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keoughr 2008-07-22 02:53 pm UTC (link)

Giselle was giddy. Upon waking that morning she rose to step onto her balcony and begin the serenade that had been her ritual since being brought here. She was delighted with the change of scenery, though she was confused at first. She passed it off as another strange whimsey of the Planet and began to sing. She sang a few songs, calling her animal friends to her for the morning chores. After singing, she cleaned her room, bathed and dressed. She picked out a coral colored dress with brown trim and had her hair twisted and plaited and piled on top of her head with whisps hanging down here and there. She was pleased with how she looked and skipped out of her room to find breakfast. She passed the rest of the day in quiet delight, spending some time by the massive outdoor pool shielded from the sun by a large pink parasol, putting together a crossword puzzle, and dining in the cafe. She said hello to Jun and the golems, giving them a cheery wave as she left. She found the library and skimmed the books, but decided that she wanted to go down to the beach. The sun was setting and the dual moons were slowly brightening. She gasped softly as she stepped foot outside, taking off her delicate flats and walking barefoot through the sand to the shore. The sunset was so vibrant and beautiful, it made her want to sing again. She walked the length of the beach, watching the sun sink lower in the sky, humming to herself. And out of nowhere, she saw a man appear on the beach. He wasn't happy about it either. She watched him jump up and scan the area and she raised a hand, wiggling her fingers at him. She skipped toward him and when she came closer, she spoke. "Why, hello! I'm Giselle. And you've just arrived, haven't you?" She was so excited to see a new person. "What's your name?" She clasped her wrist in front of her, her shoes dangling from her fingers. The hem of her coral dress was slightly damp from the waves. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

thelongroad 2008-07-22 04:11 pm UTC (link)

David squinted his eyes at the figure approaching him. It truly was something out of a fairy tale. Snake found himself in complete awe of what was before him, and his jaw slightly dropped accordingly. As she drew near, he could begin to make out her gentle features. She was young, about ten years or so more than Dave. Her eyes were what took him back the most, standing out like a couple of blue roses. She spoke, and he shook off his moment of admiration. "Why, hello! I'm Giselle. And you've just arrived, haven't you?" "Yeah, I have. Now could you please tell me just where the hell I arrived at?" - he droned in an annoyed tone. He tried his best to hide his fright and shock from the sudden loss of his mattress. "What's your name?" "It's Sn ...." He stopped himself. He was so used to telling people his codename in the field that he'd almost forgotten his given name. "My name is David, and you are?" He took a look around the immediate area. It almost looked like a tropical resort. Was this all real? Was he dreaming or what? Dave wondered what he should do, now. As a methodical man by nature, being taken to a summer getaway from a winter wasteland would put a wrench in his routine. "This couldn't be too bad, right?" - he rattled off in his mind as he locked his eyes with the girl's. Snake was taking this a hell of a lot better than any normal man would, but he was, after all, a master of adaptation. As the tide began to rise, he noticed the water creeping farther and farther up the shore with every wave. A swim in temperate seas? That was something Snake hadn't done since his days with the Green Berets. He made a mental note to be sure to find a pair of swimming trunks. Dave would have to make the best of his stay, if it either proved to be real or a dream. In any case, he was standing in front of a beautiful female in a five-star vacation spot. Who could complain? (Reply to this) (Parent)

keoughr 2008-07-22 07:52 pm UTC (link)

Her eyes widened when he demanded to know where he was. He was most definitely not happy. Her smile faltered slightly, but she plastered it right back on, tipping herself up on her toes. "You're on Mirage. A Planet not your own." No one on the Planet so far was actually from the Planet, unless one counted the golems that populated it. She paused a moment before she continued, deciding that she ought to explain a little further. "You see, the Planet brought you here. It wanted you, just like it wanted me and the others who are here. It even left us a message. I can show it to you if you like." She offered, giving him another small smile. "It's very nice to meet you, David." She smiled, then giggled. "I'm Giselle, silly. I just told you so." She covered her smiling mouth with her free hand, leaving the hand holding her shoes to drop back to her side. She looked him over, deciding that he was quite handsome. Although, he didn't much look like a prince. She pointed toward the white stucco buildings in the distance. "The message is that way." She began to walk toward it. "Where are you from, David?" She looked back at him, her blue eyes searching his face, her mouth smiling. She was always smiling. She was a lover of life, and couldn't help it really. She caught him looking at the waves and laughed softly. "Isn't it wonderful? Yesterday it was a lake. And the buildings looked like barns." She continued on her way as if what she said wasn't totally out of the norm. (Reply to this) (Thread)

thelongroad 2008-07-23 03:36 am UTC (link)

