It Had to Be You, Log 1/??? [Audio]

[libraritology]

Hello?

[The audio crackles, buzzes into the correct tuning, and there's the click of a dial. A distinctive, very proper, English voice speaks over the comm unit. At least she's familiar with radio enough to manage this much.]

Is anyone there? This is...my name is Evelyn Carnahan, and this is not Cairo or Hamunaptra.

[A pause.]

I don't know where I am, and I was right in the middle of something very important, and this is exceedingly inconvenient. If someone could-

[Rustling noises.]

-if someone could please tell me what's going on, I need to find my brother, Jonathan, and our guide, Rick, as I was in the midst of an expedition, thank you, I'm in...I think it's a foyer.



...anyone?

[For those interested in seeing Evelyn in person, seeing as the last thing she can remember was falling into a river off of a boat, she's wearing a soaking wet nightgown. This. This will not stand. This is scandalous.]

Comments

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Why, of course! A towel is, after all, about the most massively useful thing an interstellar hitchhiker can have.

...The reference would be sadly lost on both Evelyn and Philip. ]

LaFresque. Philip. I--

I was just heading for the beach, actually.

[ ...Which is a nice and casual statement and all, but probably not very helpful for somebody who may not even know that this place has a beach... or where this place is for that matter. ]

...Sorry, I- I'm probably not the best welcome committee you could get, did you talk to anyone yet? I mean, do-- Do you even know where you are?

[ Granted, Philip's been feeling better and more sociable as of late, but there is some truth in his words: Spontaneous impromptu introductions to Wonderland are not his forte. ]

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[A beach. There's a beach, too? What else is there, for goodness' sake? Clearing her throat, Eyelyn tries to remember everything she's been inundated with so far.]

I spoke with some of the residents here on the radio. Some of them were...less than hospitable, but I know that this is Wonderland, even if it's much different from the original illustrations in the Lewis Carroll book that I am familiar with.

[Sadly, most of the information stopped there. Wonderland. You can't go home. There are others here. Et cetera, et cetera.]

But...many of them implied that we can't even leave.

[There's the heavy weight of dread again. Already she misses her brother, the insufferable ninny, and Mr. O'Connell, brusque though he might be.]

To be honest, Mr. LaFresque, that's very worrying news, particularly to a woman who is not only standing about in wet nightclothes, but was on an expedition of great import.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Philip nods. All true and all very similar to what he - and probably many others - experienced when they first arrived here. ]

That's... unfortunately that's true, we can't.

It's possible to get back, but... people don't leave, they just disappear at random sometimes. I don't think anyone here knows quite how it works.

...Your expedition should be all right though. Once you're here time just... time stops passing and if you-- I mean, once you get back home you'll just continue where you left off.

I know that's probably not much in the way of good news, but...

[ He trails off, looking for another bright side he could offer. He doesn't find one related to the long-term problems associated with Wonderland, but it does occur to him that at the very least Evelyn's immediate problems are easily taken care of. ]

Actually, if you want to get changed, if you find a closet here it'll usually give you anything you need. And the rooms... we've got ten floors and an infinite number on each... the rooms change their appearance for you as soon as you pick one.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Philip LaFresque doesn't seem as though he's completely comfortable with social interaction. Not that Evelyn can blame him, given their circumstances, but the poor thing is beginning to ramble the way that she rambles when she's upset, and that's never a good sign.

Although everything he's just told her is very helpful, thank you.]

On the contrary, that is good news.

[At least her colleagues won't be leaving for Hamunaptra without her.]

I ought to find one of these rooms and- Oh, my goodness, I'm so sorry, I completely forgot to introduce myself.

[She extends a hand politely.]

Evelyn Carnahan.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Philip's social interaction skills aren't so much lacking as lagging, creaking rustily with the noise of practice that has been sadly absent for too long.

He stumbles through bits of information like a script he's trying to remember, only becoming aware of the introduction's missing half as Evelyn extends her hand.

At least he's quick enough to pick up that cue. ]

Pleasure to meet you.

