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

[higanbana]

Mmhm.

[Got it in one!]

[unwittingking]

[It's time yet again for King to drag a paw over his face, annoyed.]

Great. We get to add time travel to the list of "Things I Never, Ever Wanted To Be A Part Of." At least that's what I'm thinking, because last I checked, it should be 2016.

[higanbana]

Hm? Is that so...

[Sixteen, seventeen years into the future, huh? It's kind of interesting to think about how much must be changed...]

I don't think it's time travel, though. You and I might both come from a planet called Earth, and we might both be from fairly close to one another in time, all things considered, but I don't believe we come from the same world.

Have you heard of a "multiverse" before?

[unwittingking]

I've heard the basics, and I'm pretty sure it's true, considering there are people here that are surprised to see me. Or, more likely, are surprised by the sight of a dog like me.

[The Multiverse Theory has gotten surprisingly popular in pop culture.]

The problem is that, as far as I can remember, time should be going the same as always. I'm pretty sure the multiverse theory wouldn't cause one universe to go on to 2016 and another to stay in 1999.

no one wanted this and yet here we are

[higanbana]

There... are reasons I can think of of why my world might just "stay" in 1999, but that's another conversation, I suppose... the point was more to get an even footing to build on than to go about following the theory to the letter, anyway.

The way I see it, it's something like... let's say we put down a handful of marbles on this table. Each marble is its own universe. You might get two that are almost identical, but you'll get some that are completely unique.

I think that's what's happened here. You and I, our marbles are similar, but just different enough that you could tell them apart. Someone like Caleb, who hails from a world of fantasy and magic; now his marble would be completely different from ours.

So, what I think has happened is that someone, somehow, has reached across the barriers of their own universe and out into fifteen other little marbles, grabbed each of us, and pulled us back into their own.

We haven't traveled through time. We've been taken into another universe altogether. That's my theory, anyway.

[unwittingking]

[King scratches at the back of his head, lost in thought of trying to understand it. It's a good explanation, but he just needs a minute to think of a good response to it.]

Well, that gets rid of the time travel issue, but creates a new one that, honestly, may be an even bigger problem.

How are most of us supposed to get back to our homes? I doubt that the person that took us is going to want to put us back, and I have a feeling I already know how The Purple Blip in our memory would answer if we asked, so what are we supposed to do when this is over?

[If there's an end to it, but he's not saying that.]

[higanbana]

[She's not going to touch on that whole if vs. when thing, either.]

You're right, and it is concerning. But whoever brought us here doesn't have to put us back. They just have to instruct us on the method so we can put ourselves back.

And you and I both know, there are ways to make people talk. Perhaps even more in this universe than in either of our own... there must be some level of magic at play, given the potionmaking we picked up last week.

[unwittingking]

[That's actually a good point. He'd prefer not to get involved in something as crazy as universe jumping, but if it's necessary, he won't back down.]

If it doesn't have magic involved I'll be surprised. It's been so active in my life already, why not here.

The probably is how we could get them to talk. Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not exactly an expert intimidator down here. The best I've got is threatening to bite people, or…what I said the other day.

[Let's not even go into his Charisma stats...]

[higanbana]

[Ris is quiet for a moment, before offering a little smile.]

...I do not believe you would enjoy me going into detail about the methods I know.

[She has a distinct feeling King might not be 100% down with torture!]

That said... the two of us alone might face some difficulties, but we have thirteen other individuals on this train, each with their own unique skillsets. I hate to take a leaf from Ms. Herschel's book, but I should like to think that, together, we stand a lot better of a chance than any of us would on our own.

[unwittingking]

…I think you're right, but just so you know, so long as it's someone that helped put us in here, or someone that helped take the hostages, or something along those lines, I think I'd be good with whatever you have planned.

[Yeah, he doesn't like torture, but punishing those that try to harm his family...he's not really against that.

The latter statement...he can't help but facepalm at that. Or, more what he just remembered.]

Yeah, actually. We might not need to worry when we have a witch that can more or less bend reality on our sides.

[Beatrice, he appreciates you.]

[higanbana]

Ehehe. Noted. Still, I'll spare you the imagery.

[She nods, bringing a hand to her mouth to cover her smile a little at his facepalm.]

Precisely. Without whatever limiters have been placed on us, even if we look past Lady Beatrice – who, with such power, I imagine wouldn't even require the rest of us – we have several powerful mages and warriors on our side. I should think we'd be just fine, as a group.

[unwittingking]

Thank you.

[He removes the paw from his face at that and crosses his arms, though not dismissively.]

Really? Who else is magically inclined?

[He actually hasn't talked too much with the magic people, discounting Beatrice.]

[higanbana]

Let me see...

Caleb is a wizard, Mithos has mentioned he was proficient in magic in his home world as well. I believe I remember McBurn mentioning some sort of power? Ms. Herschel has an "orbment" that allows for the use of magic.

I am sure there are others, but that is what I happen to know with more certainty.

[unwittingking]

[He...should've remembered about Caleb, but it's interesting to that McBurn, Towa, and even Mithos has some sort of magic.]

So that's at least five people with magic that could help, plus whatever terrifying things you may have planned...

Seems like we have a good chance, then!

[He actually feels sort of hopeful about this!]

[higanbana]

Precisely.

We just have to take the tools at our disposal and find a way to use them effectively. No matter how powerful they are, they brought us here one by one. Fifteen on one is going to be a lot to handle.

[unwittingking]

Alright. As long as we all keep a level head, I think we could actually do this.

I'd just need to find something I could do...

[What could the small do, what could the small do...]

[higanbana]

Your strength lies in your brain, I think. You kept calm enough to get through everything with me that first night and just execute on what needed to be done.

That sort of skillset, especially among people so volatile, is invaluable.

[unwittingking]

Oh...thanks.

[He seems sort of...unused to a compliment like that. At the very least he's a bit surprised for a second before looking away.]

I just have some experience in thinking quick. I guess it can help if we end up in another high-stress situation.

[higanbana]

It is very likely we will. Emotions will almost certainly be running high...

You will just have to keep yours in check. When you can hold your loved ones in your arms and relax in your own home again, where you all belong... then, you can let them free as you wish.

[unwittingking]

[Sigh

That was bound to come up, so he’s not surprised.]

Yeah, I’m doing better. For now, so long as I just...don’t think about it, I think I’ll be alright.

[He can focus on saving Bailey and the pups after he gets away from this crazy train.]

[higanbana]

[She nods.]

If it's what works for you. Just... know they are on my mind, as well.

[...]

If it makes this situation even slightly more bearable... there is one person in those prison cells you should actually be happy to know is in there.

[unwittingking]

Thanks. I appreciate it.

[And he means that. It’s...kind of nice, to not be the only one worrying about them.

He can’t help but be confused for a moment, though. Who should he be happy to know is-

...oh...]

Do you...do you mean who I think you mean?

[higanbana]

[A nod.]

I suppose they were fairly limited in their options of who they could take for me, given that he is all there is. All there has ever been.

So, yes. My master— the doctor sits imprisoned.

As RGB so helpfully put it last night, he is very much "off the rescue list."

[unwittingking]

[King’s just gonna sit in silence for a moment cause he needs to think about this. On one hand, that is horribly sad that the only person they could find for Ris was him of all people. On the other hand, the guy very much deserves this, no doubts about it.

He resolves to sigh again, this time more of letting out some stress.]

To put my feelings simply, I agree with him.

[higanbana]

[A tiny smile.]

As do I.