maskormenacelogs | ( CLOSED ) i had the strangest feeling -

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( CLOSED ) i had the strangest feeling -

WHO: Athos & d'Artagnan.
WHERE: Heropa Residence.
WHEN: The first day.
WHAT: Two losers meeting and bonding over how unacceptable soldiering seems to be here.
WARNINGS: N/A.

[ His apartment building is not actually that hard to find, though he does have help. Grey had offered to see him to the door of his room itself, but he does not like to accept help when it is not needed. Besides that he was desperate for a little time to himself. So he bids the boy goodbye in the middle of the town and follows the directions he had before, his thoughts a mess of overlapping worries and concerns. Only hours before Athos was facing down a war with Spain, now he is trapped in some strange land that makes very little sense, the people maddening and the contraptions they have even worse. His head hurts, he wants a drink.

The further up the street he goes though, the more he begins to hear the sounds of a scuffle. Athos has to bite back a sigh as he moves a little quicker towards the source of the commotion. Despite everything - his disagreement over the hero moniker for one - he refuses to let something bad happen to anyone. So it's with his hand on his sword hilt that he rounds the corner and -

Stops.

He wonders how he could ever mistaken anyone else for the snarling, angry man currently being restrained. The soldiers don't seem to know what to do, moving to restrict him at the same time as trying to soothe him. Athos' spirits lift and he strides forward. One of them catches his eye and speaks a warning, Athos ducking his chin in response. ] Forgive me, but that won't work.

[ There is a smile playing on his lips as d'Artagnan looks his way, one eyebrow cocked in greeting. ] Making an impression, are we?

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[ Today has not been a good day. Surprisingly, it had started out well. He had spent the night with Constance, their wedding night. He had been happier than he could have imagined himself being. In the morning, he had set out with Athos and Porthos to find Aramis, after which all four of them - he hoped - would report to leave for war.

He doesn't know what happened to Athos or Porthos. He doesn't know what happened to Paris. One moment he'd been riding out of the garrison, and the next he'd been lying on the floor of some strange building, with a machine all around him and a woman politely welcoming him. Welcoming him to where?!

She hadn't given him any answers. When the soldiers came, they had dragged him upstairs, and they'd explained some things. Then they'd thrust a file at him and taken him in a carriage that had no horse at all, and now they've set him on the street. There's a gesture towards the building they're at, and they say that this is where he must stay -

And around this time, his patience runs out. ]

No. No, you can't just leave me here, you have to take me back! Do you understand? Take me back to that room, to the woman. Send me home. You can't -

[ The soldier cuts across him, holding up his hands. ] Sir, we're going to have to ask you to calm down. There's nothing that we can do to send you home.

[ D'Artagnan's eyes flicker. He steps forward, eliminating the space between himself and the man. ] Don't tell me to calm down. You've taken me from my home. Now send me -

We didn't take you. [ The other soldier speaks up now, drawing d'Artagnan's increasingly angry gaze onto him. ] We told you. This isn't in our power.

Then take me to whoever has the power. I mean it, I can't stay here! I - ow!

[ He cuts himself off this time. From nowhere, a full-length rapier has appeared above his head, and promptly clattered him on it. He stares from the men to the sword, and then grabs the weapon. The one he's pointing it at puts his hands up, while the other raises them to try and placate him. ]

Now. Take me to the one in charge.

[ And at that point, Athos interjects. D'Artagnan is so surprised to see him that he puts up no resistance, not at first. The soldiers don't seem to like it, but d'Artagnan is far more interested in his friend now. ]

Athos, what are you doing here?!

[ Behind them, seeing their opportunity, the soldiers move to take their leave. ]

[ Unfortunately he did not see the sword fall from the sky, he would have some questions for the men if he had. So he just assumes d'Artagnan brought it with him. It looks like one of his.

Athos puts himself between d'Artagnan and the soldiers, his hands held up in a soothing gesture. They mutter between themselves, snatches of conversation about how they clearly knew each other, they'd both fought them the same. He can see them moving out of the corner of his eye, backing away from the commotion now he's here. Of course they're incompetent, they remind him of Red Guards, eager to leave duty whenever they can. ]

I know as much as you do about it. [ Though perhaps a little more, considering his conversation with Grey. ] Fighting them won't help. They have brought so many people here that I doubt anything we could do would sway them.

[ He glances back at them, a furrow deepening between his brows. ] Be calm. We're together now.

We are. But where is Porthos? All three of us were together, I don't understand how this happened.

[ D'Artagnan's sword has lowered now, given that he's facing his friend. He moves quickly to take hold of his friend's shoulder, and to look over him to make sure he's not been hurt. If he had been, nothing could have restrained d'Artagnan from taking on those guards.

