OPEN

[democratically]

Who: Padmé Amidala + OPEN (will match any format)
Where: Garden for arrival, then library and kitchen
When: Today, her arrival
Rating: Should be PG. Will update if needed
Summary: This is not the droid planet you are looking for
The Story:
[ARRIVAL; stuck in a tree]
It is an odd sensation that Padmé feels as she blinks, freezing for a moment in sheer and utter confusion. Yet it is enough to make her shift, slipping slightly on her- on her what? A slender hand reaches out, to grab on to a branch and- and yes, she appears to be in a tree. A few feet up, it would appear, which isn't that unusual in and of itself. Padmé may well be prim and proper when the situation calls for it, but that doesn't mean that she has never gotten her hands dirty. Naboo is better known for its flowing waters and lush grasses, but it doesn't mean that a younger Padmé hadn't climbed a tree in her youth.

No, what is unusual is that she shouldn't be in a tree. No, she should be on a ship, landing on Geonosis. After the message that was received from Obi-Wan, and after what Anakin had gone through on Tatooine, Padmé knew that she wasn't going to let him lose his Master. It is why she had all but forced, and not in the Jedi way, the Padawan on to the ship (although he hadn't put up too much of a fight anyway) and told him that she was going to Geonosis, so he had better come as well.

Yet, here she is, in her white attire, in a tree. It is a fairly nice tree, she would admit, although it does nothing to explain how she got here. Had the ship crashed, she certainly wouldn't have landed neatly in the branches, let alone not be covered in foliage. And yet here she is, as if plucked from one place and plopped down in another. Well, she has never been one to shy from anything, and shifting a little, she moves closer to the trunk. Leaves flutter down as she slowly but surely makes her direction towards the thicker part of the branch, debating whether she should just drop, or whether she would try something else. It is a sound that makes her pause, casting her glance downward, curious, but also full well knowing that she does have her enemies. "Hello?"

[When in doubt, go to the ;LIBRARY]
She is a little wiser now, although any answers that she has come by do not actually make too much sense. There is still the question of whether or not Anakin is here, but she has seen hide nor hair of him, and she cannot find him either. Then again, she isn't exactly the sort to run around screaming his name. She's not exactly sure how she feels about her seemingly solo arrival, as on one hand, she is still trying to piece the puzzle of this place together, and the other is that her feelings are perhaps a little muddled with it came to the Padawan.

There seems to be no one to partition about an audience nor any formal government that she can see, to seek more answers, but perhaps the next best thing is a library. Maybe. Padmé knows that information is only so good as it's source, and that it can be used to mislead. It is why she will take anything with a wide berth, looking for answers, but not blindly placing her faith in it either.

It is a fairly grand looking place, with white arches and aisles upon aisles of books. It is a keen eye that causes her to scan along them, although a furrow catches on her forehead, deepening. But, no matter how she walks, she doesn't seem to find anything that actually appears to explain, well, anything. She has picked up a few books, browsed through it's pages, just to be certain, before returning them. If her gaze does catch someone who may (or may not) look like they know what they are doing, she'll offer a smile. "Excuse me, but might I bother you for a moment?"

Later, she is still searching, just in case, as thorough may well be her middle name, along with stubborn and determined. She has moved on from the books, and is distracted now by the other items. They are unfamiliar to her, the technology looking a little archaic from what she is used to. At the moment, she is holding a cassette up, one eyebrow delicately arched. "Blues? But it is white."

[KITCHEN; comfort food, or not?]
She's found her room, which is a little unsettling. It doesn't have prison bars and in fact seems rather nice all things considered. It might be a ruse, but she's started to get a sinking feeling in her stomach. Padmé has seen a fair amount in her years, as young as she might be. She hasn't traveled as extensively as others, as that has never been her passion. She has ended up on a variety of planets though, mainly when she was younger. Different cultures and foreign places have always excited her, as learning is a passion that she does have, but this situation is, simply put, well beyond her scope.

With the device in one hand that was found in her room, Padmé's stomach had made a little noise, which is why she had found herself in the kitchen. No guards, she notes, although most forms of security appear to be lacking, or well hidden. Her brown eyes flit about the room, seeing that there are some foods that bear a vague resemblance to foods that she knows, but others that are completely beyond anything that she knows. Still, she pulls up a stool, gingerly sitting on it, and with what appears to be a shura in one hand, she focuses on figuring out the device more fully. A small bite is taken, expecting something akin to the fruit that she knows, but rather, it is an avocado.

It does cause her to cough, trying to swallow the small piece, skin and all, and drop her device with a small clatter to the floor. It slides, resting a few feet away from her, and glancing up, she freezes. "Oh. Sorry. I didn't see you there, and certainly didn't mean to toss my- well, whatever it is, in your direction."

Comments

kitchen

[eatsyourscience]

Souji reaches down and picks the device up from the floor. With a small smile, he sets it down in front of her.

"Don't worry."

He looks at the avocado. The fact that she took a bite out of it, skin and all, says something.

"Was that not what you were expecting?"

