Chapter 2. Staircase to heaven? Or to hell?
Room keys in hand, the cast race up the stairs, Ryudo in the lead.
Ryudo: Bags the biggest room!
Millenia: Not if I get there first!
Ryudo: Hah! Try an' beat me. *he races against Millenia to nab the best room first.*
-being the slowest, Elena gets left behind as the gang race up to their rooms-
Elena: Uh, guys, wait up! You know I can't run that fast. Oh, why do our rooms have to be on the very top floor? *looks doubtfully at rom key, which states "Room 95, Floor 50"*
-further up the staircase-
Roan: .....a hundred, a hundred and one, a hundred and two....
Mareg: Prince Roan, what are you doing?
Roan: a hundred and five.....oh, I'm just counting.....hundred and six......the steps...
Mareg: Oh.
Tio: *looking up* I estimate at least another five hundred steps.
Mareg: *groaning* Ohhhhhh
Tio: We had better hurry up if we are going to get a decent room.
Roan: hundred and twenty five....hey look! It's the Carro! *giggles as they cavort up the staircase gleefully, their bushy tails swinging to and fro*.....hundred and twenty six....
-even further up the staircase-
Ryudo: *gasping for breath* Must....reach....top....soon....
Millenia: *right behind him* Must.....beat.....Ryudo....*slumps on a banister*....if.....I don't....die...first.....that is....
Aira: Sissies!
Ryudo: Wha-
Millenia: *stares incredulously at Aira, who is walking normally and does not seem to be tired at all* How...how come...you're not tired?
Aira: Me? Tired? After this little walk? Get real!
-Ryudo and Millenia sink to the ground uttering groans of despair-
Ryudo: *after a pause* Huh? Wait a sec, we gotta go after her, or she'll get the best room!
Millenia: *scrambles to her feet* You're right. What're we waiting for? *sprints up the stairs a few metres, then stumbles as the heel of her boot snaps, Ryudo overtakes her*.
-five minutes later-
Roan: three hundred and seventy.....
Mareg: I dread to think how that fat pie Zera is going to make it up here....
Tio: *giggling* Pie....hm hm. The name is quite apt.
-another five minutes later-
Elena: Yippee! I've made it up to the first floor! Only forty-nine left to go!
Roan: *nearly at the top now* seven hundred and forty-six, seven hundred and forty-seven...
Mareg: We have almost caught up with Ryudo and Millenia!
Tio: Yes, it looks like they've had a worse time than we have.
Ryudo: *struggling to get to the top, which is only ten steps away* Not......funny.....
-slowly, a hand closes over the top stair. Finally, Ryudo pulls himself onto the top platform. He is panting and sweating. Millenia feebly crawls over the top stair beside him. Mareg, Tio, Roan and Aira walk up behind them. They look up. And gasp in surprise-
Ryudo: MELFICE??? But-but-how did you get up here so quick?
-Melfice is standing casually by the wall, arms crossed, looking very bored-
Melfice: Well, there IS something called a lift, you know. *smirks* Honestly, I think I'm the only one here who can read! *points to a sign beside him that says ELEVATOR in big bold letters.*
-Ryudo looks bleary-eyed at the sign, realising that all his efforts have been in vain. He faints-
Roan: Seven hundred and ninety-nine....EIGHT HUNDRED! Wa- hey! *does a little victory dance*
Elena: Nearly....at.....second....floor......
-half an hour later-
Millenia: *stubbornly* I can't believe I'm sharing a room with YOU of all people!
Melfice: Great. Great. Great. I get to go with the bitchy one.......*rolls eyes in annoyance*
-there are three seperate beds in the room. Roan is already sitting cross-legged on his. Millenia throws herself onto the furthest bed and starts piling her stuff round it-
Roan: Miss Millenia, what are you doing?
Millenia: Oh no. Not the brat TOO! For your information, I'm building a wall. This is my half of the room.
Melfice: *incredulously* YOUR half?
Millenia: Yes, MY half. And you can stay out of it.
Melfice: I had no intention of going over there in the first place.
-Millenia gives him a withering look and sets to organising her stuff. Meanwhile, in Ryudo's room....-
Mareg: Ryudo, wake up!
Ryudo: Huh? How'd I get here?
Mareg: You fainted on the stairs. The physical strain was too much for you. Tio and I carried you to your room.
Ryudo: Oh. Er, thanks....*looks around him at Mareg and Tio*
Tio: Hi
Ryudo: *sitting up* So, you're my room-mates, huh?
Mareg: I am, and so is Aira over there. *points to a little figure dressed all in black in the corner of the room* Tio is sharing with Elena.
