h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

*The stallholder takes a controlling breath*

[Stallholder]: For now at least the best thing you could do to help is be quiet so I can concentrate.... Unless of course you wish your friends soul stuck in another dimension

*he holds out his hands infront of Calel and closes his eyes. Nothing appears to be happening superficially, then he starts to sag where he is sitting as if falling asleep. A faint glow surrounds him*
The stall holder sighs and opens his eyes. Finally he shrugs and snaps his fingers infront of Calel*

<>

*The glow is now stronger and phasing through a variety of colours. It starts to worm its way towards Ezekiel where he has slumped onto the floor. As it reaches him Ezekiel looks up sharply at the stallholder, but his eyes are glazed over*

[Stallholder] And now all we can do is leave them be
*he moves to the other side of the room from them and sits down leaning against a wall, watching them with a curious, amused expression*
I do hope something exciting happens

*Calel suddenly finds himself transported to a forest clearing, he can see alissia and Ezekiel in front of him, Alissia! Alissia is here, he shouts them, they turn and laugh at him, somewhat confused he begins to run, suddenly Ezekiel pulls out a knife holding it to alissia's through, she is still lauging*

[Alissia] Oh poor Calel trying to come to the rescue again *she giggles* still trying to save the world Calel?

*he ignores her deciding she must be under some spell and shouts to Ezekiel asking him to stop*

*Unaware of the actual internal-mindscapes that are going on, Ecg has to just take it on a gut level*

"Sure you don't need anybody to stir potion ingredients, or gather some things for you?" he says, as he reluctantly takes the Stallholder's word for it and starts whittling a piece of wood.

*As Ecg waits, the number of whittled trinkets slowly begins to pile a little on the ground next to where he is sitting*

: I know this is two, but a neat bit of an idea worked its way into my had, and having it next to the one above it sounds really good. Hope you guys can understand a little, and it doesn't have to, I'm just going to have my character ask one other thing, and then be quiet-ish until addressed,- or whatever.

[Ecg]: (In a not-altogether-too-surprised-way) : "There isn't some sort of a looking glass, or anything like that for us to see what's going on out in there, is there."

*Goes back to whittling, and for the most part keeping to himself*

<< I honestly dont mind unless you produce two pages all by yourself, then I might think you a little curious >>

[Stallholder]: A looking glass to see into someones mind? *he gives a short mind* What a novel idea. Still, would you really want to see? It could become a little unsettling

~~~
(In Ezekiels mind)

[Ezekiel]: But Calel! She is a dark Elf? Didnt you know? She is a member of the Dark Alliance, she is your enemy! *his eyes flicker strangely* and so am I

*Alyssa continues to laugh, then as Ezekiel turns and swipes at her with the knife they dissapear. The landscape changes to the interior of some dark underground house. A human woman with pale skin and blonde hair is sitting nervously at the table, next to her is an Elven man with black skin and white hair. Opposite them are Ezekiel as he use to look, pale with striped hair, Alyssa looking a little younger and another boy who looks older then Ezekiel. They seem to be holding a heated conversation, but the words cannot be heard. Suddenly the older brother throws back his chair and stands pointing at Ezekiel seemingly yelling something. Alyssa continues eating as if this is no suprise, the father appears to be laughing*

~~~
<>

*is confused, why can't he hear them, who is the human woman, what is going on, begins to walk to wardds the table*

[Ecg]: "Mr. Stallholder, Look, I'm sorry about earlier. Surely you've heard about the orc uprising that was in Kalsho recently... people have started to nickname it 'the surge'. You see, Ezekiel had saved my life during that when I was horribly outnumbered; this is why I wanted to find some way to return the favor."

*Unsettling... hmmph*

*Ecg takes a deep breath in & then as he exhales his demonic features resurface.*

"If I can deal with having to see myself like this,"

*holds his hands up, palms out so the stallholder can see the clawlike tips that his fingers end in. He has some fangs in his mouth, and his eyes are glowing blue*

"... then I can probably deal with the inside of somebody's head okay. Besides, simply watching it (from the outside), is likely to be different from actually being inside there."

