Unless you do not wish him to meet such an... obviously fictitious person straight away. If so, please ignore this.
It was a strange few days, and not just because of being a child for that time. That, actually, I have come to enjoy. Seeing father was at first worrisome, then rather pleasant. Something happened, though, and I'm not sure when. I just know something is different.
I'll figure it out, I hope. Perhaps Kerai knows, though I'm so embarrassed she saw me like that. In my musings, I nearly run into the poor man in the streets.
"Oh!" At least I didn't actually run into him, but it was a close thing. "Pardon me, I wasn't paying any attention at all."
His disorientation with this place in general was only exacerbated when he took in the appearance of the man speaking to him. He looked like he belonged on a stage, in a theater, reciting a lengthy monologue to a captive audience. He didn't look like he belonged...here. Then again, Rossi didn't belong here, either.
"No, it's...okay," he murmured. "I'm uh, just trying to figure out where I am."
"Not by choice," he noted, turning his head left, and then right, looking for signs of anything familiar.
The name of the village sounded like something he'd read in a fiction book, and he had no recollection of a place like that existing in the world as he knew it.
"People aren't brought by choice. They are one moment in one place and here the next." My return was an exception, as I was given a choice. He is not returning, but arriving for the first time.
"I was brought from the land of Gondor in Middle-earth. My name is Faramir and I was traveling--so my horse was brought along with me." I am watching carefully, because people do recognise my name sometimes. "Most people here seem to be from a world called Earth, but certainly not all."
I indicate his clothing.
"You look like you are from Earth around the year 2000--most are brought from that time as well." I smile. "But not all."
Though he hadn't read the books, he was at least aware of those words, Gondor and Middle-earth. It at least explained the man's style of dress, even if it made things more difficult to comprehend, for Rossi.
"2011," he answered automatically, since that was the easiest thing to address for now.
"Middle-earth?" He looked dubious. "So how does a village like this -- with people from different times and places -- exist?"
I know that look, the one that says he's familiar with Middle-earth in some way. He's good at hiding it, I must admit.
"Yes, Middle-earth. I am aware that, to many people, my world is part of a fairly well-known story. How that is possible I couldn't say, I only know that I'm as real as anyone else here." The nature of reality I do not wish to consider. "So how I am real to people who think me a character in a story is as much of a mystery to me as how this village exists and does what it does."
I smile slightly and shrug.
"I have heard explanations of pocket universe from people who themselves understand them, but I do not even begin to. That it is possible I have to admit, being here as I am. Explain it I cannot." I look at the man.
"You could ask something easier, like is there a place to stay."
I'm not getting notifs again, so I'll have to check back more often.
"Must make all of this harder for you," he remarked, not quite able to grasp how difficult it would be to have people tell you that your life had been documented in books, and read by others.
Rossi smirked just a little at that comment. "Is there?"
"I have actually come to a certain peace with that--though I ask people not to tell me more of it than I already know. Most of the book is in my future." This man isn't going to judge me for it. He's... I'm not sure. Calm enough, at least.
"There is. To me, it is the largest inn I've ever seen. I'm sure it is not so to you, but it is enough to house all of us brought here." I turn. "I can show you where it is, or tell you, if you prefer. The village is not large by the standards of most people."
He has my identity.
"What is your name? I do not wish to pry, but it's easier to have something to call you."
"I wouldn't wanna know my future, either." Even if he did know what was going to happen to Faramir in the future, he wouldn't divulge it anyway. Things had to happen the way they were meant to, and it wasn't his place to interfere with that. It would take him some time to fully accept the fact that he could so easily be standing here talking to someone who was considered a fictional character in his world.
"David Rossi," he said. "If you...have the time, I'd appreciate you showing me where this inn is. I don't need to be more lost than I already feel."
"I know some things. People from my world from times after my own told me, mostly by accident." Some just by knowing me at all in Legolas' case. "It has caused difficulties and I make an effort not to learn more."
When I'm in my right mind.
