(no subject)

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

[Before]

A young man, wild-eyed and covered in scratches and dirt, steps hastily through the door and turns to close it behind him before whipping around for something to use to brace it.

Now turning, he looks slowly - comically - up, starting with the cleanly swept and utterly free-of-hay-bales floor, terror and confusion dawning on his handsome features. He doesn't go back through the door, though. One hand is still resting on the doorknob, more as though he's forgotten it than because he intends to use it.

OOC: The Novice is obviously not a Novice yet, but he soon will be!


[tiny tag: Aramis]

Comments

[gorgonfondness]

A woman comes from the kitchen carrying a box and a plate, both full of strawberry tarts. If he couldn't tell from her leaving the kitchen that she's the one who made them, he'll be able to figure it out from her flour stained apron and the strawberry preserves on her cheek.

She blinks at him before putting her box down on the bar and asking, "Are you new here?"

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

He just stares at her, makes an attempt to speak, then looks at the bar again and swallows.

"I have never been in this barn before, miss, I'm certain."

Which is strange, because he could have sworn he'd told at least one person that he owned it, and brought another one or two of the locals for a roll in the hay, so to speak.

But it must have been a different place. The lanterns alone are impossible.

[gorgonfondness]

"This likely isn't the place that you were looking for," she says, putting her free hand on his shoulder if permitted. "Here, take a seat, there's a lot to take in."

She holds her plate out to him.

"Would you like a strawberry tart? I've just baked them."

They actually look more like strawberry danishes than strawberry tarts, as the crusts are wide ovals with dollops of filling in the middle and half a strawberry sitting on top. And there was cream cheese icing to drizzle in delightful little stripes.

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"Strawberry?" he repeats dumbly, but lets her guide him to a chair and takes one of the tarts. That bright red hardly seems natural, but it certainly smells good.

"My thanks," he remembers to say - it never hurts to be polite when you come to your senses in a strange place - and curiosity gets the better of him. He takes a tiny bite.

"Mngoph," he says eloquently, closing his eyes as he chews.

[gorgonfondness]

"You're most welcome. They are an Earth fruit. Are you from Earth?"

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

At that, he opens his eyes again.

"I'm from Tuloe. I'm - of course I am," he says, a little agitated. "Have I died?"

It would explain a lot, but if one of those grubby little farmers got him with a pitchfork, he'll haunt him in the nastiest way possible for the rest of his days.

On the other hand, this place seems very nice and has strawberries, and doesn't seem like the sort of place he'd always imagined he'd end up.

[gorgonfondness]

"'Of course I am'?" she repeats.

"Well, I don't think you're dead, but I don't know any reason why you would be dead."

She puts the plate down.

"Where do you think I'm from?" she asks, curious.

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"You speak strangely, so it must be far from where I live." (Lived? He tries not to dwell on it.)

"And your clothing is like none I've ever seen." He tries to think of an unknowable, far-away place.

"Africa?" he guesses.

[gorgonfondness]

"I've visited Africa, but no, I'm not from there. Would you like to guess again?"

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"You're from some undiscovered place," he tries, "a place that has no name, that no explorer has set a foot on before."

This has to be the oddest conversation he's ever had. Inside some sort of magical barn, no less.

[gorgonfondness]

"No, my home has been around for over a millennium."

She sits down and takes a tart, finally taking a chance to taste her handiwork.

"My home is called Vane. It is a city in Katarina on a world called Lunar."

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"I do not know it," he says, privately suspecting that he was right about it being undiscovered.

"What do you mean by 'a world called Lunar?'"

[gorgonfondness]

"You know how Earth has the Moon?"

She holds her hands in a circle.

"My home is your Moon. Your home is my Blue Star."

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

(ooc: *loves* was wondering if this one was who I thought it was. lol)

Aramis was near the bar, but he glanced up at the hurried footsteps. He slowly got up, keeping his motions as non-threatening as possible.

"Be at peace, boy. You are safe enough here."

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

ooc: XD

"...Here?" he manages weakly. This man doesn't look like the sort to bale hay or sleep in a barn; his clothes and hair are clean and his beard neatly trimmed.

This doesn't look anything like the inside of a barn at night, though, either.

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

Not the sort for either, and his frame was that of a fighter. But he wasn't wearing his Musketeer garbs for the time being.

Aramis was off duty as it were.

"Yes, it's Milliways, a tavern far different than anything other than the good Lord Himself could imagine. I would recommend finding a chair to sit."

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"There's a tavern in the barn?" he says, but it's mostly to himself. Sitting, yes, sitting is certainly a good idea.

"Is this tavern the sort of miracle I was sent to find, then? Or is it sorcery?" he asks, sinking into a beautifully-made chair.

If it's the miracle - and he hadn't actually been looking for one, but he's not one to pass up an opportunity - he's not quite sure how he'll take it outside to display to the villagers.

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

Aramis sighed, and replied, now sitting in a chair nearby as well as he spoke, "Not in the barn, we're in another place entirely. It's difficult to explain."

He added, "I would say it is something of a miracle. Though some here make mention of magic and sorcery. But it is an interesting place." His eyes briefly followed a comely lady's fair face for a moment.

"And intriguing," he remarked with a slight distracted tone.

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"Interesting, certainly," he says, looking where the man is looking, and then around at the rest of the patrons.

"A miracle, perhaps. And a timely signal, for me. How does one find it to enter? I have not seen any of these people in my village before."

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

"Sometimes it can work that way. And it can you lead here if it's willed. The doorway back."

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"Then when I go back, I'll bring some hint of the miracle I witnessed. That should satisfy them that I..." He trails off. "That should satisfy them."

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

Aramis considered that and remarking in a cautionary tone, "Perhaps a token in evidence. This place can seem like a dream even while standing it. Much less a second hand account."

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"Yes," he says, thinking hard. "Perhaps I won't tell them of the place in detail. I do have a token to give over; it may be that that will satisfy them and I will be allowed to continue on the path that I've chosen."

[srsbsnss.livejournal.com]

He tilted his head, "Your path? And what would that be if I may inquire?"

[hoodednovice.livejournal.com]

"I have announced that I wish to dedicate myself to the church," he says, wondering if this man is also strangely ignorant of the Christian tradition.