Elphaba Thropp

What was there to hate here, after all? The waters, the way the creatures that inhabited the artificial duplicates of their homes swam, and the comfortable level of background noise could easily lull one into a state of mental peace. Even if it was temporary, it was a pleasant experience while it lasted. A moment ago Aqua would’ve simply chalked it up to her love for the vast ocean but now it looked like she wasn’t the only one who shared the thought that the tunnels were a soothing place to find yourself in.

Aqua closed the book in her hands (it’d be rude if she had her attention somewhere else while she spoke to someone, the book wasn’t going to run off or something after all) and turned her head to look at the other woman standing near. The other’s skin tone reminded her of Maleficent’s skin, she realized now, but the darkness didn’t roll off her in waves the way it did with the horned sorceress at the Enchanted Dominion.

With that reason in hand, despite the faint similarity, Aqua’s tone didn’t bear any hostility when she spoke. There was no reason to. The other wasn’t hurting anyone and she didn’t look like the type to bring misfortune to another just for the sake of it. "My name is Aqua, it’s nice to meet you."

❤ How long have you been RPing?

❥ How long have you been RPing this character?

유 Who was your first muse?

♋ What drew you to this muse?

☮ Is there anything you don’t like about playing this muse?

✌ What is the easiest aspect of playing this muse?

☏ What is the most challenging aspect of playing this muse?

☢ How many active muses do you have?

☠ Who is a muse you would want to play?

☤ What do you have in common with your muse?

☑ What are the biggest differences between you and your muse?

♚ Do you and your muse get along?

▲ Of the two of you, who is more mature, you or your muse?

♪ Are you comfortable playing your muse?

✈ Is it easier to write angst, fluff, or crack with your muse?

❈ ~ "What do you need this many spell books for?" Ven asked, curiosity getting the better of him, "Are you studying to be a sorceress?" He remembered his days under Master Eraqus, having to study the basics of magic and what-not. He looked at the books again and noticed that some of them weren’t even for beginners. Some of them were also written in a text that he couldn’t quite make out, but then again, magicians didn’t just write their notes and findings in plain, understandable texts or else anyone can comprehend the contents of the book and use the spells inside for their own gains.

❈ ~ "I guess not." He reasoned, "Hey! I know some of these books…"

Anyway, they had to go and find a table, or else they’ll both get tired before they could even find a vacant spot. His eyes scanned the place before landing onto a table, about five shelves away from them, and it had two vacant seats.

"I never started studying, actually," Elphaba answered, leaving out the part that she would have, if not for being dragged here from Oz.  Her abilities so far were there, she clearly had the gift, but she had difficulty manipulating it properly.  She could get things to react how she wanted, most of the time, but higher-level magic was beyond her.  Mostly, she was able to enchant objects or move them around.  Like when she pulled her sister's wheelchair back into her hands when they were about to be separated.

She was pulled from her thoughts when the boy explained that he recognized a few books.  So he could use magic as well then.  Interesting.  He looked nothing like someone from Oz, so clearly wherever he was from, they could use magic there as well.  She followed him to the table he pointed out, now much less weighed down by books.

Atlantis was easily her favorite area so far. She’d never been somewhere with so much water in one place and she found it to be very soothing, which was something she was glad for. If the thoughts of being stuck here ever became unbearable, she knew she could come here and her spirits would be lifted. Perhaps not completely but a slight mood booster was better than nothing. 

Aqua had been to Atlantis a few times before but this time she was here solely dedicated to know more about the aquatic life that inhabited the waters. Keeping her mind busy was definitely a better alternative than stressing her mind silly with no results to give for it in the end. Besides, studying the fauna here would be a good experience. 

Aqua stood at the aquarium tunnels with a book, trying to find out what each species swimming in front of her behind the glass was all about. Some of the fishes surprised her—there was a particularly innocent looking one that hid terrifying abilities behind it’s razor sharp teeth. You couldn’t see said teeth but you’d probably be able to see them when it was too late. There was another that glowed in an odd manner to keep predators away. The Land of Departure didn’t have any fish like these. The fish at the place she called home were all pretty harmless and didn’t have many qualities that stuck out too much.

And so far, the tunnels were helping her unwind.  The comforting silence, save for the sound of the water, and the colourful and interesting creatures were lovely to watch.  She had been wandering slowly and pausing every now and again when she found an area that was particularly full of interesting aquatic life.  Even in Oz, which was known for having a variety of interesting creatures, so many of the creatures weren't recognizable to her.

