apart' thing she really should have been less surprised at his guess at the year, although it still showed in her expression ] No, 2008. You're not? [ If he was guessing?

And. Oh. He may have been friendly and explaining things simply but that wasn't somewhere that she was ready to go yet ] Forget that.

[blue_sniper]

No. 1944, actually. I could tell because I know a few people from the 2000s and they dress like you. 2010 seemed like a nice, round number.

[He looks at her curiously, but drops it.]

[arealwoman]

Oh. [ And then they were back to things that Christina wasn't even ready to comprehend. Two years was one thing but 1944? ]

That has to be different.

[blue_sniper]

It can be. I would like to say that I didn't blow up the microwave, before you ask. That microwave's been through enough. [He glances over at it.] People from different worlds like to shove anything in there.

Though I have to admit, the fridge is a novelty. They were around, but I was way too poor to even attempt to afford one.

[arealwoman]

I wasn't planning on asking. [ She'd seen that notice yesterday on the 'rules' but the fact that anyone might have done it? Yesterday she didn't know that people weren't from the same time ]

Apparently this one's always empty. [ Or so Carson had mentioned ]

[blue_sniper]

I have noticed that. There's a lot of people here. If I get really hungry I sometimes wish up food. [he's never found anything wrong with it, even though some people are suspicious.]

[arealwoman]

Wishing, ah. [ She gave a small, slow nod at that. For her sandwich she'd managed to make it without doing so but... would she have to? ]

That's still new.

[blue_sniper]

Be as specific as possible if you ever do wish for something. The Castle has some sort of wicked sense of humor.

But if you have money, there is a town and lots of shops. Including restaurants.

[arealwoman]

This is becoming another thing I'm not sure if I want to know.

[ And it's still simple information but overloading ]

There's a town?

[blue_sniper]

Yeah. City Royale. Follow the road out of the castle and you'll see it. Can't miss it, actually. It's pretty huge. Some of the residents actually move out and live there.

[arealwoman]

At least there's something here. You'd think everyone would be out. [ If she stayed for long she'd probably want to go ]

[blue_sniper]

Hey, I like it here. [Better than where he'd been sleeping for the past two years. ...Actually, better than their tiny apartment in Brooklyn.] And a lot of people don't have the money. My best friend wants to move out-he's working at the Lux in the lobby.

[arealwoman]

You like being in a castle that can do strange things? Don't get me wrong it's been sort of welcoming but don't you feel weird?

[ She already did a little ]

Jobs too? Thing place has thought of everything.

[blue_sniper]

[He shrugs.] I guess it depends on the person and the situation they came from. I'd rather be alive and in this Castle than dead.

And no, it's the people who think up these things, not the Castle. Some people have been here for four, five years. For them it's probably home now.

[arealwoman]

I'd hope there's no one who wished they were dead.

Five years here? That exit must be hidden.

[blue_sniper]

Well, not wished. Just brought here after they've died.

And I don't think there is an exit. I think it's if the Castle gets tired of you.