"I do have time and would certainly not mind showing you." I truly don't imagine he'd get lost. "It is this way."
Only a few minutes' walk.
"I am pleased to meet you, David Rossi. It is difficult to come here and quite confusing at first, but I do not consider it a bad place." I never have. "We have a place to stay and food--there is no need to worry about money and paying for things. In time, yes, but not when you've just arrived.
"Some consider the village a prison but what I know is that we're here until allowed to leave, and we return to the same time we left from. So we lose nothing at home by being here--and there is much to gain."
At least the other man seemed to have found some peace with it, which was admirable, if not surreal.
The novelty of wandering around and looking at everything had been temporarily dulled by the knowledge that he was in a very strange place, and very far from home. Later, once he'd acclimated at this inn, he'd do canvassing on his own. And given his first impressions of the place, he wasn't all that considered with taking a wrong turn, and where he ended up. Apparently, he wouldn't get very far, anyway, but he had to see that for himself.
"It sounds like a prison to me," he noted. "I'd like to know who decided to bring any of us here in the first place."
"It is, for the fact that we cannot leave of our own choosing. But it's a very strange and comfortable prison, where I have been given leave to do things I never would at home." And time to do them. "I've never had so much freedom, which is a lot to say about a prison."
It's large and, as said, comfortable.
"I've never heard of anyone finding out who is behind this. My own speech is as though the village itself is sentient, but that's not what I mean." I don't know how to explain. "There may well be a being or beings behind this--I have no idea if any of us will ever know."
I try to think.
"There are those likely with more information. A man called the Doctor is one of them. Dr. Reid was trying to learn as much as he could about this place, but I don't know who all he has spoken to."
Ostensibly, of course, it did not look like the type of prison he was used to. But any place that didn't let you escape without requiring something of you was a prison of some sort. It was more accommodating, perhaps, more comfortable, and certainly didn't seem intent on punishing people.
Rossi smiled briefly. "I work with Dr. Reid, where I'm from. I'm sure he has a lot figured out already." It was a relief to know he was here.
"I do not know about figured out, but I imagine that what there is to learn about the village he will learn it quickly." They are in the policing group called the FBI, both. "If figuring things out is what I understand your work to be, then perhaps you can do it. Others have tried and if they have found something useful, then I haven't heard."
I'd like to think anyone who found out anything would share it.
"Perhaps that is why some people leave--they find out the way and are not allowed to share it with others. It may be something we each need to learn on our own."
I shrug.
"Pardon my foolish musings. I'm one of those who left and returned, only I had a choice in the matter. I know there are people who hate it here--I am obviously not one of them." Still, I understand the wish to go home. "Were it not for the certainty that I can return home and lose no time, I would be uncomfortable here as well."
"We profile," he said. But the concept was probably too anachronistic for the other man to understand, so Rossi amended that by adding, "We try to understand why people do the things they do; we analyze their patterns, study behavior. It's a useful tool, and we're good at it."
He looked around again, as they walked. "I don't know how much good it'll do here."
Rossi studied the other man, not with too much scrutiny, but curiosity nonetheless. "Why do you like it here so much?"
It was a strange few days, and not just because of being a child for that time. That, actually, I have come to enjoy. Seeing father was at first worrisome, then rather pleasant. Something happened, though, and I'm not sure when. I just know something is different.
I'll figure it out, I hope. Perhaps Kerai knows, though I'm so embarrassed she saw me like that. In my musings, I nearly run into the poor man in the streets.
"Oh!" At least I didn't actually run into him, but it was a close thing. "Pardon me, I wasn't paying any attention at all."
Painfully evident.
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"No, it's...okay," he murmured. "I'm uh, just trying to figure out where I am."
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At least he doesn't seem angry so far.
"You're in a village called Haurvatat. I was brought here from somewhere else even as you just were." The basics. Then let him ask questions.
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The name of the village sounded like something he'd read in a fiction book, and he had no recollection of a place like that existing in the world as he knew it.
