Euryleia grinned outwardly.  To the others, it might appear that she found all this talk of impossible paradox quite funny.  She crossed her arms, with a defiant posture.  A copper-colored ring took shape on one hand, with a star shaped emblem.  Very subtle and likely unnoticed as Euryleia is not really centered in the main conversation.

To the nanite intelligence, the Lady of Stjernevold transmitted, <<Then I compel you, mythological Djinn, to obey the mythological Seal of Solomon.  I am Euryleia, which you well know.  Speak your name and purpose." If she sensed another nanite intelligence in the other uniform, Euryleia pinged it into the transmission as well.

Brun tried to follow all this strangely matter-of-fact explanation of what should still feel like impossible things.  The odd names made it harder.  Each use pinged him towards some future echo where he knew these names...

When Meara asked, Brun answered as though he had always known, "Ayem /is/ you, Aunt Meara.  Oob is me, Uncle Brun.  You know they love to shorten and abbreviate things....  Even when...." He trailed off as he pieced things out of shattered perspectives.  Brun's eyes went wide and he looked at Gwydion, "They call him Goojah....  Great. Uncle. /John/.". He said it slowly, carefully and clearly.  His mind warred to with it....  A future echo accepting easily that the squires call him Goojah in their strange abbrevs...  Brun of Now shocked that /they/ know him and call him anything...

The discussion about paradoxes and predestination brought a small smile to Gwydion, talking science with his family, future family but still his, in a way he'd only just recently learned how to. This was his doing. His accomplishment. And his children, teenagers and already so competent and knowledgeable. And then Brun explained the nicknames and the smile fell. Gwydion's eyes turned to the twins with apprehension and a hint of outright fear. Under the table, he took Iliza's hand and squeezed.

"Agravina. Mordwynn. Is... can you tell me about John Arthur? I need to make a choice, and I don't know if it's already locked in."

The swarm rippled in a way that Euryleia somehow knew was amusement and delight.

<<Oh, Euryleia, bearer of Solomon's Seal, I knew you would be so wise and discerning. I am Eppagelía, the fulfillment of your word and bond.>>

---

The twins had apparently been instructed in the subtle expression language known to Meara and Freyr. The quick look the two exchanged held a conversation.

"Who would have thought that young Auntie Meara was such a hardass?"
 "I know, right? /The Fury/ toootally takes on a new meaning..."
"And Dad hasn't even made one terrible joke. Just how badly did you wound him?!"
"I haven't done anything yet...but I only have to tag him with the beacon right? How does /that/ go wrong---Oh my goddesses is that Bibi?!"

Agravina suddenly turned to look over her shoulder. No one was there. She turned back and glared at her sister.

 "Aggy, you're too easy."
 "I hate you Wynny."
 "You're a bad liar Aggy."

"Yup," Mordwynn confirmed aloud as Sir Brun delivered his information about the names.

"I know what you're going to ask, but, yes, you made the right decision. You were correct to choose me as your favorite," Mordwynn said cheekily in response to Gwydion.
This message was last edited by the GM at 23:58, Wed 17 Apr.

With a very subtle smirk, Meara glanced at the twins and decided to have fun letting them know she picked up on everything.

He's not a dad yet, and I just had time travel thrust upon me the morning after what appeared to be an assassination attempt and the theft of my uncle's sword that was gifted to him by my aunt, so you caught me at a bad time.

She then picked up what looked to be a strip of fried soy protein and offered it to Irina casually.  "Bacon?"

Now that the anger and frustration had mostly passed, it was time to mess with their guests.  It's how she showed affection!

For all his years around them, the prince had never learned to communicate like Meara and Freyr. The exchanged looks were pretty obviously That, but that was as close to understanding as he got. Once the silent chat was finished and Mordwynn gave him an answer, Gwydion's tension broke and he snrked into a hand, almost hiding the smile that had bounced back onto his face.

"How can I have a favorite when you're both perfect? Seems the future has you in good hands, so why all the time travel? What is it that needs to be corrected, or kept correct? What's the mission, little loves?"

Brun caught that there was some kind of subtle communication going on between the twins...  Then Meara?  And everything seemed...relaxed....  This group, together, felt strangely familiar to him.  Another future echo?

