Firekeeper's World: Tiniel & Isende's Cottage

[kestrelswolf]

They'd regrouped within the twins' cottage following the surrender of the island's inhabitants, where Tiniel and Isende promised to explain both why they'd returned to the Once Dead, and why the island's surrender had been so complete

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[bitch_prince]

... Well.

That was... interesting. Arthur longed for something to poke and prod at as he felt the weight of another people descend down on his shoulders. Yes, he knew, consciously, that it was on all of them at best, and not just his own. That didn't help the already-rolling feeling in his stomach any.

There was the plague, too.

"We should see how well they're rationed," he volunteered, finally. "Question them about the amount of villagers, what stands of their defenses..." There were any number of things.

[foxhair]

"There's a bigger issue," Derian volunteered. "We can help these people rebuild their lives, and deal with the few remaining sorcerers- those guarding our prisoners tell me that Lachen and Ynamynet still live, but I think they're the only ones remaining with any sort of notable power. But we've got a bigger problem. The gate we came through isn't the only one from the Old World into the New. I counted seven others in that circle. That's seven other points from here that end up somewhere in the New World." He was aware, of course, that Firekeeper's friends were from another world entirely, but he hoped the fact that they were her friends would be reason enough for them to find this situation disconcerting.

[bitch_prince]

Arthur was about the right address to come to with such concerns. Not that he'd been obsessing right up until now, or anything. He chewed on his lips. "More cause to find out about their security," he said, finally, "We'll have to set up some guard posts, one by each portal, if we've got the men. You're sure these lead back to your world?"

[foxhair]

"Some lead to places in the Old World," Tiniel broke in, not entirely understanding the concept of 'your world' beyond the two sides of his own planet. "The Nexans, the people here, allow the Old Worlders use of the gates for trading. That's how the Once Dead kept the place running."

[bigdamndestiny]

Merlin remained quiet as he poked and prodded at the fire with far too much vigor to be casual. A plague that attacked only people with magic.

Yes, this was officially the worst place he'd ever been.

[kestrelswolf]

"Am sorry," Firekeeper offered with genuine regret. "That I bring you here."

[bigdamndestiny]

"You couldn't have known this would happen," Merlin pointed out, looking up and offering her a smile.

[kestrelswolf]

"Is true," Firekeeper shrugged, because it was. She wasn't terribly good at offering comfort. But she tried?

[thatsamilkshake]

Francine, when the talk got very gates and supplies and fortifications, found herself a spot against the wall to slide down against, and reached into her backpack as she'd done every time they made camp, to pull out her phone.

And dialed Katchoo's number as she'd done every time they made camp.

And listened to the tuneless beep and then stared at the zero bars of signal, as she'd done every time they made camp.

It wasn't that she was too dumb to realize it wouldn't work. She just refused to give up trying.

[bitch_prince]

Once all the talk of gates and supplies and fortifications had flagged for a moment or two, and he'd taken his time by Merlin, Arthur did wander towards her to check up on her. For all intents and purposes, she was one of his now, too, if by proxy, and second generation. "Francine?" he asked, before sitting down.

[thatsamilkshake]

She looked up, still holding the phone in her hands, though she hadn't really been looking at the screen anymore. "Apparently they don't have out-of-world coverage. Stupid crappy cellular plans."

[bitch_prince]

"And this is why I tend to prefer a runner," Arthur returned, wryly. "At least back home. I'm... sure Katina's fine, however." For however consoling that was.