arturius | Three Silver Pieces

[Arthur really had no idea what to do with himself. It had been two months now and his various trips had seen every inch around the barrier, save for those that the ocean blocked. The mountains had provided him with a handy way of escaping the village after his humiliation with that experiment. He had already crossed them once, with Cordelia, but he was only now returning again after a long trip crossing them on the northern edge of the barrier only to cross them on the south.

Reluctant as he was to admit it, he really was trapped. There was no way out. Even the excursion out to sea seemed like it would only be a way of confirming what he already suspected. There was nothing that he, even as King of Camelot, could do to escape. Especially when not even magic seemed to make a difference. Upon returning to the village on horseback, he was too weary to prepare his own meal, so his first stop was Seventh Heaven. Some of his clothes had been torn on the trip and with no way of repairing them himself, he made a stop at the clothing shop to find some replacements. Even before being able to return to his own apartment, he had to see to it that he put his horse away and saw to it he was properly fed and stabled for the night. Hard work, all of it. What he wouldn't give for a servant.

Later, in the evening, he writes up a message on the journal.]

It's been two months since I've arrived. If the guide to this place is right, that means more of us will be coming soon. Does it get tiresome, hearing how intent we are on to escape, knowing that we'll soon realize how futile it really is? It seems I may find that out for myself, soon enough.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Let me guess- recently crowned Queen?

You tell me. Do I fit the part?

Would you like an honest answer for that?

Lay it on me, your majesty.

[ she is no queen -- or so she thought. and she figures she can take the king's criticism.

hah. ]

Very well. [PREPARE TO GET CRITICIZED HE HELL OUT OF.

Except he's being honest.]

You look the part, but you could never play it. You might pass for an unconventional princess though.

[ she...didn't expect that answer. it quiets her for a moment as she gathers her wits back about her.

suitably saucy: ] It's the diplomacy thing, isn't it? I was never good at playing nice with others.

[Really, it's the whole being clean, not dressed in rags, and being able to read. They do wonders for betraying your status.]

Something like that.

The truth is that castles aren't just for royalty anymore. They're...tourist attractions. And wedding venues. And if you have enough dough? You can buy one.

[... tourist attractions.]

So where do your rulers live?

In pretty little houses on hills. The kinds of houses that have wings. But not the feathery kind. Or the castley kind.

They can't do better?

Not so sure it'd endear them to the voting public if they chose to lord it over in the fanciest of cribs.

Voting public?

The...public. That votes. For the leader?

Why would they do that?

How else are they gonna decide? We don't to the royalty thing. Not where I'm from.

Well that's just weird.

...Weirder than letting someone rule you just because of his or her last name?

A king is far more than just his bloodline or name. [It's insulting to think royalty could be boiled down to such a simple idea.] Every moment of my life has been spent in preparation for the day I would one day lead.

Pretty sure any Average Joe can do the same. Or...try to do the same. How do you know you're right for the job? I'm not being facetious. As a very chosen individual myself? I get curious.

A king's worthiness is reflected in the heart of his people. Perhaps it's true that this Joe is capable of leading, but a person who seeks power rarely is concerned with the welfare of those he would lead.

So -- roughly -- you're actually saying that the best kinda leader is the one who hasn't had any choice in the matter? Greatness thrust upon them, et cetera et cetera?

I'm not sure I would say it's something as simple as that. But I do believe some people are born to lead.

And what if those people aren't princes or kings? What if they're...say -- a normal girl just trying to get a date to the school dance?

I'm not sure I see the relevance.

[ voice ]

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:20 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:22 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:27 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:30 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:40 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:43 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:43 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:47 (UTC) - Expand

(no subject)

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:48 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:49 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:52 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 19:55 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 19:59 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:00 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 20:06 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:07 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 20:08 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:11 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 20:14 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:16 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 20:17 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:19 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-11 20:38 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-11 20:51 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-12 00:00 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-12 00:26 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-12 00:27 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-12 00:30 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-12 00:31 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-12 00:33 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-12 00:34 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-12 00:36 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-12 11:10 (UTC) - Expand

arturius - 2012-03-13 04:50 (UTC) - Expand

herotypical - 2012-03-13 20:17 (UTC) - Expand