Guards that are well on their way out, now. Aware of their movement, he turns to them again. He's in time to see them getting into their carriage. Then it takes off, and for the first time, d'Artagnan realises it does not only lack horses.

It lacks wheels. It does not so much drive, as float. ]

What in God's name --?

[ He turns back, eyes wide, and staring at Athos. ]

I feel like I've gone mad. Tell me you're seeing this as I am.

He was not with you? [ Athos had hoped that d'Artagnan would have had more information about their missing comrade, though the fact that they had turned up at separate times still gives him hope. He just has to listen out for the sounds of an even louder altercation. ] We'll find him. You came here, they must have him as well.

[ He's almost about to suggest that they set out looking for him but d'Artagnan sees the carriage and he has to address that.

He offers a wry smile, one that he doesn't necessarily feel. ] Do not step into the road without looking. They move fast and they are relatively silent. I almost met my end in front of one. [ Thankfully he had help.

Perhaps Athos should speak to him about the boy who so clearly resembles him. Though that might be too much right now. ]

You did what?

[ Suddenly concerned, d'Artagnan turns to put his hand on Athos' shoulder, and his expression turns worried. ]

What happened? You have to tell me everything that's happened, Athos. I had no idea you were here. Those men told me nothing.

[ That's not quite true, of course. He means that they hadn't told him anything that he actually understood properly. ]

All I know is that one moment we were riding out of the garrison, and the next I was in the floor of that room, and neither you nor Porthos was anywhere to be found.

I'm all right, d'Artagnan. [ Athos' voice is soft and soothing, his expression still very much glad. He's not alone, and though that makes him undeniably selfish he thinks perhaps he's allowed to be. ]

I didn't see it. But there are other people here, people like us who have been brought here against their will. I think they're able to tell when you're newly arrived. I was pulled out of harm's way. [ He glances again as another speeds past. ] But they're fast and made of metal. Be careful around them.

[ Porthos could still be out there. It makes Athos' gaze skitter. ] They brought me here at first too. If they have him it stands to reason this will be where they take him. We just have to hope he doesn't break out long before then.

[ Fast and made of metal.

How can that be? What are they, and how do they fly? D'Artagnan adds it to the list of questions he's building about this place. It ought to be a dream, and yet he knows he couldn't have imagined anything like this. It's too much, too vast. This would be beyond him. ]

That place was full of soldiers, Athos. Even Porthos couldn't break out of there alone.

[ Could he? Their friend is strong, very strong. But their enemy, as d'Artagnan is thinking of them, have many men. ]

We should look around, see what we can find.

Did they mark you, as they did me?

[ His d'Artagnan sense is tingling. Perhaps the day that he comes back with something that flies will be the day he looks back on this conversation and regrets every moment of it. ]

They won't hurt him, I don't think. I believe they have need of us. Why else would they bring us here and simply walk away? [ Besides which, Grey had taught Athos a little about the concept and so he's almost sure the soldiers see them as a necessity. ]

The tattoo? [ His anger flares up sharp and bitter on his face. They did the same to d'Artagnan. Marked him like a common criminal. How will they explain such a thing when they get back? ] They did.

[ D'Artagnan nods. He'd expected as much. Branded when they arrive, no doubt to help the soldiers keep track of them. Even though the tattoo is invisible at present, d'Artagnan imagines that he can still feel it there. Annoyed, he turns away. ]

What gave them the right? I didn't even feel them do it -

[ He breaks off as he trips, over the sword that had clattered him on the head a moment ago. Suddenly, another appears from nothing above his head, giving him another bump to match the first, and his irritation dissolves in disbelief. ]

How does that keep happening?!

[ He points at the sword. ]

It happened at their base, as well!

[ He bends to lift them up, half expecting them to disappear again. Instead, they feel solid to the touch. ]

[ Athos stares at d'Artagnan with two very wide and confused eyes. What in God's name just happened? ]

It came from nowhere. It wasn't just dropped. It appeared, right above your head. [ As if to prove something to himself, Athos lifts his hand and waves it above the space there, his fingers searching for strings or something that would make sense and explain it all away. ]

Am I going mad? I thought as much when I saw the carriage but now. Now it seems too much.

[ D’Artagnan turns the swords over in his hands, his agitation growing by the minute. ]

They said it was my power. [ Or one of them, at least. But given that the second power is even less credible than that, he’s not going to mention it. He shakes his head, before holding a sword out to Athos. ]

Feel the weight. This can’t be real, can it? Am I going to generate a rapier out of thin air every time I’m angry?