{ }

...They're here and back there on this floor, I think-- I think there's a couple empty ones right over there.

[ Everything is accompanied with appropriate gesturing and Philip steps roomwards, the implicit question being if she'd care to follow. ]

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

Oh...oh, yes. Thank you.

[It takes her a moment to realize that he's going out of his way to show her around, to some extent, and she takes a hurried skip forward to fall into step with him.]

Please, by all means, lead the way. I'm very grateful you came into the foyer when you did; I had just finished a conversation with a very brusque individual and I would much rather have you as a guide than he.

[In all her experiences with Italians, she had never spoken to one so rude. And that man who claimed that he was an emperor! What madness must have been in him.]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ With the first batch of Wonderland basics out of the way Philip makes a mental note to inquire about the lady's year of origin. Later, once he gets to the 'different times, different places, different dimensions' part, that is. ]

I know, some people here can be, uh... I mean, not everyone is-- [ He clears his throat. ] Half of them are probably crazy, to be honest.

[ Or will be, after a while. ]

...Unusual, to say the least. [ Hang on, this is a good segue! ] Because--

Because people don't just come here from one place or country or- or even one world. [ He takes a deep breath. ] This is probably going to sound crazy too, but they're all- I mean, we're all-- Most of us are from different times and dimensions.

...Which would be why some can be... more difficult to talk to, to say the least.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Oh Heavens, he isn't the first person to mention different worlds. Several others have, and though it seems much simpler to lump them all into a group labeled "possibly insane", the more they say it, the harder it seems to ignore the truth.

Pulling her hair over one shoulder and fiddling with it, Evelyn mulls over this information and finally nods.]

I've no other choice than to believe what you say, despite the Lovecraftian angle, but...

[Dimensions make some sense. She's read a little science-fiction, or...science-horror, or whatever they're calling it these days. She looks at him warily, as if expecting Cthulu to crawl out of his ears.]

...what...sort of dimension are you from, Mr. LaFresque? Judging by your accent, I would think you to be a native of London.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ That look is not exactly encouraging when directed at him, but at least Philip was expecting a reaction along those lines. ]

I know how it all sounds, but... but it'll get easier to believe after you've actually talked to a few people and... and it- it just sort of... tends to sink in once you've been here a while.

[ Another apologetic smile. Unfortunately there's only so much comfort he can offer. ]

...Anyway, uh, I'm- not a London native exactly, but I used to live there long enough. [ A beat. Time for dimensional comparison. ] I know Lovecraft and- and definitely Lewis Carroll, so... so it's got to be a similar world at least and... ah, and the last year I remember is 2001.

{ }

[ Ignoring that remark Philip stops in front of the door they were about to pass. This room was empty the last time he was here. After a quick check to make sure he holds open the door and steps aside. ]

After you.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

Two-thousand and one?

[Evelyn stops before going through the door, just letting this sink in.

She wasn't expecting anything that far ahead. The distant future seems less distant when you're faced with one of its inhabitants; although this does explain Philip's clothing. It's not entirely different, but a little off.

...oh, right. The room. Dry clothes. She moves inside.]

I hadn't contemplated a completely different century.

[My word, that's like coming face-to-face with one of the mummies she researches! Unthinkable!

Not that Philip LaFresque is anything like a mummy, of course, but he is almost one-hundred years ahead of her. THE THINGS SHE COULD LEARN.]

I won't even be alive then.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

That's a bit of a gloomy way to look at it.

[ ...says the guy who hasn't given that point of view much thought on account of being fairly convinced that he's due for death in a few hours or days at most. ]

...But I think I know what you mean. Actually, compared to some others here I'm practically ancient history.

[ He laughs a little, but much as he's curious about the years to come there's just something about being the guy from the future which he enjoys a lot more.

Putting that topic aside for the moment Philip steps up to the closet. ]

Did I mention the closets before? I can't remember. They-- Actually this is probably going to be a little more crazy talk, but bear with me.

