Log; Ongoing; Open!

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

When; April 1st
Rating; PG
Characters; Temeraire calculusdragon and EVERYONE
Summary; A disoriented dragon and his quest to find someone not too afraid of him to explain what the heck is going on. (You can assume you saw a gigantic black dragon flying around even if you don't comment...he's hard to miss).
Log; The dragon is roughly 100ft long, with an impressive wingspan. His scales are a glossy black, except for the blue markings at the tips, and if you dare to get close enough you can see that his blue eyes are slitted like a cat's. He has four legs with five talons each and a pair of wings with six spines each. He has a ruff around his face and tendrils that hang from his lower jaw. He's beautiful, but rather terrifying, since those are some large talons and some pretty big teeth. The more observant may note that he is wearing a sort of necklace/collar.

Having only a little a while ago been dozing on the deck of a prison transport, he was understandably disoriented to find himself splashing into the water with no sign of the boat, or indeed of anything else familiar. He spendt some time flying frantically back and forth across the city--too frantically to take much note of what is below him other than "not Britain." At some point he smacked into the barrier over the ocean, and spent a while roaring at it before collapsing on the beach in despair and exhaustion. Despite the fact that he has been acting somewhat like a caged animal, there is an air of intelligence to his movements.

There's also the fact that he's been shouting, "Laurence, Laurence, where are you? Where did you go?" at the top of his voice.

[ooc: Each tag to this entry considered a separate interaction and can take place pretty much anywhere Temeraire would actually fit...beach, forest clearing, Xanadu, mid-air, whatever. He'll be posting an actual introduction to the network in a day or so, but for Temeraire an action log arrival made the most sense.]

Comments

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

The beach was a favorite place for Ken to train, especially since the weather had been getting warmer. He'd been running forms with his eyes closed when he heard something above him roaring. Startled, he ducked back and as out of sight as he could manage, content to watch things for a few minutes before he ventured out a little closer to the now downed dragon.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"Hello?" called out Temeraire, hesitantly, his big eyes flicking open when he finally noticed that someone was nearby. He'd noticed that he wasn't in an uninhabited place, but he'd been too wrapped up in dealing with being somewhere he was not supposed to be to give much thought to the locals. But it would be nice to talk to someone, assuming this person could speak one of the languages Temeraire knew. But he wasn't counting on it, because even though he did speak a great many languages, he had never been to a place this alien.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

That wasn't something Ken was expecting from a dragon of any kind. Moving even closer, he glanced around, wondering if someone was trying to trick him. He'd heard about that holiday, of course, but he'd never celebrated it so he wasn't sure what to think. It took a moment to decide between using Japanese or his very limited knowledge of English, but he decided on the latter.

"Uh... hello? Are you okay?"

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

Temeraire had no idea what the word 'okay' meant, but at least he seemed to have found someone who spoke English.

"Where am I? What kind of place is this?" he asked, unhappily.

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

The idea that a dragon could talk still baffled Ken, but really, around the city, weirder things had happened. Crossing his arms idly, he smiled a little, trying to be a little nicer.

"You're in the City, and before you ask, there's no other name for it. It's... a place between worlds and times. Most everyone here is pulled in from their home world or city and we're all pretty much stuck."

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"But...that sounds like...that sounds like a story. I cannot be in a story, I am supposed to be with Laurence going to New South Wales." He was attempting to marshall arguments for how this was all completely impossible, but unfortuanately the impossible seemed to be happening anway. Also, he was not really in a good state for thinking coherently.

"We can a place be between worlds? And I do not see how anything could possibly be between times."

[bladed-siberian.livejournal.com]

Ken shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets.

"I know it does, but believe me, it's the truth. I've been here off and on for two years now. I think... maybe give or take a month or two. Time moves kinda odd here, and don't worry too much about your friend. If and when you go back home, you'll go back to the same time you left. The exact same time."

