[Open Commentlog] - Old Persian - Found Prince 001

[makesowndestiny]

[Unfortunately, Dastan only reads that very first line written by Lord Deior before he snapped the journal closed, frowning before absent-mindedly tucking it into his belt. Sorry, Deior, but he believes he has a way to fix this, and if time isn't on his side he has to move now so it soon will be. First objective: find the dagger. He certainly can't

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[makesowndestiny]

[Scrunching his face in displeasure at his blunder, Dastan makes a mental note to step more carefully and look for ice next time he scales the roofs. He hangs, gathering his bearings and waiting for the world to right itself in his mind's eye.]

Well. That was fun. This is why living in the desert is so much nicer.

[Then Dastan realizes he is not alone in his embarrassed failure, and twists his body to awkwardly glance behind him at the woman there. A blond woman. He stares, wondering where in the world he was to be in a place covered with freezing snow and people who spoke different languages.]

Fine. Ah--I-I'll be going now.

[His words are cheery, if not perhaps a little forced in his panic at dealing with another pretty woman, and Dastan quickly turns to face the keep's stone wall, gets a foothold, and climbs the rope half a foot before his footing slips on more ice and he tumbles fulling to the ground.]

I hate ice. [Lying sprawled on his back, Dastan looks in Bryn's general direction.] Have I ever mentioned I hate ice? [Perhaps knowing she couldn't understand him made talking to her all the easier.]

[brynkitten]

[Oh dear. She can't understand a word he's saying, and now he's trying to climb the walls? Bryn watches with a furrowed brow, and when he falls to the ground, flat on his back, she makes a startled noise and moves to his side.]

It's too cold and slippery to climb, I think. You're going to hurt yourself. Are you okay?

[And then she realizes he probably has no idea what she said either. Bryn attempts to mime that she's asking if he's okay, complete with a thumbs-up and OK hand gesture, but it's clear from her expression that she's frustrated by the language barrier.]

[makesowndestiny]

[Dastan lays there, in the snow, giving her the oddest expression at her movements. He think he understands what she's trying to get at though. At the very least, he can tell by her expression alone she's concerned.]

I'm fine.

[He sits up, feeling cold all over now, and ruffles a hand through wet, snow covered hair before he turns toward her, question in his eyes. Well wasn't this place odd?]

[brynkitten]

[When he sits up, Bryn scoots back a bit and tilts her head to the side. He seems to be okay. Body language and facial expression seemed to confirm as much. Cautious, she gives him a hesitant smile.]

I'm guessing snow isn't something you're used to either, is it?

[Truthfully, he looked far too tanned to be from a place from snow. It might explain why he was having such a hard time of it, and certainly wasn't dressed for the weather.

Of course, her question wasn't going to be understood this way. There had to be a way to communicate with him...At least she could start with her name. Bryn gestured to herself.]

Bryn.

[makesowndestiny]

[Well, that wasn't too bad. He was civil, had her name, and hoped to be on his way, escaping these walls soon so he can find the dagger and right this wrong. He dusts snow from his clothing, awkwardly biding his time, before he finally relents and meets her eyes.]

Bryn.

[He said it right, didn't he? He gives a bit of an awkward smile, then he's looking around once more at the Keep grounds--the skies--anything and everything he can use for handholds and footholds on this place.]

What is this place?

[He finally asks it, tilting his head and squinting past the bright light reflected from the snow. Maybe she won't understand, or answer, but he had to ask, right?]

[brynkitten]

[Well, he had it right, but Bryn didn't appear to have his full attention. She followed gaze, but if he found anything he'd hoped to find, it was lost on her.

There had to be a way for him to understand--OH. Why hadn't she thought of it sooner?

Bryn held up a finger to gesture to him to wait, and from beneath all of her wrappings, tugs her journal out. With the quill that had been safely tucked inside, Bryn finds a page at random and writes, hoping that when he sees it, it translates for him.]

Can you understand this?

[makesowndestiny]

[Dastan notices her gesture and shifts slightly, wondering what this was about. Then, when she pulls out a journal that looks very much like the one he found he steps closer. When the text translates he closes the distance between them to stare at the journal intently.]

What manner of sorcery is this?

