Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Dec 27, 2008 16:37:17 GMT -5
Heather shifted uncomfortably. Her bed wasn't normally this hard, or this cold... Where was her quilt? What was with all this noise? Footsteps and talking... Had she left the window open? Was it people coming home from a party?
Frowning, she forced her eyes open. What she saw there was... entirely unfamiliar. Her 'bed' was actually a white marble floor, the same material as the huge and elaborate pillars holding up the distant ceiling. Just off to her right, a gigantic staircase swept upwards, and all around her, people milled excitedly, either oblivious or uncaring of the girl on the floor.
Someone stood on her hand. She cried out and grabbed wildly at the offending ankle, hoping to trip, then pushed herself up and ran blindly, elbowing people aside.
Noticing a small door hidden away in a corner, she made a beeline for it. She didn't much care what it was, only tht it was unlocked and empty; and it was both.
She slid down against the door in the comforting darkness, heart hammering in her chest and tears threatening to spill. Calm down now, she told herself. You're safe. Alone. Whatever is happening - and as much as I love the theory, evidence suggests that this is not a dream - the important thing is to calm down.
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Alberta
- Masterful Virgin -
I'm a dominatrix?
Posts: 26
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Post by Alberta on Jan 8, 2009 1:09:01 GMT -5
Alberta had only gotten into Paris the night before, but she was too excited about making a start in the new city to let the fatigue of jet lag take her over. Leaving unpacked bags behind in her (posh) hotel room, she'd taken to the streets to sight-see, running on nothing more than airplane pretzels, coffee, and adrenaline.
A quick jaunt past some of the local advertisements seemed to indicate to her that one of the feature attractions here was the Opera House, so she'd decided to check it out. Blending in with the crowds (she was wearing more "mundane" clothes today, instead of what she'd playfully come to think of as her "working gear") she'd been in midst of staring, awestruck, at the building's grand interior, when her attention was suddenly caught by the image of a frantic, running girl.
Alberta's stomach flip-flopped uncomfortably. She knew what it was like, to be that girl. She'd been that girl all too recently.
Chewing her lower lip she walked over to the door the girl had barricaded herself behind and tentatively knocked on it with her knuckles.
"Um, hey there. Are you okay?"
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The Mad Hatter
- In the Duggins -
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posts: 76
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Post by The Mad Hatter on Jan 8, 2009 1:42:02 GMT -5
The Hatter had so far been enjoying his day; morning cup of tea, discussing with the Hare about their soon-to-be-opened shop, and another tea at one of the other tea-shops. (It hadn't compared to his own, of course, but it had been good enough.)
However, two girls caught his eye--one of them in such distress that she'd run and locked herself into a closet, and the other trying to comfort her. Fortunately the Hatter had a full pot of tea and a spare cup under his hats, so he took both of them out, then knocked and asked kindly (though he made sure not to spill anything on the well-meaning girl on his side of the door), "Whatever's the matter, child?"
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Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2009 8:11:01 GMT -5
The question startled a burst of hysterical laughter out of her, but she managed to swallow it back. "No," she yelled. "I'm bloody well not okay!"
Manners, she reminded herself firmly. She's only trying to help. "But thank you for asking," she added.
Another voice joined the first - this one male. She bit back a groan of frustration, and answered him as well. "I... I woke up, and I was here, and I don't know where here is or how I got here and I just... I'm so scared. What do I do? How do I get home? Can I get home? Where the bloody hell am I?"
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The Mad Hatter
- In the Duggins -
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posts: 76
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Post by The Mad Hatter on Jan 8, 2009 14:38:08 GMT -5
"You're in Paris," the Hatter replied, pouring some tea out into the cup. "It's completely understandable how you feel; the first day I got here, I could hardly believe how utterly nonsensical this place was. Would you like some tea?"
The door was still closed, of course, but the Hatter was certain that the prospect of something normal to drink would get the girl out.
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Alberta
- Masterful Virgin -
I'm a dominatrix?
Posts: 26
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Post by Alberta on Jan 8, 2009 16:47:26 GMT -5
Alberta tried not to jump at the sudden appearance of the man in the...overly large and colorful top hat. As it was, she couldn't help staring at him with some alarm and dismay.
Sure, in her new line of work she was used to meeting a lot of colorful characters. But even by those standards, he was pretty weird-looking. And most of those people didn't parade around like that in public.
"I, um, don't think tea is really the most helpful thing right now," she said awkwardly. "Are you from Euro Disney or something?"
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Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2009 16:58:43 GMT -5
"That's because you aren't English," she ventured with a nervous half-laugh. "Any English person knows that tea is always appropriate."
There was a rustling, then the door slid part-way open. The girl accepted the tea with shaking hands. Her eyes were red and fixed on a spot on the wall mid-way between the two good samaritans, but not before meeting both of their gazes briefly, and she managed a small smile.
