first; dictated

[magicus]

[ This isn't his castle, and he should probably be more concerned, but after the last few weeks - well, it's the least of his worries. Besides, magical intervention isn't exactly a foreign concept to Merlin, so when the journal announces its presence to him by opening with an insistent rustle of its pages, his curiosity wins out over suspicion. The voices are startling, and the writing, but he can't pretend he's not impressed. And, because there's nobody around to call him foolish for talking to a book- ]

Hello?

[ And that's him on the page. Strange, but he adjusts quickly. It's hardly more invasive than people (or dragons) being in your head, after all. ]

Is there anyone who can tell me where I am? Write it, speak it - this is magic, isn't it?

[ And being in an unknown castle where apparently magic's allowed is surreal enough for him to try something that even he thinks is foolish, but he swears he saw the name "Pendragon" on one of those pages. ]

I come from a place with magic, but it's nothing like this. It's called Camelot. If you've heard of it, or if you've been there - if I've even left it, actually, and if I haven't I must look like a complete prat, but - I'd love to hear of it.

[ Then an awkward pause, because he's not quite sure what etiquette for magical books is. ]

Thank you?

( OOC: Edit to say 4th walling is fine, but if it involves other members of the cast, filters might be best! )

Comments

[kingsgambit]

[Magic and Camelot, Merlin's two favorite things. Sort of. Kind of.

No he really is just going to be annoyed now at how many people are showing up from there, when he answers. He doesn't recognize this voice so it has to be from either Morgana's Camelot or another one entirely.] This isn't Camelot, and the book isn't going to say you're welcome.

[magicus]

[ Now that's a bit rude. Merlin's smiling, somehow amused despite the off-putting response, but there's no pretending there isn't a patronizing hint to his tone. ]

Well, I was more expecting the person on the other end to say you're welcome. [ It's basic manners, you know. ] What do you know of Camelot?

[kingsgambit]

[Rude is what he does best, and his good manners are shot after dealing with Royalty Drama (tm). And he sounds amused.]

Not many like being polite over these things. [Tap tapping on the journal now, yup.] As for Camelot? I know a great deal, or very little, depending on what your Camelot is like.

[quits]

You've been brought to a castle in a place called Paradisa. There is what some would consider magic -- the journal is transmitting your voice to anyone that has this particular page open at the moment. It also transcribes it, to make sure anyone can still communicate with you after a while.

[She's heard of Camelot, but she's not really sure she can explain how.]

I'm Pepper Potts, I've been brought here too, along with another three hundred or so other people.

no typos need homes too

[magicus]

[ Well this is interesting. Interesting and confusing, because what other Camelot could there possibly be? If it sounds like he thinks you're a bit dim, it's probably because he does. ]

Well it's the one called Camelot, isn't? Kingdom, castle, knights - [ King? No, Queen. He stops short, but recovers quickly. ]

As far as I know, there's just the one.

but it's rude for them to just barge in like that

[kingsgambit]

[But he's in a magical castle, if he honestly thinks this is beyond the thought of reason when such a thing exists, then really. If he sounds torn between amusement and thinking you're a bit dumb, then well it's not far from the truth.]

And yet here you are, speaking with me through a magical book in a magical castle. [...He's just going to hold off on pressing you more on that point for now.] Your Camelot has a roof over it's throne room then?

[kryptonian]

This definitely isn't Paradisa... and I wish I could do a better job at welcoming you, but I've only been here a few days, too.

[magicus]

[ He's not quite sure if he should find all of this fascinating or be disturbed at how much this sounds like kidnapping. Maybe a bit of both. He sounds enthusiastic and grateful, but there's a solemn edge to it. Even if this is somewhat of a welcome distraction for him, he imagines it isn't the same for others. ]

Brought here? Did none of us come willingly?

And thank you. I'm Merlin - it's very nice to meet you. Or maybe it isn't, considering the circumstances. [ Kidnappings do tend to put a damper on introductions. ]

[quits]

[Merlin. Yep. Not going to be able to explain that Camelot thing to him. She's seen Arthur make some entries, so hopefully things will match up there.]

There are some that eventually prefer to be here, rather than home, but I haven't heard of anyone choosing to be here.

To be honest, other than the name I'm not even sure anyone knows where here is to specify that they'd like to come here.

[magicus]

[ And now he's feeling a bit derailed from his confident barbs, because he's not quite following the joke anymore. ]

Yes. Don't they usually?

[ But then something occurs to him - and no, it's nothing to do with other Camelots, at least not in different universes. It's a start, though. ]

Is your Camelot in ruins?

