001.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

[The sound of someone hitting the floor, as if falling out of bed, can faintly be heard, followed briefly by an electric hum and the sound of a door opening, slamming and opening again.]

Seriously? A mansion... thing, that’s really the best you could do? This isn’t fucking funny, Keller.

[Now it sounds like someone’s tearing up the room and rifling through the wardrobe]

Comments

[ofthepeople.livejournal.com]

That probably isn't such a good idea.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Yeah, like I haven't heard that before. Who the hell are you?

[a pause as she's looking under the bed] ...and where are you?

[ofthepeople.livejournal.com]

There should be a journal somewhere. The desk, maybe?

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

[cue her rifling through the desk] Giant leather bound book, buncha words in it? Hey this is creepy!

Are you trapped in the book or something?

[ofthepeople.livejournal.com]

I'm on the nineteenth floor, actually. The journal's just a nice means of communication.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Nineteen? How big is this place?

Of course. Because cell phones and the internet were just too easy, right?

[ofthepeople.livejournal.com]

Just nineteen floors, as far as I know. Right now, anyway.

The castle is notorious for being as complicated as possible, unfortunately.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Great, a shifting castle. I take it the map sales are pretty low here, huh?

Any rhyme behind the reason why there are people here?

[ofthepeople.livejournal.com]

It's a reasonable guess.

The reason most people give is because the castle wants us to be.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

I don't think I want to know how the castle has wants.

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

[Oh, a new person. Have a hesitant pause at first, because he's still kinda trying to avoid people. But new people don't know what happened, so it's not as awkward]

Umm, I'm afraid it's not a joke.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Ha, right, disembodied voice-man. What, I've been transported to some magic mansion in the middle of some off world universe?

[a long pause, because honestly, how many times have the X-men had to deal with that very situation] This is a Mojo thing, isn't it?

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

A castle actually, but the rest is pretty accurate, yeah.

[Confused pause] ...Mojo?

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

... Are you serious?

Mojo, yellow-green guy in need of weight watchers and a good exercise program. Kidnaps people and records them killing each other for live TV, stuff like that. I think he's also into the whole messing-with-genetics-thing. I really stopped paying attention after a while.

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

Unfortunately. This is a world, it...um kidnaps people from their own worlds and keeps them in it's magical castle.

Oh... I haven't seen anyone like that around here. If we're being filmed, they're doing a very good job of hiding it.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

See, I could say that's ridiculous but I'd be lying. I've seen stupider things.

I bet there's a camera in your bathroom.

1/2

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

2/2

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

I'll have to make sure they get my good side.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

You know those cameras usually do.

I'm Nori, by the way.

[chewingcud.livejournal.com]

Hmm.

Hatsuharu...Haru for short. It's a pleasure to meet you, Nori.

[bloody-doctor.livejournal.com]

A castle. Cair Paradisa, to be exact.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Oh! Thank you! That's so helpful. [ the sarcasm is probably oozing from the pages] No, really.

[bloody-doctor.livejournal.com]

You're quite welcome.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

I wasn't actually thanking you. Your information wasn't helpful at all.

[bloody-doctor.livejournal.com]

I would hardly call it information at all. Merely correcting you.

[fired-once.livejournal.com]

You know, I don't think Keller can hear you.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Learning that, thanks. Wouldn't happen to know where the exit is, would you?

[fired-once.livejournal.com]

Well, you can leave the castle. Unfortunately, this is a different world than where you're from, so it's not like you can go back no matter how far out you go.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

You sure? How far out you been?

[fired-once.livejournal.com]

As far out as I can go before technology stops working.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

What, you need a cellphone or something to go out walking?

[fired-once.livejournal.com]

Power supply. Long story.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

You... need a power supply? Are you a robot?

[fired-once.livejournal.com]

Like I said, long story. But no, I'm not a robot. Name's Tony Stark.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Excuse me, are you new?

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

No. I just forgot about the whole suddenly appearing in a giant castle ordeal. It must be all this stress.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Hey, I didn't think I'd seen you around. And you never know - it happened to Jack of the Bean Stalk.

Welcome to Paradisa. No, I'm not a talking book, I'm a journal, you were brought here, it's an alternate dimension-thing, and you can't get home. Sorry.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Doubt you would have. Apparently this is an interdimensional castle that kidnaps people. I don't think I understand your reference though.

Yeah, got that. You're a little slow on the upkeep there. I'm not going to accept that I can't get back to New York.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Oh, just... Jack and the Beanstalk. You know.

Yeah, well, my boyfriend's kind of being the same way, so I can't really blame you.

I'm Teddy; nice to meet you.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

I don't know that story. Sorry.

Being the same way as in wanting to go back to New York?

Noriko.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Yeah, pretty much. There's a lot back home that we miss.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

You guys from Manhattan? I lived up in Westchester.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Upper West Side, yeah.

Huh. I wonder if we're from the same world, too. That'd be weird.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

I'm not going to lie: I'd be a little freaked out and probably jump to the conclusion that you kidnapped me.

Got a mutant school up in Westchester where you're from?

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

I don't do that kind of thing, okay? I'm a... I was a superhero.

And... yes. The X-Mansion? Oh, my God, you're an X-Man? That's so sweet!

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Isn't that exactly what a kidnapper who wanted me to think he was a superhero would say? [Now she's smirking because she knows she's being obnoxious. Granted she is only half kidding.]

I'm an X-man. [Naturally she leaves off the 'new' and 'student' part of that but hey! She's done her fair share of fighting the good fight. Against... The Blob for example!] You're a super hero in Manhattan, so who are you, Spider-man?

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

I'm one of the Young Avengers. [There's a laugh.] Much cooler than Spider-Man, but only because he went public and all that. Otherwise he's a pretty cool guy.

[cerulean-surges.livejournal.com]

Oh - the Jr. Avengers, know a guy who's a fan. Didn't you guys fight some aliens or something in the middle of the city?

Wait, what? I never really understood the whole wear a mask thing but that guy didn't seem like the type to be all proud to not be part of the mask crowd.

[alt-hulk.livejournal.com]

Apparently? I didn't, but Patriot swears that I will in the future or something.

Oh, it was the Civil War... it was bullshit all over.