[ That draws the king's attention back up from the floor, pinning it on Ludger instead. Who is this again...? He is not amused by such a whimsical tone, however, and he looks at the other man as one might an ant. ]
You will address me as Your Majesty, or I shall have you thrown from my palace.
[ Looks like King Childermass immediately doesn't like poor Ludger. Oh well. ]
Of course. It is all I ever hear. Our kingdom wanes in power, and our enemies abound. We are surrounded, and our people fear for the fate of our kingdom.
[ He leans back in the throne, drumming his fingers against one of the armrests as he continues thinking aloud more than he is really speaking with Ludger. ]
Though there is man... One with the power to protect us all. We must find him at once.
[ ... man, Gaius actually is pretty easy going, all things considered. Rowen gets away with much worse. internally rolling his eyes, Ludger bows before "His Majesty." ]
My sincere apologies, Your Majesty. Please, tell me the name of this man, and I will inform the guards to search for him at once.
[ so the king wanted this guy for his "power", but the people were afraid of it? if it's even the same person. ]
[ Uh, he's the king? He shouldn't have to fight Ludger himself? But as Ludger seizes his arm, he does move to yank it back and rise to his feet. He will lash out with a fist following that (crying it was a 20). Watch out! ]
[ by the power of 20, even with Ludger watching out, he still takes that fist straight to the face. incredible! tears instantly well up as the sharp pain of his nose breaking stops him in his tracks. ]
Ugh-!
[ man, he hates blood going down the back of his throat. but experience has him moving again, hand snaking out to grab Childermass's extended arm. he wedges a leg forward, intending to pull the "king" forward and over, flipping him further away from the throne and hopefully out of its zone of influence. how's a 16 do for that? ]
[ A 16 does a fantastic job of that because the "king" does not even consider that someone might fight back once he has struck them! He's the king! They should lie down and die if he tells them to!
But, sadly, that isn't happening, so he is yanked forward, tripping on the leg, and goes flying away from the throne, down the stairs, and landing on his back away from the throne. The wind is knocked from his very lungs, and he gasps, left stunned and wheezing for the moment. ]
[ excellent! Ludger does love it when a combat encounter goes (mostly) according to plan. but just to be safe... ]
Tell me when you feel normal again.
[ the words are extremely nasally, barely comprehensible, his voice thick thanks to the blood pouring down his front. but Ludger steps over Childermass's stunned form, and reaches down to grab an ankle. and starts walking. wow, good thing these floors are glass, huh? he just sliiiiiiiides right across them. ]
[ The kingly version of Childermass kicks and struggles for a bit, but the further away he is dragged from the throne, the less he does, and soon, he's able to do something other than struggle and call for the guards. ]
I... yes. Yes, I do. [ He'll roll to one side to look back Ludger's way, looking a little sheepish about it all. ] I apologize for your nose.
[ again, with the thick nasal quality to his voice... Ludger is barely comprehensible. but he drops Childermass's leg obligingly and tilts his head forward, pinching to try and stem the blood. ugh... ]
Can you-
[ Ludger gestures vaguely at his face. "set his nose," is what he probably means. ]
[ That much he can do. You don't spend half your life as a street rat and not figure out how to set a nose after a brawl. Childermass is up on his feet and reaching out for Ludger's nose in a beat. ]
Hang on.
[ He'll use his other hand to steady his head and then, crack, there we go. ]
On the other hand, the people were definitely afraid of a bunch of things, like the outside world, and their "paradise" being ripped away from them. But they were especially afraid of someone with knowledge. It could be Fran, but I didn't get any specific names.
[ maybe the people didn't know who it was specifically, and instead were just Afraid. ]
Hm. What the people want and what a king wants are not always the same. I got the feeling that the king believed he'd be able to help Great Britain bring all its enemies to its knees with this knowledge...
If that is true, I could see it being just as terrifying as desired.
Do you think we'll get anything else from here? I didn't see any documents to look over, but there is another door. Which... also has some kind of requirement.
