eachdraidh | second jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts (backdated to approx Feb 20)

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second jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts (backdated to approx Feb 20)

(Howard hadn’t been much use during the battle, and that was something he wasn’t particularly proud of. But then again, he had only just arrived when it suddenly came down on them, and he’d never been much of a fighter. Because of this he had stayed behind to assist with the evacuation of Caer Scima, choosing to help with the library, trying to save as much of the knowledge from there as possible. He remembered similar work being done during the war, the Nazis had tried to destroy so much so that the world could be shaped in their own image. Stealing art from museums and homes and those they didn’t think worthy of them, destroying books and art by artists so called “unpure” races. To this day they were still working to uncover art and relics that had been hidden away in homes of Nazi generals, or in underground or mountainous locations. And then of course there was the historical part, the burning of the great Library in Alexandria that he remembered reading about when he was a boy. How much knowledge of the world had been lost during that, and how many centuries had it set humankind back?

He didn’t know how much of the information that was found in the library would be available anywhere else. He’d only gotten to just touch the surface of what could exist within it, and already he’d found dozens of books that looked to be hand penned. Those were likely unique, and so they needed to be taken somewhere safe. So it was in the library he was when the walls started to come down. He’d been organising manageable stacks to be carried, others to be loaded onto horse drawn carts. Then there was a crash, and he remembers seeing fire begin to take a bookcase, and that he was moving to try to put it out, and blackness. The next thing he remembers is waking up with a freezing arm, it had burned and they were using some sort of cooling magic to heal it, and being told that he was in Spire 3, having been set on one of the carts he’d helped load on top of the books.

Shame wasn’t something most people thought of when they thought of Howard Stark, but for this he was ashamed that he hadn’t been able to do more. He’d try to tell them that he was in good enough shape to go out and fight, when he learned of the Jabberwock attack, he wanted to help, but they had forced him to stay put against his will. Of course, he won’t admit to any sense of shame, but it’d be noticeable around those who had fought, a reluctance to talk about what he had done, and what had happened. But he had survived, he’d saved some books, so at least he had that.

But he needed to get out of there, too. He needed some time to himself. He wanted to see if there was any way to recover some of the information that had been lost. Some sort of backup system in place, and the most likely place for that seemed to be this Station that he’d heard mentions of, which was where he had now decided to head. If nothing else, at least he’s been promised that it’s the sole place where technology works, and he wants to see what the future of it all holds.

He’s still unsure about the fairy rings, and whether or not he should trust them. He’s looked at the one here at the spire, walked around it, tried to see if there was anything secretly powering other than magic, but there doesn’t seem to be anything that he can see. So he wants to find out about other methods of transportation, if there are any. Walking would just take too long, but he’s not sure he trusts horses either.

Before he goes, however, he has some information he wants to ask about, maybe it’ll cut out some of the work for him.)

(The video feed clicks on, and while Howard looks tired and worn out, it could be a lot worse. There’s a bruise healing on his forehead, a cut on his cheek that’s almost disappeared thanks to a salve he was given to put on it, but in the right light you can see the light pink tightness of new skin. The smile that had been so easy going the first time he had come across the screen seems tighter now, more forced, but he’s always been one to try to maintain the façade of cool, calm and collected. He’s going to do that, now too.)

I have a couple of questions.

(He feels like maybe he should say more. Comment on the battles that occurred, that he hopes no one lost anyone close to them, but so much has already been said, and he still feels shame. He doesn’t want to be questioned of where he was and what he did.)

First of all: these fairy rings. How much is actually known about how they work? Have there ever been any ill effects caused by them? (Namely death, but he won’t say that out loud. Onto the next topic.) I want to go to the Station, and horseback just isn’t my style.

(Onto the next topic.)

I know that there are blacksmiths responsible for forging the weaponry here, and from what I understand, the metal they use comes from the dwarves. Is there any type of order form that’s used? Maybe a list of what kind of metals they have in their mines, and the corresponding prices? Or maybe in general just a list of what’s been found naturally in this place, I’ve been looking for information, but it’s been a bit of a struggle.

