tushanshu | 001 ♓ [Video]

Entry tags:

001 ♓ [Video]

[Kaldur takes in the location as calmly as he can after having the strange location explained to him. He knows that this is a city on the back of a turtle—which sounds vaguely like something out of one of the books on surface-dweller mythology he had read once—but why he had been chosen and how cut off his final memories were before arriving here was still a mystery.]

It is said that to better understand your surroundings you must look at it with many eyes. [He is formal, but genial. He does not wish to start a confrontation on his first day.] I am known as Aqualad. It is a very…unique situation in which I find myself. Where we are and how we may have come to be here has been explained to me, but I would greatly appreciate any further information that those who come before me are willing to provide. The frequency of arrivals, whether others have managed to leave before, and general disposition of the native inhabitants would be very helpful. Those I have met so far have been...amicable, I can say.

[If none respond, he will have to seek a less direct route of coming by the information. He bows his head slightly, but visibly.] Thank you for your time.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Thank you for the consideration, my...sir. [Kaldur never expected to be in this sort of situation--where he would be faced with his king from another world who somehow is not even a king anymore. It's not easy to know what to do or how to react. He speaks so easily of himself, but Kaldur isn't what he should say or do in return. His king has never done anything that would make him question is regard for him, so why would this one consider himself so unworthy of it?]

Yes it seems that information is not so easy to come by if you are not familiar with persons already here. My teammate, Zatanna, has explained that the turtle itself might be what keeps our powers and sorcery intact.

[This might take some getting used to. Neither of his Aqualads were ever this formal with him, when the royal court was nowhere to be seen. Some might have thought Garth took too many liberties with the monarch, but he was family, always, and family is important. Family like Mera, Lorena, and in a way, Kaldur.

Arthur frowns at the news, looking pensive.] Or, apparently, if you're friends with the Justice League. No one ever mentioned that to me. Batman did mention that magic intervention is the only option they haven't really explored. Zatanna is... older, in our timeline, much older than this Zatanna, and no one is willing to put her younger and less experienced self at risk.

[That is more confusing, but if this is a different world, perhaps fate has led all of his friends down different roads than he could think of. But the fact they have no utilized her skills because they find her too young...]

With all due respect...sir, she is a newer member of our team, yes, but she's more than proven herself capable and knowledgeable in her craft. There are children at the Conservatory of Sorcery years younger than her, as well. Zatanna was born into magic as much as they, as is far more experienced.

[Arthur shakes his head slightly.] No, it isn't a slight against her, Kaldur. The fact of the matter is, the palace so far seems impervious to everything, even Superman, so I was told. It's likely very old and very powerful magic and we don't know anything about it.

At this point, I wouldn't risk Garth either, and he was- he was very talented. Whatever is going on here is enough to keep Superman, Batman, and a Green Lantern imprisoned on this turtle, and we must be careful where and how we tread.

[Kaldur does not point out that the three he mentioned do not have powers based in the mystical in the way that Zatanna does, but he can see why they would be wary to put her in harm's way, even if he still believes Zatanna herself should have that choice.

It is something else that keeps Kaldur's attention.]

...You say Garth "was." [The very idea of it makes Kaldur feel somewhat ill.] Does that mean...? [Kaldur cannot even speak the words.]

[Well if that isn't an oh shit moment he doesn't know what is. This Kaldur is Garth's contemporary? That raises a lot if questions, like why his son isn't his partner and how well they know each other and if Garth is even his son at all, but... Now Kaldur is asking him about Garth, and how can he even begin to explain? How can he tell him about his son's death, about Dolphin and Cerdian, ...about Tula.

He decides not to mention her at all. He isn't sure what to say about Garth either, Kaldur's reaction brings the pain up in a fresh wave again. So he just starts, sounding tired, even though it technically isn't a lie,] He lost his magic when the Spectre went on a rampage. I wasn't aware you know Garth. Things are very different in my timeline. He's years older than you where I'm from. Maybe we should get to know each other better again.

[It is much like talking to a familiar stranger rather than an estranged friend, Kaldur thinks. There are so many feelings he has, but about things he has not experienced--may never experience. It seems as if so many things have occurred in this other world that Kaldur is grateful his own has avoided.]

