video | username; sieglindesullivan

[grunehexe]

Ahem.

[The video reveals a rather proper looking young girl (ignore the old blood stains on her dress), sat in front of a rather impressive sprawl of vials, jars, and herbs.]

I am Sieglinde Sullivan, and though I have made some of your acquaintances, there are far more of you than one can expect me to know- so please consider this my formal introduction.

[She pauses, until. Yes, that's right, no one could reply yet.]

My true purpose in contacting you all is to find out who among you is capable of healing, whether that be in the scientific or magical sense. I am aware of some of you, but I could use some assistance in the production of potions and salves if there are any among you competent with such things.

Even someone unskilled could be of use if you are willing to learn and have a steady hand.

I would also appreciate the chance to speak more leisurely with those who may have knowledge of healing methods different from those of my own.

I await your contact with pleasure.

Comments

[grunehexe]

[HOLD UP]

Did you say "Camelot"?

[servant]

Yeah. Have you heard of it?

[It is a pretty big deal within the Five Kingdoms.]

[grunehexe]

If it is the Camelot of King Arthur's court, then, yes. Many have in my world.

[and his username? She's ready to flip out at any moment]

[servant]

King Arthur?

[Now it's his turn to be surprised and just a tad confused.]

No, Uther's the king. Arthur's the prince.

[grunehexe]

Uther Pendragon?

[Keep calm, Sieglinde, this isn't a book this is a man's life!!!!]

I believe this may be a case of people hailing from different "times"... Those of my world know of Camelot from tales and song.

[servant]

Right...

[Merlin knew this sort of thing could happen. He really shouldn't be surprised that it's happening to him. After all, Arthur has a destiny to live up to, one that likely would inspire poets and bards.

And speaking of destiny...]

...But Arthur does become king in your world?

[He shouldn't ask. Knowing the future's a scary thing, but he can't resist.]

[grunehexe]

The greatest of kings, it is said.

[Normally she would feel more apprehensive about discussing such a thing- she has the werewithal, young as she is, to think about the possibility of risks when dealing with "time"- if that's what this was. But didn't the tales say it was something Arthur knew from the moment he pulled the sword from the stone? So it was not so bad to say he would do well...

But perhaps details of the end tales were best kept to herself unless asked.]

... Alongside several other famous Knights. A wizard as well.

[But her image of Merlin had always been... Older...]

[servant]

[The greatest of kings. There's a wistful little smile on Merlin's lips at that. Sure, Arthur can be a prat sometimes, but Merlin no longer doubts that he'll make a good king, braver and kinder and wiser than his father.]

What, a wizard? [That's the part that throws him. Can Arthur really be that different from his father? Maybe there's hope.] Do you know his name?

[grunehexe]

[She hesitates just slightly, unsure due to his age- she'd always imagined Merlin a grown man of some years when Arthur was not yet King, but... Tales weren't always one hundred percent true, of course. And he asked.]

Merlin.

[She'll just wait expectantly for his reaction.]

[servant]

[There isn't any reaction, at least not at first. Merlin's too surprised by it, almost numbed. She surely saw his username, of course. There's really nothing that she couldn't have pieced together from what he told her, but-

He exhales, his breath shuddering. His entire thin frame is trembling somewhat.]

Er...it's a nice tale. I wish I could believe it.

[grunehexe]

It is a very popular one, yes.

[She did so want to press it, ask more questions... But the way he reacts sombers her, and she keeps her mouth shut. Maybe persecution of magic wasn't just part of her own world's nature? It could be anything, really, and as curious as she was, the last thing she wanted to do was dredge up painful memories.]

I could tell you about it another time, if you wished.

[servant]

I would like that.

[Even if it's a lot to take in at once, the more it sinks in, the more questions he'll have too.]

Maybe while I'm assisting you, if you're still looking for someone.

[grunehexe]

I am, in fact.

[After all, if he truly was Merlin...]

