[Merlin by contrast, has his hair unbound, and it frankly looks ridiculous, like the tentacles of a jellyfish trailing behind him. but he's not here for her to critique his fashion, he's here because magic draws him in like catnip, and he looks as disgustingly carefree as ever.]
As if I could refuse the summons of a charming woman.
[ Going with the wild man from the ocean look... While he might not be there for the critique, her critique is in her eyes. Then again, when has she ever looked at him with anything other than contempt or possession? Both, at the moment really. She knows she has something she wants and all that's left is to reel him in. ]
[ For this, she offers out a sheaf of parchment where she has copied down a swathe of runes. Her calligraphy is meticulous, even if she can't read the words. She had once provided such services in the flamelord's war tent, carefully rendering decrees and missives. ]
The scholars here cannot decipher it, in total. They tell me it reads like some kind of portal-- large, transportive.
I can't help but notice you're steadily avoiding telling me where these were.
[he takes the paper - picking out the runes he can decipher straight off, but already seeing the depth of work ahead of him. his smile fades, and his eyes run over the lines - this will be a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. how long, though....]
They're his, the king's. If he had been in that cell as long as was claimed, I couldn't believe nothing would've accumulated there.
[ She leans her weight onto the desk in front of her, letting her feet paddle lazily in the slow currents flowing through the library, her fingers interlaced. ]
Even had someone not provided him books and ink, he might've scratched something out with bloody fingertips. As it is, he was brought both. By the princess.
[he walks around to take a seat, setting the parchment down, eyes scanning and rescanning the runes.]
An escape route, obviously. But where to, and how?
[that's said to himself, before he looks up to Ilde.]
Winning her confidence to gain his own freedom and build up his power. That's what he did. Why she was down visiting prisoners at all is a curious matter, but ultimately irrelevant. He used her to his own ends - which means that regardless of his message, if you look for him, you can find her. Perhaps.
[tapping the parchment with one finger, he pauses before the next words come out of his mouth.]
I expect you to keep me informed of your research. I am curious to know: is it an escape, or a summoning.
[ There was nothing to make it a one-way door. ]
These books he's been reading... [ She puts her hand on the stack of them. ] A history of Akvos and the early expulsion of the patriarchal structure that was replaced by the monarchy we see now. But there's no record of what happened to those mermen loyalists. And no explanation of how this king came to return here, when mermen have not been seen for tens of thousands of seasons.
History's written to keep things in a certain order. If men aren't even mentioned in the books, naturally the women wouldn't question too much where they even are - do you know how curious they all are at us Circle folk who will entertain their questions?
[he waves a hand.]
You have to wonder how many of those loyalists were killed in secret. The new order built on the bones of the old.
[ I mean. You don't need to tell her how to usurp a man's throne and run out all of his former advisors. ]
But if the mermaids can keep this society afloat without reproductive partners, certainly the mermen can as well. Have they been simmering somewhere? Waiting for a portal back to this place. And how hard would it be to sway a princess that their exile was unfair.
You think they have her and are planning to use her as a hostage?
[it's a dark thought, but so's the idea of killing all those who resisted you.]
Convince her to come with him, keep her secure but out of the Queen's reach, try to bargain your way onto the throne...
[it was all one idea. there were kinder ones, but given the tone of the Queen's message and the one from the so called King, the time for kindness was done.]
I'll need to go see his cell in person once I've done all I can up here. Foreign magic this complex...it can be unwound, but this will take some time, if I'm to be perfectly honest.
I don't know what her reality is. Whether she was taken, whether she was fooled, or whether she knows exactly where she is headed. What we know is that she brought him the books, and that he was still in the cell prior to his contact with the Circle. If she was taken, it wasn't by him personally.
To know more about the princess... we should search her quarters, and interrogate her confidantes-- handmaids, tutors, anyone who spent time with her away from her mother's side.
[ Ilde does not sound particularly intrigued by this drama. It is all a bit boring to her. The scrabbling for a throne that she didn't want..... ]
I will show you down to the cell, when you're ready. Now that they know it's empty, I doubt they've stationed the guards there any longer.
Interrogation's not my style. But seeing what they're willing to give up? After this work. They seem to be fond enough of me.
[because he's been nothing but coaxing and friendly. he looks down at the parchment again, and gets up.]
I'm going to need something to write with. And more materials...
[and, really, a way to keep himself moving. like it or not, he can tell when he's not going to be leaving a project for a long while. hard work is so distasteful...
but he's too intrigued to give it up, and too stubborn to quit just yet. when he gets absorbed in something that interests him, he's not so quick to walk away.]