I agree, the differences in our worlds are subtle and yet poignant. In my own world, Garth, Tula, and I studied together at the Conservatory of Sorcery under Queen Mera's tutelage. When the opportunity arose, I chose to become your protege, Garth chose to remain at the Conservatory. He and Tula are the most skilled of their class.

[Arthur, at least, doesn't have a lot of preconceptions about Kaldur'ahm. He hadn't gotten the chance to get to know Jackson Hyde, not really. After the mess with Xebel, and after being a water elemental for a bit, he hadn't even gotten the chance to call the Titans to get him some training. But it doesn't change the fact that he had stood with Jackson and Lorena and Mera and proclaimed them all outcasts, but not alone.

Kaldur won't be alone, either.]

Some differences are larger than others. We don't have a Conservatory of Sorcery, magic isn't always... fondly looked upon in recent times. [So he was taught by Mera and Garth wasn't Aqualad first... It seems odd, the difference in ages, but it makes sense, considering how young Zatanna is.] Different events, perhaps, but it doesn't change who we are. I'm not exactly the man you know, but I hope I can still be the mentor you deserve.

[He's definitely not mentioning Garth's death, or Tula's death, though. If Mera thinks they should break the news to him, they can do it together, gently.]

[Kaldur sadly has too many preconceptions, but he is trying to set them to the side, because he can see how this man is his king and yet distinctly different from him at the same time.]

Magic is why we exist. Without it Atlanteans would not be capable of living beneath the ocean. It is the one thing we have always trusted. I am sorry it is not the same in your world. Hopefully this will change in time once you have returned there.

[He also truly believes they will find a way to leave. He isn't known for giving up in such circumstances.]

And it is not you who has anything to prove, my...sir. [This is going to take some getting accustomed to.] I serve Atlantis, but I also swore my loyalty to Aquaman as my mentor and as his protege. It is I who have to prove I am still worthy of that.

[Apparently even these two Atlantises evolved differently. Magic has a much darker past in his Atlantis's history, and it was King Orin the first and the scientists of the age that developed the serum that made the past Atlanteans breathe water.] It sounds like a more peaceful Atlantis. I'm very glad to hear that. [Since a lot of the things that made sorcery so hated in current days are his fault.]

We all serve Atlantis, and anyone who chooses to stand by me is worthy in my eyes. [It took him a long time to find a place in the world. But he can ensure that Kaldur has a place with him as long as he wants it.]

We are...not without our own troubles. But for the most part, yes. You--The King and Queen do much to keep it that way.

[He won't speak of the Purists. It has no bearing on their current predicament and he would rather not speak so ill of his people at this point in time when he is not sure when next he will see them.]

And thank you.

No Atlantis is without its... darker points. As much as I wish it were otherwise. [Ask him sometime about blond babies being left on Mercy Reef to die. Actually no, don't ask. He knows all about suspicion and tensions between the different sectors of Atlantis; he's dealt with similar issues before.] Apparently we have things better under control there. Mera... rules alone, at the moment.

I look forward to getting to know you.

The Queen has always been a formidable force and I have no doubt she rules well and justly. I myself will do my best to live up to your expectations. [He does not wish to be this person that Arthur remembers, but he is still Aquaman. For him to do anything less would dishonor his own mentor and what he has learned from him.]

That never changes. My wife is formidable as a typhoon. [His smile is fond when he speaks of her; they never really stopped being in love, even if they did stop being a couple for a while.

But then he offers a hand.] I believe it's best we go into this with no expectations. [He barely knew Jackson, but he can tell that Kaldur isn't Jackson. And that's okay. He'll take Kaldur as he is, get to know him. Partners are partners.]

It is impossible to go into any situation without some form of expectation...sir. But I will do my best to set them aside as much as possible.

[He takes Arthur's hand with a serious expression. This may not be his king, but his sense of loyalty cannot be completely diminished. He'll have to adjust to this strange situation as much as he can.]

Is there anything else I should be aware of? [If not, he does need to get to a meeting with Robin. To find out what he knows so far.]

As few as possible, then. No sense in pretending to be people we aren't, exactly. [He gives his hand a firm shake before he releases it.]

Not off the top of my head. We can always speak later if something does come up.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

001 ♓ [Video]

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject

no subject