taxonomites | [holo] oh how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way

[Mattie feels the ground give way under her feet, panic closing off her throat as she begins to fall, scrabbling uselessly at dirt and brush-]

The holo feed shows a small figure dressed in too-large, old-fashioned clothes appear in mid-air, then fall to the ground with a hard thump that knocks the wind out of her for a moment. She lies still, gaping up at what should be a blue sky or at least the darkness of earth over her head, and then hesitantly brushes the fingers of one hand against the unyielding surface of the floor.

“Mr. LaBoeuf?” Her voice is embarrassingly weak, and she takes a deep breath and tries again, more loudly. “Mr. LaBoeuf!”

There’s no answer, of course, and common sense tells Mattie that although she doesn’t rightly know where she is, it’s obvious where she is not, and she shouldn’t expect any response. That realization urges her to sit up, the hat falling off her head as she slowly pushes herself to her feet and looks uncertainly around.

“Hello? Can anyone hear me?” She approaches the nearest wall and runs her hand along it, then turns her head to take in the others, just as blank as this one. Raising her arm, she pounds her fist against it, voice taking on a more forceful (but also more desperate) tone. “Whoever’s out there, open up this minute! You have no right to hold me against my will, I’ve embarked on no wrong-doing.. I have a good lawyer, and I will write him and you will hear how the law looks on the incarceration of innocent children!”

When the wall doesn’t give way and door doesn’t appear, Mattie steps back with a sigh. “Papa, I believe I have found some trouble for myself.”

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"And I'm not disagreeing with you. But, it may not be exactly what you perceive it to be."

Stefan hesitates, then asks, "Tell me, are you familiar with...aliens?"

"If you mean foreigners, I have certainly met more than one. Even in Yell County."

Really, it's a bit insulting to imagine that she's never come across an Indian or an Irishman before taking the train to Fort Smith, which isn't precisely New York itself.

"Yes, but no," Stefan explains, going slow with her. He can sympathize with her mindset, based on her clothing and the way she's speaking. After all, he was a child of an era long gone, once upon a time. It had been an experience within itself to learn that vampires were real. He couldn't imagine being told that little green men from outer space were real, too. Life on other planets hadn't even occurred to him until Wells' War of the Worlds hit bookshelves.

"The word has a double meaning. It can mean people from other countries, but in this instance, it's being used in reference to those from other planets. People not from Earth. From the stars."

Edited 2011-03-21 02:28 (UTC)

That's just about the craziest thing Mattie has ever heard, and her annoyance shows on her face. Fantasies about people from the stars are for folks with time for idleness in their lives.

"I have no use for fairytales or for people who use them for mocking strangers. You had best start using more truth in your words, and I think you should start with your name."

Stefan knows well how ludicrous that must sound and he really feels for this girl, having to be exposed to something so culture shocking.

"It is not my intention to mock, only to help where I am able to. I understand that it's hard to believe and sounds ridiculously outlandish, but this isn't a fairytale, miss." By this point, he's given up on rearranging his speech patterns to better fit the kid from 2010 that he's supposed to be. "Stefan Salvatore. Might I ask yours now that you have mine?"

His reassurances are at least beginning to convince Mattie that he's trying to be helpful. (The jury is out on whether he might also be off his head.)

Although she isn't consciously aware of it, the more familiar speech patterns are helping as well.

"My name is Mattie Ross. If you expect me to believe your story, then prove it. Where are these men from the stars?"

"Well, Miss Mattie," Stefan says, "I would like nothing more than to provide you with more substantial proof, but unfortunately, our captors don't make a habit of making appearances. They talk to us, sometimes, through the same dev--" Device? No. "--contraption that's allowing me to speak to you."

"Well. I suppose it is a bit much to expect a prisoner to be able to produce his jailers upon request." Mattie's slowly thawing (being called 'Miss' helps that along a great deal), and it shows in the way she relaxes her posture a little, and allows a more curious and less suspicious expression onto her face. "Have you been here very long, Mr. Salvatore?"

"Just 'Stefan' will suffice," he corrects, a little uncomfortable with being addressed as 'Mr. Salvatore'. Oh, father issues that stick around for a century and a half. "I've been here for something of half a year, though I know of others who have been here much longer. I am sorry to say that there doesn't seem to be any means of escape at the time, but people are hard at work on finding a way out of here. In the meantime, you can leave that room if you would so like."

"Of course. Then I suppose you ought to call me just Mattie."

Half a year? She considers the possibility now that she may have to put off knowing what has happened to her friends -- and to that damnable mongrel Tom Chaney -- a while longer. The idea doesn't sit well. "I am sure it not impossible, and I do not mind applying myself to hard labor to find my way home. I have been days now in Indian Territory, and often worked hard at home as well. I will manage."

And with Mr. Draper now insisting rather than offering to meet her at the door, Mattie figures she has the situation as well in hand as anyone might. "You have been helpful, I am grateful for the assistance. And...for the company, such as it is, while I am finding my bearings."

"You are most welcome, Mattie," Stefan says. "If no-one is coming to see to your escort, I would be more than happy to oblige."

"I have engaged the services of Mr. Don Draper in that regard," Mattie replies, as if it had been all her idea instead of him telling her to wait by the door until he could get there. "But I believe he does it grudgingly and will try to hand me over to some matron like as not."

This, Mattie is determined, will not happen.

Stefan can't help but chuckle. "You'll be relieved to hear then that there are no matrons that I know of in Taxon."

[holo] oh how sweet to walk in this pilgrim way

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