transport log » ❝ welcome to Exsilium ❞

[initiates]

Date & Time: Oct. 24th
Location: The Initiative Hold
Characters: Everyone.
Summary: New Transports have all arrived and have been led to a banquet room within the Hold.
Warnings: None.

NOTE: This takes place during this plot, though the plot log will not be posted until tomorrow. The Transports already in game have returned from their mission to find the island overrun with monsters. The log is set within the safety of the Initiative Hold, however, so while characters will be aware of what is going on outside, they can otherwise go about their business as usual if they choose.

--

You've just been hustled and bustled through mazes of information and literal, wide corridors of the Initiative Hold and you've been equipped with your weapon—be it a gun, a sword, or even your existing powers. They've handed you this light netbook and a small pouch of coins (or a debit card, if you're more inclined), and there are several Transports before and after you going through the very same motions. You can hear the Greeter's voice as she walks alongside large groups, telling them all about the history of this place and sharing with you your purpose here in a hurried and urgent tone. She looks worse for wear, pale and gaunt, though is putting a great deal of effort into maintaining her energy and professionalism for the new Transports. "I am truly sorry that you came at such a bad time. That wasn't intentional, I assure you."

She leads the way through the Initiative Hold. The walls bear the occasional claw mark as a sign of the misfortune that has plagued the island, but it hardly seems deserted anymore due to the other Transports recently returning from their mission. After turning several corners, you arrive in a large room that has been transformed into a makeshift banquet hall. The food presented is perhaps not as luxurious or bountiful as one would hope, but it is certainly enough to go around, and isn't inedible by any means.

"We wanted to try and make this up to you," she explains. "It's meagre, but we did not have much time to prepare." There are a number of Transports already present, some looking over the long banquet table, others seated throughout the room at large, round tables meant to each seat eight people. The mood is grim, despite the Initiative's efforts to raise morale.

Before the Greeter turns to leave, she is reminding you that it will be perfectly safe to explore the Hold, the courtyard, the housing building, and even a several block radius around it. "Hopefully things will be back to normal soon."

Welcome to the banquet. Welcome to the Initiative Hold—and most importantly, welcome to Exsilium.

Comments

[futurarex]

Which is mad. All of it. There has to be some other reason to it, people aren't just-- recruited like that!

[alwaysforhim]

Perhaps it's due to talent. People here seem-- special, in their own ways.

[futurarex]

Talent.

[This is a very dry look.]

You aren't actually suggesting that they're bringing people here because they're terrific dancers, are you, Merlin? Or perhaps they're looking for a chorus? Or jugglers?

[alwaysforhim]

I rather meant that they each bring something from their worlds to the table. Something unique-- like you, for example, know quite a bit about fighting in our era, but less so about fighting in others.

[futurarex]

Fighting that I'm meant to be doing back in Camelot! It isn't the why of us being here that I care about, Merlin, it's the how! Isn't it obvious? This is some sort of sorcery--some distraction that I don't have time for!

[alwaysforhim]

[He pulls a face.]

I don't know, sire. There is sorcery here, but-- it's odd. Not like we know it at home, I think.

[futurarex]

[He looks around at Merlin, almost calculatingly.]

Then you've seen it done.

[alwaysforhim]

[He shakes his head.]

Only heard of it. But it sounds like nothing I've ever heard of before.

[futurarex]

[He studies Merlin a bit longer--or actually, he's more looking through Merlin, with intent focus--and then, abruptly, he turns away, his hand tight on his sword again.]

Brilliant. Just--brilliant. And meanwhile, Morgana--

[But he can't finish that thought; he rubs hard at his jaw and turns again, to stride off, without looking around to see if Merlin will follow.]

[alwaysforhim]

--is defeated.

[He frowns as he follows Arthur. He'd normally stay behind him, but at the moment he wants to catch sight of his face, to try and read his expression.]

I know she's somewhere out there, but I doubt she'll attack for a few months, at least.

[futurarex]

[But he doesn't have to try very hard, or wait very long, because Arthur immediately stops walking and rounds on him at that.]

What about her current occupation of Camelot would you call a defeat, Merlin?

[alwaysforhim]

[He frowns up at him-- not so much angry as puzzled.]

She's-- she's not currently occupied there. You defeated her. She left with Morgause. Don't you remember?

[futurarex]

[And, as ever, shouting at Merlin seems like an excellent course of action right about now.]

