001

[pishirogane]

Since this is the widely available method in which to reach the others who have come here, I will make use of it. I understand people are still settling into Märchenstraße in order to fulfill these roles thrust upon us and my friend and I are able to further assist.

Where we've taken residency, there is a library that holds the various faerie tales and myths we've become part of. Should you wish to know the details of your character and the story they are from, we are willing to oblige in answering these questions.

[Message down, Naoto lowers her quill and looks around at the books she currently has stacked. Perfectly content to not visit town for a while again.]

[OOC: Kanji or Naoto will be answering.]

Comments

[pishirogane]

Beast's Castle.

[bellbound]

[...That's not a promising name.]

And where might one find Beast's Castle?

[pishirogane]

[It's... not meant to be trespassed upon.]

I'm not sure which direction the carriage went in honestly.

[bellbound]

[...Really. He tries not to roll his eyes. Mogget doesn't know who he's talking to, but why did it have to be someone with no sense of direction.]

Well, if you were able to take a carriage, perhaps others could too. I would like to explore the library myself. Surely you remember where you found the carriage.

[pishirogane]

[No sense of place in faerie tales maybe.]

It may be possible. However, you'll have to speak directly to Beast for permission.

[bellbound]

I await Beast's response. Assuming s/he can write.

[pishirogane]

He can write. There will be a moment's delay before he answers however.

[topgun_textiles]

[Up and down ladders he was to gather up all the books, and he needed to be called down to see this.]

Yeah, sure. I'll tell the others you're coming up.

Just

Mind the weird magic carriage shit.

[bellbound]

Thank you. As for getting there, how do I find the right carriage?

[He's also wondering who these "others" are.]

[topgun_textiles]

You want the one pulled by two white horses with silver manes. No driver.

[Just don't ask.]

Also hang on to something when you get in the carriage. They're pretty fast.

action?

[bellbound]

[All right, he won't ask! He's far from the only talking animal here, Mogget has noticed that by now. So off he goes to find the white horses with silver manes. It's... an uncomfortable ride. But it gets him there, or so he assumes. The castle looks rather dark and forbidding.

Mogget doesn't intend to do anything like knock. He'd rather slip in and out unnoticed. He approaches in his cat form first, searching for a way inside. When that doesn't work, he becomes a white dove and flies up to the top of the castle in search of an open window or something of the sort. If necessary, he'll become a trickle of smoke and get in that way. He's discovered that his forms here are really quite versatile, much more like his true self.

Anyway, once he's inside, Mogget wanders the corridors in cat form, searching for the library. He's hoping no one will spot him.]

action!

[topgun_textiles]

[After his embarrassing discovery in learning that the journals were communal, he'd actually fled the library to busy himself until he calmed down. Red-faced but calm, Kanji had decided he should head back and not be such a chickenshit about facing his only friend here.]

[But it's down one particular hall where he sees something peculiar, something he hadn't seen previously. There's a cute cat in the castle! Was... was it a stray?]

...What're you doin' here? Hidin' out from the cold?

[Hunkering down, he was fighting the urge to pet the critter. He didn't wanna scare the poor thing after all.]

\o/

[bellbound]

[Drat. He's been seen. Tempting as it is to run off or play dumb, a resident of the castle may be his best bet for locating the library. At least it's only a man who has found him, and not whatever the "Beast" is that presumably owns the place.

He pauses, assessing the newcomer, the tip of his tail twitching from side to side. He's wearing a red leather collar, so perhaps not a stray. There's an intelligence in the cat's gaze too, a fact that becomes clear when he speaks.]

It is a little chilly out there. Are you a resident of this castle?

action

[topgun_textiles]

[Ah, he sees the collar. Not a stray. But he was way too far from the villages; he had to be lost.]

H-huh!?

[He lost his balance and his butt meets the fine carpeting. With a sigh he frowns, disappointed with himself.]

Right... the animals talk here.