At some point, Elphaba registered that she was not alone.  Another woman had come the same way as she had, and stopped to watch the fish that she was watching as well.  She didn't mind, so far there was no screams about her skin or staring.

'Normalcy' - like most, if not all other concepts within this reality - is not only thought of, but know as a subjectivity as far as she herself is concerned. This isn’t to say that she thus doesn’t not register the young lady’s complexion as one peculiar, even outright unnatural; rather, she is at least able to appreciate that her own moment’s stare, afforded not too long ago, is very likely to have not been the first the other has received in her time — and almost certainly not the shortest, either. It could be the case that all folk from her reality share her colour of green, but without anything else before her as evidence does she doubt this much.

The poor thing seems to carry herself with a degree reservedness and uncertainty implicit of an ongoing…prejudice (for want of a better word), if she’s not mistaken.

But, again, where she is personally concerned, the stranger’s hitherto-unseen skin colour is more a trivial point of interest rather than anything worth dwelling on too much. Instead, she should wish to spend her curious energies on contemplating the girl’s attire: just as well not something particularly strange to her, though in any case worthy of good noting. In fact, Yukari would dare to liken her to an acquaintance left back (she can presume) in Gensokyo, with an iconic pointed hat and dark robes.

It would seem she has all the more reason to do so when she has her reply, too.

At the mention of her admission, the blonde’s smile widens in a show of recognition. “Elemental spells do take a bit more learning, mm — even then, it can take a special sort to emanate the weather credibly. A gentle breeze like that is hardly likely to do much damage anyway.” A mental note is thus made to keep an eye on this one: mostly for curiosity’s sake, though she might come in use later. (Who’s to truly know in this eerie wonderland, anyway?)

"How long have you been here?  If you don't mind my asking?"  Elphaba wanted to know as much about the surroundings and the people there as she could.  She was still determined to find a way home, and any piece of information could be helpful.

After tugging off his shoes, he crossed his legs, still too comfortable to bother moving to his bed. “I’ve only been here for a few days. Just done some sightseeing. Not much else to do unless you’re really into riding rides or playing games. There are some weird rumors.” He shrugged as if he couldn’t muster up the interest to even remember them. “Bunch of nonsense, really. Definitely the strangest place I’ve ever seen.”

"I just came straight here when I first arrived, I wanted to try and gather myself a bit before exploring," Elphaba answered, "I came here from Oz.  Specifically, The Emerald City.  The last thing I can remember was my meeting with the Wizard.  I was told I may be able to work under him, and I needed to ask him what was happening with the Animals losing their abilities to speak, among other horrible things.  I don't remember the whole meeting, I just remember being handed his book, then arriving here."  After a few beats, Elphaba looked back up at her roommate.

She hardly registered the discomfort of the woman in front of her, having never been the most polite person in the world. Her parents always spoke to her frankly, asking rude questions, though she had never realized it at a time. From a young age she had been taught to wonder about people who were different from her, but the way her parents showed this to her wasn’t the most ideal way. Pushy and rude was all they stood for, really, other than the whole dust company shabang, but most people saw through that anyway.

"I’m not just asking anyone about their skin colour. Do you see anyone else with green skin around here? Do you really blame me for asking? Not all of us are used to green people walking around everywhere, you know,” she said, tone still irritated (and probably irritating to anyone around her, as well). "I’m also trying to find a way out of this stupid place, or at least a person who can tell me how to get out. I don’t have time to stay here and goof off. I have responsibilities to get back to."

"Perhaps I should get this off my chest.  No I am not seasick, yes I have always been green, no I did not eat grass as a child," Elphaba raised an eyebrow, "Generally inhuman skin pigments aside, it's not wise to go around blurting out such blunt questions."

But then Weiss mentioned looking for a way out of the park.  While this girl was driving Elphaba up the proverbial wall with her self-importance and lack of tact when it came to the fact that Elphaba was green, she supposed two sets of eyes were generally better than one.

Olympus Square, Olympus Coliseum. They were one and the same, weren’t they? Oh wait, they aren’t. One is a world, and the other is a theme park attraction of sorts. Still, the resemblance of the theme park to the world itself was uncanny, as if the one who modeled the place had gone to Olympus Coliseum as well! The place was all too familiar, Ven wondered if Herc was here somewhere.

❈ ~ "He’s probably off somewhere in the real Olympus Coliseum, though." How long has it been since he last saw Hercules, anyway? It feels like a long time, although he’s not too sure. Hercules was probably a true hero now.

