and the white knight is talking backwards and the red queen's off with her head

[undealt]

WHO || Gold, Amara, and OPEN
WHAT || Gold has arrived back from dealing with refuges in Bermuda. And now he's making frands. And surely everyone wants to know who dat lady is.
WHERE || The castle library
WHEN || some indeterminate time in June
HOW || actionspaaaam
OTHER || You can also pull Gold and Amara aside for one-on-one conversations if you'd like. Just specify.

If you go into the library today, you will find an unusual sight- for one thing, Gold's back, but he must have snuck in like a ninja because it's not like he made any great announcement of it. Just swanned in, checked on his crocodile, and immediately tracked down a certain blonde homo magi. Suspicious!

Said homo magi is currently in the library with him. In fact, they're in the section with all the magic books, chatting animatedly about... something or other. (A listen check of 18 will catch what they're saying).

Comments

[untethered]

It seems there's something interesting happening every day, if one knows where to look. But nothing personal I can compare to your adventure.

[undealt]

I'd say it's not every day one goes up against a small empire based around the world's most powerful sorcerers, but I was led to believe that was par for the course when I joined up.

[He smiles.] Perhaps we might actually get a mission together one day.

[It'll be hot.]

[untethered]

Well, my own experience so far has mostly come in the form of facing down monsters or locating strange treasures. I did have occasion to help stop a war between some nymphs and humans, however.

[ and she glances over at him with a smirk ] I'd say there's always a chance, particularly given we represent different sects.

[undealt]

The joys of diplomacy. [If magic ever leaves entirely, he has a definite future with the Tongue ahead of him, but he is not thinking of that right now. He and Faye are going to cry over that together with ice cream and a copy of Practical Magic.]

It would be nice to have someone I could rely on. [a beat- where the hell did that come from] ...to use her mind, rather than her sword.

[untethered]

The way I understood it, we're in the business of saving people, and I've always found one of those methods slightly more effective.

[undealt]

Well, that makes two of us. Sadly, you rarely see anyone who can keep a cool head in a crisis. [Or a pragmatic head. This is where they're going to differ if they ever get a mission together.] Once it all falls apart, it's steel, rather then words.

[untethered]

Not everyone has the same respect for the power words hold. [ as they turn into the dragon's hoard wing, she considers him ] Is that what happened in Bermuda?

[undealt]

Indeed, they don't. [Words are awesome. Why would anyone diss good old fashioned spin. People would low bluff and diplomacy mods that's who.

He closes his eyes, thinking of that utter mess.] That was one instance where it likely couldn't have gone another way.

[Well, it could have, but one option was more practical than the rest.] I prefer smaller weapons, but not every war is won with a pen. Not unless you're prepared to make a great sacrifice. I just hope what we did back there doesn't come back to bite us on the arse one day.

[untethered]

Is that why you're spending so much time with the magi?

[undealt]

It's one reason. [Having Amara firmly willing to throw her support behind the Knights as a means of protecting her people (as if they really needed it) would certainly help, but... He has other reasons.

Magic reasons.]

[untethered]

[ magic reasons, huh. ] She is very powerful. [ the tiniest glance ever, as she adds with a cool, totally casual air: ] And very beautiful.

[ this is called a woman trap, gold. disable device does not assist here. ]

[undealt]

I hadn't noticed. [a w k w a r d l y] The latter, I mean. It is difficult to not be aware of her power, after seeing her use it against us.

[DID HE PASS????]

[untethered]

[ a++ ] I don't suppose there's any chance she'd be willing to take up the oath herself.

[undealt]

[SOMETIMES HE CAN WOMAN. It also helps that he has zero interest in Amara's vagina.]

I think it would hurt her delicate pride. [He almost snorts at the thought.] Perhaps if David asked her, but an oath given due to the effects of a curse is hardly an oath truly meant.

[untethered]

[ her expression darkens slightly at the idea ] I'd hope he knows better than to take advantage of his power over her in any way, now that he understands what sort of curse is at work. Her decisions should be her own.

[undealt]

If he fears the wrath of his daughter any, that won't be a mistake easily made.

[He... still can't get over the daughter thing.]

[untethered]

Daughter? [ someone needs to catch up on her cast gossip. it's... so very canon of her. ]

[undealt]

Emma Swan, apparently. My squire.

[He gives her a look. It is very odd.] My squire, who can't be much younger than he is. Apparently, there is a great deal of magic involved where I came from and I don't remember a bit of it.

[untethered]

In... Storybrooke, was it? They're all from there too? Emma, David, Killian?

[undealt]

[HIIIIIIISSS. Why are you talking to his precious librarian princess, Hook. GO AWAY. (will save 15 to... not get all annoyed that Hook's talking to people)]

David and Emma are. I've been told Hook [he will not call him Killian- Hook seems more appropriate] is, but I've never met him, myself, but if Emma's to be believed, most of my memories aren't even to be trusted.

[NOT ONLY DOES HE HAVE VEILNESIA. HE HAS FAKE MEMORIES. THAT IS BULLSHIT.]

[untethered]

Why wouldn't you be able to trust them?

[undealt]

Because I don't know if they're real. [He's still wrapping his brain around the idea of the curse or whatever Emma's said.] An entire false life concocted by something much more thorough than the Veil. [He shakes his head.] Of course, they're real enough to me and that's all that matters, but sometimes I doubt that's enough for Ms. Swan.

[untethered]

Does she have any idea... why someone would have done that to you?

[undealt]

I think at one point, I just told her to stop telling me about it. [He can't help it. If there's no way to reverse Veilnesia, then what chance does anyone have of fixing false memories from before.] It's not as if anything can be done. That was another lifetime and the Veil is a much more pressing concern. Deal with that and the rest may fall into place. [Beeeeam.]

[untethered]

Which brings us back to the Veil again.

I've been reading up on Sir Gar's theories. Do you know her? Wynn discovered her at a university quite near to here, where she was working with another man - a Knight himself, Sir Gorski - on this notion of a ... a Gate to other worlds. One created by means other than magic.