most_unwanted | [Voice/Action]

[There's a squelching sound of someone falling into a very muddy area. Then that someone curses under his breath, followed by the distinct sound of some very angry toads who he's disturbed. Many of whom also curse along with the general annoyed croaking.]

Hello? Who's there? Who said that? Scully, are you with me? Can you hear me? SCULLY!?!

[There's a pause, and more muddy squelching. And more grumpy voices in the background as Mulder appears to have fallen into a whole clan of toads. He seems to take this in stride though, thinking aloud as he tries to gain his bearings. He picks up the book that's near him and eyes it curiously. It's very out of place here, but he's already drawing his own conclusions.]

Let me guess. I've finally been abducted by aliens. I knew it was a matter of time, but somehow I always assumed the experience would involve less falling face down in the mud, and more probing.

Not that I want any probing, I'll pass on that opportunity.

So now the question is- aside from where the hell are my real clothes- where am I? My theories include afterlife or parallel dimension, maybe a mix of the two with a dash of government-initiated kidnapping thrown in. It's not every day you wake up in someone else's clothes with wings sprouting out of your back for no reason. Wings that hurt like a bitch when I pull on the feathers, I might add.

[Yeah he already tried that. Is it really any surprise he's already tried that?]

So what's going on here? Who's responsible for this? Was I subjected to an experiment of some kind? Kept imprisoned as a test subject and cast off to the wilderness as soon as they were done with me? Is this Russia? It better not be Russia. I didn't have such great accommodations the last time I went there.

[...and is it just him or are ALL of the toads in the area looking ready to gang up on him? He's deciding he's overstaying his welcome here. Time to get moving. In some direction. So Mulder can be found hurrying the rest of the way through the woods and into town. He's covered in mud and followed close behind by a whole bunch of very disgruntled toads.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[Mulder now peers at the book intently, examining it and upon finding nothing that makes it look electronic somehow, concludes it's magical. A magical talking book. From the Enterprise.]

I will be, as soon as I get my bearings and find out what the hell is going on... Any idea where I am, Scotty?

You're in Luceti, and you're not going to find it that simple to get your bearings here, if you ask me. We're all trapped inside some sort of barrier. It hasn't responded well to any attempts to break it down. But there's food and shelter, some safety---you might be here for the long haul, lad.

Define 'long haul'? I can't exactly kick back here and wait. I've got a few things to get back to...

[His work. Scully. His fish. His obsessive quest to find the truth. ...Scully.]

"Years"? Months, maybe, if you're lucky? I've been in this primitive place for several months, now.

...Years? [What has he gotten into here exactly?!] Why keep us trapped here for so long?

That's the part we don't know, lad. The official line is that they need us to find their own way out, but I'm not sure how deeply I'd trust that.

I'm generally all for a 'trust no one' kind of approach when it comes to who's running the place. They've got to have some kind of headquarters or lab, right?

[A little breaking and entering to get at them should set this whole situation straight.]

Oh, aye---but these have been abandoned. Whatever operation they're running is decidedly outside the barrier, as far as anyone can tell.

...Probably for the best, that: the not-trusting. Smart move.

[And then his tone brightens a bit:] Still, it's not all bad. They've got some very good food here.

As long as they don't drug the pizza... [Mulder thinks all of this over, he knows he's stumbled into something a lot more complicated than the average shadowy government plot.] I guess I'll have to take a look at this barrier and see it for myself. That's either some impressive magic or technology they've got if no one can find a way to bypass it.

[This earns a tight, humorless response:] Investigating the barrier does no good, but you're welcome to try.

I can't just give up without looking into it myself.

Of course, of course; far be it from me to tell a man what he should or shouldn't do. I wouldn't go alone.

Why do you say that? Is it that dangerous out there?

Miles of forest and wilderness lie between us and the barrier; and also, the ocean. And not everyone here's of the most upstanding quality, you know.

Add to that the Malnosso's experiments and you've got a tricky situation at best. Just don't go alone, man.

All right, point taken. [...Except for the part where he's still thinking 'solo mission incoming'.] I'll make sure I go and try to find my weapon anyway, if it's as bad around here as you say.

Do that; you might only run into wee fairies and lovely ladies, or you might run into the elephant-sized maneating wolf. It's always a tossup, lad.

...Elephant-sized maneating wolf?

[Ok, so he's feeling a little torn between horrified and intrigued, it's not every day even he encounters something like that.]

Aye---it would be one reason why I don't spend a lot of time out in the woods, actually.

Is it known to attack anyone who ventures out there, or do you have to provoke it in some way?

I'm not sure it's quite that predictable, laddie. Now I've only heard rumors, mind: but she doesn't like humans, that much is certain.

My greatest ambitions in life don't include becoming a chew toy, so I'll make sure to proceed with caution in the forest.

[As much caution as he ever has.]

And in Moro's case, she might just swallow you whole. But---aye, that would be the wisest course, if you feel you must go. The best any of us can do is sit tight and wait--whether to be sent home or for the next experiment, no one knows.

[Now, catching just a glimpse of this Moro, on the other hand... he files that away as something to at least... keep an eye out for.]

Their methods seem to be entirely random and unpredictable, from what I'm hearing.

Speaking as a scientist, I cannae make hide nor hair of their methods. There ARE no methods, as far as I'm concern, unless you count sadism.

All the more reason to track them down and deal with them, as soon as possible.

[Voice/Action]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

[voice]

/back from hiatus and feel free to drop the thread if it's been too long for you

/it's good with me! we can wrap things up in a comment or so, I'm flexible with that