[democratically]

"The taste... It bears a resemblance to something I love to eat back home, but-" But it couldn't be further from that sweet fruit that Padmé enjoys. Her nose wrinkles a little, glancing momentarily away from the individual to the item in her hand, before a wry smile. "But looks are all it shares."

[eatsyourscience]

He smiles a little, understanding.

"It's an avocado. You don't eat the skin on the outside and there's a big pit in the middle."

He knows some people do eat avocado on its own but he never has. As she pointed out, the taste is a little... Though if he's honest, that sort of thing has never put him off from sticking things in his mouth.

"If you go to one of the cupboards and think of the fruit you really want, you should be able to get it when you open the door."

[democratically]

"Well, that would explain it," Padmé hums, dry amusement at herself. She'll need to see if she can find out more about this avocado, at a later date, and try it in a proper manner. The information though does have her gaze sharpening on him. "Truly? Just like that?"

That- it is surprising, although is anything of this place not? Science of some sort? A pensive look is now given to the cupboard. "Thank you for that information. I can't say I exactly wish to repeat the experience I just had."

And something from home would be nicer.

° Library

[beautifullies]

Claire is often in the library; with how vast it is there's always something new.

And, apparently, someone.

At the polite question, Claire looks up from browsing and offers a friendly smile. This is someone she's never seen before.

"Of course, ask away."

[democratically]

The attire does catch her attention, although what she makes of it, Padmé doesn't show on her face. After all, she has never been one to judge a book by it's cover, literally, and metaphorically as well. "Do you know where the section is that deals with this planet, or perhaps planets in it's solar system?"

[beautifullies]

Claire's face softens considerably at that.

"Unfortunately for us, someone or something doesn't want us to know, exactly. The only thing anyone's been able to find abut Wonderland are the fictional storybooks. I can show you to those if you'd like, but I'm afraid they aren't very enlightening."

She hates being the bearer of bad news, truly.

"We're all displaced from our worlds and times with no good reason why I'm afraid."

[democratically]

"And I suppose there are no ships going off planet either, or means to communicate with anyone not here?" How to get passage would be another thing, as Padmé knows that most do not offer free rides. Even being able to contact Anakin, or anyone else that she knows, would be beneficial.

arrival

[entreats]

[ Honestly, this place can be so weird sometimes - scratch that, more like a lot of the time - that hearing the sound of someone talking higher up isn't even all that weird to Ange. Sure, she likes her walks through the garden here to be quiet, but having some quiet is a rare luxury in Wonderland.

Besides.. this kind of disturbance of the quiet doesn't seem to be too bad. Yet, anyway. Ange looks up to spot the source of the voice, and it just seems to be a woman in the tree. Something perhaps slightly odd by regular standards, but surely by not a single standard set by this place. ]

Hey. [ Ange replies incredibly casually, as if nothing about this is weird at all. ] This isn't the sort of thing where you try to convince me to make a shady contract with you, is it?

[ Hey, she's read a lot of fairytales. She knows how this thing sometimes works when random people in trees talk to you. ]

[democratically]

[Her calm manner does give Padmé pause, as it almost seems like finding people in trees is usual for her. The question though does make her pause in return, mouth opening for a moment with a quizzical expression shifting across her face. That is unexpected.]

Oh. No.

[Shady is the last thing that anyone would consider Padmé. There may well be those who do underestimate her, but it is more that her petite frame doesn't define her inner strength.]

No, I was just wondering where I was. I mean, aside from apparently being in a tree.

[entreats]

Oh.

[ That does seem to make some sort of realisation dawn on Ange, although it's slightly hard to tell with how calm she still seems. It's like no particular emotion crosses her face at all as she looks up at Padmé, but after a moment she slowly nods. ]

I get it. You're new here, huh? [ Either that, or she has a very sudden case of amnesia. But Ange is pretty sure she's never seen this other person around the mansion before - and she's been here for quite some time now. ]

This is Wonderland. I'm not sure about the tree part though.

[democratically]

Wonderland.

[Trying that word out, and wondering if it does actually describe this place, or if it is more ironic in nature. It does seem more than a little fantastical, if Padmé were to describe it.]

Is that the name of the planet, or the general location where we are?

[Not that it means anything to her anyway.]

Library

[mourning_ghost]

"Yeah." This mourning dove - one large enough to tackle a human if he was desperate - spends quite a bit of time in the library. He's confident in his ability to help people find their way around. "Are you looking for something?"

[democratically]

Padmé is familiar with different species, having grown up in a galaxy where there were many different lifeforms. Yet, aside from Yoda, most have tended to be around her height, and humanoid. This one appears to be a rather large bird, not that Padmé is judging, but after a beat, she offers a smile, as he has at least answered her. "Books of a bit more geographical nature. Any planetary, constellation or star charts."

[mourning_ghost]

"The astronomy section," Nageki decides would be best for the second request. He'll lead Padmé there first since he knows that section a little better. The books he'll point out concern the stars as seen from Earth, but there are books concerning the stars from other places that are unfamiliar to Nageki as well.

