Iɴ ᴛʜᴇ sʟɪᴘ ᴏғ ᴀ ʙᴏʟᴛ, ᴛʜᴇʀᴇ's ᴀ ᴛɪɴʏ ʀᴇᴠᴏʟᴛ ➮ ᴏᴘᴇɴ

[revolter]

Who: Matilda Wormwood, aka the tiny newcomer and You.
What: It's an adventure and no one can really go by an adventure alone! aka introductions and walking about the castle!
When: From the morning of February 1st and until the afternoon!
Where: all around the castle!
Rating: totally pg.



[ Matilda Wormwood had a doll that didn't belong to her.

She saved it, mind you. Rescued it to bring it back to Miss Honey but then something happened and before she knew it, a castle.

A castle! The kind that Matilda was certain she read of before but couldn't remember where. Just this made a frown make its way to her face, settling there; she never forgot a book before and she was certain she had read of a castle once.

In the time that would have taken a normal grown person to panic, Matilda clutched the doll that wasn't hers and thought of an adventure. That against all odds, she had somehow walked into one of the wonderful worlds she has read about in her books. A world where everything is beautiful and the sky is always blue and where children can play and run and read and not fear being thrown into the Chokey for hours.

She took one step forward and then another before leaning against one of the pillars, watching the world around her with a small, awe-struck smile. A child who somehow found herself in a brand new story.

After a few minutes she realized that adventure or not, Miss Honey would likely worry for her and that Lissy-Doll should be brought back to her. She also realized she as much as the castle was vast and beautiful, she was alone. Looking at the people who wandered about, she couldn't recognize a single one.

Riding up and tidying her skirt she began to walk around, peeking up at people, uncertainty written on her face. She didn't even know what questions should she ask first. Gathering up her courage she decided to begin with a very polite: ]

Excuse me - which way would take me back to where I came from, please?

Comments

[doublethefun]

[welp. At the sound of a child's voice, the blue winged unicorn who was in the midst of dozing off on the sun-dappled sofa lifts her head from an open book.

She tries to hide a yawn.]

Canst thou reiterate that?

[revolter]

[ Forgive her for stopping and staring since - a unicorn! She heard of those, read of them in books, but she never quite thought she'd see one as she knew, or perhaps, she thought they weren't real. If a unicorn is real, then Matilda would have to believe just about everything else she read of in books exists.

That might have caused some people to panic; however, she is giddy to figure it out.

She peers at her for a moment before remembering herself and repeating her question, more slowly. ]

Which way would take me back to where I came from, please?

[ a beat and - ]

I'm sorry for waking you.

[doublethefun]

[the kid gets a smile as she nudges a bookmark into place and closes the book.]

There is little need to apologize; I daresay mine nap went overlong.

[a more serious look] This is Cair Paradisa. None of us have yet been able to leave of our own will.

[cyan_maid]

[Hm? Jane thought she heard someone around the corner. She'd just been taking a walk around the castle, like she usually did. She peeks around and spots a little girl with a pretty doll in her arms.

This castle really can't leave the children alone, can it? She approaches slowly, so the girl won't be startled.]

Oh my! Are you new here?

[revolter]

[ she takes it in, looks at her doll and then back at her. ]

We have to stay?

[ Unnaturally for a child but very naturally for Matilda, her parents worrying about her doesn't come to mind at all. Instead she thinks of Miss Honey and how worried she would be. ]

Forever?

[revolter]

[ She nods. ]

I think so.

[ though she never quite meant to be here to begin with, but 'new' she certainly is. ]

What's 'here' like?

[ and coming to think of it. ]

What's 'here'? Does it have a name?

[cyan_maid]

[Jane's gonna smile and kneel down to your level so she's not just staring down at you. That can be a little intimidating, can't it?]

Well if you don't know a place's name, you've got to be new. This is a castle called Paradisa.

[As for what it's like...] It's...hm. It's interesting, for starters.

[revolter]

[ The only one bigger than her to ever show her such grace was Miss Honey. The gesture doesn't go unnoticed and a smile makes its way to her lips. ]

Are there many adventures? Is there a queen and a king?

[thatrabbitsdynamite]

[Bunny is always a little more careful, with kids he hasn't met yet, Largely because he's never certain if they can see him or not. If they didn't believe in the Easter Bunny...well. That was that. Invisible city.

