Castle of Nations Brain Burp

Castle of Nations characters are not mine. This is just my mind chewing on possible plot bunnies. Red's older sister is another product of my twisted imagination, everyone else belongs to Unknown.


Climber wasn't sure what drove him in this particular direction. He was usually content to stay by his wagon or in hiding, but tonight something else called to him. Much to the mannequin's surprise he found that the path he was on lead to Castle. Being one of the more quieter residents of the dilapidated them park, he paused. One didn't usually see Castle unless something was wrong or unless one wanted to talk. Climber shifted a bit anxiously, he had a habit of asking many questions, but that didn't automatically make him a conversationalist. And nothing was really wrong, except that he missed Clarice. However, he learned to keep his attachment to the human to himself.

Non-distinct noise met his ears and he listened. Funny, it sounded like talking. Curious he went forward. Castle's voice was recognizable immediately, but the female voice was one he couldn't place. For one spliced second he hoped it was Clarice, but this woman's voice was low and somewhat gravelly, not Clarice. Still he moved on until he came to the clearing. Cautious he remained in the line of the trees to watch.

As the woman moved in and out of his field of vision, Climber froze. Another human, she had to be. But, but how? Something within him begged to be closer. While Castle's side of the conversation carried, the woman's reply did not. After a few more minute of fidgeting, he crept closer until the words made sense. Well, sort of. He didn't know what a "lawyer" was or what "condemned" meant.

The woman was as furious as her cropped red hair and Climber was glad that he had distance between himself and her enthusiastic body language. He cringed even further when he saw the cigarette in one hand.

"So, they will be coming in three days?"

"Supposedly. That's what the lawyer said."

"And who is the heir?"

She took a long drag from the white cylinder and held it. Smoke began to trickle from her nose and Climber was reminded of a dragon mulling over its next victim. "That's just it Castle, no one wants this place, for obvious reasons. The "unsolved" murder of my sister being just the tip of the iceberg."

"You do have my apologies for that incident." Castle sounded genuine, but as a an architectural structure, it was hard to tell.

Climber tried to think of any murders that he knew of. He'd heard stories about Karl's musical tutor. All he knew about her was that she had red hair and played the violin. The other rumors about her he dismissed. Karl hated humans, so why in the name of the Ferris Wheel would he go and fall in love with one? Love was still a vague concept to Climber anyway, he was just starting to understand friendship and loneliness.

The human threw back her head and laughed. It was a bitter sound. "Perhaps you are." She flicked off the excess ash. "But that doesn't change much. Besides, she was a big girl, she got herself into this place, she just wasn't big enough to get herself out. Too much of a dreamer, she was. Wouldn't know danger if it bit her in the ass."

"Or slit her throat." Castle sounded amused and sad at the same time.

Climber expected her to be angry. Broken humans that couldn't be fixed weren't funny, at least not in his mind. He didn't know what a sister was, but it sounded important, like a friend. Maybe it was even more important. Instead, her face softened as she placed a hand on one of Castle's stones.

"This ordeal is changing you, old friend."

It was a long while before Castle responded, "You must forgive me, Victoria. I have forgotten much of...my humanity. I only know that some comments are inappropriate."

Victoria's full mouth pulled into a frown. "It could have been any of us."

"I remain grateful that this lot fell to myself, and that you were not here that day and that you have not deserted me."

Silence ensued as Victoria snuffed out her cigarette.

"What will you do about the demolition crew?"

She grinned a wolfish grin, "I'll get creative. Maybe they'll get the point that this place is cursed."

"You humans are rather thick."

"This coming from a castle."

More silence and Climber was starting to become uneasy.

"Victoria, do you still remember my name?"

"Yes, do you want to hear it?"

"No. It would be too cruel. Will you continue to bear it for me?"

"Of course. Do, do any of the others show signs of remembering?"

"No, perhaps it's more merciful that way."

"It'll be dawn soon, goodbye, my friend."

"Farewell, Victoria."

Climber understood little but it was enough to set him fidgeting. He fled as memories assaulted him. They were of the food court as usual. The only difference was that he sat among the humans he remembered watching and a he saw a mannequin on the wall, climbing up and down, up and down.