#rewritale

[wulfdreaded]

"hm."  yeah,  he  definitely  had  to  find  this  witch  &  end  talk  with  her.  they  didn't  need  false  monsters  in  the  world,  they  had  those  like  him  &  those  of  his  he  turned  &  let  loose  on  the  realm  to  unleash  chaos  upon  all.  his  pride.  his  legacy  -  not  that  he  meant  to  die  any  time  soon.  he'd  remain  only  to  cause  more  suffering;  be  it  for  himself...  or,  preferably,  others.  he,  too,  enjoyed  the  solitude,  which  accompanied  his  life  in  its  entirety.  his  house  was  hidden  quite  well  in  the  depth  of  the  forest  &  other  than  the  occasional  hunter  (or  woodsman),  some  animals...  he  was  usually  alone.  life  was  good.  "it's  good  at  that."  he  wanted  to  see  his  forest  now,  compare  it  to  his  own,  see  if  maybe  he  could  see  himself  making  a  second  home  there.  not  that  he  planned  to  announce  ...that  plan.  "hah,  funny.  never  gonna  live  that  down,  am  i?"  but  ...  if  the  stories  about  him  carried  this  far,  he  was  doing  it  right,  wasn't  he?  head  tilted  sideways  in  ...  wonder,  maybe  confusion.  "what  could  someone  like  you  possibly  need  an  ally  for?  got  any  enemies  hidden  away?"

honestly,  he  wasn't  going  to  understand  the  whole  shifter  lore  nor  the  power  dynamics.  from  what  he  saw  and  heard,  the  big  bad  wolf  was  known  throughout  various  different  realms.  now  though,  there  were  stories  about   werecats,  werelions,  half  robots,  werebears.  he  had  only  dealt  with  the  bears,  he  didn't  think  that  he  was  ready  for  anything  else.  “turning  five  nobles?  i'd  say  they've  been  busy  for  sure.”  yet  he  was  the  villain  for  kidnapping  one  person  because  of  what  their  parents  had  stolen  from  him.  at  least  he  raised  him,  gave  him  a  home.  that  other  witch  took  things  from  several  royal  families.  “yes.  the  solitude  does  me  well.”  that  and  the  fact  that  he's  over  six  hundred  years  old.  he  didn't  want  to  get  close  to  someone  just  ot  watch  them  die.  not  again.  not  like  his  siblings.  studying  zeke  was  proving  to  be  quite  the  task.  gothel  didn't  take  his  eyes  off  of  the  other  man's  gaze.  interested  in  when  the  light  left  or  poured  into  his  eyes.  what  made  him  tick,  bad  or  good.  “you'll  blow  my  house  down  if  i  get  in  your  way,  isn't  that  right?”  a  small  smile  formed  on  his  face.  “you'd  be  a  formidable  ally  to  have  on  one's  side,  but  something  tells  me  you  work  alone.” 

[wulfdreaded]

@rewritale location: le forest

portals.

zeke  ..hated  them,  he  hated  that  all  the  realms  were  connected  without  even  asking  him  when  his  home  was  part  of  the  deal.  his  forest.  it  was  now  also  connected  to  places  he'd  never  seen  before  &  places  he  didn't  want  to  see.  he  didn't  even  want  to  know  they  existed.  his  forest  didn't  need  strangers  wandering  about.  but  he  needed  to  know  what  was  out  there  in  order  to  protect  himself  &  his  home.

it  wasn't  curiosity  that  brought  him  to  a  land  ...different  to  his  own.  it  was  caution.  if  he  learned  about  them,  he  could  prepare.  right.  he  let  out  a  small  sigh  as  he  wandered,  taking  in  the  sights,  the  smells  &  all  the  other  different  first  impressions.  even  the  ground...  felt  different  under  his  bare  feet.  senses  in  overdrive,  the  wolf  pranced  through  the  strange  forest  with  caution,  catching  a  scent  that  had  his  mouth  water.  boar.  he...  was  due  lunch,  might  as  well.

quick  on  his  feet,  the  wolf  was  off,  chasing  a  scent  &  nothing  could  stop  him.  not  until  he  was  ..snacking.  with  no  water  source  nearby  &  a  lack  of  motivation,  he  just  stayed  where  he  was,  hands  &  mouth  bloody  after  tearing  through  flesh.  he'd  made  quite  the  mess,  the  boar  had  ...fought  &  squeaked,  probably  drawing  attention  to  him.

leaves  rustled  close  by  &  zeke  was  on  his  feet  in  seconds,  growl  on  his  lips.  mine.  when  he  saw  a  …man?  emerge  from  the  brushes.  “i  caught  it.”  voice  low  &  velvety,  but  it  carried.  mine.  if  it  was  his  -  or  if  he  had  a  problem,  well  -  he  was  too  late.  why…  did  he  not  catch  his  scent,  though?  had  he  been  too  distracted  with  lunch?  “who  are  you?”

