II

[sorefoot]

[ viserys here will be sitting outside the castle, the journal near him after being told that this was the best way to communicate with those around him. ]

Dragons... I have seen dragons with thine own eyes.

[ he's stunned, amazed and can only wonder what else he might see in this world ]

Comments

Dictated

[ruined_jaw]

If you're here long enough, you'll see things a lot more impressive than that.

[How's that voice in your head, Viserys? Jono's words appear on the page, but rather than being a voice from the journal itself, it'll sound like it's coming from no direction in particular.]

dictated.

[sorefoot]

[ you're just succeeding in freaking him out a little, but at least he's seen the whole journal situation. ]

There are things more impressive then dragons? [ he's skeptical, can't you tell? ]

dictated.

[ruined_jaw]

Guess it all depends on what you're used to. Someone I know back home keeps a dragon for a pet, so you might say I'm used to stuff like that. I'm guessing it's a pretty rare thing, where you come from?

[sorefoot]

The dragons have all died in my kingdom. Nothing but left skulls and memories.

[ruined_jaw]

Lemme guess, they were hunted to extinction for sport or something like that, right? Seems to be the way things like that die out, if you believe the stories.

[sorefoot]

They were my family's treasured war companions, but have died and been slaughtered in rage.

The last dragons born were too small and died shortly.

[ruined_jaw]

Ahh, so they were war machines. Well, that makes sense then.

Probably inbred, I bet. Creatures that rare can't have much genetic variety, and the more die, the less diversity you've got in the gene pool for breeding.

[Jono may hate his genetic legacy, being one of the last descendents of Clan Akkaba, but even just being a mutant, it's sort of his job to know things about genetic diversity. He's no scientist, but he's got a working knowledge.]

[sorefoot]

You are correct voice unknown to me. It is most important to keep the blood pure. If it cannot stay as such, it is better then having mixes.

Dragon's blood should be pure.

[ he'd say mutations but it's an ugly word. ]

What is your name?

[ruined_jaw]

"Blood purity" is a rather antiquated idea. In my world, inbreeding like that fell out of fashion in most of the world hundreds of years ago, with a few exceptions. If you don't mix in new blood every once in a while, the genes get weaker, and natural selection takes over. My family was much the same until my great-grandad broke with tradition, and married out. Probably saved our family line.

[Just wait until Viserys actually meets Jono. He'll see how genes can be a blessing and a curse.]

Jonothan Starsmore. Yourself?

[sorefoot]

Perhaps. My land is one that values bloodlines and for the royals, that must stay true. Royal blood to royal blood, sometimes brothers to sisters to keep a line in family. I think it truly is a wonderful idea, the want to keep blood within the same family.

[ he'll be so confused but fascinated by him all the same time. ]

I am Viserys of the House Targaryen of Westeros.

[ruined_jaw]

Ahh, royalty, is it? My great-grandad was related by blood to royalty. The Slades were the main House, and the Starsmores were the "Lesser" branch of the family. Funny how it's the "lesser" branch of the family survived through me, while the Slades all died out about a hundred years ago.

["Fire cannot kill a dragon", but as far as Jono knows, nothing can kill him. Not that he hasn't tried.]

Pleasure to make your acquaintance, Viserys. So, you're another one of those folks from Westeros, eh? I've spoken to one or two others from your world. Seems to be quite a lot of you here now.

[sorefoot]

[ jono can't see it but his jaw will clench at the mention of what is most likely the starks. ] The ones who are from my land are nothing but usurpers. Vile beings who steal crowns and murder families for their own personal gain.

[ it's sort of a dark area for him, but he'll look back to what jono said about the branches. ]

Did your family marry into these, Slades? Royalty to royalty?

[ruined_jaw]

[His eyebrow quirks at that. Alayne had seemed awfully concerned about politics, her true identity being hidden for political reasons, but Brienne had seemed less so, just being a warrior who was trying to do her duty.]

The handful I met didn't seem too bad, so I'll just have to take your word for it.

Generations ago, yeah. My great-grandfather, Jack, was first-cousins with Frederick Slade, the last of the Slades. The main family and lesser branch intermarried every few generations, with outside marriages being fairly rare until the last hundred years or so. My family's...long-lived, you might say.

[He's going to leave out mentioning Apocalypse, and that he comes from a long line of virtually immortal mutants for as long as he can. These aren't things he likes to discuss.]