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

After all the horrors of the past few days, to say that Rosella was relieved to be able to go walking around the City in relative peace would be a grievous understatement. Though she admittedly looked a bit on the haggard side--half from the strain of the worrying she'd been putting herself through, and half from the fact that it was really rather hard to sleep through plagues of frogs and locusts and angels of death and things like that--the important part was that she was out and about, and not letting the memory of the curse get the better of her. Everything would be all right, she thought firmly, and things would get better now. They had to.

And she continued thinking that, too, right up until the point when she walked into a forest clearing on her way back from the Barn, and the massive black dragon soared by overhead.

Though common sense might've told her to run, or to hide, or even just to drop to the ground and try to avoid drawing attention to herself, the fact remained that if there was one creature that could stop Rosella dead in her tracks with fear, it was a dragon. Common sense also would've told her not to let out a bloodcurdling shriek at the sight of the monster, either, but she did that as well. It occurred to her a minute too late that standing frozen in the middle of a forest clearing and shrieking at the sight of a dragon was, in fact, a very good way to direct the aforementioned dragon's attention directly onto herself, and that was about the last thing she wanted at the moment.

Unfortunately, there wasn't much that could be done about it, now.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

Temeraire might not have been paying much attention to things that did not look like Laurence (i.e. everything), but he had very good hearing and it was hard not to notice someone shrieking. He hovered above for a moment, looking around. He didn't spot anything of note so he was forced to conclude that the woman was screaming because of him, which was very annoying and also rather silly of her. But he had not seen any other dragons around, so he supposed he could not blame her for being afraid if she had not met any dragons before.

So he decided to land in the clearing and stare at her until she either calmed down or ran away.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

The thing about dragons, Rosella thought in a brief moment of terror as the great black shape descended into the clearing, was that they were so big. Impossibly big. Terrifyingly big, even. Fighting back memories of being tied to a stake and waiting to meet a fiery doom as they threatened to overwhelm her, she gritted her teeth and tried to muster the willpower to make her legs move. Could she run faster than a dragon could strike? She didn't know, but she doubted it. Still, she had to try something, lest the creature snap her up in its massive jaws and in one bite.

...Except that, after what felt like perhaps some of the longest seconds of her life, it occurred to her that the dragon was simply...staring at her. And not the way she'd expect a predator to stare at a bit of prey, either. This variety of staring seemed almost, well, quizzical. Or intrigued. Or possibly exasperated.

She swallowed hard, trying to find her voice. "You're a dragon," she said at last, which was perhaps not the most eloquent statement she could've made at the moment, but she happened to be under a bit of duress at present, thank you.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"Yes," said Temeraire patiently, "I am a dragon. My name is Temeraire. I am pleased to make your acquantance." He was not sure if he really was pleased, but it didn't hurt to be polite, and people talking to him was usually a good sign.

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

"The pleasure is all mine," Rosella replied automatically, the words already out of her mouth before she'd quite realized she'd even said them. Even in the face of something as terrifying as a dragon, manners were still manners.

But then, a moment later, she appeared to do a double-take as a perplexed look crossed her face. "You're...much more polite than some of the other dragons I've met, I must say," she remarked carefully, and giving him a wary glance as she did so. "You may find this something of a silly question, but...do you intend to roast me and eat me?"

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

Well, that was surprisingly friendly of someone who had been screaming a moment earlier. Of course, it was unsettling to be asked by another sentient being whether you intended to make a meal of them.

"No, I most certainly do not intend to eat you. Dragons do not eat people...although I suppose a feral dragon might, but that would only be because it would not know any better." After all he had to be honest. That kind of thing had been known to happen, but then men had once upon a time hunted dragons.

"You've met other dragons? Did they breathe fire? Iskierka breathes fire and she is very rude."

[primrosella.livejournal.com]

Rosella silently kept telling herself that if there was one thing she'd learned in the City over her year and a half here, it was that things were different all over, and if there could be such things as good witches and considerate vampires, then there surely could be such things as polite and non-marauding dragons, too. At least, she hoped that was the case. She was betting her life on it, after all.

