Players:
Summary: Introduced to the latest acquisition, there is more head-scratching and theorizing on who has brought them here… and why.
Date: February 26, 2012
Log Title: The Sixth Guest
Rating: PG-13
Romania - Tower - Top Floor
Grandeur is one word that can be used to describe the rectangular room. A large crystal and gold chandelier hangs from the middle of the high ceiling with long white tapered candles that always stay lit without ever needing to be replaced. Four smaller chandeliers hang from each corner to provide more light and accent the larger one. The high ceiling is nothing shy of magnificent, with gilded molding to accent to the white designs and intricate patterns that almost give it layers.
The walls are all white with golden trip and design which accents the ceiling. A large mirror with a grandiose gilded frame sits above a magnificent marble fireplace that is always lit with a comforting fire, which provides the perfect amount of warmth. Two large couches sit around a marble toped tabled and a few chairs sit on the sides of the couches to be pulled up around the table. On the mantle of the fireplace is a clock that doesn't seem to work, a few small statues and candelabras.
Across from the large fireplace are two large glass doors that lead out to a balcony which hangs over a large water fall. Looking down it's easy to tell the tower is high up in the air and there is at least five hundred feet between the balcony and bottom of the waterfall. The red moon can be seen in the night sky shining down on the tower as it seems to be perpetually night.
Along one side wall two mirrors hang with gilded frames and in front of each is table a with lit candelabra in the center to help provide the brightness in the room. In between the mirrors is large painting of an old fashioned, pale looking male with dark hair and a pale face that hangs over an elegant lit fireplace. On the opposite wall it is covered will books from floor to ceiling along with a small rolling ladder attached to the shelves to reach the harder to find books. It seems like almost any book you wish to read is there.
Two large doors sit on each side of the large fireplace with mirrors set into their doors. One door leads to the hallway where the bed chambers are and the other to the bathroom. The bathroom has a large circular tub built into the floor with many taps around it that provide bubbles, scents and water in the perfect temperature. Golden lamps hang from the walls and there are fluffy towels off to the sides.
It's been some time since the five kidnapped girls all met in the common room; and for the time being, things seem to be quiet. The fire is happily burning away, breaking the silence with a soft crackle; and Sophie DeCosta, still in the dark blue, shoulderless evening gown, is at the bookshelves. She pulls out a book, flips it open, and passes her fingers over the pages, before putting it back. She repeats this ritual with another, then another, and another. Finally, she sighs heavily; the blind girl turns and rests her back against the books as she sinks down to the floor, and wraps her arms around her knees.
"Hey," Rashmi's voice is heard in the hall, scarlet chiffon whispering about her feet as she walks into the common room. "…You okay, Sophie? I mean… well, besides what anyone'd expect, considering…" Shaking her head, she lets out a breath, crossing the room to crouch beside the blind girl. "…I meant… anything I could help with, maybe?"
In a floor-length silk Victorian-styled evening dress of a pale lavender hue with intricate brocade corset in maroon and black with gold thread, Jill steps carefully out of the guest's wing. Entirely too carefully, it must seem, like she's balancing an egg on a spoon. The blonde and peach-skinned Jill is apparently trying to keep up with Rashmi, unsuccessfully. "This or the nightgown," she mutters to herself, taking another uneasy step on the outfit's matching, and sadly high-heeled, lace-up boots. She wobbles once or twice more, arms outstretched to either side as if she were pretending to be an airplane. "Hate this…" she grumbles between gritted teeth and finally catches up, looking annoyed and red-faced.
Behind one of the doors the sound of somebody cursing in Russian can be heard, and judging from the tone and inflection, what's being said would make a sailor blush. Said door bursts open, and a very naked, husky Russian girl steps through. "Gde eto chertovski pizda drakona? YA budu rvat' yee mindaliny iz yee mudak!" She stops when she looks down the hall and sees Rashmi and Jill. "Oh!" She says, and a somewhat puzzled expression lines her face. "It is Rashmi. I am surprised to be seeing you here."
Sophie lifts her head, and gazes sightlessly in Rashmi's direction, before lowering her forehead back to her knees. She sucks in a deep breath, letting it out slowly; too slowly, as if trying very hard to control what sounds come out of her mouth. "There are no books in Braille," she says at last. "They could be in Spanish, or English, or French… they would only need to be in Braille. But I feel nothing but smooth paper." She looks up again, glancing towards Jill. "It sounds as though she is having as much trouble walking as I am. I have never worn heels before. Nevermind being terrified that I have been kidnapped, manhandled while asleep, destined for who knows what… I cannot even *walk* because I am afraid of what I might land my face on if I trip." And then, there's… well, all Sophie hears is Russian; so for the moment, she falls silent once more.
