MIDDLE EARTH ; oo1

[phatroles]

[ The party's already in full swing by the time you arrive, checking your name off with a doorman so sozzled that the whole exercise is pointless anyway. It's a bit surprising how many people the Prancing Pony can fit, or indeed how many have even turned up.

Why are you here? Well, that's obvious, of course. It's because-- never mind, that's not the important thing. There's a greeting to be given, and drinks flowing freely. Perhaps you'll find old friends or make ones new. Perhaps the same will be true of enemies too. Maybe you'll even notice tat you don't quite look the same as you thought you did.

Perhaps you'll find out why your thoughts are rhyming and your sense of timing is off. It's not likely. This isn't a riddle to be taken so lightly.

But you have a part to play, even if you don't quite realise it. Maybe that dysphoric, I-Shouldn't-Be-Here sensation is the result of too much Hobbit weed in the air? Just go with that for now, before you think too much and spoil your fun. ]

Comments

[thatjackass]

SENA!

[muchfaster]

HIIIEEE–!! [clatter clatter, tray and steins everywhere, BUT DOES IT REALLY MATTER?

he's crashed right into Satan.]

Hi-Hiruma-sen--[...pa...i............

on the floor, Sena gawks. something is amiss yeah as if nothing else is amiss here, good job kiddo.]

[thatjackass]

Wow, look at you! [he slaps sena on the back, not giving a shit about having the beer everywhere because seeing a familiar, tiny face is awesome.] You've gotten shorter! And hairier!

[muchfaster]

Eh-? [himself?

he looks down, over toward his feet, gulping loudly.] S-something's happened to my feet! They're huge...?

[thatjackass]

I'm surprised you can still run like that. [he's only half laughing, because really, what the shit?]

[muchfaster]

Ah– you're right...I won't be able to wear my cleats like this! [which makes him consider the silly hobbit trousers and vestments, increasingly perplexed.

this is a lot weirder than he'd initially thought!

but– wait. he blinks over at Hiruma's feet. he...thinks they're normal-sized? at least, enough for shoes. or...funny little elf-boots, whatever those are. cue slow pan back up at Hiruma's weird elf (well, elfier) face.]

Uoh...you look weird, too!

[thatjackass]

Huh!? [he glares down at Sena, like he's gonna punch him or something.

but then pulls back the evil face once he looks like he'll pee himself.] Nah, you're right. I feel weird too.

[muchfaster]

[once Sena can swallow his heart back down his throat and let out a breath:] Do you...remember what was happening before this? Even getting here?

[thatjackass]

I remember we just finished that big game, but nothing about getting here. [hm. he starts tapping his foot, because this is weird and getting to him the more he thinks about it. how does this crap even happen?? this isn't some fantasy manga.

[muchfaster]

[yeah, only the splash pages can have fantasy...and even then, that's mostly Ojou!

wait, let's not get off-track. Sena frowns harder, still sitting in that mess of spilled booze and poorly-mopped hardwood. "big game" is..........................


aren't they all big games. he winces a little, looking back up, and then nearly leaping to the ceiling with a fright hearing someone bellowing about their drinks so loudly it may as well have been right in his ear.] YEEP–!!

[thatjackass]

[Even Hiruma jumps, because that seemed way louder than it should be, stupid sensitive elf ears.] OI! SHUT THE FUCK UP! [pulls a crossbow out of his ass and fires into the crowd]

[muchfaster]

YIPE!! [that. that was way too violent! Sena's heart's back in his throat, even as he peeks out from between his fingers to see...lots of people pulling out swords.]

Hi-Hiruma-s--!!

[thatjackass]

RUN!! [He shoves Sena toward the door, laughing like a maniac as he jumps on the bar and fires at everyone who whipped out a sword. He's not hitting anything vital, but just enough to slow them down so he and Sena could get the fuck out.]

[muchfaster]

[run? running's what he's all about. Sena totally runs.

er, tries: those giant hobbit feet make it a struggle. it's like the running-through-tires exercise! he winds up with a hop-like gait, but he's pretty darn quick, all things considered, until tripping over his own feet once more and falling flat on his face.]

Yurhghhh... [lifting his head up, squinting.] Eh?

[blinkblink.]

EEEHHHHH–?!

[the crowded room was one thing, but look at this scenery!]