[taledhq]

please follow:

@rewritale

[talebytale]

The dark fae of the Moors found himself lurking with the shadows and against the walls, simply observing the attendees of King Stefan's party from the sidelines. The merriment, the smiles and laughter and dancing and general happiness was sickening, but they knew that there was more to this party than uniting the realms or celebrating the prince - the prince that had awoken from the curse that Mal himself had inflicted upon him - and that was intriguing, to say the least.

Peace and prosperity. It was what King Stefan was pushing for, and Mal wasn't sure if their former lover was simply trying to put on a good farce or if it came from a genuine place - was he simply afraid of what they would do next, or did he really want to move past the... ugliness that their parting had left? They weren't sure, but Mal knew that this was an... opportunity to learn more about those that lived in the other realms he had only ventured into a few times - and an opportunity to forge an alliance with those that were as like-minded as he was.

Perhaps that was why, when someone approached them from their position - leaning against the back wall with the hood of their cloak draped over their head, covering their horns and exposing him to the rest of the party - he simply arched a brow as he looked in their direction. "As a matter of fact, I do actually know where his library is located but if you were wanting to find a truly extraordinary collection, you should come to mine." After all, the books that King Stefan had had come from him - when they were young, hopeful, and with love in his heart. "The King likes to... boast about things that others have built for him though... I suppose that is very royal of him?"

They knew that some people would think their words would be stepping on the line of treason, but it was a good test to see what sort of person the man before him was and whether or not they'd be worth Mal's time.

"Though seeing as we just met, perhaps it is too soon to invite you back to my place, hm?"

LOCATION: King Stefan's Palace MUSE: Kamran Jafar Barmaki STATUS: Open

After making his rounds, Sultan Kamran Jafar Barmaki was officially spent. The new portals connecting the realms are fascinating but they are also liability. Meaning he has more so-called allies and possible enemies to gauge and maintain diplomatic relations with. A real headache. Though King Stefan has been a gracious host and the palace is comfortable enough... but Kamran dearly misses his bedchamber and, well, his consort. He has dismissed his attendants and decided to find somewhere to relax. Perhaps explore. Learn the secrets of King Stefan while at it if he can...

Kamran adjusts his red tie (he has taken quite a liking to fashion from the other realm, less fabric wasted and could be more practical with pockets) and approaches another guest. "Excuse me, dear. Hope you're enjoying the party but may I ask... would you happen to know where the library is in the palace? Or perhaps a gallery of sort. I was hoping to take a peek at the collections of His Majesty."

[kingdomruined]

crinan  hadn't  ...planned  to  sleep;  he  just  enjoyed  letting  calm  wash  over  him,  especially  after  being  inside  the  busy  halls  of  the  palace  with  chatter,  music  &  dancing.  three  things  he  could  no  longer  enjoy  himself.  he  hadn't  paid  attention,  but  when  he  came  out  here,  he  thought  he  was  alone,  which  he  welcomed  -  truth  be  told.  he  needed  to  be  alone  for  a  little  while.  he  thought  about  why  he  was  back.  shouldn't  he  be  dead?  cured,  but  ...  dead.  why  was  he  here?  why  was  he  stuck  in  this  ...limbo  of  guilt  &  pain,  knowing  he  couldn't  ever  fix  it?

was  this...  his  punishment?  was  that  it?  heavy  sigh,  his  chest  rising  high  before  falling,  though  that  same  breath  stopped  fast  in  its  tracks  when  a  noise  broke  the  silence  around  him.  mechanical?  eyes  fluttered  open  &  he  was  greeted  with  a  ..half  human.  or  something.  "i  wasn't  ...  sleeping."  shaking  his  head  a  little.  "unfortunately."  nights  were  restless  -  as  were  the  days.  "thank  you,  but  nobody  can  help  me."  he  appreciated  the  sentiment.  "have  you  been  out  here  long?"

Nick has found the only place he likes in this palace. The garden. Flowers and trees he has never seen before adorning the perfectly manicured royal courtyard. Though it lacks the wild, raw beauty of nature he is used to, it still is closer to what the Tin Man is used to. But instead of the cherished flowers, he is drawn to a wildflower peeking out from the earth in the far corner of the garden. They would probably call this a weed, wouldn't even give it a proper name but... a flower doesn't blossom to be named or be seen. It blooms for itself and is complete within itself. Nick envies that about flowers and trees. If only he could be complete like that.

Fascinated by the nameless flower, Nick has been motionless, crouching in front of the flower and watching it for hours. Several people have passed through the garden but they assumed Nick was a rock or a statue. They all have better places to be, probably. But not one person who sat down on a bench and closed his eyes. He would not bother a stranger but after a few moments, it occurred to him that organic-based beings can catch cold if they fall asleep outdoor.

