(open.) sing it low or sing it loud

[courtmagic]

Who: Merlin and others.
Where: Sometimes the Temple, sometimes the forest.
When: Early September.
Rating: Just PG for now.
What: The Circle's gained a new wizard. He explores, and tries to not get ill.

[this is not a dream. a dream doesn't feel like this - he's trekked across enough of them in the centuries to know. and still, he wonders, because of how different it all is. that woman, and her beautiful eyes - Astoria, she'd called herself. he'd been half numb, struck and dazed when the world beneath his feet did not give. magic at the far reaches of himself, a memory halted in the process of becoming an action.

the world behind his eyes has gone silent, and he marvels at it. the sheer expanse of the unknown. Merlin breathes air utterly new to him, and cannot decide if this is for good or ill. it is, and he must adapt. freedom at a price, or the illusion of such. there is much to contemplate, but as ever, the only road ahead is forward.

--

of course, he explores the Temple. it's where they're supposed to be, after all, a place with rooms and beds and one he finds unoccupied with a single to lay his head. but beyond that, he wanders, peeking in at various areas. the kitchen is where a hopeful might look to find someone else doing the work of cooking that he can charm the result out of - why bother if he could simply get it for free? other times he's in the halls, seemingly searching for something. not someone, of course. that would be asking for far too much. but when evening falls, he heads to the outskirts, to watch the sky, a figure in pure white robes. as long as he can, he observes the stars, eyes as intent as a navigator as he traces where they are now.

but the illness is all too apparent. the sickness that infested the land cannot be lifted by hands that haven't been fully summoned, the flowers that could trail behind him not so much as sprouting. only their scent that clings to his clothes, and so he moves outward. can't stay in one place too long, trying to minimize his exposure, and the forest beckons. easy to wander, easy to take a rest nestled up a tree, where the sound of soft snoring gives away his napping, dozing with a few of the nymphs climbing on him. other times, he finds himself at the bank of water, sitting down and humming quietly a song he remembers to amuse himself, considering the plight of what's occurred. but as it happens, sometimes he is trying to converse with the sprites, so worked up are they. it doesn't seem to be excellently going, if his small frown says anything, but they'll notice a newcomer before he does, allowing enough time for greeting.]

[[ooc: please feel free to drop me a note if you'd prefer an individual starter! these can be any time, except for stargazing. choose your own adventure, and hit me with something else if it strikes your fancy!]]

Comments

kitchen

[bleps]

[There were an array of new faces at the temple, more than anyone could have expected after their return from the last mission. Welcome, really, these new hands and experiences — Connor could only see it as a positive development, that a larger “team” meant more tools and powers at their disposal. A far more adaptive Circle than before.

Or they would be, at least, if everyone wasn’t so prone to getting sick.

Connor’s come to fetch something out of the kitchen, likely for someone who’s growing ill, helpful as he wishes to be. His step is even and purposeful as he enters the area, casting a quick glance around and locking eyes with what he’s sure is a new face.]

Hello. [-he says, easily enough. Followed by:] You must be new.

[courtmagic]

[Connor shows up when Merlin's finished scouting out something someone left for the rest - quickly finished, really, with no one around to prolong the meal, and he's setting the dishes away.]

My my, is it so terribly obvious?

[swiftly, his eyes run over Connor, almost like he's assessing for something. but, blink and you'll miss it. he's smiling warmly enough.

not like he'd be able to tell a new Servant if there was one. was worth a shot, though.]

[bleps]

[Even if it is noted (he's designed to be observant, to note the small moments in-between words and interpret their meaning), the assessment is negligible. If anything else, it's being met equally by Connor himself, his own eyes sweeping across Merlin's form.

He steps forward, friendly enough. Though there's a tightness in his brow not normally seen, which can be chalked up to the worrying state of many individuals becoming sick; he's kept himself busy regarding that.]

Our group was never a terribly large one. It's easy enough to identify who's new and who isn't.

[His voice carries easily over the clinking of dishes.]

[courtmagic]

As long as one pays attention. Which clearly you do.

[it's a compliment, maybe? but the stress in Connor's demeanor is noted, for how much it contrasts to the sheer lack of any that Merlin feels. if it's there (and it is), it's far, far down.]

How long have you been acquainted with everyone?

[bleps]

[He’d make for a sorry detective android if he wasn’t observant by nature. Keen eyes and keener means of analyzing what he sees, part and parcel of his programming.

The answer comes easily enough.]

A couple of months. The Circle’s second mission was my first, so I can’t say that I’m one of the veterans.

[He moves towards a cupboard, where plain mugs are stored. Connor removes one, looking it over idly.]

But here long enough to have adapted.

[courtmagic]

Not too terribly long, then. What sort of mission was it?

[world saving, he got, but the nature of what was to be done...that took some more information.]

[bleps]

Saving androids and other robotic entities from a large electrical storm.

