eachdraidh | first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

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first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

(For those who are online, if you will, the video feed of both courts will flicker on to the picture of a man who looks surprisingly calm all things considered. His hair is neatly combed back and parted, his clothing well put together, and there’s a borderline arrogant smile that plays at his lips. If it had taken him a half dozen times to get the locket to work correctly for him, it didn’t show on his face, but for him it was practically like magic.

It was technology that was still years away from where he was, he had only recently managed to install a telephone in his car (and promptly sold the idea for a handsome profit), but even it had been quite an ordeal, there were a dozen wires, it needed a long and thick antennae to work, and if you weren’t careful it could drain your battery in a heartbeat if you weren’t careful, but it was technology that he felt had promise. Adding the ability to view the person on the other end of the line was something he hadn’t even thought about trying, let alone making it so small and portable. Sure, he had managed to miniaturise a camera lens for a pen, but that was just for still photos. He was intrigued by it, though, a fascinating idea (one he wished he had been the one to come up with), and he didn’t hide his impression. He didn’t dare attempt to pop it open, however, lest he not be able to put it back together. While the imps had been kind to him thus far, he hadn't argued much when he'd been dragged away, he wasn’t sure how well they’d take to him breaking one of the gifts that he had been given.

For the time being he would leave it as it was, but eventually he might ask if someone knew just how they worked. Just for the sake of curiosity.)

So I take it this place doesn’t take too kindly to technology of any kind, huh? Even one as simple as a battery. (He raises his wrist to show the watch on his arm, it had stopped when he had arrived, and though it was currently useless, he couldn’t take it off. He was too used to wearing it and would feel naked without it.) Is there anywhere around here where they sell watches you wind? Or parts so I can convert this one?

(There’s a pause, he takes his hand down again and shrugs his shoulders lightly.)

Anyway. Good morning. My name is Howard Stark, and back home I was an inventor of sorts, so I’m not entirely sure why they’ve brought me here, unless it’s to update this place somehow. My company’s goal was to build a better and brighter tomorrow, and it looks like this place could use a bit of that. It’ll be like going back in time with what I have to work with, but I’m sure I can manage if that’s what’s wanted.

So, tell me a little bit about yourself, mysterious person on the other side of the magical locket. What makes you special?

Unseelie Locked

Who’s in charge of your weapons division? Back home, right before I was brought here, we had a war that ended, and I worked in weapons on the winning side. I can’t imagine that’s a coincidence.

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But who tells them what to make? Or do they just use the same recycled ones constantly?

(Eyebrows raised, maybe a little too expectantly. But he jots down the name mentioned, as well as blacksmiths, so he can work with that.)

I'll make sure to rendezvous with her, then. (His brow furrows slightly.) How bad are things right now?

I'd imagine they mostly make the basic swords, shields, bows, et cetera but will make more specialized weapons on commission. But those probably take longer. I'm not sure about magic weapons that aren't just- enchantments or something, though.

[ She'll have to look into this as well, now that her curiosity's been triggered. ]

The Seelie are on the move, heading for Caer Scima, with troops in the thousands. We're to meet them on the field in just a few days, hopefully keep them from getting there. But- it might not be a bad plan to move anything out of the castle that you want preserved.

[ Like yourself, mostly. ]

(He nods along with her words, hand just visible moving quickly as he takes notes.) Specialised weaponry usually does. (He hums thoughtfully at the mention of magic weapons, he hadn't thought of those.) What kind of magical weapons are there?

And here I was just getting settled in. (The smile on his face is thin, reluctant, but at least WWII is fresh on his mind, he still remembers how it was moving from place to place there, and it's not like he has a great many things to pack. Just himself, really.) Is there a...set place to go? A camp?

Well. It's magic -- I guess it would depend on the skill of the person doing the enchantment or casting it. There are dragons, though those are all supposed to be dead and they're all Seelie. Other than that... you could enchant a blade to always be on fire, that sort of thing. Talk to Lancelot of the Lake, he knows more about magic smithing. And then there's just- straight up magic, setting people on fire or cursing them blind.

[ A beat. ] I'm an architect, back home; I'm better with fortifications.

There are a few different places. One of the ten spires or an Unseelie controlled city. If you want to play with magic, Redgate's probably out; the blood granite nullifies it. Mair is to the south, full of gambling dens and brothels. The spires are all over Dorchadas; you can see them on your map. They're under construction, so that could be a good opportunity to see some of the magic and technology of this world in action?

I recommend number three, but I'm biased.

(Wait wait wait, hold the phone. You mentioned dragons and Howard has to game a moment.) The other side gets all the dragons? What do we have? (Dinosaurs? Unicorns? Something. ALright alright, back to the whole magic thing.) Now that'd be a sight to see. There was someone working on something like that back home, still in the early stages but it has promise. (Napalm's going to be hell.) Lancelot. (pause. Of the round table?) Do you do magic? (And implied: can I do magic?)

Oh! How interesting. (you don't see a lot of female architects in his day.

He frowns as he listens, it's a lot to take in, after all. He's just arrived, and already being thrown into a disarray of a dawning attack.)

Because that's where you're staying, or is it your design?

Jabberwock. Though neither of them are exactly great news if you're in their way.

