queenofheartsrp | first stanza [video]

first stanza [video]

[The Vine opens on a curious scene. Something has transpired in the new arrival area. A broad swath of garden has been destroyed. The scarred area is not huge, but it is not insignificant. It's not immediately clear what the cause was, but smoke is rising from the ground, and three large bears have gathered to deal with the problem.

Standing watching the animals is a woman wearing the familiar white shift of a newcomer. Her back is to the mirror. Her long hair is silver with a lavender tinge, a tall feather rising from the midst of it. Beneath the hem of her shift, a tail can be seen, twitching in agitation as she watches the animals and the blasted earth. She hadn't meant for anything of the kind to happen. Suddenly, the world had changed. All her strength had come rushing back in a single moment. When had her control grown so tenuous?

She speaks. She might be addressing the bears or talking to herself.]

Absurd. I shouldn't be here. What is this place? Death should not be a garden. It should be an absence of sight, sound, self. A perfect void. [Others' souls might live on, but that is what her death should be, what she wanted. No, not what she'd wanted, but what she'd asked for.]

[She takes a step toward the bears. One turns to look at her. Perhaps she is addressing them after all. Though they don't speak, it's possible she has some way of communicating with them. Her tone is imperious, yet strained.] Such stubborn brutes. You can't blame me for that. When you throw a spark on dry grass, certainly it will blaze. Fire burns. That is its nature.

[She turns at last, showing her face to the Vine, searching her surroundings for something she does not appear to find.] Zidane! [She pauses. She must be able to see the mirror, but she doesn't take it in. It's clear from her expression that she is not entirely present, perhaps disoriented.] He couldn't have done this. Then did he go...? Good. [Yet she looks almost disappointed.]

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[Reeve removes the pen she was holding between her teeth and slips it behind her ear-- she smiles.]

I've often though death might be a void. Though I also imagine it might be something a bit more-- sentimental, I suppose. But that's neither here nor there. I'm sorry to tell you that you're here against your will, in a kind of private preserve belonging to a being with entirely too much time on her hands. Which she'd apparently like us to fill by amusing her with our attempts at social interaction.

Of course, you may already know all this! In which case I am sorry to have rambled on. The name's Reeve, by the way. Reeve Tuesti. And you are?

[Look, this little worm seems helpful--she corrects that thought at once. It seems to be a simple human, and so she'll treat it with politeness. She can do this.]

What death is depends on who has died, and where. Those with souls will rejoin the soul cycle, I suppose, unless impeded. [She waves a hand, as though this hardly matters to her.]

Hm, I am obviously here against my will, and I have heard some of this already, but you have presented the information rather clearly, to your credit. [She gives a little bow.] I am Kuja. [A pause. This news does not please her.] Who is this being? What do you mean by "social interaction"? [Kuja speaks the latter words almost as if referring to an unpleasant rash.]

[Reeve isn't offended at Kuja's tone-- arrogance, she's used to. Still smiling, she nods in reply.]

Yes well, glad to be of help! Ah, as for the rest, the being styles herself as "the Queen", but no one has had any close contact with her that I'm aware of. Apparently, she'd like us to set up a society and form attachments to each other? Couple off, I suppose you might say?

By the by, there are no men there. I might have forgotten to mention that.
The whole thing is odd, to say the least.

[What? She is used to monarchs and their foolishness, but usually they don't--put people in preserves and attempt to make them--mate?] How disgusting. I have no interest in such matters. Cannot the Queen be destroyed?

No men? [She frowns. Not because of the thought of women pairing off, as animals are animals, are they not? At least this way there will be no infants. But the thought cuts through her confusion, reminds her again. No men means Zidane cannot be here.] I was with my brother... [She feels an unaccustomed emotion. She is not used to having emotions at all, and it bewilders her temporarily. She speaks in a murmur, as if talking to herself.] We were dying. I shouldn't be here.

[Reeve seems concerned but relatively unsurprised at Kuja's aside.]

Yes, well-- I am sorry. Quite a few of the women here have been brought out of their worlds at sensitive moments. People are sent home occasionally-- it's my theory that you'll appear in the same timeframe from which you left. If that's any comfort. I do hope you'll see your brother again.

As for the Queen, no. We've many people with various powers and also plenty of weapons among us, and no one yet has been successful at destroying the Queen.

[This Reeve seems sympathetic, but it occurs to her that she might not be so if she might not be so if she knew the truth. She is quiet for a moment.]

So this is a mere interruption of the rightful course of events. Good. [She regains some of her composure.] My brother is an idiot, but he does not deserve to die. Perhaps something can yet be done.

[Kuja sighs.] Yes, it is obvious that the Queen is not destroyed, as I have been brought here by her. I meant, does she have any weaknesses, or have any attempts been made?

