Slow Climb but Quick to Descend

[gordianknots]

Who: Saber and Waver
When: 14 Jan
Where: Waver's house
What: Experiments. Door experiments.
Warnings: N/A



[If there is an unlocked door, the proper thing to do is to go through it. The scientific thing to do, when faced with an island full of magic that cannot be controlled and magically appearing doors, is to have someone be there in case everything goes terribly wrong.

Given the available options, Waver sends the following text to Saber:]

I assume you've seen the doors. For the sake of knowing what lies behind them, I'm going through, but I want someone to time how long I'm on the other side. Can you help?

Comments

[untilavalon]

You expect me to allow you through unattended? You haven't very well proven yourself capable of appropriate defence.

[gordianknots]

I'll be fine. What I need you to do is to keep time on the outside. If there's a difference between how long on the other side of the door is an important detail, and you're like, one of maybe three people I can ask for help with this.

Can you come over now and discuss face to face, if you have objections?

[untilavalon]

Fine. I'll be over in a moment.

[Not that she can tell him to do much.

Getting to Waver's house means booking it all the way across the island, so it does take a fair amount of time. When Saber arrives it's apparent she's still trying to resist the costuming the rulers insist on; apart from pink hair pulled up in a ponytail, she's got a better-sized version of the warm squire's outfit she wished for upon arrival. Knocking on the door, she waits for Waver's answer.]

[gordianknots]

[For once, Waver, rather than VH, answers the door. And of course, it's impossible not to react to the hair, so Waver blinks once or twice before standing aside to let Saber in.]

[untilavalon]

[Saber does little beyond give him a frown for his reaction, but it could have been worse. This sort of thing is absolutely ridiculous. She understands uniforms for roles you've chosen to fill, but this was by force.

That, and of all shades...

Stepping inside, Saber looks to Waver.]

Do you have any information about what may be beyond the door?

[gordianknots]

Absolutely not, hence the need to find out.

[untilavalon]

[She's just going to give you a blank look for the next few moments, Waver.]

And if it's dangerous?

[gordianknots]

Then it's dangerous.

[untilavalon]

You'll have to forgive me for remembering only the days when you'd enter such a situation nearly damaging your voicebox from screaming.

[gordianknots]

I've done strategy for an entire army since then.

[untilavalon]

[Saber seems to pause before giving a nod.]

Well, then. Carry on. Have you a watch? [She hadn't tried wishing for timepieces or other such technology.]

[gordianknots]

[Waver nods, standing up and leaving the room, only to come back with an old-fashioned looking alarm clock with two very tinny bells on top, painted an obnoxious green.]

This'll do.

[untilavalon]

[Another blank stare. Waver, this clock is about as inconspicuous as Saber's hair.]

[gordianknots]

[Waver ignores it, and goes to open the door]

Tell me when the second hand hits twelve.

[untilavalon]

[After a few moments pause, Saber nods. She doesn't need to warn him.]

Go.

[gordianknots]

[What's inside is grey, inky, and absolutely desolate. Waver can recongize the midlands easy enough, and he knows the story of Jack of Kent well enough, but. But this isn't right.

So he looks at the watch on his wrist, and starts walking around. there's an empty little village he leaves behind, and a great big field with a road going through it that he follows down for a while. But not even an animal catches his eye.

It takes half an hour to realize it, and half an hour to walk back to the village, out the door, and back to the island.]

--Okay. That was....something.

[untilavalon]

[When he returns, Saber is sitting on the couch, buggering about with the clock. Waver is taking a hell of a long time, at least when Saber has no distractions.

At his voice, she turns her head toward him.]

What's the problem?

[gordianknots]

--That was very, very, very much medieval England, and it was very grey and empt--

[And like that, Waver's brain stops to process a flood of new memories, sending him staggering for a seat, lest he fall over.]

[untilavalon]

[Saber's reaction is immediate; she hurries to his side and helps him sit, hand on Waver's arm.]

Are you alright?

[gordianknots]

[For a minute, Waver's dead silent. When he does respond, it's with one long, exhausted breath.]

Yes and no. I just got memories dumped into my head that aren't mine. How long was I gone?

[untilavalon]

An hour, is all. [She stays close, on the defence.]

Was it longer for you?

[gordianknots]

No, not at all. Time works the same, so that's good to know.

[he sighs] It's in my brain, Saber, you can't exactly defend me against my own mind.

[untilavalon]

[A word catches in her throat; she's taken by surprise at how he read her.]

It's instinct. [Well, it is.]

Was there anything else of interest?

[gordianknots]

[Waver tilts his head back and stares upwards at the ceiling]

There was no one on the other side of those doors. I walked into a village - nothing. NO one was on the roads, not a single bird chirped, I saw no bugs, no animals, nothing. The whole place was desolate and saturated.

And the price for going through is getting another aspect of Jack of Kent's.

[untilavalon]

I'll stay out of my door then. [The pink hair is enough.]

This is absolutely ridiculous. THere's no explanation- no way to understand..

[gordianknots]

It is playing with curiosity and giving no further answers - only adding further questions. I'd definitely stay out of yours.