♠ first voyage; [dictated&action floor six)

[unionjackass]

[waking up in strange places isn't necessarily something England hasn't had happen before now. in fact, one might almost think that this is can be was once commonplace--in another decade, and others before that.

even so, there's something off about this--more than one something, several somethings in fact, and after gazing at the rather ornate and pleasantly-decorated room in which he'd suddenly found himself, he burst from it, straight into the corridor, and--]

What the bloody hell's going on here?!

[--O-oh--Oh dear he really ought not to have had that kind of outburst...

Ah, well...

He hasn't noticed the journal sitting on a table next to the now open door of the room he'd just left, lying open almost mockingly.

Oblivious to any mischievous books, England adjusts his tie with a grim scowl.]

If this is some trick, and surely it must be, then--I'm not laughing at all.

[The upside to this situation: He isn't actually angry, but anyone who might come across him or who might speak with him will probably think otherwise.

He'll get to the bottom of this in no time at all.]

Comments

[doublethefun]

[and here's a blue pony in the corridor, wings flared in surprise and rearing back a bit.

Once all four hooves are back on the ground:] Excuse me?

[unionjackass]

[england blinks, completely unperturbed by neither the winged creature nor by the fact that it's just spoken to him. actually, he was just caught off guard.

the ire disappears from his face--he's quite used to creatures of myth; to fae and living legends.]

... O-oh. You're excuse--er, I mean, yes. [he clears his throat] Have you any idea where we are? I seem to have gotten lost.

[to say the least. he feels a little restless; the thrum of his land and culture in the back of his mind are muted just a tad, and there's a strong sense of magic about this place...]

[doublethefun]

[well, this is interesting. A newcomer who's not going on about hallucinations and blue horses.]

This is Cair Paradisa; 'tis another realm altogether.

[unionjackass]

[It's comforting to see sentient, non-human things that aren't out to kill him.]

Cair Paradisa... [england rubs the back of his neck in thought.] A magic realm, then. Perhaps you could also tell me who er, well.... who leads this realm, or something, because I've much to do and honestly can't spare the--

The--

[a most awkward of pauses before he sneezes, covering his mouth]

--pardon that-- I can't spare the magic for a spell to go home. [meaning, he hasn't actually bothered. but that sort of thing takes a lot of power.]

[commandsthewind]

[We have one Queen of England, now a little more settled in this place, coming out of her room to spend another day exploring as much of the castle as was possible. Or reading, though for the time being she was firmly ignoring any history book. She just didn't want to know.

Regardless of that, there was enough to learn to keep her mind occupied.

Still the man standing there so loudly angry -- well she hadn't been that much better when arrived. Beyond thinking everyone was a spy of Phillip's. He was only a few rooms down from her after all. So she approached, if some what cautiously.]

Sir, I would suggest you calm down first...

1/ I'll tell you when I'm done

[unionjackass]

[He's wandering, hands shoved in his pockets, when he hears a woman's voice and he stops, peering to the side with a sharp response ready on his tongue.]

You mistake me ma'am, I'm quite c--

[unionjackass]

C... [england blinks rapidly and feels the blood drain from his own face as if siphoned.

rubs his eyes.

surely this must be an illusion...!]

[unionjackass]

I'm quite... calm... [this isn't--

this is very... he...

he turns slowly to face her, with the look of someone who's been lost at sea for weeks but finally caught sight of land]

[unionjackass]

[dazed, he murmurs something quietly. She won't recognize the source, he knows, but the words rise up to his mind, bubbling to the surface like pockets of memories long buried in the dark]

My conscience hath a thousand several tongues... and every tongue brings in a several tale, and every tale condemns me for a villain.

[he-- he feels absolutely ridiculous, falling to one knee. If this be some trick, he'll seek out the creator of it and have them regret their actions to the fullest extent--

--he doesn't much like being kidnapped, nor whisked away, nor feeling young and clumsy again.]

[unionjackass]

[and now this, though much more quietly and directed at the ground--]

For where thou art, there is the world itself, And where thou art not, desolation.

[God, he's a mess of nerves. If he had less self control he might tremble, but--no, England is steady in body as always. the quotes are due to his imagined inability to put his own words to proper use.

honestly, what in God's name should he say--?!]

UGH DONE HE IS A MESS I DON'T KNOW lskdjflskd

[unionjackass]

[england swallows.

Don't be a damn fool. For goodness' sake!]

...

M... My Lady.

[commandsthewind]

[There were many ways people greeted her. Some where with scorn, others were sweet. Most of them were usually followed by someone wanting something.

Seldom did they recite such sweet words, spoke so softly and with so much sincerity, so ardently ever addressed her for simply her.

