exsilium | 01 ☢ video

[The camera clicks on to reveal a skinny kid with a mess of brown hair. He's holding the tablet in front of him, so the view's a bit shaky; it doesn't help that he's fidgeting and gesturing with his other hand as he speaks, first and foremost being a quick and awkward wave hello.]

Hey. Hello? This is on, right? You know, they should put a light on these things to show they're transmitting. Maybe they do, I didn't really - [Barely a pause as he checks himself, gets back on track.]

Sorry. Hi, my name's Peter. Peter Parker. So I got the welcome tour, and I guess my big question is - where can we get decent food around here?

[Priorities. He got most of the relevant info the other day, anyway. He almost looks like he's done, but then he abruptly remembers something and speaks up again in a rush.] And I made a thing. I mean, I didn't really make it, I just re-made it. I probably messed some of it up, but I guess nobody here's going to know any better, right?

It's for Collette, but I figured anybody could use it. Let me know if you have questions, or just type "help" and it should cover the bases. And don't forget to use your lanterns. [And Peter out - no wait, just kidding. He's half a second from ending the transmission before he stops.]

It's a game, by the way. The thing.

[He's done for real this time, pending an attachment:]

► ATTACHMENT 1: zork.exe

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I suppose.

[but he's still not very convinced of the validity of that statement. there's still very little risk--not that he's about to stop trying at it. he taps a few more answers in as he answers.]

Yes. Camelot, in Albion. [and he glances at Peter a moment, slightly amused.] And only at one person in particular, and only occasionally. He does whine quite a bit about it, so I usually refrain.

[ It's an RPG man you need to invest!! Risk your heart. ]

You know, that doesn't sound very ethical. I don't think you're supposed to use people as targets. Or target holders. They usually have big signs about it on firing ranges.

[ The Camelot thing he's not sure what to do with, because that's a new level of weird he hasn't encountered. Unless it wasn't just myth, obviously. ] What's your name?

I am Arthur Pendragon, prince of Camelot, so I suppose I'm allowed to set the ethics as I please.

And I thank you for your advice, but that's what he's there for. So I suppose I'll keep doing it as long as he holds still. Which he will, if he knows what's good for him.

[he doesn't even say anything of this with any particular malice--it's just a fact of life! or well a fact of Merlin's life anyways.]

[ Holy shit. He looks slightly awestruck, because seriously, King - err, Prince - Arthur? ]

Wow. Arthur Pendragon, like - sorry, you must get this a lot. Have people told you you're famous?

[ Distracted from the pursuit of social justice, but the strange interest in tormenting others is noted, buddy. ]

They may have mentioned it once or twice, yes.

[he actually looks... a little pained at that. perhaps weirdly so. it's an uncomfortable thing sometimes, having everyone know everything about you, and you with your life still before you.]

I'm not sure if it's flattering or simply... [his lip curls a little] --weird.

Edited 2013-02-23 17:20 (UTC)

[ Peter couldn't even pretend to know what that's like (well, aside from that guy who knew him and started talking multiverses, that was a thing), but it isn't hard to read that reaction. He wouldn't want spoilers on his life, either. ]

Yeah. [ A second to think about it. ] No, I'd go with weird.

Unless it's like - you know, you can use what you find out, do things differently? Although I think there are about zero theories of time travel that would really back that being possible. But apparently alternate universes exist, so - [ Why is he talking to not-King Arthur about time travel theories. ]

Is it even possible to go back?

[all of these things--time travel, alternate universes--exist only as vague concepts to Arthur, who had never even heard of a universe before arriving here. weird doesn't even get started at what it is--it's like sorcery in the worst way, worst of the worst being it isn't actually sorcery, even if it seems like it.

but the crux of all questions of future and past and doing things differently is familiar enough. and the question of going back--]

It must be possible. If we were brought here, then there will be a way to return. We are told that they can't do it-- [and the dryness his tone takes on indicates what he thinks of that] --which is ridiculous, as we were brought here in the first place. It should be simple enough, and yet it isn't. Or so we are told.

[CONSPIRACY THEORIES brought to you by Arthur Pendragon. he falls quiet a moment, and that might be enough--especially as he does not know this Peter Parker--but, then again--]

Tell me. Where you are from, do they believe in fate?

[ Peter's quiet, considering the feedback on time travel - because yeah, if you can get here, you must be able to get back. That's usually how it works; a one way trip just means someone hasn't worked out the trick to reversing it yet. That and he's not so keen on being stuck here, either, so he's okay with a few conspiracy theories.

The question surprises him, though - especially coming from Arthur Pendragon. I mean, meta, hello. But it reminds him of someone, vaguely, and the fact is that science can only go so far in explaining the likelihood of him finding Dr. Connors, surviving the spider bite - the entire mess that happened after. ]

I can't answer for where I'm from, but - yeah? Yes. I mean, I guess I kind of do. Maybe not so much a year ago, but - why?

[he snorts, sort of dryly amused by the specificity of a year ago.]

Met a very convincing oracle last year?

I don't know if I believe in fate or not. I would control my own destiny. I ask because-- I only wonder what role this place plays in our fates. These--people that have brought us here--if they know something of us that we do not. There are many people here who know more of them than I would like. They say--

[why, exactly, is he telling this to a complete stranger? perhaps because it would be too difficult to say to Merlin, or to Gwen, people who are of Camelot, people who would tell him that he will be a great king. he does not always feel a great king; he feels less than his father, less sure, less set. but if there are stories of him...]

They say many things of me. But I suppose it also means that we must return, or else those things would never happen.

[ Well, more like a few weeks ago, and more like a spider and a briefcase, but still. ]

Something like that.

[ The second part is interesting. Although what he calls fate- ]

That's linear time travel. It means everything that happens, no matter how unexpected, it's always meant to be that way; us being here, it's part of the plan, then we just go home and continue on the set course.

[ There's something about this conversation that hits home, though; if he feels overwhelmed with his powers, he can't imagine the kind of pressure being King Arthur levels of legendary would bring with it. Unfortunately, he's not great at putting any of that into words - but it does mean his rambling has more focus than usual, genuinely engaged in the person he's talking to rather than just ideas. ]

You're right. I mean, we have to go home at some point, somehow - I've already met people who have friends from home here, all from different times. That wouldn't work unless this was just a pit stop.

...I'm not sure if I should be comforted that you're familiar with the idea of this-- linear time travel--or if that makes it more disturbing.

[because-- well, perhaps time travel is something that is typically possible by sorcery, or by--what's the word--science. certainly the Initiative has managed to make everything weird for Arthur and Gwen and Merlin and Morgana in regards to time. but just because it's typical for some people doesn't mean that he has to like it.

buuuuut it's a bit more difficult to be bitter with Peter calmly laying everything out like this. this is a rare accomplishment.]

I suppose what is more disturbing is that this is all on the whim of the Initiative. We have no say in any of it. [a little pause, and then he adds (with some genuine curiosity):] Are you alone here?

01 ☢ video

[video]

[video]

[video] wow crawls on you the latest here too IF THIS IS TOO LATE ignore ;;

[video] HVDU never too late but we can wrap it up soon for fresh touchings if it please you

[video] ok just as long as there's touchings

[video] always touchings

[video] licks ur face

[video] WOW i can't leave after that poignant tag hvdu

[video] heh heh heh my plan is working perfectly >:)

[video] rude

[video] um my plan is to love you how is that rude