exsilium | [video]

Entry tags:

[video]

[The feed flickers to life: a hand appears, hesitantly withdrawing from the keyboard to reveal a handsome man in his early twenties, looking more *at* the laptop than *into* it. His hair is shaggy, long and dark, his face youthful; but there is something more to the expression in his eyes, something old, ancient even. He seems weary.]

This is… unusual. Magic, is it? [He pushes his fingers through his hair and mutters, to himself more than anyone who might be listening.] Beyond my ken, any road. Not so unusual, that.

[His head drops forward as he rubs the heels of his hands into his eyes before glancing up again.] Gods, the silence. Is there nothing alive anywhere here? I feel so… ah, bloody hell.

[He clears his throat and speaks a little louder.] Forgive me – I am Robin of Loxley. [An odd expression flickers in his gaze for a moment - doubt? Loss? He shakes his head.] Robin, anyway. If anyone can hear me - where might I find something to eat?

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm, ah -- I'm afraid it's not magic, actually; quite the opposite. It is technology... science, though highly advanced.

I shall take your word on this, friend. Who might you be?

Oh! Charles Xavier. And yourself?

My name is Robin. Well met... [A rueful grin crosses Robin's face as he becomes acutely aware that he hasn't actually *met* anybody in any real sense of the word.] I am glad to know you, friend Charles. Do I address you correctly?

[He chuckles, if a bit tiredly.] You speak of science, but if the person who greeted me upon my arrival spoke true, it might as well be magic. Although I find your words reassuring, that I might someday understand some part of... [he gestures around himself] this.

And you? Are you a visitor like me, or is this your home?

[ Charles seems surprised at first, but he's speaking again soon enough. ] Yes, certainly.

Even I do not, I'm afraid. It is -- complex, as it were. But there must be some sense to it.

I am a visitor as well. To be honest, I have yet to meet anyone who lived here originally.

[Robin frowns.] That seems... strange. Indeed, this place grows stranger by the moment.

Charles, when I have secured something to eat and gotten my bearings, would you be willing to meet with me? You seem to understand much about this place, and I would have your counsel, if you do not object.

I do certainly agree.

Ah! Yes, I would be available. I reside in the Hold most of my time.

Excellent. I will see you soon, I hope.

Splendid. Do let me know, though you are welcome to stop by any time, and you do not have to be invited previously.

Robin of Loxley.

Also known as Robin Hood?

[ she's just... saying. ]

Aye, I have been called that, among other things; though I would prefer simply Robin. And you are?

Agent Small.

I do my best to help people settle in here. Did you have any specific questions?

[ fictional characters... apparently a thing here. ]

[Robin frowns slightly.] And you are an agent of...?

The United States of America.

It doesn't exist in your time period, if you are who you say you are.

[Robin's eyebrows rise.] I am a thief and an outlaw, my lady, but I am no liar. I *am* Robin of Loxley; my father christened me the first and for the last, I come from a village that was once called Loxley. No more claim than this have I made.

I have been called many things, among them Robin Hood - but I was only the first to be called to the mantle of the Hood. There was at least one more after me.

The place you name means nothing to me. What I wished to know was your standing with this Initiative. I have already met one agent of that kind. [From his expression it was not a meeting he'd care to repeat.]

I'm several hundred years further on in the timeline than you are.

And there's no need to call me my lady.

I have no standing with the Initiative. I will fight for them as required, but only until I can determine a way to return home.

As you wish, friend. What form of address would you prefer?

[Robin is thoughtful.] You and I have that in common, then. I shall fight as I am called to do until I can return to the peace of the Great Forest.

What is it you think you know of me, that you question who I am? [His tone is mild, merely curious.]

Agent Small works perfectly well.

I pick my battles.

[ oh man what to say. perhaps the easiest solution is the truth. ]

There are still stories told of you in my time.

[Roobin is nonplussed.] I...

[He shakes his head.] Of the Hooded Man, no doubt, not of me.

There were others called to the mantle after me - one other, any road, and he was surely more successful than I, but...

...you knew my name.

[He sighs and then gives a half smile.] It's true, then. Nothing is forgotten.

Agent Small, you have my thanks.

Of you. Robin of Loxley and your Merry Men, also known as Robin Hood or Robin o' the Hood. I was very fond of them as a child.

