♠ 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...]

[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...

[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.

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]

[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.]

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.]

[doublethefun]

[there's a slight roll of her eyes. Who doesn't have stuff to do at home?] As far as I am able to ascertain, there is no leader of any sort here. Rather, the castle itself seemeth to be in charge - 'lest there is some unseen being working through said castle.

[those ears perk up a bit] I would gladly supply the magic if such a spell exists. I must warn thee, however, we have yet to find a way to return to our respective homes of our own volition.

[nyuspecies]

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

Nyu?

[commandsthewind]

[It was the familiarity of it that she craved. What made her so affectionate -- because here it was apparent she was no one. They might address her by title, but it wasn't this.

But his words confused, and she frowned at him puzzled but not angry. People had recognised her after all, even if she hadn't said her name at least. Still she kept smiling as she let she squeezed his shoulder briefly. A motion both respectful -- like a commander to soldier. It was one she had done many times, acted like to a mother, gave blessing to those who believed her the closest they would ever have to the divine. ]

Are you from my England, then? [there was so much warmth in her voice.] Because it's too my country I've given myself, I do not think anyone else would be so kind.

1/2

[unionjackass]

[He <>is her soldier; standing up straighter, feeling a bit less sore and tired. Or it could be a trick of this realm, he doesn't yet know for certain--]

2/2

[unionjackass]

[he lets out a short, stifled laugh, immediately covering his mouth and clearing his throat in embarrassment.]

I-- That is... It's for that reason that I'm kind; because I am your-- ah--I am your England.

[commandsthewind]

[That was... odd as a response. Her confusion showed properly for all of a minute.]

I'm sorry... what do you mean?

[unionjackass]

... [a pause--

--and a nervous smile...] Elizabeth--ah, my Lady-- Amusing as always--er, that... I remember-- [shut up, you fool]

... I'm quite aware the years must have changed me, but surely you know your country when he's standing in front of you.

[commandsthewind]

[Her mouth opened, then closed and then shook her head.]

I'm sorry, my lord, I have never seen you before. Besides my country is made up of thousands of people.

[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.]

[unionjackass]

[--!] A-ah-- Haha, that-- r-really, there's no need to joke like that!

[b-because honestly...!

But suffice it to say England is suddenly finding himself at a loss. A complete and total loss.]

[commandsthewind]

[The amusement is gone from her voice, and she's firm with it instead.] ... I'm not jesting. I really have never seen you before in my life. I know neither your face nor your voice...

[pause. She's heard about this, about this place and what it does to people.]

... That might not be either of our faults. I think I perhaps... need to explain some things to you.