Call Network | UN: Merlin

[alwaysforhim]

Hello!

[That's a good start, he thinks.]

I'm quite new here-- this is all quite fascinating. How many others are there here? What are your worlds like? I know those are rather broad questions, but I've never encountered people from other worlds before-- or at least, not friendly ones. Do you have magic where you're from? Is the technology anything like it is here? What--

[Breathe, Merlin. He cuts himself off with an apologetic little grin.]

Sorry. But it's exciting, isn't it! I'm in-- I think it's called Sorcery? But I'm going to be heading through all the bits of the city over the next few weeks-- or, at well, as much as I can, anyway, I'm manservant to a prince, I can't just disappear for ages, even he'd notice-- but when I'm here, anyway. Have any of you ever encountered devices like these? They're terribly convenient, I wish I could take it back home.

Oh! Sorry-- my name's Merlin!

Comments

[alwaysforhim]

[Well. That's certainly something, isn't it? And he could counter that with some bragging of his own, but that's not his way. Merlin just smiles, not quite impressed but trying to pretend he is.]

Perhaps you could show me sometime. I'd quite like to see how it works-- if you'd be open to such a thing, of course.

[malignans]

Perhaps.

[Please. This motherfucker loves to show off. It's probably only a matter of time.]

[(Get it? Matter of time??)]

Though it occurs to me that you haven't exactly spoken about what it is you can do, Merlin.

[alwaysforhim]

[HAH]

[Merlin balks visibly. Because it's one thing, right, to cheerfully ask others about their magic, and learn and accept and revel in the fact that people are speaking so freely. It's another thing entirely to say what he can do.

All his life he's kept it to himself. And what if Arthur comes here as well; what if he finds out? But--

All right. So quite a few people seem to recognize his name, and associate him with magic. Which means that eventually, it all goes right-- eventually, he succeeds, Arthur knows what he is and accepts him for it, everyone gets a happy ending. So . . . so none of that could happen, right, if by telling people what he is here, he gives himself away and damns his relationship with Arthur permanently. Right?

Maybe. Yes? He's not sure, but--]

A lot of things.

[--he says it impulsively, a little breathless, and then offers a grin.]

Not strength. Sometimes speed, in a way. Fire. Water. Lots of elemental spells, actually-- moving items without touching them. Occasional telepathy. Lots of commands, really, that's a good way to think of it-- I command things using the right words and it usually works.

[And . . . that's it. There's no shout, no desperate cry of terror; no one grabs his arms and drags him to the pyre. Merlin glances around, just to check-- and then laughs, giddy on the fact that he's in place where he can say such things.]

[malignans]

[Truthfully, he doesn't share in Merlin's enthusiasm or relief, but he conceals that by meeting Merlin's laugh with a smile and subdued laugh of his own.]

That does sound impressive. And it sounds as though with practice, you could easily outdo anything I could accomplish with The World.

[That's not true, of course. Not from Dio's perspective anyway. But he pays the compliment all the same because that doesn't mean he doesn't see value in this boy already. If what he claims is true, he could become exceptionally useful to Dio with his abilities. He's willing to take the modest position after a subtle boast of his own abilities just a moment ago to sweeten the moment of sharing his secret with a potential friend.]

I hope I'm able to see a demonstration of your magic. I must admit, I'm eager to see it. [He lifts one corner of his mouth, turning his smile a little crooked briefly, but avoiding exposing a fang.] Perhaps even one day we might test one another's speed against the other, hm?

[alwaysforhim]

Ah, I don't know about that . . .

[In response to that demure compliment. He might, he thinks, not because of any failing on Dio's part but because he is who he is-- but he's not such an arrogant prat he'll say so.]

But I'd be happy to demonstrate! Whenever you're free-- or I'm in your city. Where are you staying?

[malignans]

The City of Nightmare. It's a little more dangerous than the others.

[An understatement given how rife it is with danger. But Dio occupies a higher place on the food chain already by virtue of what he is let alone his abilities with The World. And really, where else is he going to be? With around twenty-one hours of no sun per day and the rampant interest in the occult that could possibly provide Dio with a means of returning and finishing what he started, this place is a safe haven and a perfect place to begin his empire.]

You'll find that most of the people here try to avoid it.