Terre Haute

[paradisamods]

[Today, our intrepid explorers have finally made it to Terre Haute. It’s mostly grassland, and on the outskirts small spotted lions, about the size of leopards prowl around. They seem to be more interested in the strange antelope running around than in any people, however. Towards the edge, lies a cliff face, looking out to sea, on occasion giant whales can be seen breaching the water.

Of the weird thing they came to look for, in the distance is a cylindrical shape, lying on its side. But between them and it is a strange village. One made up of excessively tall wooden huts, all of which have electric lights, turned on, though how they’re creating such power is a mystery, they are still very much inside the dead zone.

The residents of this off little village are wandering around, going about their buisess. The residents being a group of bemused looking giraffes. Perhaps you will even see some familiar non-giraffe faces milling about.

Welcome to Terre Haute]

[[GRASSLANDS AND CLIFFS | TOWN SQUARE | JUICE BAR | DANCE HALL | THE ESCALATOR | MIRROR CONTROL ROOM ]]

Comments

Re: TOWN SQUARE

[toobravehearted]

[Well, the Doctor is slightly more bemused than usual. As first impressions go, he thinks Terre Haute is wonderful, and he's seen a lot of the strange and wonderful in his time. After tethering his horse and walking around the tall wooden huts and doffing his panama to the locals or anyone who will smile back, he stands near to one of the huts, looks it up and down and peers inside...

And that is where his bemused expression lies. Because, hello, shouldn't the inside of that hut be dark?]

Well. What do you make of that?

[unnaturalpause]

[James is taking a break from his potential "hijack an antelope" plotting to look into the town himself, and, well okay no. Giraffe's playing marbles is certainly up there on his "what is going on?" list, but the electricity is also surprising.

And that's a familiar face to him there, with the Doctor, and even if he's left and come back well, may as well get to know the man. So tugging on his shirt he stares at the hut as he comes closer.]

They've got a source of power that works out here.

[toobravehearted]

[He turns around to the man.]

Precisely. Unless they've got George Westinghouse hidden in a hut, which is... Actually, with giraffes playing marbles, that's not as fantastic as it first sounds. How do you suppose they have managed that?

The power, that is, not the marbles.

[Even as he speaks, he's then looking at the ground, trying to search for hidden power cables.]

[unnaturalpause]

Well, Nikola Tesla is in the castle at the present moment, nothing would surprise me. I think he'd be a little jealous in fact.

[He's looking himself, and then glances at the Doctor with a bit of a well, sheepish smile.]

I'm sorry, I forgot, you don't know who I am do you? At least, not anymore. I'm James Watson. [And that's a hand being offered over now to shake.]

[toobravehearted]

[He looks up from his search for tell-tale bumps and disturbed ground or thick, sneaking wires with transformers... Which would be nice and obvious, as in his cursory look, he's seen nothing. On his face is surprise along with being impressed.]

Tesla? No! Really? Now if we had Edison along for the ride also, we could really watch the sparks fly.

[Looking down at the offered hand, he of course reaches out his own to shake.] Ah, my apologies, I'm afraid that I do not. I'm pleased to meet you Mr. Watson.

[unnaturalpause]

[Any hope of finding things is gone when he groans at that, shaking his head.]

Honestly, I'd rather not, I lived through that already with the man, and he still doesn't shut up about it. [He shakes the Doctor's hand though with a smile.]

Doctor Watson actually, as in the fictional one. Call me James if you like however, I owe you, in either stay here, quite a bit.

[toobravehearted]

[The Doctor might be a little star struck and it's a hearty hand shake with a friendly smile.] Oh, I can imagine the stories he might have to tell.

[Making a quick nod in acknowledgement, he has no recollection of his previous stay at all. Between time streams and Paradisa, it strikes again.] James. James it is, thank you. Unfortunately I'm very much starting from scratch.. As you've no doubt gathered.

Hold on, you know Nikola Tesla? But he's not joined the expedition? This little conundrum would be exactly his cup of tea I should have thought.

[unnaturalpause]

[It's okay he's rather used to it, which is why he's grinning the entire time, nodding.] Indeed and that means, if you need something ask. I'm more than willing to help, especially for someone starting from the beginning.

[And that's a laugh from him at that and he shrugs as he rubs at his chin slightly.] I've known Nikola since our days at Oxford, quite a long time. And while normally you're right, Nikola dislikes anything that takes away his abilities, he's the last descendant of ancient vampires back home and coming here takes those away.

[It's a perfectly normal thing for him to say really, the grass is green, the sky is blue, Nikola's a vampire. But he does know how it tends to make people react so he's just going to wait now.]

[toobravehearted]

[He nods enthusiastically, a friendly smile in response to James' laugh. Then his smile falters and slips. First, vampire. Second, other universes.]