"I can understand that," Rashmi murmurs. "Maybe you could ask one of us to read to you? I wouldn't mind… it'd be a nice way to pass the time, don't you think?" Looking to Jill's boots, then up to the blonde's face, she wrinkles her nose slightly, attempting to sound, if not humorous, at least wry. "That's why I went for the house-slippers… I could never figure out how people get around in heels." She seems about to say more, when the naked Russian pelts into view. Eyes widen for a moment, then drop to the floor. "…Dashenka?!" The redhead blinks, brow furrowing, then purses her lips. "Whooo… whoever brought us all here is *really* in for it, now…"
"Spanish, French, English, Italian, and German, actually," huffs Jill helpfully, leaning forward to try to rest her hands on her knees but having difficulty with the voluminous skirt in the way. The bodice isn't helping matters either. "Mostly history books. And I hate heels too. Even moreso now that I've got ankles I can break." The ex-slime girl makes a careful move toward Sophie, a hand extended, when the roar of Russian causes her to turn and mis-step on the train of her own skirt, eliciting a short "Whoop! Whoa!" and an ass-over-elbows tumble onto the floor to the sound of rending fabric.
"Why am I in fantasy-tale castle?" asks the large Russian. "Why are you dressed like that? Where are we…" she stops with her questions when she sees that Rashmi is averting her eyes. She squints, trying to puzzle this out. "I.. am not bear, am I?" She looks down at herself and turns beet red as she realizes that she, indeed is not. "Be right back." she says and hastily goes back into the room, and out of sight.
Sophie looks up, and wipes her fingers across her cheeks, to brush away the glisten of moisture clinging to each. "Senorita Dashenka? I… do not think I have met you, before." She pauses, as the Russian girl retreats back into her room, and tilts her gaze back towards Rashmi. "Si… please," she replies, in a strained voice. "That would be good. But… Rashmi, Jill… for now, if you could just…" She sighs heavily. "Please, describe the room? And perhaps later, my… well… the room that I woke up in?" She fidgets, clasping her hands together. "Is there anything to eat? I am starving. I do not know if it would be safe even if there were any food, but I suppose if our kidnappers wanted to hurt us, there are easier ways than poisoning the food."
"No, Dashenka, you are not a bear," Rashmi agrees, only lifting her eyes when the Russian girl's door closes. Clearing her throat, she rises to help Jill to her feet. "Jill… if you think you can walk a little bit more, can you help Sophie to a chair? I'll get some food and a book. Just so you know, Sophie… it looks like all our rooms have a tray of little snacky stuff, and I guess it's magic or something because it never runs out. Would you rather have petit-fours and chai from mine, or cookies and hot chocolate from Jill's?"
"What just happened?" asks Jill's voice, muffled by a faceful of hand-woven Persian rug. "Also, ow." She limply accepts the help to stand, out of actual necessity rather than simple civility. "I'll go slow, I promise." Taking one of Sophie's hands gently, she starts to guide her to one of the sitting chairs by the fireplace, all the way across the room. "So, okay, like imagine something Louis XIV would live in, then turn it up a notch. Several notches, even," she describes helpfully. "There's, umm, gold stuff… and ivory, candles and chandeliers." It's a slow and painful journey, the blonde leading the blind.
From behind Dashenka's door, she can be heard exclaiming with equal parts alarm and awe, "Bozhe moi! Piroshkis! Chai!" She bursts back out with blue and gold trimmed blanket wrapped around her, holding it up in one hand. In the other she's got some kind of sweet. "Does everybody have magic unending plate of piroshkis in their room?"
Sophie allows herself to be pulled up from where she was sitting, and clings tightly to Jill's arm with her left hand, while she probes the ground with her right. "Don't let me fall, please," she fearfully utters. "And… it sounds opulent, only, I wish I were still at Xavier’s." She sighs gratefully, once the wobbly journey across the floor ends, and she can sit in a chair. "I… hot chocolate, please," she asks, "And… I don't know. Either. Both! I do wonder what is in my room… I expect it will be Spanish." She pauses, and glances in the direction of the outburst from Dashenka. "I think each room has something specific to us?"