[ He takes it and gives an experimental swish of the blade, cutting through the air lightly. It's balance is perfect, it's edges sharp. It feels and looks real. ]

Let us hope not. I'm not sure we'll have the space for them if it is every single time. [ You're the Hulk of the seventeenth century, friend. ]

Your power? [ Guess who didn't listen and who also hasn't read his file? ]

What are you trying to say?

[ Offending him keeps his temper up, don't you know this? He casually lets Athos keep the sword he'd lifted, and carries the other one himself. Then, gesturing: ]

My power. One of my powers. They both sound ridiculous, but if one of them's real...

[ A pause, then. ]

What did they say you could do?

I'm sure they mentioned something but I'm afraid I did not listen. [ Of course he didn't. He woke up and tried to throw the first person he saw into a wall. Just because Athos seems unruffled now doesn't mean he was then.

But there is still the file at his belt and so he pulls it free from where he'd rolled it and secured it, the cardboard covering slightly bent now. Athos opens it with indifference before his brow creases, his eyes narrowing. ]

Well of course that can't be right. They've made some sort of joke, a mockery.

[ D'Artagnan glances across to see what he's looking at, and promptly nods. ]

I know. They know everything about us. How could they possibly?

[ He reaches the door of the apartment building and pulls it open. He spends a good few moments staring at how it's constructed. Metal and glass? What manner of place is this?

Then he looks for directions to their room, with the signs taking him promptly to the stairs.

He's going to get lost here. ]

What've they said about your powers? Do you make muskets float in front of you?

[ Athos trails after him, his file now tucked to his chest. He doesn't try to look at the directions himself, he trusts d'Artagnan to find their way. ]

No. Apparently - [ Can you hear the wild sarcasm in his voice? It's dripping with it. ] - I can turn water into wine. [ He only wishes. ] I told you, they're mocking me. I do not take kindly to it.

[ D'Artagnan swings back around to look at his friend, and trips up a couple of the stairs as a result. ]

Turn water into wine?

[ He looks disbelieving. After a moment, that melts into something far more like amusement. He can't help himself. ]

That sounds like religious fervour. You haven't been drinking any suspicious soup, have you, Athos?

[ He gets just the blankest face in return - watch where you're going, hasn't he taught you that a hundred times already? ]

No. Nor have I turned to God. But that's what it says here. [ He doesn't bother opening the file to show d'Artagnan. He can read it himself when they find their place of residence. ] I doubt it's true. But I can see the use.

[ Someone find the number to alcoholics anonymous immediately. ]

[ D’Artagnan rolls his eyes. He gets to the top of the stairs without further incidence, and starts looking for the right door. ]

There’s a lot of apartments here. They can’t all be full, can they? That would be ridiculous.

Anyway, any man can turn water into wine, with the right amount of grapes and a decent press. The way they say it makes it sound like sorcery. I trust you’d tell me if you were into something like that.

[ Athos already misses his room in the garrison and the comforting silence of it all. Everything about this place is loud and bright and alarming and no matter how helpful d'Artagnan's presence is he is still very irritated. ]

Clearly I decided getting myself killed in a war didn't sound very exciting and chose a pyre instead. [ Come now, d'Artagnan. ] It would be easier than finding a tavern at least.

It's still a city. There's bound to be a tavern.

[ Unless everyone here is far better about keeping their vices in check than the people of Paris.

Ah. That would be their door. D'Artagnan moves up to number 8, fights with the key for a moment or two, and then pushes the door open. Before them stretches out a living space more clean and modern than anything d'Artagnan has ever seen. He pauses, staring into it. ]

This can't be right.

[ Athos says a word under his breath that might actually be a filthy curse as he leans in to look over d'Artagnan's shoulder. ]

What in God's name --?

[ He pushes past his friend, striding in with a glower on his face. ] Everything is just so bright. [ It's metal and light and far too expensive for either of them. ] There must have been a mistake. Check the file again.

[ D'Artagnan checks the number on the door again, then checks their files. Both of their files. ]

It's definitely the right room.

[ He moves in, pausing at the bathroom and just staring at the contents. What is all of that supposed to be? Bypassing it, he sees bedrooms and a common living area, and stops in the latter with his hands spread. ]

Look at all of this! We can't afford this. What are they thinking?

[ Athos wants only to bang his head against the wall but he's so sure he'd damage it somehow and they'd have to pay for it that he doesn't. ]

I don't know. They didn't mention when they assigned it to us. [ He follows, taking in the clean lines and the objects he does not understand. ] They must be wrong. This is clearly something of a dignitaries room, it must be.