He looked to Euryleia to see how she was taking all this and....  That was odd.  She had that certain "other communication" look too...

Euryleia's curiosity was piqued by that answer.  Silver eyes widened subtly as she instantly searched the name through the databases.  From the Greek like her own name.  But with very interesting associations with ancient Christianity.  A promise.  But more directly used as a divine promise... <A fullment of my word and bond?  And which word and bond would that be?  I only have one bond I would claim at this moment...>

I'm considering said bond, Euryleia looked to her Knight...and caught his curious look to his Lady.  Euryleia smiled with an annoying level of knowingness.  She pointedly adjusted the collar of her Stjernevold shipsuit, the nodded towards the twins saying, "There are more than two far travelling guests." Silver eyes sparkled with delight...

Brun tried to sort through that now.  Looking between his Lady and his someday-squires....  A name came to his head like he's always known it.  Of course he had.  He sat up, "Eppagelía?"

<<Yes>> Eppagelía responded in the manner of a proud teacher encouraging a student who had just answered her own question.

Agravina smiled at Brun, "Here, Sir, yes."

The twins clothing briefly rippled in a wave pattern. "She says 'Hello.'"

---

Irina took a piece of bacon and munched on it on auto-pilot, her cognitive focus clearly tied up in mulling over the implications of her epiphany.

The smiles on both of the girls' faces and the way Iliza squeezed his hand let Gwydion know he'd given the correct answer.

"Yep, definitely him."

"I wasn't sure at first--without the beard--but there's no mistaking that level of syrupy sap delivered with a straight face," they quipped playfully.

"Let me answer your question with another question--what aren't you asking? What is truly baffling about this situation? Not the time travel which you've already resolved to see through though it takes our entire lifetimes thus far. What seems off? John Arthur dies along with many of his best knights, Earth and Mars are nearly at one another's throats. The Kingdom is weakest it's been since its formation and yet..." Agravina said.

 "Where is MerGN-A" MerLN answered. He stood next to the table smoking a holographic pipe and stroking his long beard as he considered the issue.

"And that's how you become the King's chief advisor. Record the experience for later review, people," Mordwynn commented.

"I must say I have devoted a subroutine entirely to this mystery. I'd like to think I know MerGN-A better than she knows herself, it is my purpose after all. Everything I know about her says that MerGN-A should be mercilessly pressing every advantage against us in our weakened state. And yet..."

"To be fair, we did assume you were MerGN-A's agents at first. The wedding festivities have been giving me very uncomfortable memories of Callisto. All these high profile figures in a single place, a security system that can be circumvented, and suddenly assassins bypass security and attack three of our Knights. It didn't feel very good, and I was quite surprised when we weren't attacked by Emergent forces. I don't suppose you can provide any insight?" Brun and Euryleia were saying some weird things. More guests? And it seemed like the Lady was having one of those Meara/Freyr conversations, but... "Eppa-what?"
This message was last edited by the player at 21:53, Sat 20 Apr.

"Eppagelía," Euryleia repeated helpfully, adding with a nod towards her Knight, "/Our/ child.". Still smiling, despite the topic shift, Euryleia regarded the newly arrived MerLN now, "As the Prince plainly noted, we had been concentrating on the immediate issue.  The lack of action from MerGN-A could have many reasons, correct?  Is there other information that could narrow down these possibilities?" This last question was directed not just to MerLN, but the squires as well.

Internally, she continued to signal Eppagelía <<I am happy beyond words to meet you and know of you.  I want to learn all about you, but I know that we will have that chance.  You are here with purpose now.  Did I or your father send you with rules regarding what can be shared?  Any specific messages?>>
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 14:20, Mon 22 Apr.

Brun had met Agravina's confirmation and his Lady's knowing look with a bright smile.  He returned the "wave" as best his simple crude fleshy hands would allow.  He started to join the conversation...  But his eyes were suddenly filled with other possibilities... Lives, as yet unlived, flared through his mind and struck him dumb.  He fell through fatherhood.  He tried to catch himself as it flashed past.  To see to hold on.  For just a moment.  But, as it always does, it goes by much faster than you realize...

