5 ☭ VIDEO + TEXT | OPEN TO BOTH COURTS + SEELIE LOCK

[marred]

[ on january 11, the humming of the macarena comes to a sudden and abrupt halt. it's with a hiss of a snake and the sight of a tongue in the very corner of the camera, it's clear luke isn't holding his locket. it's martha who is, but she doesn't make a sound as a little red fox curls into luke's neck and licks his jaw. she's rowdy and restless, but luke tries to smooth her hackles a little with his fingers stroking her fur. as for the man himself, he looks a little tired. ]

[ his voice is quiet, ] Uh, hey guys. [ the fox in his arms nudges him hard on the jaw. ] Woah, hey, calm down.

Look, I need to make this quick. It's getting colder. I'm not really great at knitting, but — Can anyone help me out here? She needs something to keep her from shivering.

I promised someone I'd take care of her. And — [ he meant it when he'd vowed to the black shuck he'd honour his deceased friend. and that even means doing this. ] Yeah, I'm going to need more than one pair of socks and a scarf. We can work out a trade, if you're not willing to knit for free.

[ the fox settles against him, closing her eyes. there's a quiet hiss of ask from martha. ] And if you can knit two long stockings — [ the camera shakes and luke rolls his eyes. ] And maybe four or so ear muffs — I'd be grateful.

[ and though it appears as though luke's wanting to get off his locket as soon as possible with the fox resting against him, it's all an act. encrypting a text for seelie only, he dictates his own audition advertisement for the seers of the court. please note: this advertisement lacks the extravagance of his cow advert from a few days prior. it doesn't help he has a fox that won't leave him alone in his hands. ]

( SEELIE )

THE DRABWURLD'S NEXT TOP SUPER SEER!

Are you a Seer looking for work? Want to see the Drabwurld through the eyes of High-King Ridire? Think you're strong enough for mind-numbing pain and bright, vibrant colours?

Well, maybe this is the job you've been waiting for!

The Drabwurld's Seer Agency is currently looking for a Seer strong enough to be able to handle the sight of High-King Ridire. It's a glimpse into the future anyone would die for.

ONLY SERIOUS CANDIDATES APPLY WITHIN!

Just drop your name and your qualifications, and we'll see if Tyra chooses you.

Comments

[topmodel]

[you know, most people would zero in on the fox, or perhaps the fact that he's asking for someone to see through the High King's eyes.

this one, though?]

Who is "Tyra"?

[marred]

[ at least this one knows who to focus in on. wouldn't tyra be proud of her? ]

Tyra Banks. America's Ultimate Super Model. [ he frowns for a moment. the fox remains curled up against him, looking over his shoulder as the gentle humming of the macarena plays in the background. she's too busy watching the two snakes twirl around on the dance floor of his suite to remain restless. ] I think that's what she's calling herself these days …

i forgot to say this was text, shit

[topmodel]

She's not all that "super", if I've not heard of her. But lesser models like to puff themselves up like that -- it's harmless, when the day is done. They'll learn.

text. ( private )

[climbed]

I have had visions in dreams since before I arrived to this place.
What's an agency?

text. ( private )

[marred]

How accurate were those visions? How PAINFUL were those visions? I'm going to be upfront: I'm not going to send off a sheet of names to the High-King if I can't trust that they'll be okay in the end of all this.

[ even though luke knows nothing of may castellan and what had transpired to make her lose herself before he had even grown up to be old enough to know her, it's his responsibility to take care of these kids. george and martha don't want anyone to follow in the footsteps of may castellan, either, even if they keep their lips pressed shut about it and sing the macarena in the background. ]

A company you go to that gives out jobs. That's what The Drabwurld Seer Agency is for. Truthfully, it's a word with many definitions.

text. ( private )

[climbed]

I often fall in my dreams, to what should be my death.
They are oft painful, but I have learned to make them less so--like terrible nightmares.
Most of the things I have seen have not yet come to pass, though, so I have little proof to offer.
Though I have seen the past, as well, and have
Spoken with someone within it, though he could not hear me.
But if I can help the High King, I would like to help
My body is already broken.

