InsaneJournal

Tweak says, "do you have a toolbelt of love"

Juniper Golding (juniper_golding) wrote in mirage_rpg,
@ 2008-10-22 09:41:00

Entry tags:

arrival, complete, day 19, juniper golding, legolas greenleaf

Who: Juniper and Legolas
When: Day 19, early afternoon
Where: Near the plaque
What: Juniper's arrival
Rating: TBA
Status: Incomplete

It was just another day. Another space of time between time and place, where Juniper lay stoically on her bed, doing her best to not think of what she'd lost. Of the good soul that had risked his life to save her own. Who had taken his own life to appease the Fates. It was useless, and Juniper knew it. She was meant to die; by fire, as she'd already survived the water, and nothing that Dylan could have done could have prevented that. And now he was lost, just as assuredly as she would be, in a mere handful of months.

Closing her eyes, Juniper let out a steady and long breath, centering herself. It was time to go. To find some other space where she could hide, just for a few hours. Until the next wave of distractions broke through her concentration, useless but well-meant attempts to pull her out of her stupor. Egypt maybe. Yes, that's where she'd go. It would be nice to feel the blistering sun instead of the constant rain of London. Egypt was a good distraction. Spying on pharaohs was always entertaining.

She felt the familiar pull as her soul ripped from her body, the comforting pressure of passing time and space while her physical self remained on her bed. But then, there was a flash of light. Not the warm, golden light of the desert sun, but something darker, more permanent.

Opening her eyes, Juniper stared. She was in a vineyard. This was not the plan. Where were the pyramids? The Sphinx? There were just grapes and vines, nothing to tell her where she was. So Juniper started walking, determined to figure out this mystery. It wasn't until a brush of her arm knocked a bunch of grapes to the ground that she realised the truth. This wasn't a mistake of her own making. This was something else. Her body was in this place, as well as her mind.

Just as she started to panic, imagining her mother's reaction when she found the house empty, no note, and no return of her daughter, something appeared in front of her. Before she had the chance to question it, she was wordlessly guided to a building, and pointed toward a plaque on the side of it.

"Welcome to Mirage," Juniper read. "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."

"Wait, I need to go home!" she cried, turning toward the silent figure. But it was gone, and she was alone again.

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juniper_golding
2008-10-22 06:21 pm UTC (link)

Juniper couldn't help but giggle at his comment. "I haven't, actually," she admitted with a shake of her head and a shrug. "They're not all that plentiful where I'm from," she said. As if that wasn't the understatement of the century. But it was better than telling him that he didn't exist. That wasn't likely to go over well.

Taking his hand, Juniper got to her feet as gracefully as she could manage, and sighed. "I figured as much," she admitted. "When I couldn't get home myself...Well, there isn't much to be done about it, is there? No way to get back?" she asked, a little bit of hopefulness in her voice, in spite of the fact that she was already fairly sure of the answer.

"It's lovely to meet you, Prince Legolas," she said with a polite little dip, that despite her modern clothes and mannerisms, looked natural on her. "I hate to ask for any more favours, but, please, what do I do now? I'm a bit buggered, honestly. I don't even have my wallet on me."

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-22 06:29 pm UTC (link)

"I expected as much, actually." He laughed as she rose to her feet and bowed, delighted with her unexpected grace and comfort with the gesture. "Many people who come to Mirage have never seen an elf at all. Even on my own world, they are not all that common anymore."

He watched her carefully, wondering if she'd do anything extreme. Some people, when told they couldn't leave, did crazy things. But she seemed to be handling it very well, though he still thought it was a bit sad that she had to come to this realization. "I do not believe there is a way back, Lady Juniper, although there are those who do not believe such, and who try to go back to their own worlds."

The blond prince shook his head. "My apologies, my Lady. You are assigned a room, the number which is on the back of this key." He presented the key that the golem had given him to her. "I can help you find it, if you wish. As for your wallet, worry not. The Planet provides everything."

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juniper_golding
2008-10-22 06:37 pm UTC (link)

Juniper gave an understanding little smile. "Everything has its season, I suppose," she said, with a trace of sadness in her voice. That was true of everyone and everything, not just elves and men. Nothing lasts forever. "I'm glad you're here though," she smiled. "It's a comfort to not be alone."

She took that as well as could be expected, and turned her face away a bit, hiding behind her curls until she'd fought off the urge to cry. She'd never see her mother again, or Niall, or anyone. But perhaps there was an opportunity here. A chance to start over without everything reminding her of Dylan and what she lost. Saving a good cry for when she was alone, Juniper wiped one eye with the back of a finger and gave him a watery smile. "Thank you for being honest with me," she said. It would have been far worse had he given her hope.

"Thank you," she said to both the key and the offer. "B250," she muttered, and then looked around. "This isn't a terrible place to be stuck, is it?" she mused, chuckling rather darkly. "What's the catch?"

