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 Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 1:04 pm
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:08 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxOne thing was certain,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxthat the WHITE kitten had had nothing to do with it:
xxxxxxxxxxxxx—it was the black kitten's fault
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxentirely.
xxxxxxxxxx╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
xxxxxProof of Existance
xxxxxxxDown the Rabbit Holexxxx→xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx↔xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx← You are here.
xxxxxxxxxDirections & Recollections
xxxxxxxxxxxYorick the Jabberwock
xxxxxxxxxThe Wee Ones of Yore
xxxxxxxTo Have & To Hold
xxxxxTokens & Souvenirs
xxxxxxxThe Bedroom Door
xxxxxxxxxThe Heart's Favored
xxxxxxxxxxxThe Path Less Traversed
xxxxxxxxxThe Passage of Time
xxxxxxxTribute & Offerings
xxxxxThe Beginning
xxxxxxxThe How To Your Why
xxxxxxxxxThe End of the Beginning
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:11 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxThe Red Queen shook her head,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'You may call it "nonsense" if you like,' she said,
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'but I'VE heard nonsense, compared with which
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxthat would be as sensible as a dictionary!'
xxxxxxxxxx╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝
xxxxxDon't be rude. There's no excuse. Mind your manners.
xxxxxxxThieves will lose their head without trial. Don't steal anything here.
xxxxxxxxxWe have bias against speech being disjointed. Please stay IC.
xxxxxxxxxxxIf you must speak, please ensure Yorick approves. Don't post without permission.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxPlaying cards are banned - absolutely no exceptions! Really. He's terrified of the things.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxLost, confused, baffled? Don't worry...we're all mad here... ...welcome to the rabbit's hole.
With the merging of the shops, Yorick's post-it board was lost. Clean slate starts on Page 3! 3rd January 14
YORICK HAS BECOME A STUDMUFFIN JABBERWOCKY ADULT! 2nd January 10
Fashionably late, Yorick has joined the ranks of teenagedom! 31 October 09
Yorick is now the sweetest thing on two legs an adorable child! 25 July 09
Yorick has grown into a baby Jabberwock! 11 July 09
Set up Yorick's journal! >W< 04 July 09
Won Yorick in the 2009 RP contest! OMOGOMGOMG!! 04 July 09
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:17 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxAlice stood looking after it, almost ready to cry with vexation
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxat having lost her dear little fellow-traveller so suddenly.
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'However, I know my name now.' she said, 'that's SOME comfort.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAlice—Alice—I won't forget it again.
xxxxxxxxxx╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════╝ NAME: A thing of power and intrigue! He calls himself Yorick.
AGE Conceived on the 4th of July, 2009; born on the 11th of the same month.
SPECIES: Jabberwock
SPECIAL: Twisted horns of obsidian, leather wings of that which bumps in the night, razor fingers and feet to shred and rend, a long barbed tail of devilish intent, eyes of flaming nightmares.
KEYWORD: TRAUMATIZED
PERSONALITY: He suffers from anterograde amnesia, which makes pinpointing his other qualities a little difficult. Yorick relives every moment up to the second of his beheading, everyday, as though no memories were able to be saved once his head was no longer a part of his body. Thus, this fearsome concoction of beast is often a frightened, untrusting thing that shirks any fast movements and is oh-so-careful about where he galumphs. Despite his bad rep and fear of anything remotely sharp, he is quite warm towards those who would take the time to cater to him, even if he has no recollection of them the next day. Sometimes, trinkets or items of affinity can be possessed that help him a little more with remembering his old friends and enemies, but more often than not, it's an uphill struggle to earn his trust each day. He would like a friend but who knows what sharp items may be at their disposal? He has an intense dislike of playing cards. It's best to not put anything on his head either, as that sometimes earns a more violent response.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:19 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxThey stood so still that she quite forgot they were alive,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand she was just looking round to see if the word "TWEEDLE"
xxxxxxxxxxxxxwas written at the back of each collar, when she was startled
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxby a voice coming from the one marked 'DUM.'
xxxxxxxxxx╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:21 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔═════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxWith a sigh at the obstinacy of the rushes in growing so far off,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxas, with flushed cheeks and dripping hair and hands,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxshe scrambled back into her place, and began to arrange
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxher new-found treasures.
xxxxxxxxxx╚═════════════════════════════════════════════════╝   PaintbrushesOften caked in random colors but well-worn from use. Post-It NotebookA notebook full of post-its!
