Another Musketeer Arrives

[not_apriest]

Who: Aramis and OPEN
Where: The Grounds
When: October 15th. Morning.
Rating: PG at worst? We don't really know what to expect yet.
Summary: Aramis wakes up on a beach and isn't sure how he got there.
The Story:


He opened his eyes and immediately squinted against the glare of the sun. And that was already wrong. He put his hands down to push himself up and noticed they sank in hot sand. He frowned. Very very wrong. There were no beaches in Paris. Where the hell was he? He pushed himself up to a sitting position, patting himself down, taking stock. He still had his weapons. His hat was on the sand near his left hand. He was still wearing his cloak and his boots. He grabbed his hat and stood, looking around. There was sparkling blue water to his right. Rich green grass to his left. Beyond, some distance away, he could see what appeared to be a great manor house.

He headed for that.

Comments

[not_apriest]

I assume you've tried to escape.

[thestormcomes]

Walking the length of the grounds, be it forest or fields, will only deposit you back where you started. There's no end to it.

[He pauses thoughtfully, recalling an important detail.]

Mortality does not pose a problem here, though.

[In case he neglected to mention...]

We are permitted to die four times, returning each time as if rising like Lazarus.

[not_apriest]

[Aramis looks over at him sharply.]

Four times? And what happens the fifth? True death?

[thestormcomes]

I'm not certain. I have yet to hear of anyone who has lost their life more than five times.

[Tantalizing as it sounds to experiment, Athos isn't exactly up for testing the results on himself. He already lost one life to carelessness.]

[not_apriest]

[Aramis gives his friend a wary glance.]

... Has it happened to you?

[thestormcomes]

[Merci, he appreciates the skepticism. Even if it is warranted.]

...Once.

[That is all you need know, my friend.]

A mistake I will not make again.

[not_apriest]

[He doesn't ask for details, but he does cross himself.]

What sort of food do they serve here?

[thestormcomes]

[The subject is dropped, thank God. And speaking of God, Athos watches Aramis cross himself with obvious interest. It isn't as though Athos does not believe in Him, but His presence isn't here.

Wonderland is devoid of whatever spiritual guidance might lead a man.]

Anything you can think of, the kitchen or dining hall will provide. [A beat.] Hungry?

[not_apriest]

[Aramis huffs out a small laugh.]

No. Just changing the subject.

[thestormcomes]

Very subtle of you.

[Athos chuckles in return.]

I'm afraid there isn't much call for men like us here.

[not_apriest]

[Aramis smirks a little.]

There wasn't much call for men like us back there lately.

[thestormcomes]

Touché.

[There are, unfortunately, very few "great causes" in Wonderland.]

At the very least, I'll finally have a fencing partner who poses a threat.

[God in Heaven, Athos hopes he hasn't grown excessively rusty. He leads the way into one of the manor's many parlors, moving to a closet to fetch a drink.]

...Wine? Or water, Padre?

[not_apriest]

Wine. Please.

[Passing the time by sparring with Athos. That actually sounds... fun.]

[thestormcomes]

[A nice cup of Wonderland's finest Chambertin, then? Athos takes a sip of his own drink after handing the other to Aramis. He doesn't bother making a toast - he's always been terrible at at that.

Better to leave wordsmithing to those more suited to it.]

[not_apriest]

[Aramis watches him for a moment, trying to determine the effect this experience has been having on his friend. After a moment, he sips his own drink.]

So that's it, then? No tavern. You want a drink and you... acquire it? Accommodating of them.

[thestormcomes]

Simple enough.

[He sips from his own cup, happy to see that the Mansion's selection today is a fine Chambertin from his favorite chateau.]

Fairly dangerous for men like us, non? Porthos would have a field day.

[not_apriest]

Oh? Do they provide willing women as well? [Teasing, although... that wouldn't be a bad thing, either. He smirks and sips his wine.] It would be a more comfortable prison than Porthos usually lets himself get taken to, regardless.

[thestormcomes]

Some women, perhaps not enough for your tastes. You might get lucky and find a pretty young lady to woo.

[Teasing in return.

There definitely aren't enough women around to satisfy Porthos' appetite, but then again, he is a man with a large stomach and an even larger libido.]

But make no mistake; this is indeed an elegant prison.

[not_apriest]

Exactly how long have you been here, Athos?

[thestormcomes]

A year, come November.

[He takes a deep breath and a glance down into his wine.

Too long without France and the musketeers.]

[not_apriest]

[That answer actually cracks his wry veneer, his eyes widening slightly.]

A year?

[thestormcomes]

Mh.

[A simple acknowledgement of the facts.]

You'd think I would have taken my own life by now, wouldn't you?

[Save for the fact that he is still a remotely God-fearing man, and everyone knows the sin of suicide is a one-way ride to Hell. Extreme times call for extreme measures.]

To be fair, it has been taken many times already.

[...ah, yes, he has yet to brief Aramis on events. Specifically, revenge-driven ones in which you spend the entire time hunting down an English duke and being hunted in return.]

[not_apriest]

I think, if ever you were going to take your own life, it would have been after Venice.

[He gives Athos a sidelong glance.]

What do you mean 'many'? I thought the limit was five.

[thestormcomes]

[Thanks for the reminder, Aramis, he's really fond of remembering Venice and the months thereafter.

Really.

Athos clears his throat, grateful his friend doesn't dwell on the subject.]

Every fortnight, this place has something called an event. These events can play with your mind, force you to see things or believe things that are not true. One such event inspired a heavy desire for vengeance, and I exacted it upon Lord Buckingham - he did the same in return. For that event, the lives we lost did not seem to...ah...count, I should say.

[not_apriest]

I shouldn't think either you or Buckingham would require much of a push to inspire a desire for vengeance. What's more interesting, in fact, is that whoever runs this place seems able to change the rules on a whim.