Arrival!

[ruin_mania]

[Good morning, Paradisa! Thanks to a little getting-up-at-the-crack-of-dawn, the expedition-goers will be crossing the Dead Zone border about ten AM today and from there it's just a quick TARDIS jump back to the castle. They come bearing news, stolen gold, reports of the Totem Coast and the Lastlook river, and even a guest or two.

For some it's a relief to get back to the castle - it's been insistently tugging at the residents the entire time they've been gone - and for others it's like shouldering a weight again. A few unexpected disappearances along the way bring some solemnity to the group, but despite the rough conditions along the way the group as a whole seems to be rather upbeat. Maybe it's just the prospect of a hot shower and a meal they don't have to cook themselves, or maybe it's the lowered stress of having been away from the castle for a while. Maybe both.

Feel free to mingle, run for your rooms, or just sit back and relax after a long three weeks, and thanks for exploring!]

Comments

[whichwayyoulean]

I don't know, are you going to turn it into a little cube?

[mispronunciates]

Only if you want me to. Otherwise I could just, well, you know. Carry it.

[with his scrawny little arms. ... okay so maybe he'd make it about halfway up the tower before he gave up and dehydrated it anyway]

[whichwayyoulean]

[...And yet the Once-ler would find that entertaining to watch]

Knock yourself out, I warn you though, it's heavy. [It's got an ugly ass statue in it]

[mispronunciates]

[Once-ler you douchenozzle, stop taking advantage of the newbie hero. he just wants friends]

Heavy? Well, er. No problem. .... Got it.

[and thus he hefted it up with confidence!!! ....okay maybe the initial attempt nearly dislocated his shoulder, DETAILS. eventually he does pick it up in a manner conducive to carrying, and grunts through his teeth, trying to still sound pleasant:]

Lead the way...!

[whichwayyoulean]

[Friends totally carry other friends stuff around, no really]

...You sure you're not gonna put your back out with that?

[Heading on up the stairs]

[mispronunciates]

[one word a step, here, trying to sound nonchalant]

Oh -

I'll -

be -

fine.

[whichwayyoulean]

[He'll slow a little, watching Megamind's trek]

You sure? You look like you're about to pass out.

[mispronunciates]

[yes, this is good, answering questions means he can stop to breathe.]

Please, I do this all the tiiiiiime.

[whichwayyoulean]

...You do know there's like...a ton of stairs and no elevator, right? I live at the very top of the tower.

[Dude don't die on him, he can't explain that stuff to Martel]

[mispronunciates]

[he does a looooooong, slow take up all those stairs, then looks down at the bag...]

Well, in thaaaat case.

[Yup, sure is dehydrating that bag of yours now, Once. bloop. he picks it up, tosses it up in the air and catches it, then resumes climbing]

All the way at the top, you say? I bet the view is in-cred-EE-blay.

[whichwayyoulean]

Yeah. Thought so.

[The Once-ler sounds out in-cred-EE-blay out to himself quietly, his brow furrowing. The hell does that even mean?] Oh, I wouldn't know. I boarded up all my windows.

[mispronunciates]

[he means what he says, Once, gosh. but then it's his turn to frown] .... Do you have super secret things in there, or something? Why would you board up windows if you can actually have them?

[whichwayyoulean]

Well, I do in my workshop sometimes but that's...not exactly why I do it. It's a long story, but let's take the easy route here and say me and direct sunlight are not the best of buddies.

[mispronunciates]

[he stops ascending again after a few steps and turns to peer at him]

But you don't look like an albino ...

[whichwayyoulean]

[...What even. The Once-ler furrows his brow, trying to follow whatever train of thought led Megamind to this stop]

...I'm not an albino. Lack of pink eyes and see, black hair. Black.

[mispronunciates]

... That's what I said, you don't look like one. .... So why is the sun so much of a problem?

[whichwayyoulean]

It's not that it'll hurt me. It's more a...personal issue sort of thing.