001 {dictated}

[ol_northy]

[Well, after having arrived a little while ago, North has kept a watchful eye on the communications of others, and he's got an idea of what he ought to be doing.

It's been a harrowing trip--mentally, at least--and he's still slightly confused by the situation. Last thing he knew, he wasn't conscious. And now he's been deposited in a place that's about as mysterious as it gets.

He stands in the lobby of the castle in full armor, book open, and decides to introduce himself. Voice muted by the helmet, he addresses the general populace.]

Don't stop me if you've heard this one before. This is North, and I'm less lost than I am confused. Anybody care to give a guy the grand tour?

[After which point he just shrugs at the damn thing and tucks it away in his armor. With a shake of his head, he takes off his helmet, and begins to wander the lobby.]

Comments

[i_got_this]

[His relief just stabs her more, and she hides it behind her own brand of anger.] Only ten fucking months.

[Which for someone who's never spent much time away from her twin, was an awfully long time.] It's bat-shit insane around here.

[ol_northy]

You know, I did it on purpose, not showing up.

[His own tiny brand of sarcasm. Casually, he starts walking over to her. He still feels a little weird from the trip in, but hey! So it goes.]

[i_got_this]

[She scoffs at him, turning away and crossing her arms. She doesn't move away but she doesn't come any closer.]

Yeah well it's been a real picnic. You wouldn't believe what I've been through here already. [Accusing, she may know it's not his fault but it's her way to expound her every trial and tribulation.]

[ol_northy]

[Throwing another fit, South? Come on.]

If you want to go ahead and tell me, it'll help me understand what I'm in for.

[He'll keep walking up until he's right beside her.]

[i_got_this]

[She's tense, just barely resisting the urge to move back another step.]

Oh, well. A cat literally stole my tongue. I was trapped in nightmares for three days. The castle forced us to kiss people, [That was a bit of an exaggeration because she enjoyed that part], Wash shot me, I've been horse sick, boat sick, and walked in on York and Carolina doing the nasty. And that's just half of it.

[ol_northy]

[Well. Okay.

South kissing people, not too shocking. York and Carolina, not shocking at all. Cats stealing tongues is disturbing and completely confusing, but that's not really his sticking point.]

Why did Wash shoot you?

[i_got_this]

[Oh shit, did she say that? Oh shit she did, didn't she. She pales entirely and staggers back and up a step, needing that distance again. She didn't want to, absolutely couldn't tell him why, and the sudden realization that she'd just dug such a hole so soon made her tighten in a brief panic again.]

What does it matter? He apologized. Fact is you can't guarantee people are going to treat you like you remember.

[ol_northy]

[Something here is completely wrong, and he's starting to get worried. In fact, he'll just go ahead and address that. She shouldn't be freaking out over him being here, or so he thinks. Shouldn't she be relieved?]

It matters. What's wrong? This is extreme, even for you.

[i_got_this]

Ten months. North. On my own, okay? What I've always wanted, and you show up out of nowhere. I can handle myself. I know no one thinks I can, but I can. [A bold-faced lie, one she knows by now. There is a part of her that's flooded with relief to see him here, to know the castle didn't steal his memories of her, but at the moment it's drown out by her own fears and insecurities.]

[ol_northy]

[He knows when to back off and leave her be just as well as he knows when he needs to put his foot down. This is a strange combination of both. On the one hand, she's throwing a hissy fit at him being here, when he just arrived and he's trying to figure out what the hell is going on. On the other hand, maybe he's stepping in at an inopportune moment, Something she doesn't want him to know about. Who knows?]

So, what, you want me to disappear? Sorry, I can't. But I can leave you alone. Just don't get too far out of line.

[i_got_this]

[She crosses her arms, almost hugging herself, as she struggles internally for a moment. She hadn't had much of an informative entrance aside from Washington shooting her and Carolina taking her to the clinic, so it hasn't occurred to her to maybe explain things.]

Glad you're finally here.

[She hesitates anothe rmoment, and then turns and takes the stairs two at a time back up to her room.]

[ol_northy]

[Though he's a bit skeptical about what she says, he notes that she's being about as sincere as she gets. He'll let it go, see if it passes. And then he'll have questions. Lots and lots of questions. None of them pleasant.

She'll have her time to herself, and if she does something out of line, well... He'll just have to get her back in it.]

See you, South.