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:23 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔═══════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'It's a cravat, child,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand a beautiful one, as you say.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxIt's a present from the White King and Queen.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxThere now!'
xxxxxxxxxx╚═══════════════════════════════════════╝Lovingly pressed between age-old pages,
this dried daisy is taped on the inside of a book.
He does not remember who gifted it to him. [Femi]
Only the ribbon and card remain, but Yorick
enjoyed his "Eat Me" from Elda.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:24 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxThe confusion got worse every moment,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand Alice was very glad to get out of the wood into an open place,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxwhere she found the White King seated on the ground,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxbusily writing in his memorandum-book.
xxxxxxxxxx╚══════════════════════════════════════════════════════╝
 Within this room, there is a door. The door is unremarkable, except... ...the back of it is littered with post it notes...?
Notes were lost in the recent merger. He's practically a clean slate now...
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:25 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔══════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'There are so many candlesticks in the bag.'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxAnd he hung it to the saddle, which was already loaded
xxxxxxxxxxxxxwith bunches of carrots, and fire-irons,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand many other things.
xxxxxxxxxx╚══════════════════════════════════════════════╝
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:26 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔════════════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'So you did, you know,'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxthe Red Queen said to Alice. 'Always speak the truth
xxxxxxxxxxxxx—think before you speak—
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand write it down afterwards.'
xxxxxxxxxx╚════════════════════════════════════════════╝ADULT
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario, Stet, Thief
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Kamiko, Shea, Macario, Vera Lynn, Draven
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario, Hunter
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario
[x] to [x] | Lenore, Macario
[x] to [x] | Femi, Macario
[x] to [x] | Macario, Kamiko
[x] to [x] | Macario, Hunter, Banyan, Noelani
[x] to [x] | Lenore, Hunter
[x] to [x] | Macario, Noelani
[x] to [x] | Dross, Nimai
[x] to [x] | Briar, Nimai, Nimue
YOUNG ADULT
[x] to [x] | Kaitaia, Petite Kitsune, Femi, Lule, Cobalt, Vino, Dacj
TEEN
[finished] | Julien, Maxwell, Clement, Elda
[x] to [x] | Jeanemon, Haevan, Elda, Femi, Clement, Cobalt
[x] to [x] | Hunter
[x] to [x] | Femi, Maxwell, Cobalt
[x] to [x] | Elda, Petite Kitsune, Ciaran
CHILD
[x] to [x] | Elda, Clement, Femi, Kamiko, Eli, Mena, Melisande, Ciaran,
[x] to [x] | Amara, Hunter, Zane, Colton, Noe, Cobalt, Haevan
[x] to [x] | Clement, Femi, Seth, Noelani, Lancelot, Ciaran
BABY
[x] to [x] | Banyan, Kisuke, Jules
[x] to [x] | elfgurl, Elda, Philomena, Seth, Femi, Clement, Cobalt
[x] to [x] | Elda, Cobalt, Delilah
[x] to [x] | Elda, Ciaran, Petite Kitsune, Clement, Boy George, Hunter
[x] to [x] | Clement, Elda, Kisuke, Noe, Boy George, Banyan, Seth
PROTO
[x] to [x] | Hunter, Mriae, Boy George, Ciaran, Ruriska
[x] to [x] | Hunter
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:28 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'Take care of yourself!'
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxscreamed the White Queen,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxseizing Alice's hair with both her hands.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx'Something's going to happen!'
xxxxxxxxxx╚════════════════════════════════════╝
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:31 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔════════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxxThe Red Queen made no resistance whatever;
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxonly her face grew very small,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxand her eyes got large and green:
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxand still...
xxxxxxxxxx╚════════════════════════════════════╝
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:32 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔═══════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx—and it
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxreally WAS
xxxxxxxxxxxxxa kitten,
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxafter all.
xxxxxxxxxx╚═══════════════════╝There was a book lying near Alice on the table, and while she sat watching the White King (for she was still a little anxious about him, and had the ink all ready to throw over him, in case he fainted again), she turned over the leaves, to find some part that she could read, '—for it's all in some language I don't know,' she said to herself.
It was like this.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxYKCOWREBBAJ
xxxxxsevot yhtils eht dna,gillirb sawT'
xxxxxxebaw eht ni elbmig dna eryg diD
xxxxxxxx,sevogorob eht erew ysmim llA
xxxxxxx.ebargtuo shtar emom eht dnA
She puzzled over this for some time, but at last a bright thought struck her. 'Why, it's a Looking-glass book, of course! And if I hold it up to a glass, the words will all go the right way again.'
