Head in the. . . Elsewhere [Ku-chan]

[seraaches]

He was running. Still running. He'd been running for a long time, he couldn't remember how long. But that bird! That bird had been following him and looking in his brain and asking questions and he didn't know what he was supposed to do about it and WHY WAS HE FOLLOWING HIM? The deer mutter chemical formulae under his breath, trying to ascertain what might have caused such a reaction even as he feared that the reactions were going on IN HIS OWN BRAIN AS WELL OH STARS MAKE IT STOP WHY DID IT HAVE TO GO ON LIKE THAT?

When he was able to keep his thoughts in line, it wasn't always so bad, and he knew to stop and eat and drink, but for the most part his mind was awhirl of wonder. Sometimes he thought about trying to take his own brain out, but, in the end, that wouldn't help him at all.

The deer was not, however, truly aware of where he was going, so when he reached a Palace, he was halfway certain that he had hallucinated the whole thing. He approached the doors, wondering why he'd made such a place when suddenly--

"State your business."

Cavendish froze. The guards exchanged a look. Why in the world was a King of Hearts lurking on their front steps? One of them moved forward and tried to ask kindly, "Sir, why are you here?"

Unfortunately, his first step caused the stag to lean back and his word was the starting flag. With a squeal of high-pitched fear, the Corvie bolted up the stairs, past the guards, through the doors, and into the Palace of Diamonds. The guards stood shocked for a moment and then quickly gave chase.

[Kasatsu]

Just . . . a . . . little . . . higher.

The small figure pushed herself up onto the balls of her feet. The book though it was grasped tightly, her nails digging into the precious binding, teetered precariously. If only she could reach a little higher. Rocking back on her feet she gave a little hop, hoping to push herself to cover the small distance.

With a small, "Aha!" the book was pushed into the slot that was its home, between Tales of Hidden Treasure, and Things that go Unseen.

Dropping back to her feet she shifted through the other books that were held in her left arm. Grabbing one of them, she started over, searching for its home among the many books.

Things recently had been vary busy among the Diamond Court. The previous Queen had passed on, becoming replaced by a female that she was not really familiar with. She was sure that the new Queen would more than be beneficial for the Court and it's Suit.

With all of the changes, Idril's responsibilities in the Royal Library had also increased, not that she really minded. This was her home, where she belonged, and where she longed to be.

[seraaches]

THEY WERE FOLLOWING HIM, WHY WERE THEY FOLLOWING HIM? Did it have to do with adrenaine? But that coursed throughout the body, not just the brain. He wasn't hurting anything! But maybe they didn't know that. Still, it seemed obvious to the stag that his ability to hurt things was quite limited. Still, there were guards running after him and shouting and only the headstart he got by surprising them with his bolt into the palace had likely kept him from being caught already. He darted pass other Cards, likely just another blur, even with the red mark on his chest. Did they KNOW? Were they deciding to let him pass? The thought panicked him further and he careened off a wall to change directions.

Doors! Safety! The Corvistowneian darted through and leapt behind a bookshelf. No, no, he was still too obvious! He didn't know where he was-- there seemed to be a surfeit of plants among the shelves and other furniture. Finally, he darted between two very large potted plants, leaving only a quivering of leaves to mark his passage and those, too, would soon grow still. Shuddering and shaking, the stag hunkered as far back as he could.

[Kasatsu]

The guards continued to give chase, nearly stumbling into those who were occupying the hallways. When they came to a four way, they paused before splitting up, each of them taking a hallway.


She was just placing the last book in her stack in its home when she heard the to the library slam open, causing her to jump, before a moment later falling shut with a softer 'thump'. Blinking, she tilted her head around the corner of the bookshelf, trying to see who had come in with such urgency.

Spotting no one there she gave a puzzled look. She knew that it could not have been a simple breeze, the doors were much to heavy for that. Before she could puzzle out more than that of the mystery, someone else entered through the doors.

"Ah, I am sorry ma'am, did you see a . . . did someone come in here, recently? Within the last few minutes, that is." The guard looked a little nervous as he glanced around the library. Sadly Idril could not fully blame him for it. More than one innocent person had gotten too close to some of the . . . less friendly plants that decorated the library, a gift of Her Highness Mnem.

Well, in both of their defenses there had been signs up.

Idril, more than a little puzzled about what was going on, shook her head at him. "I have not seen anyone, no. Is something going on?"

"Nothing to be concerned about. I think. Let us know if you see anyone unfamiliar, would you?" The guard quickly backed out of the room.

Tilting her head she wondered over the strange events of the last few minutes.

[seraaches]

Cavendish, for his part, was still cowering against the wall, trying very hard to not think. Nothing was going on. Nothing was going on. Not inside his brain nor outside of it. Nothing was going on.

