[1st orb]

[70ftandcounting]

[ It...took Rapunzel some time to figure out how to work the orb; her hands were trembling so much that she'd dropped it several times before she'd even managed to get a good look at it.

When her message comes through, her voice is shaky and her eyes are narrowed in frustration and a bit of fear. What a way to start her birthday… ]

I--I need to know where I really am, what's going on. Please. It's...it's really important that I go home right away. [ A deep breath. ]

F-Flynn? Are you here?

...

Oh my gosh, Mother really is going to kill me...

Comments

[bondsoflove]

Everyone needs to go home and no one can.

You get used to it.

[70ftandcounting]

W...why not?

[bondsoflove]

Nobody knows. It's true either way.

[70ftandcounting]

[WELL that's no good. Rapunzel looks a little lost for a moment, looking over her shoulder and dry-washing her hands.]

So...what...do we do?

[and why are they calling her a princess and why is she decked out in this RIDICULOUS GOWN]

[bondsoflove]

Wait.

[He frowns, watching the movements the girl makes. Skittish--it puts him in mind of a rodent.]

[70ftandcounting]

[ HEY 8| ]

...Wait...for what?

[bondsoflove]

For something to happen.

[greatsquirrelhunter]

Are in Schwanheim! Schwanheim is good! [Not quite so good these past few days, but still plenty good enough]

[70ftandcounting]

What...where is Schwanheim?

[Maybe that's the name of the town Flynn was taking her too...]

[greatsquirrelhunter]

[Oh, this is a hard question. Um.... Um..... Oh! Faolan knows the answer!]

Here!

[70ftandcounting]

[....Huh.]

I...I see.

[Except not really.]

Is there a way out? Home? I don't understand how I got here...

[greatsquirrelhunter]

[Faolan's breath catches and he has to look away. There's a whimper in his voice when he answers.]

Some go home.

[70ftandcounting]

[ she's said something wrong. she's not sure what, biut she's definitely said something wrong. ]

I'm sorry, I didn't -- I didn't meant to...upset you.

[shiromadoushi]

[[...oh hey. That person was...]]

You're in Schwanheim, the capital of... uh... [[...it never did seem to have a name, did it?]] 'The Kingdom' as everyone calls it, I guess. Probably still in the castle, if you just arrived.

Are you all right?

[70ftandcounting]

I -- yes. I just arrived, and I'm...confused. I think--

[DEEP...BREATHS...DEEP....BREATHS...]

I'm fine. Yes, I just...need to get home. Please, it's very important.

[She was going to have a dream come true this isn't fair. It was her birthday.]

[shiromadoushi]

There isn't any reliable way for anyone to be sent home yet... the person who was working on it's been a sleep for days...

But if it helps, I'm pretty sure time doesn't pass back home when you're here. It seems to be a sort of thing in these sorts of places.

[70ftandcounting]

I don't..I don't understand.

[That makes absolutely no sense to her, at all.

She chews on her lip, swearing up and down mentally not to cry.]

These...sorts of places?

[shiromadoushi]

[[He never does a good job with new arrivals... crap.]]

Places where people from different worlds wind up called to.

[70ftandcounting]

Wh-what?! Different worlds...? There's...different places other than this where people are kidnapped from different worlds?

[What...that makes no sense to Rapunzel - she doesn't even know anything about her own world, let alone the concept of many others.]

[golden_moon]

Breath slowly, dear. It's a bit of a shock, but you'll get over it, I promise.

[Selene offered a little smile.]

We've been brought here with magic, and it doesn't seem inclined to send us back, at the moment. I've not met anyone named Flynn, but I'll ask if a couple of the maids might be willing to ask around, just in case.

My name is Selene, Sugar. What's yours?

[70ftandcounting]

I will?

[She -- needs to go back! She needs to give Flynn the Satchel, see the lights...experience things...]

I'm...I'm Rapunzel.

[golden_moon]

Yes. It may take a little while, but the human spirit endures. Or something like that, anyhow.

Rapunzel. It's a bit of a shock, waking up in another world. Are you still in the castle?

[70ftandcounting]

[She blinks - obviously confused, but nods dumbly as she pretends to understand.]

I...yes. [She looks around, and glances up.]

I am. Should I not be? I'm...not sure where else to go.

[golden_moon]

Of course you're welcome there. They're the ones who brought us into this world, aren't they? Least they can do is offer you a place to sleep, darling.

I asked because it is that much easier for me to find you, knowing where you are, Sugar. If you want some help finding yourself a room and meeting some of the ladies who dote on the princesses.

[70ftandcounting]

Oh!

[ well now she feels silly. ]

Yes. Yes -- that would be wonderful, thank you.

...But I'm not a princess.