But it was home, and it was familiar even if it was so strange from a man she had never seen before. So she strode forward, smiling slightly, though it was no more then a curl at the edge of her lips and gently touched his shoulder.]

Sir, I bid you to rise, this is not court. [she dropped her hand away.] Nor do I know what I did to deserve such a reaction from you, sir.

[unionjackass]

[he feels the light touch, almost flinches at it. The years of isolation and separation make even the briefest contact small events he notices in something close to hypersensitivity.

england hardly feels that he's crossed the line between worlds where the dead walk. and as he'd been told before, it was a... realm of some kind. raising a hand in obvious hesitation; he places it on his shoulder where contact was made as though to seal the memory of it there, and england rises.

this became surreal in such a short period of time.]

I-I-- Yes, I-- [meeting her eyes with his feels impossible. england feels quite rigid and out of place and... all of this is so wrong. so horribly wrong--and so wonderful in a hideous sense, because the woman who stood at the forefront of his long term strength is standing now before him. england buried this set of feelings centuries ago; but as much as he'd like them to remain out of sight and out of mind, something akin to the thrill of familiarity and happiness hits him so hard and all at once that it's quite painful.

as suspicious as he is of this circumstance, he feels as though he's shuffling like a schoolboy in embarrassment (though he's actually standing quite still).]

I... ah, the... answer to that--would... be--"everything." In a manner of speaking.

[his lips form a thin line while he attempts to remain steady as a rock, as stark as the earth.

... and not smile.

but he's failing just a bit at the "not smiling" part.]

dictated

[inafadingcrown]

[Unimpressed elf is unimpressed. This seems to be the day for this sort of thing. Have fun locating the voice from the magic book.]

It is no trick, I assure you. Leastwise, not as you are like to think of it.

[unionjackass]

[He's also unimpressed-- well, largely unimpressed, but his curiosity is piqued at the sound of another voice, this time seemingly disembodied. He approaches the book, leaning over the open pages-- and spots the text.]

I hear it's a realm. That makes a bit more sense-- [leaning forward a bit more, examining the--

--Is that his own-- Those are his words--

England squints.]

A scheme of some sort...? And it seems I'm speaking with someone via this book. Or to the book. [Half musing aloud. It doesn't seem like the latter at all, but he can't be sure yet. He knows his own lands and magic enough to be cautious as a matter of principle.]

[inafadingcrown]

You are quicker than most. [At least explaining the journals will not be such a chore.] All who arrive here have such a book and we do, indeed, speak through them.

[unionjackass]

Call it a hazard of my er, my profession; being familiar with things of this nature.

S-so-- If you're not the book, I suppose introductions are in order! [And he doesn't feel too silly speaking with a book. Not really. It's an odd sort of familiarity, even if the whole situation of being dragged to this "realm" is making him entirely too uncomfortable.]

I am England; also called Arthur Kirkland to make things a bit easier but, I would prefer you using 'England', thanks.

[nyuspecies]

[ She wasn't expecting to hear the book shouting at her. The voice that replies sounds wobbly and sad. ]

Nyu?

[unionjackass]

... Erm. Hullo? [He wonders who this could be.]

dictated;

[workaphilic]

Close the book if you're not going to read it. Some of us aren't interested in noise.

[What? He's not a welcome wagon. Plenty of bleeding hearts around here to take care of that for him.]

dictated;

[unionjackass]

You close the book if you're not interested in noise.

A fair and happy greeting to you as well. [--and here comes the loss, though he's not aware of it--] What I mean to say is-- that was an awful greeting and I already think you're an ass--!

[... wait--

--no he--

--he clasps a hand over his mouth.]

dictated;

[workaphilic]

[Amusement swells in his voice. This might actually end up being entertaining.]

Good. Wouldn't want to give the wrong impression.

dictated;

[psych0p0mps]

[oh hai person whose accent reminds her of the Doctor.]

thats castle wonderfuck for you
it pretty much exudes unfunny pranks from every conceivable orifice
welcome though

dictated;

[unionjackass]

[oh hello there red text!]

At least you're honest about it. [he sounds... rather tired compared to the initial fiery... demands made.]

Er. Thanks... I suppose. [he flops onto the grass--in the woods at this moment--and runs a hand through his hair, staring at the book.]

It's difficult to express how little I want to be here, but--er, by the sound of it, mostly everyone else feels something similarly.

Uh.

May I ask your name? I make it a point to have ah... introductions properly. Even with a book as a means of communication. I-- I'm England. [he clears his throat, trying to sound important] The nation, of course, and I won't hear any arguments otherwise!

[england you have no idea.]

Re: dictated;

[psych0p0mps]

im aradia
and well
i wasnt going to argue otherwise! 0_0
but i am a tiny bit confused since you mention it
by the nation do you mean where youre from?