"You were brought...from where, exactly?"
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"I was brought from the land of Gondor in Middle-earth. My name is Faramir and I was traveling--so my horse was brought along with me." I am watching carefully, because people do recognise my name sometimes. "Most people here seem to be from a world called Earth, but certainly not all."
I indicate his clothing.
"You look like you are from Earth around the year 2000--most are brought from that time as well." I smile. "But not all."
Reply
"2011," he answered automatically, since that was the easiest thing to address for now.
"Middle-earth?" He looked dubious. "So how does a village like this -- with people from different times and places -- exist?"
Reply
"Yes, Middle-earth. I am aware that, to many people, my world is part of a fairly well-known story. How that is possible I couldn't say, I only know that I'm as real as anyone else here." The nature of reality I do not wish to consider. "So how I am real to people who think me a character in a story is as much of a mystery to me as how this village exists and does what it does."
I smile slightly and shrug.
"I have heard explanations of pocket universe from people who themselves understand them, but I do not even begin to. That it is possible I have to admit, being here as I am. Explain it I cannot." I look at the man.
"You could ask something easier, like is there a place to stay."
I'm not getting notifs again, so I'll have to check back more often.
Reply
Rossi smirked just a little at that comment. "Is there?"
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"There is. To me, it is the largest inn I've ever seen. I'm sure it is not so to you, but it is enough to house all of us brought here." I turn. "I can show you where it is, or tell you, if you prefer. The village is not large by the standards of most people."
He has my identity.
"What is your name? I do not wish to pry, but it's easier to have something to call you."
Reply
"David Rossi," he said. "If you...have the time, I'd appreciate you showing me where this inn is. I don't need to be more lost than I already feel."
Reply
When I'm in my right mind.
"I do have time and would certainly not mind showing you." I truly don't imagine he'd get lost. "It is this way."
Only a few minutes' walk.
"I am pleased to meet you, David Rossi. It is difficult to come here and quite confusing at first, but I do not consider it a bad place." I never have. "We have a place to stay and food--there is no need to worry about money and paying for things. In time, yes, but not when you've just arrived.
"Some consider the village a prison but what I know is that we're here until allowed to leave, and we return to the same time we left from. So we lose nothing at home by being here--and there is much to gain."
Reply
At least the other man seemed to have found some peace with it, which was admirable, if not surreal.
The novelty of wandering around and looking at everything had been temporarily dulled by the knowledge that he was in a very strange place, and very far from home. Later, once he'd acclimated at this inn, he'd do canvassing on his own. And given his first impressions of the place, he wasn't all that considered with taking a wrong turn, and where he ended up. Apparently, he wouldn't get very far, anyway, but he had to see that for himself.
"It sounds like a prison to me," he noted. "I'd like to know who decided to bring any of us here in the first place."
Reply
It's large and, as said, comfortable.
"I've never heard of anyone finding out who is behind this. My own speech is as though the village itself is sentient, but that's not what I mean." I don't know how to explain. "There may well be a being or beings behind this--I have no idea if any of us will ever know."
I try to think.
"There are those likely with more information. A man called the Doctor is one of them. Dr. Reid was trying to learn as much as he could about this place, but I don't know who all he has spoken to."
Reply
Rossi smiled briefly. "I work with Dr. Reid, where I'm from. I'm sure he has a lot figured out already." It was a relief to know he was here.
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I'd like to think anyone who found out anything would share it.
"Perhaps that is why some people leave--they find out the way and are not allowed to share it with others. It may be something we each need to learn on our own."
I shrug.
"Pardon my foolish musings. I'm one of those who left and returned, only I had a choice in the matter. I know there are people who hate it here--I am obviously not one of them." Still, I understand the wish to go home. "Were it not for the certainty that I can return home and lose no time, I would be uncomfortable here as well."
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He looked around again, as they walked. "I don't know how much good it'll do here."
Rossi studied the other man, not with too much scrutiny, but curiosity nonetheless. "Why do you like it here so much?"
Reply
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