what once was mine.

[nowgoandgether]

Lena Austen has been turned into her six-year-old self. It was a shock to wake up and discover she was no longer a woman in her twenties and instead, the child version of her. She's retained enough memories to recognize people from her adult life, but her mannerisms and her way of thinking are now that of a six-year-old. It's quite a dilemma. That'

Comments

rjkel;a SO beautiful ;;

[breakthelock]

Jeremy did actually get a note, and he didn't know what to think of it, but it's hard not to follow the sound of it. He isn't in any fairy-like garb, but the Rift did put him in a suit. At least you're wearing clothes, Jeremy.

He doesn't find her at first. There are quite a few people that he has to walk through, and he doesn't even realize that she's going to be there. Jeremy doesn't recognize her at first, because she's dressed up in the dress with her wings out.

The only time that he's seen her with her wings out, she wasn't in a very good state. Jeremy steps up behind her, taking in the sight of her and letting out a breath before he looks out at the dark pier. He has his invitation in his hand.

"...Sarah?"

asldkjfa I AM GLAD YOU APPROVE ;; :x

[allthesigns]

Once Sarah figured out what was going on, she'd have wanted him and the rest of their friends to get to see something like that. As it is, she only has a cryptic invitation, and considering how the rest of the week has gone, she is erring on the side of caution when it comes to enveloping anyone else.

She would be hard to recognize at first, and the night has helped dispel the melancholy of the past few weeks. This is the opposite of the state he found her in, despite the wings that seem to glow. She stops mid-twirl at the sound of her name, and beams at him.

"Hi," she says, almost breathless and smiling, pulling him by the hand.

"Look at you, all snazzy in a suit. Did you get one, too?" she asks, lifting up her own invitation. They each say similar things, but tailored to what the individual needs to hear.

jrkle;a I DO FWAH ;;

[breakthelock]

It is important to be cautious about cryptic invitations. He can definitely understand that, and it is the same reason why he didn't tell anyone about the invitation that he received. Jeremy left a note in hi room about where he'd be, but other than that, he was going to play it cautiously too.

However, it's really great to see her here especially since she can tell that she's not so melancholy. He smiles a little at the sight of her twirling, sliding one of his hands into the pockets of the suit.

"Hey," Jeremy says again, following where she pulls him with ease. He hasn't been down to the pier before. It's nice down here with the Ferris Wheel spinning in the distance, which reminds him of when they met.

"Look at you, all beautiful in your dress." He lifts his invitation in answer, putting it back in his pocket again. "I didn't know what to make of it, but I... knew I had to be here."

[allthesigns]

There is no room for melancholy. If it wasn't for the week itself affected by the Rift, there would be some of the heaviness that will follow her for a long time to come. It's not there, and she's feeling happy, and the wings themselves seem to flicker at the edges like fireflies.

"Why thank you," she says, curtsying in place. "I'd say it's my idea but I was changed into it. It's thankfully not one of those godawful poofy princess dresses. I am not a princess, Jeremy Gilbert. One day, a woman king. But never a princess."

She thought back to that day when she saw the Ferris Wheel, too. If she'd known he'd become what he is to her, she wouldn't have believed it.

"Same. Almost like my feet brought me here before I knew it," she answers, leaning against the railing before glancing over at him again. "But! I think I would've come anyway. I'd always wonder if I hadn't and you don't want to spend life wondering."

[and_dontgetcute]

Flack is still a knight. Flack still has a horse. Flack has no idea that there's a rabbit hole trip in his future, but that doesn't stop him from coming over to Rachel just like he has every other person in Chicago who looks like they have a problem.

It is his lot in life, apparently.

So he clanks his way over, pushes up his visor, and gives her a small smile. "Everything alright here, miss?"

[gatherslight]

Rachel sighs in exasperation.

It's not directed at Flack, and mostly directed at the situation, but she gives him a small, almost apologetic smile as she tries to remove the leaves from her hair, looking quite frazzled about the whole thing. Mazes? Not as much fun as they sound.

"I'm fine. Sorry for--" her voice cuts off as they're swallowed into the rabbit hole.

[and_dontgetcute]

Falling down the rabbit hole? Not like you see in the cartoons.

Flack isn't sure what he should be expecting, but there's a sudden falling sensation, and then a thump! as they both hit the ground. Well, in his case, it is more of a thump-clank!.

He groans, pushing up his visor again before his eyes go to the person who had been next to him. "You alright?"

[gatherslight]

Rachel winces at the clanking sound, moving over to him in case he needs help getting back on his feet. "Other than being really, really confused and annoyed at the Rifts... yeah, I am. You?" she asks, and it's only until she looks up she notices.

Whenever they speak, a speech bubble pops up above their heads. Like in--Rachel's eyes widen.

It would seem, dearest Flack, you find yourself in a comic book now.

[pwnspatrickjane]

Shawn doesn't have an invitation. Why he's at the pier? He doesn't know. All he does know is that there is a fairy sitting on the end of the pier and there's no way he's going to leave that alone.