"A different planet? Golems?" "How the hell could I be on a different planet when I was on Earth just two minutes ago?" He pondered what could have happened. A space/time rift? Possibly even a contact with anti-matter? Nothing he could think of made any kind of sense. Why would it happen to him, in particular? Maybe he was really hallucinating, or in some type of virtual reality. His dogs would have warned him if someone had come into his cabin, so he ruled those options out quickly. "God damn it." Frustrated, he continued to listen. "Brought me here? It wanted me? How can a planet even be capable of self-awareness?" So this all-powerful entity decided to drop him into a beach paradise with no warning whatsoever. Was it God? Why would God bring him here? Didn't He know that Snake was destined to destroy all the Metal Gears that were going to pop up? He shook his head, trying to clear his mind of all the questions spawning like wildfire. Dave snarled a bit, struggling to absorb the barrage of life-changing information flowing into his ears. He'd been so caught up in trying to find out exactly where he was and how he got there, that he'd missed Giselle telling him her name. He lightly tapped his forehead with the palm of his hand to signal that he was kind of 'out of it'. Giselle pointed towards a beautiful group of establishments made of what looked like white stucco. With that, Snake's outlook on the entire situation became slightly more at-ease. Whatever the Planet wanted from him, he was sure he could handle. After all, it was bribing him with what seemed like a permanent stay in paradise. "Nice to meet you, too. I'm sorry for snapping at you back there. I'm just a little confused is all. Let me see the message it left." He walked along the beach next to her, now remembering how tough it could be to walk barefoot in sand at a decent pace. She didn't seem like she was in any hurry, though. Dave had to adapt himself to this place a bit more. "I'm from .. Alaska." He thought for a moment, realizing that if the Planet were to pull people from Earth, that it would hold no quarrel with taking people from different planets as well. "It's a very, very cold place on Earth." His eyes wandered along the shoreline and the buildings in front of them. Would this be his home for the next couple of days, or even, years? Did the nanomachines in his body still work? What about FOXDIE? If he was on a different planet with people the virus would have never been registered to, would it be rendered obsolete, or would it remain dormant until ... someone else arrived? And ... the women. Were they all this stunning? He stole a glance at her butt. Dave feigned a cough when she noticed him admiring the scenery. "Yeah, it's something else, alright." He couldn't help but smile. (Reply to this) (Parent)

keoughr 2008-07-23 09:25 am UTC (link)

Giselle glanced over at him when he began speaking words that ended as questions. But he seemed to be speaking more to himself out of bafflement than actually wanting answers to his questions, so she merely nodded. The swearing cemented her inkling that he was slightly upset and unnerved by being brought to the resort. But, then, usually everyone was. She hadn't been, not really. Afterall, she had already been pushed from her home land of Andalasia into New York. Being stolen from New York and brought here hadn't seemed all that strange, especially since it had happened in her sleep. It wasn't at all like being pushed into a well. "I don't know how it is capable of self-awareness, but it is. It controls the golems, and it changes whenever it wants, it also provides us with whatever we need. Except the people we love, that is." She shrugged lightly. Because her days were filled with activities and singing, she rarely thought of Robert and Morgan, or even Edward. But when she did, she really wished they could be here with her. She smiled at him, understanding that he was overwhelmed and not exactly thinking straight. She saw the wrinkles in his forehead smooth as he looked on the buildings in the distance. That was interesting. She wasn't sure why the buildings should put him more at ease, but it might be significant where he was from. When he apologized, she beamed. "It's alright. I have found that most people who are brought here don't appreciate it. Especially when they find out that they can't ever leave." She paused after making that statement and wondered if she ought to have left that to the Planet to reveal. She didn't want to set him off again. So as soon as he told her where he was from, she latched on to the subject change. "Alaska! Isn't it very cold there?" She had only ever been to New York since landing on Earth, but she had heard and read about some of the other places, hoping to go there one day. He reaffirmed her question and laughed. "I know it's on Earth. Did you live in an igloo?" She had seen pictures of them, but couldn't quite wrap her head around living in a structure of ice. How could it possibly be warm enough? She smiled at him, and wondered if he might be coming down with a cold after his cough. "Are you alright? I'm sure Ayla could give you something for your cough, if you need it." She turned back as they arrived at the main building. She opened the door and led him into the lobby, bending down to slip her shoes back on. Sure enough, there was a flashing light above a hook where a key dangled. She pointed to the shiny platinum thing. "Oh! This must be yours!" She clapped lightly and bounced. Once he had taken his room key, she led him down the halls to another door that exited out the backside of the building and ended in a courtyard. She led him to the wall wherein the plaque was inset and pointed to it. "This is the message I was telling you about. Everyone is supposed to read it when they arrive." She stepped aside, giving him full access to the tablet and clasped her hands in front of her, rocking back and forth on slippered feet. (Reply to this) (Thread)