I can see how that would put a crimp in his day. I'm familiar with vampires from my world, also. Gravely so.

[workaphilic]

Jealousy, mostly.

[He says it dryly, but this is really the most interesting part of the town, to him. How indeed?

Besides, he gets tired having to carry around so many crystals just to power small things. And maybe these giraffes have wifi.]

[toobravehearted]

[He turns around to the man and he smiles lightly. The voice and face is new to the Doctor.]

Not missing creature comforts already, are we? [He peers further into the hut, then turns back.] The creatures definitely aren't. Look. [He points inside.] Electric lights, with no visible means of carrying the current. Not that I have seen so far at least. Quite the conundrum, isn't it?

[workaphilic]

Especially considering we've struggled and we're the ones with the opposable thumbs.

[Sherlock is going straight inside, because he can and because he gives zero fucks about trespassing.]

I like having certain tools at my disposal. If there's a way to get them out here, I want to know how.

[toobravehearted]

Ah, now wait, just one moment... [Too late. Off his curious friend goes. He wipes his hand down his face before poking his head in and following. He doesn't see anyone at home...]

I do agree and in normal circumstances I'm all for a bit of shaking and seeing what falls from the tree... [He breaks off, looking up at the lights inside. They are quite high in the hut's ceiling. But then they would have to be.]

Right. Just a quick look, then. Power sources, anything that glows, hums or looks important and out of place.

[workaphilic]

[Sherlock is hugging the wall, one hand against it and his nose very close.]

We've already seen the bit that glows and looks out of place. [He raises one hand to indicate a bulb.] Supposed to be a home, isn't it? They wouldn't have their lighting mechanism more conspicuous than the lights themselves, that would defeat the purpose. Not unless it had to be.

[toobravehearted]

[A look.] Thank you so much for that, I wasn't sure you know. I was thinking along the line of crystals. [Watching the man a moment, he thinks he can tell what he's doing there, listening for a tell tale hum. The Doctor goes to the opposite wall, feeling for hidden panels, pressure sensitivity, anything where the lights can be turned off.]

Unless the bulbs last for a very long time, there has to be a way to turn off the power.

Have you noticed how so few have commented on the lights? Out here, I thought it would have made quite the buzz. I'm the Doctor, by the way.

[workaphilic]

[He grins a little, to himself. He stoops to run his palms along the base of the wall.]

We've met, though I can hardly blame you for not recognizing me. There's only so much to be done with a bit of handwriting.

Sherlock Holmes.

[toobravehearted]

[He pauses to look over his shoulder at him.] Sherlock. Especially when not having a previous recollection of said handwriting or a voice to go with it.

[His attention goes up, looking for pull chains, something simplistic, because that might happen. And his attention keeps going up instead, squinting directly at the lights.]

Hmm. We're looking for where the power comes in or is managed. Maybe we're looking in the wrong direction. [Briiight grin.] Leg up, Sherlock?

Re: TOWN SQUARE

[deductiongeek]

[Here is a child that would like to know the answer to that exact question. And who has also very clearly been in trouble in recently, as you might be able to guess by the bandage on his forehead and the sling on his arm.

But he isn't about to let that stop him, as he prepares to dart inside the hut before anyone can stop him.]

[toobravehearted]

[Turning his head and seeing the kid, he watches a moment, hands venturing into his pockets while waiting to see if an answer is forthcoming. My, the kid has been in a scrape. Doesn't mean he can't move fast though. The Doctor darts after him.]

Ah-Ah! Wait! You can't just run in there like that! [What if the giraffes are at home?]

[deductiongeek]

[Conan reluctantly stops and turns around. If an adult was already chasing him there was no way he could get in dragging someone else along.

He briefly stares as he recognizes this face.]

Oh. So you're back.

[toobravehearted]

[Head tilt. Yes. Yes he is. He gives a sigh before flashing a friendly smile.]

So it would seem, although my apologies that I don't recall the pleasure. What's your name? A litte caution, perhaps, before running into huts? We are guests here, after all.

[deductiongeek]

Conan Edogawa. I'm an elementary school detective. We met a few times when you were here before, but judging from your response you are one of the ones who cannot remember their earlier stay.

[toobravehearted]

[Eyebrows going UP...]

What? Some return-? No, no I do not.

I'm pleased to meet you, Conan. Can I ask, what happened to you? [Bandaged up kid, of course he's asking.]

[deductiongeek]

[He stuffs his good hand in his pocket and leans back on the backs of his heels.]

Sometimes, when you get knocked out for a week or more here, it is possible to return home for a short time. That happened to me last week.

And some things happened at home. When I woke up here again I was still like this.

[toobravehearted]

That is- [He has to pause. The kid is so matter of fact.] A worrying development. I wondered if the Earthquake itself might have had a hand in your injury.