[Reeve chuckles. Warmly.]
Yes, well. Fair point! As far as I'm aware attempts have been made, but none in my time here. You might find records of those events with our resident archivist. As for weaknesses, there's been assessment by a few with expertise in that field, but it's a hard thing to complete from a distance.

There was a sort of coup a while back, involving some of the Queen's subordinates, but it seems to have come to nothing.

[Reeve smiles sympathetically.] But yes, hopefully we'll all return home to the times, and people, we left behind. Though it is possible to form fast friendships here.

An archivist? So there is some semblance of order here, however tenuous. Where can this archive be found? I would be interested in seeing it. I'd like to know more about this place I find myself in. Is "Garden" its only name? Is it a world or a location that is part of one? I can tell that I am no longer on Gaia. [And this is undeniably not Terra.]

[She ponders the matter of the queen.] Her attention could be drawn by creating a disturbance, as the creatures here dislike such displays. [She nods toward the bears, who are finishing their task.] Are these the subordinates you mean, or are there others?

[She looks dubious at Reeve's words about friendship.] Perhaps it is possible for some, but I will not depend upon it. [She gives a little laugh.] I only wish to return to my rightful fate.

What an interesting turn of phrase, Kuja-- you certainly have a way with words!

[Reeve's smile widens as if in realization of a pleasant fact.]
Oh, is Gaia the name of your world? What a coincidence, it's mine as well!

As for information on this world, we do have a library here, but it isn't much use for research since it mainly stocks romance novels and erotic poetry. Jessica Boyette, a friend of mine, has been keeping an archive of her time here-- perhaps she can help you. I'm sure she'd be happy to try.

Did you-- cause the "disturbance" in question? That's quite impressive-- and yes, that sort of thing does draw attention from subordinates of a more human variety on occasion.

[She smiles a little at the praise.] Words are my stock in trade, and my little servants. They dance to my tune. [Unwilling to tell the truth, it seems far better for her to concoct a pleasant lie.] I am a poet, among other things.

You are from--a different Gaia? Other worlds I am familiar with, but not of the same name.

[She nods at the information Reeve supplies, then fixes her attention on one detail.] There are books of poetry here?

[Though more interested in poetry at the moment, she glances over her shoulder at the damaged earth again. It seems pointless to deny it, although perhaps it makes her claim of being a poet more doubtful. Well, poets may use magic, too.] I have at my disposal some few spells. [Though she actually is trying to understate the matter, her tone has the ring of false modesty when she says that.] So she has other, hidden servants, and they rebelled. Interesting... I have no intention of causing any more such disturbances, but perhaps another might.

[Reeve smiles. What an odd-- being! But Kuja's company is both novel and interesting. Reeve quite likes people she considers to be eccentric.]

Hmm, yes-- well there are certainly people here who are quite capable of causing any number of disturbances. I'm sure you'll meet one or more of them soon enough.

But, yes. To both of your questions. There are quite a few books of poetry in the library, and I do indeed hail from a different Gaia. Have you actually traveled to other worlds, Kuja? You're quite adventurous for a poet!

Are there many such dangerous persons here? How fascinating. [Though Kuja doesn't seem particularly impressed, and she doubts anyone here is a danger to her.]

[She peers closely at Reeve.] You do not look like a resident of my world. Your garb is strange to me. So plain and uninspired.

I'll examine the library and its books. If these poems are written by writers from other worlds, this is a unique opportunity for one of my profession.

I came into being on one planet and later lived on another. [Though there is more to the story, she does not feel the need to give all the details.] A poet relies on her experiences to give her words sharpness, life, and depth. She must be more adventurous than her fellows, not less.

[Reeve chuckles, amused and fascinated. Kuja is quite the character.]

Yes, I'm no a fashion plate. These are my work clothes-- since I came to this place in the middle of my work day. They aren't exactly flashy, it's true!

I imagine it would be interesting for a poet to read the poetry of other worlds-- one of the things that makes this bearable for me is learning about other cultures I'd never encounter otherwise. I hope you'll let me know if you find anything interesting in the stacks!
There are quite a few "dangerous" people here, but there are checks on their behavior. I'm sure your trip to the library will go smoothly. For all it's such an adventure, the Garden does have a fair number of lulls.

I will inform you, though I cannot say what may be of interest to you. Plays and poetry are my primary concern, though I do have some interest in prose as well. I never tire of learning, so I am pleased that this realm has its subjects of study.

I do not fear any dangerous people whatsoever. [She almost sounds affronted. She doubts they could be more dangerous than she is.] I find the fact of their presence here to be of interest. Are they warriors, mages, monsters?

[Reeve smiles.]
Actually, though I'm not dressed for it and might not look it, I love the theater. Especially musicals-- and light operas. Do you go in for that sort of thing? Or do you favor drama?

Anyhow, though you might not fear them, there are warriors here, and a few monsters as well. As for "mages", I'd have to know what one was before I could tell you anything about their presence. I'm not familiar with the term, I'm afraid!

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