eachdraidh | 001 ♖ [video]

[Castle appears on the locket network looking concerned. It's been 24 hours since he followed faeries to the place, 24 hours since his car went off the road into an embankment and he had… died? Maybe. It's his assumption, based on the faeries, which makes this some kind of afterlife. It isn't what he was expecting, but he's pretty pleased with it. Who knew heaven was one epic renaissance festival?

One problem remains though, and that's the location of Kate. Of course, if this is the afterlife, she's not here. As far as he knows, she's alive and well, possibly mourning his death on what was supposed to be their wedding day. He feels guilty, but hopes that he made the right choice in coming here.

He's spent the day searching the castle and asking whoever he comes across whether they've seen a woman matching Kate's description. No luck so far. Castle is finally taking the advice of some and asking over the locket network.]

Hi there. My name's Richard Castle and I'm new to your land. It's awesome, by the way. I've got no complaints, really, except… I'm looking for someone and wondering if she managed to find her way here too. Her name is Kate Beckett. She's in her thirties, tall, thin, long brown hair, really beautiful. [He smiles in a way that makes it obvious he's describing his lover.] But also really stern. Like… probably waving around a badge and barking that she's NYPD and what the hell is going on. [That's Kate in a nutshell.] Anyway, if anyone knows of her or her whereabouts, please let me know. If she's here, I'd like to find her.

[Despite the odds, there's still a little glimmer of hope in him. He and Kate have a very odd connection and a tendency to find each other, even when it seems unlikely. She could be here, though Castle doubts that Kate would actually acknowledge faeries existing, let alone follow them to another world. But, he could still hope.]

Thanks.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Insane imagination. Lack of inhibitions. Doesn't get any better than that. [Sure, you may have to have them arrested on stalking charges afterward but it's totally worth it.]

True. And they are better than the imps. And the orcs. And the man-eating trees. It all just takes a bit of getting used to. And then just when you think you've gotten used to it all, something new pops up.

Sounds exciting here.

[He doesn't mean that entirely sarcastically. The fact that all of this is real is actually exciting for him.]

If you don't mind me saying so, you sound like you're from around my time and place. New York City, 2014?

Exciting is one word for it. Not the word I'd use but it's a word. [Sure, it's cool...right up until a tree tries to eat you. Or a giant worm. Then it doesn't seem so fun anymore.]

Close. In fact, you're the closest to my time and place I've met so far, that time and place being New Jersey, 2012. Princeton, if you want to get specific. I'm Dr. Gregory House.

Nice. Rick Castle, as previously stated. Are you a professor?

[Doctor could imply that or could be referring to a medical doctor. Either way, it's nice to run into somebody who's at least familiar with Earth in modern times.]

Sort of. I'm a doctor but I practice in a teaching hospital so one of my duties is training eager young minds. [It's a duty he actually takes seriously. He just doesn't do it in a way anyone would expect. Or consider appropriate.

Castle. New York. That rings a bell.] Not the writer Rick Castle?

Interesting. My daughter looked at Princeton briefly but ended up at Columbia.

[His face totally lights up when House mentions his books.]

Yes! You've heard of me!

[Normally back home he wouldn't be this excited because recognition is common, but here, when people are from different dimensions, it's comforting to find someone who is apparently also from his.]

They're both good schools. Picking one really just depends on what you're looking to get out of it.

[He's torn between squashing Castle's ego and admitting he's actually familiar with the books.]

Nikki Heat, right?

Yes. And Derrick Storm. You have no idea how happy I am that you've heard of me. Most people here haven't, even people from our time.

[He's thrilled. Somehow he doesn't feel as alone now.]

I prefer Nikki. [What? He has a thing for strong women, okay?]

Yeah, well, there's a lot of people who don't read. There's a lot of people who can't read. Though it's still surprising anyone from our Earth could've missed you. Your PR isn't exactly subtle.

So do I. [He gives House a knowing look. Castle definitely has a preference for strong women as well.]

Yeah, I know. TV ads, billboards. Go big or go home, I say.

You dog. [Strong, smart, sexy ladies are the only way to go.

....Well, not the only way but definitely right up there in the top two.]

The life-sized cardboard cutouts may be taking it a bit too far though. Seriously, they're a little creepy.

She's my fiancee, which makes me decidedly not doggish. [He pauses.] I mean, the inspiration for Nikki is, not Nikki herself. That'd be kind of awkward.

The cutouts were my publicist's idea. They seemed like a unique promotion idea.

Glad you clarified that point. I'm all for having a rich fantasy life but thinking you're engaged to a fictional character is taking it way too far.

And you're still a dog.

[House looks unconvinced. Unique, maybe, but still creepy.]

Do you have any idea what obsessive fans would do with those if they got their hands on one? And I can pretty much guarantee you one of them has. Obsessive fans are pretty inventive.

[Castle shrugs. He's been called worse than a dog. And if House knows him then he's probably seen what the papers have said about him and is taking it to heart. He's a different person than he was 5 years ago but some things about his personality will never change.]

Fans probably have gotten a hold of them and, yeah, I don't really want to think about it. Just as long as they're not using it as a voodoo doll.

001 ♖ [video] | both courts

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