applesaucedream | Paper Faces on Parade

Current Music: March 1, 2013

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Paper Faces on Parade

The residents of Manhattan will once again find themselves drawn into the currents of the rift when they sleep tonight. Once again, too, the rift is drawing in people from other worlds, both those who might one day find themselves pulled through in waking life and those who might yet escape its grasp.

Tonight, it seems, a celebration is in order. The ballroom of a country manor is the setting for tonight's gathering. Wood and marble gleam in the gas lighting, and a bar at one end of the room provides the, ahem, social lubricant some guests may require. At the other end, a staircase leads to a walkway that runs the entire parameter of the room, allowing guests to watch the dancing from above. While the party is localized in the ballroom, who knows what secret passages and hidden ways a grand old house like this one might conceal?

Those who appear here will find themselves wearing a disguise on arrival. Should the rift cause one to appear in a costume not of their liking (as it is fairly likely to do), an enormous wardrobe can be found through a door near the bar. In it, guests will find a seemingly infinite assortment of costumes and masks of all sizes and varieties ready for their use.

[Mod note: Usual dream-party rules apply. Both members and non-members are welcome to use any character, be they already in the game or no, and players can choose whether to have their characters remember this in the morning.]

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For some reason, Edgar has a hard time believing that birds kept in cages are "well cared for." He pokes a fingertip into the cage and one of the smaller birds nearby nips it gently.

But are they happy? he asks Daine.

He might be surprised, though it rather depends on the cage. And this one is a fair bit smaller than either Daine or the birds would like.

"They'd be happier if they had the whole room to fly around in," she replies, her expression carefully innocent.

Edgar gives Daine a sly look. I expect they would, he replies. Do you think we should let them out?

As the birds start flapping around the cage and chirping at his words, Edgar assumes they agree.

"We wouldn't be doing any real harm," Daine says, biting back a grin. "It's not as if we'd be letting them out into the wilderness, after all."

We would just be giving them a bigger cage, Edgar says, his tone exceptionally dry. He places a hand on the cage latch, studiously avoiding the eyes of the red and black bird that lands on the bar that holds it. Just give them more room to spread their wings.

"But a very nice one." Daine sets her hand over Edgar's and raises an eyebrow at him. "On three?"

Edgar nods. One, two, three!

The birds stream out as soon as the cage door opens and disperse, some landing in trees, some perching on fountains. Daine watches them go with a pleased little smile. "Much better, I think."

Edgar smiles and traces the path of a bird as it crosses the star-filled ceiling. They do seem happier, he agrees.

He watches the last few stragglers flutter into the far reaches of the conservatory, then gives Daine's hand a gentle tug. Ready to explore some more?

"Yes." She likes the conservatory, but they can always come back to it. Giving their joined hands a playful swing, she adds, "You can pick the next one."

Edgar leads them back out of the conservatory - one of the birds swoops low over their heads to tweet its thanks as they reach the door - and then starts off down the hallway once again.

He randomly opens one of the doors on the right this time and pulls Daine through behind him. Then he stands in stunned delight for a moment.

The room is over two stories tall and books line every wall, the only exceptions where a door or window intrudes. A fire is crackling heartily in a fireplace on the far wall between two windows, and the room itself is furnished with overstuffed chairs and sofas.

Wow, he finally manages. This is some library.

Daine gapes up at the books, a little awed. It reminds her of the TARDIS's library (minus the bats).

"I don't think I'll ever get used to seeing so many books in one place," she says, wandering slowly into the room and turning to take in all the shelves. "They're not so common in Tortall."

Edgar runs a hand lovingly across the spines of the books on the nearest shelf as he follows slowly after her.

Words have always been so precious to him - their shape, their sound, their meaning, their power. Books, with all their secrets, spoke in silence, just like him. He can't imagine living in a world where those secrets were few.

Stepping over, he takes Daine's wrist, and his tone is sympathetic and a little sad when he says, I'm sorry.

"It's all right," she reassures him. "I lived near enough to the palace to visit their libraries, and I even had my own book on anatomy - for my healing magic." And honestly, most of the books here wouldn't have lasted long in her quarters. It's hard to keep such things clean and neat when you've got so many of the People passing through, and her own book had only held up because it had been bespelled against dirt and wear.

Edgar is drawn to the bookcases and before too long winds up with a thick volume in his hands. He's through a entire chapter before he surfaces. He replaces the book on the shelf and wanders over to Daine's side.

We don't have to stay, he says, giving her a guilty grin. We probably shouldn't, actually, as I'll just wind up trying to read every book in here.

Seeing Edgar absorbed in a book, Daine grabs a (slimmer) volume off one of the shelves and settles herself in one of the armchairs by the fireplace. She glances up when he rejoins her and smiles.

"All right." It's nice and quiet in here, too, but she's eager to resume exploring the house. She stands, leaving the book on the armchair rather than attempting to put it back where she found it. "My turn, is it?" Smile widening, she takes Edgar's hand and leads him back out into the hallway.

She follows the hallway around a corner, where the carpeting gives way to stone tiles. Shortly after, the hall widens into a little, round room, empty but for a spiral staircase that leads down. There's a shimmery quality to the light, as if it's reflecting off of a body of water, a faint, salty tang to the air. Daine doesn't hesitate, but heads directly for the staircase and descends.

She climbs down about two stories before reaching the lower level, and she grins at the huge indoor pool that's revealed. The floor here is stone tiles, same as above, and it ends in an irregular edge that makes the pool look almost natural. The fact that it seems to be filled with salt water only heightens the effect, and she turns to give Edgar a look that's almost pleading. "D'you mind?" She's fair itching to take a swimming shape and dive in.

Edgar holds up his hands in acquiescence and, smiling, turns his back to allow Daine any privacy needed for her to get water ready.

Fortunately for everyone, this being a dream means there's no potentially embarrassing preparation necessary. Her dress just vanishes as she transforms into a sea lion and splashes into the pool with an echoing bark.

Edgar admires the quick way seal-Daine cuts through the water, a little jealous. Toeing off his shoes, he makes quick work of removing his socks and rolling up his pant legs.

Unclasping his cloak and letting it fall to the stone floor, Edgar lowers himself to sit on the edge of the pool and dips his legs in the water.

It's been months since she went for a swim in any shape, and Daine is enjoying herself immensely. The pool is large enough that she can build up some speed without having to worry about crashing into the sides, and since it's salt water, she doesn't even have to worry about getting it into her mouth.

She arcs back toward Edgar and notices his feet dangling in the water. Unable to resist, she swims up from below and gently bumps his foot with her nose before resurfacing to bark at him.

Thankfully, the water is clear enough that Edgar can see Daine coming, so he isn't surprised by her foot boop, but she moves far too fast for him to pull his feet out of the water. Not that he would have.

He grins and signs at her, /Bark to you, too./

By this point, she's good enough with his signs that she recognizes 'bark' and 'you' and can guess the rest. She pushes her whiskers forward in amused acknowledgment, then swims farther along the wall so she can haul herself out of the pool without getting him wet. She gives her head a little shake, then shifts back into her human shape, dress and all. Her hair is still a little damp, but that's the only visible sign of the dip she's taken.

"Thanks for waiting," she says with a sheepish grin. "I couldn't resist."

Edgar smiles in understanding, then pulls his feet out of the water. By the time he's rolled his pant legs back down, his socks and shoes have found their way back on his feet (and his cape about his shoulders) and he's ready to go.

Taking Daine's hand, he leads her back up to the hallway. Where to next?

"It's your turn," she says, because fair's fair. "I wouldn't mind finding a way outside, though - if there even is one."

Pondering his choices, Edgar opts for a door on the right this time, just a little farther down from the one where they just stopped. The door opens directly onto a tight spiral staircase that winds up. Giving Daine a shrug, Edgar leads the way up it.

Eventually, they reach a trapdoor in the ceiling. Edgar pushes it open and climbs through, then turns to help Daine up.

They appear to be in a tower or turret. There is an opening all the way around, but nothing covering it. Over their heads, the conical roof is open at the top, revealing a sky full of stars.

It isn't quite outside, Edgar says. But it's nice. He walks over to the window to stare at the ground far below.

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