Day 1

[mirror_mod]

The first sign is maybe different for all of you – the hard ground underneath you, the lack of a body next to you, or no blanket to pull over your shoulders when you reach for it. Either way, when you open your eyes you know for certain you aren’t in the castle.

It’s a little too quiet here, except for the sounds of people around you moving about. There is a strange, unreal quality about everything, as if were viewed through the grimy patina of an old piece of film or photograph and half-realized blurs of images and words seems to hang suspended in the air like solid smoke – there but not quite there.

The group seems to be at the edge of a dead forest, the trees dark and twisted and the ground swirling with mist. A path seems to lead into the depths, but the sky that way is cast with dark umber and hanging shadows that don’t seem terribly inviting.

Not far off, however, is a long stone bridge stretching over a chasm of nothingness and leading to what looks like a city. Far beyond the rooftops, there is the briefest glimmer of dazzling light, gone almost as soon as you see it.

((OOC: WAIT FOR SECTIONS PLEASE! Aaaaaand GO!))

WAKING UP | THE CITY

Comments

Re: WAKING UP

[sixguns]

[Noah awakes just as he'd been when he'd fallen asleep. On his side, one arm resting under his head. A pistol barely touches his arm, having been under the pillow (always sleep armed, kids). He's wearing only a pair of grey pajama pants. Many scars cover his chest and arms, old bullet wounds and knife blades.

[He's not pleased when he wakes up. It's not the church. Not the castle. Nowhere he's ever been before.

[Perhaps God has seen fit to send him where he belongs. But--there are others here. It has to be the city itself.

[Noah sits up and rubs his head.]

Bloody hell.

[There was nothing for it. He stood up, noted his gun out of the corner of his eye, and took it with him to take a look around.]

[persequor]

What's that?

[ Arya nods to the gun. ]

[sixguns]

[A little girl. This place... another reason not to like it.]

's a weapon. Hopefully one I won't have t'use.

[He checks the safety--on--and slips it into his wasteband, grip close to hand.]

Are ye all right?

[persequor]

Yes. Do you know Connor and Murphy?

[sixguns]

They're my sons. [He takes a look around, trying to get some semblance of orientation.] I'm Noah.

[Turning his attention back to her,]

Did ye wake up here, as well?

[persequor]

[ She nods. ] We all did. I thought you might know of them; you sort of sound the same. I'm Arya.

[sixguns]

Well then, Arya. Best figure out what's goin' on. Jus' stay close, eh? Bugger knows what we'll run intae.

[Yeah, he doesn't know Arya.]

[persequor]

I know.

[sixguns]

[She didn't sound scared, from what he could tell. Either she's a brave child, or she's daft. He was certainly leaning toward the former.]

Perhaps this is past th' city. I've never been out there.

[He starts walking, gravitating toward the others who are waking up as well.]

[persequor]

[ Arya keeps up easily. ]

It's not. I've been as far as the woods; they're not like this. Mayhaps this is the Dead Zone.

[sixguns]

I've never been there, either. Only been here a few months, an' I've not been all that productive.

[Being inches away from death upon arrival will do that to one.]

... bloody hell, my boys're likely tearin' up the place lookin' for people.

[persequor]

My brothers will be too. [ She cannot imagine Jon and Robb sitting idly by. Catelyn must be beside herself. ]

[hellshaped]

[Well, at least somebody came armed. Hellboy nods to this guy as he passes by, checking in on people who seem more disoriented than others.]

You alright, old-timer?

[sixguns]

Aye, I'm jus' tryin' t'put my mind back t'gether.

[Noah looks up to find himself talking to a rather large, red creature. A couple of months ago he'd been concerned. The city and castle have definitely had an effect on his worldview.]

Might y'know where we are?

[hellshaped]

[Hellboy's satisfied with this response, and gives the immediate area a quick glance.]

Not on the castle grounds. Either in the Dead Zone or an alternate reality, probably.

[sixguns]

[Noah took in the landscape again. Nothing like he'd seen before. It seems to be a reoccuing theme in his life the past few months. Then he turned his attention back to the tall, red-skinned... man?]

I've not been in th' dead zone before, an' all we need is another bloody alternate reality t'deal with.

[A sigh. He feels too naked to be traipsing through the wood, but what else was there?]

Christ, an' me without my GPS.

[Too bad Hellboy doesn't know a joke like that is a rarity from him.]

[hellshaped]

[No he doesn't, but he does appreciate a dry sense of humor! So he smiles at that, which is more of a strange grimace as he bares his teeth. He doesn't have the facial muscles of a human, so his expressions can be a bit unnerving.]

Hell, I'd settle for a compass.

[His gaze drifts back to the woods too.]

I don't like it, but that's probably where we should start looking for a way out. It's the only thing around here.

[sixguns]

Aye, I hear ye.

[Noah's hand rested on his gun for a moment, an unconscious movement to check if it's still there.

[With a nod to Hellboy, he starts off into the wood. His feet are bare, but it doesn't seem to bother him.]

[hellshaped]

[After ensuring everyone else is on the same page, of course he'll follow.]