star_kingdom | Where am I?

Current Location: Traverse Town

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Where am I?

[Video]

Ah-haa!

[The screen flashes to life much to the surprise of the tiny mouse holding the device. As she recoils she throws the object away from her body. The jettisoned piece of technology tumbles through the air, eventually coming to a sudden jostling stop on the pavement just in time to capture video of the mouse disappearing around the corner of a building.
A moment later she timidly peeks back around but the thing doesn‘t seem to be following her…
Taking small little hops forward while carefully sniffing the air for danger the little brown mouse cautiously makes her way back to where the object has come to a rest. ]

ah… Hello… [A pause as she attempts to compose herself a little. ] I’m Mrs. Brisby.

[Her voice gains a touch of confidence but still remains soft as she becomes more accustomed to speaking to this odd glowing stone. ]
I seem to have lost my way. I need to get back to my home… its near the big stone in the garden.
Please, could some one tell me how to get back there?

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Mrs. Brisby. I'm afraid there is no way to return to your garden.

[OH! A human! It is briefly considered that she should run off but the human actually seems to understand what she was saying and the human was inside the glowing stone object, otherwise known as the communicator but she doesn’t have quite enough experience with technology to know that. ]

[Maybe it was safe. ]

But, I have to get back. My children will be worried about me and I can’t expect Auntie Shrew to watch after them for this long. Please, there must be a way back?

[As much as she would have loved to give true comfort to this woman, Setsuna knows she...can't. Not entirely.]

There isn't...not at the moment. At this moment you are a refugee, just as we all are.

A refugee… from the plow? But, you must be too large to be concerned about moving day?

[The day the farmer plows his field all of the animals who live there have to move or risk being killed by the plow… this is what Mrs. Brisby thinks the lady is talking about. ]

I'm afraid it's a little more complicated than that.

Do you remember the Darkness, Mrs. Brisby. Before you arrived, what is the last thing you recall?

[The last thing I remember…

Mrs. Brisby placed a paw on her forehead trying to remember only to discover how very much her hands hurt. They were burned from holding that stone… ]

I… I used the magic of the stone to safely move my home to the lee of the stone. Then…

[The memory grew foggy here. ]

I must have passed out. I remember being very tired…

That may have been when the Darkness attacked, I'm afraid.

Your world...your home is...lost. It's not gone, but you can't get back there now.

The darkness always goes away in the morning, when the sun rises… Won’t that happen again? The sun has to rise here too.

[Er, Traverse Town doesn’t see much sun really and it isn’t that kind of darkness, but she doesn’t know that. ]

I’m sorry, but it is surprising to find a human that can understand me. Usually people seem too busy with other things to pay attention to other animals. Have you always… been able to talk to mice like this?

This Darkness is different than simply being that of the night. It is not connected to the life cycle, but comes from a place beyond our worlds.

[At her next question, though, she can't help but smile.]

I wouldn't say I've always been able to talk to mice or understand them, but...

~~[She's always been able to talk to cats like thi-]~~

...there are other talking animals here, in these worlds. Actually, I believe King Mickey is a talking mouse, albeit he's a bit taller than you.

[Mrs. Brisby isn’t very worldly so all of this talk about Darkness and other worlds pretty much, er, flies over her head. The only thing that really registers is that she cant go home right now. She tries, not very well, to hide the disappointment of that. ]

I can speak to other animals, [A small timid laugh. ] I was even able to speak to the Great Owl once… But, never a human. I… I didn’t believe this was even possible.

[Oh dear… probably a good idea not to mention cats. :P ]

Can humans understand what you say, generally, in your world?

[Setsuna definitely knows better than to mention it. Considering she is talking to a mouse...]

They really don’t seem to understand at all. If they did… maybe I could have just spoken to the farmer and asked him not to plow his field until Timmy was well enough for Moving Day.

He developed what Mr. Ages called pneumonia after a spider bite. He was getting better due to the medicine… but…

[Her voice falters. A mother worried about the condition of her children.]

[blinks, is not sure what to make of you, but sdfiosj you are adorable]

Hello, Mrs. Brisby, my name is Rapunzel. Um...the garden, where, exactly? I can't say I've seen anything garden-like here in Traverse Town.

