HOMEPLOT I: the city of elua, early morning

[loveasthouwilt]

I awoke with a soft sound of enjoyment, stretching my toes out to the edge of the bed and tracing a hand down Joscelin's side. It was cool, a cooler morning than I'd awoken to in quite some time, and were it not for the sun falling on my face I would think it was still night. My eyes opened and for a moment I did not notice anything amiss, focusing

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[travelingprince]

It was not the chatter of birds or monkeys or the oppression of island heat that woke me, but an insistent knocking that would not go away. I awoke with a start and was out of the bed and halfway to the door before I realised I was not on the island anymore, nor yet back on the other island, but at home, in the City.

I scarcely had time to think on how it had happened - or what it might mean - for the knocking at the door was a messenger, bearing a letter from Phedre. It was cryptic and vague, but I knew her well enough to know what she meant, and she had no idea what had happened either. I thanked the messenger, dressed hastily, and was at Phedre's within a half-hour. It was a house I had not seen before, but with her directions I found it easily enough. "Phedre?" I called, entering the house. "Joscelin? What's happened?"

[incassielsname]

It is all we can do, to wait anxiously to see if our idea holds true, if Phedre and I are not the sole ones returned to Terra d'Ange from our island home. So, after waking and dressing and reacquainting myself with home, I find myself stalking the foyer, waiting to see if it is true.

And yes, it is, because I turn a corner and there is Hyacinthe, free, here. "Phedre! Phedre, come down here!" I call, turning to shout down the hallway at her, then turn to Hyacinthe with a grin. "We're all home, Tsingano. We're home!"

[travelingprince]

"It seems to be so," I replied, but not with Joscelin's exuberance; I was still too surprised and confused for elation. "But I don't understand how." It felt real, more real than I expected, and yet I could not help but wonder if it was some of the island trickery that they had told me of on my arrival.

[incassielsname]

"Hyacinthe, you found yourself on an island where you arrived with no reason. It only makes sense that we leave with no reason." I shrug. I do not care how I left, only that I have, and that I am home now.

"Phedre!" I call again. "Hyacinthe is here!" Perhaps that will make her run faster.

[loveasthouwilt]

I heard him call up to me and struggled to put on my other shoe; the strap caught, and with a frustrated sigh I snatched it up and dashed quickly down the stairs, rolling my eyes at the ridiculous step-thump sound my mismatched feet made. "Excuse me for wishing to dress myself," I said as I came off the last stair. I turned to kiss Hyacinthe on the cheek, his smile calming my nerves somewhat. "Good morning," I said more civilly. "I believe breakfast is waiting for us."