mallowhallow | [001; Video] First Flame

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[001; Video] First Flame

[Well, Mallow Hallow, you have a new arrival. And boy, does she look upset. Some level of angry, along with confused and wary. It doesn't help that she has no idea why the hell she has a pillow phone. She's not sure if it's better or worse than the compass she used to have to use. A ridiculous phone is the least of her concerns right now though.]

So, what the hell is this? We're under new management again? [Even if something doesn't seem right about things this time. This place is a lot nicer looking than anywhere Kernos or COMPASS ever sent any of them. But it didn't mean that she was going to let her guard down.]

The meat wasn't enough? You got bored with that this quick? [Though to be honest, she was glad the meat was gone. She still wasn't going to be able to look at a steak for a while without feeling queasy, though.]

What is this place? And why the hell do I have a pillow phone? This is ridiculous.

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[The -- meat? Where did this woman live before coming to Mallow Hallow, Queensland? Still, Victor's not one to leave someone in distress, and clearly there's still no one making convenient 'Welcome To Insanity' pamphlets, so. . .]

I may be abe to answer a few of your questions. First, welcome to Mallow Hallow. You're not anywhere near where you used to live before. Second, if you have a pillow phone, you're living in the district Mallowhallow -- er, all one word, as opposed to two. For some reason everything is made out of pillows there. I'm actually using a chalkboard -- that's what we get in Astralfield, another district.

Yes, I'm aware it's completely mad, but there's little one can do about it.

[After everything she's seen and been through, it doesn't really sound all that mad. A land of pillows might be one of the tamest things, actually. Even a pillow phone and a chalkboard.]

I'm living in a land of pillows? Seriously? This has got to be some kind of joke.

[Because why else would a pyrokinetic who sometimes has control issues be put some place that could be burnt down with a small spark?]

Great.

But what's the deal with this place? I mean, why are people here, what happens here?

Yes, seriously. And I'm afraid it's not. The whole country's rather -- peculiar, to put it mildly. Where I live, dreams come to life. And there's another district that has fairies.

[So really, disregarding the whole "Beck could burn down the entire district if sufficiently upset" angle, pillows is about the least weird you get around here.]

I don't know the exact reason -- we just get pulled into this place and told -- well -- "Welcome to your new home." There doesn't seem to be any way to get back, either. One basically just tries to make a life for oneself wherever one ends up.

[Victor shrugs, frowning.]

I wish I could be of more help. I'd like to know why we're being brought here too.

So basically it sounds a lot like the place I was in before this, except a little nicer. What's the status on things trying to kill people here?

[She really wanted to know if there was anyone else here that she knew, but one thing at a time, and figuring out how fucked up this place was, was more important.]

Really? I'm -- I'm rather sorry to hear that. . . And honestly, I don't think I've heard of anyone being killed by anything yet. Though Astralfield can have some nasty dreams roaming around it sometimes. And from what I've heard, the fairies of Whitewood are prone to sometimes-nasty pranks.

Well...that's good to hear.

[If it lacked monsters, giant octopus, and everything else the other places had had, then this was an improvement.]

Wait. Dreams?

Yes -- only for my district though, so if you don't want to deal with them, then just stay out of Astralfield. From what I understand, each district has its own quirk -- like the pillows you're currently dealing with. Orlea is the one closest to "normal," if that helps.

Is it specific dreams or just...anything anyone dreams?

[Either way, that sounded like it could get out of control pretty quick.]

I'm not used to normal, so. Just so long as this place lacks torture and torment.

The latter, I'm afraid. I've been working very hard to avoid nightmares because of that.

[He does not want to inflict his nightmares on the general populace. Or himself, if he's honest. He frowns at her second speech.]

I've seen no signs of that anywhere I've gone, but I haven't visited every district. I think someone would have warned us, though, so we should be safe.

Well, it's a good thing I'm not there, then.

[No one would want to see her dreams or nightmares, especially not after she spent so long on the Charon.]

That's...good. A little unexpected, but good. [She certainly wasn't going to complain, that was for sure. If she never had to deal with torture and torment again, it would be too soon.]

Troubled by bad dreams?

[Victor is all sympathy, honestly. He knows the pain of nightmares all too well, and he's very happy none yet have come to try and hurt him.

He nods a little, smiling faintly.] I can't promise you'll get along with everyone -- some of the natives aren't the friendliest -- but there shouldn't be anything too serious to worry about. You can make a decent life here.

Yeah...I don't even know the kinds of things I'd end up dreaming about.

[And, apparently, making a reality. There's such a long list, from a giant octopus to carnivorous plants, to dark snakes. Not to mention, Spike.]

I've never had a decent life, so that'll be new. Too bad all the people I know couldn't be here, too.

I do, and that's what worries me.

[No giant octopi or carnivorous plants -- just an army of unrelenting monsters made of pitch-black ooze and china doll faces, and a doctor with shiny white glasses and a touch that can chill one to the bone.]

Oh, I -- I'm sorry. . . [He sighs deeply.] That's something I know all too well. I left behind someone rather important.

New management? New management for what?

For this place we're stuck in. First it was KERNOS, when we were on an island. Then it was COMPASS, when we were on a ship.

[And god, how Beck hated ships. She spent the first few days on the Charon seasick.]

And now it's this place, with a queen.

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[001; Video] First Flame

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