[Another human who can understand her! ]

The garden is a field on the Fitzgibbons' farm. It can’t be too far away from here. I was just there a little while ago…

[A pause for some fidgeting. She doesn’t want to be rude but she feels the need to ask. ]

Can all humans here understand mice?

[oh dear, sad faces for Mrs. Brisby]

Mrs. Brisby I... I'm afraid your home is very, very far from here.

This place is called Traverse Town, it's where the people who have survived their worlds being swallowed by darkness ends up. If you're here, Mrs. Brisby, then it means your world is gone right now.

[hurriedly]

But, we can get your world back, so please don't lose hope!

[pauses and considers]

I... don't think any mice talked back home...but King Mickey is a mouse, and we can understand him, so maybe it has something to do with this place?

That is what the other person said… but the children!

[Mrs. Brisby tries to reign in this sorrowful feeling before she cries. The hope of Rapunzel’s next sentence is more than enough help for this. ]

There is a way to get the world back? What is it?

Maybe… it is some kind of magic?

[It seemed odd, but magic did exist She had seen magic work first hand. ]

The children are alright, I'm sure. In fact, there's a good chance they could still show up here! I've been here for weeks, and one of my friends just showed up.

[don't cry Mrs. Brisby! Rapunzel will be forced to go find you and snuggle you :x]

I'm...not sure yet, honestly. But there are some very powerful and very brave people who are working on that problem, right now. We'll get you back to your children as soon as possible, I promise.

[and she means that, too. She understands the love of a family.]

[Right now she is able to prevent more than a small sniffle from escaping, but she might have to have a good cry over this later once everything settles in more.

Aww, snuggles! That is a cute idea.]

I’m glad you were able to find your friend.

[Really! It’s tough to be without loved ones around!]

Maybe… if my family has also arrived here, please, would you tell me if you find any of them? They will probably be looking for me too.

[you are so strong, for such a tiny thing, rapunzel might love you a little, already]

[reassuring smile]

Absolutely, I'll be keeping a special watch out for them.

What about you thought? Traverse Town isn't too terrifyingly large for a person but... you're so tiny. Do you need any help getting around?

Thank you.

[It was big and yes, scary, here at ‘Traverse Town’. Not to mention the shock of a country mouse suddenly finding herself in the middle of a big city. ]

I have never been to a place like this before. Maybe you could help. I need to find a safe place for the night. I’m afraid… [Small nervous laugh. ] …that I wouldn’t even know where to look for one here.

[well yes...it probably is kind of big for poor little Mrs. Brisby, but Rapunzel was trying to be optimistic?]

[is talking while she moves, keeping one eye on the street in case she passes you up, and one eye on the communicator]

I'll bring you back to the hotel with me, you can stay in my room until we figure something out. It's not like you take up a whole lot of room or anything, and it'll almost be like having Pascal back. He's a chameleon, he's been my best friend for years. I wish he were here, maybe you could ride him, or something...[yes, she is babbling, because she feels so awful for itty bitty you]

[she stops, staring down the street and checking the communicator one more time and...yup, sure enough this should be it. she approaches carefully, keeping an eye out for Mrs. Brisby and upon locating her, drops to her knees a few feet away and offers a tentative smile]

Hello, Mrs. Brisby.

[Pascal… chameleon… ride him? She isn’t really sure what a chameleon is. Some kind of animal presumably…

Even knowing the girl she had been speaking to was human Mrs. Brisby does squirm a little when Rapunzel lands in front of her just because she was used to running away from humans instead of conversing with them. But she haltingly scurries forward to get closer to her new friend. ]

Hello. Are you sure it will be alright if I stay with you? [Shyly glancing down at the ground. ] I wouldn’t want to put you to any trouble.

I wouldn't have it any other way. Besides, I'd feel awful leaving you to wander on your own. My room is more than large enough to accommodate both of us and I promise, you'll be safe with me.

[she holds her hand open, palm up, on the ground and flashes an encouraging smile. As strange as all this has been for her she couldn't imagine being in poor Mrs. Brisby's place and makes a promise to do everything she can to see the little mouse is safe and happy]

[Looks at the friendly smiling girl and then at the offered hand. Ah… well, why not? ]

This has to be safer than traveling by crow.

