[Voice/Action]

[flickerflash]

[This is a very comfy forest, really.  The sunlight's warm, and Katie curls up near a fallen branch and near faceplants into a patch of new spring flowers and waits for Snow White to maybe come dancing through her dreams, or Bambi, or maybe a couple rebel fighters on an awesome speeder bike chase that she can help with.  Ewoks, even.  Look, it's her dream, okay.   She'll will one of these things into existence if she can manage it.

It takes her a long while to realise she's not actually sleeping, and that's ... a little concerning.  Because to her knowledge she doesn't make a habit of going to sleep anywhere other than her very cozy bed, and she doesn't remember why she'd be out here. 

Sleepwalking.  All the way out here?  Kidnapped.  Her parents aren't rich.  By aliens.  That's a little better, but still kind of worrying.  There's a distinct level of nervous settling over her now because she's entirely alone in the middle of a place she doesn't recognise, and she's just not adventurous enough to want to be out here without any obvious way of getting home.

It's not her fault, is it?   She can't get into trouble if it's not her fault.  (Is today a school day?)

It's when she staggers upright, still yawning, that her foot catches on the edge of something and she thumps back down to earth with a startled sound, turning to glare at whatever she'd touched (why are her feet bare?), and stares at the journal lying in the grass with her name stencilled on the front.  And Katie reaches for it, because if it has her name maybe it has an explanation, and... the sight of it touches off muzzy memories of its own.  Familiar, somehow.

So she opens it.

Oh.  She knows what this is.]

[Voice]

...hello?

Comments

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

...I'm just glad your back, Katie. Kidnapped, I'm guessing?

[ hoping. ]

[ voice ]

[flickerflash]

That's what Jack asked, too. But there's nobody else here. Unless someone kidnapped me and then got eaten by wild bears or something.

[...actually, that's not a comforting thought. She peers around shiftily for clues.]

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

Kidnapped by the Malnosso, Katie. They tend to leave you alone. Was it your first time?

[ voice ]

[flickerflash]

[...and here stretches a long silence because that didn't make sense to her at all. That sounds Italian. She thinks.]

N...y..es? Are they mafia people?

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

You know, it's possible...

[ voice ]

[flickerflash]

Then maybe. I don't know why I'm out here. Oh, but I'm okay. I just have no shoes.

...and might be lost.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

[ the slayer's voice softens.

perhaps she hasn't spoken to katie as often as jack has. perhaps she doesn't share that history. but the girl is important to him and she can't quite shake that association. it creates a swell of affection in her tone and a desire to help.

not that buffy summers ever needed much encouragement to want to help anyone. ]

Tell me what the place looks like. Your...surroundings. I'll try and find you? And then we can have a very you-and-me-traditional food fest before I swing you by Cullen House.

[ voice ]

[flickerflash]

Okay! [The mention of food makes her stomach growl, and Katie just glances around trying to find anything that stands out. Her frown is a little sulky. There's a distinct lack of signs saying This Way To The Village.]

There's a lot of flowers here. And trees. Um. That's not very helpful... should I look for something? What if I start walking? I might run into something that can help.

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

That could help. That could definitely help. Can you hear any running water?

[ voice ]

[flickerflash]

[Oh, that's right. There are rivers here. She lowers the journal for a moment, listening.]

...I think so. [She can definitely hear something in the distance. Katie starts heading in that direction.] And the rivers go into down, don't they? [She thinks that's right.]

[ voice ]

[herotypical]

Mmhm. Hopefully? You're not too far off.

[ voice ] "down"... /facepalm

[flickerflash]

Then I'll try following one and see where that gets...

[Though at this point, there's a pause.]

...Jack says he's coming out here.

lol. it's cool. i understood.

[herotypical]

...Oh.

[ her resolve falters. she doesn't want to step on those toes. ] Then maybe I should, y'know, back off.

[flickerflash]

...you could keep me company until he gets here. [Hopeful.]

[herotypical]

...I'd like that, Katie.

[flickerflash]

[Her smile turns relieved.] That's good. Uh. I mean, I might get very bored out here by myself. [As opposed to, say, a reluctance to be left on her own right now.]

[herotypical]

...You're in alright shape, right?

[flickerflash]

Uh huh. [She peers down at herself.]

Everything seems to be o...

kay...

[Frown. She doesn't remember that scar.]

[herotypical]

[ something does seem a little off with the girl's indomitable spirit... ]

H-hey. Do you, uhm, wanna hear a story? Maybe?

[ oh dear lord does she have any appropriate stories? ]

[flickerflash]

[Katie takes a moment to answer, still staring at her wrist, before glancing back at the book, brow furrowed. Then she blinks.] Sure. What kind of story?

[herotypical]

...Got any requests?

[flickerflash]

Do you know any adventure stories? Ones with good guys and bad guys?

[herotypical]

I could tell you about the, uhm, Gentlemen. They roll into a town and steal everyone's voice -- so no one can scream.

[ this is a terrible story to tell a child. ]

[flickerflash]

[I think the word you're looking for there is awesome.]

Really...?

Do they not like loud noise, or were they going to kill everyone?

[herotypical]

...Carve out everyone's hearts, actually. O-or, just seven of everyone's hearts.