Lastly, to end on a high note: what do people do for fun around here? Does this place have a Vegas or Monaco or Riviera?

[private to Steve Rogers & James Barnes]

You guys make it through?

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Alive, well and in one piece. [Physically, anyway, but that's good enough for Hiro. There's a hum of thought as he thinks of how to describe it.] It's kind of dizzying at first? But it's not that bad, it's not like you're being squeezed through anything. It's pretty painless. Just make sure you're really, really clear about where you wanna go or it's gonna spit you out somewhere else. [He may have learned that one the hard way.]

Maybe. I've never been in a fairy tale. [There's a grin though even if Howard can't see it.] How do we find them to ask? And just what're you looking for anyway? Specifically.

Edited 2015-03-04 18:33 (UTC)

Good man. (He hums.) You go in, say where you want to go, clearly. And then you're there? Can you be spit out anywhere along its line, or will it pop you to a completely different area?

Haven't read any, either? Because I think this might be one, it seems like it. (The words are followed by a short snort of laughter.) Someone mentioned writing to them. I'd have to find a bird. And...a little something from home. I doubt I'll get ahold of it.

Pretty much, yeah. I think it depends on what exactly you say to it. I asked to go from one ring to the one in La Llorona and ended up in the middle of the forest instead of the actual ring itself. Just like any other invention it's got some bugs.

[There's a slightly amused sound.] Not since I was a kid. [Hiro shut up you're still a kid by some standards.] Why can't we just go see them? You might make a better case if you physically talk to them.

That's what I figured, which is why I'm wary. (He's assuming that bugs means malfunctions. And also trying to seem hip with the lingo. 8|) And surprised it hasn't had worse consequences than just that. Were you able to get back into the ring, or did you have to get out of the forest on your own?

(Hiro you are a child. 8| But he had received it as a gift, he wasn't going to pretend he'd read it.) Aren't the natives supposedly hostile against our...kind? I'm trying to avoid confrontation.

If it's had worse consequences than that I haven't faced them. [And clearly he's the poster child for fairy ring traveling, or so he seems to think.] I kinda wandered the forest on my own but it wasn't that far from the ring. Maybe like an hour's walk.

[There are a few things he could say to that, but in the end he goes with:] How're you going to get the answers you want if you don't deal with a little bit of a challenge? [That is to say that if the natives are hostile (which they can be, Howard's right) he personally doesn't see that as a problem.]

Maybe they've disappeared and no one noticed. (Which would be terrible. Howard's nightmare. Fading into obscurity with no one to remember his name. Let's not get into that.) Oh, well that's not too bad.

(Well this seems interesting.) What kind of challenge?

How could a person disappear without anybody noticing though? [That sounds ridiculous to be perfectly honest.] I'm pretty sure somebody would notice if one of us just didn't come back for a while.

A challenge of getting information. [Duh.] It's all about persuasion, isn't it? Easing hostilities and whatever.

People disappear all the time. The ones that are considered insignificant by society. The ones who don't make an impact. If no one notices you in the first place, no one's going to notice if you disappear. (There is a lot of homelessness in his time, Hiro. He saw it even more prominently when he was growing up. No one cares if hobos die. They're just cleared away.) Hopefully.

Pretty much, yeah. Alright, I'm interested. What do you propose?

...oh. [Wow. That's really depressing and not something he wants to do. He doesn't want to be one of those people.] That's not gonna happen here. For any of us. We're too valued or whatever for them to just not notice if we don't come back between rings.

A field trip. What else? [Seriously Howard, keep up.] It's just like an interview. You get a letter from one of the higher-ups claiming you should have access to all of their materials and knowledge, you go meet with them and wow them enough that they just accept you and there you go. Access to everything you need.

