Artifact 0

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

Of course we're going in. Maybe they have some information on the strange things that woman was talking--

[ It's a familiar face! Buuuuuut she doesn't seem to recognize the Plane, now that she's here. She stops to stare in wonder for a moment, first at the stars in front of her, then the ones above her, then finally at the ones below her. It's the ones she's standing on that that catch her off guard, and she loses her balance and falls smack on her butt. ]

Ow! Goddess, Koren, couldn't you have at least caught me?

... Koren? [ Confusion at the lack of a witty reply turns quickly to panic as she looks behind herself. ] Koren?! [ And then anger. ] Koren! [ Then frustration. ] Koren, damn it! This isn't funny! I don't know where we are!

[ She looks around then, still on her butt, still bewildered by all the stars. ] Will someone kindly tell me where in the name of Olbohn I am?!

Comments

1/?

[contract_star]

[Oh my holy god.]

...Angela?

2/?

[contract_star]

You were...I thought you...

3/3

[contract_star]

[But she doesn't recognize this place. She must be a different Angela.]

[Which is infinitely more painful.]

Welcome...welcome to the Astral Plane.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

[ Person! She stares at him, scooting back slightly. ]

Astral what? Wait, how do you know my name?

[contract_star]

Oh, ah...I'm sorry. I didn't mean to startle you. But I'll explain everything. This is the Astral Plane--it's a crossroads between realities. Between worlds.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

You expect me to believe I'm between worlds. [ She gives him a deadpan look, then turns over her shoulder again. ]

Koren, dammit, where are you?!

[contract_star]

Koren isn't here. Look, I know it's hard to believe, but it's the truth. If I was going to lie, I'd come up with something more believable.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

What do you mean he isn't---

[ Glare, her hand moves to the staff on the belt at her hip. ] What are you and how do you know my name? Tell me. Now.

[contract_star]

[A part of him is remembering that this is what Angela was always like--always stubborn, always fierce, and lord how he missed her. But right now it's just making things difficult.]

I'm human. My name is Hei. I don't mean you any harm. I knew you--I knew a version of you before. The last time I saw you, you had just become Queen of Altena.

[lamb_of_gold]

...Angela? I thought you weren't going to come back.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

[ A lot of this is going over her head, and thus she manages to grab at the parts she understands-- and she seriously doubts this "Hei" is a human. Humans don't live between worlds and talk about versions of people-- and how would he know about her heritage, anyway?

There's only one explanation for this. ]

If Altena's your goal, faerie, you won't gain it by trapping me here. What business have you with my kingdom, anyway? Or have you forgotten that Ricrot hunted your people just as he does mine?

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

How do you know my name?

[ Her hand rests on the head of her staff. Because she's totally threatening while on her butt on the floor of the Plane. ]

[lamb_of_gold]

...You do not remember this place, do you?

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

Had I been here before, I would remember it. Being surrounded by stars isn't a daily thing for me.

I'll ask you again. How do you know my name?

[lamb_of_gold]

Because you were here before. Or, perhaps, another version of you...

[ouch. He's beginning to realize how much he missed the girl who once upon a time braided his hair while he slept]

[contract_star]

[He stares at her.] I'm not a--I'm not a faerie. I'm--ugh. [He facepalms.] Look, you can go home just by thinking about it. Koren should be waiting for you. Just think about home and you'll go, and Koren won't even have noticed that you've gone. Give it a try and prove me wrong.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

I have never been here before! Nor do I know you!

[ She'll be getting to her feet. ] Stop lying to me. What's your real goal? Tell me before I get serious.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

Drop my guard so you can manipulate my thoughts? Ha! I'm not about to fall for that. If you're going to take me to the faerie world, do it already. I don't have all day.

[contract_star]

[Tiredly,] I don't want to take you anywhere, Angela. [He sighs.] What can I do to prove I'm not trying to hurt you?

[usagipino]

Are you missing your friend too?

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

Tell me what you're after. [ She clutches something that dangles from her neck on a silver chain unconsciously. ] If it's not Altena, then tell me why you've brought me here.

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

[ A kid. Angela's not sure whether to drop her guard or double it. ]

Who are you?

1/2

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[He knows that voice. Knows it very well. But he doesn't want to believe it at first. When he sees it's actually her his first act is to just stare for a while.]

2/2

[buckingbronco.livejournal.com]

[Softly] Angela? You came back?

[whitestlotus.livejournal.com]

[ She stares right back at him until he speaks. Then she jumps and clutches the necklace she wears around her neck. ]

W-Why does everyone here know my name? You're all Shadoles, aren't you?!