{ 01. | laboriously typed over the course of half an hour }

[deshabille]

WANTED: Tour guide.
REQUIREMENTS: Consciousness for more than four hours would be helpful.
LOCATIONS OF INTEREST: All of them.

MT

Comments

[deshabille]

Discounts are not always worth it.

[ She follows him outside and squints up at the aforesaid crystals. ]

I noticed those. They seem overly dramatic. Do they do anything or are they just decoration to prove that we are actually in a mysterious cave?

[trickntreats]

Well, they changed color the other day! They used to be blue.

[He lifted his eyebrows in faux surprise. Wasn't that so interesting! The entertainment around here!]

[deshabille]

How fascinating. I'd chart the color changes in a little book if we weren't meant to be leaving soon.

[trickntreats]

It's such a pity. We'll have to miss the crystals changing for other stuff like fresh air and stars and open sky!

[He lifted his hands in false shock and rolled his eyes.]

[deshabille]

Stop talking about it, it's making me so sad.

[ They're coming up to a cluster of buildings now. Mal lets her eyes run over each of them in turn. Even the architecture is so different. ]

[trickntreats]

And we wouldn't want to have that. The architecture is bad enough!

[It's different, but they're all the same to each other, and it's just impossible to ignore the fact it's all underground and in cave. As far as Gabriel is concerned, it's just depressing.]

[deshabille]

It is a bit . . . [ She snaps her fingers, thinking. ] Industrial.

[trickntreats]

Just a bit, yes. Like the walls are a bit rocky.

[deshabille]

[ She can't help grinning at him. Okay, maybe she's a little impressed. ]

You're a terrible tour guide. Aren't you supposed to be showing me the wonders of our new home? Temporary home, that is.

[trickntreats]

[He grins back and then sweeps his arms around to indicate the street.]

What, you mean these don't qualify? All this industrial sameness! It's practically unique!

[deshabille]

It's practically . . . the same as any other cave! But with buildings inside.

[ Even dwarves have more style. Quirking an eyebrow, she asks the question that's been bothering her - ] So, who exactly built all this? It wasn't made tremendously clear to me.

[trickntreats]

[Oh, he likes her. He shakes his head, still grinning slightly.]

What, you think they actually told us poor amnesiacs that? Pff. All I know is that the big bossman is called the Caketaker.

[deshabille]

Ah. Okay. It's one of those things. Not much information, plenty of vague menace. Oh, goody.

[trickntreats]

I'm almost impressed, really. I'd be more impressed if I was the one on the other side.

[deshabille]

[ briskly] Yes, well. If wishes were horses, then beggars would make soup out of them and eat for weeks. In this case, unfortunately . . . We're at the delightful whims of a man with no name.

[trickntreats]

He has a name! We just don't know it.

[He gives her a reckless grin.]

More fun that way, or so they tell me.

[deshabille]

[ dryly ] Oh really. [ She leans against a wall and crosses her arms. He's much more interesting than this tour, which is mostly dull and gray. ] Do elaborate for little old me.

[trickntreats]

Puzzles!

[He waves his hands in mock excitement.]

Tricks! Outwitting the big bad and all that! Isn't it exciting?

[deshabille]

Oh, thrilling. I adore having the wool pulled over my eyes.

[ She rolls her eyes. ]

And if we solve the puzzles, I imagine we are all freed from our city lives and allowed to go back to the dream, rather than simply being silenced in some way.

[trickntreats]

Gotta say it's a new one being the one having it pulled and not doing the pulling.

[Gabriel snorts.]

Well, that's what they'd tell us, I'm sure.

[deshabille]

Maybe you should work on pulling it back up, if you're so talented.

Yes, well. [ This is getting into dangerous territory. Some caution is appropriate, surely. ] I put all my faith in the system, as I always have. [ . . . Statements dripping with sarcasm still count as genuine, yes? ]

[trickntreats]

It's in the works! I just like figuring out what kind of wool it is first.

[Of course it does. Gabriel smirks at her.]

That's probably wise of you. Now, me--my brothers would tell you that I don't know the meaning of the word.

[deshabille]

Thank goodness we have you to save us.

[ She's amused, intrigued, and returns the smirk. ] The word wise, or faith?

[trickntreats]

You'd better thank someone, because otherwise I might just have to leave yah behind.

[The smirk becomes a little twisted, but no less sharp.]

Both. Take your pick.

[deshabille]

Anyone specific?

[ She considers him in silence for a moment. ] Wise is such a sticky word. It's different from intelligent. Still . . . I'll assume you're wiser than you look, and go with faith.