[...it's not that easy, but what do you want from him, he's treating this whole like like a college admissions interview.]

(LIFE IS DEPRESSING HIRO GROW UP AND DEAL. Except not really, Howard has just seen the worst of it. He thinks about it a lot, too, both all the lives that have been taken because of him, all those who've gone unnamed, obliterated to nothing, with no one to remember them, as well as how many others who've suffered the same fate because of the war from the other side. It's a hard life.) Sorry, kid. (8( but yes. okay, on a lighter note.) As long as you make important connections, and leave a lasting impression you should be good. You sure do, I don't think you have to worry. (Does this make it better? He's trying here.) Yeah, I suppose we are. Shardbearers and all. If a native murders me, I expect you to avenge me.

A field trip? (Deadpan. He's going to die, isn't he.) And how are we going to get this letter? I've always delegated my forgery to my dear butler. (He misses him so much.) Although, it does sound possible. Maybe a little harder than the ease you seem to have about it, but it has potential.

(Maybe. Potentially. Probably not, he really doesn't want to die.)

[Man he already has a lot of depressing shit going on in his own life what with Tadashi and Baymax. But that sounds so much worse and maybe he should just shut up and be grateful.] No, you're right. It'll be fine. [A+ for effort, at least. Though at the last comment there's a bitter smile even if Howard can't see it and the tone's fairly light in return.] But don't worry. I'll avenge anybody who doesn't deserve to die.

Yes a field trip. What else would you call it? We can either go find the monarchs and ask them or maybe we can ask Saber or--you have a butler? [What..yes, of everything that's been said, he chooses to focus on that.] Things are only hard if you're not creative enough to solve the problem.

(Maybe one day Howard will share his epic amounts of manpain, but it is not this day.) Yeah. Fine. (That might be the best they can hope for, really. He laughs, his own bitterness clearer than any that Hiro might have had.) Same to you.

I don't know, I just don't feel like I'm still in school going to the zoo. But we could try to ask. Either, maybe go try to go through the monarchs first just to not cross them. I'd hate for them to find out we went behind their backs doing something, but if we can't, the General's a good alternative. (s n o r t.) I did. I do, still, I wonder if he's reported me missing. (His voice kind of trails off for a minute. He's been so caught up in everything, he's forgotten to think about what they must think of the lack of him back home.) I'm very creative.

Edited 2015-03-15 11:38 (UTC)

[He knows when to drop a subject. This is one of those times.]

If we get to hear from them anytime soon, let's go ask them. Both of us. [That's...he's totally not scared of facing the monarchs by himself, what are you talking about?] Ariadne told me about the audiences but it's been a while since one of those. Saber seems to be in charge of a lot of other stuff around here, too. [Man he can't even fathom the idea of a butler. Then again he lives above a cafe and shared a room his entire life so far.] ...my friends are probably wondering where I'm at, too. It's been a while already. I wish we could contact people back home just to let them know what's happening.

Kinda ties back into the whole "creative" thing though. Maybe we can figure out a way to do that, too.

(good. howard is the king of accidentally making things sad. this is one of those times.)

Yeah, sure. We'll make a stronger case if we're together. (You know. As a pair. Because...Well he's not sure why but surely two people wanting the same thing will make it seem more important. right? Like signing a petition.) We can wait and see if there's an audience, and if not, we'll go talk to Saber. (This is probably going to be one of those subjects that needs to be dropped soon so the sads don't happen again.) Yeah. I wonder if anyone has ever gone back home, and then come back here again. If maybe once you're here, you can never really leave, even if you go back for a while.

That'd be the dream. I just want to make sure they're okay.

I bet we're not the only ones who'd want something like that, too. If we can convince them that it's for the greater good and will help us win our side of the war they can't possibly say no. [Unfortunately Hiro's kind of arrogant and 14. Totally believing people will listen to him if he argues enough.] Saber and I have already talked about some things…even if she can't help us, she'll know someone who can.