[ the thing about other seers is really what catches his interest, though, even more than this sort of job interview that's going on. ]

Do you know of many others? I've only known two people who have greendreams.
One of them is also here in the Drabwurld, and he's much more powerful than I.

[prophesied]

[ Jojen can't help but raise a brow - not at the fox, but at the message that is sent after the video ends. Still, he can't help his curiosity, especially when they're seeking seers.

Meera told him it would be good, to reach out to other seers, so - ]

Agency. Are you speaking for an actual group of seers that reside in Drabwurld? [ That's what he figures it means, anyways. ]
I have had the ability to see the past, far-reaching present, and future for some time now, and the ability persists in this place. No two dreams are alike, but I have little trouble discerning their meaning regardless of length or detail.

[marred]

Yes. Still in the process of getting the name registered, but I'm pretty sure I've beat Tyra to the punch.

[ oh gods, no one is really meant to take him seriously on that bit. but, isn't he sort of acting like a modelling agency for seers at the moment? but he reads this over and over — and luke sometimes wishes his dad had left some sort of instruction manual. apollo may have taught his brother the art of prophecy, but hermes, as per usual, had taught luke nothing. ]

Cool.

[ as far as luke's concerned, his dreams are always the same. ladon or kronos, it always ends with him dead on the throne room floor. ]

Good to know. But have any of these dreams been blind numbingly painful that you almost felt like you died within them?

[prophesied]

[ Luke you're speaking to medieval children they're going to think you're weird no matter what you're saying. At least Jojen's baseline is weird simply by virtue of being himself, so he doesn't bat an eye. Either his response is a joke or he's actually agreeing: ]

That is good to hear.

[ But then he has to consider the answer to this question, and how to phrase it, how much he wants to actually divulge, because it is not so odd for him to actually die in his greendreams - though, typically, through another's eyes. ]

Some, yes. Even to the point that my body will seize during particular, intense dreams. Though they are typically experiences of another person's death, I have also witnessed and experienced my own multiple times, though the method has never changed.

seelie lock;

[truesight]

[ GURL PLEEEEEASE she's only been trying to find out about things like this since she got here. all she's found is a little bit of information on other Seers of this world, but nothing about how one could, uh, offer their services. either way! ]

I think I might be a little bit offended.

seelie lock;

[marred]

Truth be told, I'm a little hungry.

seelie lock;

[truesight]

This would be the part where I offer you a knuckle sandwich, but I'm interested in this whole Seer campaign you've got going on here.

Who's the Tyra in this situation?

seelie lock; text -- and you're getting the third of team greensight

[greywater]

I know of two from home who see not just what is in front of them. There are others here, too.

[She hasn't asked what court they are in though, and she wishes she had now. She isn't sure what Bran and Jojen would be up to, but she's most likely going to be there with them, especially to watch Bran. Even if he has his family here, she swore an oath, and there is still a war on here.]

seelie lock; text -- yes, complete my trio of the green dream.

[marred]

[ if she mentioned a specific colour, he'd file her under environmentalist. ]

Guessing you're more a publicist than a seer.

Will you let them know? Figure some might want to kick my ass if they find out a little belatedly they had a chance to see what the High-King sees.

Re: seelie lock; text -- haha the trifecta

[greywater]

I would not make it public.

[Team Green Dream doesn't know what publicists or agencies are.]

I will relay it to them if they have not seen it first. I spoke to my brother about such a thing recently. It is not common to talk about where we are from.

[Text: Seelie Locked]

[vanyel_ashkevron]

My name is Vanyel Ashkevron and I have the Gift of Foresight. I would be interested in seeing through the High-King's eyes.

If you desire qualifications, I can give you many, however, in summary, I am the strongest Mage in my world. I have oftentimes connected with those who are not human - even the land itself - and been able to forge deep, lasting bonds. I feel I would not falter under the High-King's power.

[Text: Seelie Locked]

[marred]

[ what would it be like to connect with a patch of dirt? luke's not so sure there's anything of interest to be found within the land itself, but his résumé is pretty impressive, to say the least. ]

What's a "Mage"? I'm guessing it's a tier in this whole Vision People thing.

Have you ever seen anything so horrible you had difficulty pulling yourself out of it?

[ even the strongest can fall — everyone has an achilles heel. ]

[muscovy]

You will provide the wool for the knitting, yes?

