paradisalogs | (no subject)

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(no subject)

Who: Asbel and ANYONE
What: Arrival post
When: November 20, afternoon
Where: the forest
Rating: Probably not higher than PG

Asbel felt like he must have hit his head. He sat up, coming fully awake, and looked up. This...was definitely not the manor. Not that he remembered going to sleep in the first place, but if he had, it would have been there...wouldn't it?

But here he was, fully dressed, in the middle of...a...forest?

He was used to the trees outside of Lhant. Those were familiar. They were welcome, even. Only a moment of looking around told Asbel that these weren't those trees.

He picked himself up off the ground, dusting off his jacket without really thinking about it, and tried to get his bearings. After a minute, he realized that was a pretty futile effort. Without knowing where he was, it was pointless to try and identify a landmark. Everything here looked new to him.

So, he picked a direction and started walking. Maybe he could find a road, or a path, or some way to find out what was going on. He wasn't panicked, not yet, but he was a bit worried. How could he have let something like this happen? He was supposed to take care of everyone, and that sure as hell wasn't going to happen if he was letting himself end up in strange forests!

A little further along the way, he found a tent and the remains of a campsite. He looked around carefully, not wanting to startle the campsite's occupant, but it didn't take him long to discover that the campsite was sadly abandoned. So much for getting answers here.

He crossed his arms and thought. He couldn't stay here forever, of course, wherever he was, but he needed some kind of a plan.

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Asbel laughs a little. "It's just Asbel, okay? Mister makes me sound old and I'm not even nineteen yet!" Okay, so he's a lord now, and he's used to titles, but really.

He isn't keen on this idea that he's trapped here. Not a bit. "Are you sure I can't go home? I mean, I have people counting on me..."

Still, he follows along. Somehow, he doesn't think Mufasa is responsible for his being here. Maybe he's too trusting - Richard would probably think so - but he can't help that.

"Very well, Asbel. And I will explain our predicament to the best of my abilities, as soon as we arrive at the castle. Just trust me when I say that you need not be in a hurry."

He lets the silence fall between them, then, as they continue to walk. Hmm, Asbel... Asbel...

He wears white.

Mufasa stops suddenly and looks back at Asbel.

Ohhhh.

Asbel follows, though he's clearly troubled. But what else is he doing? He can't exactly just hang out in the woods; the sad tent he found sure isn't going to provide adequate shelter.

He stops just in time to stop himself from walking into the lion.

"What? What's wrong?"

Mufasa chuckles. "Nothing, nothing. I can just see why she described you as wearing white now, is all."

Continues on to the castle~!

"She? She who?" It hasn't yet occurred to Asbel that he might meet a familiar face here. He has to jog to catch up; he's too busy being puzzled to realize they're moving again.

"I assume you're familiar with a young girl by the name of Sophie?" Mufasa says, staying at his easy pace.

"Sophie!? Yeah, of course, she's my friend. Is she...is she here?"

In his excitement, Asbel practically runs to come up alongside the lion. If Sophie is here, he definitely has to find her.

"She arrived not too long ago herself," Mufasa replied, giving a sidelong smile at Asbel.

"She spoke quite fondly of you. I heard that you work hard to take care of your people."

Asbel looks a bit dazed as he follows along. He was just with Sophie, though. How could this be?

"I've gotta find her," he says, half to himself.

"Not to worry, I am sure that she is safe inside the castle."

Of which they've arrived at, by the way. Mufasa walks through the open doors into the lobby and sits next to a couch, looking and waiting for Asbel.

"Well, Sophie's pretty good at taking care of herself...still! I can't believe she's here too."

Asbel follows, and sits on the couch without thinking about it.

"Oh. Hey, is there somewhere else you want to go? I mean, I guess you're kind of big for this couch but there's got to be something better than the floor, right?"

He chuckles in response. "This place is as good as any, I assure you."

The smile fades away into a more serious expression, now, as he looks at Asbel. "Now then. This castle that you find yourself currently situated in is known as Paradisa. It is capable of powerful magic, which is responsible for bringing and keeping us here... among other things. For example, during your time here... time shall not pass in your homeland."

And then he falls silent, letting Asbel sink it all in.

Asbel shook his head.

"I met a boy in the woods, Percy. He told me the same thing. So time really doesn't pass back home? But...how is that possible?"

He's worried, and it shows on his face. He has friends to protect back home, damnit!

"I am afraid that much of what the castle is capable of is beyond my comprehension. And as cold as this may seem... in either case-- if time has truly stopped in our worlds, or if it continues to flow as per normal-- it will do us little good to worry over the events occurring at home."

Easier said than done, certainly; Mufasa has thought all too much about what might have transpired at his own home after his death. What had happened to Scar, his mate... and of course, his son. It's still a mystery for him, and will likely continue to be so for the rest of his time here.

"I guess so, but..." But it is easier said than done. He doesn't want to be trapped here where he can't help his friends if they get into trouble! If time has stopped, it really doesn't matter, but how can he be sure?

This is a lot for a guy to handle all at once.

He realizes that he's lapsed into silence and looks at the lion once more.

"I'm sorry, I shouldn't be like this. I'll figure things out. Thanks for bringing me back here."

Mufasa waits patiently for Asbel to absorb the information. When he apologizes and thanks him, Mufasa gives a gentle smile, shaking his head.

"There is no need." For the apology, or the gratitude. "Everyone in the castle, including myself, has had the same experience that you are having now."

Not to mention, Mufasa was a lion. So this whole arrival experience was... quadruply interesting for him!

"Now, as I have said, these lands have powerful magical properties. For example, the residents here are able to wish for any number of material items, and the castle will provide it to them."

"So, no one lives here on their own, then? We're all from different...different worlds?"

He had to think about that. Surely someone must live here. Otherwise, how did they start getting here in the first place? Who built the castle? That didn't add up!

"Wait, you can wish for things? Like...I don't know, like clothes or something?"

He nods in confirmation for the first question. And for the second one, clothes... ah, right, the removable coats that humans wore.

And to that, he gives a smile.

"Perhaps you would like to test it out?"

Asbel stares at him, still disbelieving. "Well, sure, I guess! How does it work? I just...wish for something, like...I don't know. What would you wish for, Mufasa?"

"Well, you know, I could really go for zebra about now--"

And then a fresh zebra corpse just drops in front of Asbel and Mufasa.

Mufasa brings his paw up to his face, dragging it down his muzzle with a very disapproving look. Magical castle, please.

"And... there you have it."

Asbel just stares, wide-eyed, at the...dead animal in front of them. He's never seen a zebra before, live or dead.

Well...Mufasa is an animal, so, it makes sense he'd eat other animals, what with those teeth and all, but...

Asbel can't help but look a little green. Ugh.

"Oh...well...why don't we try wishing for...I don't know. A...cake?" he offers.

Just like that, his wish is also granted, and an oversized chocolate cake drops in front of them, too. How it manages to avoid getting frosting everywhere is anyone's guess.

"Whoa!"

Jeez, that smells sweet.

"Humans certainly have a sweet tooth, don't they?"

Begrudgingly, he gets up.

"And since the castle has been so generous... I'll go ahead and take this outside for now. I will return shortly."

Mufasa goes over and clamps his jaws over the zebra's throat, and actually manages to drag the entire thing through the lobby and out the castle doors. Damn.

Asbel just watches is disbelief as the lion drags the...zebra, was it? He's definitely never seen anything like that.

Now he's just got to find someone to share this cake with!

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