The suddeness of the stop at the end was a great surprise.  The hole of time in his mind was not bottomless.  The future had an end.  It was much closer than he could ever have imagined.  He watched the stars wink out one by one at the end of his time...

Back at the gathering, to everyone else, Brun sat quietly.  Listening.  Maybe distracted in that odd, vacant way he seemed to so often now.  The sad mistiness to his strange, starry eyes was very easy to miss.  There was alot going on.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:01, Mon 22 Apr.

For her part, Meara didn't appreciate how the new girls were acting, especially because it reminded her a bit of herself before she realized the world wasn't going to wait for her to finally start taking her position as seriously as she needed.  So, instead of responding to the bait (intentional or not), she let the others discuss things as she focused on ensuring Irina didn't run into anything or otherwise hurt herself while her mind was in Science Mode.

Also, Irina looked so cute when she was lost in thought, and watching her think made Meara happy.

Not to mention Euryleia said what she wanted to point out, but much more diplomatically and politely than she would have.

See, Mother?  Meara was learning.  She was wisely staying silent!

Hah!

<<Father wishes you to know that he loves you very much. As do I.>> Eppagelía replied, but said nothing further.

"Seek the G.R.A.I.L.," the twins said in unison in reply to Euryleia.

"Beyond that you have what you need or you will create it along the way," Agravina added. "I know that is perhaps not what you want to hear, but it is the path to victory."

"We are here to do our part, as you will do yours. And..." Mordwynn paused for a moment before she finished, "...And maybe to show you why it's worth it."

Upon hearing the twins' response to the latest batch of questions, Meara raised an eyebrow and returned her attention to them.

"We have no intention of stopping the search for the G.R.A.I.L., I assure you.  Iri and I even went against Auntie Val's orders to do so, which is partly why Sir Brun and Lady Euryleia are here with us.  Why would you assume we would stop?  We appreciate any and all assistance in doing so, of course, but I am puzzled as to why you would need to come here to make such a request while being so vague about any details that would provide the context we need."

She was not berating them, nor upset, and her tone made that clear, but she was expressing confusion as to the actions and messages provided so far by their visitors from, she was still quite convinced, a possible, but not pre-determined, future.

Gwydion shot Brun a wide smile and a thumbs up on being introduced to Eppagelía, and then went back to listening to the others. The twins' advice seemed essentially useless, given existing plans, but maybe there was more to it they weren't saying. In all, he still had one important question that had been deflected. No more smiles.

"Girls. It seems too late to stop my attempts to save Uncle John since he's there with us in the future. How does that result in my death? Can it be changed?"

Brun stared into the endless dark of the End of his Time.  A black, bleak wall that had no more futures beyond it.  Fifteen years.  More than he could've imagined or wished for in his worst days.  But he wasn't in his worst days...  Fifteen was no longer enough...

Best make it good.  He fell back through seas of possibility.

Perspectives flashed and stormed through him as he tried to find Now again....  He missed.

---

Brun straightened, blinking and wiped his eyes before looking around the gathering, "Ah.  /This/ when.". He stood, muttering like an actor going through lines, "Seek the G.R.A.I.L...  We have no intention of stopping...  ...results in my death..." Another moment to consider, then he began...

Brun first looked to Gwydion.  He had that same look of apologetic knowing as the squires now.  A sad smile, "I'm sorry.  I wasn't good enough at this to be clearer then...  And I asked them not to.  That's not why they're here.". His look was full of conviction and sincerity...and older somehow than he should be, "John had to die, because if he hadn't...  /You/ would have.  You had to live.  What you will do is so important.  John thought so.  I know so.  And I'm so sorry."

To Meara now, Brun continued, "Because it will be hard.  I wish it wasn't.  But it will be.  You'll... We... I thought about giving up.  And I can't tell you why, because some choices will matter and I can't know why the choices were made the way that they were.  But they will have to be made. Just know that you will make the right ones."