This was the poem that Alice read.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxJABBERWOCKY
xxxxx'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
xxxxxxDid gyre and gimble in the wabe;
xxxxxAll mimsy were the borogoves,
xxxxxxAnd the mome raths outgrabe.
xxxxx'Beware the Jabberwock, my son!
xxxxxxThe jaws that bite, the claws that catch!
xxxxxBeware the Jubjub bird, and shun
xxxxxxThe frumious Bandersnatch!'
xxxxxHe took his vorpal sword in hand:
xxxxxxLong time the manxome foe he sought—
xxxxxSo rested he by the Tumtum tree,
xxxxxxAnd stood awhile in thought.
xxxxxAnd as in uffish thought he stood,
xxxxxxThe Jabberwock, with eyes of flame,
xxxxxCame whiffling through the tulgey wood,
xxxxxxAnd burbled as it came!
xxxxxOne, two! One, two! And through and through
xxxxxxThe vorpal blade went snicker-snack!
xxxxxHe left it dead, and with its head
xxxxxxHe went galumphing back.
xxxxx'And hast thou slain the Jabberwock?
xxxxxxCome to my arms, my beamish boy!
xxxxxO frabjous day! Callooh! Callay!'
xxxxxxHe chortled in his joy.
xxxxx'Twas brillig, and the slithy toves
xxxxxxDid gyre and gimble in the wabe;
xxxxxAll mimsy were the borogoves,
xxxxxxAnd the mome raths outgrabe.
'It seems very pretty,' she said when she had finished it, 'but it's RATHER hard to understand!' (You see she didn't like to confess, ever to herself, that she couldn't make it out at all.) 'Somehow it seems to fill my head with ideas—only I don't exactly know what they are! However, SOMEBODY killed SOMETHING: that's clear, at any rate—'
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:35 pm
xxxxxxxxxx╔══════════════════════════════════╗
xxxxxxxxxxxxx'You see, Kitty, it MUST have been
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxeither me or the Red King. He was part
xxxxxxxxxxxxxof my dream, of course—but then I
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxwas part of his dream, too!'
xxxxxxxxxx╚══════════════════════════════════╝Jun D ♥CURIOUSER &…♠ RP RESULTS!!!
Unsurprisingly, the Jabberwock [and, yes, in light of your very relevant concerns, he will be certed as the Jabberwock] proved to be the problem child of our set - the number of tables tossed and epitaphs launched in his honour are best left unchronicled. We've had some truly outstanding entries, executed above and beyond the call of duty - yes, you. You know we're talking about you, and you, and - aaagh, it was just about impossible to choose! @_@ After an extended fight sequence and the inadvertent wrenching out of several keyboard keys, we finally came to an executive decision that the Jabberwock shall henceforth be known as…OSSIAN YORICK 8D- although we actually really like the alternative suggestion of Yorick,
can we pleeeease cert him as Yorick, pleeeease? 8DThe character description caught our eyes from the start - it just had a great hook: anterograde amnesia due to the trauma - "relives every moment up to the second of his beheading, everyday, as though no memories were able to be saved once his head was no longer a part of his body." 50 First Dates* Jabberwocky? That's almost too clever! The note that "he will often scribble down a crude portrait of the people and Hytes who have made an impact on his life, their names scrawled beneath, with a happy face or frowny face so he knows who is okay" was definitely almost too much to bear. DX Of course, if all we needed was a character bio, we wouldn't have left the event open for two weeks. XD The Wonderland prompt response that followed did not disappoint - hardly! To speak too much of it would be to spoiler a most marvellous tale…but this I must divulge: imagine our growing horror and hilarity when we realised there was a TUZKI [aka Belle's rabbity emoticons] APPEARANCE.[Note: That's not a Tuzki, that's our reaction to it.]The final note that I really shouldn't spoiler but can't help but mention is the brilliant metafictional aspect to the yarn - on my part, I'm a minor metafiction scholar, and I really enjoyed it. Imagine our collective surprise when Belle came sheepishly IM'ing us on the last day of judging with "I missed out cutting&pasting the second part of the last entry" - and appended Response to Prompt #2…a response yielding familiar names such as Gyasi and Amara…why, it was our dear old Chrystali all along! ^^;; In retrospect, the Tuzki should have clued us in. Congrats, Chrys! We hope you'll be as delighted with him as we were with your entry!