Good question. [He's met some people in his post on the network but unfortunately that's after this and so therefore he's just as clueless as Howard.] I don't even know how you'd find that out, but you have to be able to leave. Where else would you even go?

Maybe, kid, but there's a balance you have to maintain, too. You don't want it to seem like there's potential for revolt, especially if you want to remain on their good side, which I distinctly do. If it's just us, maybe if we can get Saber on board to support us, it'll be good. Plenty. Getting names for the sake of names is pointless in this. (Sadly, Hiro, that's not how the world works.) Sounds like a plan.

(gosh darn timelines. huff.) Clearly they have to have some way of bringing us here, and since they go and grab us, it has to go both ways. So wherever...that is. But who knows if I'd even get to my home. I could end up anywhere.

Revolt against the monarchs? Let's just say that if they don't give us a reason to worry, they don't have a reason to worry about a revolution. [Hiro that's really not how it works despite what you may think.] Saber wants what's best for our side, I think. If we need the support I'll ask her. [Good plan.]

Do you want to go back to your home though, or would you be okay winding up somewhere else?

There's a lot more that goes into something like that than just whether or not they cause unrest, Hiro. Politics are complicated like that. You can't cause a revolt for one little thing. (He's already done that, of sorts. IT's not exactly working out for him in any way back home, so he's avoiding it here.) Good, well, we'll work with her either way, then.

Of course I want to go back home. Why wouldn't I want to go back home? (Although, he does pause a little there.) I wouldn't mind going back a few years, maybe.

Doesn't help that politics are always changing, too. I bet it's the same for this place. I don't really...[It's probably better not to sya he doesn't pay attention because that sounds so careless, but it's true. He works with what he knows and lets everybody else deal with political aspects of war.] It's complicated, like you said. But we've got a pretty good system in place from what I can tell.

Some people probably don't. [He wants to. Of course he wants to, but it doesn't mean it has to be right this instance either.] What's different a few years prior?

For all they change, somehow it always ends up being the same of people lying for their own personal gain. (not that he is one to talk, but, at least his lying is mostly not the kind that causes the deaths of thousands. most of the time. sometimes it is but he isn't going to talk about that now. maybe if he lies more it'll make his own lying seem less. or. something. this is just how he deals with life.) So far, so good.

Why wouldn't they want to? Sure you meet people here, but. There's a life to lead back home, too. You can't just up and disappear. (there's a pause in the feed there for a good long moment.) If I kept the knowledge I have now, I could save one of the most important people in my life. Hell, even if I couldn't save them, at least I'd have more time to appreciate.

I read about it in the news sometimes back home but I still don't really understand it. At least back there you can see what the lies are. Here we don't have any idea.

Maybe some people don't have anything to go back to. [From the way he says it though, he knows that's the case for some.] ...I think I understand. [If he could go back in time, you bet he'd fight a little harder to keep Tadashi from running back into the building.] What if saving them just ruined your timeline though? Would you still do it?

Even with the news, you still can't always see all the lies. They're very good at pulling the wool over people's eyes.

I suppose, but, everyone has something, don't they? (He frowns a bit. And then some more. I think I would. I don't see how it could ruin it.

Maybe when I get home I'll focus on making a real lie detector that'll actually work. Thanks for the idea.

[...maybe? It's debatable for some people. He certainly has something and it's clear that he's thinking about his answer carefully judging by the silence.] Then hopefully we'll get out of here soon and we can negotiate when we go back. [He's not gonna stop you, buddy, he just has to think about it.]

I should get back to work on some stuff, but I'll see you later? [Thank you for giving him some things to think about, Howard.]

There's always going to be a way to pass those, kiddo. Although I don't think that you'd get them to agree to it either, if you did manage.

Considering we were kidnapped here, I doubt it. (But he'll smile anyway. Pained and strained and all.)

Sure thing, Hiro. Just send me a message or something.

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second jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts (backdated to approx Feb 20)

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