[Introduction] He Who Dwells Upon the Mountain, Guardian of Hearts,

[death_dawg]

The police had called in a pick-up late that evening: a would-be storm-chaser taking a video camera out to film the thunderstorm that had hit the area, who'd gotten himself struck by lightning

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[myrddin_wyllt]

Merlin was on his way inside as well, and might be just a few steps behind Jacquel. He'll pause - he can feel something powerful in this one, though for now, he can't quite tell who he is.

"The door is likely open," he says slowly - a bit warily, but that's only because Merlin is not sure who he's talking to right now.

[death_dawg]

Jacquel turns and something close to a smile of recognition passes over his calm, brown face. "So it's as I suspected: I've crossed over and not into the West," he says.

There goes making the phonecall, unless he can get a message across into the world he left.

[myrddin_wyllt]

"Not into the West or into anything we know, nay," Merlin replies.

He pauses, examines the man, he can fell power rippling out from him.

"I am the Merlin."

[death_dawg]

"I go by the name Jacquel in my world, though I have been called by many names, most of them true," he says. "But what is this world? I don't remember seeing this house near Cairo, Illinois," he says, and there might be a dry smirk in his tone.

[myrddin_wyllt]

"Some may tell you that it is the world of feary," Merlin replies. "And they would likely be correct."

In Odin's words, you might well be on the Other Side of the Curtains, Jacquel.

[death_dawg]

"It would seem as good an explanation as any," he says, glancing back to the damp path outside. "And is there a way back to where I came?" he asks.

[myrddin_wyllt]

"If there is," Merlin replies, "I am not one to know how to find it, or where it lies. This place is one of oddness and mystery - where dark forces lie lurking and beacons of good keep a constant watch on unknowing mortals."

[death_dawg]

"Light and dark matter to me the most when they are contained in the hearts of mortals," he admits. "I am impartial, but not neutral. Consider me one of the guardians of the mortals."

There might be a flicker and Merlin might get a glimpse beyond the human mask...

[myrddin_wyllt]

For a split second, Merlin blinks and notes what he saw - this is... hard for him to place, really.

"Is that so, my lord," he replies evenly. "But death has no hold here, and this is neither Sheol, nor purgatory, or limbo, or none of these Christian places."

He tilts his head.

"But you already knew that."

For Anubis, it's quite possible that Merlin reads like the half-human offspring of one of his war-mongering contemporaries.

[death_dawg]

"It has that feeling of being between places, the way the Hall of Judgement felt," he says, gazing about them. "But it doesn't have that feeling of transience, either: people don't pass through here."

His hand goes to his breast pocket, and he fingers something there.

[myrddin_wyllt]

"Oh, they do," Merlin disagrees. "But their passages may last for years, ere they depart for wherever they move along."

[death_dawg]

"And so it's both transient and static," he observes. "A paradox..."

[myrddin_wyllt]

"The word defines the place, I'm afraid," Merlin replies.

[death_dawg]

"Has it any other name?" he asks, glancing up at the house and the grey night sky behind it.

[myrddin_wyllt]

"Some of those who live here give it other names, mostly derogatory," Merlin replies, amused. "But in truth, if it has another true name, it has not been yielded as of yet."

[death_dawg]

"So, could this place with many names offer a traveler a room for the night or however nights I'm going to be staying here?" he asks.