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

[Commentlog]

[time_to_go_pro]

[Pike happens to be close-by when Xanth makes that little announcement. Don't kill anybody? Sure, he'll think about it.]

Hey. What do you mean, trapped?

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[JUMPS

Yeah, he didn't think anybody was nearby. He almost dropped the appls in his arms!]

Um, uh, well. I-I mean-- t-- trapped. L-Like, can't-- can't go home, c-can't leave... th--the whole-- thing.

S-Sorry.

[Commentlog]

[time_to_go_pro]

[That's not a good answer.]

Really.

[Xanth may notice he has something more than dropped apples to worry about, because Pike has just pulled out a pistol and is grabbing at Xanth's collar.]

You see, I was in the middle of something important. Being trapped in some keep is a little inconvenient.

[Pike is not much nicer up close than he is at a distance. He's very angry, and Xanth may notice that there's an irritated redness around his eyes. This is not a man having a good day, and it looks like he's prepared to take it out on someone else.]

[Commentlog]

[snowtop]

[There go all those apples.

Xanth gasps and throws his hands up defensively. Pike has a good hold on his collar and he might have tried to wiggle away if not for the gun.

Fear sets in and his breaths come quick and sharp.]

Ah, um, uh, I-I'm sorry, r-really, I-- p-please, do-- d-don't--

[Commentlog]

[time_to_go_pro]

[That's a little better.]

Now that I'm sure I have your attention, are you sure you can't think of any way out of here? I'm a busy man with places to be, and people to deal with.

[He punctuates that last sentence by tapping the pistol barrel against Xanth's chin.]

I can't really remember if these guys had CR but I missed you and hello and ilu

[survivorking]

[And there's another, vaguely familiar voice over the communicators-- is it just Damas, or does he sound more scared than he used to?]

I THINK THEY TALKED ONCE also hi :333

[snowtop]

[Xanth doesn't hear anything through the journal, but there's a signature there. Damas? Hmm...]

Um, he-- hello?

PRETEND HER EYES ARE BLACK

[indestinysembrace]

[Kairi blunders into the stables to escape the cold.

She's thin. She's filthy. Her clothes are so tattered, it looks like she tore off the hem of her dress herself, and there is blood and dirt staining the pink denim. She stinks of salt and sweat and is sporting a bright red sunburn as well as more than a few cuts and bruises. Her eyes are also black from whites through to pupils.

But all the anxiety seems to drain out of her as she spots Xanth.]

Xanth!

SURE THING

[snowtop]

[Xanth turns around at the call of his name. Already, something felt off, but then Xanth sees Kairi standing there.

Something is very wrong.]

K-Kairi!

[He drops the apples in his arms and runs to her side. She looks terrible, all skin and bones and bloody tatters. Already, he's pulling off his coat to give to her, but then he catches sight of her eyes and stops cold.]

K... K-Kairi?

[Though it sounds the same, it's a different name entirely, and the word feels strange in Xanth's mouth. This isn't Kairi, this is Kairi. This is the Kairi he knew, the Kairi from before...

The Kairi on the M.S. Elegante.]

[indestinysembrace]

[She throws her arms round his shoulders and kisses him, hard and brief and on the mouth before enveloping him in an almost desperate hug.]

You're okay. How did we get here? Have you seen Riku?

[snowtop]

[Xanth is so surprised by the kiss that he hasn't a moment to respond. Before he could kiss back, she'd already broken away. Without even thinking, he hugs her back.

As she spoke, his mind reeled. Kairi had to be from the Shore - never on the Elegante had she wasted so far away. If Kairi was from the Shore, then the Kairi from here - where was she? Did she vanish? What did this Kairi know?

Focus, he told himself. One thing at a time.]

I-- I-I-- I'll explain, but, w-when-- when was th-the last time you a--ate?

[indestinysembrace]

Hm?

[The last time she ate? She doesn't know and it's not important. He should know anyway. He was with-]

What happened to your hair?

[And his clothes. And... Soemthing isn't right.]

[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?

[commentlog]

[nerdburd]

[There's a blue colored parrot, who seems to be looking around and squawking nervously on the grass. For anyone with a translator they'd understand him. He's calling for someone named "Linda".

Then he stops, seeing the boy before him.

"Oh. Hello." Blu tilts his head to look at the human better.]

[commentlog]

[snowtop]

[Xanth, sadly, has no translator - but he does know a distressed bird when he sees one!

He looks at the bird, looks to the apples in his hand, and then back. Slowly, Xanth crouches down, and then he extends a hand with a piece of apple in it.

Good birdie?]

[nerdburd]

[Blu doesn't even take a step back when the human extends a hand with a bit of apple in it. The parrot pauses before waddling over to the hand and only hesitates a moment before nudging the boy's hand with his beak.

"See? I'm a good bird."

He looks up at the boy. Blu wasn't very hungry but company in the strange new environment was comforting.

Plaintive sounds come from his beak, "Can we look for Linda now?"]

[snowtop]

[That brings a little half-smile to Xanth's face, but his confusion only grows.]

Y-You don't-- you don't l-like apples?

[He sets the apple piece aside, and then oh-so-slowly reaches to run a finger along the blue bird's head.]

[littlebungorf]

I have read the message but I still wish to go home. My world cannot be gone. My friends would not allow it.

Would you perhaps tell me the way to go out?

[She would also like to know why he is so frightened.]

Or perhaps you would inform me as to why you fear someone being harmed? I do not wish to damage anyone.

[snowtop]

Um--

[TOO MANY QUESTIONS]

W-Well, there's-- n-not a way out, as... a-as far as I can... see. N-No one's-- managed to l-leave yet, o-or if-- if they have, th-they haven't told a-any of us left h-how.

I'm-- s-sorry.

[Video]

[littlebungorf]

I understand. I suppose you would not be here either if you knew of a way home.

[She pauses thinking.]

This is not your home, correct?

[Audio]

[snowtop]

N-No, not-- not mine. I-I don't... I don't think i-- it's a-anyone's home, e-exactly, but. W-Well, we're, w-we're here n--now.

[It's their home away from home.]

D-Do you-- do you need a-any... help?