[ which is Great.
actually, looking down through the glass floor, what's below them anyways? ]
[ below them are just more of those pipes from earlier carrying what must be steam given from the muffled noise and the gentle warmth from the panels themselves. though, if ludger wants to use more of his eyes, then he might just see that there's nothing beneath those pipes.
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You will address me as Your Majesty, or I shall have you thrown from my palace.
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[ his voice is perfectly polite! really! ]
Have you heard the latest, uh, petitions from the people?
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[ Looks like King Childermass immediately doesn't like poor Ludger. Oh well. ]
Of course. It is all I ever hear. Our kingdom wanes in power, and our enemies abound. We are surrounded, and our people fear for the fate of our kingdom.
[ He leans back in the throne, drumming his fingers against one of the armrests as he continues thinking aloud more than he is really speaking with Ludger. ]
Though there is man... One with the power to protect us all. We must find him at once.
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My sincere apologies, Your Majesty. Please, tell me the name of this man, and I will inform the guards to search for him at once.
[ so the king wanted this guy for his "power", but the people were afraid of it? if it's even the same person. ]
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[ He thinks on it. Who? Who is this? What knowledge, what power? Can the King of England recall any other details? ]
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victor frankenstein. ]
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Wait. Victor Frakenstein. He is the man I need here. I have recalled the name now. Why would it ever slip my mind...?
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Alright, Childermass, that's enough throne time.
[ and he will approach with intent...! ]
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Guards! How dare you act so familiar with me. Guards! Arrest this man!
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Come on, you'll thank me for this later.
[ he'll reach out to grab Childermass's forearm, prepared to haul him up by force. ]
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You will not take me so easily, you dog!
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Ugh-!
[ man, he hates blood going down the back of his throat. but experience has him moving again, hand snaking out to grab Childermass's extended arm. he wedges a leg forward, intending to pull the "king" forward and over, flipping him further away from the throne and hopefully out of its zone of influence. how's a 16 do for that? ]
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But, sadly, that isn't happening, so he is yanked forward, tripping on the leg, and goes flying away from the throne, down the stairs, and landing on his back away from the throne. The wind is knocked from his very lungs, and he gasps, left stunned and wheezing for the moment. ]
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Tell me when you feel normal again.
[ the words are extremely nasally, barely comprehensible, his voice thick thanks to the blood pouring down his front. but Ludger steps over Childermass's stunned form, and reaches down to grab an ankle. and starts walking. wow, good thing these floors are glass, huh? he just sliiiiiiiides right across them. ]
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I... yes. Yes, I do. [ He'll roll to one side to look back Ludger's way, looking a little sheepish about it all. ] I apologize for your nose.
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[ again, with the thick nasal quality to his voice... Ludger is barely comprehensible. but he drops Childermass's leg obligingly and tilts his head forward, pinching to try and stem the blood. ugh... ]
Can you-
[ Ludger gestures vaguely at his face. "set his nose," is what he probably means. ]
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Hang on.
[ He'll use his other hand to steady his head and then, crack, there we go. ]
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Fffffffffffffffffffffff-
[ he doubles over, hissing. it's fine. he doesn't need to swear. it's not like the ingrained habits would let him anyways. everything is fine.
... after a moment, he'll pat Childermass's shoulder and release his tight grip. thanks, man. ]
Good punch. [ ... ] So. Fran, huh?
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[ But anyway! ]
Yes... It seems we are somewhere related to the doctor. The king wants him for something. Something to help safeguard Great Britain.
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[ maybe the people didn't know who it was specifically, and instead were just Afraid. ]
Not a great climate to live in.
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If that is true, I could see it being just as terrifying as desired.
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[ figures ]
Do you think we'll get anything else from here? I didn't see any documents to look over, but there is another door. Which... also has some kind of requirement.
[ which is Great.
actually, looking down through the glass floor, what's below them anyways? ]
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simply nothing. black, empty, absolutely nothingness... ]
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[ He'll follow Ludger's gaze, looking down at the nothing, nothing, and more nothing beyond the pipes. ]
In which case, let us go and give the door a try.
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