WAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH

[deadgirlslikeme]

A door opens, and suddenly the sound of a baby wailing echoes across the nearby chunk of the Nexus. A bleary-eyed Victor Van Dort steps through, bouncing said wailing baby in his arms. "It's okay, it's okay. . .look, we're -- um." He blinks a few times as he registers where he is. "This isn't. . .oh, dear, how did I manage to choose the wrong door?" He goes to step back through --

Then stops, shakes his head, and proceeds to the nearest safe-looking bit of furniture, still cradling his son. "No. Perhaps someone can help here. At least, Alice and the others will get some decent sleep for a change. . ." He looks up, an exhausted man at the end of his rope. "Is there anyone around who's had at least one child and might know why they sometimes just start crying in the middle of the night and won't stop no matter what you do?"

Comments

[save_us_alice]

[Victor and Alice both chuckle, Victor nodding] I know I felt better about a lot of the things that happened to me when I was first introduced to it.

[Alice] Same here. [tilting her head at Smeagol] So, do you want to have a look at the mall? See about chairs?

[lastest_ringbearer]

That would be rather . . . nice. *Still a new concept, it seems.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor and Alice are only too happy to introduce him to it] All right then. Should be out this way, right Alice? [points left]

[Alice] Well, that's the way I've always walked. . . [cue her leading the way to the mall]

[lastest_ringbearer]

*He is more than happy to follow.*

[deadgirlslikeme]

[The mall looms up before them before long -- it's a large building, with multiple levels for the discerning consumer. Alice lets everyone into the main entrance, revealing a pretty typical -- if big -- mall layout inside: a big rectangular loop lined with storefronts of all kinds]

[Victor, staring up at the high ceiling] I swear this place seems bigger on the inside than it does outside.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*Smeagol has never seen such a large building in his life, save Barad-dûr. Arda isn't usually the kind of place for them.* Big . . .

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor nods] It is. I mean, there's a lot in it, for a lot of different kinds of people.

[Alice, going to consult a mall map] Indeed. What we're looking for is some sort of furniture store. . .

[lastest_ringbearer]

One market trying to be His tower. Not tall, but wide enough.

[deadgirlslikeme]

[Victor blinks] Pretty sure that wasn't the mall's intention. . .

[Alice, trying not to smile] This institution doesn't want dominion over the whole world -- just our wallets. [she taps on the map] All right, so we have Multiversal Mundanities here -- I think it's a department store. Start there?

[Victor shrugs] I'm fine with that.

[lastest_ringbearer]

A what? *This should be confusing.*

[save_us_alice]

[Alice, remembering Smeagol has no experience with this] Oh, it's a store with different things to sell in different places. Like they'll have all chairs and beds and such grouped together, and then things to use in the kitchen, and things to use outside. . .it's probably easier to just show you, really.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Yess, that sounds better. Do I remember bedses? Yes, I think so. Only barely, even if Smeagol is thinking of the right thing. No, I'm pretty sure I know what beds is.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice, taking note of the route to the store] It's just over this way. . .a bed is a big, hopefully soft thing you sleep on, if that helps?

[Victor] Think a chair, but -- flatter. [tries to demonstrate with his hands]

[lastest_ringbearer]

Oh! Yes, we does know beds then. Made them with leaves in our long years under the sssun. Nasty Yellow Face it isss, we slept when it was about.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice nods, leading the way over to the store -- it's on one side of the mall, as a classic "anchor" store] Well, the beds in this store should be even nicer than leaves. If they're not, we should probably find somewhere else to look for furniture.

[lastest_ringbearer]

*He smiles a bit at her tone.* Leaves not good enough for you?

[save_us_alice]

[Alice tilts her head thoughtfully] I don't think I can accurately answer that question -- I've never slept on leaves. They can't be any worse than a bed in Rutledge, though. Those were all lumps and bumps and springs poking out.

[Victor shakes his head] How you managed to make it to find the Nexus. . . I did actually fall asleep in a pile of leaves once, wandering the woods as a child. It wasn't too bad, though I was picking crunchy bits out of my hair for days.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Smeagol hasn't got hair, ssso that was no problem. That was good, I had enough problems already. Nasssty wraiths, yes? Nasty wraiths and ropes and everything.

[save_us_alice]

[Victor, nodding] Yes, on that point you've been very clear.

[Alice, raising an eyebrow] Nasty wraiths? You haven't met some of my Boojums, have you?

[lastest_ringbearer]

Wraithses! His commanders, his servants, dark and strong and strange. They rode things that walked or things that flyed. Always about his business, yesss.

We don't know for sure what they are, no. Perhaps they're like me, warped by his power. We're fine like this, my love! But we're so tired. The wraiths seem to have entered the world of spirits without dying. We were not so far from doing the same, I'm thinking. We held up long. Gollum had forgotten Smeagol. It came close.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice, puzzled] If they were spirits, why did they need mounts?

[Victor, shrugging] Speed? But they sound like absolutely horrible creatures. That dark lord seems to have twisted anything and everything that ever came near any part of him.

[Alice, sighing] It certainly sounds like it. [she casts a sympathetic look down at Smeagol -- the whole business reminds her of a close call or three she had fighting the Queen in Wonderland] I'm sorry it came so close, but -- I'm glad you didn't forget. Or Gollum didn't forget. However you'd like to put it.

[lastest_ringbearer]

Not much of a dark lord otherwise, my love.

Wizened we were and wizened we are, but we're still here.

[save_us_alice]

[Victor nods] That's fair. Though I'm sure everyone would have preferred him not being much of one.

[Alice nods as well, setting her jaw] I've felt like that some days. Going through hell and still coming out the other side -- it's something to be proud of.

[lastest_ringbearer]

I'd have been better off never finding the Precious. *It's hard for him to admit, even now.* Smeagol would be long dead, but it would have been a better life. But we would be dead. Not in pain, though, no. Not in pain.

[save_us_alice]

[Alice bites her lip] I'm sorry. It's always painful to be robbed of a normal life. To wonder about the what-ifs. But there's nothing one can do except push on and hope for something better on the way.