[A little bit of a simplification, but accurate enough.]

We were successful. Hopefully the continuation of a trend. [He turns to Merlin, empty mug still in hand.] Sorry, I should introduce myself. My name is Connor.

[courtmagic]

Nice to meet you.

[looking around, he gets his own mug to grab a drink of water.]

So, a mission based around automata...sounds like such a shame to miss something that exciting. But all's well that ends well - there's only the future that awaits you now, borne away on the whims of fate.

[he's teasing, just a bit.]

[bleps]

[Wow Merlin you're supposed to give him your name in return, otherwise how is he supposed to compile data about you while missing this one important node of information? He'll just come back around to it.

Also...what.]

If you're sad to have missed that particular experience, then don't worry. I'm sure each world will provide some form of excitement on its own, assuming that we have much free time beyond our assigned missions.

Sorry, what's your name?

[courtmagic]

[does he look like a sad man, he wants to ask, but finishes his water instead. refreshing and clear - and he's contemplating simply taking the mug with him for his next visit out in case he finds running water.

but, he sees an opportunity. a small one, and the smile on his face is fixed.]

Ah, just consider this a passing encounter with a gentleman of mystery.

[bleps]

[His LED spins blue once, and Connor doesn't hide the way he raises a brow.]

In other words, you don't want to share something as simple as your name.

[He gives him a skeptical look, wondering at the logic behind that when they're supposed to work so closely together as a group, and thinking that it won't hold for long. But in the interim, Connor turns his body to a shelf where the tea is being kept, reaching up to grab a container.]

Doubtful of your fellow Circle members?

[courtmagic]

Nope! Everyone I've met so far is generally quite honest and upfront. Nothing to doubt in them.

[though his eyes catch the LED and watch it carefully until it stabilizes.]

It's remarkable, actually - I wonder if it's something she took into consideration, selecting her summoning candidates.

[bleps]

Then why refrain from sharing your name? Really all for the sake of the mystery?

[While Connor speaks, he begins to prepare the tea. The hot water's already waiting, having been used quite extensively at this point due to the prevalent sickness, so it won't take long before the scent of chamomile floods the air.]

Though regarding her mode of selection, that's a conversation I've had with someone else before. I think it's less honesty and more... how unique we all seem to be, in both ability and circumstances.

[courtmagic]

So, she's plucking up the rarer gems for her Circle. Not a bad idea, that. Except then, that raises a few more questions in its place.

[he'll still give her the benefit of the doubt that she didn't intentionally cut off their abilities - it's possible that she worked new magic to try to make up for it.

of course, if she did it on purpose, that was its own kettle of malice.]

[bleps]

Such as?

[Not that he disagrees. It raises more than one question, though Connor wants to hear it from someone else's perspective.]

[courtmagic]

The current progress of her mission. Whether or not she's working alone or in communications with a team. The exact nature of the threat.

[just normal world saving questions.]

[bleps]

And perhaps consider also questioning the requirements needed to fulfill the ability to return home.

[World saving questions as well as when-can-we-return-to-take-care-of-our-own-personal-business questions.]

[courtmagic]

That would be when the job's done, as I understand it.

[you can't just terminate a mission in the middle of it. you can't only half save a world and call it a day.]

[bleps]

And again, what defines the parameters of "done"?

[Missing information is a cardinal sin, to an android like Connor. It leaves rooms for inconsistencies, for unending unknowns.]

The universe is a very large place, you know.

[courtmagic]

When whatever is threatening the nature of things so powerfully that it cannot defend itself is dealt with.

[he speaks with confidence, really.]

The universe wishes to survive. It has its own defenses - but there are things that can overpower them, if not stopped.

[bleps]

[Confidence, maybe, but to Connor that's a non-answer. Made obvious by the way he offers-]

Well, obviously, yes. But we don't know when or how to accomplish this; Astoria certainly hasn't told us.

[Though-] The universe wishes to survive? You make it sound like a living thing.

[courtmagic]

Because it is.

[that seemed like an obvious truth to him.]

But, it shows itself in hidden ways.

[bleps]

[A brow hikes up; in Detroit, he would've questioned this a hundred times over, prodded at the succinct answer with logic and rationale. Here, he's not so quick to do so, having learned fairly quickly that the rules of other worlds don't necessarily align to the rules of what he knows.]

If only it were more straightforward, maybe we'd have an easier time helping it.

[Still, hard for not the smallest, tiniest slice of sassiness to slip out, though his expression doesn't change.]

[courtmagic]

Wouldn't it be boring if it was, though?

[if something was too easy, was it even worth doing? challenge kept them engaged and focused and surprises around the corner.]

Though it's always a safe answer to say that anything that keeps the world intact and people alive is the best course.

[bleps]

In a situation like this, I don't think a level of excitement or entertainment should be taken into account. It's a job to do; if "easier" equates to "more efficient", I would rather have it be as simple as possible.

It only makes sense.