eachdraidh | 3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

[After the madness of the dogs, Ryan's mostly taken to spending time holed up in his room in the castle with Kelsi and her specialty-made tea, readjusting to make things more normal again.

Of course then he wakes up to a message from her.

"❤To Mr. Fred Astaire❤
I got asked to go on a quest!!!!!
It's alright, Sif is with me. We're going to deal with a manticore. I don't know what that is but I brought a few books of me along the way.
See you when I get back!

PS. I took your hat so I won't feel so lonely. Sorry!"

There were several things wrong with the equation:

1.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest.
2.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest without him.
3.) Kelsi ended up going on a quest without him and with his hat.

Then there was also the other question…who the hell is Sif?

Fine. Whatever. He can deal with being apart for a few days. Anyway he had his own business to go about. He needs to get back to his training and the longer he puts off the advice from Queen Solais, the worse off he'll be.

When the video on his locket clicks on anyone watching will notice that Ryan's sitting on a cliff in the sunken ruins. He's busy watching a small group of mermaids swimming below him and the bit of sunlight filtering through the cracks in the walls are bouncing off of his hair now that it's not sheltered by one of his hats. He's humming a song under his breath for a few moments as he continues to watch, only mildly aware he's even humming that particular song to set the mood. Maybe he was more homesick now than he initially thought. Whatever. He can't do anything about that now, he has other goals to reach.

Truth be told, he's kind of wondering if he should ask at all considering everything else that's going on right now. Yeah. He's aware of the things happening at Redgate. He's heard the broadcasts from other people, but…

…but if he doesn't ask now, how the hell is he supposed to really help in the future?]

Weird question. If you were a mermaid, what would be the most flattering thing a person could tell you?

[A beat.]

Scientific purposes only, I swear.

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

Probably not. My life's just full of seagulls talking me into bad ideas, I guess. [Thank you god, there has been a major lack of people who understand cultural references here.

The face he makes in response? It's…half-incredulous and half-amazed because man.] You don't look that old, besides the white hair. […well that was obvious.] I mean I know you know that but whoa. Also technically I'm an adult. [As of like six months ago in his world. And just barely. And he still looks like a kid so shut up Ryan and let your elders school you a bit.] That means you've seen just about everything haven't you? I don't know if I could do it. That's…pretty intense, Jack.

[And to think, barely even a month ago in this world, Jack hadn't even known about electricity.]

That's kind of the catch with spirits. There's a bit of a Peter Pan syndrome to it. [More references.] But you're right. It's ... a lot.

[He shrugs, trying to keep his casual grin, but three hundred years had definitely taken its toll on him.] But sure, pull out a history book and I've probably seen a good chunk of the things in there happen right in front of me. [Not all good things, really.]

And I think I told you once, being a kid is a lot better than being an adult. It's not an insult.

I figured there'd have to be otherwise you'd go crazy. Please don't go crazy.

[Even though it's obvious there's a bit of wear and tear on Jack now which is…sad? It's sad, even if Ryan shouldn't think it's sad. He wouldn't wish immortality on anybody though.] I'm not that interested in history, personally. I'd rather focus on the present and the future you know? I mean I get it, I get that we need to kinda know who we were to figure out who we're going to be but people change all the time. Besides I spent twelve years in school learning pieces of history. No thanks.

You did! You did, I know. I guess it's just…[Pff.] Have you ever had people not take you seriously? It bothers me. Sometimes people take you more seriously if you're an adult than if you're a kid.

I won't go crazy. [Ryan gets a bit of a chuckling smile. Though he has to wonder how he didn't manage to go crazy. He had gotten a dose of life with friends here, had that stripped away for centuries where he had no one, mere invisibility as he watched people come and go, live and die, over and over.

He'd even tried ignoring the war here before, but back home, there was no way to completely ignore all the ones that happened everywhere in the world, witnessing revolution after revolution.]

You're right. Can't change what's been done, so you gotta just keep rolling. [It's not like he could ever really do much about it when he was there anyway.] But you know, there's no rush in trying to be an adult either. It doesn't always make people any happier. Trust me, I've seen it.

[There's a very long pause. It makes sense. It all makes sense, sure, but he can't help but wonder a Very Important Question.]

…you're not, like, the winter form of Peter Pan are you? [You know, since he's the one who brought up that spirits have the Peter Pan Syndrome. Totally a valid question.]

Oh, god, no. [It's not the first time their identities have been mixed up, something Jack is never too thrilled about since Peter was always more popular than he was.]

That cheesy movie is total crap. I never met the guy, but I hear the real Peter Pan is kind of a dick. Even more, anyway. I'm genuine sweetness right here.

[Oops sorry he's just busy laughing.] Hey, don't knock the cheesy movie. It was kind of my favorite for a good chunk of my childhood. The play, too. [It's possible it's only because he had a crush on Peter but whatever. Apparently Ryan has a type.]

I'm sure you are. [He just lifts an eyebrow.] But I guess you're right. You're not that bad.

[A beat.] Though if he ever shows up I'd love to see you take him on. Just a thought.

Well, of course. The guy actually got a decent movie. Me? I get the groundhog as my best friend and some ridiculous sparkly bell-ringing slippers. [THE 70'S WAS AN AWFUL TIME.]

I'll take not that bad for now, but you really have to train yourself on the compliments. [Even if he's chuckling with amusement.] Plus, all he does it fly and blow on some panpipes, at least I've got ice. You really think I can't handle him?

Oh so you did see that one. Sorry. [He can't help but let his lips twitch in amusement though. It's still funny to him especially now that he's met Jack.] But hey, you might be able to pull off bell-slippers. Don't knock it 'til you try it.

[He rolls his eyes though.] Sorry I'm not used to having friends. […oh. Wait. Back up let's not really go around throwing that everywhere.] Or at least complimenting them. [That's not much better.] I don't know, man, he's taken on pirates. When was the last time you took on pirates?

3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

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