eachdraidh | 3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

Entry tags:

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.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

I'm not sure, really. Maybe something nice about my scales?

[ Her nose is wrinkled. ]

I was unconscious the last time I was near one otherwise I might have a better idea.

I guess that's a good start. I definitely don't have scales, so maybe I can tell them I'm jealous.

[Sadly he might actually be serious, but hey. This is for science...or at least mutual benefit.]

How did you end up unconscious near a mermaid?

It was part of a tournament that my friend and, um, sort-of boyfriend took part in. They took the 'thing most precious' and hid us underwater... With merfolk protecting us.

[ It's a whole thing, Ryan. Best not to get into it. ]

I've found that curiosity is a good way of drawing people out, too! Asking about their lives, what they do, what it's like under the water...

No. Stop. Get out of there. This ain't no Little Mermaid. They're sea witches.

[Words of advice from the wise old man.]

[There's a very long pause like he's not even sure what part to comment on first, but in the end he just sort of slowly nods.] Thing, person, whatever. [And because this directly applies to what he's trying to learn--] How did they keep you alive down there without air?

See, that I can do. You think the mermaids would be okay with curiosity? [Ryan's found that sometimes people kind of find him bothersome for being nosy as fuck.]

[Hey buddy.]

"Sea witches" like they just happen to live in the water but know magic, or "sea witches" like they'll strangle me with tentacles if I get too close to their lake?

[ She's far too used to this exact reaction. People either nod and go 'ah, yes, magic' or stare at her as if she's from another dimension -- which, technically, she supposes she is. ] Magic, of course.

[ Of course. She's grinning, though, knowing well enough that no one from a non-magical world will take that without having some kind of reaction. ]

I don't see why not. As long as you treat them with respect and don't insult them!

Why not something you'd say that'd be flattering to anyone? That she's impossibly clever, bold, well-read with a nice sense of style.

[Okay, so there might be something about her ego there.]

Something personal.

Sea witches like that they giggle and toss their hair to look all cute and then pull at your clothes and drag you underwater cause it's "funny". Mermaid spirits were the worst. Don't trust them. Ever.

Of course. [There's a matching grin on his face though because it's an answer he's grown fairly used to since entering Drabwurld.] I guess I was just curious because, well…[He gestures down to the lake below him.] Kinda earned that same power here.

That's partially why I'm asking! I'm pretty sure they won't help me if I accidentally insult them, but I'm not really up to date on my mythical creatures etiquette.

Okay wait a minute, how do you know these guys are the same?

[Ryan how do you know they're not?] I didn't even know there were mermaid spirits.

Well, I don't know, but it isn't even worth the risk in finding out. And yes, there's spirits for everything, trust me. Wind spirits, tree spirits, toilet spirits.

[There are no toilet spirits.]

[Kinda sounds like something he'd say to Gabriella if Troy was being a bonehead, honestly. But Clara has a point and there's a thoughtful pause on Ryan's end.]

Something personal. [He should have thought of that himself, truthfully.] What about if that doesn't work?

Oh, really? [ Suddenly, fascination. ] I know a few spells that let you breathe underwater for a while and, of course, there's a herb that gives you gills - it's galled gillyweed - but I haven't met anyone with any kind of water power before. It must be incredible!

[ And, really, it is. The gifts the monarchs can offer here are amazing and Hermione is desperately enchanted by them, as if it's their own special brand of magic. ]

As far as I can imagine... Well, just don't insult them in an obvious way? I can't think of any terms that might offend them, but just asking can't hurt. If there's anything they don't feel comfortable answering I'm sure they'd say.

[Jack you are literally the worst because he at least believes in the first two. New Age living and what-have-you. Or all of the yoga, being one with the universe and etc.]

All right, if I can't ask the mermaids for help then what do you suggest?

[Also you are suddenly a little more cynical...but he kinda likes it. Whatever.]

[He ain't no innocent bitty no more. 300 years can be a bitch to you.]

What do you even need their help for?

[…there's something about the name "gillyweed" that sounds familiar to him and he's not sure why. It's definitely not something they have in his world though ~~and it's a good thing he was more a fan of the movies than the books anyway~~] I asked the monarchs after my second month here, but when I said "water magic" I didn't really think they'd be that generous. I'm still practicing with it though.

[Magic, though common in this world, still continually perplexes him.]

You're putting a lot of faith in them, but what's the worst that can happen? You know, other than throwing seaweed at me. [A pause.] I'm still kind of getting used to asking for help, too, truthfully, but the Queen said that I could always learn from the mermaids and the naiads.

[300 years being invisible, 17 years living in Sharpay's shadow? He feels ya man.]

I'm from a place where we don't even get snow in my part of the country, remember? Let's not even talk about the fact that magic isn't a thing...but now it is, and I'm figuring it out just fine on my own but who better to ask than people that live in the water?

[Never mind that it wasn't his idea at all, but whatever.]

Might have to step it up. Do something impressive. Get her attention.

[She cocks her head and observes him. She is definitely interested in where this is going.]

I told you. Those underwater folks are a pain in the ass. You should ask the magic king himself instead.

[Jack Frost. Code name: MAGIC KING.]

[It'll click in a little bit what, exactly, she's implying but right now he's taking everybody at face value.]

Like what, underwater ballet? [It's meant to be a little sarcastic but…but actually that's not a terrible idea. Then again he's biased.] I have a feeling that their idea of impressive is pretty big. Something tells me showing up with a bunch of flowers won't cut it when it comes to flattering one of them.

Uh huh. Riiight, okay, so where do I find this magic king?

[Jack do you really wanna go there. Do you.]

Really? Come on. I might have learned a thing or two in the past few centuries.

[Maybe not a KING, but he's definitely improved.]

...oh, you meant you? [Wow Ryan don't be rude. But the look he's giving Jack is definitely a little skeptical because while on one hand, sure, he's got centuries of experience on him...on the other hand...]

I mean I don't doubt it, but you're kind of more ice and snow right? I'm only working with water.

[In this conversation, Ryan apparently misses the point that ice and snow come from water. Of course that's an obvious fact, but he's also a little tunnel-visioned at the moment. Follow the queen's suggestion. If that doesn't work, then seek other options.]

Less apples and oranges. More oranges and tangerines. [Or something to that effect.

He gives a shrug, twirling his staff in hand.] The only real difference is that since I'm on the lower scale of the thermometer, the look is a little varied, but it pretty much all stems from the same idea.

Threaded | Top-Level Comments Only

Page 1 of 10

3rd Chassé | Video for Both Courts

video.

video.

video.

video.

video.

video.

video.

video

video.

video.

video.

video.

video

video.

video.

video.

video.

video.

no subject

video.

no subject

video.

video.

video.

video.