Of travel I've had my share, man.

[theincredibleherc]

Who: Hercules theincredibleherc and YOU!
What: Hercules arrives
Where: All Over Philly
When: During the Philly camp period.
Warnings/Notes: Possible language, not anticipating anything too serious.



Falling for what seemed like hours and hours is an unfortunate thing, but it's a damn sight better than being stuck in a completely empty mockery of a reality that Hera had created. And hearing voices in his head whispering about saving some place he'd never heard of? That's damn weird, but par for the course when dealing with faeries, just like waking up in a place you definitely didn't fall asleep. Never one to concern himself with the finer details of a request for help...and because anything was better than being stuck in an empty universe...he mentally made up his mind to actually take this at face value. A request for help and a mysterious tugging in some unknown direction was enough to get him up and moving.

And so that is how the Lion of Olympus arrived in the ruins of Philadelphia. Striding out of the forest and into the ruined city, his mace casually carried over one shoulder, Herc noted the signs. Stuffing a hand into his belt pouch, he pulled out his Starkphone and checked for signal, just to be sure. Finding none, he shrugged and casually flicked over to a music all, beginning to blare Guns and Roses. The noise, he figured, could be a beacon to anyone around...or to any enemies that might be lurking nearby. Either was better than being alone.

The longer he went without sight or sound of anyone, the more noise he decided to make. That mostly entailed singing along with whatever song came up on his playlist, a range of classic rock and hair metal that Amadeus had left on there. And a few odd choices that he figured were gags left by Hank.



Eventually he'll find his way to The Philadelphia Free Library, figuring that maybe he could find an old newspaper or something inside. Pushing his way through the door, he stepped inside and called out, just to be sure.

"Hello? Anyone home?"

Comments

[theincredibleherc]

That takes him off guard. Herc rocks back on his feet a little, standing up straighter, making him reassess the situation. King Arthur by those titles. Well. Arturia. One of the greatest Heroes to ever wear the name. A man he'd fought beside when the Skyfathers called forth the hosts of honored dead in times past, though the gender mattered little in the grander scheme of things. He was clearly in another reality, and in this one Arthur was clearly a woman. That was well and good, but what struck him was the fact that she was here. The stance was unmistakable, she was not lying to him, and he knew damn well that size did not affect the strength of one's heart.

"Then well met, Highness," he said with a deep inclination of his head. Proper respect for a proper hero. "It seems we have met alternate versions of one another, then. The Arthur in my reality was a man with hair the color of good earth. A valiant knight if ever there was one."

Herc considered his next words carefully, wishing not to offend, but he did need to correct this. He held little truck with tact and genteel behavior, but if she was who she was, then he'd make the attempt.

"If you met a maddened version of myself, then perhaps you mean Heracles. I was once that man, driven to fits of rage by Hera's spite, though no longer. I am Hercules now and forever more. Skyfather Zeus has elevated me, and I am now the God of Heroes, Labor, and Strength. You need not concern yourself with my sanity."

[invisibleheir]

Arturia cocks an eyebrow. That there might be other kings that bore her name--that bore her story--in other worlds was not impossible. It was a strange thought, though, that perhaps no matter who Arthur was, they inevitably failed. But now is not the time to dwell on such things. She bows slightly from the waist in return towards Hercules.

"It is a pleasure then, God of Heroes. I have met the King of Heroes," her smile widens a little. "But never one who claims the title of God of Heroes. I'm glad to meet you then, Hercules. I suppose you must be the latest addition to our strange band of heroes." And not so heroic types, of course, but Arturia isn't one to point that out. She is actually, but not right now.

[theincredibleherc]

For an Avenger, a friend of the Richards family, and a man who'd lived as long as he had it wasn't strange. It was merely a matter of course, an accepted fact. Henry's explanations on how it all worked were lost of Herc but that didn't mean he didn't understand the basics enough to brush them off.

"I suppose I must," Herc replied, offering his hand for a proper Western shake as well as the bow. That seemed properly comradely, and if she was anything like the Arthur he'd met, he could trust her word. He's concerned about her King of Heroes, but this is hardly the time.

"But please, just Hercules, Highness. I'd rather not have you concerning yourself over titles and the like with me. We are both kings, after all, though Thebes is a long distant memory."

[invisibleheir]

Arturia seems a little caught off guard by the offer to shake hands (she's been in Japan for a while) and then reaches out to take the offered hand with a pleasant smile.

"Hercules, then. And worry not, Britain..." A rather stricken look flickers on Arturia's face for a moment before the flash of emotion is gone. "Well, the Britain I ruled is also but a distant memory. I claim the title of king because it is the one I held in life."

[theincredibleherc]

If that takes her off guard, Herc can barely wait for her next reaction. He stoops and plants a quick and gentle kiss on the back of her hand, as appropriate for both a king and a lady in his time.

"Ruin eventually comes to all kingdoms. I was...never a very good king, certainly never a wise one," he says after releasing her hand. "I'm sure you know the tale as well as any, Highness."

Standing up straighter and letting his mace drop to the floor, he shook his head, not acknowledging the woman's lapse of control. It wasn't his place, nor was it the time.

"Know this though. Britain flourishes. In my world at least, several of my comrades in arms guard it's shores. Excalibur is as steadfast a team of defenders as one could ask for. I cannot imagine other variations are less well guarded."

[invisibleheir]

Arturia arches a brow as Hercules kisses the back of her hand. Her cheek are definitely not pink because of it, though. She's a king, not some easily flustered maiden! As her hand is released, she nods at him.

"I wish I had been wiser, but that is the fate of all kings, I think. To wish that they had been better then they were." She sighs faintly, grip tightening on Excalibur.

"...Excalibur is a sword." She squints at Hercules. "I carry it in my hand, here."

[theincredibleherc]

"Aye, I am aware. In my world, however, it's also a team of heroes. Excalibur's whereabouts I know not, but the team felt that it was an appropriate moniker for Britain's heroes."

He certainly thought it was fitting, too. Quite fitting.