this isn't Camelot....

[unflinchable]

Characters: Arthur and YOU
Format: [starting action tags]
This log is: open!!!
Location: grounds; Conquest dorms; cafeteria; computers; woods
Summary: Arthur familiarizes himself with the grounds, it's best to know enemy terrain after all.
Warnings: Arthur is a prat

[Arthur's first instinct is to explore the grounds, it can only be to his advantage to know the terrain. He feels a bit naked without his armor or sword (or knights) but the school uniform (so he can fit in) and his own knowledge of hand-to-hand combat will have to do.]

[The bedrooms, dorms, are much smaller than his own chambers and he's forced to share, but they're a bit more high tech. They can see at night without the use of candles, and warm the room without building a fire. Arthur hated it, absolutely hated it. Why did everything here have to be magic? If anything this strengthened his resolve that magic is, in fact, a horrible thing.]

[The kitchens and dining rooms were odd as well. The food was different, it didn't seem as fresh and he wasn't sure he liked it very much. He figured that he could just eat some of the fruits and vegetables, or perhaps go hunting in the woods he saw earlier. He would need to check out the woods later, familiarize himself with that as well.]

[Unfortunately before he can get to the woods he gets completely floored by a room of computers. What even are these weird glowing boxes with a smaller box with letters on it attached?? He's just going to. Stare blankly at it. Forever. Although maybe he should break it and see what's inside?]

[After his computers, what the fuck, episode, he does decide to go to the woods, it's almost familiar and calming. He likes it there.]

Comments

[scavenges]

[Much like him, Nepeta had been drawn to the woods. She had grown up in a city wasted--cast down to the slums, and it had only been in the previous month or so that she had been able to escape it. Grass, trees, anything that was in fact natural was still new and marvelous to her. If there was one thing she enjoyed about this place, it was how fresh, clean, and at least in comparison to Midgar natural it felt. Look! There was an actual forest!

Still it could not outweigh the similar suspicions and general resentment she bore this place and those in charge. Unlike Arthur, she was not wearing her uniform and remained in the frayed, dirty, and heavy clothing she had come in. Her hood was up as usual, covering both her horns and furry ears but that did not keep her from picking up the sound of his footsteps.

She was a little wary until he came into view, and then she just lifted a gloved hand in greeting.]

Hello.

[unflinchable]

[Arthur had been mentally tracking her, listening to her soft footsteps and the sounds of rustling leaves as she drew closer. He thought she was some kind of animal, so he was only prepared to try and not scare off any approaching animal. He didn't even have a weapon, and he missed the familiar weight on his hip. He would need to find a blacksmith to make him one, he hoped this town at least had a competent blacksmith.]

[he turns slowly to face what he assumes to be an animal checking out who disturbed the forest, but instead he sees Nepeta. Nepeta with her grey skin and yellow eyes and oh god she was a creature of magic and she was going to try and kill him wasn she. Hs hand automatically goes to his hip where, of course, he is still swordless. He could fight hand to hand if needed, but he hoped it didn't come to that. Perhaps most disconcerting is the fact she wants to speak with him.]

[he doesn't take the step back that he wants to, show no fear, he tells himself] Good morning.

[scavenges]

[She sees that and it makes her mighty self conscious. While she might say otherwise, Nepeta had yet to fully come to terms with her condition. She lifts up both her hands to show that she is weaponless.]

Hey, I'm not one of [She nods in the direction of Rakuen] them. I don't mean any harm. [She figured that might not be the reason he seemed defensive, it wouldn't be the first time someone got that way around her, but she'd just like to think otherwise and downplay her appearance.]

[unflinchable]

[He relaxes a bit, but not too much that he couldn't spring into action if she decides that she does, in fact, mean to cause him harm. Really, what doesn't mean to cause him harm nowadays? If the situation were a bit different he would laugh about what his life has become.]

Did something happen to you, Miss? [Because maybe, hopefully, she wasn't naturally like that and it was just some more magic.]

[scavenges]

[She gave a weak smile and nodded, shifting uncomfortably. She didn't bother asking what he meant.]

It's not contagious but this [She gestured to herself] I guess you could say is the result of being over exposed to a specific kind of pollution back where I come from.

[unflinchable]

[he nods thoughtfully]

So it is the result of an outside source. If you do not mind my asking, what is your normal appearance like?

[allurprincess]

[ unfortunately, Sora is a little more difficult to track due to 1. her running on the dirt path in her old, soft trainers like a sensible human being for once and 2. the sheer speed at which she's throwing herself down aforementioned dirt path. ]

[ Sure, he's wearing red, but that would mean she'd have to be watching where she was going, instead of checking her watch. She doesn't want to be late to meet Ja-- OW.

SORA used BODY SLAM. ]

[unflinchable]

[Arthur hears something- someone- charging in his general direction and turns to face the direction the noise is coming from. He's ready to dodge the animal if needed (a boar maybe?) before he sees it's just a girl. Seeing that is was "just a girl" he let his guard down for a moment, allowing her to barrel into him.]

[He doesn't fall, nor does he let her fall. Instead he holds her by her shoulders (his head hurts suddenly?) in order to steady her] Easy there, are you being chased? Are you injured?

[Because that's the only reason a maiden would be running through the woods like that. Also, they must have stolen her dress, as she's only in scandalously tiny pants.]

[allurprincess]

[ Sora > a boar, anyway. ]

I'm sorry! Are you hu-- Eh? [ It'd all be very chivalrous if she hadn't tried to do the exact same thing with him a second later, her hands coming up to hold his arms as she checks that she hasn't, say, broken anything with her charge. She pats his side - no bruising? He looks okay? She's not sure, though. He's frowning. Also, he asked her if she was okay, right? Um.