Ryudo: So I guess Millenia did get the best room after all. *eyes the shabby wallpaper distainfully*
Mareg: No, you see, we never actually realised that our room numbers were on the keys before we set off...
Ryudo: Oh.....why.....did.....I...even bother...running all the way...up here.....? *buries head in hands for a second* Anyway....where are all the others?
Tio: Well, Elena still hasn't shown up yet, and your brother is room-mates with Millenia...
Ryudo: Oh help...
Mareg: And so is the kid Roan...
Ryudo: Now THAT'S not a good combination.
Mareg: Skye is in a pet's suite with the Carro.
Ryudo: Ohhhh, he won't be happy about that.
Tio: He doesn't know yet. He still isn't awake.
Mareg: In the meantime, let us clean ourselves up a bit before tea.
Ryudo: Yeah, good idea. We're all stinking after that coach trip. *he tentatively sniffs an underarm as though to prove his point - then wishes he hadn't*
Tio: Okay then. I'll go see if Elena's got to our room yet. See you two - uh, I mean three *as she glances at Aira* - later.
-Teatime calls. Stomachs answer-
Ryudo: Man, I'm starved.
Mareg: Yes, let us fill our ravernous bellies.
-They go out into the corridor. Aira does not follow-
Ryudo: Hey, Roan. And Tio! Didja find Elena?
Tio: Nuh-uh.
Roan: Hey, Mister Ryudo! It's TEATIME! *performs his second victory dance of the day*
-Ryudo pretends he hasn't heard and they make for the lift-
Roan: Fine. Desert me.
Aira: Hey, kid.
-Roan turns round-
Roan: What, me?
Aira: Who else? I'll walk down with ya.
-They head towards the staircase together-
Roan: Wait, I have a better idea. *whispers something in Aira's ear. Her heavily-black-outlined eyes light up*
Elena: Woohooo, Floor Four! *Suddenly two figures whizz past her, sliding at top speed down the banister. Elena stops in shock.* Roan! Aira! Was that you two?
Roan: Wheeee!
Elena: Oh man, now I gotta go down again!
~End of Chapter 2~ In the next instalment; The cast adjust to their new rooms and roommates, Aira teaches Roan how to skateboard and there's a SLIGHT problem with the toilet....
Room keys in hand, the cast race up the stairs, Ryudo in the lead.
Ryudo: Bags the biggest room!
Millenia: Not if I get there first!
Ryudo: Hah! Try an' beat me. *he races against Millenia to nab the best room first.*
-being the slowest, Elena gets left behind as the gang race up to their rooms-
Elena: Uh, guys, wait up! You know I can't run that fast. Oh, why do our rooms have to be on the very top floor? *looks doubtfully at rom key, which states "Room 95, Floor 50"*
-further up the staircase-
Roan: .....a hundred, a hundred and one, a hundred and two....
Mareg: Prince Roan, what are you doing?
Roan: a hundred and five.....oh, I'm just counting.....hundred and six......the steps...
Mareg: Oh.
Tio: *looking up* I estimate at least another five hundred steps.
Mareg: *groaning* Ohhhhhh
Tio: We had better hurry up if we are going to get a decent room.
Roan: hundred and twenty five....hey look! It's the Carro! *giggles as they cavort up the staircase gleefully, their bushy tails swinging to and fro*.....hundred and twenty six....
-even further up the staircase-
Ryudo: *gasping for breath* Must....reach....top....soon....
Millenia: *right behind him* Must.....beat.....Ryudo....*slumps on a banister*....if.....I don't....die...first.....that is....
Aira: Sissies!
Ryudo: Wha-
Millenia: *stares incredulously at Aira, who is walking normally and does not seem to be tired at all* How...how come...you're not tired?
Aira: Me? Tired? After this little walk? Get real!
-Ryudo and Millenia sink to the ground uttering groans of despair-
Ryudo: *after a pause* Huh? Wait a sec, we gotta go after her, or she'll get the best room!
Millenia: *scrambles to her feet* You're right. What're we waiting for? *sprints up the stairs a few metres, then stumbles as the heel of her boot snaps, Ryudo overtakes her*.
-five minutes later-
Roan: three hundred and seventy.....
Mareg: I dread to think how that fat pie Zera is going to make it up here....
Tio: *giggling* Pie....hm hm. The name is quite apt.
-another five minutes later-
Elena: Yippee! I've made it up to the first floor! Only forty-nine left to go!
Roan: *nearly at the top now* seven hundred and forty-six, seven hundred and forty-seven...
