Capture 1

[panicswitched]

[ so ashley's been here for just a little bit, but in that time a lot of questions have surfaced. she's ignoring the ones that matter and focusing on the little book. journal thing. really? is this all she gets?

well, the first thing she really does is take her hair down. she likes it much better down than up anyway and now it feels like less like the cabal still have her in their grasp. considering she has her thoughts to herself now and is moving about the lobby under her own power, she's assuming this means she's free.

for various values of "free."

eventually, she pries open the journal, flipping through it as she starts talking to the air around her and wandering the first floor. her tone of voice is condescending, as though she knows someone's listening and wants them to know she's not pleased. ]

So... considering I really don't want to go back the way I came, I propose we play a game. Just me and you, whoever you are. [ she's betting whoever owns this place is getting a kick out of watching her through whatever security system they have and if it's somehow the cabal, she is well-prepared to rip into them for this. ]

'I Spy' or 'Twenty Questions.' Your choice. Go.

Comments

dictated;

[unnaturalpause]

[He was casually sipping tea when he heard that voice. And it's the voice coupled with the questions that confirm that yes, that's who he thinks it is.

And so he scrambles to actually talk to her. It's been far too long since they've had a chat.]

Only if you're willing to explain how the children today play those games.

dictated;

[panicswitched]

[ oh why is it always the voices she wants to hear that make her think it's a trick? and why are they always the first she hears?

there's a very small pause, as though she misses a beat of breathing before she continues, her tone of voice unchanged. ]

Let's see. I say something like 'I spy something brown' and you get to guess what I'm looking at. If you like questions, you think about something and I get twenty yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is. Or we could always play it my favorite way. I get twenty questions to ask you what the hell is going on.

dictated;

[unnaturalpause]

[No, it's okay. At least with her he's not pretending to be a random talking book.

So instead he just rolls with things for now.] Pick on then, Ashley, and I'll do my best to explain it. Though I doubt you'll like the answers you'll get.

dictated;

[panicswitched]

[ she'd probably try to take it apart if he did. well, first thing's first: ]

Where am I?

[teratologist]

[Finally things were settling down, she was back to herself thanks in large part to James, and she was finding her place again. It was good to feel her sanity returned, as she had not felt exactly level since before she left.

Helen took a deep breath and lifted her cup for a sip of tea.

And then there was that voice....

The cup clattered to the floor and Helen lunged for the journal, the first time she called her daughters name her voice had no sound to it. The second succeeded brilliantly.]

Ashley!

[panicswitched]

[ ashley pauses in her walking at that voice, a slight hitch to her breath coming with heartache that she pushes very far down. only a slight waver to her voice gives her away. ]

Giving me the voice of someone I want most to hear from? So cliche. Nice try. It's not gonna work.

[teratologist]

Well, I'm glad you have some of your mother's intelligence, I said the same when I lost my mind thinking I heard you in the halls. [Her voice was even now, the same steady Helen Magnus the world had come to know for so long. So few could hear past that.]

This is a cruel trick if I am losing my sanity only having just gotten it back, or if you are not Ashley Magnus.

[And if that be the case, something would die painfully for using her daughter's likeness.]

Dictated forever

[mal_addict]

[Normally, she wouldn't have really given this a second glance. Another newbie, another person demanding the whats and wherefores.

BUT James and Helen's interest in this has sparked her own]

Seems you're already known here.

Dictated forever!

[panicswitched]

I always like it when my reputation precedes me. [ she'll sound less obnoxious later. and probably apologize. ] Name's Ashley. But I think you guys know that already.

[mal_addict]

I didn't, but it's a pleasure to meet you regardless. The name's Maladict.

[silentrunning]

[A scrawl appears in her journal.]

Twenty questions?

[panicswitched]

[ first it talks, then it writes. okay, she writes back. ]

Where you think of something and I get twenty questions to figure out what it is.

[silentrunning]

[Chell thinks for a minute before writing back.]

Ok. I got one. Let's play.

[As an afterthought]

Unless you'd like to think of something for me to guess.

[sword_redemption]

I don't know either of those games.

[panicswitched]

I say something like 'I spy something brown' and you get to guess what I'm looking at. If you like questions, you think about something and I get twenty yes-or-no questions to figure out what it is.

[sword_redemption]

[He considers.]

I think the first one. I don't think I know anything to think about you could guess.

[And that would make it cheating or something, right?]

action

[inafadingcrown]

[And tucked away in a corner of the lobby where it's easy to miss her there is a very tall, very elegant elf reading a book. Or she was until Ashley arrived and proceeded to become much more interesting. She watches for a moment, taking note of the way the girl carries herself, her posture. Interesting indeed.]

I fear you will receive no answer from our captor, if that is whom you address. I, however, would be more than willing to answer answer your questions, whatever their number.

action

[panicswitched]

[ ashley starts visibly, whipping around to face this new person. her eyes search the woman up and down carefully, her body language reading tense, as though she's expecting someone to try to attack her. ]

So I'm not the only one who's been graced with this lovely relocation. [ she'll apologize for being snappy later, galadriel. ] Who are you?

[inafadingcrown]

Not at all. Unfortunately, quite a number of us have been drawn here. [And Galadriel sets the book aside and rises with her usual grace, utterly at ease. Whatever dangers may be here, it's clear that she's not worried about them at the moment.] I am called Galadriel.

[Not much of an answer, but then it wasn't a very specific question. Elves, man. What can you do?]

[originalcopy]

How about no.

[panicswitched]

Why not? Too cool for a simple game?

[originalcopy]

Yup.

dictated

[vampirize]

[Oh...um. Well. Not that he hasn't had to deal with people coming back from the dead before here, but this is the first time in two years here in the castle when Ashley has arrived.]

[Well, this is going to be interesting for Helen, that's for sure.]

How old are you? Five?

Also, here's a question- you're not still pumped up on vampire steroids, are you? Just curious.

[BEST AT THESE "WELCOMING BACK THE DEAD" THINGS]

dictated

[panicswitched]

[ oh great. him. she was so hoping never to see him again. or... hear from him, as the case may be. ]

If I'm five, that must make you two.

[ children... ]

You know, I think they misnamed you. Should've been "Prince Charming." [ can you hear the sarcasm? also, that's a no, nikola. she's got the abilities, but she's perfectly sane. ]

dictated

[vampirize]

I think you're getting your math wrong, there. Ageless immortal vampire here, remember?

[Well, that answers his questions. No, she isn't all vamped up like the last time he ever saw her, so it is a relief to hear that sarcasm, it is.]

Yes, because I make it a daily mission of mine to save any damsels in distress.

Unfortunately, I don't consider you one of them.