Brun indicated the squires now, stepping over to them with a respectful, familiar lordly nod to them.  Lord to vassal.  Standing with them, the Lord of Stjernevold looked back at his friends.  His Lady.  That same burdened, knowing, sad smile still, "Our future gets better.  If we don't quit.  So much better.  That's why I sent them.  So you could see.  I wish I could have sent them all...". He paused for a very pointed look if implication at Meara, "But these, at least, were mine to send.  They aren't here to tell you what will happen. They are here to show you it's worth it.  And to enjoy this day with you."

Meara listened to Brun's explanation.  Given the fact that they hadn't yet experienced the supposedly pending hardships that would make them genuinely think of giving up the quest, she felt she had to accept that as a valid reason.  Providing encouragement and hope to the people is part of her duty, so she understood doing it for her current self would be something she'd probably approve of in the future.  The implication he gave, however, made her smirk.

"Why Sir Brun, are you saying you could send my nieces, but not my own future children?  I cannot imagine they would be sassier than these two," she said with a playful gesture of her head to the twins, "and if they are anything like me, they would probably jump at the chance to travel through time.  In fact, I would almost expect them to do it without permission if it were possible."

Future Brun, present and coherent, took Gwydion by surprise. He listened in stunned silence until the end, casting glances to his daughters, his Iliza, and his cousin.

"Brun... You're relentlessly kind. Thank you. It appears you'll never stop being so dear to me. Can you be a bit more clear about what MerGN-A has to do with all this, though? And whether or not we'll have Uncle's sword back in time for the various ceremonies it's important for? We've still got a city full of people who've become very frightened because of the attacks. And I would like to tell our incapacitated friends something to take their minds off of what they think is impending death."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:43, Sat 27 Apr.

The girls smiled at Meara's comments and their once-and-future Auntie could read the mischievous glint in both their eyes--you think you know, but you have no idea...

"If I may," MerLN interjected. The Lady Freyr has made a full recovery as has Sir L1-4MNT...to a point. He does indeed show signs of the condition the knights of Mars refer to as the Waking Death. But, now that we aware we might try to delay the onset of more...severe...symptoms. "

"Who's to say," Mordwynn asked. "Gav, is quite resourceful. I am sure she'll have a something in mind after she's taken care of her urgent business."

Something in the way she inflected the word called back a memory to Meara. The luncheon with her Aunt that seemed so long ago, but had only been weeks.

Euryleia stood quietly, considering all that had been said.  Silver eyes scanned over /this/ Brun.  Not her Knight.  Not yet anyway...  He wasn't telling everything, of course.  But, he did seem confident.  Sure.  Which she was happy to see.  She was less happy with the continued lack of details, but there must be good reasons.  She, of course, trusted Brun as she trusted no one else.  Even /this/ Brun that she did not know as well.  Yet.  She would continue to trust.  It would be very difficult to imagine a possible future where she didn't...

Euryleia smiled lightly at Meara's assertion regarding the expected rebelliousness of her children.  While such behaviors did not translate on a genetic level with humans, it did somehow logically follow.  It felt true.  Which made her consider her own child again.  How would such things work with her?  How much of Euryleia would there be in Eppagelia?  How much of Brun?  Biological rules of heredity don't really apply...

To Eppagelia: <I am not sure what you are able to tell me of yourself, but I would know everything that you can share...  Perhaps, music is a light enough topic?>

Euryleia would accept the opportunity as it was offered.  To meet, a little, her child to be.  Not seeking secrets or hints.  Just meet them.

Brun grinned as Meara brought up her children and their lack of attendance.  A hand raised mock defensively, "I said no such thing.  What I said was that these were mine to send.  As they are, plainly, of my household.  They were, of course, eagerly willing to take such adventures.  Youth...  But, as for yours, that is not mine to say or command or influence in any direction really.  Much like their mother that way.

His playful grin faded a bit as Gwydion asked his questions, trying to acknowledge him seriously.  There was a small flash of...uncertainty?...at some of what Gwydion mentioned and asked.  But MerLN's answers interrupted and allowed Brun to let it go quickly, "Gwydion.  The point of this is that it will work out.  It will.  It will require faith and courage.  Both of which you have always possessed in abundance.  Look to that.  For whatever reason, we have been chosen to do impossible things."  With a gentle, encouraging pat on Agravina's shoulder (and, by so doing, giving his own child a loving squeeze), Brun gestured for them to go forward, "Meet them.  You should be and will be quite proud.  Iliza?  Please, perhaps you can help Gwydion focus on the importance of the opportunity of Now?"