"Actually we all do have a magic plate of *something,*" Rashmi replies with a gentle chuckle. "Jill, can I go into your room and get a cup of chocolate for Sophie? I just need to make a quick detour into my room, first… I'm thirsty too, come to think of it…"
Already looking frankly exhausted from the simple trek across the room, Jill leans heavily against the chair's back, folding her arms on it and resting her chin on them. "Sure, go right ahead. Not like it's going to run out," the blue-eyed (at least that hasn't changed) girl replies to Rashmi with a lazy 'help yourself' wave. "I can tell you what we've figured out so far, but it's not much and it doesn't really help," she says forlornly to the back of Sophie's head. She explains, briefly and in a much more lucid and controlled manner than her previous attempt, about the magically replenishing food and drink, the eternal night outside the tower's only windows, and the odd specificity of the rooms' contents.
"I have tea in room," says Dashenka helpfully. "In a samovar. Very strong. Do not drink straight." She hitches up the blanket that's covering herself and introduces herself to the other two girls. "I am Dashenka Ivonov." She peers at Jill for a bit before concluding, "I am thinking we have met once, da? You are looking very familiar." She looks at the others before asking, "Did everybody wake up naked, too?"
Sophie opens her mouth, about to say something; and then just as quickly her jaw clamps audibly shut. "No, Senorita, I did not wake up… naked," she replies, as her face flushes a deep red. "But… someone had changed my clothes while I was asleep! I am aghast! Why…" She trails off, and sighs heavily. "I suppose it is really a small thing to get concerned about, when you have been kidnapped, and your future is entirely uncertain. There is another girl here, and earlier she was talking about being sacrificed at an altar. Who knows?" She rubs at her blindfold, and adjusts how it sits around her head. "Perhaps Nicholas was right," she mumbles.
Kalindi walks out of her bedroom, closing her door behind herself, rubbing at her temples lightly as if she has a headache. The young woman has one of the finger sandwiches in her hands, as well as a glass of mango lassi. "Ah, I thought I heard there was some socializing that was happening." She glances towards Sophie and then remarks, "I have not been sacrificed. I do not plan on being sacrificed. I am not sure why our kidnapper is so hospitable though." Her eyes turn towards Dashenka and she says, "Ah, someone else? I am Kalindi. But you may call me Kali if you want to."
"No," Rashmi says gently, emerging from the hallway with a saucer balanced in each hand. In one, hot chocolate, which she sets down on the table near Sophie's elbow, "that's a pretty creepy thing to do to anyone… I'd still rather not give it too much thought, myself. And Kalindi…" Guiding Sophie's hand to the cup's handle, she drops into a nearby chair with a sigh, teacup raised to keep from spilling. "I only think she said that because magic's involved, and from what very very little I know, there're some really, really scary kinds of magic out there. But it's only on— oh hi Kalindi, speak of the devil."
Jill lifts her head and squints at the large, obviously Russian woman. "Have we?" Being reverted to human biology has done nothing to help her slow-to-access memory. "Was I blue?" To the other question, she clears her throat gently and averts her eyes, cheeks growing pinker. "Ahh, no. Not me, either. But my normal clothes are just gone." Unfolding one arm, she trails it down the upholstery of the chair to make some noise before putting it on Sophie's shoulder, so as not to startle her.
"I am Dashenka," says the large Russian girl, shifting the bedsheet again. She licks her fingers clean of the berry filling that had gotten all over it and shakes her head at Jill. "No. Not blue. You were cheerful at time." She steps out into the meeting hall gazing in awe at the sheer opulence of the place. "Have been kidnapped before. This is not so bad. Have been worse."
Sophie takes the cup that's pressed into her hands, and blows across the top of the hot chocolate before sipping it, to see how hot it is; and once she affirms that she can handle it, she drains two thirds of the mug in pretty short order. "Thank you," she gasps, before reaching up to pat Jill's hand. "I am… I am sorry if I am being a burden, I am just… terrified." She blushes heatedly, and drops her head, gazing sightlessly at her knees. "I have never been kidnapped before, and I don't know what to think," she admits.
"Yes, yes there are many scary magics that are out there, Rashmi," says Kalindi, nodding once, before considering Dashenka, "Are you a mutant? Or are you a sorceress like myself? I think I might be the only one." She makes a face and then takes a drink from her glass.
"Well, you're not a burden, Sophie," Rashmi rejoins with a soft smile that can be heard in her voice, "so don't be sorry. Maybe we're in a nice place, but there's *never* a bad reason to be terrified when you're in a situation like this. I think the only reason I'm not completely flipping out myself is… well, there's more of us, this time around. And someone who'll give you an actual bed says a lot about what you *don't* have to look forward to, I think."