Still nervous, but willing to take the dragon at his word, she continued, "I met a dragon once in my homeland--a three-headed one. It ravaged my kingdom and very nearly ate me as a sacrifice. And yes, it breathed quite a bit of fire while it was at it, too. So you'll forgive me, I hope, for being a bit..." She paused. "You really don't eat people? Not even princesses?"

[stargathering]

Given the exhaustion that resulted from all the running around of the past three days, Tyr wouldn't have been that surprised if he were hallucinating a gigantic dragon crashing on the beach where he, ironically, was trying to clear his head and find some place to fish. Pausing and staring curiously at the dragon for a moment, the young man slowly continued his path down the beach. As massive as it was, if worse came to worse, he at least had the Soul Eater.

Any thought of having to use it, however, diminished at Temeraire's calls. Words? It could speak? He'd never heard of such a thing, but that at least meant it probably wasn't a rogue dragon. Standing a good few metres away, Tyr yelled back, "Did you lose your Knight?"

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

Temeraire snapped his head around and stared at the newcomer.

"My night?" He was confused about what the person meant for a moment, since he had apparently managaged to lose a ship, all of his companions--both dragons and humans--as well as many large and important landmasses, so losing an entire time of day did not seem so odd. After all, the sun was not in the position it had been just a little while ago. Also, knights were something either in legends or to do with ceremonies and the King.

[stargathering]

Tyr nodded, though sounded unsure of himself, "Isn't who Laurence is?"

Thinking about it, it probably wasn't that likely that this dragon was even familiar with the Knights of the Dragon's Den. Especially since, if he remembered correctly, dragons supposedly came from another world all together anyway, and this one would have stood out like a sore thumb amongst the other ones Tyr saw.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"Laurence is my Captain," said Temeraire. "We were on a ship."

Temeraire wasn't exactly clear on what had happened next, but there was one thing which was unfortunately obvious.

"And now I am here and he is not. Or at least I cannot find him if he is, and I am much too big to go looking for him inside the city."

[stargathering]

"I see..." he said as Temeraire finished. The actual situation became clear to Tyr then. He never had to break the news to people before, but it wouldn't be fair not to.

"I'll help you look for him, but you shouldn't get your hopes up for finding him here... Almost everyone arrives alone." Pausing, he then thought to add, "He's probably still on the ship."

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"Oh. But...why am I here? He is my Captain and I should not be separated from him and I would fight anyone who tried to take him away."

He spread his ruff as he spoke, looking a bit more menacing. He had fought before to get Laurence back during their adventures together. Only now there did not seem to be anyone to fight. He sighed and slumped down again, before remembering his manners.

"My name is Temeraire, by the way. It is very nice of you to offer your help."

[stargathering]

There was a bit of empathy that came with hearing Temeraire's words, making him wonder if Black would have thought the same thing about Futch if something like this were to happen. Despite having that thought, though, there was still that twitch to pull his staff from his back if the dragon chose to actually lash out at him.

It stayed, however, as only a little twitch. Relaxing himself, the young man replied, "It's nice to meet you, Temeraire; I'm Tyr McDohl. It's no problem for me to help you... I understand how you feel.

"Anyway, I really can't answer why you're here since I don't even know why I am... But in any case, your captain probably isn't in any danger now. Even if he's here, the City is pretty safe." Mentally, he added, 'Or it looks that way today, at least.'