In conclusion, thank you so much for showing up and making our 2009 RP Event one to remember!
You've practically made our year, and we hope we gave you a good time too! Thank you very much!*We, uh, didn't actually watch 50 First Dates...but that's the general idea, right? ^^;; The Entry Name: OSSIAN [although I think Yorick would be funny... >3>]
Personality: TRAUMATIZED - to the point he suffers from anterograde amnesia, which makes pinpointing his other qualities a little difficult. Osi relives every moment up to the second of his beheading, everyday, as though no memories were able to be saved once his head was no longer a part of his body. Thus, this fearsome concoction of beast is often a frightened, untrusting thing that shirks any fast movements and is oh-so-careful about where he galumphs. Despite his bad rep and fear of anything remotely sharp, he is quite warm towards those who would take the time to cater to him, even if he has no recollection of them the next day. Sometimes, trinkets or items of affinity can be possessed that help him a little more with remembering his old friends and enemies, but more often than not, it's an uphill struggle to earn his trust each day. He would like a friend but who knows what sharp items may be at their disposal? He has an intense dislike of playing cards. It's best to not put anything on his head either, as that sometimes earns a more violent response.
Side note: he will often scribble down a crude portrait of the people and Hytes who have made an impact on his life, their names scrawled beneath, with a happy face or frowny face so he knows who is okay. These are often done on sticky notes and plastered to his door, so he might see them first thing upon awakening in the morning. Maxwell is possibly the only Hyte to have a "|:" face next to his name. It's not a fool-proof method, but it gives him some notion of what to expect when he galumphs around with the other Hytes.
Side note pt deux: he stammers when reliving the past, a whuffling and stumbling sound that doesn't always come out cohesively.
General Prompt: Your Jabberwocky has gotten himself lost in Wonderland[and/or]the Looking Glass World - write of his experience. [Feel free to use any elements/characters from this thread/HyTech/C*cktail.]
He remembered this place - that was the first sign that something was very, very wrong.
In fact, he didn't need any other signals, whistles or flares to alert him to the danger; it was enough that it was a part of his existing memory to make him hunker into himself and stare. Osi looked more like a giant, mutated rabbit than anything to be feared, even his eyes of fire seeming to be more simmered and flickering. The great and terrible beast of legend was cowed and subdued by a place. A place! And had the place possessed any sense, he might not have been so unsettled, but if it had a home in his mind, it was no place to be.
There was no galumphing to be had, but instead a strange sort of sideways crawl that would have amused any crab. How a venture into the forest to seek ample shade had turned into madness was anyone's guess, but that was the nature of the Place: you didn't find it, it found you. And so, found, Osi shuffled at a sidelong pace down the path that had lain itself out neatly for him, razor claws drawing divots in his wake; were he able to wring his hands without it ending in losing another body part, surely he would. Osi found little pride in skulking around with a guilty expression on his worried face, but pride was what got them all in trouble to begin with, wasn't it? Why, the Qu--
"Nope!" came the undignified swallowed sound, hardly a word in the reconstructed throat. "Not guh-goin' tuh-t-to think about it!" No siree, and that stammer was only because he'd tripped, yes, over that smooth path, and woe to anyone who thought otherwise...
The last thing he was expecting was a response. "The first left, right? Right. And left thereafter, right? Right. Always the right way, if you keep to the left...right?" The cat seemed to walk out from behind a tree next to the re-headed Jabberwocky, except the creature was far too large to have just been hiding, and too soon came that large smile...except...
Osi was almost certain the sound he swallowed had emitted through his stitched throat like a shriek. "Maxwell?" came the incredulous question, jaw slack. This wasn't right! There were so many things wrong with this scenario! Where was the Cheshire Cat? Why was Maxwell here? How could he remember his name? Instead, he questioned, "How do you know the way?"
"Oh," purred the jaguar, lifting a dappled paw to tap next to one twisted horn on Osi's head, "it's all here. Convoluted, yes, disjointed, but there!"
The Jabberwocky threw up his arms and moved out of the grinning feline's reach, eyes igniting at the encroaching touch. "You are not in my head."