[kingsgambit]

[Because it's not a joke when one is attempting to figure out how much his life has gone all screwy. But that gets a chuckle, oh you figured that out quicker then anyone.]

In ruins? It was, before Arthur took the throne. [So a complete Camelot, with knights...]

[magicus]

[ Some people might find the non-answer unhelpful, but he sounds genuinely grateful for any response. ] I'm sure you know more than you think. If you've been here a few days, that's a few more days than I have.

What kingdom did you come from?

[kryptonian]

Not a kingdom, actually. I came here from the United States, which is democracy. There aren't many kingdoms in my world or time. We do have magic, though.

But right! I can help you out however I can. How much have you found out so far?

[magicus]

[ That's not right. He was assuming this was a future Camelot; it wasn't a great place for magic before Arthur, but it was hardly in ruins. Any jesting is rapidly being replaced by a more critical type of interest, marked by both confusion and concern. ]

What about Uther? He wouldn't have let it fall into ruins. [ Not literally, anyway. Metaphorically, certainly. ]

[kingsgambit]

[Oh no, even he's not sure what will become of a future Camelot. He's not there to see it, very much hoping to hide away from things after Igraine's death. And he knows this confusion and concern, these questions. If it goes too deep he'll have to ask for the boy's name, but for now this is nothing new for him to share.]

Uther's reign was over Castle Pendragon, Camelot was in ruins long before his time. [And he thinks he knows, now. He does.] Arthur, was he a prince?

[scinlae]

[ She knows that voice, she knows that voice. For a time she is silent staring at the journal as her mind races and screams; it's him it's him it's him it's HIM!

No, she thought the castle was done with him. She had hoped the castle was done with him.

Anger pulses through her, a poison so familiar that clung desperately to her being, but also relief─something old and unwanted, something she thought she had buried underneath a pile of ash alongside the girl she had used to be. But the Lady Morgana keeps clawing her way back up, reshuffling who and what she is supposed to be. ]

Merlin? [ His name is choked out, relief and anger and disgust clinging to the single word like a drowning man to driftwood. Curse the castle, curse it and all it's schemes. ]

[magicus]

[ He barely even hears it, but there's no pretending it was imagined. He knows that voice, and it'd be a lie to say this was the first time he'd heard it since he'd pulled the sword from her body.

He hears it often in his dreams, nightmares, and it's enough to make his blood run cold. Perhaps it's an answer as to where he is, though. Dreaming or dead? Either way, it's not what he expected.

There's delay before he responds, and when he does his voice is calm, measured. ]

Morgana. I suppose we aren't in Camelot, then.

Dictated

[save_the_souls]

[Allen recognizes that voice, from the times that Merlin had been here before. Sure, they were never close but he saw and spoke to him enough to know who it is. So yeah, have a young sounding british voice coming from the journal]

Merlin?

[magicus]

[ He can see how the place has its perks. He hasn't run into any terrible prophecies yet, for one. ]

Is it like the spirit world, then? Another realm, beyond the one we live in. [ The clarification is quick, because he's starting to see that the old rules might not apply here. ]

[scinlae]

[ That answer alone clears up some of the questions storming through her head, his tone suggests he isn't from an earlier time. He knows of her and what she has done, he knows of what he has done.

Well, that makes things simpler doesn't it? ]

No. [ Her own voice is full of emote, unable to fully decide what it is. ] This is not Camelot, we are far away from home.

[magicus]

[ The United States? Never heard of it, but it's hardly like he knows every kingdom - or democracy, whatever that is. ]

What's a democracy? And I haven't found out much. Just that I've got a room and a book that talks, really. Are we allowed to wander the castle?

[ Asking just for reference, because a no isn't going to stop him. ]

[magicus]

[ There's a delay before he answers, because the imbalance in the flow of knowledge between them is starting to feel less friendly, more something to be wary of. But he does answer, eventually, if cautiously.

He wouldn't be able to lie if tried, but that's a discovery for another time. ]

He was, until he was a king. That is the the usual order of things, isn't it?

[kryptonian]

To pick a leader, everyone of age gets to vote, and whoever gets the most votes gets to be leader for four years. Then they do it all over again.

And yeah, we can wander. I've been all over the place.

[rogueofheart]

[Because no one's said it yet]

:33 < youre welcome!
:33 < welcome to purradisa
:33 < and yes this is definitely magic

[kingsgambit]

[He's cleverer then he gave him credit for, which he likes. Or he would if he knew. But really, caution is always better around him so he just grins as he talks.]

I think I know why the confusion. What's your name? [Last piece of the puzzle, and then well, then he'll tackle this sharing of information.]