As he continued exploring the place, and familiarizing himself once more with the grounds, he turned a little ways to the left and was greeted by an unfamiliar building, but it looked like it belonged in the park though. “I wonder what it is?” He thinks to himself as he approaches his new destination.

Getting closer to the entrance, he notices that there are books almost everywhere.

❈ ~ "Oh, yeah… the map did mention that this place had a library." Why it was at this side of the park, he’d never know. The library was said to have tomes filled with any and all information, books of dead languages, books of spells and the dark arts, maybe their were books about the Keyblade War as well? Although, he knew enough about that.

Still, his curiosity got the better of him and he found himself entering the library. Now then, what section should he start with?

Oh, maybe a little magic studies wouldn’t hurt.

He was about to enter the Spells section when someone rushed past him, a lot of books in her arms.

She rushed about the shelves of books, feeling more in her element now than she had since she arrived, and picked up any volumes that seemed promising.  There weren't as many as she would like, of course, but she had to hope that there was something for her to discover.  She also picked up a number of spell books, hoping for some sort of transportation spell.  So far, she was having difficulty translating her own spells.  Although, between her own book (tucked under her arm as always) and the stack of books, she felt as though she would drop one before she found a table to begin her research.

When she heard a voice coming from nearby, she stopped and looked around until she found the owner.  A younger looking boy with strangely spiked blond hair was the only person she could see nearby.  Well, given that some of the books at the top of her pile had started to shift, she wouldn't refuse the offered help.

If truth be told, the very artificial elegance of the place is indubitably that which had drawn the gap youkai to the so-called ‘Julia’s Kingdom’ from the get-go.

Each area of the park had its own quirks and novelties from what she could tell from the map of the park, but there is something in particular about this twee kingdom. She can’t help but remark, if only to herself, about the seeming tackiness of the ‘ye olde times’ feel about the area — but as appears to hold true for the entirety of this world, there dwells within her the suspicion that nothing here is truly as it seems.

She of all people is hardly a stranger to the weird and the deceiving, after all.

And yet, in spite of what concern lies beneath the surface, Yukari is outwardly inclined towards an enjoyment quite natural to places of this ilk: it’s an amusement park, and - why - what the shame it would be if at least somebody wasn’t having a touch of fun here. As she ambles from attraction to attraction with parasol in hand, she admits there to be a certain charm about the place. Granted, it isn’t one great enough to conceal the sinister undercurrent to her well-trained eye, but it’s a good effort all the same. Ah, and those smells—

…Just then, however, she stops in her tracks. Her eye catches a stray sheet before her; she begins to bend to retrieve it, only for its apparent owner to beat her to the punch. Its awfully sickly-looking, she naturally notes — yet she isn’t inclined to stare as much as others would, and just as soon straightens her own posture before making her address.

"Considering I haven't learned any whether-related spells yet, I guess I'm not," Elphaba started, finally composed with the map in her book and said book tucked back under her arm, "I have to admit, I have yet to see someone who has taken to this situation as calmly as you have."  This girl looked so elegant compared to Elphaba, who was wearing the black dress and pointed hat that Glinda gave her when she went to visit the Emerald City, so she looked a bit more somber by comparison.

A human with green skin? Well, he certainly learned new things every day. He did know some other species with green skin, but it was an odd adaptation to see on a human. “Good to know my nose didn’t fail me then.” He flashed a fanged grin as he stood. “As far as I’ve seen, we’re all pretty well in the same ship here. Er, same…vessel. Something like that,” he muttered.

The book she carried caught his interest for a moment before she extended her hand to him. Of course, he could look into that thing later. “Elphaba,” he repeated curiously as he took her hand. “I’m Meowdar of Andrado.” He bowed his head slightly. “I can’t tell you much about this place, and I’m not sure why I’m here either. I had a mind it was purgatory for a while, but most I’ve talked to are quite convinced they’re alive, simply transported.”

He frowned, leaning back to sit on the a/c. “I can’t say what I’d prefer the truth to be, but I suppose we’re stuck going along with it for now, since there are no exits.”

"I haven't done much looking around yet, but so far it seems as though the map is correct in indicating no exits," Elphaba agreed, frowning a little.  She didn't like to think about being trapped in this odd place forever.

"I will keep that in mind," she replied to his statement about the weather, "I'm sure your efforts will be appreciated."  She hadn't registered anything strange about the hallways, but to be honest, she was still busy trying to digest everything about her situation.