thelongroad 2008-07-23 03:59 pm UTC (link)

"Except for the people we love, that is." 'Meryl ...' Only her name came to mind as Giselle spoke. It finally hit David that he would have no chance of seeing her so long as he stayed here. 'As soon as I return to Earth, I'm coming to see you.' - he thought as he continued to listen to her. " ... can't ever leave." ... ! How could it be? What entity could have the power to defeat the laws of physics and existence? Those three words spelled the end of life as he knew it. For all he knew, ten Metal Gears could have been unleashed in a week, and he was powerless to stop them. He'd abandoned Roy, Hal and ... Meryl. He hid the feeling of defeat from her. He didn't want to make a bad first impression on a world that would be his home for the rest of his life. Dave was caught up in his own thoughts, and he didn't hear a thing Giselle was saying. He took the key into his right hand and stared at it as it lay in his palm. The Planet had given him a room to stay in. Was this it's idea of some kind of sick joke? How many other people had it kidnapped and brought here for it's own amusement? Dave tried to shake the terrible feeling building up inside of him as best he could and slipped the key into his pocket. He took in his surroundings. They weren't on sand any more, and it was easier for him to walk. As they entered the courtyard, more questions surfaced in his thoughts. 'Could this be where Ocelot went? Maybe the Planet brought me here for a reason. Maybe it wants me to kill him. Why else would it bring a beast like me to a peaceful place like this?' The optimism dipped into a slump. The Planet wouldn't have brought him here for any other reason than personal amusement, and David painfully accepted it. It chose me. Why did the Planet choose me? I have too much to do before ... Damn it!' He couldn't hold it in any longer. He drew back a fist and let it fly into the closest thing he could see. It just so happened that he'd hit a large stone tablet with writing sprawled across it. David dropped to his knees as a sharp pain bolted through the bones in his hand and forearm. He grunted and clasped his right fist in his left hand. His index and middle knuckle started to bleed slightly as he realized where they were and what he'd struck. The plaque had produced no type of impact point whatsoever, almost like it was indestructible. After a moment of recovery, he leveled his gaze and began to read it. "Welcome to Mirage. This is your new home. Your every need will be fulfilled. You will have a place to live. You will have food and clothing. You will have entertainment. You will have company. You will not be able to leave. You will not kill. Ever. If you have questions, ask my assistants. Love, The Planet" That was it, then. He was to enjoy himself and not ask any questions. That would be the only way to cope with his new environment. He stood, putting extra pressure on his fist. Blood began to drip through his fingers and onto the floor. It began to hurt a bit more as he came to from his slump. "I'm not going to have to pay for that, am I?" Dave resorted to humor to counter the depression. (Reply to this) (Parent)

keoughr 2008-07-23 08:52 pm UTC (link)