[So said with a gentle laugh on the end as she climbed into the offered hand. Jeremy had flown far too high, too fast, and the midair stunts… terrifying! She didn‘t expect anything like that from Rapunzel. She was much more moderate. ]

Thank you.

[stands very carefully and very slowly, she cups her other hand around the one Mrs. Brisby is resting in and carries the little mouse close to her chest, so if something happens, she can make a happy pocket and protect her]

It's no problem, we're all in this together, and if we don't help each other, who else will, right?

[Even if the hand cupping is down with careful slow precision Mrs. Brisby still ducks a bit, reflexively. But, since this was a protective move it is alright. ]

I agree. [Added with a bit of a halting tone. ] And… if there is anything I can ever do for you…

[What could a small mouse do for a human? There had to be something. ]

Please, feel free to ask.

[beams at you as she nudges the hotel door open]

Absolutely!

[flicks on a light]

And welcome to your home away from home!

[How could anyone have missed that outburst of hers. The device transmitted a cacophony of sound as it was hurled across the expanse, bouncing carelessly until it ran out of energy. Wishing he'd had time to plug his own ears, Basil swiftly replied.]

Do get ahold of yourself dear Lady.

[The sight of another mouse, was a welcome one despite his reprimand. Although it was not the mouse he had expected to turn up.]

Mrs. Brisbane was it? We appear to have found ourselves in a similar quandary. Ah-- but I'm getting ahead of myself.

[There's a few mutterings here and there as it sounds like Basil is fiddling with something. Soon the feed switches to video.]

Ah! Much better, wouldn't you say? Now.. where were we? Yes of course..

[On the screen appeared a mouse not alike herself, dressed from head to toe.]

I am Basil of Baker Street. Perhaps you've heard of me?

[She does try to… ‘get ahold of herself’ as much from the surprise of being told to do so as anything. ]

Mrs. Brisby.

[She ever so softly corrects with just a touch of a quiver in her voice. But when the video switches on Mrs. Brisby is naturally greatly relieved to see another mouse. The humans she had met were very nice but it was still so strange to speak to them! ]

Basil of Baker Street? No, I’m afraid I haven’t. I have never been much farther out than the edge of the garden.

[Basil is one to talk considering how surprised he'd been by these things originally... however that doesn't stop him from acting like an expert now]

Whatever. [He waved off the correction immediately]

[It was peculiar how the humans here were only to ready and willing to converse with creatures of their diminutive size]

Hrn? A pity, it would have saved me the trouble of explaining myself further. [A pause] Judging by your attire alone.. anyone can plainly see you are of rural extraction. [IE. You didn't need to say it] Finding yourself surrounded by all these man-made structures.. must be a bit of a shock, I imagine.

Rural… extraction…?

[That was true but, what a strange way to phrase it. ]

There aren’t buildings like this on the farm. There is just the farm house and the barn… oh and the chicken coop, but nothing like this. It was a… shock.

[She fidgets, wondering if she should ask. ]

But you are used to these… ‘man-made structures’? Do you live in the city?

[That is what I said, isn't it? Basil didn't find his phrasing at all unusual and instead focused on the latter part of her response]

That would explain the extraneous fibers clinging ever-so-slightly to the frayed edges of your cloak. [Those fibers being remnants from last years harvest undoubtedly, the coloration aged from excessive exposure to the sun and the elements. It was a minute detail that wouldn't have concerned most individuals]

Indeed I am. I live in a city myself, but unfortunately [Slight "hmmph" sound.. but an amused one] not this city.

[Extraneous fibers? Mrs. Brisby picked up the edge of her tattered cloak to look for those fibers. She didn’t see anything… wait… that tiny little piece of wheat? He saw that?
Working the small fiber free she added. ]

You must be very observant, to notice a small thing like this.

[Her voice softens at his last sentence. ]

I’m sorry. You must have been pulled from your world also. Did you have to leave anyone behind?

[Wheat. Extraneous fibers.. same thing.]

Ah, but I'm afraid I must be otherwise what sort of detective would I be? A very poor one. [He went ahead and answered the question for her] I also-- couldn't help but notice... what, madam, has happened to your hands? They have clearly come into contact with a substantial amount of heat... and recently, if I'm not mistaken. [It was hard to tell over the video]

I-- well-- there is someone. [Reminding him of Dawson] An associate of mine.. [His features drooped.. his lip quirking upwards only once before falling once more] He's a stout chap, I'm certain it would take more than a little darkness to overtake him.

