004 - Bringing the First Taste of the Spring

[n0secondchances]

[Ten's gone walking through the castle today, curious to explore the building that's causing them all so much fuss. He doesn't make it very far, though, before he spots a single acorn sitting right in the middle of the lobby.

Funny... it wasn't quite the right season for acorns, was it?

Picking it up, he'll turn it over in his palm, when he notices

Comments

[sonofpaladin]

[Nevermind that is a stranger doing a pretty strange thing, Pippin is down on the floor next to him in seconds]

What's down here?

[n0secondchances]

[doesn't even flinch. Hello curiosity buddy!]

I'm not sure exactly.

[reaching out a hand, he watches as the little soot sprites skitter away, deeper into the shadows. When he pulls it back from under the couch, however, they swarm right back to the edge, peering up at the two observers]

Shy little fellas, aren't you?

[sonofpaladin]

Hello there!

[Up to Doc who he's addressing, though he smiles widely at the tiny sprites and wiggles a finger at them, like trying to tempt a fish wish a worm]

Are they some kind of animal?

[n0secondchances]

Hallo! [cheerfully back at Pippin, though his eyes never leave the sprites]

I'm not entirely sure what they are. Come on now...I won't hurt you, I promise. I'm the Doctor, you see?

[reaching out, he'll lay his hand on the floor, just under the edge of the couch. The sprites shy away at first but, after a second, slip back, brushing the edges of his fingers and leaving tiny stipplings of soot]

[re_catalyst]

[And again. It's like every time he sets foot in here, there's something bizarre, or at the very least, unusual. He pauses there, staring.]

...what in the world...

[n0secondchances]

[totally engrossed in what he's looking at. He'll even pull out a strange device that, when turned on, glows blue. He shines it under the couch...and then quickly turns it off, looking apologetic] Oh, I'm terribly sorry. I suppose that was a bit rude...

[pocketing the object] Now, see? It's going away. No need to be shy.

[he hasn't noticed anyone else has joined him, just yet]

[re_catalyst]

...leave the madman alone, or once again wave self-preservation for the sake of that thing called curiosity.

[He sighs.] Not like I'm doing anything anyway.

[All right, he gives. Stepping over closer to the man on the floor by the couch. He'll just...stand over here to the side of it, watching.]

[n0secondchances]

Right...there we go. Nothing to worry about at all.

[with some careful maneuvering, the Doctor manages to lure one of the little sprites into his hand and, slowly, sits back up into the light, considering it. It...looks a little like a sooty puffball, balanced there on his palm. A sooty puffball with eyes.

It's only then, forehead creasing as he considers the creature, that he realizes he has company.]

Oh! Hullo! I didn't realize anyone else was about.

[noamulets]

[ And, as she was walking back to her room, she was stopped by the man on the floor. Oh my ]

Uh, hello?

[n0secondchances]

Hmm?

[looking up, he'll sit up suddenly, narrowly missing hitting his head on the coffee table.] Oh! Hello. I didn't realize anyone else was about.

[noamulets]

This is the lobby. [ And she crouches down, eternally curious ] What were you looking at?

[n0secondchances]

So it is. Still, it was rather empty when I arrived. Or...well...except for them

[Ducking his head back down, he'll join her in peering under the couch where a sea of eyes are staring back] Curious little things, aren't they?

action;

[whichswan]

[ Nina has been walking around the Castle, poking around the hallways and public areas to get used to her new home, find out where stuff are. Reaching the lobby, she looks up to admire the grand chandelier, not noticing the man lying on the floor before her. Nina stumbles on him with a gasp. ]

Oh. Oh. I'm so sorry--I wasn't looking!

[n0secondchances]

Oi!

[startled, the Doctor is up on his feet with surprising speed, reaching out to steady her] Sorry about that... Are you quite alright? No bumps or bruises?

[whichswan]

[ Nina stares at him with an open mouth for a few seconds too long, her brain still trying to process what happened. She steps away from him. ]

Uhm. I'm fine. I'm sorry.

[n0secondchances]

Oh, never mind that. No harm done. I don't suppose the lobby is the best of places to be lying about. But I'd just noticed the most curious little things. [his mind already backtracking to the little sprites]

[covetly]

[ :> guess who happens upon you, misterrrr ]

...Doctor?

[n0secondchances]

Hmm? Yes, that'd be me. [slightly distracted, as he's looking at curious little soot sprites. But he sits up at his name...and grins when he recognizes her] Amoretta! Wonderful! I'd been meaning to come and find you. Settling in alright?

[covetly]

I've been fine. What are you doing? [ here she tilts her head just a bit :> ]

[n0secondchances]

I'm very glad to hear that. You're liking the castle, I hope?

[he pauses at her question, looking back down at the couch] Well, I thought I saw something moving. Or, rather, I know I saw it. But when I looked under here, I found something else all together. Want to take a look?

They're rather harmless, I think.