[the-alice.livejournal.com]

On her first day in The City, Alice finds herself with the rug swept out from under her once again. This is no more expected than her first trip into elsewhere, but the way of getting to it has certainly been with much more purpose, however redirected. She had intended to go home rather than accidentally---and for the second time in her life---falling down the rabbit hole, but instead of England she has landed here with a clattering set of clanks. Still armor clad and wishing she had a dress for the first time in all her life (armor is not comfortable unless, perhaps, one is made of armor, but she hasn't had the chance to ask someone this particular question yet) she chooses the forest as one more probable candidate of exit. Certainly she has read the guide, two in fact, but she has also read no distinct record of attempted escape, so she treads on, Vorpal Sword in her hand held a little as if she does not entirely trust it to decide she has been carrying it for too long. The trees here come in the variety of clouds, multiple but not too much so, and the thickness of their cover interweaves in all the right ways to let sunshine through, and if she was not as set on tripping over a way out of this world between worlds, chances are Alice would greatly appreciate the veritable art form. As things are, she does appreciate the cleanness that somehow works itself into the environment, a brightness Under Land seemed to lack (though she attributes this in great part to the Red Queen's recent rule) and the crisp sense of being comfortable in her own skin.

That, is what Under Land gave to her, that more than anything else.

The worry she has now, of course, is that by some unfortunate twist, she will not retain this self-suitability, that indeed she will revert to awkward confidence too harried for a moment to know what to do with that moment. Silly, she supposes, but not without some foundation; people are a regressive sort, tending to fall backward rather than forward and she would like to continue falling forward at a hand-picked rate, or, at least to pick the direction forward turns into. For this reason, she hurries a little from time to time, pausing here and there when her eyes catch on a fleeing animal or a rustling branch or a voice she must be imagining. This last, however, seems to get louder...and louder...and louder. It is so loud at a certain point that she can feel it vibrate through the soles of her feet and up through her armor into her skull. Her hand clutches at the hilt a little tighter, but rather than walk away from the voice now distinctly calling Laurence (what a name to be shouting, she thinks, but notes that it is very much not the way anyone has ever before yelled 'Alice' at her) she walks toward it, edging nearer with the veil of heavier laden tree branches and wider trunks.

What she sees is not as much of a shock to her as it would have been a week ago, but a shiver threads through her, needle-head fine. Here she divides herself down two inclinations; the first is to back away after all and the second is to in plainest terms, say hello. The dragon is both large and fearsome in other details, and she knows to approach with a weapon is not the wisest manner in which to go about it, but it seems equally unwise to leave the Vorpal Sword on its own, hidden deftly or not. Besides, she might need it. Her most recent encounter with a creature of similar make was less than peaceable, and while Alice does not like to judge on appearance alone, it is difficult to discourage the experience from coloring her current approach entirely. Thinking quiet thoughts, she does take care to hold the sword a little askew to her side, as if she does not know how to use it in the least (the truth now being that she knows how to use it at least a little bit when matters must) and steps into the vast clearing of green leaves, brown-gray branches, and blue-black dragon. Her footfalls are not noisy but by no means soundless either and the rippled sunlight that casts itself through the treetops glints off of her armor, beacon-like.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

Temeraire turns around when he hears the footsteps, though he almost doesn't. He regards the armored figure with great interest. The sword looks fairly ordinary--something that would sting if jammed into his side, but not something that could be any sort of threat. But the armor is very impressive--it does not matter if it looks archaic, because it is very shiny, and the person in it holds herself fairly well.

"Hello?"

He does not find it at all odd that it is a woman in armor--at least as far as he is able to tell these things about humans--since he is used to women serving in the Aerial Corps. And he is used to soldiers, so he hopes that this will be a good person to talk to.

[the-alice.livejournal.com]

"Hello," she replies automatically, tilting her head at the great creature who not only moves as one with no ill will, but speaks that way too. Some would say that much cannot be inferred from a single word, but Alice things an individual can get quite a lot from one word, and even still, no words at all. Though she takes no further steps forward, her attention sharpens, as if by being greeted she has also been granted some unspoken permission to take focus. "Have you lost someone?" The inquiry is half politeness but only half, as she has never been too concerned with what is polite as she is with other things, but 'other things' include finding things out rather than assuming them, and that is reason enough to ask instead of guess.

[calculusdragon.livejournal.com]

"Yes, my captain, Laurence. Though I suppose I might be the one who is lost."

He looks around, both sad and confused. It was not fair at all for him to be separated from his captain--not that he knew who or what to blame for this unfairness.