[Her hands… she stepped backward before bringing them up to look at her paws closer. They were painful too, but that had been a little forgotten in the excitement of finding herself in Traverse Town. ]

Yes, the stone… I was trying to save my children when this happened. Then the Darkness came and I … haven’t been able to find them…

[So horrible… She didn’t know if they were safe or not. Was Timmy still recovering!?
But, maybe there was a chance.]

If you are a Detective maybe… please, could you please see if you can find my children?

The stone? [Could that be the necklace she was wearing-- or something entirely different? The necklace looked innocuous, and while there was a stone affixed to it.. how could it have caused such damage. He couldn't help but feel like she was leaving something out. He was about to inquire further when she brought up her children. He felt a slight knot forming in his stomach. He hadn't meant to have drawn up such unpleasantness.]

I-- well... I'm sure they are quite-- [Basil's attempts to be reassuring were quite unsuccessful. He wasn't sure what happened to those that were left behind]

[He wanted to flat out refuse her requests, doubting that her children were here and knowing that Mrs. Bristol couldn't afford his regular consulting fee-- but with that look.. and that sincerity in her voice. He had a sort of weakness for such cases, when clients became emotional like this... Taking a deep breath he offered her the kindest smile he could muster]

I will look into it Mrs. Bristle. I will need complete descriptions of them, don't leave out any details that may help to differentiate them from the local population.

[She brightens almost immediately… and completely misses the ‘Mrs. Bristle’ bit, finding her children was so much more important! ]

Oh, thank you! Thank you so much!

[Wiping her eyes she tries to settle into giving the requested descriptions. ]

Teresa is my oldest daughter she is only a little shorter than I am and usually wears a large pink ribbon tied into a bow on her head. She has light brown fur. Martin is my oldest son… he is very spirited… and he has a tuft of grey fur on his head that sometimes gets into his brown eyes. Cynthia is another daughter. She has pale almost yellow fur and usually wears a green bow around her waist. And Timothy, we also call him Timmy, he is my youngest. He is the smallest and has grey fur. He should be recovering from and illness…

[Unless this situation has made it worse again. No, no thoughts like that… not right now. ]

I have been told they might have been sent here too. Oh, I do hope you can find them!

[The mood shift is a relief. He's really not sure what to do with someone when they are so upset.... course this is how he ends up taking on such missing persons cases]

There's no need to thank me, dear lady. It's the least I can do.

[Woah woah woah... slow down there. He listens intently to all the descriptions. They still aren't much to go on.. but the children should be looking for their mother as well. An-- illness? In the midst of all this.]

Any scars, birthmarks? Any other distinguishing features?

Should I run across anyone that matches your descriptions you will be the first to know.

[Distinguishing features… she thinks hard before settling on. ]

Oh, they can read. My husband taught them… before he… [Trails off softly. ]

But, they really are very good at reading. Much better than I am.
[This is very unusual in her world. Even if he said not to…]

Thank you again. That’s very kind of you.

I take it that being able to read is uncommon where you reside.

[He took pause once more when she trailed off. Basil didn't seem to be able to avoid touchy subjects]
My condolences.

Think nothing of it. [He doesn't think he'll be able to find them. Individuals seem to trickle in one at a time..]

Hey, Mrs. Brisby! I, uh... I imagine you've probably already been filled in on the situation, right?

[Oh! Another human! ]

Hello. Yes… a few people have told me about the Darkness and how I can’t return home right now.

[For an instant she looks pathetically sad about that. ]

There must be so many in the same position?

Yeah... I'm sorry-- the situation kinda bites, don't it? Unfortunately, yeah.

But hey! We've all got a lot of camaraderie with one another, right? My name's Zell. Zell Dincht! So... if you ever need anything, I'd be more than happy to help ya out!

I live on Destiny Islands and work at Land of Dragons, so you can ask for me if you're ever there, okay?

O… okay.

[She seems uncertain about this, but it is a lot to take in all at one time. Especially about the other worlds, Destiny Island and the Land of Dragons… ? ]

Thank you, Zell.

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