[His expression is intense as he awaits an answer, then realizes he must write one. Curiously, he reaches behind him to slip his own journal from his belt. Cautiously he pulls out his quill, looks to Bryn a bit uneasily, then begins to write.]

And this works both ways?

[brynkitten]

[Bryn watches him pull out his journal with a sigh of relief. That will make things much easier. His words appear on the page in English, and in that moment Bryn feels reassured. This will be much easier. She writes back.]

Yes, though I don't know how, unfortunately. These records were given to all of us when we arrived. Thankfully they seem capable of translating everything...

[She pauses a beat, and then looks up at him curiously before writing again.]

What language was it you were speaking?

[makesowndestiny]

Arrived? And where have we arrived?

[He asks it out loud, then sighs and leans forward to write it. Odd place indeed.]

I was speaking the Persian language. [Dastan pauses, completely befuddled by the question. He hesitated, then continues to write.] I come from the land of Persia. Which land do you hail?

[brynkitten]

[Persia? That land hadn't really been known as Persia since the name Iran came up in the 1930's. Bryn tried not to let her surprise show. She really should have been used to things like this by now, but for some reason Bryn hadn't become jaded yet.

She continues to write her replies.]

I'm from California, part of the United States of America, and this is Holloway's Keep, overseen by a man, Lord Deior.

[But depending on what year he was from, Bryn was willing to bet that he'd never heard of either place.]

There are many of us here at the Keep from different countries or even different worlds. I know that sounds strange but it's true.

[makesowndestiny]

[Confused and troubled--and also completely awed and wondering how this journal works, Dastan continues to write his answers as well.]

United...States...of America? What is that? Is it a very powerful Empire? I have never heard of it.

Yes, Lord Deior. While I suppose the possibility of the world being unmade could be plausable, I still say I would prefer to be the one in charge of my life and saving what is left of my family.

...Worlds you say?

[brynkitten]

[Oh, more writing, but Bryn looks up every time she finishes to check his reaction. Bryn is fairly certain he must be from before America's time if he's never heard of the country.]

It's a very powerful country, so far west from Persia that it's beyond an entire ocean. If I'm correct, you're from...before it's time.

[Bryn continues on, hoping she doesn't break his brain too badly.]

And yes, worlds. There are many of us here from the same world as yours, though not always the same place or time, but there are others from...worlds completely different. I know it's hard to believe but when you meet them you'll find it hard to deny, I think.

As for saving your family...you might talk with the staff. I don't know what they'd say. I didn't ask as...I doubt I'm capable of such a thing.

[World saving is a very, very large task.]

[makesowndestiny]

['Before' its time? Icy dread fills him. That wasn't possible. He needed to turn back time, not speed it up. If time had passed...]

How is that possible?

[He scribbles the words quickly, panic rapidly filling him. This wasn't right. He needed to go back. Time needed to go back, not forwards!]

Staff--family--worlds--how did I come here?

[He demands the question aloud quite sharply, pointing roughly at his journal as he does it. Words move across the page, translating what was said aloud, and Dastan sighs.]

I'm sorry. I don't mean to snap at you. It's the situation that--

[He shakes his head with a frown, worry eating at him.]

[brynkitten]

[Bryn swallows, and she feels something uncomfortable fill a pit in her stomach. It wasn't her intention to alarm him and now...

She shook her head from side to side quickly, and her hand trembled once as she attempted to answer his questions.]

I'm sorry, I don't know how it is possible, or how any of us came to be here. Only that we were brought here when our worlds were...unmade. So they tell us.

[She bit her lower lip nervously, and jotted one more sentence.]

I only have the answers we're given, nothing more.

[makesowndestiny]

[His shoulders slump as he feels her visibly withdraw. He knew he was making her uncomfortable. And for what? Answers even she did not know.]

I'm sorry...

[His voice is softer. Gentle again. He sighs and looks out over the Keep once again.]

How many people are here? Have any attempted to leave?

[He writes the words down once more, hoping she'll relax again, and shifting from one foot to the other awkwardly.]

[brynkitten]

[Oh goodness, she didn't want him to feel bad. Bryn attempted to put a lighter expression on her face. She couldn't quite smile, but at least she could seem...perhaps not so upset?]

I don't know exactly how many of us there are. Perhaps sixty or more? No one has attempted to leave, as far as I know...I'm not sure where we would go, even if we could leave the Keep.