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-22 06:50 pm UTC (link)

Legolas was very familiar with that concept, and nodded. The elves were all very much aware that their time in Middle Earth had come to an end, and that's why so many of them had gone through the Grey Havens. It hurt, a little, but he was gone from there now anyway. Surely, he would have eventually wanted to go to the sea and further, but now he was freed from that. "I understand. I would not wish to be alone, as a stranger in a strange land, either."

He reached out and touched her shoulder, comforting her or at least attempting to. "I would not lie to you, Lady. Even if a lie brought comfort, it is not worth it in the end." His fingers squeezed lightly on her shoulder, and then his hand dropped to his side again.

However, he laughed with delight as she stated her room number. "Truly? That is your room number?" He shook his head, an amused smile on his face. "It is the will of the Valar that we meet, then, as I am only a few rooms away from that. I can easily show you were you are to lodge." He turned toward the door, meaning to show her right then. "It is not terrible, only a little unnerving to be held here." He shrugged. "Sometimes, you may be forced into doing activities with other inhabitants, and there was a series of kidnappings only a few days ago. Mirage is not all leisure, I fear."

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juniper_golding
2008-10-22 07:01 pm UTC (link)

"Did you already know someone here when you arrived?" she asked, interested in the way he chose to word what he'd said. She smiled slightly at the comforting touch and nodded. At least he was a smart one. She'd had enough of being lied to.

"Really?" Juniper laughed as well, shaking her head a bit. "And who are the Valar? You keep saying that..."

Juniper followed him with a light step, her little slippers making almost no noise on the floor, though she'd never have a hope of moving as fluidly as Legolas. "Oh well that's just blinding," Juniper said sarcastically. It was only a matter of time before she found herself in trouble. She was like a magnet for it. Or a black hole.

"Your bow is beautiful," she commented, sinking back a bit in her stride to get a better look at it. "I never studied archery. A bit of swordplay here and there, but never archery."

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-22 07:22 pm UTC (link)

The elf shook his head as they started to move in the general direction of the door. "No, I knew no one when I was brought here." He paused for a second. "Someone from my own world was brought later, however. It was comforting."

Legolas laughed as he turned to face her, amused by her many questions. One of the things he'd found so delightful about Giselle was her inquisitive nature, and this redhead had it as well. He enjoyed it. "The Valar are the powers, the Kings and Queens of Middle Earth. They created the world."

He looked at her for a second before he started to walk again. "My thanks. The lady Galadriel gave it to me as I left Lothlorian with the other members of the Fellowship. It is magical." He took it off his shoulder and held it out to her. "Would you like to hold it?"

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juniper_golding
2008-10-22 07:31 pm UTC (link)

Juniper smiled. "You're lucky," she said with a nod. "Maybe someone I know will come," she mused hopefully. But at the same time, would she want anyone to have to share her fate? Probably not.

Her mouth formed a small, round "o" as she breathed out the expression with a nod. "Some sort of deities then," she said, understanding. Every culture had their own, and all were worthy of respect, regardless of a person's personal belief systems. "Middle Earth? But there's only one..." she said, almost to herself. "Then again I'm chatting up an elf." She laughed and shook her head, now obviously talking to Legolas instead of forgetting about her brain-mouth filter and talking to herself. "What's Middle Earth like?"

Juniper's teal eyes lit up like a kid on Christmas at the offer. "Please!" she said excitedly, reaching out carefully for the bow, though she knew that she probably couldn't break it if she tried. "The engravings are so intricate," she breathed, stopping to get a really good look at it, holding it securely in one hand while the fingers of the other traced the designs with the lightest of touches. She ran her finger along the string lightly, giving it a little tug, which could have been pushing on a wall for all the good it did. "You must be very strong," she laughed, shaking her head at herself and her tugging.

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-23 12:30 pm UTC (link)

Legolas shrugged slightly as he continued walking toward the exit. Once there, he held the door open for her with a courteous inclination of his head. "It was a difficult thing when Aragorn was brought. I was happy to see him, and yet... sad that he had been brought." He smiled a little. "You see, he was to be King over Middle Earth, and I would not have the land I love in disarry. I had no say in it, however, and he was brought."

The elf laughed as they walked together out the door and toward the B Dormitory where they where both lodged. He found himself glad that she was going to be near him. Her cheer was infectious, and it never took much to make him joyful himself. Together, they would lift the spirits of all Mirage, he was sure of it. "I suppose so, though until I came here, I had never heard that word." His smile took on a slightly dreamy cast. "It is beautiful, Lady Juniper. Tall mountains, raging rivers, beautiful forests, the complex cities of the humans... all simply gorgeous." Never one to let someone else be completely responsible for the conversation, he spoke. "And your land, Lady? Where are you from, and what is it like?"

He kept a wary eye on the girl as she accepted his bow and tried to pull the string back. He probably didn't need to worry about her hurting the weapon, but more about the weapon hurting her. The string could be quite sharp for fingers that wern't calloused. Eventually, though, he stopped, laughed, and took it back from her. "You are not standing correctly. Here..." He planted himself without effort, reached back for an arrow, and had it in the air in less time than seemed possible. The arrow thunked into a tree a fair distance away.

