[ OPEN ]

[whatthequack]

Who: Ahiru and Everyone
Location: The Plaza
Time: Afternoon
Style: Starting in third, but I'll follow anything!
Status: OPEN

"QU-!"

Ahiru threw her hands over her mouth, her eyes darting from side to side nervously. This didn't look like any place she had been to before. But hadn't Drosslemeyer just said that she was in the story? Why was it so different all of a sudden? How did she end up soaking wet? And what had happened to Fakir?

...Yeah, she was officially way too confused. "Um, Fakir?" She looked around the Plaza in confusion, from her current angle only seeing strangers wandering the area and a lot of unfamiliar buildings.

"Wh-Where am I...?"

Comments

[whatthequack]

Rue! You're here, too?

[Ahiru smiles at her in a bit of relief. One of her friends was here. Because Rue was definitely her friend no matter what she said.]

R-Remember what?

Oh, okay. [She really isn't too phased to learn that he's not around but she can't help but think that's too bad. ...For some reason.

...Huh?]

[ravenly]

[No, Ahiru, she's not here. This is just your imagination—

Yes, she's here, she's been stuck here for a few months now, unlike some lucky people. Ffff, but she can't complain too much, with Mytho here and all.]

...That you've been here once before, of course.

[She hands her a towel.]

Here. Dry yourself off before you start dripping all over the place.

[whatthequack]

H-Huh?! But I-I really think I'd remember coming to a weird place like this, right?

Oh, yeah... [She takes the towel and drapes it over her shoulders]

[ravenly]

[She watches her in silence for a moment as the towel goes around her shoulders. Her arms are folded, and—she even manages a smirk, even if it is a teasing one.]

To be honest, I would not put it past you to forget.

[whatthequack]

Heeey, I remember stuff!

[She looks around the Plaza again.]

I really can't remember being in Vaty...uh...this place before, though.

[ravenly]

Vatheon.

[Just gonna repeat the name fully for her. Honestly, how can she argue that she remembers things, and then forget something as basic as that? In the same breath, no less?

Heh. She hasn't changed at all.]

You may as well learn it, since you're going to be stuck here like the rest of us.

[whatthequack]

Stuck? Wh-Why are we stuck? It isn't a... [She stops herself. If this really was a story maybe it would be bad to tell everyone else.]

[ravenly]

...

[A story. A story which she was going to help write the ending for...yes, it doesn't take much for Rue to figure out how she might have ended that thought.

My, it would be a chore to explain all of this again, though. She shakes her head.]

No. But we are stuck all the same; there is no way back to Gold Crown from here, I'm afraid.

[Shrug. It's been so long now, she's actually kind of used to it.]

[whatthequack]

[Well, Rue didn't seem worried about it but...that sounded REALLY bad!]

But...But we have to get back! What are we supposed to do?!

[ravenly]

...We live.

[It is as simple as that, really.]

There is a new story at work here, and now you are a part of it. You, me...

[She pauses, wondering whether to tell her about this next part. But...it kind of comes out, before she can even make up her mind.]

...And Mytho as well.

[whatthequack]

Another story? I-Is this one...?

[Before she can figure out how to word that question, all of what Rue said finally dawns on her.]

M-Mytho?! But what does he have to do with this one?

[ravenly]

...He is here, too, of course.

[That's all she meant by that, eesh. They are also in charge of their own stories here; but that is something best left for her to discover on her own.]

I'm certain you'll see him soon.

[Inevitable...right? No matter how much she'd rather not...]

[whatthequack]

He's here?!

[Well...she was relieved and worried at the same time. The remaining heart shards were in the gates back home. She couldn't help him here!]

I...I hope he's all right here...

[ravenly]

[She heard that, no matter how much she mumbles.

Goodness, Ahiru sounds so surprised at this. Heh, but then, she was surprised to see him, too.]

...He is. I've been taking good care of him, of course.

[Was there any doubt?]

[whatthequack]

[She frowned a little. Her first thought was that it had something to do with the Raven but...that wasn't fair. Rue was still Rue after all, so there was a good chance that everything was fine!]

O-Oh, good. I'm glad! I bet it's been nice to have him to keep you company here!

[ravenly]

Yes. And I believe he enjoys my company as well.

[A small smirk, as if to subtly rub in the fact. Heh, but it isn't as if her prince doesn't enjoy Ahiru's company as well, so...

That's about as far as she goes.]