If you need anything then all you have to do is stand here, think of exactly what it is you want and open the closet and... and with any luck you'll get what you need.

[ He taps the closet door. ] A few things they won't just give out. I know you can't get money of any kind and, uh... and personal items, I think. But as long as--

[ Philip steps back from the closet. ]

As long as you don't ask for something hand-knit by your grandmother getting dry clothes shouldn't be a problem.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Gloomy, perhaps, but true. She smiles.]

I'm something of an expert on ancient history - I find that hard to believe.

[She looks over Philip's clothes again, intrigued by the sweater, the way the collar of the shirt is cut, and the cuffs. The basics are the same, but the details have changed.

Which reminds her; she needs something of her own to wear. From...the magic closet. Evie sighs, moving over to it hesitantly and running her hand across the grain, just long enough to think of what she needs. A sensible skirt. Stockings, shoes, a belt, and a shirt. Knickers.

And behold, the closet provides!]

...I didn't really expect that to work.

[She admits, setting the borrowed towel aside and gathering her things. There's a changing screen! Thank goodness. She'll just walk past Philip over to the corner of the room, behind the partition, and continue the conversation.

Under normal circumstances, Evelyn would never consider undressing and re-dressing in a room with a stranger, but these are desperate times, and she is a modern woman! If she can handle an expedition, she can handle a mere mansion.]

So what is it you do, exactly, Mr. LaFresque?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

...Please, just Philip, if you don't mind.

[ The first name basis was far from his home when he still actually lived at home, but to insist on formality in the kind of environment Wonderland provided started losing its appeal soon enough.

Evelyn disappeared behind the changing screen before he could offer to step outside, so he opts to simply turn his back to her instead. ]

I don't exactly do much here, not as far as any profession is concerned in any case, but... I used to teach theoretical physics at .

[ He steps up to the window and looks outside. ]

What about you? You mentioned... an expedition? [ Hey, remember that question? ] ...What years was that anyway?

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Philip, then. A first-name basis makes things much easier, and much more comfortable. Speaking of comfortable, her clothes are a lot drier now. Victory has been achieved!

Where she's from must seem dreadfully dull to a person almost one-hundred years in the future - and a professor of physics, no less.]

Yes, an expedition.

[Evelyn emerges from behind the screen looking far more presentable (http://i1180.photobucket.com/albums/x408/dashboardlite/ariane179254_TheMummy_3229_Chapter11_ACurseInCairo.jpg) in a long skirt and blouse. The horrific embarrassment is over. The nightgown is definitely not going to be used again, particularly if she can get whatever she needs from the pseudo-magical wardrobes.]

I was in Egypt. The year is - was, excuse me - 1926. My profession is not specifically archaeology, as much as I would like to say it is. I work at the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities in Cairo as a-

[Librarian.]

-cataloging and translation specialist.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

1926... I don't think we have... there's somebody from the 70s if I- if I remember correctly, but you're...

[ He turns around to face her again. It's true that Philip preferred to look at humanity's future rather than its past, but that was back when he couldn't sit down with humanity's past for a cup of tea. ]

I think that makes you the youngest- well, earliest into the 20th Century here.

[ Supposedly his habit of cataloguing new residents in a feeble attempt at forming a time- and dimensionline could have gone unshared, but there you have it. Onwards to more interesting subjects! o9 ]

...But Cairo, that's-- I've never been, but... but our university, the- the linguistics department, I know they've done amazing research on Egyptian hieroglyphs....

[ He clears his throat. ]

Anyway, I'm afraid there won't be much for you to do here when it comes to translations, but... but cataloging-- Actually, the library here is incredible.

...If- if you like I could show you around.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[The earliest in the twentieth century? That's...well, that's not-so-good news, but she'll make do. The times, they are a-changin'. She can adapt; she's always been fairly good at that.

Evelyn watches him fumble over his thoughts for a moment, close to putting him out of his misery by suggesting that he give her a tour, when Philip gets to a rather intriguing bit.