She could tell he was getting more and more agitated. He spoke less and less and his footstepes belied his definite anger. When they approached the tablet and he lost himself and threw a punch at it, she gasped and jumped back a little. Her brow wrinkled in concern and she went to rush forward, but he seemed to come back to himself and read the plaque. Then signs of resignation flitted across his face. She was worried about his bleeding hand, and though she was squeamish at even the thought of it, she tried not to look at it. "You didn't break the plaque, I don't think you'll be required to pay for it in any way." She pulled the door open again. She wanted to take him to the first aid room and get him some bandages and antiseptic wash. "This way, if you don't mind." The way was straight down the hall. She hurried a little more now than she had before. At the end of the hall was the room. She pushed the door open and held it for him until he passed through. She made her way to the shelves and took some paper wrapped bandages from a container, followed by a bottle of peroxide and antibacterial ointment. She pointed him to a clear table and spread everything out. She swallowed, her stomach churning slightly. She didn't know if she could tend to the wound without passing out. "I hope you don't mind cleaning yourself up. I don't think I can." She said apologetically. She stood back, and a little behind him, crossing her arms over her stomach. She swallowed heavily and took a deep breath. She was getting a little light headed. "Actually, I think I'll just step out a moment." She pushed through the door and took great heaping gulps of air, trying to still her unsettled stomach. She leaned against the wall outside the door and put her hand to her forehead. She had never actually seen anyone bleed. At least, not that she could remember. And if this was how she reacted, it was probably a good thing. (Reply to this) (Thread)

thelongroad 2008-07-24 12:28 pm UTC (link)

As David was led into the infirmary, he immediately recognized what the place was and grunted. He realized that if he kept the same 'leave me alone' persona that he had before on Earth, he wouldn't have very much fun on a resort like the Planet. He watched as Giselle scurried out of the room, most likely from the sight of his hand. Was that all? 'Do I stink?' - he thought, taking a subtle whiff of his left armpit. He'd taken a shower before he came and seemed to be alright. Snake took a look at the medical supplies laid out before him. He grabbed the bottle of peroxide with his left hand and wedged the tube of antibacterial ointment in between his fingers to avoid having to use his crippled hand. After a short stroll over to the sink, he set the supplies down on the counter and turned the cold water on. He rinsed the sand and dried blood off of his hand first, cringing slightly as the pressured water struck his sore knuckles. Once the sand was gone he popped open the bottle of peroxide and gently poured some on the open wounds. It didn't bubble as much as he'd expected it to, but there was a fair about of fizz building up from the wound. After a few more rinses and a splash under the water, he dried off his hand and applied some ointment, headed back over to the table, opened the knuckle-bandages and gently placed them on his hand. He held his hand up eye level to examine his work, and grinned in success. "Nobody will ever know." - unless they were blind enough to not notice the large purple blotch of skin and swelling. With a groan, he headed back out into the hallway and dipped his good hand into his pocket to retrieve the room key he'd acquired earlier. The tab attached to the key read 'A208'. "So where are the alpha rooms? I suppose I'll be sleeping on the second floor. Two oh-eight." He dangled the key in front of his face. Through his effort to change the subject at hand and forget about his painful injury, he'd completely forgotten about it. "Oh, I'll be fine. The doctor said it won't fall off until tomorrow, so I can still think about you with no problem before I go to sleep tonight." He offered a flirtatious grin. Maybe he shouldn't have been hitting on the woman that was supposed to give him a briefing on his new home? He couldn't help it, though. In his eyes, she was asking for it by just having those unforgiving features. Dave patiently waited for her to lead the way. (Reply to this) (Parent) (Thread)

keoughr 2008-07-25 11:49 am UTC (link)

Giselle looked up as David exited the room. She was relieved to see his hand bandaged, but it didn't look good. She hoped he hadn't broken it. She swallowed and gave him a shaky smile. "Perhaps Ayla should take a look at your hand. She is a medicine woman where she comes from and she could probably give you something for the pain." She pressed a hand to her stomach, taking another cleansing breath. Now that there was no more blood, she was feeling a little better, but her stomach was still churning. She blinked at his last statement. She wondered what she had to do with his going to sleep and why he needed to think of her before he did so. "Alright." She accepted what he said, even though it confused her. She gave him a bright smile and turned to lead him down yet another hall. "The A building is this way." She led him to the door separating the main building from the A lodging unit and passed through. "You are correct about your room being on the second floor." She gave him another smile and led him to the stairs. She was still not used to elevators and they made her feel slightly claustrophobic, so she preferred to stick witht he stairs when she could. She led him up the flight of stairs and down several doors to his room. "Here it is!" She beamed. "OH!" She put a hand to her mouth. "I forgot!" Removing her hand she clasped both of them in front of her. "Your room will change to look the way you want it to look. Mine's pink!" She giggled and motioned toward his door. "See for yourself!" (Reply to this) (Parent)