♔ I ► video 【open to both courts & backdated to 02/01】

[skjalf]

( Her progress in working out what her locket does is very much a WIP. Still, she has fiddled with it enough to activate whatever magic controls the moving images of people. This is in an invaluable tool in her eyes, because she has precisely the purpose to put such a resource to use. Keenly aware that appearances matter especially so upon making a first impression, she is dressed elegantly, and her hair is mostly left in loose waves, some cloth-of-gold ribbon threaded throughout. She keeps the look on her face pleasant, but cool.

There is no benefit for the time being in playing the fool, as she had at home. The warmth of her smile does not extend to her eyes, not yet. Instead they hold a light of curiosity, and a great amount of seriousness. Her awareness of the situation at hand is dim but for this: she is not dreaming. She has lost all, and stands to gain everything if she but works for it. Just as her father had won the throne of England: with smiles, charm and good business sense.

Her address, then, is an earnest one. )

Good day to you, one and all. I know not how many of you there are, or from whence you come. Yet if I may, I would humbly beg a favour, if you would be so gracious as to indulge me: your acquaintance.

Indeed, I would meet as many of you as might be possible. And, if you would be even more indulgent, information pertaining to the state of affairs in this land and abroad. I find myself possessed of a desire to know the full scope of things here ere I chart my course and navigate myself through whatever trials I may face here.

( Now, finally, the warmth enters her eyes. She has no choice; it would not do for all the land to bear witness to her grief. )

I am Elizabeth Plantagenet of England. It is my hope that I will be able to repay any kindness shown me sooner rather than later. I look forward to meeting and speaking with many of you!

Until then, farewell. Deus vobiscum.

[video] [Both Courts] Everybody loves eggs right?

[chaoticwhimsy]

[Lumina is skipping along ahead of the image feed when it clicks on, so one of her imps is probably filming her again. People familiar with the area might recognizing the rolling hills outside of Mair, but now nestled between a number of them is what looks like a large, sprawling ranch. Lumina comes to a stop beneath a hand-painted sign that says 'Gran Pulse Chocobo Ranch', with a painting of a bright yellow chocobo standing in front of a giant green and blue planet, with a smaller gray planet hanging in the background.]

[She twists around once she's under the sign and grins at the locket. Chaos the black chocobo is standing just inside the gate, sans his usual armor and saddle, and he peers at his mistress and the imp with a 'why me' kind of expression, then warks quietly.]

Look, they gave me a whole ranch! I had to make the sign myself though. [Lumina can find fault in anything.]

But it's a chocobo ranch! I mean, it will be. Once I have more than three of them. I mean, who gives you a ranch but not any extra animals?

[She huffs because she can't exactly breed their glorious chicken-mount overlords without more chicken-mounts, can she? But then the cheerful grin is back and she jumps forward to snatch the locket away from the imp.]

But look!

[There's a flare of light and darkness that obscures everything, and when it fades, Lumina is inside somewhere. There are two yellow chocobos, smaller than the black one seen earlier but ride-able, standing over a little wooden box, and Lumina runs over to it. She spins the locket around to her face again, and she is clearly more excited than she can contain.]

There'll be more of them soon!

[And again the locket goes spinning around, pointing inside the box. There's hey, and five eggs about the size of melons, each speckled a different color. She reaches out to tap one of them, which earns her an annoyed little wark from one of the parent chocobos, and then she giggles.]

Sooorry.

[And then back to pointing the screen at herself.]

See Steve, that's a chocobo egg. No you can't eat one. [A beat and a smirk.] I'd say people can come see them but there's that whole war thing going on, huh?

[Another little pause.]

But uh...on a related thing, dooooooes anyone know anything about hatching eggs? Or taking care of eggs? Or...really...anything about eggs? Except the eating part. Anything useful.

[Because she doesn't have a clue whoops.]

video; Seelie locked

[depicted]

[Dorian Gray has been doing a great deal of growing up. When he addresses the locket, his expression is set firmly, and his famous youth is only in his features. This is war. And he does not wish for death. So he is short, to the point, avoiding all of the excesses of his normal speech patterns.]

I've produced protective stones as a product of my research in warding magic. [He holds up one: a simple stone, with runes carved in, small, lightweight, very portable.] I have made as many as I could as quickly as possible. It will guard the bearer from the first strikes set against them by taking the damage in their stead, but it can only bear so much—up to a broken bone, perhaps, or a deep but non-fatal cut. Still, it is one more chance of survival.

If any wish for one, you may come to me in the library of Caer Glaem, or I can deliver it to you anywhere in Seelie territory.

first jive ⚛ video ⚛ open to both courts

[stickseller]

(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.

video; both courts

[survivra]

This wolf is enormous.

[ Katsa can be heard before she's seen, her locket instead in the face of a fully-grown direwolf that's shoving his nose in front of it in her hands. She pushes him out of the way, backs up so that she can be seen in scale with the direwolf: her blue and green eyes are overbright, red-rimmed as though she's been crying, but her voice when she speaks is loud and demanding. ]

What potions or tonics would turn dark hair blue?

{Video: Open to Both Courts}

[rangerandking]

The King is optimistic!

{The musical lilt of the voice is caught somewhere between male and female. Further questions concerning the Fae's gender are introduced when they lift the Locket to peer into it playfully. Eyes the color of sparkling emeralds greet anyone watching until the Fae holds the Locket further back.

They are clothed in the finest of gossamer, yet it hangs just so to keep the mystery alive - not that Aragorn minds or is looking.

He is sitting on a rock nearby, sorting herbs - of the healing sort most likely - for his use should he need them in a hurry. There is a small smile on his face, though he doesn't spare the Fae a glance.}

Am I?

There are many Kings.

( Cut for Length. )

1 ☽ video, open to both courts ☽ backdated evening of 2/1

[lycanthnope]

[ Jackson's demands are simple: ]

Derek! McCall! I don't know how you've managed this smoke-and-mirrors bullshit, or if you think this is some kind of funny hazing ritual--

[ He puts the locket down. It continues to broadcast his image looking around his room, as if searching for hidden cameras. ]

And whoever's in on it with them? I don't care about your stupid war, I'm not part of their little clique, just tell me how to get me out of here.

1. {video :: both courts}

[fulminants]

[ The face that comes onscreen after a few obvious jostles might be one you're familiar with (if you are, sorry, he's probably not the one you're looking for). Johnny's half-concerned, half-amused with the general state of things and it shows in the way he's looking into the locket, clearing his throat. ]

Ever wonder how this feels like some weird State of the Union address? Except with a lot less people. Or maybe it's like making a YouTube video. Here I am, talking to you guys, and I can't even see your faces. [ He shrugs. ] Oh, well -- anyway.

What's up, strangers of Drabwurld? I have three questions: [ Holds up one finger. ] one, why is it called Drabwurld? Did its founders hate being here, or does Brightworld just not have the same ring to it? Ha, there's your thought of the day.

[ Two fingers. ] Two: Anyone seen a big orange walking rockpile lately? Grumpy, looks like he lost a bet with a mudslide? Failing that, how about a guy who can stretch to grossly disproportionate levels, or a girl who can turn invisible? If found, let me know; they can be pretty ornery, and reach dangerous levels of boring when put together for too long.

Three, and I can't believe this didn't come first. It's a very important question, so I'm gonna need all of you to be honest with me, whoever you are.

[ He leans closer to the screen, loses the smile and gets serious. This is crucial. ]

Which side's got the hotter babes? The Seelie, or the Unseelie?