There were voices nearby, but he didn't really follow what they were saying; he was trying to decide why they were saying it; what caused them to talk to each other? Sometimes he still felt very new to his research. If only he could find a larger library than the one his family owned. Actually, he needed any library now, he realized dimly. He wasn't in Corvistowne anymore. He shuddered, remembering why he'd ran and tried to put it from his mind.

Maybe he was lacking serotonin. That wouldn't be surprising; he hadn't slept well in weeks, especially not since-- No, no, don't think about it. He sniffed at a nearby plant. Maybe it had serotonin. . .

A quick bite, however, told him that it tasted horrible. He'd need a different source. Sticking his nose out and lifting his ears, Cavendish checked for any sign of anyone nearby and-- fairly certain the coast was clear-- he snuck back out and began to peruse the plantlife.

[Kasatsu]

After the guard had left Idril turned around, searching the area that was so familiar to her for some trace that someone else was there with her.

No, there did not seem to be anyone. The library was its usual quiet place. Shaking her head she chided herself for time wasted and went to continue her work. So much needed to be done.

. . . (o [-] 0) . . .


Shifting the watering can from one hand to the other she started to water the plat in front of her. While she gave it the measured amount she eyed the plant, making sure that it seemed happy and had no problems.

Wait . . . was that? . . .

Leaning forward she stopped watering it while she eyed the leaf. Yes, yes it seemed . . . How could that be?

For a moment she felt a strong wave of anger embrace her, her mind going back to that time that she had discovered chew marks on one of her precious books. Apparently one of her fellow Court members had found that the book was a good chew toy for their teething banders.

Well that had been easily taken care of. A simple word to this person or that and the canine had found himself no longer welcome for employment among them.

Eying the plant, she shifted from one to the next, taking in all the damage that had been done.

[seraaches]

He felt. . . calmer than he had for most of his life. Half the time he was still certain he was hallucinating-- what else could explain a wilderness of potted plants punctuated by a myriad of bookshelves? It certainly didn't look like a library, nor did it look like a conservatory. Even if he had been exposed to some sort of hallucinogen, he didn't think his mind could have produced a place like this. Especially since it felt far too real.

The best part of this place, however, was that the very, very few times he had seen someone else. . . The someone else had ignored him. Perhaps they were on hallucinogens. . . that would mess up the chemical balance in their brain terribly. He vaguely wondered, as he moved still carefully and cautiously towards one set of plants that were particularly tasty, if he could find a subject to dissect and really look at their brains. He could try all sorts of tests in regards to his chemicals then. . . Well, if he could get more of his chemicals, anyway.

[Kasatsu]

As she flipped the page of the book before her, she found that her mind, instead of staying focused on what she was reading, was pondering over the 'Mystery'.

There were various clues that she had been discovering but she could not place them all together. Well, more accurately she could not find the cause.

The small things that had been taking place had all started the day the doors had slammed open, before the guard had come in. There was talk that they had not found the intruder. Many just wondered if he had left as quickly as he had come.

Every now and then when Idril was sure that she was alone in the library she would catch a glimpse of movement out of the corner of her eye. The leaves continued to be inflicted with the strange marks. It looked like someone was actually eating them. Not to mention once or twice she had found a misplaced book she was more than positive had been placed in its correct spot.

Suddenly her eyes widened as it struck her.

It was so simple!

She could not believe it had totally escaped her logic.

There was someone here, in the library. And she was pretty sure it was the strange visitor the guards had been chasing.

[seraaches]

The stag froze behind a bookshelf beside a very large flowering plant. There was someone out there. It appeared to be a mouse. . . white with purple markings. She was staring over the edge of her book as though lost in thought. Cavendish flattened his ears and debated. He really wanted the other side of the area. He twitched his tail and finally decided to try to sneak his way across.

Perhaps it was a bit silly for a full-grown stag with antlers AND wings to try and sneak around, but that didn't really occur to the Corvie. In fact, given that most people here ignored him-- so much so that it was highly unlikely they'd even noticed that he wasn't a Diamond as well-- it seemed perfectly logical to Cavendish. So the stag began to creep across the area, keeping quite close to the bookshelves so he could hide if needed.

[Kasatsu]

Now that she had figured out the mystery of the library she was left with what to do about it. So far the strange had not caused any damage or been a nuisance, so in her right mind there was nothing wrong with him being there. However, as soon as she saw a book with even the slightest evidence of having been nibbled or any other damage she would call the guard.

Pondering over the situation she decided the first step would to be to name him. Since she had noticed so much nibbling on the leaves of the vegetation in the library she decided upon the name Leif. At least, that would be its name until she learned otherwise.

Considering that he had been so skittish so far, at least she was assuming so considering she had not seen nothing of him thus far -- though, since he might be on the run, she could not really default on that assumption. Perhaps she could leave a plate out with various food, things much more nutritious than what he had been eating, and a note. Maybe that would break the ice.