(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

[airgetlarm]

[But what of ours?

... Is what Bedivere would ask if he were much more selfish. His more honorable side makes him want to know what exactly is going on and is very willing to help in the end. Wouldn't Ritsuka Fujimaru do the same even if it was a world they had nothing to do with?]

This "Astoria..." She appears to be a powerful one. On par with you perhaps?

[courtmagic]

I couldn't say accurately, cut off as I am, and without more information about her. Her summoning us here is incomplete at worst, interfered with at best, though it's quite the admirable work considering scale and that everyone's come out in one piece.

Though... [and he nods once, coming to a decision.] She's at the very least up there in power. It's no mean feat what she's done and what her ambitions are.

[airgetlarm]

Yes... At the very least, her intentions are not unkind. We are given shelter and the necessities to thrive in this temple.

Also, I wanted to show you this.

[Bedivere shifts to lift up his right arm; his Airgetlám. It doesn't emit the same kind of power as it's supposed to, but it appears that Bedivere can still move it around. Fingers flex as he continues.]

The best way to describe my current status is... I feel human. Like before. [Like during his long, long, journey.]

But the Airgetlám does not eat away at my soul, nor does the connection with Ritsuka apply. Its function has been replaced.

[courtmagic]

[scooting over, Merlin reaches out to touch the arm. absent of the magical energy that had radiated through it, he nevertheless retained the memory. the shape, curves and dips of the pattern - he knows it so well, and yet it's wrong, to know that yet again it's been altered.]

You truly have Nuada's arm, now.

[as if he'd been given the genuine article instead of the sheath of power he had. fascinating.]

[airgetlarm]

Truly? If I had to use a word, and as excessive as it may sound, it's rather unimpressive. I'm just surprised I can use it as a normal limb at all.

[courtmagic]

[despite the circumstances, Merlin breaks out into a grin.]

Unimpressive...ah, you've been spoiled by having the far superior version at your disposal. Excellent.

[he's got a taste for the better things. very good.]

[airgetlarm]

[He had tried to pry out any trace with his Master, but...]

It feels hollow. Moreso than usual.

[But he does return a chuckle, weak as it is.]

"Spoiled" is probably accurate, as loathe as I am to admit it.

[courtmagic]

Nothing to be ashamed of. It simply means you expect more, and shan't be satisfied with less. Would that I could offer to improve it.

[it would be just another of his feats, had he his power. but...cut off as he is...

when he wakes it up. he'll make the offer.]

[airgetlarm]

I will not press you for what you do not have at the moment.

[Bedivere casts his eyes to the ground, brows furrowed.]

Personally, I feel troubled, but in a way I suppose I understand the logic behind it. This witch needs our help, but there's a degree of control she still needs in order for there to be compliance.

[courtmagic]

You think the absence of our power is intentional, rather than an accident in the summoning? Why?

[he's genuinely curious - though it was also a thought he had. it would be simple to use those chains to make sure no one broke free before things were done. like a contract.]

[airgetlarm]

Wouldn't we have been more useful with our original abilities that we had to begin with?

[He's a Heroic Spirit. He can fight. He can protect. And even without his blade, Bedivere could help plan, he could advise, he could do some other things to make up for whatever else he lacked and...]

... I'm being rash again, aren't I?

[courtmagic]

No, you're not. It's natural to think that we'd be better suited to this task at full power. Certainly, there's more to it than that - but given what we know, we can't say.

[without magic, there's still a host of things he can do, talents he refined over the years. it was a unique struggle before them.]

...What would your king want you to do, you think?

[Merlin could give him an answer, but he wants Bedivere to think - to come up with his own solution.]

[airgetlarm]

[What would his king want from him? Focusing on the thought helps Bedivere ground himself as he falls silent again.]

... They would want me to keep my head high. And h... She would want me to not lose hope and give in to frustration so easily.

[He's better than this, he knows it.]

[courtmagic]

[there they go. there's an answer Bedivere can be proud of. an answer to rely on.]

Then that's what you must try to do. Even if you are here, in a strange far land, that is something you can rely on.

[had it not served him for centuries before?]

[airgetlarm]

[It's enough for now. That's all Bedivere can hope for.]

Another question if it does not trouble you... But is your connection to Avalon...?

[Severed? Gone? Silent? He's not sure how to put it.]

[courtmagic]

[it's lucky that it's Bedivere asking, because he was one of only two people Merlin would be honest with this about. his eyes briefly shut, and then open again.]

Quiet, for now.

[this is him, not a projection. if Avalon came back, then they would have to deal with the consequences.]