Since our worlds may differ, perhaps we may learn from each other.

[servant]

[Merlin's smile is a little bit relieved, and he nods his agreement.]

I'd like that. I'll be ready to start whenever you are.

[Anyone who knew him might say that he's never been so eager to work before.]

[grunehexe]

[She likes the sound of this!!!]

Are you available this day? I've several solutions I'd like to begin as soon as possible.

[servant]

Yeah, sure. No time like the present, yeah?

Where should I meet you?

[grunehexe]

I keep a room above the apothecary in the western market. I will alight and meet you in front?

[Stairs are something of a natural enemy of hers but she doesn't want him to miss it... !]

[servant]

Shouldn't be any problem to find. I'll be right over.

[He starts to head off, but then he pops off.]

What's your name?

[grunehexe]

[Oh... ! She's still not quite used to having to introduce herself to people. This is the outside world Sieglinde not your village]

I am Sieglinde. Sieglinde Sullivan.

[servant]

Sieglinde.

[Merlin repeats her name with a smile.]

I'll see you shortly.

[grunehexe]

Then I shall expect you. Merlin.

[oh man she's got to put a lid on her excitement by the time he arrives, though]

action, if you want!

[servant]

[The apothecary in the western market. Merlin thinks he knows it, or if he doesn't, it shouldn't be hard to find. And he keeps his promise about not making her wait. He might look like a good gust of wind could blow him over, but he's quick. Especially when he's just as excited.]

Action cause I do so want!

[grunehexe]

[Thankfully for the both of them Sieglinde does manage to get a lid on her excitement that she might be about to meet Merlin- the Merlin. From the tales she'd read in the library beside the stories of Sigmund and his son the dragons slayer, of the epic tale of he who saw into the depths... For all her world had been falsely constructed around her, it had been a world in which the legendary and the magical existed.

So Merlin wasn't so far fetched, and even if he was not the same... Well, it was still a pair of hands she could put to work!

Sieglinde doesn't exactly clean, however... So once Merlin makes his way up the stairs on the side of the apothecary to the door to the flat above it... He'll find a tiny young girl in heavy gown, balancing on unnaturally tiny heels by holding to the door handle and gesturing him into a veritable pig sty of notes and experiments. Magic circles half completed drawn on the floor in one corner, notes of a planetary nature draped over a cask of beer in another, and several different things bubbling in vials on the desk.]

Merlin, is it? Well met, well met-

!!!

[servant]

[Not the same, and hopefully not a disappointment. The one who walks through her door is young, too old to really be called a boy, but just on the threshold of being called a man. His face is bright and eager, expressive.]

Oh, yeah. The pleasure's mine.

[But unless appearances are deceiving (and they often can be) she looks even younger. Small too, and he thinks Gwen would make over the fabric and details of her gown. He smiles at her before looking around. The mess doesn't bother him - Merlin can be a bit of a slob himself, and he's always used to bundles of dried herbs and books and Gaius boiling and bubbling this and that.

This actually looks a lot like home.]

Looks like you're already hard at work.

[grunehexe]

[He really is... Young. Obviously not so very young in actuality, quite a few years older than herself, but compared to the image she had in her head associated with the name "Merlin"... Perhaps his world was different. Perhaps the legends simply didn't tell the entire truth of the matter- after all, they were written far later, oral tradition given word on paper...

But he had not responded well to the idea, so she kept those thoughts to herself, instead ushering him in and closing the door behind before walking in a distinctive, off balance sway to the chair at the work desk, which she clambered into as gracefully as possible (which was not so gracefully).]

I have begun what I can... The apothecary downstairs has a good supply of basics, but there are other things I find myself in need of...

[She gestured to... The general mess of her desk. Notes here and there, a scribbled magic circle of some kind that actually took up most of a paper and some of the wood beneath, a small braiser heating a chunk of metal, handful of bark floating in a basin of water...]

But you are familiar with this sort of work, yes?