bellelurette | Mesdames et Messieurs, Voilà, C'est Vous

Bievenue

You're wrapped in a soothing, all-encompassing darkness.

Well, perhaps not perfectly all-encompassing -- you can see some slivers of light here and there, just enough to realize that your current space is literally wrapped in something, and that you are a highly customized burrito at the mercy of an entirely too fluffy bed and set of blankets. Moreover: you are definitely not alone.

Depending upon the contents of your bed (two of you, waking up dressed exactly in what you wore last you remember back where each of you came from, in the exact same state as those last moments no matter how illogical or disjointed), it may not be comfortable or feasible to stay cocooned up for much longer. There's a low, muted GONG, GONGG coming from not far away, your bed creaks like a beleaguered ship in an unannounced storm, and it is joined by even more noises of movement beyond the bed canopy as you try to take stock of where you are.

Eventually, you either fall out of bed or drag yourself into this world: your new and strangely crowded personal rooms, the clock insistently sounding out the hour, and the halls and heraldry of the venerable Château Ambregris -- a lavishly decorated and fully furnished version of a more-or-less authentic French castle (assuming you know what France or a castle are).

Left to your own devices for the moment, you may find it helpful to explore the castle for your own purposes, check out the suspicious statues and personalized plaques in the Promenade of Reflexion, or perhaps to try to get to the bottom of the mysterious and frankly alarming amount of bread piled up in front of the place settings in the Banquet Hall. (Were you thinking of escaping? Any attempts to leave the property will be met with no forward progress at all, treadmill style). There's just about every kind of loaf, roll, boule, baguette, croissant or even animal-shaped bread you can think of stacked in baskets. There's absolutely nothing else save for plain bread, but at least you won't starve.

[OOC: Welcome to Château Ambregris, a perfectly normal castle receiving perfectly normal guests. Feel free to ask any questions in discord! The NPC Meet & Greet will be later today, March 8 at 6 PM EST/3 PM PST.]

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[ Hickey hangs back until the initial barrage of "fuck you" in varying flavors dies out. He's got a bit of a different take on the whole situation. ]

If you're the one that's brought me here, I suppose I ought to thank you. You've saved me from quite a dire situation.

[ He's all smiles. ]

What's your name?

...really? Oh, uh, you're welcome!

[ He doesn't know how to take that. ]

You can just call me Witch!

Right. It's a pleasure, Witch. Cornelius Hickey.

[ He offers a handshake. ]

I'm a lieutenant on HMS Terror. We've been stuck in ice for two winters and our commander forced us to walk out. Impossible odds. More than half our men are dead.

[ Well Hickey has been nothing but nice to him, but it seems he's still a little bit dodgy because of everything else. He bows instead of returning the handshake. ]

That sounds terrible... [ A beat. ] Then you don't want to go back?

[ His eyes dart down to his empty hand briefly before he retracts it. Noted. ]

No, sir, I don't. There's nothing for me to return to. I'd be happy to stay, if you'll allow it.

Oh uh...sure? I mean I'm not going to stay here forever either, but if you wanted I could put you somewhere else.

[ Does Hickey want to go to Disneyworld. ]

[ His eyebrows tick up. ]

Would I have my choice, then?

[ crossing his arms, which looks funny with the staff he's holding. ]

Choice is a little ambitious, but...we can talk about it when it's time. How about that?

[ Hickey considers this a moment, and then nods. ]

Fair's fair. I owe you a favor, then.

[ oh, he actually grins here. compared to everything else everyone is throwing at him, this is the best thing he's heard all day. ]

I like the sound of that.

As do I.

[ He offers a polite smile. ]

I'll leave you to it, then. Good luck with the rest of this lot.

I'm not sure what to say that.

[ She's so fucking confused hearing that she actually stops yelling for one second, looking between him and the other guy. ]

...I now pronounce you spouses for life?

[ Look, she said she didn't know. ]

[ ...??? ]

Thanking a man for saving my skin sums up to marriage, in your mind?

I was just in a chapel and would really rather think about weddings than funerals, so sue me. It's, like, the opposite.

[ It makes sense in her mind! ~~No it doesn't!~~ ]

A chapel here? What's that got to do with me?

Probably nothing! Unless you're a priest. You kinda look like you could be a priest.

[ He outright laughs at that. ]

Oh, I doubt the church would have me.

That so? Think they're missing out?

I'd certainly say they are.

[ ... ]

It's unwise to make enemies with people you'll need to rely on, you know.

[ He saw her outburst from earlier. ]

Pretty sure relying on him is a trap anyway. [ Shrugs! ] I'm tired of annoying kidnappers already.

It's only a trap if you fall for it. 'Else it's an opportunity.

Mm, I can see why you'd say that, but I'd rather leave that for someone with the stomach for it!

[ Her temper is waaay too short to be a patient negotiator. ]

What plans do you have to escape this place, then? If you're so keen to do so.

[ The chill, humorous demeanor she's been keeping up suddenly and rapidly shifts to wary...and disappointed. ]

...Go ahead and think me stupid all you want, but I'm not sharing my observations here. It's not like we have unlimited chances.

[ His chin ticks up. ]

My apologies, miss. My intention wasn't to call your intelligence into question. I'm curious to hear your thoughts on alternatives to our friend here, but you've a right to keep them to yourself.

(no subject)

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