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juniper_golding
2008-10-23 12:43 pm UTC (link)

Juniper winced. "That would make it a bit more difficult," she allowed, shaking her head. "I wish I knew what happens to our lives back home," she admitted, wondering if she could find out without knocking herself on her ass again. "I don't have many people who's lives would be changed, but still..." she sighed and twisted the ring on her pinkie around her finger for a moment. "It'd be nice to know."

"London?" Juniper asked with a laugh. "Cor it's...well, I think it's brilliant, honestly. It's a huge city, full of people of every lifestyle and race, and it's beautiful in all it's diversity," she said with a decided nod. "I live just outside the city, in one of the smaller villages. Lots of open fields and farmland...perfect for riding." She laughed a little. "I don't know how to describe it, except to say that for as many people that hate it, I couldn't love it more."

She watched carefully, with the eyes of someone that was learning simply by standing next to him and observing. "That's brilliant!" she said with a little clap. "I'd love to be able to shoot. Do you think...some time, you could teach me?" she asked, biting her lip and looking hopeful.

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-23 01:29 pm UTC (link)

He nodded, glad that she appreciated that. Yes, he'd been thrilled when Aragorn had come to Middle Earth, but it had been a sad day as well. "I am certain that more people that you realize would be upset." He couldn't imagine it otherwise. She was so full of life. "I do not know, but when my King came, he said that I had just disappeared."

He nodded thoughtfully. "London... there are people here from that city, and I have heard of it before. Witches and wizards, from what I can see." He kept his eyes open, and saw more than most suspected. "One of them has pink hair, a witch named Tonks."

He turned back to her and nodded, a wide smile on his face. He couldn't imagine anything more fun than doing just what she suggested. "Let us start, then! I will show you your room, and then we can give you your first lesson right away." He smiled widely at her. "Assuming that you are not otherwise engaged. I can only hope that since I am the first one you have met here, you will not be fully booked yet."

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juniper_golding
2008-10-23 01:36 pm UTC (link)

"Doubtful," Juniper admitted. "There's Marsha - my mother, and Niall, her husband, but everyone else..." she shrugged. "I lost quite a bit of my life recently, and the rest of it was caught in the backlash." Disappeared. That was not good. Juniper looked thoughtful, almost distant for a moment. "Maybe I could get a message through," she said, though her tone was doubtful. "It's worth a shot."

Juniper's eyes popped wide. "And they're open about what they are?" she asked, amazed. "How could that be? I mean, even now...well, in my time...or however it works here, having abilities is not something that you flaunt," she said with a shake of her head. She knew that all too well, and it was plain from the tone of her voice.

"Great!" she said brightly, and then laughed, colouring up a bit. "No, as a matter of fact, my dance card is empty," she teased. "You can put your name down for as much time as you like," she nodded. She looked around and saw the building with the "B" on it. "This is it, huh?" she asked, opening the door and letting him go through first.

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princegreenleaf
2008-10-23 02:31 pm UTC (link)

The blond elf frowned thoughtfully. "I do not believe that." His eyes were dark and direct as he looked at her. "I believe that you have likely touched the life of more people than you realize. We all have." He wondered what she was talking about, that she'd lost a lot, but wasn't quite sure how to go about asking about it.

He looked at her somewhat strangely when she made that comment. "Why would they not be open? There are many here with talents that are uncommon elsewhere. Even if they hid it on their own world, what need is there of such secrecy here on Mirage?" He had caught her tone, and looked at her with penetrating eyes.

"Very well, then." He smiled and bowed slightly to her in thanks as he walked past her into the foyer of the building, and toward the stairs. "I will do my best to turn you into an archer." Though the words were formal and a little imposing, his tone was light and implied that he'd really like nothing better.

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juniper_golding
2008-10-23 02:39 pm UTC (link)

For a moment, Juniper was quiet, and then she sighed. "I'm thinking that maybe my London and their London aren't the same," she admitted, a bit of her own sense of the way things worked coming through. "In my London - not so much now, but a long time ago - women were burnt as witches. No matter their real crime, if there was one at all," she explained. "Nowadays, you're treated as a mental case, at best. The world is not as forgiving as people wish it would be." She bit her lip and decided that maybe he was right. Maybe she didn't have to hide here. "I can do things, sometimes. Travel space and time, but leave my body behind, read minds, see the future...It wasn't something I advertised."

Juniper had to laugh at that. "You've got your work cut out for you," she said humbly, though she was actually a pretty quick study. The worst that would hold her back was her own lack of physical strength.

She found her door easily enough, and unlocked it with the key Legolas had given her. "Wow..." she breathed. "Nice room," she added, laughing softly. Given that she didn't need to exactly unpack, Juniper merely looked around for a second and then slipped the key into her pocket, pulling her long hair back with the tie around her wrist. "Shall we?"

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