[ D’Artagnan is in the living area by now, and has stopped beside some strange form of pottery, resting on an end table. He stares at it, curious. ]

I don’t even know what half of these things are for.

[ He lifts it up, turning it until he sees a button to push. Once he does, it immediately flames with light. D’Artagnan lets out a yell, drops the lamp onto the sofa, and then yells again when a fresh sword materialises and clonks his head. ]

Oh, for the love of –

The candle.

[ Panicking just as quickly, he lurches forward to grab the lamp again, only to see that it has set fire to nothing at all. The sofa, where it had landed, is not even singed. He stares in disbelief from the sofa to the lightbulb, and then carefully touches it with a fingertip. It’s warm, yes. But not like a flame. ]

Athos, did you see – well, wait, now where did the sword go?

[ Either of them, actually. Both the one that he’d been carrying when he came here, and the one that had just dropped on his head, have disappeared without a trace. How can that be? How can any of this be? ]

[ So many things happen at once.

When Athos sees the light flare into existence in d'Artagnan's hand he starts to take a step forward as if to protect him from the flame. But then his friend drops it in surprise and he tuns to find some source of means to smother the fire out.

The sword he is not expecting, nor for the place to remain untouched. And so when he's addressed he merely stares mute for a moment. ]

Do what you did to the candle again. [ He'll deal with your anger weapons in a minute! ]

[ He's still looking for the swords. They can't have just gone. But then of course they had fallen out of nowhere in the first place. Maybe they've gone back there, as impossible as that seems.

He looks up at Athos, frowning. ]

What?

[ Oh.

Right. The other thing.

He glances at the strange candle and, with a shrug, drops it back onto the sofa. Once again, the flame doesn't spread. D'Artagnan leans closer to look at it. ]

It's contained. The light, it's inside that thing.

[ He meant the button, d'Artagnan good lord.

Athos moves closer, picking it up with a look of disbelief on his face before he peers under the shade. Finding what he's looking for, he presses down and the light goes out. He glances to his friend, then repeats the action.

Light on, light off, light on. ]

Well. [ It has a strange rope coming off of it and Athos rolls it through his gloved fingers before following it to a place where it joins a white square in the wall. ]

I think perhaps we are best not to touch anything. [ He puts the lamp down and then casts about the room with a gaze. ] You had the sword in your belt. Is there any way you could have put it down on our walk and forgotten? [ He knows the answer as he asks it. He would have seen too. ]

[ Oh. Well, if you meant the button, you should've just said so.

D'Artagnan folds his arms, watching Athos follow the wire to the wall. He's none the wiser about why that might mean they can make light from nothing at all.

Also, that question is ridiculous, but he indulges it by checking back down the hallway all the same. ]

No. There's nothing there, it's just gone. What use is a sword that's going to disappear again whenever it feels like it?

[ He turns, spotting a set of switches on the wall, and idly, he flicks them.

At once, both the ceiling light, and the fan attached to it, switch on, and d'Artagnan stares up in disbelief. He shakes his head. ]

This is impossible.

Didn't I just tell you not to touch anything?

[ He's going to fight the next person who doesn't listen to him, he swears to God. ] Disappearing swords, candles with no heat, whatever that is. [ The fan. It doesn't look safe. It looks like it might detach from the ceiling and kill them both with it's spinning blades.

But the air is quite cool. Perhaps he'll risk it. ] Bring it back.

[ D'Artagnan chooses to ignore that command completely. they're in an entirely new place and almost everything looks dangerous. Of course he's going to touch everything.

Also, he frowns. ]

Bring what back?

[ A deeper frown. ]

The sword? How am I supposed to do that? I don't know where it came from in the first place, I can't just magically make it appear.

[ Despite him doing exactly that five minutes ago. ]

[ He's going to get a heart attack from this place alone. He can feel it. ]

But you did before. [ Still, Athos doesn't know how and so he lets out a sigh, his body twisting to take in more of the room. Beyond the strange candle holder and the oddly shaped chaise longue there is also many things he doesn't recognise. In the corner there is a black box that seems to have a mirror like quality to it and Athos crouches to peer at it. It's useless, he doesn't understand why they would fill so much space with things they cannot use. ]

Were you thinking of it before it appeared? Perhaps you should try that.

No.

[ D’Artagnan looks confused, and then starts to pace while he thinks back. ]

I wasn’t thinking of anything. [ A pause. ] Except for the soldiers abandoning us here and expecting us to just get along with –

[ His irritation rises again even as he says it. Then, suddenly, he’s aware of a shadow being cast by the light overhead, and he looks up to see a sword right there. Quickly, he steps aside, and this time manages to catch it in one hand as it falls.