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Alberta
- Masterful Virgin -
I'm a dominatrix?
Posts: 26
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Post by Alberta on Jan 8, 2009 17:38:44 GMT -5
Her heart went out to the obviously frightened girl in deepest sympathy. She spoke softly, trying to lock gazes in a more permanant fashion.
"Hi, my name is Alberta. What's yours? Are you lost? What's the last thing you remember?"
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Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Jan 8, 2009 18:12:09 GMT -5
"Pleased to meet you, Alberta." She held the tea-less hand out to be shaken. "My name is Heather, and I am indeed very lost; the last thing I recall is crawling into my own bed in my own house in a place which is very distinctly not Paris."
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Alberta
- Masterful Virgin -
I'm a dominatrix?
Posts: 26
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Post by Alberta on Jan 8, 2009 18:55:51 GMT -5
"Okay, wow. That is not good." Alberta grimaced. "Do you remember suffering any head injuries, or something like that? Or maybe somebody kidnapped you, or..."
Her imagination was starting to run away with her now, and she was forgetting to keep her internal monologue internal. Which was doing no one any favors, really.
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The Mad Hatter
- In the Duggins -
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posts: 76
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Post by The Mad Hatter on Jan 9, 2009 1:40:38 GMT -5
"Ah, an Englishwoman!" exclaimed the Hatter, relieved that she'd calmed down enough to accept the cup. It would be a few minutes before she finished that cup, and heavens knew she'd probably need two, so meanwhile he rummaged in his hat and found a second cup. "Tell me if you need more tea, dear girl; I'll just have a cup myself. French tea isn't quite up to standard--adding and subtracting things willy-nilly."
That done, he poured himself some tea and sat cross-legged a few feet away.
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Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Jan 9, 2009 11:53:08 GMT -5
She frowned thoughtfully. "I don't think I was kidnapped. Who would kidnap someone just to drop them on the floor someplace and leave them there? I don't feel injured, either, nor particularly groggy as one would expect of sleeping pills. I don't remember anything strange about yesterday at all. It was just a day."
She shook her head. "How I got here is a question for another time. More urgent are the questions of how I get back, and what I will do in the meantime. May I... no, I couldn't ask to borrow your phone. It would be far too expensive. I..." she looked down at herself. "I appear to be wearing a nightie. Thus, no money. At least I have slippers on." That fact meant that she probably hadn't sleep-walked here, or some such. It also ruled out public transport, as she would have been noticed... she shook her head again to clear it. She needed to focus.
"Perhaps you would be so kind as to escort me to the nearest police station? The law, albeit a foreign law, should be informed. They could contact my family. I shall place myself in their capeable hands."
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Alberta
- Masterful Virgin -
I'm a dominatrix?
Posts: 26
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Post by Alberta on Jan 9, 2009 20:41:44 GMT -5
"I'd be more than happy to lend you my phone, except I don't have one." Alberta grimaced apologetically. "And I only just got here today myself, I'm on vacation...so I don't really know where the police station would be. But I'd be happy to help you find it. Maybe there's an Embassy, or something?" She really didn't know what you were supposed to do in distress abroad situations like these.
"You probably shouldn't be walking around like that. It's cold outside." She cast a glance over at the strange man and, noticing his overcoat, attempted to use her skills to dominate him. She spoke in a commanding tone of voice and affected a stern, disapproving expression.
"You. Give her your coat."
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Heather
- Masterful Virgin -
I really do not like this.
Posts: 17
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Post by Heather on Jan 10, 2009 9:08:50 GMT -5
Heather blinked, then glared. She looked a little like an angry puppy. "There's no need to be rude," she admonished. "He's been nothing but kind. He gave me tea!" She brandished the cup in front of the pretty lady's nose as proof, but it wasn't quite empty, and hot tea slpashed over her own hand and the lady's top.
She let out a high-pitched squeal, but did not drop the cup. "I'm so sorry! Are you alright?" she asked, then proceeded to lick the tea from her hand.
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The Mad Hatter
- In the Duggins -
Why is a raven like a writing desk?
Posts: 76
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Post by The Mad Hatter on Jan 10, 2009 14:29:52 GMT -5
The Hatter had gotten distracted for a moment, as occupied with his tea as he was, and it was only until the young woman ordered him to give Heather his coat that he was brought back to the situation.
Luckily, his good-natured explanation that he could hardly give a stranger his coat (no matter what her state of distress) was unneeded since Heather essentially did it for him. However, he did so anyway; unlike the hats, which he kept to sell, he had a spare coat in the shop.
"Be that as it may, I have a spare coat at the tea shop. It would have been a much bigger problem if you'd needed a hat, though--none of these are mine."
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