Jill rolls her eyes at Dashenka. The hand on Sophie's shoulder gives a soft squeeze. "Hey, hey. It's okay," soothes Jill. "I… umm… didn't take it too well either, at first." She gives a soft nervous laugh, still just a hint of the manic about it. She's getting better, though. "Evelyn's here too. So, I guess, at least there are people you know. You aren't alone." She pauses, blinks a few times, then releases Sophie's shoulder to snap her fingers and point at the Russian. "Orange chicken!" she announces with an odd amount of pride.
Dashenka shakes her head at Kalindi. "Nyet. Not sorceress. Mutant. Can turn into polar bear." She looks around helplessly before shrugging. "But not now." She blinks at Jill's outburst before agreeing. "Da! That is it! At mall." She adjusts the blanket again and grunts, "I am thinking I will be going to try on clothes. Something that will hold self up." With that she goes back into her room.
Sophie shakes her head slowly. "My powers don't work either," she complains. "Is my chest still glowing? I am told that it does, but I don't really know what it looks like." She pauses, long enough to drain what remains of her hot chocolate. "A gilded cage is still a cage," she adds, guardedly, "And… someone who keeps you in luxury until they are ready to hurt you, is still going to hurt you. …What if we make whoever it is who has taken us… angry?" She pauses, biting her bottom lip. "How did you all get… erm… taken?" She reaches up to rest her hand on the back of Jill's once more, and sighs softly.
Kalindi glances towards Sophie and shakes her head, "It does not look like there is any kind of glow coming from you, no." The young woman shrugs lightly and then says, "It is a strange amount of hospitality. Some will do such things as a display of power…" She notes to Rashmi, "By the way, I have tried to commune, but my magic is not working at all. Psh, no communications, it is very inconvenient. I have appointments to keep."
"Ghosts," Rashmi supplies, sighing to herself and sipping at her tea. "I'd've kept running, but, it was either go with them or let them kill my boyfriend. Not… really the sort of choice I'd ever make in my favor, so…" She lifts a shoulder. "I woke up in a nightgown to see Igor puttering around my room. Oh well… Once Travis recovers, probably he'll be at the head of a long line of people looking to take this place apart brick by brick to rescue us. I'm less worried than I would be, oh… year ago."
"Gargoyles," replies Jill, as if that says everything that needs saying. She glances to the magic experts in the room before adding, "So no phones, no séances, no telepathy if we even had any. And if Igor, the… uh… butler, I guess you'd call him," she asides to Sophie. "Is right, we're all waiting on somebody called the Master and that we can't leave. And… he might be right. There aren't even any locked doors I can slip und-…" A hitch causes Jill to pause and correct herself, "*Could* have slipped under. I mean, near as I can tell, there's no way to get in or out." She breathes in and out a few times quickly, nearly working herself up again but thankfully doesn't.
"Well, there must be a way to get in," Sophie observes. "I just… I hope it is not like one of those silly finger traps someone showed me at school, where you can happily stick your fingers in it, but they never come out, si?" She pauses, and shrugs her shoulders lightly. "I was snatched by a bunch of men, with… I'm not sure. Weapons I think. But they were hurting Nicholas and Robin. So, I told them I would come quietly, if they would let me heal them and let them go. Nicholas told me I was being stupid… but… what choice did I have? I couldn't… I couldn't just let them get hurt like that."
Kalindi shrugs and says, "I was alone, and I was fighting skeleton knights. It is as I say, very embarrassing that they should knock me down, but each time I knock them down they come back together!" She shakes her head and says to Rashmi, "I am not completely worried yet. Not until I know who our sorcerer is… But I am under protection by my father. Any magic user who will take me, ehh, very powerful or very stupid."
"Well, *I* don't think you were stupid, Sophie," Rashmi says. "In fact, I think you were pretty brave. Besides… you managed to get *terms,* which I don't think the rest of us were able to get…" Sipping her tea, she looks from Sophie to Jill, then closes her eyes. "Well, considering the weight of minion this person was slinging around, I'd lean toward powerful. Ghosts for me, skeletons for you, gargoyles for Jill, thugs for Sophie… That's a lot of different types of things to be controlling. But he's clearly interested in our comfort… being prisoners aside, that is. And it's not magic, because Kalindi's the only sorceress, and not just mutants, because he took Kalindi…" Frowning, she lets out a breath, pursing her lips. "…I guess we'll really know what to do, once we know what he *wants* out of us."