She really spends half her waking time on this island looking sheepish. ]

No, I was just surprised! Normally no one uses this path...

[unflinchable]

[What? She's... touching him? His arms, his sides. Is she.. checking if he's injured? He rolls his eyes a bit, she's so tiny there's no way that he would be hurt by her. Even if he did think of a boar at the sound of her running. Really, she's up there with Merlin in the people-who-make-too-much-noise list.]

[He catches her hand and smiles, trying to be charming] I am uninjured, I promise you. [and he's actually telling the truth]

You run through the woods often then?

[allurprincess]

[ One day she'll kick you and then you'll reconsider that conclusion. Until then, she's just going to beam up at him. Totally missing the 'charming' part of his behaviour, but obviously thrilled that he's okay.

You have a really nice smile, unknown guy. ]

Yes! I train over there. [ she turns slightly to point with the hand he's not holding, back in the direction of 'her' pavilion. ] This is the best way to get back to the cottage, and it's really pretty... Um, I don't crash into people this much, though.



[ that's a lie and they both know it in their hearts. ]

[unflinchable]

[True... he knows that women can be scary strong as well. Okay, Morgana is a bit scary too, but he won't admit that. Nor will he admit that she used to best him in sword fights. He won't jump to any conclusions.]

[But she's smiling and therefore probably won't try and injure him further. Probably. You have a nice smile too, girl who needs to cover up more. It's then that he notices that he's still touching her, and he goes to take his hand back but she's just holding it on to it just so that he thinks that she doesn't want him to?]

[He thinks of Gwen, Gwen who betrayed him and isn't waiting for him back home. No girl is waiting for him back home. Because of that he holds Sora's hand with renewed vigor and smiles even more as she seems to like that]

Train? What for? [He's still getting used to the whole ladies fighting thing.]

[he'll also pretend that he believes her, he's a gentleman after all.]

they still haven't.... introduced themselves...

[allurprincess]

To protect everyone, of course! That's what knights do. [ fistclench of determination and justice!! also his eyes looked sad for a moment, there, so she blinks at him in case he wants to talk about it. Nope? Okay, maybe later. ]

I fall asleep a lot, so I have to train really hard when I'm awake to make up for it. [ oh hey ] Why're you in the forest?

Truly I am the best, I win all the fail awards

[secretlyuseful]

[Merlin had been informed that he was to teach Introduction to the healing arts, even though he didn't think he was qualified in the slightest. Still, he didn't see any way that he was getting out of it, so was in the woods gathering herbs.

He grinned when he saw... the King... and went to disturb his peace see how he was faring.] Your majesty! [He made his voice as sarcastic as possible, not knowing his name was annoying.]

/applauds your attempts

[unflinchable]

[if there is anything Merlin is good at, it's disturbing Arthur's peace. To be honest, most of the time he doesn't mind Merlin's company nor his disturbances, but he'd never admit that to him. Can't give him any more leeway than he already is. Every so often he entertains the idea of getting a competent manservant, but then he remembers that one guy, that one guy who was so boring Arthur can't remember his name, and he remembers just how bored he was without Merlin fooling around and dodging his responsibilities. Dammit, seems like he's keeping Merlin around.]

[but that won't stop him from giving Merlin an annoyed look, both because if he was hunting Merlin would have once again scared off all of the game and because of his tone, just because Merlin can't remember Arthur's name doesn't mean Merlin can be... Can be a clotpole! (he still thinks that's a stupid word)] Merlin! Must you trample through the forest like a bumbling idiot at all times? Honestly, it's like you're trying to scare away all the wildlife and make yourself a target for bandits, and we all know how completely useless you are without me.

[secretlyuseful]

[Merlin let the words wash over him, pulling a face when he thought the king couldn't see him.] I'm useless without you? I'm surprised your even dressed this morning!

[Truth be told he didn't like the fact he had been put in a different... school... than the king, but he wasn't about to admit that he had missed him.] I'm not trampling, I'm collecting herbs.

[unflinchable]

[oh he sees, and he makes a face right back, very kingly behavior] I'll have you know I am a very capable person, I can, in fact, dress and bathe myself, as I did this morning, but why waste the effort and have you out of a job. You should be thanking me for allowing you to dress me. [what Arthur doesn't say is that he slept in and spent way too much time staring at the shower before fumbling with the buttons of his shirt]

[nor does he say that he dislikes being separated from Merlin, because he's the only person here that Arthur trusts, of course] Hmm? What for?

[secretlyuseful]

[Well Merlin had spent a good amount of time staring at the shower as well, because water that fell out of strange metal thing, inside. Like rain. That didn't seem to be magic, not that he would know because he couldn't sense magic here.]

Class, they told me I'm a teacher... Healing arts...

[unflinchable]

[he laughs a bit to loudly]

You? Teaching? Merlin you cannot even remember your name.

[pencilpremonition]

[Becca's settled at the edge of the woods, sketching in her notebook. She's currently drawing herself as an angel, protecting Shion from a demonic-looking figure.]

[unflinchable]

[God, why are all these people in the forest? He was trying to find some peace and quiet. But then again, he's the one to approach her this time.]

Good afternoon, Miss.

[pencilpremonition]

Hey~. How are you?

[She was looking for peace and quiet too, but she doesn't mind being interrupted every now and again.]

[unflinchable]

[he stands by a tree a few feet away, trying not to intrude]

I have been better, usually when I am away from my kingdom I am able to return from it, and the few times I have been kidnapped I knew how to escape.

[pencilpremonition]

Oh, are you a king, too?

[She knows King John!]

[unflinchable]

Are there many kings here?

[seriously, if someone is kidnapping kings you'd think that someone would notice]

Yes, I am Arthur Pendragon, King of Camelot.