~ Post 001 - Landing on Her Feet (open)

[ladycroft]

[Someone else has arrived in the City, landing in the fountain, which seems to be a tradition here. The screen of the device, which is waiting conveniently for the latest guest on the edge of the fountain, captures the woman as she surfaces, squints against the sun then quickly checks the water around her for her sunglasses. She notices the device, but is distracted when one of her hands locates her missing shades. She stands -- a woman in a tight, black wardrobe, leather belt with a gold skull buckle and two guns strapped to her thighs. The lower part of her legs are still in the water.

Her dark brown hair is pulled back in a long, French braid. She's wearing very little make-up, but then, she doesn't really need to wear much at all as her rather striking beauty comes through, even in this slightly bedragled state. Strands of her hair have come free from the braid and her clothing appears to have been dragged through some mud before her arrival. Her other hand reaches behind her for a small backpack and unerringly unzips the pocket she needs. A mobile phone drops out into her hand. She checks it for connectivity, but seems to be having trouble getting a signal. She sighs, slides a look to the device and walks toward it, water splashing a little as she moves. She leans closer, looking the item over with a 'hmmm', then she addresses whoever might be able to receive her message. She smiles a little, her voice is pleasant and the accent in definately British.]




Well, hello. This doesn't seem to be the ruins of Aztlán.

[She doesn't appear overly upset by this development as she slowly nods, once, toward the device.]

I suppose this is some sort of general feed video phone. Interesting. Strange place to leave it lying around. My phone... is wet and I need to make a few calls. Anyone at the other end?

Comments

[nooniensingh]

I'm more of a dabbler than a serious student. Jack of all trades, master of none.

But as near as I can tell, there's nothing particularly ancient about it. Just...odd. How familiar are you with the multiversal theorem of existence?

[ladycroft]

I dabble, as well.

Some. Are we speaking philosophically, religiously, scientifically...?

[nooniensingh]

Perhaps a little of all three, but I am not the sort who puts too much emphasis on metaphysics.

You are in what could best be described as a pocket universe, wholly separate from the one you are familiar with. And the people here are, for the most part, also pulled here from other universes.

[ladycroft]

By 'universes', are you referring to the quantum multiverse theory, minor changes which create new timelines, or is this something more like... vastly different universes of previously unrealized existence, as it were?

[nooniensingh]

Vastly different universes. It's rather surprising and honestly shocking, if you're not mentally prepared for it. I, personally, have been here for a fortnight, and my research into the phenomenon is still in its infancy.

[ladycroft]

Ah.

Well, this is... certainly an unexpected twist to my day. I was expecting to discover a labyrinth and am, instead, in some sort of reality akin to... science fiction.

That or the darts near the entrance to the tomb were dipped with some kind of hallucinogen...

[nooniensingh]

I thought the same thing, upon my arrival. I assure you, madam, this is no hallucination.

[ladycroft]

I... see.

Well, I'm standing in a fountain, in a square, in the sun, in a place I've never heard of or imagined, and my senses are telling me that it is all quite real.

[nooniensingh]

There are many who would argue that trusting your senses is folly, but I am not one of those. Your senses do not lie.

Very nearby the fountain, there's a library. I work there. There's also a charming cafe just outside, that makes a very passable cup of chai. If you should require more information, I'll gladly provide it.

[ladycroft]

When push comes to shove, as it inevitably does, you can only count on one person: yourself.

You've been here a fortnight and you have a job?

[nooniensingh]

A pragmatic philosophy, one which I wholly share.

Idle hands are the Devil's playground. It's more on a volunteer basis than a salaried position.

[ladycroft]

Quite.

However, you've chosen to stay? Or is there something preventing you from leaving?

[A sigh.]

Perhaps a cup of chai and face-to-face would be more appropriate for this conversation.

That and I'm... standing in a fountain and should really find a towel.

[nooniensingh]

[He chuckles a bit.]

I can offer you a towel, at the very least. My name is John, and I'll meet you at the fountain.

[ladycroft]

Splendid. Thank you, John. I'll likely be sitting on the side of the fountain, dumping water from my boots.

And I'm Lara.

Action?

[nooniensingh]

[He appears at the fountain less than five minutes later, in a long duster jacket, jeans, and a turtleneck sweater. And, lo and behold, a towel draped over one arm.]

Ms. Lara, I presume? We just spoke.

Absolutely!

[ladycroft]

[Lara is sitting on the edge of the fountain, just putting her second boot on again. She saw someone approaching in her preipheral vision, but made no assumptions about identity or intent. She looks up to see a handsome man, casually dressed but who is comfortable in his own skin. She stands and tucks wisps of wet hair behind her ears.]

Mr. John. A pleasure.

[nooniensingh]

[He better be comfortable in his skin, it was tailor made after all.]

Quite the baptism into the world. No injuries, I presume?

[ladycroft]

[Good point.]

Rather, yes.

[She glances down at herself while bringing her braid around to squeeze water from it.]

I appear to be intact.

[nooniensingh]

[He hands her the towel, and takes a seat next to her on the fountain's edge.]

I am glad to hear it.

In answer to your earlier question, I felt it would be best to hear in person. But unfortunately...there is no choice. We are not able to leave this world, or even this City. We are as thoroughly imprisoned as possible.

[ladycroft]

[Lara releases her braid, accepts the towel and listens closely to what he has to say.]

Can't leave?

[She wipes her arms briskly with the towel and looks up and down the street, then scans the rooftops.]

Are there guards? Cameras? Electric fences?

[nooniensingh]

Worse. Magic and gods and impossible things.

How can one fight the impossible? Or at least the highly improbable?

[ladycroft]

Oh, I've encountered the impossible before, including magic, gods, creatures that shouldn't exist, that sort of thing. What happens if you try to leave the City?

[She lifts her legs, one at a time, to dry them as she speaks.]

[nooniensingh]

A barrier. Quite invisible, quite impenetrable. I attempted to pass through it my first day here. It was...frustrating.

[ladycroft]

[She stops toweling herself dry and turns her head to focus entirely on John.]

There's an invisible barrier, around the entire city? Are you certain? Did you walk the perimeter? How tall is it?

[nooniensingh]

[He's staring off into the distance, not at her. As if he's seeing the barrier somehow.]

I couldn't measure a circumference. There's woodland surrounding the City itself, and some parts were impenetrable. It's nebulous, hard to find the true edges. I cannot even find any written reference to it in any of the books in the local library.

I dislike not knowing the confines of my world.