Maxwell shrugged, drawling, "Maybe not, but your head is here, and here I am. You looked like you're coming apart at the seams, Wocky, I thought a friendly face would do you some good. If you're inclined to walk this path yourself, I wont stop you." Indeed, the Hyte seemed to be fading into the very shadows he'd come from, golden pools of amber set over that ivory grin.
"Wait!" Ossian cried out, claws reaching out for the disappearing jaguar haplessly, "How can I go home?"
"Oh that?" The flippant tone of voice made Osi's blood run cold. "Door behind you. Be quick! The way there will be lost if you aren't quick!"
The Jabberwocky spun around to face the forest behind him, and there - a door. Attached to nothing, but a door all the same. "What?" Osi touched the wood; it was solid. "How is this--?"
"Go, Wocky! It's just a door - don't lose your head."
When he looked to Maxwell with the intent of rage and finger pointing that may or may not have ended with an eye missing, he found the jaguar was already gone, not even a trace of that mocking smile in his wake--wait! Osi looked closer, and there! A mince pie? The Jabberwocky curled his lip, taking the 'droppings' and quickly utilizing the door; he wouldn't leave anything behind, not a single thing, for everything was inane and had a purpose here.
On the opposite side of the door, he found himself standing at the same path and forest he had just left, now standing where he'd seen Maxwell before. "Useless!" he growled in frustration, wings snapping out before furling against his back again. When he found that jaguar, he was going to take that pie and shove it--
"Completely useless!" came the cried agreement from down the path, "What is a keeper who can't time the clock? Oooh, that doesn't sound right but it's pointless! I'll be late!" And there, dashing past him at breakneck speeds, Julien flew by with a massive pocket watch in paw, although it was large enough that there wasn't a pocket for it to fit in!
Osi did what he swore he wouldn't, and galumphed after the Hotot, his long and able stride catching up to the springing rabbit. "Where are you going? Can I come? It's gotta be better than here!"
The rabbit about had a heart attack on the spot, even going so far as to stop for a full second before rushing again. "Ossian, you gave me a fright and have made me even later! Nosir this wont do! You can't keep up with me, Osi, but don't worry - you'll be there whether you want to or not."
This made the Jabberwocky slow, just enough to choke on the dust that Julien was leaving behind him. "What does that mean?!" His frustration was getting the better of him, the same rightful anger that had sent him burbling after the vorpal blade to begin with. "Julien, I want to go home!"
"The right way is not left," the Hotot's voice carried over the cloud of dirt that he'd stirred, the tone dimming as he grew further away. "Left is home, but that's not where you really want to be, Ossian! Remember where you are!" And thus, the white rabbit was gone, leaving the Jabberwocky alone with a mouth full of grit. Osi looked miserably after the Hyte's departure, slowly moving down the path, pausing as his claw made a loud -c***k!- sound against something. His eyes lowered to find...a tea cup? Well, this was more suited to the place for certain, and was still not to be disregarded. Pie and tea in hand, he continued down the path by his lonesome.
It was an unremarkable path and came to what most paths do: a crossroads and a girl. Surely, there were girls at every crossroad, but the crossroad one came to was very dependent on the girl, and this one was no exception! Ossian approached with greatest caution, and ensuring that she bore no sharp points or had anything pointy within her vicinity, he crouched a short ways from her and attempted a greeting. "Your hair is blue," he informed the girl.
Belle turned, wide eyes filled with tears fit to make even the stones about her weep, and indeed, they wept gravel for her distress. "Do you have a Byte to spare?" she asked him in the most curious fashion, a fashion even curious for where they were! He saw her words next to her lips like a speech bubble, and within it, a distressed looking, bulbous rabbit!
"A bite?" he repeated, puzzled. He looked down to his hands, and lo! He had a mince pie! Osi held up the jaguar-droppings, grinning. The grin of a Jabberwock is not one to be taken lightly, more frightening than one at rest, but he was lucky that this Belle was afraid of nothing and took all in stride.
She shook her head sadly, almost apologetically, tucking a blue strand behind her ear. "I'm afraid that's not the Byte I was looking for," she admitted, "but it will afford you one down the right path!" She pointed to the left, before it seemed to occur to her that she was facing the Jabberwocky. "Oops!" The rabbit popped up again, a blushing thing. "I mean that right." And thus, she pointed between the paths, where a third had formed, quite possibly from all the sobbing rocks.
"That's not right!" Osi looked over the path critically. "It's central, and why isn't my bite good enough if you want one?" That was quite offensive, as far as he was concerned, and he didn't want the pie anyway!
