action.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo arrives rolling and tumbling across the floor.

There was a great shadow over him then, something with a terrible stench and legs too numerous to count. And now, light. He shields himself from the brightness and scoots back until he bumps against the wall, then scrambles to find shelter behind a couch. It hurts his eyes. The air is suddenly too clear, everything too clean. He fears it is a trick.

He speaks in a hush, afraid to alert the enemies but more afraid of being alone. ]

Sam? Where are you, Sam?

Comments

[wilder]

[He snorts, crossing his arms and not moving from his spot.]

Oh really? What part?

[bronwe]

[ ZELOS NO. He's the worst liar, but he scrambles to his bare furry feet now and tries to stare this man down. ]

That is no business of yours.

[wilder]

[Which staring down might be more effective if you didn't come up to his stomach. He seems simply mildly amused]

Right. Must be the tower without a working bath.

[Since man nothing like a journey through mordor to make you reek. ]

Don't worry, I'm not interested in killing or torturing or inflicting injury or capturing or selling you stuff- you know, whatever it is that's got you worried.

[bronwe]

[ don't be racist Frodo frowns, but it must be a good sign that the man minds the stench of having crawled through half-digested orc remains. He's almost convinced. ]

Which part do you come from?

[wilder]

[Yeah let's just say there's more than just scaring you off he refuses to step closer]

Me? The imperial city of Meltokio in the kingdom of Tethe'alla.

If you've never heard of it, that's because we're both on a different world called Paradisa.

[bronwe]

[ Now he doubts the man's story, if not his good intention. ]

Which door did we step through to come so far?

[wilder]

[He shrugs]

No idea. Current theory that it's more like we got kidnapped by whatever controls this place. Sometimes people will get sent back to the exact time and place they left, but besides that no one knows a way out yet.

[bronwe]

[ He frowns as if his head is going to explode. ]

I don't understand.

[wilder]

Most new people don't.

[Even he took some time to wrap his head around it]

But if I was trying to trick you, I'd like to think I'd spin a more believable tale.

[bronwe]

Someone meaning to trick me would know spinning a more believable tale is less believable, and so spin me a fancier tale.

[wilder]

[He quirks his eyebrow. First time someone's come up with that reasoning huh]

Sounds like a lot of effort for a rank guy that comes to my waist with no shoes.

[bronwe]

[ Now that you've put it that way... Frodo looks to his feet, abashed, suddenly feeling small. ]

It sounds like a lot of effort for you to even speak to one such as I.

[wilder]

I heard someone behind the couch. Didn't sound like children playing games, so I felt I should check it out.

[He'll relax a little, uncrossing his arms to put on on his hip- sensing the fact that he hit this dude with a blunt hammer]

Anyway, I have nothing to do with this place. Got brought here same as you. I don't know what your story is, what's got you so paranoid or....what you even are, and I'm really not looking to hear it either if you feel it's your own business. I try to keep up a policy of keeping outta the problems of other worlds, much as I can.

We clear on that much?

[bronwe]

[ Well that sure sounds much like a normal hobbit closing off the outside world. Frodo is glad for how candid he is at least, he doesn't believe the story is a trick. ]

Yes. I have no wish to tell you more than I need to, so we are agreed.

[wilder]

[Well when you're partly responsible for the fate of two worlds not to mention surviving this one? One feels rather secure in rejecting piling more onto that task pile]

Cool.

I won't tell you to relax, for it's possible some of your enemies are here. But hey, maybe you'll get lucky and have some friends here too from wherever you're from.

[bronwe]

[ he shares this sentiment, though he won't say it in so many words! ]

I come from-- [ Shire might be a dangerous name to repeat, but maybe. ] We call our world Middle Earth. Or Arda.

[wilder]

Middle Earth?

[OH hey wait he knows that place...]

[Sure is weird that Galadriel didn't mention giant gnomelettes being part of the scene]

Does Lady Galadriel and Lord Celeborn of Lothlórien ring any bells?

[bronwe]

[ Frodo isn't sure what's the right thing to say now. Would it be suspicious if he knows them, would it put anyone in danger? ]

They are among the wisest and most powerful in my world.

[wilder]

Hm. Well when you live as long as they do...

[Vague answer, but Zelos is going to stick to his 'i don't care' promise]

Anyway, the Lady is good friends with a relative of mine, [relative, blueprints for crazy eugenics project- same diff] so we speak on occasion. Sure she'll be glad to see someone else from her world. You can probably reach her through the journal or check her room on the third floor. Maybe she'll help you figure things out.

[bronwe]

[ Frodo nods slowly, trying to curb his gladness at that news. He would tread wisely with the Lady, but he knows that she is wise and would work for good. He shouldn't make his familiarity so apparent, however. ]

Perhaps I will. She might yet find time to attend to my appeal.

[wilder]

[a small amused noise. It's been a long time since he's seen that much formality shown towards nobility. He certainly hasn't received it since arriving here, not that he minds]

[But he'll start turning as if to leave. He gave the direction to a person from his world, one that he knows is good hands, what more does he need to do?]

I'm sure she will.

[bronwe]

[ He is somewhat glad that he doesn't mean to meddle, despite his state. It lets him calm down more. He makes a move to follow, but stops when the man speaks. ]

But I haven't caught your name.

[wilder]

[Oh. Right. He always forgets he has to INTRODUCE himself here. Sheesh. He'll look over his shoulder]

I'm the great Zelos Wilder, but you can call me Zelos. And you?

[bronwe]

[ This dude calls himself The Great. He tries not to give him a weird look. ]

You can call me Frodo.

[wilder]

[Y e p he sure does. But he seems amused by the guy trying not to give a weird look]

Frodo, huh? A pleasure!