[He looked up and nodded, pushing himself to his feet again.]

Uh, yeah- Castle's mine. Y-y'want a warm spot, I got a fire goin' in the library.

[bellbound]

[Mogget watches this performance with a kind of weary scorn, backing out of the way when the man falls flat on his behind. The natives aren't at all surprised by talking animals. Clearly this man is a newcomer.

...And the castle belongs to him. So is he the "Beast" that communicated with Mogget through the journal earlier? Strange that he seems human, but then again they all seem to have been placed into roles that aren't necessarily suitable. It's a relief to know that there isn't some horrid creature prowling around the castle after all.

And an offer to visit the library straight away, without even having to ask. Convenient. Mogget passes on making any comment on the man's clumsiness, choosing to accept the man's offer politely instead.]

That would be ideal. [He takes a couple of steps forward, ready to follow the man.] So, you are Beast. Not what I expected, I admit.

[topgun_textiles]

[It was something he was hearing more and more from his friend as time went on - "You're not very Beastly at all" - and in some ways he took some solace in it. But he knew what he was capable of, and what happened when he lost his temper or found himself locked in a scuffle. It was this that only Beauty knew of, and something this Beast wanted to have happen as little as possible. He just had to keep his cool, is all. He led the way down the carpeted hall, jamming his hands in his pockets.]

You'd be the first to say somethin' like that. Everybody else just turns tail without talkin' t'me.

[Fortunately for the chilly Mogget, the trek isn't too far. He's soon turning the handle and pulling open the door. Inside was the gentle crackling of a hearth, the scent of paper and ink, and the occasional sound of a page flipped. Someone was already inside.]

...Uh, you first.

[bellbound]

[So the natives are afraid of him. Hmm. Best to be wary then.

The library, on the other hand, looks most inviting. Mogget doesn't hesitate to take Beast at his word; he runs in eagerly, looking around. A warm fire, good. And so many books... He cranes his head to see just how high the shelves go. This place is going to take some searching. But that's all right. He can spend a day or two here, no more than that.

He comes to a stop by the hearth, stretching out as the flames warm his fur. Then he looks back at Beast, wondering if he's going to have company here. The library isn't empty; he can hear someone else inside as well. He'd rather be alone, but he can't exactly turn away the Beast from his own library...]

[pishirogane]

So, were you able to catch the directions on your way here?

[The occupant of the library at present set their book down when they noticed something white. They haven't closed their book; on the contrary, they're just being polite to address the Guest that had been permitted inside. Surprise, someone from that first day.]

[bellbound]

[His ears prick at the newcomer's voice and he looks over, spotting her a moment later. Yes... he does recognize her. They met on that first confusing day when everyone arrived in this world.

Mogget trots over, jumping up on to a nearby reading desk so that he can address her eye-to-eye.]

I found my way. [His gaze falls on the book.] Interesting reading?

[pishirogane]

By carriage. Again, the horses run too fast to discern direction.

[Naoto remained on the couch, but she does watch Mogget as he jumps onto the desk.] Interesting enough. It's the Brothers Grimm version of Sleeping Beauty called 'Little Briar Rose'.

[bellbound]

[He'll work out the direction when he leaves. He can fly above the castle and find the town from there. But that's something to do later. Mogget tilts his head at her.]

Your fairy tale?

[pishirogane]

No.

[She turns her head to a small stack of books and scripts] "Beauty and the Beast" by Villeneuve is.

[bellbound]

[And it clicks. She's the person he talked to through the journal.]

You're Beauty.

[pishirogane]

That is correct. Had you not received permission, it would have been out of my hands leading you here. The castle is not meant to be found unless granted passage by the owner.

[She marks her page and closes the book.] So, which character would you be?

[bellbound]

[It's fortunate that he was granted permission, then. There's a short pause after her question, but he may as well tell her; they've already communicated via the journals after all.]

The name on my journal is "Genie of the Lamp". A tale I've never heard of, but I should like to know the story.