"It is right," Belle insisted in a gentle manner, although the rabbit that popped up in her speech bubble wore a ninja mask. "It's the only right path, no matter how you stand! Unless you stand like this," she turned so her left was facing him, hand on hip, using her right hand to point to each path. "I bet that could be confusing!"
Eyes of fire sputtered in confusion, expression blank before he gave a short nod of agreement. "You could...say that...you're right."
"So is this! Please go home, Ossian, everyone is waiting!" She smiled sweetly at him, causing his knees to shake and his heart to aflutter. He hadn't felt like that since his head was removed! It was almost nice!
"Thank you!" A quick glance to the signs yielded brief information: the left was the tulgey wook - his old home! - where Maxwell had directed him. To the right was a sequel, and he really didn't want to go down that path. The newly pointing arrow simply stated, home. He meandered by her easily, looking down the path and turning again. "Good luck with your...bite?" Not only was the maiden gone, but so were the other two paths, leaving only the one he'd been on all along. Had he always been on the path home, or had he made a mistake and there was no way back? Maybe it was both.
And so Ossian continued. The cup of tea stayed warm and the pie constantly dropping itself onto the path, although every backward glance proved the pieces to be gone. During one such check, he looked forward again...and came face to face with everything he'd feared, everything he'd remembered, except it was worse with the one leading.
"Jabberwocky." Demi's accusation was rather indifferent, for all the weight it held. "This is not the right way."
"Nuh-no," he agreed, hunkering down again, blazing eyes wide on the cards that flanked her. He couldn't even rightly be afraid of the axe-wielding soldiers when in her presence. "It's nuh-not, it's th-the suh-suh-suh-central one!"
"Left would have taken you home."
"Nuh-not thuh-thuh-that one..."
"Right would have also taken you home."
"Nuh-nn-n--"
"Oh stop it already." The Queen gave the Jabberwocky a reproachful look. "Such a beast shouldn't stutter and carry on like a googedly fairy. Off with his head!"
Ossian paled. His knees trembled, stumbling back a bit although he spilled not a drop of tea. "Buh-but I alruh-ready...!" He weakly motioned to his stitched neck.
Demi gave the indicated neck a quick once-over. "So you've already had it off once? Who failed to do it right? Off with their head!"
The scuffle and shuffle of cards that happened at the Queen's comment was quite a sight to behold; reds, blacks and whites were cut, folded and dealt, affording Ossian enough of a chance in the hooplah to slip through one messily made bridge to run out and away from the danger without so much as a paper cut. The Jabberwocky ran like his head was on the line, and as far as he was concerned, it was on the line and even had a nice dotted pattern to follow should someone be too confused. It wasn't an error he wanted to make in this place, not again! No blades, no snicker-snacks, no more living nightmares! He didn't know how long he ran, pie and tea clutched to his chest, but eventually the Jabberwocky was so winded that even his stitches seemed to flare with the exertion. He was no closer to getting home, maybe he'd even gone the wrong way, but he'd never know--
"Good job kid, we need those to drop the last ones."
Ossian looked up, brows high and hopeful over his ember eyes. There stood Maxwell and Julien; the jaguar was all grins while the Hotot seemed fit to be tied.
"Maxwell, we can't wait any more we're going to be late! But, thank you, Ossian!" Julien carefully took his tea cup while Maxwell took the pie. "We needed these for the Bytes! We'd dropped all the others and were one shy, you see, and N0my kept stealing my tea--!"
"The snail outlasts the bunny, this world is something funny." Maxwell grinned widely at his white counterpart, who glared heatedly in return.
The Jabberwocky was overcome with a joy he'd never known, padding between them, this great beast of fear and renown all but pleading. "Can we go home, please...?"
"Yeah, Julibean over here is about to cry if we don't get back in time, so..." Maxwell smiled at Osi, patting his shoulder. "It's time to find you a home."
Bewilderment riddled his features. It occurred to him he'd wanted to go home, but hadn't known what home was, only that it wasn't in this place of memories and fear. "Find me a home?"
Julien was positively seething by now, but the reminder of being late seemed to spare the jaguar any choice tart words. "We're going to be late for the closing of the event. Once it's done, you'll have a home!"
"It's not late, it's fashionably on time, Julibean..."
"Don't call me that!"
The trio continued down the path, one that would lead them to HyTech, one that they all could call home.
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Posted: Sat Jul 04, 2009 2:36 pm
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