008. (v2) [audio + commentlog/open]

[snowtop]

[This feels kind of familiar, but Xanth can't pinpoint why. Maybe he was just used to tons of people bustling about on the Elegante.]

O-Okay, uh, well, h-- hi. I-If you're new, y-you-- you probably-- r-read the thing i-in your journal. A-And if-- if you didn't, well, g-go... do... that?

...

O-Okay. Um. H--Hi. This is H-Holloway's Keep, and... y-you're kind of-- t-trapped. But-- i-it's not that b-bad here? There's-- f-food in the kitchen a-and beds if-- if you need rest a-and... i-it's not as-- bleak a-as it looks. T...Trust me. S-So, for now, s-- stay safe?

A-And please, don't... d-don't-- kill a-anybody.

[Xanth closes his journal and tucks it away for the moment. He's out by the stables, feeding the animals inside and keeping an eye open for anyone he recognizes.

For anyone who saw him when he still had long hair, well, that long hair is gone. He's got a hat on to keep his ears warm, but he is so close to bald now that it's not even funny.]

Comments

[Video]

[ilovemetoo]

[There's a long pause as London just tilts her head at the journal, staring blankly.]

You talk funny! What was I supposed to -

[She pauses to do air quotes.]

"Read?"

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[He bristles a little. Yeah, he talks funny, he knows. But, he's gotta get the newbie oriented, whether she's rude or not.]

The-- i-in your-- j-journal. Th-there's a n-note somewhere-- a-at the, the beginning o-of the book, and it-- i-it tells you... w-what's happened, pr-- pretty m-much.

[Video]

[ilovemetoo]

[She's not rude! She's just helpfully pointing out something that be might not be aware of!]

...book?

[Another head tilt, like the very word 'book' is something strange and foreign sounding.]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[...]

Y-You're... t-- talking... i-into it? It's, th-the thing, i-in-- your hands?

[Maybe this is not her first language?]

[Audio]

[ilovemetoo]

Oh! One of those things Bailey's always yammering on about.

[...no, she's just really not very smart.]

You mean they actually do have all answers?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

W-Well, not-- a-all of them, but, it-- i-it's a start.

[Perhaps she was dropped on her head.]

Did-- you read it y-yet?

[Audio]

[ilovemetoo]

Where's the finish, then? Can't I just skip to that?

[It's a distinct possibility.]

...you want me to read? Right now? In front of you?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

W-Well no, you can-- y-you can read it from r-right there, it-- i-it's--

[Xanth sighs and rubs his forehead.]

B-Basically, your-- your world's g-gone. This is... it's a-all that's-- l-left.

[Audio]

[ilovemetoo]

Ew! This is all that's left? Why would this be all that's left?

[Pause.]

Where'd the world go?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

I-I don't know, a-and-- I-- I-I don't know. B-But it's... i-it's what we h-have, so, it-- i-it's what w-we deal with.

[Hope you like cold showers and big freakin' poofy dresses, London.]

[Audio]

[ilovemetoo]

...but I'm London Tipton. I don't have to "deal with" things!

[Air quotes again there. Also, oooo. Big poofy dresses!]

[Audio]

[snowtop]

Uh, um, y-yeah-- you-- y-you kind do. Th-the guy running this-- this place, h-he doesn't-- he doesn't care m-much who a-anybody is.

I-I could-- I could be a-a king, o-or-- or a noble, a-and he w-wouldn't care.

[Audio]

[ilovemetoo]

Hmph! We'll see about that!

[There's a pause, and then a sudden, ear-piercing shriek of anguish.]

Oh my god! It's - it's horrible!

[Audio]

[snowtop]

[SWEET GODS, blow out his eardrums, why doesn't she! After a moment of cringing recovery, Xanth bites his lip and nods.]

Y-Yeah. It's-- um. I-It's a p-pretty... bad s-- situa-- situation.

[He understands if you want to panic and/or cry. He did both!]