[ She really ought to read more about them, but she's been busy. ]

A little bit. I learned here; it doesn't exist, back home. If you do what the monarchs want, they can provide you with boons, but there are books on magic in the library and people who might be able to teach you. I don't know if you need a boon to help learn it or not, but the shards are magic, so... maybe not? As far as I can tell, not a lot of us know too much about how the shards effect us other than 'make us special and more important for military strategy'.

[ Which... to be fair, is pretty important as far as how they work. ]

It's mine, [ she says, laughing a little awkwardly. ] My real design project is the Château du Rêveur, down in La Llorona, but that's heavily influenced by classic manor designs. The spires are- well, spires, but since I'm in charge of the third one, it'll definitely have some elements that are more 'me'. I'm trying to push the boundaries of what we can do with architecture at home by using magic. Think Escher stairs.

[ ... and in all the excitement, Ariadne suddenly remembers: names. ]

I'm Ariadne, by the way.

I've never heard of those. I don't think we had them back home. (Not that they really had dragon either, but there at least were great legends of them.) I'll make sure to stay out of it.

No, it doesn't where I'm from either. At least, not in the open. There's been some stuff lately that makes me question it a little, but so far research has proved that it's just very advanced science that hasn't been researched into yet. (He should probably be taking notes, right? Hold on, he just has to scramble around for his pen and a scrap of parchment he'd gotten ahold of.) I'm not sure what exactly the monarchs want of me yet. I should probably find out my specific, er, quest? (Do they have those? He nods.) What kind of magic have you learned?

(There might be a little bit of subconscious chest touching right now, the sort you might expect to see someone with a heart condition doing. It's just making him think more. Has it been in him all along?

He smiles while watching her, it's always fun to see someone talking about their own work.) I hope I can come see it in person, then. (though his brow crinkles gently.) What are Escher stairs?

(Oh yeah, those are a thing.)

It's nice to meet you, sort of, Ariadne.

It's like- a dragon's angry cousin that makes your flesh rot. [ And all she's ever seen was a tooth. ]

My guess is that this month they're going to want help pushing the Seelie back. You can always ask an imp, though you might not get a straight answer. Bribe them with shiny things or raw meat, that usually works pretty well. And watch your mustache, they pull hair. [ A beat, then- ] There are quests, though. Ways to gain more standing, mostly, other than specific tasks that you'll get boons for.

Concealment and healing. Mostly concealment; my healing magic teacher kind of disappeared so I had to supplement with what I could get out of the library. Of course, my concealment magic was all out of the library...

[ She waves a hand. Whatever, she's a university student, she can learn out of books. ]

M.C. Escher was -- is, I guess, depending on when you're from -- an artist who's best known for drawing images that almost seem like optical illusions. Escher stairs are like- stairs that don't go anywhere, stairs that loop around into themselves even though that's not possible with physics and gravity as we know it, things like that. Paradoxical.

[ Way to channel Arthur there. ]

You too.

...how pleasant. (Do you see his face, Ariadne. It's one of slight disgust, mixed with a little horror. No good, in other words.

And then it turns over to more of a steady nod as he tries to think what he could do to help with all this. He's not exactly versed in swordsmanship, after all, and there's no time for him to develop some sort of musket, let alone go about making gunpowder if they're going to be attacking shortly.)

Not my moustache. (:c don't make his moustache sad again.) Quests? That sounds intriguing. How do you get chosen for those?

(Huh. How interesting.) Concealment seems appropriate for an architect. That must be very useful in all your designs.

(He really does need to get to that library and see what it can offer for him. He wonders if you can pick whatever field of study you want, or if the shard decides what you'll be good at. Hmm.)

I've never heard of him. (Pause.) It's, was 1946 the last time I looked at a calendar. (He's trying to visualise it. IT's not working out too well, but the idea is intriguing!)

[ Yes the mustache must be kept happy. ]

It depends. Sometimes you're in the right place at the right time and someone will ask you for help. Sometimes someone higher up in the court will ask for -- or order -- your assistance, or they'll put the word out that they're looking for someone to do something for them.

Honestly, I'm better at concealing myself. I've found that it's a good way to not get killed.

[ To put it bluntly. ]

Oh. Well- he was active then, but the lithograph I'm thinking of specifically is from the early fifties. [ Beat. ] I'm from 2010.

(THoughtful nodding goes here.) I'll have to make sure to offer my services before they try to order me to do something. I'm not really that great at following orders when given. I like to find my own way about things. (But as long as it feels like it's his choice, he's good.)

Camouflage is very important. Making yourself undetectable to both sight and radar. (Magical radar?) I was always trying to figure out how to conceal our planes.

I'll look up to him when I get back. Pick up a few early works. (These future people are giving him great investment ideas.)

There are always people around who can use the help. Trust me, if you're ever looking for something to do, I can think of something.

[ Maybe not necessarily a quest, but... ]

For now, you can probably find some things on him at the Station, if you're heading that way.

I am already, so go ahead and give me a list and i can get cracking as soon as possible.

(He just wants to get his hands on something. War related or not.)

It seems I should, but would it be safe to travel there at these times?

Me, the monarchs, the Unseelie general Saber, Lord El-Melloi II, Saralegui of Redgate, and Ganondorf Dragmire of Mair.

[ She knows the feeling. ]

There's a fairy ring. Though safe... travel here is never safe.

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first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked

video; unseelie locked