[he's felt that magic of hers before, knows it by sight, and it'll do him well to begin with. but because Merlin is Merlin, he can't simply touch her hand. he has to take it, and bow his head to press a kiss to the back, as courtly a gesture as could be wished.
if he's mocking her, he has the good sense to not say it.
the lights will do their duty, and for now, he'll be a good little pet and do exactly as she wishes.]
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As if I could refuse the summons of a charming woman.
[for a given value of charming.]
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You might've, just to be stubborn.
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[he has a few weaknesses, after all, and his curiosity is one.]
So, the runes you mentioned...where did you come across them? What are they like?
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The scholars here cannot decipher it, in total. They tell me it reads like some kind of portal-- large, transportive.
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[he takes the paper - picking out the runes he can decipher straight off, but already seeing the depth of work ahead of him. his smile fades, and his eyes run over the lines - this will be a challenge, but not an insurmountable one. how long, though....]
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[ She leans her weight onto the desk in front of her, letting her feet paddle lazily in the slow currents flowing through the library, her fingers interlaced. ]
Even had someone not provided him books and ink, he might've scratched something out with bloody fingertips. As it is, he was brought both. By the princess.
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An escape route, obviously. But where to, and how?
[that's said to himself, before he looks up to Ilde.]
Winning her confidence to gain his own freedom and build up his power. That's what he did. Why she was down visiting prisoners at all is a curious matter, but ultimately irrelevant. He used her to his own ends - which means that regardless of his message, if you look for him, you can find her. Perhaps.
[tapping the parchment with one finger, he pauses before the next words come out of his mouth.]
...Thank you for letting me know this exists.
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[ There was nothing to make it a one-way door. ]
These books he's been reading... [ She puts her hand on the stack of them. ] A history of Akvos and the early expulsion of the patriarchal structure that was replaced by the monarchy we see now. But there's no record of what happened to those mermen loyalists. And no explanation of how this king came to return here, when mermen have not been seen for tens of thousands of seasons.
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[he waves a hand.]
You have to wonder how many of those loyalists were killed in secret. The new order built on the bones of the old.
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[ I mean. You don't need to tell her how to usurp a man's throne and run out all of his former advisors. ]
But if the mermaids can keep this society afloat without reproductive partners, certainly the mermen can as well. Have they been simmering somewhere? Waiting for a portal back to this place. And how hard would it be to sway a princess that their exile was unfair.
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[it's a dark thought, but so's the idea of killing all those who resisted you.]
Convince her to come with him, keep her secure but out of the Queen's reach, try to bargain your way onto the throne...
[it was all one idea. there were kinder ones, but given the tone of the Queen's message and the one from the so called King, the time for kindness was done.]
I'll need to go see his cell in person once I've done all I can up here. Foreign magic this complex...it can be unwound, but this will take some time, if I'm to be perfectly honest.
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To know more about the princess... we should search her quarters, and interrogate her confidantes-- handmaids, tutors, anyone who spent time with her away from her mother's side.
[ Ilde does not sound particularly intrigued by this drama. It is all a bit boring to her. The scrabbling for a throne that she didn't want..... ]
I will show you down to the cell, when you're ready. Now that they know it's empty, I doubt they've stationed the guards there any longer.
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[because he's been nothing but coaxing and friendly. he looks down at the parchment again, and gets up.]
I'm going to need something to write with. And more materials...
[and, really, a way to keep himself moving. like it or not, he can tell when he's not going to be leaving a project for a long while. hard work is so distasteful...
but he's too intrigued to give it up, and too stubborn to quit just yet. when he gets absorbed in something that interests him, he's not so quick to walk away.]
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I know another gentleman who can be called upon for this. I think it wise to leverage their affections for your forms.
[ :) In case you weren't positive Ilde saw you as puppets and toys. ]
And you will have whatever materials you need.
[ Darling. ]
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[his mouth smiles, but his eyes say that he's laughing in his insincerity. she can think of him how she pleases - it doesn't change his ultimate aim.]
Suppose I better start working, now. I'll let you know when I'm far enough to need to see the cell.
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Here, take this.
[ Lights twinkle at her fingertips, a sight familiar to him if no one else. ]
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if he's mocking her, he has the good sense to not say it.
the lights will do their duty, and for now, he'll be a good little pet and do exactly as she wishes.]
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Very good.
[ Get to work. ]