What the hell are you talking about, Merlin! I think I'd remember something like that, don't you? I think I'd remember defeating her but if you think back, you'll remember she's in Camelot! Not gone, not defeated-- really, if this is your attempt to be supportive, it's failing!

[alwaysforhim]

[Really, it's a good thing Merlin is so used to magic and Arthur both, or the combination of this discrepancy and Arthur shouting both would be quite distressing. As it is, he simply frowns, struggling to figure this out.

--but of course, the answer is sort of simple.]

Perhaps I'm from a different . . . from a few weeks ahead of you. Because I know what I remember, sire, and I most definitely remember her disappearing.

[And then, before Arthur can shout some more:]

It's not as unlikely as it sounds-- there are people from all sorts of different years here.

[futurarex]

[...that stops him from shouting, anyway. And it's certainly something to think about, except it doesn't make very much sense.

People from different worlds, yes. People from different years--mad, possibly, but yes, all right, that was magic. Magic did all sorts of stupid things, and if it's really sorcery that's brought them here, then it would be to the advantage of the sorcerer to do this as confusingly as possible--

But for Merlin to simply say I'm from a few weeks ahead of you is something he has more difficulty believing. It seems too easy, too simple an explanation, as if he's just supposed to believe what he's told and settle down and not think any more of Camelot. And, well, it's Merlin saying this; how would he know something like this?]

What could possibly-- [No. He stops, and settles his hand on his sword again, gathering himself.] What exactly do you remember?

[alwaysforhim]

[His stomach knotting with anxiety, he takes a deep breath to try and calm himself and says:]

I remember Morgana taking over. I remember you and I hiding, listening to her-- I remember her raising an army, I remember you fighting them-- and then I remember--

[He hesitates for just a second.]

You injuring Morgause, badly enough that Morgana fled with her.

[futurarex]

[He stares at Merlin, his eyes flicking over his face--and it seems too good to believe, too easy, to simple an end to something that feels endless--especially here, so far from Camelot, so removed from the fight he must fight--

Only if Merlin is right--if the magic that brought them here also brought them from different times (no matter how slight)--]

And Camelot--and Gwen, and my father-- [Morgana, but if he thinks of her with anything but contempt--no, he doesn't allow that; he shuts her out.] They're all right?

[alwaysforhim]

As well as can be expected.

[He swallows and meets Arthur's eyes.]

It's all right, Arthur. They're all fine.

[He thinks of Uther, of the way he refuses food and water, of how he barely sleeps, how he constantly stares out the window-- but no use in worrying Arthur about that now.]

[futurarex]

[A moment longer of studying Merlin's face--and then he drops his gaze, his shoulders slumping just a little. It's not really a gesture of relaxation so much as acceptance--if his father is all right, and Gwen, and the kingdom--if Morgana is gone and Morgause with her--

It doesn't matter if Merlin sees him like this, a bit less guarded than usual. It only lasts a moment, and then he straightens, his shoulders newly squared and his gaze turned princely.]

Good. [And perhaps he should say thank you, but--some things will never be. Instead, he claps Merlin on the arm, a bit too hard.] Good. So long as my father lives, and Camelot is safe. We'll still want to return, but-- good.

HEY DREAMWIDTH I POSTED THIS

[alwaysforhim]

[But Merlin has learned to read Arthur by now, the little gestures and words that mean so much more-- so he smiles as Arthur claps his arm, because he knows what that means.]

Indeed. In the meantime-- it's a fascinating culture, really. Not that we'll want to stay, but it can't hurt to learn more.

[Though already he can feel a pang of doubt run through him at that. We could stay a while, he thinks, because what a culture this is, that they accept magic-- and perhaps this is part of his destiny, that he and Arthur will be here. Perhaps Arthur will learn tolerance here.]

[futurarex]

[....right. That's enough of that. He drops his arm and turns away with a snort.]

Priorities, Merlin. Seriously. Learn more about what? This battle we're meant to be fighting? These--people that have brought us here?

[alwaysforhim]

Why not? Pursuit of knowledge is never a bad thing.

[futurarex]

Shut up, Merlin. Or, no, here, better-- tell me something you've learned here.

[alwaysforhim]

[The first thing that comes to mind is Colette's transformation into a pigeon-- but no, he doesn't want to get her in trouble, not even a bit. So instead:]

That there are more worlds than ours.

[futurarex]

[....patiently, he waits for the rest of that. Because surely--of course!--there's more.]