[marred]

[ does stealing count as providing? ]

If you can provide the needles and the talent to knit the wool I grab, that's the one thing I can do.

Text, permaprivate

[gordianknots]

If no one manages to have knitting abilities, might I suggest sending someone to the Station? I realize that dogsweaters and the like might be a bit...silly....but they'd prove useful to you in this moment.

Text, permaprivate

[marred]

Considering she kind of likes to tunnel through my shirts that are an entire galaxy bigger than her, I think she'd find herself at home in a dog sweater. Thanks.

[ with a nudge from martha, luke sighs, and is forced to inquire about the state of clothes for snakes. ]

Did you by chance see any stylish, long, very comfortable, but very classy socks?

text.

[amplified]

define "seer"

text.

[marred]

SEER: A special person who can see the past and future flicker right before their eyes. Kind of like a movie trailer, even with all the red herrings, bad music, bad fonts, and bad acting.

Usually does not express this in a badly written haiku.

text »

[rues]

[ she almost doesn't respond to this at all, but considering she'd been there when luke found the little fox, she sort of feels partially responsible for her well-being. she guesses that's probably how luke feels about the dogs; she wouldn't ever admit it, but he's the only one she really ... trusts them with. of course, trust is a complicated word, but she's not sure what else to call it. it's why she'd left them in his care when she'd been gone for two months, right? so she thinks it's similar with this fox — luke probably wouldn't trust clarisse in the slightest with her, but clarisse still feels some kind of obligation to see she's okay if she can help it. ]

[ which ... she might actually be able to. it's been a long time since she knitted anything, not since silena died. clarisse hadn't wanted to learn, but silena insisted because it would help clarisse to relax and introduce her to a hobby that wasn't ... punching things. she never was very good at it and it's not something she likes to even admit she knows how to do, but... he helped her out with her quest, didn't he? he basically pulled her ass from the fiery inferno she'd almost walked into, so she supposes she owes him this much. ]

As long as you don't care if they look like shit. Functional, but I can't promise quality.

[ she can't bring herself to actually mention silena to him; it's one of those personal things he doesn't need to know and she isn't willing to divulge until they get past whatever awkward not-really-friends-but-not-really-just-acquaintances stage, which will likely be never as clarisse is ever the optimist. she's at least let go of most of the blame for silena's death, though, tried to redirect it to being angry at other things, like the gods. for the most part, it's worked. ]

text »

[marred]

[ luke doesn't trust anyone with little maia — he doesn't even trust himself. but with george and martha taking to her as surrogate parents, cooing over her, playing with her (without the biting), and talking to her with their own telepathic, fox-speaking ways, they're the ones he trusts. though martha often coddles luke, insisting he should be a little less strict and hard on himself, it hadn't been either of them that had suggested knitwear for maia and her siblings he has yet to find. it'd been himself, an instinctual thought to care for someone as he always has. would he inquire the network for knitwear for himself? no. he'd rather freeze to death than ask for help — he's spent the best portion of his life looking out for himself with a mother who could barely fight what had claimed her and a father who could hardly summon the strength to care for a hot minute — but when it comes to others, luke goes above and beyond, knocking on every door as he beseeches some kind soul into passing a little girl some food — or he thieves it for them. ]

[ while pride — and a desire to accept nothing from clarisse out of his own bad habit of never accepting a handout, despite when he really needs it — floods him with the impulse to knock her down a few pegs by denying her with a very simple no, maia's somewhat softened him a little. and he's not so certain it's for the best. he may have long fingers, capable of playing the piano or picking locks or wielding a sword or even creating his own string maze as he wraps cord around his hands to create a pattern, he's never liked knitting. it reminds him too much of his maternal grandmother, especially of how hades had stolen her before he had any chance of asking her for help. it's too soft of an art and it requires patience and a lack of anger, the latter that would only be sparked into an inferno if he holds the needles in his hands and tries to will the shaking that often overtakes him when he feels himself overcome with a demon he'll never truly exorcise away. ]

You're auditioning for Drabwurld's Next Top Knitter. You need three yeses from our panel of judges — I'm just the host.

I doubt she cares. She's been hiding in my shirts &mdash and blue isn't her color.