Well. D’Artagnan knocks it carefully against the floor, checking that it’s real. ]

It’s because I was angry. It appeared when I was angry. God, that’s incredible –

[ But with the emotion fading just as quickly, the sword disappears even as he watches it. A second later and it’s gone, his hand empty once again. He looks up at Athos, surprised, but with an air of understanding. He’s found his trigger. ]

[ For a moment Athos merely stares at him in shock before he raises his eyes heavenward as if to call on a deity he doesn't believe in. ]

Anger.

[ He rises, his knees clicking as he does so. ] Well, I suppose we shall never have a shortage of weapons at least.

[ Now that he knows why it’s happening, there’s actually a side of d’Artagnan that likes it. If he bears that power in mind, Athos is right. It could be very useful. Provided the sword didn’t disappear mid-battle, or anything. ]

But they vanish when I calm down. I’ll have to learn to hold onto a grudge.

[ He hears those words after he speaks them, and looks up with a grin. ]

Shouldn’t be that hard.

Months of training you out of it and here, now, it becomes the key.

[ He sighs, his shoulders slumping comically. ] All my hard work ruined by people who don't have the courtesy of letting you know before they kidnap you.

At least now something useful will come of it.

[ He's still smirking, but honestly, it's not going to be as easy as he's pretending. Already, it's clear that a loss of concentration, a lack of holding onto that strong feeling, will cause the weapon to vanish. In the heat of battle that could be devastating - though, granted, in the heat of battle he'd be less likely to suddenly calm down or start laughing.

He nods at Athos. ]

I can't say the same about yours. Water into wine. What are you supposed to do with that, get drunk before a fight?

[ He shrugs and then moves to toe open another room. There is a bed in it and he raises his eyebrow at the lavish way it is made. ]

It wouldn't be the first time.

[ Not that he does it on purpose. Sometimes fights break out. Sometimes Athos is drunk. He can still end them though. ] I wonder if I require an emotion for it too.

[ D'Artagnan moves to look over his shoulder, his eyes widening when he sees the room. It doesn't seem occupied - there's no sense of it being lived in, but everything looks neat and orderly. And clean, all very clean, in a way he's never experienced before. ]

It's possible. You won't know until you try. Did you see a well on your travels? We could find out.

[ He ducks past Athos into the room, and sits on the bed. It's springy, which surprises him - he's never felt a bed so comfortable. Reaching out, he touches the pillows to find them squidgy, lacking the firmer feel of down. ]

I don't think there's feathers in this bed. It's something else. This can't be how people live, Athos. Not people like us.

[ He leans against the door frame with the air of someone who has finally stopped caring. Athos had thought all their doings with Rochefort had been madness but this? Well. ]

I did not. Which considering how rich this place looks surprises me. But I'm sure we'll find someone we can ask.

[ A beat. ] Or bring our complaints to.

That would be nice, considering the soldiers didn't want to hear it.

[ Possibly they hadn't wanted to hear it because of how irritable d'Artagnan had been at the time, though. There's always that.

Speaking of which, he pulls the device they'd given him out of his pocket, and turns it thoughtfully over in his hands. ]

They claimed there were others here, like us, and that these things connected us to them. It sounded ridiculous to me, but given what else we've seen, perhaps it's not.

[ He crosses the room to look at the thing in d'Artagnan's hands. He'd been given one too but like everything they pressed upon him, he had ignored it. Now he looks at it with renewed interest. ]

Yes, they said it was like a method of communication. Faster than writing letters, I think. I didn't believe it.

[ And yet they have flames contained in small spheres of glass that can be turned on and off on a whim. And d'Artagnan can create swords out of thin air. Perhaps he had been wrong to. ] We could try?

I’m sure I can find out how it works.

[ This means he’s going to push buttons until he figures it out. He reaches for it again. As it stands, the device doesn’t look like anything special; he can’t imagine how it would actually do what they say. ]

Are you ready to say hello?

You're far better at communicating than I am. [ Sorry friend, he thought it was a good idea, that didn't mean he wanted to do it. ] Your face is more charming. You'd do better.

[ He's just going to take a seat behind him somewhere ... where he considers himself out of the way and is not. ]

[ D’Artagnan rolls his eyes. He’s already planning to introduce the two of them together; there’d be no point in it otherwise. He’s not going to tell Athos that, though. ]

All right, if that’s what you want. I’ll see what I can discover.

[ And he will, working through the device until he has the hang of it and he’s ready to broadcast. ]

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( CLOSED ) i had the strangest feeling -

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