{audio, december 4th, afternoon.}

[courtmagic]

[thankfully the network is online, so he doesn't have to communicate his wishes in a string of hopefully sent emojis. instead, he can speak into the watch, calm, direct. not betraying the tiredness that comes from having just spent the better portion of a day, a whole night, and the entire morning on this project.]

Something relating to this supposed king was brought to my attention. There is a spell of great, ancient power written in the walls of his cell in runes. It's a very elaborate, highly dangerous form of teleportation, but there is a section that still eludes me despite my best efforts - the final outcome of the work. Unquestionably, if this can be figured out, we have a better chance of figuring out where in this ocean he should be.

A few more sets of eyes and minds should do the trick, if you understand things about arcane energies and magecraft well beyond your common tricks and illusions. I'd appreciate the help.

[there's half of a stifled yawn before the feed cuts out. he hadn't been able to stop, once he started - once Merlin actually got to work, he was going to get things done.]

[[ooc: plotting comment.]]

Comments

[intoningly]

[ a pause that goes on for a second too long ]

Like I care about a grown man's sleep schedule. I'm not your fucking mommy.

[ ... ]

So you're being useful for once, huh..

[courtmagic]

Just for now, I've forsaken my usual habits and gotten serious. Don't get too used to it.

[he'll be back to being useless and frivolous as soon as he can. as soon as this problem's been worked on and straightened out. but with magic this old, this powerful? well, you need the best. and he is the best.]

But it really is interesting...if he wasn't so hidden away I'd be pretty intrigued at what's going through this king's head. What sort of things he knows.

[idle dreaming, that's what this is, as he takes his first break in who knows how many hours. and here he is, chattering away as though nothing had passed between them but a bit of time apart.]

It's very much - [he yawns into his sleeve to try and hide it from the watch.] - not a work for anyone who's not certain in what they're doing.

[intoningly]

I heard that!

[ She snaps at the yawn– muffled but recognizable to anyone actively looking for it.

She falls quiet again, briefly. Something uncomfortable twists in her stomach, both at the unresolved (in her mind) conflict and the strange relief she feels at how easily he speaks to her still. ]

So you'll put that pale ass of yours to work when it interests you..?

[ a beat ]

Or when people need you? Need someone who's 'certain of what they're doing'?

[courtmagic]

Why, Zero, you'll make me sound even nicer than I am.

[like he does charity, or goes out to people in need, or offers advice when the situation is desperate.]

Let's just say I think solving this means we'll be closer to fixing this world.

[intoningly]

[ She laughs before she can catch herself. It's soft and slight in a way that shouldn't totally unfamiliar; he has made her laugh for reasons that weren't spite alone in the past, after all.

A brief silence passes between them before Zero finally speaks again. ]

Where are you right now?

[ That's how their last conversation had begun, she realizes. ]

[courtmagic]

The palace library.

[there's something a little relieving in the laugh - that she still will do so. the texts had been a slight confirmation after everything but...always good to check.]

That's where I've been working on this.