*Gestures toward Cal, the demonic features subsiding.*

: *Waves hello to Cal*
*Ecg continues whittling*

<< I just noticed many typos- sorry, its what comes of trying to pretend to work at the same time >>

[Stallholder]: *eyebrow raised* I know what you are demon, all I was saying is if you see what is going on you will only become headstrong and desperate for some way to help rather than watch. At least if you cant see you might be easier to keep quiet
*he fishes out some suspicous looking substance and starts rolling something that looks vaguely cigarette like*

~~~~

*as Calel approaches the scene in Ezekiels mind, a small figure appears on the floor just a little ahead. It looks like a very young child with pale skin and long dark hair apart from one thick white stripe through it. It turns, and has the same branding Ezekiel has on its neck. It asks...*

~~~What are you doing here, Calel?~~~

~~~

*stops in his tracks somewhat surprised by this sudden appearnce*


I've come to help you

~~~

~~To help me? Why?~~

*It frowns in confusion and turns to the table*

~~They didnt like me. Maybe they will if I change~~

~~~

*stands next to the child*


You cannot change to suit others, it creates all kinds of difficulties, in fact it's why I'm here now, you did try to change to suit them and things did not go well.

~~~

*The child sits with his legs pulled up infront of himself and blinks thoughtfully*

~~I did? Well..... but....~~

*It frowns in confusion*

~~My Father tried to make me dark, right? And thats what I'm going to be soon. Then my family will want me~~

*It glances across at the table. The voices start to filter through, the older brother is yelling something at Ezekiel about him being useless. The older man laughs. He tells Vincent, which appears to be the older brothers name, to sit down. The family meal continues, the conversation seems to suggest the older elf is the father, and the nervous looking human woman next to him his wife*

~~~

puts his arm around the childs shoulders and sits next to him*


Is that your mother Ezekiel? *points to the human woman*

~~~
*the child nods*

~~Father wanted to have children that didnt just combined the advantages of both races, but could also pass for humans more easily. But Father doesnt like me because I have more of mother than him in my blood. I was more human than Alyssa or Vincent. Everyone knows Vincent is his favourite. They always agree on everything. He hates me I know, and is always blaming me for everything.~~

*He looks away uncomfortably*

~~I wasnt any good at anything they tried to train me in. I was only good at hiding. Thats why they took me to the witch~~

~~~

*rubs the childs Back*

does your mother like you? Witch?

[Ecg]: "But then, I suppose that you know,- or have somewhat of sort of an idea of what may be going on then, yes?"

*Suddenly finished on the piece he was working on, he hands the stallholder a carved pipe.*

It is capped in a crudely exaggerated demon's face... so that smoke billows out through the mouth, ears, and nostrils. Or maybe the horns, which appear to be hoolow. The eyes appear to simply be a scowling deepset groove.

"There. Can't say I never gave you anything now. Used to smoke these awful smelling cigars made out of seaweed; Carving is what I do now instead (it was to replace the habit)."

*shrugs, then starts carving out comically exaggerated figurine versions of everyone in the room.*
A figurine of Cal,
A figurine of Ezekiel...
A figurine of himself...
and a figurine of the Stallholder.

Not necessarily in that order.

*This seems to take up a good bit of time.*

"You think me to be a child then, perhaps, simply because I am only roughly 20 in human years... don't have to pretend otherwise. I've seen the look and the attitude given before. Whether it's elves, or my teacher who is ten times my age, back at the guild."

*At this Ecg cannot help but to laugh some*
...

*Then he gets back to carving*

[Ecg]: "You understand why I rushed in here and lied then, yes? The shield made a decent bit to a disguise. Having a shield and a sword gives [a] person somewhat of a guard-like authority, in the right contexts."

*He fiddles with the knife a bit, then carves out a set of toothpicks too.*
...

*Gets back to carving the figures*

*The Stallholder sits with a slightly surprised expression on his face, then starts to laugh quietly, then louder. He gets it under control and gives the demon a cynical smile*

[Stallholder] I'm not usually given to smoking pipes, but if I ever take it up I shall consider your..... gift.
*The stallholder smiles to himself and pushing back his blonde hair he picks up the cigarette-style item he was rolling again. He clicks his fingers and a flame appears which he uses to light it. He sighs breathing wreathes of smokes, then shakes his fingers til the flame goes out*
Yes, I cast the spell so I am slightly aware of what is going on

~~~~

*the child looks even more uncomfortable*

~~Mother isnt allowed to have an opinion. She must agree with Father....... The witch, she died. She gave me power to make Father happy, but it took all her strength. And Father found it wasnt my lack of power that was the problem, it was me.~~

~~~~

[Ecg]: "Oh. Ok... Hey, no problem."
*Picks his teeth with one of the toothpicks*
...

*mentally reminds himself to write down the theory behind altering waterspells to shift into ice use- easier*