He has a feeling that she probably isn't an actual fairy. The Rift has been doing a lot of crazy things this week, and this is probably just a resident who happens to have been caught up in the mess somewhere along the way. That doesn't mean he can't go and talk to the temporary fairy anyway.

... He winds up not actually saying much, though. He just moves closer and sits down next to her, looking up and wondering what she's looking for.

[allthesigns]

She is not a faerie, but it would be nice to be one, she thinks. She has no desire to be a princess. They're often portrayed as damsels in need of saving, and Sarah is no damsel, and if she needs saving, she wants to save herself. Faeries, however, are mystical creatures she can approve of.

Her wings don't actually flicker at the tips like fireflies. That's just for tonight.

And she notices Shawn sitting down next to her, and gives him a smile. It's easy to feel weightless and melancholy-free tonight. Almost as if noting the question on his face, she lifts up the invitatation, "Hello. I'm waiting for a sign," she tells him, before looking up at the sky again, handing him the invitation.

[pwnspatrickjane]

Knowing his question before he even asks it? That's pretty impressive, even by his terms. He takes the invitation from her, and smiles a bit at the idea, before nodding.

"Cool," he replies. "Mind if I wait with you?"

[allthesigns]

"Not at all," Sarah says with a smile of her own, making room for him so that he may sit down next to her. The night is warm, a rarity considering it's Chicago and it's October, to boot. There's warmth, however, and it's why she can wear a sleeveless dress out in the open night.

"I'm Sarah," she says, sticking out a hand. "Sarah Monroe."

[shotofdumbidea]

There's a young woman in sunglasses, looking deeply unhappy as she walks down the street followed by a pack of thirty or so cheerful, bouncing, barking dalmatian puppies. Georgia's had a little luck shoving puppies at people in the Tower, or those who noticed her post on the journal network, but clearly not enough luck - especially considering the puppies keep coming.

She's decided maybe if she goes to the park with them, she'll run across some people willing to take a few of them off her hands - or heels, as the case may be. All the barking has left her with a constant, low-level headache, and it's driving her a little crazy.

She barely notices Rachel as she stalks by the girl. The rabbithole will probably change that in a moment.

[gatherslight]

Rachel can't help but notice Georgia. She had never seen so many dogs in the same place, following the same person.

One of them starts sniffing her shoe, and Rachel is about to say something when the pulling sensation begins. Fighting it would be futile, though she tries. The vortex opens up and swallows them whole, and they will land unceremoniously on snow.

...Yes, Georgia. You're in Narnia. "What even..." she breathes out, turning to the other woman. "Are you okay?"

[shotofdumbidea]

Georgia freezes when the vortex starts pulling on her. She barely noticed when she fell through the Rift, so this has to be something else, but-

She stumbles as they fall, landing face first in the snow. The cold and impact knock the breath out of her for a second, and the second she catches her breath, she starts cursing loudly and creatively as she scrambles to her feet and dusts the snow off herself.

"Fine," she says shortly as she takes stock of herself and the area they landed. Only a few of the puppies - maybe five - followed them through the rabbithole. Georgia's sure the others will be fine where she left them - not one has managed to get hit by a car so far, against all expectations. Sighing, she glances over to the girl who came with her. "Annoyed, cold, and extremely fucking confused, but fine. Any chance you know what just happened?"

[gatherslight]

One of those puppies sees fit to lick Rachel's cheek while she's still on the ground. She gently tries to pry it off of her, bringing herself to her feet.

As an angel, the colder temperature does not bother her the way it would anyone else. It's why she doesn't think twice about shrugging off her jacket and handing it over to Georgia.

"It must be one of the rabbit holes," Rachel is quick to explain. Georgia seems like a no nonsense kind of person, and she can appreciate that. "I was interviewing some of the people who claim they were transported to alternate worlds for brief periods of time throughout the week. The pull is forcible and abrupt. It'd be my guess, anyway."

[silentmovielife]

Nick enjoys watching people who seem to be enjoying themselves. It leads to a bit of a soft spot for kids a lot of the time, because they go at their games with such enthusiasm.

So he notices Lena as he passes by her on the street, and for a moment he assumes the wand is just that, a game. Then it gets pointed at someone, and he stops, blinking.

He's pretty sure six-year-olds should not have the power to make somebody grow a foot and a half, wand or no wand.

"...Huh."

[nowgoandgether]

Uh-oh! Lena knows she's been caught.

Nick's expression lets her know that he saw her making that man a little bit taller. She grins sheepishly at him, skipping around him in a circle.

"Hello! I'm a fairy today," she answers, stopping in front of him and adjusting the tiara on top of her head.

"Do you want something?"

[silentmovielife]

He grins back at her when she approaches, and puts a finger over his lips to signal to her that he won't mention it as she starts her circle.

"I see," he answers with a little bit of a laugh, contemplating the question. "I'm not sure. What exactly can you make with your wand?"

[nowgoandgether]

Lena appreciates this vow of secrecy, Nick, and it's why she is way more willing to answer truthfully.

"I can grant wishes," she says in a conspiratorial whisper. "Would you like to make one?"