[sorefoot]

There are some that are loyal yet, but I've yet to meet them here.

[ probably for the best, there's a slim chance he'd believe you anyway. ]

A long bloodline, a vise decision on their part. I applaud them.

[ruined_jaw]

Consider how many've come so far, I wouldn't be surprised if you see them in the next few months, if ya last that long here.

[He's never been terribly proud of his lineage, despite all of the power that comes with being a member of Clan Akkkaba.]

Among the longest in my world, if the genealogy's accurate. Lord knows how they survived that long, what with the whole "survival of the fittest" bollocks my family stuck to for years. Whoever was the "strongest" of a generation was made the leader of the clan, could be knocked out if someone came along who was stronger. The last with that title was killed some 300 years ago, when most of the clan was wiped out.

[inafadingcrown]

[Clearly, what Viserys needs to see to bring some sense of normalcy is a 6'4" elf woman wandering past. Yes. This will work well.]

It is strange, is it not? In my own home, the last dragon was slain some time ago.

[sorefoot]

[ sweet jesus. that is probably the tallest woman he has ever seen. she's got a good 4 inches on him. he'll just look up at her, mouth slightly agape. he really is a model prince. ]

You and I share that history then. Before I came to this place, the only dragons I saw were the hollowed out skulls in the throne room.

[inafadingcrown]

[Fortunately, Galadriel is rather used to people staring for one reason or another and is rather an expert at pretending not to notice.]

I had seen others, though never from so close a distance as I have here, fortunately, else I would not stand before you.

[sorefoot]

[ he's actually jealous of you, but he tries to hide it, but it doesn't go over well. ]

I have the blood of the dragons in my veins. It would not have harmed me if I was in your situation.

[inafadingcrown]

Do you? None in my home may make such a claim. Dragons were fell beasts, servants of the Dark Lord alone. Even the mightiest of my kind were loathe to meet them in battle.

[sorefoot]

Indeed. I am Viserys of the House Targaryen. The blood of the dragon runs through my families bloodline. When the dragon were still alive, they were our loyal creatures.

-But they have been gone from before my birth. I have only heard magnificent stories.

That is, until here, of course.

[inafadingcrown]

[Ah. She may not know the exact weight of the name, but his tone does help. And the fact that he introduces himself in much the same manner she would doesn't hurt either. So he'll get a respectful nod of the head.]

Well met, my Lord. I am Galadriel, daughter of Finarfin. [Which would mean a lot more if he were from her world. Or if she dropped a few more titles, but she's learned it's best to hold off on such things.]

I daresay you will see a great many things here you have only heard of in stories. [She smiles knowingly. It's quite likely that she's one of them.]

[sorefoot]

Lady Galadriel then. [ he'll nod his head as well. ]

Oh there are many stories from my land that are almost as interesting to hear about as it is to see the landscapes of the North to the South.

[ he doesn't know of her, or her father but she's tall and well, looks like a princess. ]

Tell me of the wonders you've seen here.

[inafadingcrown]

Of what would you have me tell? I have been here a year and seen many things in that time- from people who sail amongst the stars to magic like none known to me.

[sorefoot]

Flying ships? [ that right here is enough to cause a gasp and he'll try to picture it, but shake his head.]

Ships cannot fly except on the seas themselves.

[inafadingcrown]

This place is fond of impossibilities.

[sorefoot]

Perhaps it simply drugs the mind to think such things.

[ sorry galadriel, he's a stubborn man. ]

Tell me more.

[inafadingcrown]

My mind is not so easily clouded.

[And she's a stubborn woman. She laughs a little.] You are demanding.

[sorefoot]

[ a laugh. ]

I've found that a king must be to get the things he deserves, Lady Galadriel.

[inafadingcrown]

And I have found that to be dependent on the king. I have known quite a number in my lifetime.

[heloise]

Have you seen the ponies yet?

[sorefoot]

Ponies? There are horses in my world, what would make the ones here special?

[heloise]

The ones here can speak. Some can fly and even summon the moon and stars.

[sorefoot]

I've seen no such horses. Perhaps this place does things to your mind.

[heloise]

Suspend your disbelief. Your time may yet prove me sane.

[sorefoot]

I would pray as much that those ill in their mind would keep their distance from me.

[ a beat. ]

Speaking horses. Do they have names?