Jill raises a hand to cover her mouth to stifle a sound at Sophie's mention of Nick being hurt and looks only partially mollified that Sophie apparently healed him before she was taken. "If they're really interested in our comfort and already know us so well," she snipes, some of her turmoil making the words heated. "I'd have Starbucks, a Big Mac, and the internet in my room." Huffing, she slips away from the chair and click-clacks in her high-heeled boots toward the guest wing, stumbling more than once and uttering some very unladylike words.
Sophie's jaw drops at Jill's outburst, but she shuts it just as quickly as the other blond girl trundles off. "I…" She coughs softly. "I will not entirely echo her sentiment, but I do feel rather like… a neglected pet, at the moment," she states at last. "I am still very much afraid of what this 'Master' is going to want from us. I do not expect it to be anything we will enjoy." She tucks her legs up underneath of her on the chair, and rubs lightly at her forehead. "I may have gotten terms, but I am still here," she mumbles. "But, you are right, at least Nicholas and Robin are alright. Two, for the price of one, si?" She lifts her head, and manages a weak smile. "So a good bargain."
"Yes, I wanted to know what this Master person wanted, but the skeletons would not say anything. They would make rude demands and I said, I will come if you ask, and they do not ask. But I guess I have come anyways…" says Kalindi, shaking her head lightly, "Everyone who is here has a power beyond that of a regular human, though. Is it something to do with this? It does not seem to be mere chance."
Rashmi shakes her head. "No, Sophie," she says quietly. "It's not a bargain. It's a choice, a hard one that every good person will have to make at one time or another. I know a lot of people who'd be *really impressed* with you making that call… So be proud of yourself, even if just a little." Looking to Kalindi, she lifts her free hand, letting it fall back into her lap. "I just… *don't know,*" she says after a moment. "And I'm not going to be happy until I've figured out the *rules* of this stupid game of his. *Then* we can start to fight, but now? ….I don't know."
Sophie blushes softly, and nods her head. "Si," she murmurs. "The rules would be good to know, si. I suppose until we know, we should try not to worry? …Easier said than done, I realize." She pauses, and taps her lips. "I… I would not say I am *glad* you are here, Rashmi, but… but I would definitely be a lot more terrified if you were not. I hope this makes sense." She tilts her head in Kalindi's direction. "It would seem he is interested in young girls with powers," she agrees, "But he must not mind disabilities. Or else I would not be here."
"Ehh, I am not asking for answers," says Kalindi to Rashmi, waving her hand and then shrugging, "I am making speculations, thinking out loud so that we may think together. But the rules, well, we will find them out soon enough." She considers and says, "Maybe someone who would like a strong bloodline? That would be very much unacceptable."
Rashmi tips back her cup of tea, closing her eyes for a moment. "Well… Speculating is good, since we don't have much else to go on… just… I'd rather try not to scare anyone if I can help it, y'know?" Setting the cup aside, she levers herself out of her chair, pausing to rest a hand on Sophie's shoulder. "Honestly? It does make sense, Sophie… and, thanks." Rubbing the bridge of her nose with the back of one finger, she gives Kalindi a wan smile. "I think I'm going to go to bed, myself… Maybe see what happens in the… well, technically morning I guess."
Sophie tilts her head up at the touch on her shoulder. "Well, that is one benefit to being blind, endless night doesn't bother me so much I suppose. I—" she cuts off, as the full weight of Kalindi's musings finally sinks in. "Wait, what?! You mean you think he might intend to MAKE US PREGNANT?!" she exclaims in a shrill voice. Her mouth hangs open with a shocked expression on her face, until she realizes that this is the case and audibly clamps her jaws together. "…No! I will not!" she declares, and jumps back up to her feet. Upon doing so, she wobbles, and throws both hands out for balance; a successful maneuver, as she manages not to fall over. "I am not old enough! I am not married! I am… I am not ready or suitable!
Kalindi blinks a few times at Sophie's reaction and the young woman says, "Maybe? It is a possibility, but that is, as I said, very much unacceptable. Even without powers, I am a good ally to have." To Rashmi, Kalindi smiles weakly and says, "I do not intend to make people freak out, I just want to think as much as I can think about it without getting too much emotion about it… You should sleep if you are tired, yes? Good night. I will stay awake longer to make sure I can do what I can."
