(Untitled)

[notkasmai]

Damn you . . .

[Heavy, ragged breathing of one that's crying, but there are no wracking sobs here. There's a few more unintelligible mutters and finally a deep, shaky, calming breath.

And a sudden shuffle as Cuthbert finally opens his eyes, sees where he is (or where he isn't) and jerks to his feet.]

What- . . . What is this? [Shuffling of

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[mademyownpath]

[Oh well, it was about his turn to be on the welcome wagon anyway. Oh look, it's a magic voice coming from that book]

Sorry to break it to you, friend, but you're a long way from home.

[notkasmai]

[Well THAT'S always disconcerting. The cock of a gun as he turns to find . . . no one snuck up on him. He might be spooked. If he believed in ghosts.]

Figgered that much out. Who are ye and why are you hiding?

[mademyownpath]

[Oh good, that's a familiar sound. John's glad he's on the other side of the journal, at least bullets don't transfer over the paper]

Relax now, I'm not going to hurt you. My name's John Marston, and I ain't hiding. This is going to take a while to explain to you, so bear with me, all right?

[notkasmai]

[As if he would fire it off by accident. Don't insult him. Heading over in the direction the voice is coming from, though.]

Alright, John Marston. Why don't ye start with why your voice is here but your body ain't?

[mademyownpath]

Right. Can you see a book around about you? There should be one nearby. It's letting you hear my voice, even if I'm in a different room right now. It's like... do you have telephones where you're from? [Telephone, alas, is the closest John can come to explain the journals]

[notkasmai]

[A quiet little shffffff like a hand running down a piece of paper. It might be rare to come by in his world, but he's pretty sure it was never able to project voices.]

Telly-fones? 'Fraid not, Sai Marston. Don't have no talkin' book either.

[mademyownpath]

Neither do I, and it's darn hard to understand it. Folks around here call it magic.

[A pause] Now, this next part sounds crazy, but unfortunately crazy seems to run well around here. You've been kidnapped by some...other world, like everyone here. This place is called Paradisa.

[notkasmai]

[ . . . there's an audible smirk, but his voice still has a bit of an edge to it.]

'Napped by an other-world with magic telly-books. Aye, you're right, t'is crazy as a rabid cat under a full moon.

Sure that's th'only name ye go by, Sai Marston?

[mademyownpath]

I did warn you. I didn't believe none of it, either. It took some convincing.

Afraid so, I ain't one for titles.

[notkasmai]

[Holsters that gun since it's not like he can shoot you anyway.]

Convincing such as a girl that make water appear from nowhere? P'raps this is naught but a dream; been a long day, so it has, any man would find himself catchin' a wink or two soon's he's off his feet.

[mademyownpath]

If it's a dream, it's a damned long one, and I'd like to wake up.

[notkasmai]

Mayhap t'is my dream and you and the girl are but phantoms in it.

[mademyownpath]

Last I recalled, I had a life in my own world, so it's quite a dream.

[notkasmai]

[Hm. On a whim, the girl didn't mention "worlds" but he suspects he won't recognize your answer either.]

Where might that be? Your "world," so ye say.

[mademyownpath]

It's a country called America.

[notkasmai]

Can't say as I'm familiar with it.

[WHUFF, sitting down now and ka-thunk-thump as he drops his feet on the desk.]

The girl claimed to hail from someplace she called "Japan," which I'm about as familiar with as your 'Merica. And I'd put Alain's watch and warrant on you bein' just as familiar with the city Gilead. Care to explain that to me, sai?