foolishmortals | Forget all your troubles

[You wake up and instantly realize something is wrong.

There is a vague feeling of dread hanging in the air and, as comfortable as this bed is, there’s just something off about everything, even before you open your eyes. The dread only grows when you open your eyes and realize that you are in a completely unfamiliar room. One that has clearly seen better days at that.

As you explore your room, you will soon find a bedroom key resting on the dresser along with a note]

Welcome, esteemed guest, to our humble abode. We hope that you enjoy your stay in this Phantom Manor, as we expect you to stay with us for a very long time.

Feel free to make yourself at home as you enjoy what this manor has to offer, whether it’s the library, our projection room, or our famous wax museum. We’re sure you will find great joy

However, before you can get too comfortable, we ask you to please come to the portrait gallery at noon so we can discuss your stay here.

We eagerly await to meet you.

-Your Host

[The uncomfortable feeling doesn’t let up as you leave the safety of your bedroom. The manor seems old and decrepit, almost like it would fall over at the slightest breeze. Despite that, anyone who tries to escape will soon realize that the walls are unusually sturdy, and there are no doors that would seemingly lead to the outside world.

Still, at least you’re not alone in this scenario, if the other bedroom doors are any indications. Maybe there are a few more people coming out of their bedrooms too, so you have someone to talk toif you want to try to figure out what's going on. But if the 30 bios in the foyer hall are any indication, whoever has you here did not do this on accident. Whatever you’re here for, it seems like you’re here for a reason.

But hey, what’s the use of being pessimistic about this? Maybe it’s all an innocent situation… right?]

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[Pinocchio's kind of just been following people around in the hallways since he got here. They're interesting, and he doesn't have anywhere else to be because exploring by himself got old really fast.

Ariel's not as interesting looking as some of the other people he's seen around, but he does notice how shaky she is on her legs. He can... sort of relate, even though he's not sure if the circumstances are the same. He'll take a shot in the dark, anyways.]

Hey, d'you need help? I'm pretty new at walking, too, but it's real easy to learn.

[She blinks and stares at him for a moment. Was this a human? He looked like one but something seems off. Ariel softens though with a nod. At least he understood what she's going through. Her legs were still a little wobbly after all.]

[He's met enough non-talking creatures to at least consider that as an option, and after a few seconds of standing there thinking he finally nods to himself, a plan of action in mind.]

Um, okay. If you go there-- [he points in the direction of the projector room] there's some chairs, I think? If you sit it might help, maybe. I'm gonna go get some paper so you can draw. [Since. Uh. Words wouldn't help him much. And at least his room is close by, so it's not a long trip.]

[Ariel nods at him again and watches him leave. She then makes her way to the projector room and takes a seat as soon as she gets there. Her legs are already sore from wandering so much. She's grateful for the chance to rest.]

[It's only a few seconds after Ariel makes it there that Pinocchio all but sprints in, nearly tripping over his own feet and managing to regain his balance in time to present her with the pen and pad of paper from his room. It's not as though he was going to use it for anything else.]

I can't read yet, but I'm good at... um... looking at pictures. [He guesses.] If you want to draw. I was just wondering why you weren't walking very good.

[She has to think about it for a second before taking a piece of paper and scribbling on it. Ariel's not a very good artist, but she tries her best. She makes a very crude drawing of herself when she was a mermaid and holds it up to him. She points to the tail and then to her own legs.

Makes total sense right?]

[Hm. Well.]

You... used to be a fish?

[He's sort of getting the general idea of it, at least?]

[That.... she lets out a silent laugh. Ariel nods to confirm, but she kinda shrugs too. Close enough. All that matters now is she's a human!]

And now you're human.

[He's more just confirming it to himself than he is asking her, at first.]

...How'd you do it? 'Cause I'm trying to become human, too, but it isn't really working out.

[Oh... he's the same as her then? She feels her heart sink a little as she starts to draw again. She draws Ursula (though it's probably unclear what she is) with herself. There's music notes above her own head and sparkles over Ursula. After he gets a good look at it, Ariel scribblings out the music notes and puts an X over her mouth.

And then she points to her legs again.]

[He doesn't know what that octopus monster is supposed to be, but between her silence and the X on the page, he at least gets a somewhat good idea of what went on.]

You traded your voice for it?

[...Huh. He didn't know that was an option. He thinks he'd rather just stick with his current plan than have to never talk again, though. It doesn't seem worth it.]

How come?

[She nods to confirm this, but his question surprises her a little. She thinks on it once more; no drawing is needs for this one. Ariel puts her hands over her heart and grins. She just wanted this so badly.]

[He nods, and then smiles uncertainly. He gets that, really, but it's hard to imagine losing something else just for that.]

But won't you ever get your voice back?

[Ah.... Ariel can only shrug. Things were already way off plan. There's no way Prince Eric was here, and she needed true love's kiss to get her voice back. In fact she only really had three days to get that done, or Ursula would own her.

She feels a little more nervous now thinking about it, but she tries not to show it. One thing to worry about it at a time.]

Oh... I'm sorry.

[He hops up onto one of the other chairs, swinging his legs aimlessly. He can tell she's a little upset about that, so he figures he can at least shift the topic a bit.]

I dunno how I'm gonna become a human now. I had somebody who was gonna help me, but he's not here. And the fairy who brought me to life isn't, either. But I guess I don't mind being a puppet for now, as long as I can still change when I get back home.

[Oh no. He seems sad too. Ariel reaches over and gently pats his hand. She wants him to know he's not alone at least.]

[It's fine, he never dwells on the details of his existence or anything long enough to really get upset about it.]

But if I do become human here, you could help me figure out how to walk again, I guess. You seemed to learn pretty fast, and I think wooden legs are pretty different than normal legs.

[She lets out a silent laugh at that and then nods. Her walking is far from perfect, but at least she's getting there. Ariel thinks it would be nice if he could. Or if she could get her voice back too. It's hard not being able to express her feelings...

The girl gets an idea and starts to draw again. It's another crude drawing, but it's sweet one. It's one of her and him walking together on the beach. She hands it to him to keep.]

[Crude or not, Pinocchio seems pretty impressed by it, if the way his face lights up is any indication.]

Gee... thanks!

[And he just sort of pats her hand in return, as she did earlier.]

Don't worry! I bet we'll figure out something once we find out what's going on.

[Aw that makes her happy! Ariel nods in agreement and then eases herself to her feet. The only way to figure out what's happening is to look for it right? She gestures to the door to encourage him to go with her.]

Edited 2018-01-08 00:27 (UTC)

[Honestly making sure she doesn't fall is a solid 50% of why he follows after her. That and he's tired of looking through rooms by himself.]

Where're you going?

[All she can really do is shrug. Who knows? She doesn't know anything going on here so the best thing to do was look for answer.]

Forget all your troubles

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