So Nick stands up, his mechanized joints letting out a whirling noise. He walks up to the man, and blurts out. "Don't sleep here. You catch cold." Nick then stares at the man with a scar until he opens the eyes. "Do you need help?" He asks what he always asks. Everyone needs help sometimes, and it is his purpose to help and protect them.

[holeexplored]

"it's not — " stannislaw didn't need help per se, really he meant it mostly as a bad joke. and also to get the man doing something other than just boring holes in his skull with his eyes. "i also did not ask to be stared at like a creep, big guy." seemed like the half-cyborg still had problems with social cues, but he wasn't faulting nick. on the contrary he empathised with him, but knew he would never fully understand what it was like to have your body being replaced by so many metal parts — stannis only had one. the witch hunter considered the other a friend, by virtue of the many jobs they'd worked with together and by always having each other's back.

well, he figured he better clarify his statement. stannis didn't want to sound rude to the tin man. glancing up from his work, he gave the other a grin as he lifted his detached hand up to get the point across. "that was a joke by the way. both of it were." the table he was working on was enough, though the offer of more tools was welcome. "tweezers and pliers would be nice. lost mine somewhere." in his case, more literally than most. wouldn't be able pinpoint which realm it was in, much less where in said realm. he had specialised tools for the job but this would do for now, especially in a place like this. and it was more things he needed to procure when stannis found the time. "i'm good. i can make us something later, since you're already providing the lodging." whatever the tin man thought of his own cabin, stannis knew he had slept or rested in worse places. "what about you? we took quite a beating there."

Stannislaw Kingsleigh. The man is an interesting specimen. Interesting as in like a person of interest. Not for a crime or anything. Just that Stannis is somewhat unpredictable. So Nick keeps an eye on the man, even though they have worked together many times. Like right now, even after a hunting job and Stannis is staying at his hut for the night, Nick is observing the slayer closely. His bionic eye is glowing green from the dark corner of the cabin.

"You did not ask for help." Nick points out. Stannis knows full well that the Tin Man would oblige when asked. He steps out of the shadow and approaches Stannis. "Workbench. Over there. I have tools. You can borrow." Nick gestures at the other room which is functionally a workshop. "Do you require anything else? Your body. Not machine." And the Tin Man lives in a cabin which is not exactly the most comfortable space for non-mechanic beings.

[rubyslipped]

❝  oh,  no;  france  is  oceans  and  oceans  away  from  kansas,  and  definitely  a  lot  fancier  than  what  kansas  is.  had  a  lot  of  kings  &  queens  &  this  very  fancy  building  called  the  eiffel  tower.  but  that's  a  story  for  another  time,  just  that  the  old  timey  castles  were  kind  of  like  this.  ❞  dorian  didn't  feel  fully  adequate  enough  to  give  a  history  on  the  european  country  to  nick.  still,  it  was  nice  to  spill  a  little  bit  about  their  world  to  the  tinman.  ❝  if  they  haven't  been  seen,  then  maybe  their  chances  of  being  here  are  higher  ?  ❞  just  a  little  assumption,  though  they  would  try  to  be  on  the  lookout  for  the  missing  pair.  dorian  can't  help  the  chuckle  as  the  tinman  of  oz  inquires  if  they've  eaten  or  had  refreshment:  they  learned  that  was  one  of  the  ways  nick  showed  their  love,  by  making  sure  the  teleporter's  vitals  and  such  were  all  in  tip-top  shape.  ❝  think  I'm  plenty  hydrated,  though  I  don't  know  how  much  I  can  eat  without  this  outfit  popping  from  the  seams.  ❞  hand-made  from  the  seamstresses  of  oz  at  that:  it  was  nice,  their  favorite  shade  of  bright  blue,  and  fit  like  a  glove  …  hence  why  they  couldn't  go  all  out  on  the  lovely  food  that  was  all  around.  but  they  would  make  the  conscious  decision  to  put  something  on  their  stomach,  mostly  to  assauge  nick's  concerns.  if  it  was  serious  enough,  they  knew  nick  was  not  above  making  or  strongly  insisting  they  ate,  no  matter  the  need  to  still  fit  into  their  fit  of  the  night. 

That does sound like Toto. Nick is content to know that the dog has not changed. Dorian Gale, on the other hand, changed so much over the years. The young ones grow up so fast. Nick never had a younger sibling but if he did, he would be treating them like how he treats Dorian. "France? Next to Kansas?" Though Nick is aware of the other realm Dorian Gale hailed from, he does not know too much about the place called earth. What an odd name. "Detecting the presence of magic. Different entities. Various sources. Lower atmospheric and ambient magic than Oz or Wonderland." He reports the result of the scanning, concurring with Dorian's observation. His friend is much better at sensing these things without the help of machine.

"Did not see Lion this morning. In the woods." The Tin Man and the Lion live close to each other since he built the cabin for the other near his. "Scarecrow, I do not know." Who knows where they might be? Not Nick.

"Have you eaten yet? Meal. Drinking water. Important."

[princetaled]

oh, what frabjous day this is indeed,           seeing all of them popping up in this new realm as the days of celebrations continue on. like a seed of madness planted in the head of men. first it was only an idea that would hint it's existence. but soon enough that will grow into a thought, and then many thoughts. and then a madness, until it works itself into a hysteria. spreading and spreading, and eating and eating. until there is nothing sane left anymore.

( first it was the alice, that would herald the knowledge of wonderland to the other worlds. and then the knave, and the king, and the cat who knows nothing the true power of a maddened society. and now, wonderland's very monster, who might finish the job. curiouser and curiouser. whatever might happen next. )

taking the other's hand, felinus pulls them close, removing as much distance as he can possibly do between them. and when he looks up, he flashes his cheshire grin, his eyes looking for some sense of familiarity.    "   oh, i would love that. and you and i know, dear, that a heart doesn't always have to be an inconvenience. it can be filled up and powered, too. especially the red ones, beating with power and chaos and cut off heads.   "    he says, pulling the other slowly into the ballroom, swaying his hips to the distant jolly music.

"   and unfortunately, i am far from the salve that you will require.   "    he continues. there is now a gleam in their eyes.    "   but i can give you madness. in abundance. a fuel to the fire.   "   

he then leans to them, and whispered.    "   jabberwock. but tell me, what's the name you prefer, sweetie?   "

LOCATION: King Stefan's Palace MUSE: Jebediah Walker STATUS: Open

Jeb walks down the corridor freely as if they owned the whole palace, whistling and waving side to side and sometimes waltzing to the distant music from the ballroom. What a grand feeling to have legs that can dance and lips that can sing. Being in a human body is so weird but exciting, and Jabberwocky loves weird so it's double the fun. They must thank the man responsible for their flesh and bone... But Jeb does not know where he is, so for now, they will just enjoy the ball. "Good evening! Fellow denizen of reality, fancy a dance?" They ask a random passerby with a dramatic flourish. "Our date has ditched us all by our lonely selves, it seems, and we are heartbroken. Because we have a heart now, an inconvenience, and we require a salve." They open up their humanly arms wide and grins, "what do you say?"

[onceuponers]

"It sounds beautiful. Perhaps I should visit you on royal duty someday. I am always looking to strengthen bonds with other kingdoms. If my brother won't be so ambitious with his own plans for Wonderland, then I've got to compensate for us both... we should make plans to for you to see mine as well."

His eyebrow quirks. "A book? About Wonderland? I suppose must be tomes about the realm, but I have not come across any..."

Huh. Curious indeed.

"I have not met the King yet. Not personally. To be honest, I am not sure I want to... have you?"

Kamran feigns a surprise, and gives a polite nod of respect. "Again, I must apologize for my lack of protocol here, Your Majesty." Granted, they are both guests to a party not officially meeting each other. But as the former grand vizier of the kingdom, he is quite particularly with etiquette. "It is a land of golden sand where spirits roam and magic lingers in the air," he describes with a bit of flourish, waving his finger gently to conjure an image of sand glittering under the desert sun, fluttering against the hot wind. Ever a storyteller. "The capital is an oasis in the desert. It would be our honor to host you, sir."

He ponders for a moment, "Wonderland... I might have read a book about a magical land that exists in another dimension. With a smoking caterpillar and a grinning cat?" His library was full of esoteric tomes and ancient texts from faraway lands and other worlds. Kamran has attempted to pierce the wall between the realms before but failed, except for his venture into the land called America and only after he gained the new power from the wish. "It is a good opportunity to meet the sovereigns of another realm, yes? And what a gracious host King Stefan is. I am truly inspired."

[wulfdreaded]

so...  many  of  them.  hold  on,  they  had  lions  here?  he'd  heard  these  oversized  kitten  exist  in  faraway  lands,  but  never  thought  them  just  one  jump  away.  but  the  strange  man  was  correct  -  he  was  very  much  not  from  here.  he  ...was  alright  with  that.  he  caught  that  glowing  eye  -  just  now,  too  busy  defending  his  catch  before  &  found  himself  even  more  confused.  was  it...magic?  that  would  be  the  only  explanation  he  can  come  up  with.  this  forest's  woodsman  was  a  sorcerer  of  some  kind.  heck,  he  didn't  know.

that  is  acceptable.  good  for  you,  weirdo.  zeke  didn't  ask  for  permission.  little  huff  escaped  the  wolf,  arms  crossed  in  front  of  his  chest  while  furrowed  (in  a  pouting  way,  not  an  angry  way)  brows  &  brown  hues  observed  the  man,  too.  he  wasn't  the  only  one  who  was  at  risk  here.  what  did  he  mean  to  observe,  though?  him?  "y'know,  if  you  wanna  spend  more  time  with  me,  you  could  just  say  so."  shooting  the  man  a  little  grin,  face  more  relaxed  than  before  &  arms  slowly  loosening  from  his  chest,  he  shook  his  head  a  little.  the  jerky  had  his  ears  perk,  but  ...  he  didn't  take  it  for  the  sole  purpose  of  having  lunch  still  -  waiting  for  him.  "i  don't  kill  for  fun."  short  pause,  little  groan.  "okay,  that  was  a  lie.  i  do  kill  for  fun,  but  not  like  this.  takin'  your  food  and  not  eatin'  him...  would  mean  i  killed  it  for  nothing,  y'know?"  it  would  probably  also  taste  better  than  dry  food.  "gonna  take  you  up  on  that  offer  before  my  next  meal."

i  am  what  i  am.  but  what  the  ever-loving  fuck  heck  were  you?  his  ...question  was  not  quite  answered,  but  he  got  a  name  &  a  hint  out  of  it.  a  tin  man.  as  in...  metal?  was  he  a  ...  no  way.  "so,  you're  not  human."  assessment,  if  ...  decided  by  rather  vague  research.  interesting.  that  explained  why  he  smelled  so  differently.  usually,  zeke  would've  felt  the  urge  to  sink  his  teeth  into  flesh,  but  not  with  him  -  not  like  this  anyway.  "i'm  zeke  and  i  guess  you  can  say  i'm  a  wolf.  the  wolf."  well,  not  the  first,  but  ...  close.  "oz,  huh?"  he  wanted  to  see  this  city  the  other  spoke  of.  "you  live  here  in  the  woods?"

He stares blankly. "Wolves. Lions. Bears. Here. You, not from here." Though he wonders if this is similar to the Lion. Shapeshifters, were-creature. Not unlike talking beasts. Nick raises his arm with the axe, his bionic eye glowing brighter in fluorescent green. But he relents when the (possible) wolf says 'unless you want me to be'. "Want. I don't want. I carry out my purpose." The balance. That is something Nick understands. As long as predators don't annihilate those below the food chain, that is acceptable. Nick lowers his axe. "That is acceptable." He decides. But he will keep an eye on this one. "Now I observe."

Nick approaches the (possible) wolf, going through his backpack for something to feed. He finds... an apple for people, some nuts for squirrels, a flask full of oil for himself, and dried meat for carnivore. Staring the other dead in the eyes, he slowly reaches out with the jerky.

Tilting his head because that question was already asked, he thought. Or he supposes, that was who are you. This is what are you. "I am what I am?" He is not entirely sure how to answer that... "I am Nick Chopper. Tin Woodman. Keeper of this forest." He then gestures the trees around them. "Oz. This forest is home. Many creatures. Magic here. Witch. Emerald City." Obviously, Nick would make a terrible tour guide.

[onceuponers]

Carmine is, regrettably, very easy to flatter, and he enjoys being pandered to. Perhaps Kamran perceived as much about him and modulated his tone to better serve them both.

"Carmine, King of the Reds," he returns, nodding. This was a sort-of diplomatic trip, and any new allies he could make here would only help him and Wonderland in the long run. "The honor is mine to share."

"Agrabah... I am not familiar with this realm," he muses to himself. "But to be fair, I do not know much about the universe beyond Wonderland. I suppose it is why we are all here tonight, no?"

Kamran appraises the man in front of him and makes some quick observations. The regal, commanding presence, attires that befit a ruler and dotting yet frightened attendants lurking about... Of course this man is a sovereign. Kamran is quite familiar with that sort of men. Powerful, self-assured and demanding men. He knows just how to please and entertain them. His years as a consort and royal vizier were not wasted. "No, please, I'm the one who should be apologizing for my poor manner. After all, I was imposing myself without a proper introduction." He offers a simple smile, not quite apologetic but polite enough. He is a ruler too. No need to grovel.

"I'm sure you are being modest. Surely a man with your raw charisma wouldn't live in a quaint palace." A little bit of subtle compliment and... "I find frilly a bit of a waste. Though sometimes luxury is necessary, I am if anything a man of science and industry. And please pardon me, I've dismissed my attendants so I must announce myself like a common man," Kamran sighs rather dramatically before introducing himself. "Sultan Kamran Jafar Barmaki of Agrabah. If I could make your acquaintance, I'm sure it'd be a great honor."

[wulfdreaded]

was  he  going  insane?  what  was  that  humming?  that  ...that  sound  he  heard.  it  ..was  a  consistent  sound  coming  from  the  other?  why?  what  on  earth  was  going  on  in  this  realm?  "you're  tellin'  me  you  got  no  wolves  here?"  if  so,  interesting.  who  was  their  predator?  surely,  this  forest  had  one,  too.  unless...  they  were  waiting  ...  for  one?  he  could  surely  help  with  that.  "i'm  a  threat,  but  not  for  you  unless  you  want  me  to  be."  this  was  not  the  woodsman  whose  head  he  wanted  on  a  pike,  so  he  saw  no  reason  to  mess  with  him.  he..didn't  smell  good  enough  to  chomp  on,  so...  the  strange  woodsman  should  be  safe.  or  was  he  a  hunter?  didn't  matter.

"i'm  not  gonna  eat  all  the  boars.  i'm  goin'  for  deer  an'  hares,  too.  not  all,  though.  i'm  not  stupid.  i  know  to  keep  the  balance."  he  could  probably  eat  a  lot,  but  all..  ?  nah.  besides,  he'd  kept  his  forest  thriving  for  decades.  he'd  be  fine,  thanks.  "you  wanna  ...feed  me?"  he  couldn't  help  huff  out  a  laugh,  making  his  way  back  over  to  the  boar  to  flop  down  by  it.  "i  mean,  i'm  good  for  now,  but  sure."  he..  was  curious,  truth  be  told.  something  was  off  about  this  guy.

.....what?  "okay,  uh,  what  are  you?"  yes,  better  question.  "you  know  what?  i  like  my  limbs  where  they  are,  so  how  about  you  leave  your  axe  where  it  is  an'  we  ..y'know..  talk?  tell  me  about  this  place  or..  you."

Nick does not move a muscle, staying perfectly still like a statue. He is not even blinking. Only the sound of his engine and gears can be heard. And his reply, "and you're a foreign species. I assess threat."

The man"s (or whatever he is) response is just stating the obvious but Nick likes to confirm these kinds of things. "Depends. You an outsider. Eating one boar is acceptable. Eat all the boars, you're a threat." If this stranger was simply hungry and just needed food, killing one boar could be considered the course of nature. However, if the man is out to kill every boar in the woods, that is a problem. And Nick cannot let that happen. He protects the ecosystem in the woods. "If you are hungry, I can feed you." Nick offers. Unnecessary violence is wasteful.

"System fully operational. No issue detected," Nick replies in monotone before titling his head to the side, "nothing wrong with me. I hack things just fine." His mannerism indicates that he is dead serious, and ready to swing his axe to hack at the possible threat if needed.

[rubyslipped]

❝  let's  just  say  he  kind  of  hi-jacked  a  portal  following  me  and  is  now  sniffing,  jumping  on,  and  licking  every  royal  guest  in  sight.  ❞  dorian  chuckles  in  defeat,  hearing  the  sounds  of  paws  scattering  not  too  far  but  far  enough  to  not  waste  a  chase.  despite  the  brief  moments  of  chaos  that  their  canine  companion  caused,  the  gingham  garnered  hero  of  oz  had  learned  to  trust  toto's  instincts,  even  if  they  didn't  always  seem  apparent.  certainly  kept  them  safe  during  perilous  journeys  in  the  land  of  oz.  dorian  listens  to  their  robotic  friend  explain  what  they  thought  of  tonight,  and  by  nick's  standards,  it  really  was  acceptable.  for  as  long  of  they've  known  the  cyberized  woodsman,  their  spectrum  of  experience  was  different  than  others,  but  there  was  nothing  wrong  with  that,  and  dorian  would  whack  anyone  in  the  head  who  said  otherwise.  ❝  I  understand:  everything's  very  pretty  here.  reminds  me  of  the  stuff  the  kings  and  queens  in  france  lived  in  back  in  my  world.  but  the  magic  feeling  isn't  as  strong  here.  ❞  well,  not  fully,  but  there  were  definitely  magical  beings  all  around. 

as  the  fats-based  substances  burn  within  the  tinman's  converter,  dorian  was  gonna  ask  if  they  had  just  ate  a  stick  of  butter,  but  didn't  bother  given  that  nick  ate  on  a  more  useful  regiment  rather  than  for  pure  enjoyment.  ❝  can't  say  that  I  have,  but  I've  been  looking  around  to  see  if  lion  &  'crow  pop  up  at  any  time.  thought  maybe  you  would  have  seen  them  if  they  did  come.  ❞  dorian  looks  around  to  see  if  they  see  the  other  2/4  of  their  merry  gang. 

Nick nods, "yes, I am here. You are here. Toto he is here too?" He scans their surroundings looking for the trusty companion of Dorian Gale. Though the dog has a penchant for licking him (moisture is bad), Nick still likes Toto. It is only natural for the keeper of the forest to like animals in general. "Oz is wonderful. This place is..." Nick goes through his vocabulary database for the right word, "lavish, but less whimsical." The Emerald City is full of bright colors (mostly green) and spectacles and talking animals and magical beings. The Tin Man finds out a little bit too much, but the lack of it at the palace save for the guests is somewhat odd for him.

He falls silent for a second while his internal furnace converts the fat into energy. A hot fume escapes his mouth, and he turns his head and covers the mouth. He clears his throat and says, "a good time. Difficult to qualify. Lots of dancing and music. But I am learning the new realms. That is acceptable." He can say he is content with the time at the palace, just a little awkward in a space like this, but he is not sure if that counts as what people call 'a good time'. It is at least not a waste of time. "You saw the others? People from Oz." He asks, hoping to reunite with their traveling companions.

[onceuponers]

Back where Carmine hailed from, people did not often approach him so plainly. His reputation did not precede him in a bad with, but with his imposing figure and stern —though approachable handsome— face, he very much gave off a vibe of 'do not disturb' and he liked it that way.

So when the other man steps to him like it's nothing, Carmine is surprised. Impressed, even. This must have been a man of some stature, wherever he came from. He looked the part at least.

"I cannot help you there, I am sorry," Carmine says. "I thought my palace was labyrinthine, but now it feels so quaint in comparison... you are not from this realm either, yes? You do not seem as frilly as the the royals I've met today. That means I am inclined to not immediately dismiss you."

LOCATION: King Stefan's Palace MUSE: Kamran Jafar Barmaki STATUS: Open

After making his rounds, Sultan Kamran Jafar Barmaki was officially spent. The new portals connecting the realms are fascinating but they are also liability. Meaning he has more so-called allies and possible enemies to gauge and maintain diplomatic relations with. A real headache. Though King Stefan has been a gracious host and the palace is comfortable enough... but Kamran dearly misses his bedchamber and, well, his consort. He has dismissed his attendants and decided to find somewhere to relax. Perhaps explore. Learn the secrets of King Stefan while at it if he can...

Kamran adjusts his red tie (he has taken quite a liking to fashion from the other realm, less fabric wasted and could be more practical with pockets) and approaches another guest. "Excuse me, dear. Hope you're enjoying the party but may I ask... would you happen to know where the library is in the palace? Or perhaps a gallery of sort. I was hoping to take a peek at the collections of His Majesty."

[wulfdreaded]

survival  of  the  fittest  (him)  was  the  natural  order  -  it  was  the  way  the  world  worked  &  zeke  had  no  interest  in  changing  that.  the  system  worked  &  he  sat  on  top  of  the  food  chain,  so  ...there  was  that.  it  was  the  same  for  the  humans,  in  a  way  -  no  matter  how  hard  they  judged  the  life  he  led.  the  strongest  wealthiest  ruled  over  the  rabble,  too.  it  was  the  exact  same  principle  -  zeke  just  ...  didn't  bother  pretending  he  was  any  better  than  the  rest  of  them.  well,  better  than  the  humans.

that  man,  though...  wasn't  that,  or  was  he?  different  realms...  different  people?  he  smelled  unlike  anything  zeke  had  smelled  before  &  it  was  ..a  little  unnerving,  though  he  wouldn't  let  that  show.  wiping  at  his  mouth  &  licking  at  his  fingers,  he  decided  that  food  could  wait.  for  a  moment.  he'd  eaten  enough  to  take  the  edge  off,  so  he  could  -  probably  talk...  for  a  bit.  or  kill  the  strange-smelling  man  as  well  if  he  kept  looking  at  him  like  that.

eyeing  him  closely,  observing  &  still  trying  to  catch  a  proper  scent  to  remember  in  case  they  ever  met  again  after  this,  he  could  hear  ...  something.  a  sound.  did  it  come  from  the  man?  interesting.  it  was  a  faint  hum  that  definitely  came  from  the  other.  interesting  indeed.

"keeper  of  the  woods,  huh?"  sounded  a  little  like  him,  only  that  zeke  was  the  one  true  threat  in  his  forest.  not  to  the  forest,  though.  head  tilted  to  the  side  a  little,  brows  furrowed,  he  glanced  back  at  the  boar.  wasn't  it  obvious  what  his  ...business  was?  maybe  not.  hm.  "i  was  just  eatin'."  mine  mine  mine.  "that  a  problem  with  you?"  they  could  settle  this  right  here  -  if  he  wanted  to.  zeke  didn't  mind  getting  his  claws  dirty  again.  "and  what  the  fuck's  heck's  wrong  with  you?"

Nick is if anything vigilant. Ever since the portal opened, unknown elements have been roaming the woods. Introduced species can disrupt ecosystem, especially when they are magical. So the Tin Man cannot rest. It is his purpose. Protect the forest, defend those who cannot defend themselves and cut down evil. Without his purpose, he is... nothing. Most parts of him died when the cursed axe cut them out and the purpose is all he has left.

The Tin Man was patrolling the area near the portal when he detected a presence. Footprints, a trail left behind. Someone who is accustomed to living in the woods... but Nick does not recognize the pattern of the tracks. An unknown visitor which means unknown threat level. Nick follows the footprints into the deeper parts of the forest.

A scream, pained and desperate, alerts the Tin Man and he rushes toward the source of the sound. He is first greeted by the scent of blood and gore. His bionic eye glows as it scans the scene. An unknown man covered in blood, devouring a boar. Predators hunting prey is natural and Nick does not interfere. But this man is not natural, at least not in his woods. His engine is set to the combat mode, accompanied by whirling, humming noise.

But Nick does not charge immediately, though his axe is ready. There is always a chance of misunderstanding. He always gives out warning before striking. "I am the keeper of these woods. Warning. I cut down threats. Possible threat, state your business."

[rubyslipped]

once  dorian  managed  to  get  a  better  grip  on  toto  not  terrorizing  the  guests  of  the  palace,  the  defender  of  oz  was  able  to  let  their  guard  down  a  bit  and  relax,  have  a  cup  of  tea  and  slice  of  the  wonderful  cake  tonight,  even  mingle  with  people  from  places  they  didn't  even  know  existed.  everyday,  their  horizons  were  expanding  beyond  that  little  kansas  town.  but  even  in  the  midst  of  getting  acquainted  with  the  new,  dorian  did  hope  a  familiar  face  would  pop  up  maybe.  how  lucky  that  it  would  be  one  would  pop  up  with  a  tank  full  of  lard-based  foods. 

❝  nick  !  you  came  !  ❞  dorian  happily  squeals  as  they  hear  their  name  in  the  familiar,  almost  monotonous  tone.  while  most  would  cock  their  head  in  confusion  at  the  manner  of  how  the  barking-chopping  cyborg  of  oz  greets,  dorian  knew  that  was  just  how  they  were.  emotion  wasn't  foreign  to  them,  but  it  wasn't  aptly  expressed  like  most.  still,  the  fact  that  nick  always  checked  on  their  vitals  was  a  sign  he  cared  about  dorian's  wellbeing.  ❝  it  is  now  that  I've  managed  to  keep  toto  from  running  around  the  palace  in  a  tizzy.  so  many  fancy  folks  and  whatnot,  kings  and  queens  and  princes  and  princesses.  and  I  thought  oz  was  a  wonder  to  behold.  ❞  which  it  still  was,  but  now  dorian  wondered  just  how  many  other  realms  and  places  there  were  outside  their  bounds  of  imagination.  ❝  are  you  having  a  good  time  ?  ❞  in  all  honesty,  they  weren't  expecting  to  see  many  of  his  fellow  ozites,  led  alone  the  tinman  himself:  events  like  this  felt  very  out  of  his  comfort  bounds,  but  maybe  they  were  trying  to  change  that.  either  way,  dorian  was  glad  to  see  him. 

once  dorian  managed  to  get  a  better  grip  on  toto  not  terrorizing  the  guests  of  the  palace,  the  defender  of  oz  was  able  to  let  their  guard  down  a  bit  and  relax,  have  a  cup  of  tea  and  slice  of  the  wonderful  cake  tonight,  even  mingle  with  people  from  places  they  didn't  even  know  existed.  everyday,  their  horizons  were  expanding  beyond  that  little  kansas  town.  but  even  in  the  midst  of  getting  acquainted  with  the  new,  dorian  did  hope  a  familiar  face  would  pop  up  maybe.  how  lucky  that  it  would  be  one  would  pop  up  with  a  tank  full  of  lard-based  foods. 

LOCATION: King Stefan's Palace MUSE: Nick Chopper STATUS: Closed | @rubyslipped

The party is... definitely not The Tin Man's scene. Most of his functions are useless in a setting like this. There is no tree to cut down, no woodworking to do (he asked a servant if they need any furniture built and got a weird look) or bad beasts to hunt. No flying monkey to kill. Nick keeps on pacing around the ballroom, or the palace grounds, looking for things to do but finding nothing. Perhaps he is nervous? Or out of place? But Nick has not felt that emotion is such a long time, he can barely recognize it.

After wandering for a while, Nick has returned to the ballroom. His fuel tank was running low. He surveys the table of food for the best fuel source. Various bread and pastries, honeyed ham, fruits... All of those options, he picks a plate of butter (for the bread) and a jar of cream (for one's tea). He just shoves a stick of butter in his mouth and swallows, and pours cream down into his throat. They are both fat and they burn faster. More fuel efficient.

From one of the onlookers, his bionic eye scans a familiar face. He puts down the jar, wipes his mouth and approaches his friend. "Dorian Gale." He greets like he always does before scanning (literally) Dorian up and down. "You look healthy. No sign of major stress. That is acceptable." He concludes with a nod before asking, "the party. Is it acceptable? To you?"