Open RP: Silas is Looooossst.

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

All right, Silas was used to massive cathedrals and the rambling corridors of the Opus Dei center in New York, but Hogwarts dwarfed them all in both size and sheer confusion. He'd found Ravenclaw all right, the night before, but now that he was attemtping to go anywhere else, he found himself hopelessly lost in a corridor that looked, well, like all the other corridors he'd seen. The paintings moved, and spoke, and Silas was beginning to think that if he hadn't been crazy before, he was well on the way there now.

He'd met no one so far, for which he was almost grateful--as bizarrely kind as many people had been here, he still hadn't begun to wrap his mind around just what sort of place he'd landed in. Sooner or later he had to run into someone, though, if only so they could tell him where he was, and at least try to point him back to familiar ground.

This place needs a chapel, he thought. Likely it already had one, but yet again he had to actually find it.

((Come poke/torment/see the crazy monk man))

ETA: ((OOC Note: Stephen-mun and I reaaally want to avoid Stephen/Silas meta, for both their sakes'.))

Comments

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Silas didn't know much about English lore, but he'd read a version of the legend in one of the magazines he had found as a child. Robin...

"I've read of the story, but I thought it was just that--a story. Are you he?" He supposed he shouldn't be surprised--with people from other worlds, the idea that a legend was more than a legend should hardly come as a shock.

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

Robin blushed a bit but held up his bow by way of confirmation. "Aye, in theory, though I assure you the legend far outstrips the man. I was the first to bear that name - there was another after me." He smiled. "In any case and to answer your question, I am here by choice. Your own arrival was a surprise to you, then?"

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Two Robin Hoods...the legends had never mentioned that.

"No, I did not come by choice," Silas admitted. "I died, and somehow wound up here. I have to say I do not regret it." Very suprising, especially at first. "May I ask what your task is, or is it secret?"

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

"It is no secret. My tutor - Herne - has lived far beyond the bonds of his time, but his life wanes now. I am his Son, whom he taught to follow him. I am here to learn what I may of this magic, that when he goes to his rest I may succeed him. That is all." Robin grinned. "Nor do I regret coming here, thought it was at first very strange. But I am trying to adapt."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

That made a great deal of sense. Silas would swear he'd heard the name 'Herne' before, but he couldn't recall where or when.

"I think it is very strange for everyone, at first--when I arrived in the sorting room, I wondered if I'd gone to Purgatory. So you came that you might succeed your tutor--you wish to learn more magic than he can teach you?"

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

"I have been in the Great Forest with Herne for eight hundred years," Robin explained. "What he knows, I know also. But this place teaches more than even he knows; and more is needed, for the powers of darkness are stronger than ever, and better hidden."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

"Eight hundred years?" Silas stared. "Are you now immortal, then?" Of course, Biblically there had been people who lived far longer than people now, but that was ancient history. To hear of something so recent...he wondered if this place would ever cease to be surprising.

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

Robin shook his head. "Nay, forgive me. I was unclear. I died at the hands of the Sheriff's men; the Great Forest was my time after, where I waited to be called again." He paused, waiting to see if Silas understood. "That is why there was another after me; he took my place when I was killed."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

That was another part of the legend he'd never known. "So you are much like all who died before we came here, really. Brought back to serve some other purpose." Silas wasn't sure he wanted to ask about the 'other' Robin; it sounded like it would be even more confusing. "And now you learn to take this Herne's place...I have heard the name Herne before, but I don't recall where. Who is he, exactly?"

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

Robin spread his hands. "It rather depends on who you ask. The legend of Herne the Hunter calls him a god, but this I know he is not. He is a man, like you or I. Yet he speaks to a spirit, also called Herne, who is a part of the Great Forest in the old tradition. And I can tell you he wields great power, though it wanes as his life ebbs, and as people lose faith in the old ways." He smiled again, shaking his head. "My explanation does not help much, does it? I believe in one God, and in his Son; but I know the spirit of the Forest is there, for I too speak to it, though not as the Hunter."

He looked at Silas for a moment. "Brother Tuck, when confronted with Herne, used to say that mystery was the way of all faith. And that whatever power the forest held was granted it by God, that it was some aspect of the divine. I do not know if that helps, either."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

Herne the Hunter...Silas had never heard the legend, but he supposed it made as much sense as any. He wasn't sure yet that he wanted to believe such a creature was real, but not wanting to and not doing it were two very different things. The Church taught that only humans had souls, but that idea had been smashed to pieces as soon as he'd arrived here.

He considered for a moment. "That...does help," he said slowly. "The idea that all of this--the magic, the powers that people here seem to have--that it all comes from God...it makes it much easier. We are all God's children, even those of us who are...different."

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

"Aye." Robin nodded again. "And He made us all in his image, yes? Coming here has shown me just how many aspects God must have."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

"Many aspects, and an extremely active imagination," Silas said. "It makes me wonder how many more of this world's myths aren't really myths after all. I never thought I would see angels with my living eyes, nor many of the other things and people I've met here."

[hernes-son.livejournal.com]

Robin grinned. He had met a couple (http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1193493.html?thread=60964117#t60964117) of <a href="http://community.livejournal.com/hogwarts_hocus/1193493.html?thread=60991253#t60991253>angels</a> himself and enjoyed the experience thoroughly. "I expect there are more surprises in store. For both of us." He bowed and gestured to a large open doorway. "There is the library, Brother Silas. I have enjoyed our talk. If ever you have need of me, you have only to owl."

[ghostorangel.livejournal.com]

"I thank you, Monsieur Robin." Silas inclined his head, smiling slightly. "I think this place has much in store for both of us."