Interest piqued, Evelyn brightens immediately.]

A library?

[Ding, ding, ding! We have a winner!]

Oh...yes! Yes, please! I would love that. I mean, I've been working on the museum library for quite some time, but a breath of fresh air would probably do wonders - they don't have quite the control over temperature that I wish they had, and the documents are always on the verge of falling apart, so anything that's-

[Hand + Mouth + Embarrassed Smile.]

...I'm sorry, please lead the way.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

[ Philip is far from taken aback. After al the allure of a magical library is perfectly understandable. He smiles before heading back out into the corridor. ]

We deserve a few perks for being trapped in an alternative dimension.

[ As they're walking Philip goes over the list of other rooms that might be of interest to a new arrival. ]

If you go back the way we came and walk straight along the corridor on the other side you'll get to the ballroom. The music room is, uh... usually nearby, but it's sometimes hard to find, at least that's what I've heard, I've only been there once myself.

[ He points at the far end of the corridor. ]

Back there's the kitchen if you'd like to cook something for yourself, otherwise there's a dining room on the first floor which works just like the closets.

And the library-

[ Philip stops and finds himself making just the tiniest show out of turning and opening the large wooden doors to their left. ]

-is right here.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Ballroom. Main hall. Foyer. Parlour, kitchen, music room. Alternate dimensions, magical wardrobes to Narnia.

Fortunately, Evelyn is remarkably good at committing things to memory, so at least she won't get lost in the future. The mansion is certainly a lot larger than she anticipated - her childhood home in Oxfordshire can't even begin to compare.

...and she's something of a helpless cook, so the dining room will be frequented far more often than the kitchen will. Not much further down the hallway, they stop in front of two massive doors, and Philip opens them.

For an instant, Evelyn is certain that her heart has stopped entirely.]

...oh...my God.

[And she doesn't even believe in God.

Carefully stepping inside and staring up with (slight) trepidation at the towering shelves that just keep going in either direction, Evelyn slowly turns back to Philip.]

I'm not...actually dreaming this, am I?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

{ }

It's at least as real as everything else here.

[ That may not be saying much, but there you have it. ]

Sometimes there's another entrance on the first... and on the second floor, but-- It changes size, not sure why, I... I think it depends on what you're looking for.

...Which reminds me, don't count on the Dewey decimal system here, it's sort of--

[ He walks over to one of the nearby shelves. ]

It's got proper sections on a good day and on a really good day you'll spot what you need right away, but otherwise it can be a bit...

[ Philip pulls out two books and displays them with a shrug. ]

...idiosyncratic.

[ That's Freshwater Algae of North America: Ecology and Classification and Elizabethan Sonnets, Volume II for you. ]

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[It's incredibly fortunate that Evelyn is not privy to Clarence's helpful comments, because she would take just as much offense to them as she has to the quips of Rick O'Connell.

Following Philip to one of the shelves, she pulls a book out and dusts off the cover.]

This is rather peculiar.

[The one she's holding is titled Patton: A Biography of America's Greatest General, and Evelyn frowns. It's certainly not shelved in the correct place if it was one line over from texts on Phycology and High Renaissance poetry.

Replacing her book on the shelf and selecting another - this one is at least a dissertation on Hieratic - she flips it open and glances back up at him.]

What sort of books do you like, Philip?

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

What sort of, um...

[ Jesus, it's been ages since he's had a normal conversation. With somebody he has at no point caused grievous bodily harm no less. Excuse him for a moment, but there's a single manly tear that needs shedding. On the inside, of course.

The shelf seems to shift a little, some of the books in it changing colour and size. Philip's finger now rests on a red cover. Pulling it out halfway part of the title Courtship and Marriage in Victorian England is revealed. He quickly lets the book fall back into place. ]

I'm... not much of a fiction reader, to be honest.

{ }

I've been trying to read up on... anything that could explain this, you know, parallel dimensions and- and such, but it's...

[ He shakes his head. ]

It's just so much theory and none of it...