Unfortunately, archery was never my strong point.

Nothing is forgotten.

Can I help you with anything else?

[Robin chuckles.] 'Merry Men'? By the gods, somewhere Will Scathlock spins in his grave. [Though his eyes grow sad, the smile remains.]

Indeed, Agent Small, you can. Would there be such a place as a practice range about? I find my fingers itch to pull a bowstring again.

And if there is any service I might render you, you have but to name it.

Will was always one of my favorites.

There is a main practice hall that I believe has target ranges. They could likely be adapted to work for archery. If you ask any of the Initiative officials they'll direct you to it.

I'll keep that in mind.

[ .... Fascinating. ]

Well there aren't any deer that I've seen but you can probably follow the smell of sub-par dining.

[The idea of deer wandering about this place actually gets an involuntary chuckle out of Robin.] Just as well - venison is a luxury I can ill afford at the moment.

I am uncertain what 'sub-par' could mean, though it sounds Norman. I would be happy with some simple bread, to be honest. [His stomach growls audibly; Robin winces slightly.] Or anything, really.

[ That's hilarious, because if you ask anyone what 'sub-par' sounds like to them today, a lot of them will say 'Latin'. At least, in his experience. ]

You know you can use this thing you're talking on to find food, right?

[Robin grins sheepishly.] It's possible that I was distracted when such things were being explained to me. I thank you, my friend, and shall take no more of your time - only leave me with your name, if you will?

[The astute observer would be able to intuit that by 'distraction', what Robin likely means is 'trying not to keep my brain from exploding at the idea that I am suddenly 2000 years in the future'. Whether there is more to it is, of course, unclear without further discourse. It may or may not be equally observable that Robin is still rather shellshocked about the whole thing and covering as best he can.]

[Um, 'trying TO keep my brain from exploding...']

[ ooc: lol, no worries. I don't think I'd even registered that there was something wrong there ]

[ Oh, yeah, he'd got the shellshocked thing. He recognises that shit. ]

I'm really not doing anything else until somebody decides they want me to go fight something, apparently. I'm Tony.

I am glad to know you, friend Tony.

Have you been here long?

Nope. Not long at all. Just enough to know that I want to go back home, really.

[ So have a rather well-dressed Japanese man on the feed. He also seems more than amused by something, and his English is a bit accented. ]

Simple food stuff is provided at your residence, especially if you find yourself living with a few other of us visitors to this realm. If you do not wish to wait, than you can take the allowance you were given and buy a meal in the nearest pub.

We have been told that this realm is benefiting from our hard work, but I think believing them is not completely wise.

[Robin gives a decisive nod. The information and the warning seem genuine, and he is nothing if not quick to understand.] I am grateful for your advice, friend. Might I know your name?

Teijirou Takegami as the Westerners say it.

It is good to know you, friend Teijirou.

You do not seem to have too much trouble in saying it. Refreshing. Most English speakers cannot roll the sounds correctly.

I do hope your stay here will be pleasant.

[Robin gives a nod.] I had a friend from the East; he taught me some of his language. The sounds are not entirely unfamiliar.

And my thanks for your kindness.

Oh? I suppose he was from China?

A Saracen, actually. The language is not the same, I know - it was only the sound of it that reminded me. And you spoke of Westerners, so I assumed you are also from the East.

Ah, I see. I come from Japan. The languages are similar enough, I suppose.

As you say.

[Robin's stomach growls; he winces.] I thank you again for your kindness, friend Teijirou. I hope we meet in person sometime soon.

Good luck in finding some food, Robin.

Sweet! We have a Robin Hood running around!

Maybe we'll get Joan of Arc next.

[Robin is startled.] You know me? [He studies the computer monitor thoughtfully.] It's a rather one-sided acquaintance. Should I recognize you, friend?

Erm, probably not.

[How to handle this one...]

Let's just say that your... reputation, precedes you.

[Robin flushes an embarrassed red.] Let us hope I can live up to it, then. And you? Where are you from?

[Awkward subject change FTW!]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

[video]

voice;

Re: voice;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

permatext;

Re: permatext;

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

video.

Re: video.

video.

Re: video.

Re: video.

video.

Re: video.

no subject

video

Re: video

Re: video

Re: video

Re: video

Re: video

Re: video

Re: video

video

Re: video

video

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject