-001 Woolong [Video]

[3nterprising]

[A curious and very confused Faye Valentine finds herself walking through a lush maze of greenery. More than a little annoyed that her ship is nowhere to be found, she pouts dramatically as she walks. The communicator she'd discovered in her pocket isn't hers, but somehow it's easy enough to get the hang of.

Home doesn't exist anymore, but this isn't anywhere near where she last remembers being. Wanting answers, she takes out the communicator. There has to be someone within range of this thing's reception. Smiling, Faye dons a sweet voice, tinged with a hint of seduction.]

Hi!

I'm sorry to bother you, but I'm a little lost and I was just wondering if there was someone out there who might be able to help me? You see, I woke up in a forest and have no idea where I am. So if you could just point me in the right direction, I'd be very appreciative.

[She pauses and waits for a response, and after an eternity of waiting, like, at least six seconds, her sugar melts.]

Hello? Can anyone hear me?

Comments

[video]

[3nterprising]

You can? Oh, that's perfect! Thank you!

[video] -> [action]

[jivitadana]

It won't be long.

[And here we go, leaving the Mansion now!]

Can I ask what your name is?

[video] -> [action]

[3nterprising]

Good! I've never been too good at getting through mazes. [He may have noticed some tall, green walls behind her in the video feed.]

Oh yeah. It's Faye.

[action]

[jivitadana]

It's nice to meet you, Faye. I'm Minato.

[From the video, luckily, he could tell where she was, and then headed that way toward the hedge maze.]

This place is called Wonderland, by the way.

[action]

[3nterprising]

Wonderland? Is it really that wonderful?

[Actually, it's not sarcasm. Seems like that might be accurate, but she's holding judgement until she reaches that mansion.]

[action]

[jivitadana]

[That was the first time someone had asked him that.]

Sometimes. But I can explain more later.

[He did see her near that hedge maze, all those tall green walls. When he did see her, he approached.]

... It's nice to meet you in person. I'll take you to the Mansion.

[action]

[3nterprising]

[She smiles a smile of relief when she spots him coming around the hedge.] Oh, thank goodness!

Thanks for the rescue, Minato. So, did you memorize this thing?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[That made Minato smile a little again. He nodded to her, then walked with her toward the Mansion.]

You mean like being here? I've been here for about ten months. But some people have been here longer.

[action]

[3nterprising]

[She lets him lead the way and walks beside him.]

Ten months? Hm. Must be some mansion.

[action]

[jivitadana]

Mn, it brings us here to eat our memories, for the most part.

[The Mansion was not too far away.]

Other than that, it's not so bad.

[action]

[3nterprising]

Seriously? [She's not entirely convinced.]

Well, I've got a few memories it can have.

[action]

[jivitadana]

It'll take what it wants in the form of a word or phrase. Unfortunately, we can't choose.

[Minato knew he had some memories he might not have liked, but he wouldn't want to give them up.]

When it takes a memory, it'll project it onto everyone here so we all live through it.

[action]

[3nterprising]

[It doesn't seem like he's kidding.]

How can it do that?

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Minato shook his head.]

No one knows. Some of us are trying to figure it out.

When we're at the Mansion, you can pick a free room to stay in.

[action]

[3nterprising]

A free room? [Now we're talking.]

[action]

[jivitadana]

Mn, you need a place to stay. The room you choose will change to however you want it.

[Convenient, he thought.]

[action] Sorry for the delay!

[3nterprising]

Well, that's a good thing, I guess.

[She may actually be starting to feel a little relieved.]

[action] No problem!

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded. He got the front door for her once they reached the Mansion, letting her inside first.]

I can show you around in here too, if you want.

[action]

[3nterprising]

[It's a lot more grand up close, and Faye is almost too distracted to respond to his offer.]

I wouldn't mind the grand tour.

[action]

[jivitadana]

[Minato nodded, taking her to go see the kitchen and the ballroom first.]

It's not bad, right? There's a dining room and tearooms. When you're there, you can think of what to eat, and it'll appear.

[action]

[3nterprising]

Right. There's no way a chef could be that good.

[Of course that's too good to be true, but it'd be nice.]

[action]

[jivitadana]

It's as good as your imagination.

[It depended them on the person, perhaps.]

[action]

[3nterprising]

What do you mean by that?

[The inquiry in her voice far outweighs any possible sarcasm. Was this kid really serious about imagining things up?]

[action]

[jivitadana]

I can show you.

[Minato led her to one of the tearooms at the end of the hall and then to one of the free tables in the room. He pulled out a chair for her should she want to sit down.]

What's your favorite food? If you think of it, it should appear.

[action]

[3nterprising]

[She follows him, and she's a bit relieved when he leads her to a tearoom. She looks at him as he pulls a chair out for her, and cautiously sits.

Faye had expensive tastes, and at the notion of imagining something, she can't quite keep lobster alfredo out of her head. She stares dubiously, skeptically at the blank spot on the table in front of her, and when a hot plate of seafood pasta appears, she's so startled that she almost falls out of the chair.]

Aaah!!