WEEK 2

[strangerpeople]

WEEK 2

[It is again early morning when the train docks next. This time, however, the dock is not as busy. There are few trains to be seen, and even fewer people. Only a man stands at the dock, teeth sharp in his smile, scelera a deep gold as he stares beneath his fedora.

"Unexpected," he said with a smile. A two-dimensional dog with the head of a scribbled black cloud hops by, ignoring him. "But not unwanted. Do make yourselves comfortable."

This new place is known as Victoria's Chasm, named after an Empress. No, not that one. Her Thrice-Renewed Majesty is quite comfortable on her Throne, and rulled for much longer than 99 days, thank you very much.

In the distance, black begins to erupt like tendrils. Lightning flashes through the clouds. This is the land of monsters; tread carefully. And do not despair, whatever you do.


There are fifteen strangers left in this place.]

Comments

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos hums a little at that. ]

Well, those who simply think just saying nice words will help everything are ... naive. [ ... ] It is nice though, to have someone who listens. I'm fine with that.

[ Taking things at their own pace seems to be the best idea here. ]

Okay. Between the two of us, we should be able to get everywhere we can reach at a decent pace.

[ too bad they're both on the short end ]

[higanbana]

...That is one way of putting it, yes. I'm glad, at least, that you understand this much.

[But they'll leave it at that, for now. For now, there is cleaning to do!

Between the two of them (and also a corgi), they manage to get the place spotless! ...Up to about five and a half feet off the ground. They tried.]

W-well... the difference is quite stark, but until we find some sort of ladder, this is probably the best we'll be able to manage.

...It is a beautiful place, cleaned up, though. A shame those chimneys are probably dangerous to use, now, I should like to see what it's like with the fireplaces lit.

Thank you for your help.

[eternaldivide]

[ And cleaning they do! Very impressive for two smols and a corgi to get the place spotless! Well ... where they could, yes. ]

You're welcome. This place really does look quite a bit better now, even if we couldn't reach all of it. If you do find a latter, please let me know. I'll be happy to assist you once again.

It must ... be nice and cozy with the fireplace lit. I don't believe I've seen one lit in quite a while.

[higanbana]

Hm? Well... if you're certain. I'll be sure to let you know.

[She offers him a smile.]

I imagine so! ...I have never actually seen one, outside of pictures in books, but they've always looked so nice...

[eternaldivide]

Of course. It's be wise to have someone hold the ladder for you, wouldn't it.

[ Gotta make sure that ladder is sturdy! He returns the smile with one of his own. ]

They are. There are ... very few times when I've had the chance to see or use one, but it's is nice, having the fire there to warm you.

[higanbana]

[...]

Someone normally holds the ladder for you?

[She... she sounds genuinely surprised by this. Oh dear.]

Maybe, if we stop again, the next place won't be so dusty? And we can try one for real.

[eternaldivide]

[ If Mithos didn't already know Ris' upbringing he would be more baffled about this. But instead he just ... smiles lightly. ]

Mhm. It's so the person doesn't fall if the ladder becomes unstable. Even so, you still need to be careful.

[ read: don't let Mithos ever hold a ladder for Yuan ]

Maybe. We'd have to hope there are logs and a way to start the fire, as well.

[higanbana]

[At this point, honestly, stuff like this has to be just "yeah, sounds about right."]

...huh. That... probably would have been useful, in the past... well, I'm doubly glad for the assistance now, then!

[THE WORLD IS BUILT FOR TALL PEOPLE...]

That is true, but if we wind up in truly dire straits in that regard there are probably items on the train we can use as replacements. There are almost certainly firestarters, and, I mean... will anyone really miss the pile of censored books?

[The smile she gives back is nothing short of catlike.]

[eternaldivide]

Yes, I'm certain it would have! [ Especially for someone as petit as her ] Good. We need to make certain that no one injures themselves by falling off a ladder.

[ It would be a sad sight (or funny if you're That kind of person but who would laugh at Ris falling off a ladder) ]

Haha, not at all. But I wonder ... would we be breaking a rule if we were to burn those books? They aren't technically the train itself, but they still might consider them as such.

[higanbana]

No one... except, perhaps, our captors?

[She's joking, right...? Maybe...? Mm.]

Oh, more than likely. It was mostly a joke, I admit. There are plenty of other flammable items before we have to turn to bookburning.

But it would be satisfying.

[eternaldivide]

[ Mithos ... hums a little at that. ]

They're an exception, certainly.

[ Both of you no .... ]

Haha, it would be. It'd be one thing that they were books for us to read. But many of them have been rendered nearly unreadable.

[higanbana]

Ehehe. I thought you might see it my way.

[♥]

So I've noticed... it's a pity, really. I love reading, but something like those is an exercise in frustration more than anything else.

[eternaldivide]

Of course!

[ ♥! ]

Yeah... if you're spending more time trying to figure out the missing pieces than reading the story then what would be the point? As much as I'd like to read more ... I'd rather not deal with that frustration.

[higanbana]

Right, exactly.

At least the library here appears to be uncensored. Granted, I haven't had too much of a chance to look at too much in there, but just knowing we have it, at least for now, is comforting.