From sad to interesting to hip

[firewalled]

[The first thing Rich notices is that his hospital bed is feeling mighty uncomfy at the moment. No matter how he tries to shift himself around, it feels like he's sleeping on rocks. He really doesn't want to wake up so soon, but with a mumble, he opens his eyes, hoping that maybe one of his friends has popped in to visit.

When he opens his eyes, he doesn't see any of his friends. In fact, he doesn't see the room he's almost gotten used to. When he turns his head to the side, he notices what he mistook for his hospital bed is actually a hard stone chair, something like a throne that he's currently seated in.

Then he notices that he is seated, and looking down at his legs, the bandages are completely gone. He makes a confused noise as he lifts his arms. They're mobile again... covered in scars, but otherwise healed. He frowns and looks around the room.]

Um... Mr. Nurse Dude? Did the doctors take the casts off while I was out?

[He takes in the rest of the room: the tall stained glass windows, the looming pillars, the sprawling velvet carpet covering stone floor. He feels way tinier than he usually does.]

...Also am I high?

[There is regrettably no answer. Not when he calls for Jake or Michael or Jeremy, not when he even tries calling for Chloe or Brooke. He waits for a while, but, antsy as he was when he couldn't move his limbs, it isn't long before he hops off the throne and starts using his newly healed legs to start wandering.]

((This is a joint intro of sorts! Rich's bestest bro Jake Dillinger (jakeyd) will have a tag under this post to respond to if you are so inclined.))

Comments

[firewalled]

[Rich kinda stares at Jake then, gesturing to the window with his mouth agape. How can Jake just move past this? They’re on a freaking cliff apparently so high up there’s cloud cover! How is anyone from school going to find them now?

But after a few moments, he does seem to realize there probably isn’t anything to be done, and getting mad at this stranger probably won’t help. So he moves to hold out his hand to Ryoji instead.]

Yeah. Sorry about that. You making stuff for that crazyass dessert table?

[Ryoji blinks, and then shakes his head, even as he’s (awkwardly; he’s still more used to bowing back home) shaking Jake’s hand.]

Ah, no, that’s actually another part of the strangeness. That table seems to be stocked with sweets every few days. None of us are doing it.

...Ooooookay. Fun!

[Rich shakes Ryoji’s hand, while the latter frowns for a moment and then quickly regains his composure.]

My name’s Ryoji. Ryoji Mochizuki. It’s a pleasure to meet you both.

[jakey_d]

[Jake shrugs when he spots Rich's reaction. Honestly, he mostly believes Ryoji about it being an island, considering how his legs instantly healed upon arrival. If not magic, then it's got to be something nearly as far fetched; and if that's so they'll cross that bridge when they get to it. Right?]

Ryoji, huh? Sounds Asian. Where you from, dude?

[firewalled]

[Ryoji gives a nervous little laugh and nods.]

I guess you could say that's correct. I lived in Iwatodai, in Japan.

[Rich frowns, trying to run through the cities he knows about, but eventually assumes it's just not one of the big ones he's not heard of.]

Your English is pretty good, considering that.

[Ryoji blinks.]

I... thought I was speaking Japanese. This... might be another quirk of the castle.

[jakeyd]

Wait, for real? [That throws him for another loop.]

So then, like, we sound like we're speaking Japanese to you? What happens if we actually say something in Japanese, will it still stay the same or?? [Jake doesn't seem to be actually asking Ryoji that last one, more speculating into the weird magic void.]

I mean, what if someone's bilingual? What...ugh, this magic stuff is gonna give me a headache. [He rubs his temples then waves his hands, physically trying to dispel his confusion.]

Never mind. Is there stuff for a sandwich in here?
[Jake looks over to Rich.] If we're gonna deal with any more weird magic shit today we're gonna do it on full stomachs.

[firewalled]

Um, yes, that is the case for me. I don’t know why exactly… I mean, I can usually understand most languages, so I wouldn’t have minded if you spoke English, but…

[But that’s far too complex a subject, and Ryoji is more than happy to change the conversation over to questions he can answer.]

Oh, of course! There should be plenty of food…

[He starts opening drawers, quickly finding bread, vegetables, spreads, and even magically chilled lunch meat. Rich is extremely impressed.]

Dude! Look at all this stuff! For an ancient castle, this place is stocked pretty nicely.

[He immediately starts fumbling for a bread knife.]

[jakeyd]

Woah, it's medieval subway up in here! [Jake announces, obviously impressed; and hungry. Since Rich is hunting knives down, he takes over bread acquisition.]

Thanks, Ryoji! You're a bro. We'll be outta your way in a few minutes, promise!

[firewalled]

Hell yeah! Just let us stuff our faces!

[Ryoji watches them run around with a small grin. They get along well... maybe he was overreacting about Rich.]

Don't worry about me! In fact, if you'd like, I'd be happy to give you a tour...