Still, she's clearly new, and lost, so he heads his way over to her]

Hullo there.

[cyan_maid]

[It's better to do that for people smaller than you who might be scared, Jane thinks. She smiles, too.]

I suppose you can call the things that happen here "adventures", but they're a bit dangerous at times. As for a King or a Queen, I haven't heard of one for this castle. Although I did meet a fairy king once!

[She'll hold out a hand.] My name is Jane Crocker. What's yours?

[deductiongeek]

[And here is another child. He watches her moving around for a few seconds, and then approaches her.]

You just arrived at the castle, right? I haven't seen you here before.

[It wasn't really a question.]

[kid_apocalypse]

[Evan had been on his way outside, possibly to make a giant snowfort, possibly to fill in the craters he'd made with his head a few days before when he was trying to fly. Either way, he bumps into the young girl, and while surprised at first, a tentative smile spreads across his face.]

Well...uhh...that's a little bit complicated. There's really no way to go back where we came from by choice. Sorry.

[He looks genuinely apologetic. As excited as he was that there was another kid in the castle, it doesn't change the grim reality of the castle.]

[sword_redemption]

[Drift's sitting in the main lobby, on the floor, legs crossed in classic meditation posture. It's a lame attempt to try to feel his Great Sword, to reach through the connection between them.

[It's not working. But he takes another deep breath, opening his optics for a klik, before trying again.]

[revolter]

A fairy king! Like king Oberon!

[ who she knows from Shakespeare. She will ask about the dangers of the place in a moment. For now she still looks excited. ]

Was he wonderful?

[ she stands up straighter. ]

I'm Matilda. It's nice to meet you.

[ since this is what you say to grown ups instead of the usual 'hi' that would suffice between kids. ]

[revolter]

[ Matilda is more mature than most kids. A child who grew up a bit too soon. But she has kept some hopes and beliefs in her heart, sweet hopes that have made her a child still.

She looks at him, eyes wide with surprise. A talking rabbit. ]

Hi -

[revolter]

A few minutes ago. I'm not sure from which direction. I'm trying to find a way back.

[ because if she'll find the point from where she started, perhaps she could still trace her way back home. ]

I'm Matilda.

[revolter]

At all? But Miss Honey -

[ she looks down at the doll, clutches her to her chest. ]

This is hers, I meant to give it to her. She'll worry if I won't come to school tomorrow.

[revolter]

[ A very small girl is watching him from the side, a small smile on her lips. He may not succeed in summoning what he wishes to, but he'll certainly find her stepping forward. ]

What are you doing?

[deductiongeek]

I'm Conan. I've been here for more than a year.

[He frowns. It was always a pain being the one to deliver the bad news, but he kind of felt a little responsible for the kids who kept ending up here. It was better that they know.]

And getting home isn't that easy. Once you arrive here you can't go home until the castle lets you go.

[cyan_maid]

[She's a little shocked to hear that name come from a little girl, but stranger things have happened...maybe this girl has heard a lot of stories.]

He was very wonderful! A perfect gentleman.

It's nice to meet you, too.

[revolter]

Miss Crocker, if I have to stay, do I get a room? And is there a kitchen?

[ and most importantly. ]

Can I write back? To tell Miss Honey I'm alright.

[revolter]

A whole year? But what about your school? And your parents, aren't they worried?

[ Matilda knows better than to think all parents are like her own. Most of them really do worry when their children go missing, especially for a year. ]

What do you have to do to make it let you go?

[sword_redemption]

[The optics crack open again, and after a moment he returns the smile.]

I'm trying to find something.

[revolter]

What are you trying to find?

[ and then, as she thinks of it: ]

How do you search for something with your eyes closed?

[kid_apocalypse]

[He kneels down to put a hand on her shoulder.]

I know. All of us here have things we should be doing, instead of being here. The nice thing about this place though...is that as long as we're here, time doesn't move forward where we come from. It's...sort of a pocket dimension, like a city in a bottle. When the castle decides it's time for you to go home, you'll be able to give Miss Honey her doll, and she won't even know you were gone.

[He smiles brightly. Evan was very much a "glass half-full" sort, trying to make the best of things.]

My name's Evan. Evan Sabahnur. What's yours?