[democratically]

"Thank you," Padmé says as they stop in front of a section of books. She might have been able to find them eventually, but it has saved her time. Her fingers brush over the spins, looking a little confused. "Earth? As in dirt?"

It is more her speaking out loud than her asking him anything, as she moves to open one of the books. If anything, she looks more puzzled as she flips through the pages.

Kitchen

[twirlier]

With her garden in tatters from the hurricane, Misty is back making long trips from the house out to the garden to try and rebuild everything. Not really thinking about time, not until her stomach starts to growl and she realizes it's been nearly a day since she last stopped to eat.

Hurrying into the kitchen, her feet bare and mostly cleaned before coming back inside, she isn't paying much attention to others around until a device comes skittering her way.

Moving to pick it up, frowning in concern at the woman coughing.

"Are you alright? You're not allergic to something, are you?" Moving closer, she holds out the device. "I believer this is yours?"

[democratically]

"No- at least I don't assume so." Padmé has never had issues with food before, as she graciously accepts the offered device. "Thank you."

There may be some items that she would rather not eat, especially given the preferred tastes of some races, but it's not like she's ever had any sort of a reaction. At least aside from not enjoying the taste. "It's not what I was expecting... Do you know what it is?"

As Padmé will seek to avoid chomping in to one in the future, as she turns the avocado in her hand, offering a view of it.

[twirlier]

"You're welcome. You can't seem to destroy them, so there's that at least." She's dropped hers, and drowned it a few times, and it still keeps working.

Misty cants her head, curious what she's eaten and then seeing the "alligator" skin and the creamy color within. "Oh. It's an avocado," she says brightly. "Though, not always eaten skin first. I mean, I suppose you could but... mostly it's best just sliced up with salt, or made into dip." She can't help but ask. "What does it look like to you? I mean, from wherever you're from?"

Arrival

[ssmisery]

In this case, the visitor is more on Padmé's level. Lapis, of course, flies, and has been known to spend time sitting in trees quite voluntarily. For obvious reasons, it's rare for her to find one already occupied; although the tree's leaf cover has been rather thinned by the recent storm, she doesn't notice Padmé until she's inside. There she hovers for an improbable beat or two of her water wings, looking quizzical, and then alights on a branch of her own -- a polite distance, slightly higher.

Although it is unusual to find a human in a tree, Lapis is less surprised by that than confused by the reaction to herself, as well as the surroundings. She hasn't run into a newbie in some time and doesn't try to make a habit of it. "Hi?" she answers uncertainly.

[democratically]

Padmé would more than happily give her spot in the tree up, as she isn't one to casually liaise within them. Most days she is behind her desk, or at some table, working on the matters that need to be presented before the Senate. But, at the moment, it is where she is.

"Hello." A small tilt of her head, although the stranger doesn't seem to be threatening. A native to this place? Padmé can say that she's never seen a species quite like them. "Sorry. I'm a bit lost."

[ssmisery]

Lapis looks the human up and down. "You and everyone else," she says drily, but alas, she realizes exactly what that implies. She doesn't seek out newbies because she isn't cut out for being helpful and doesn't want to try, but she's not bad enough to ignore someone right in front of her either. "Please tell me that's why you climbed up here."

library

[beatupgrass]

"Nah, it's a type of music. And not a good type either." Leave it to Rocket to come here to be a music snob, and never let Quill know that he's doing it either. God forbid anyone find out that he's really into that music... Or that he's spent the last nearly five years indulging in Earth music.

All three feet of his raccoonoid frame walk up to her and begin rifling through the cassettes to find something better. He gets her confusion, that while she looks humanoid, they doesn't always mean anything, but he'd rather be productive than be 'oh no poor you, you don't know what things are yet do you?' "Let's see if we can find you the good stuff."

[democratically]

Her gaze shifts from the item to the one speaking, pausing for a polite moment as she takes in the talking being. While she is aware of beings in all shapes and sizes, she has never seen one quite like him. "Oh. Hmm."

She does place the one she had back, interested in seeing what he considered to be the good stuff. Padmé couldn't help but wonder after both, about just what blues sounded like, and to his own taste. "What exactly are you looking for?"

She idly passes over something called polka that has some odd looking folding instrument on it.

[beatupgrass]

He gives her hand a little smack, because he's a rude little shit. "Not that one neither, unless you want your ears to bleed. Here we go. This is what you want." He produces something that says Best of the 70's on it. In the nearly five years he's been here, he's figured out one thing about Earth culture and it's the proper decades for the best music. The 60's and 70's are good. Anything after or before that of that is mostly garbage. And hell if he can describe the specific vibe of that kind of music.

His dextrous little hands open up the cassette. There's a few listening devices, CD players, and a couple of Walkmans, and Rocket picks up the Walkman without hesitation, popping the tape in like someone used to this movements and holding it up to her.

"Welcome to Wonderland. This'll help you chill out." From the earphones, Glen Campbell's Rhinestone Cowboy has started up.