[ Philip trails off. Having to use the word theory in a negative context is somehow deeply defeating. But this is Wonderland, Master of Mocking the Laws of Physics at Every Turn.

He's learned to cope. Grudgingly. And it's not like there are no perks to it at all. ]

Then I came across an actual physics section one day and since then I've mostly been...

[ A quick look through the changing shelf makes him reach for a thick binder, the title being something or other including "of Quantum Non-Locality". ]

I've been reading my students' theses. They won't-- [ He flips through the pages. ] They won't have written those for another three years at least.

[ He stops at a seemingly particularly fascinating page and revels in the time paradox for a moment... until he remembers that he has company now. Remember, Philip? People? The living things you have a conversation with? ]

I'm... sorry.

[ The binder hurriedly disappears amongst the other Wonderland works and Philip looks back at Evelyn. ]

I should probably ask you the same, I expect your answer would turn out to be more interesting.

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[Pretty much no one out there has ever caused Evelyn grievous bodily harm, and it's unlikely that they ever will taking into account her demeanour. At least she isn't embittered by trauma, right? Right?

Not counting her parents' untimely deaths in the 1922 version of Nightmare at 20,000 Feet, of course.

Evelyn isn't generally much of a fiction reader either, though she occasionally indulges in some yellow-paper adventure stories. It's something of a guilty pleasure for an individual who's spent much of her life indoors with ancient artefacts for companions.

Curious as to what a physics professor actually reads in his spare time, she isn't exactly surprised that the material appears to be (for the most part) within his area of expertise. And the majority of the terms would likely go over her head.

She laughs.]

You have a very high opinion of someone you just met.

[Then again, very few of the people she's spoken to so far have provided pleasant conversation under the circumstances.]

I'm afraid I'm a bit of a bore, actually. Ancient Egyptian history is my primary focus - most recently I was studying Seti I from the nineteenth dynasty. He was one of the most affluent pharaohs of the Old Kingdom, and the reading was research for my expedition.

[Evelyn shifts a little guiltily.]

...and...sometimes I partake in Arthur Conan Doyle or Rider Haggard.

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

That sounds a long way from boring.

[ Despite Clarence's mock snoring in the back of Philip's mind. ]

...Although I admit that's the first time I've heard of Seti I. [ He clears his throat. ] Which you probably get a lot when you're not talking to your colleagues.

[ Philip certainly does when it comes to his subject and the blank stares can be a little frustrating, hence he's not exactly happy to announce his lack of knowledge. ]

I have heard of and read Arthur Conan Doyle though,

[ which he offers with a tentative smile after noticing the guilty shift he can't really account for.

He would also offer the knowledge that a Sherlock Holmes is currently residing in the mansion, but alas, he hasn't made that discovery yet. ]

[libraritology.livejournal.com]

[The only reason she treads carefully on the subject of popular fiction and preferred book genres is because of the society she lives in - women are starting to get a much sturdier footing in the world, but the occasional mocking tends to set her on edge.

Young ladies aren't exactly supposed to want adventure.]

Doyle is still popular in the twenty-first century?

[Perhaps there's hope yet for the future!]

It isn't often I have the chance to read fiction, but he is one of my favourites.

[Which reminds her that she has a copy of A Study in Scarlet in her boat cabin. Which is currently either on fire or underwater. Splendid. Just...splendid.]

I can't blame you for not knowing about Seti, Philip, but I would be rather surprised if you'd never heard about The Book of the Dead.

[World history teaches children that much about Egypt, doesn't it?]

[sadfreezingbrit.livejournal.com]

I imagine you'd have a hard time finding anyone who hasn't at least heard of his books.

[ Contemporary works of fiction. Must be interesting to find out which ones stuck around.

But the smile on Philip's face falters this time. Even if world history succeeded, it looks like tiny!Philip's attention span failed on that chapter... ]

...And the... the Book of the Dead...

{ }

...It does ring a bell at least. [ NEXT TOPIC! NEXT TOPIC! ]

Is that... what your expedition was- is about?