Mareg: We have almost caught up with Ryudo and Millenia!
Tio: Yes, it looks like they've had a worse time than we have.
Ryudo: *struggling to get to the top, which is only ten steps away* Not......funny.....
-slowly, a hand closes over the top stair. Finally, Ryudo pulls himself onto the top platform. He is panting and sweating. Millenia feebly crawls over the top stair beside him. Mareg, Tio, Roan and Aira walk up behind them. They look up. And gasp in surprise-
Ryudo: MELFICE??? But-but-how did you get up here so quick?
-Melfice is standing casually by the wall, arms crossed, looking very bored-
Melfice: Well, there IS something called a lift, you know. *smirks* Honestly, I think I'm the only one here who can read! *points to a sign beside him that says ELEVATOR in big bold letters.*
-Ryudo looks bleary-eyed at the sign, realising that all his efforts have been in vain. He faints-
Roan: Seven hundred and ninety-nine....EIGHT HUNDRED! Wa- hey! *does a little victory dance*
Elena: Nearly....at.....second....floor......
-half an hour later-
Millenia: *stubbornly* I can't believe I'm sharing a room with YOU of all people!
Melfice: Great. Great. Great. I get to go with the bitchy one.......*rolls eyes in annoyance*
-there are three seperate beds in the room. Roan is already sitting cross-legged on his. Millenia throws herself onto the furthest bed and starts piling her stuff round it-
Roan: Miss Millenia, what are you doing?
Millenia: Oh no. Not the brat TOO! For your information, I'm building a wall. This is my half of the room.
Melfice: *incredulously* YOUR half?
Millenia: Yes, MY half. And you can stay out of it.
Melfice: I had no intention of going over there in the first place.
-Millenia gives him a withering look and sets to organising her stuff. Meanwhile, in Ryudo's room....-
Mareg: Ryudo, wake up!
Ryudo: Huh? How'd I get here?
Mareg: You fainted on the stairs. The physical strain was too much for you. Tio and I carried you to your room.
Ryudo: Oh. Er, thanks....*looks around him at Mareg and Tio*
Tio: Hi
Ryudo: *sitting up* So, you're my room-mates, huh?
Mareg: I am, and so is Aira over there. *points to a little figure dressed all in black in the corner of the room* Tio is sharing with Elena.
Ryudo: So I guess Millenia did get the best room after all. *eyes the shabby wallpaper distainfully*
Mareg: No, you see, we never actually realised that our room numbers were on the keys before we set off...
Ryudo: Oh.....why.....did.....I...even bother...running all the way...up here.....? *buries head in hands for a second* Anyway....where are all the others?
Tio: Well, Elena still hasn't shown up yet, and your brother is room-mates with Millenia...
Ryudo: Oh help...
Mareg: And so is the kid Roan...
Ryudo: Now THAT'S not a good combination.
Mareg: Skye is in a pet's suite with the Carro.
Ryudo: Ohhhh, he won't be happy about that.
Tio: He doesn't know yet. He still isn't awake.
Mareg: In the meantime, let us clean ourselves up a bit before tea.
Ryudo: Yeah, good idea. We're all stinking after that coach trip. *he tentatively sniffs an underarm as though to prove his point - then wishes he hadn't*
Tio: Okay then. I'll go see if Elena's got to our room yet. See you two - uh, I mean three *as she glances at Aira* - later.
-Teatime calls. Stomachs answer-
Ryudo: Man, I'm starved.
Mareg: Yes, let us fill our ravernous bellies.
-They go out into the corridor. Aira does not follow-
Ryudo: Hey, Roan. And Tio! Didja find Elena?
Tio: Nuh-uh.
Roan: Hey, Mister Ryudo! It's TEATIME! *performs his second victory dance of the day*
-Ryudo pretends he hasn't heard and they make for the lift-
Roan: Fine. Desert me.
Aira: Hey, kid.
-Roan turns round-
Roan: What, me?
Aira: Who else? I'll walk down with ya.
-They head towards the staircase together-
Roan: Wait, I have a better idea. *whispers something in Aira's ear. Her heavily-black-outlined eyes light up*
Elena: Woohooo, Floor Four! *Suddenly two figures whizz past her, sliding at top speed down the banister. Elena stops in shock.* Roan! Aira! Was that you two?
Roan: Wheeee!
Elena: Oh man, now I gotta go down again!
~End of Chapter 2~ In the next instalment; The cast adjust to their new rooms and roommates, Aira teaches Roan how to skateboard and there's a SLIGHT problem with the toilet....