Brun left that with that and moved over to the seemingly distracted Euryleia.  Quietly, "They are a marvel.  Like their mother"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:19, Today.

Internally, Meara cackled at everyone's responses to her teasing.  Outwardly, however, she merely showed she was pleased and amused.  Cackling was not exactly the best idea right now.  Also, if there was anything she'd learned growing up, it was that you don't cackle at things.  Not that she held a good cackle against anyone.  Some people just laughed that way and it was natural.

Whoever decided that cackling was a sign of an evil or malicious nature clearly wasn't imaginative enough, she often thought.

Back in the reality everyone was sharing, she let the twins have the last 'word' on the subject and gave her attention to the memory of the luncheon.  Having been informed of how the twins refer to others, 'Gav' had to be 'Great Aunt Valerie'.  But what could be so urgent that the currently-blind Queen would forgo this meeting?  With a silent message for discreetness not being an option, she looked up and asked, "MerLN?  Would you please provide Queen Valerie La Guin an update on what's been discovered and discussed here so far?  When you can provide it discreetly, that is."

Gwydion's serious expression held for a few moments, the tension growing increasingly artificial, until he replaced it with the grin he'd been holding back. "All this the day after you all talked me into abandoning my research. What timing. After yesterday, I lost any doubts that whatever we did would be worth it. I just wasn't sure about what we did is all." He turned his smile to Meara and MerLN. "Perhaps if she finishes with whatever she's up to, she'll be ready to come see the family." Back to the twins, "You are both truly amazing. But what were to happen if you were to meet your past selves? Given they're here, I'm very curious." It seems he'd taken lessons on how to make it weird from his uncle.

Eppagelía took Euryleia's invitation to heart and soon Euryleia's was overwhelmed by the sensation of music. An exciting theme, capriccio, which as it reached its crescendo, simply collapsed into a mournful dirge. It continued on for a while until it transitioned into a dumka, as it did a new theme was introduced, suddenly it was a quadrille. An interlude introduced a further theme which slowly built upon itself, layering, and repeating, changing. A fugue. The complexity increased, layer built upon layer, built upon layer, played upon so many instruments, carried by so many different voices. An anthem sung by a choir of countless number rose again with only one voice. The voice was burdened with power and purpose and an abiding love for the song. It returned again to that theme that had once risen from the dirge--repeating the refrain, forcefully, yet with a velvet quality that soothed. It repeated again as if inviting another voice to join it.

---

Iliza had spent the luncheon simply absorbing the experience, much like one takes in a masterwork of art. At Sir Brun's prompting she turned her loving gaze to her prince--who then promptly revealed the existence of their pregnancy, not just to the entire table, but to the entire bay at large. Iliza loved Gwydion dearly, with all her heart, but perhaps he shouldn't be trusted with state secrets... She tried her best to control her surprised expression and pinched Gwydion hard under the table.

The twins exchanged another look, "It's got to be the beard right?" "Has to be."

"Oh. Oh! Iliza!," Irina said a few seconds later as the words caught up to her as she was still processing the implications of what the twins had told them. She hugged her sister tightly.

MerLN acknowledged Princess Meara's orders, but said nothing as the revelation of Iliza's pregnancy unfolded before him.

Meara looked confused by, then deep in thought because of, Mordwynn's remark, as she was not aware her aunt had anyone but her uncle for such urgent activities.  Unless... Does this mean there's precedent for me and Iri?!

She then found herself interrupted by Gwydion announcing to the world that Iliza was, in fact, pregnant.  Normally, she would be congratulatory for Iliza and rib Gwydion a bit, but one of them had intentionally been being discreet about it, so she knew what she had to do.  She walked over to Gwydion and lightly smacked the back of his head with an open palm as she said, "She was being discreet, Cousin."

She then gave Iliza a resigned smile, as if to say, 'congratulations and I'm sorry my cousin is an idiot,' then gave Iliza's shoulder a gentle squeeze in support.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:04, Today.