1st Chassé | Action for the Bailey in Seelie Court/Video for Both Courts

[choreographics]

[When the video turns on, it's actually a small stream of what appears to be someone spinning the locket over and over in the palm of their hand. There's a small laugh that follows, along with a tone of disbelief.]

Not quite what I meant when I said I wanted a new cell phone.

[Give it a moment before the video rights itself to reveal a blonde boy wearing a hat and stretched out on a bench in the Bailey of Caer Glaem. He appears to just be regarding the locket thoughtfully before he continues.]

Okay! So…hi. [Yes, thank you Ryan.] I'm Ryan, and I'm gonna be honest here I'm still not sure I'm not just dreaming all of this. I've been told I have a pretty vivid imagination. [There's a lopsided grin that follows.]

I guess I'm just sort of curious. Is anybody happier to be here than wherever they came from? [He's also got the map the fairies gave him clutched in his hand and he sort of just waves it in the video feed.] …also anybody know how to read a map? ["Besides everyone but me?" It's a sheepish request and he doesn't particularly like asking, but why learn how to read a map when you come from a place where you have chauffeurs, a GPS, or a twin sister who drives a narcissism mobile? He'd always assumed he'd learn how to read maps during the summer before he went to college and that's still a few months off.] I want to check out the rest of these places but I'm not sure where to start. Thanks a lot.

Comments

[Video]

[nottame]

[On the locket is a rusty canine.

Mouth open and tongue lolling out happily. If the pull of its mouth can look amused, it does. Voice comes without it moving its mouth.]

I dunno about you, but it was rough back home. I mean, I have friends who I wish could see it, too, but so far it's been nice.

[Also back home he was shot and possibly dying, and so he might be lucky to be able to be in a position like this at all, but regardless. One name was given, he'd best put in his!]

I'm Toboe! As for a map, uhh - [He shuffles forward a mite, tilts his head.] - don't you just have to figure out which side's up?

[Hasn't committedly looked at his yet and he's not an expert, either.]

[Video]

[choreographics]

[Staring. So much staring oh god what is this.] Definitely, definitely dreaming. [Animals can't talk. Right? Wait, did he just inherit some freaky Dr. Doolittle powers thanks to the fairies?

Okay don't be stupid. Just go with it. In a way? It's…sort of cool.]

It wasn't too bad for me back home. [Which he doesn't really get how fortunate that makes him.] I've just been really busy. This is kind of the wrong time for me to disappear or, y'know, fight in a war or whatever.

I'm Ryan. [Did he say that already? He might have said that already. Yeah, he's sure of it but he's still just a little more perplexed about the fact he's talking to a canine.] It's nice to meet you. ["I think?"] I'm pretty sure there's more to it than just making sure it's right-side up because there're marking and stuff all over it, but I'm not sure what it all means. I might just start walking and see what I can find around here.

[Video]

[nottame]

[That answers a question that's been in the back of his head. In person on his end of the connection, he'd be pulling on a sheepish to-himself smirk right now, but apparently the illusion doesn't project over the lockets.]

Nice to meet you too, uh - and I've got to do the same thing. I still haven't seen much of the inside of the castle yet let alone the outside. [And a laugh.] All that dinner the first night took it out of me!

[Exploring on a very full stomach's about as daunting as doing it on an empty one and a bit more jarring when it's the one you're less used-to!]

[Video]

[choreographics]

I've kind of looked around the castle but not too much. Just the feast hall and the hallways, actually. [He had started to explore, but then he realized the large empty halls were a great place to practice his dancing for the musical back at East and he got a little sidetracked. That, unfortunately, is still his biggest goal of the moment.]

So you just got here, too?

[Video]

[nottame]

Yeah!

[Another conversational laughing sound, a "huh".] So I haven't figured out how to use the map yet, either. Sorry...

[That initial topic seems to have already been wandered past, but still!]

video

[invernale]

Harry Dresden. [ Said only after he got over the shock of hearing that this kid didn't know how to read a map. What modern conveniences will do to people. ]

And I guess "happier" isn't exactly right. [ There is a war going on back home and as far as he knows, vampires could come barreling through here at any moment. ]

It's different to see so many people used to magical things in one place. Short of a Council meeting.

video

[choreographics]

Hey. [Harry Dresden. Easy enough to remember. That's not the point though because he's immediately fixating on something else.]

What would you call it if it isn't happier then? And what kind of council? [Because he's pretty sure "student council" and whatever Harry's talking about are two different things.]

video

[invernale]

Different. Same old things, new place. [ He shrugs. He's not sure if he can explain it more simply than that. ]

There's a war going on back home and I'm caught in the middle of it. The only difference is that it's hidden from most mortals. You can thank the White Council of wizards for that.

video

[choreographics]

I'm not sure if I should say "lucky you" or apologize. [That lopsided grin returned, but he's definitely, definitely more interested suddenly.]

So...you're a wizard? [It's a lot to swallow considering his exposure to wizards extends to "of Oz." But it also kind of makes sense.] What'd you do to get stuck in the middle?

video

[invernale]

I know it's hard to tell without the pointy hat or the robes, but those only come out for the special events. [ He's trying to relieve the tension with humor. It's his thing. Especially after creating awkward tensions. ]

Oh, started a little fire... Nothing too major.

video

[walkingarsenal]

[The request and those travel plans raise eyebrows, but Fíli offers a genuine answer.]

You might find the Station to your liking. [And less likely to get lost around.]

video

[choreographics]

[He looks at the video feed for a second before his eyes immediately go to the map.]

Yeah? What's at the Station? [Better yet, where is the station. Seriously this should not be that hard.]

video

[walkingarsenal]

[That question is a little harder to answer, so he settles for:] Wonders for some, familiar sights for others -- tell-a-visions, internets.

video

[choreographics]

[You had him at televisions, Fili.] They actually have TVs here? And everything works? [Internet...maybe he can figure out how to send an email to somebody.] Wait it's not like dial-up internet, is it?

video

[walkingarsenal]

Only at the Station. [Still, he nods before he pauses, 'dial-up' another unfamiliar term.] There were dials, I suppose, but these had nothing to do with any internet.

[noirant]

It's not a bad place, [ Really, it's not. The interior decoration is hideous, but there's so much to learn. And still -- ] Yet I find myself questioning the selling points of any realm which needs steal its populace away unannounced.

[ Felix rolls his eyes, and drops the theatrical tone to give Ryan a better look. ]

I might be able to help with the map, [ No he won't. Felix can read one, but that doesn't mean that he can make any sense of it. ] But I think you'll have more luck with the experienced guests. Where do you like it better?

[choreographics]

It doesn't seem bad, just. [Weird. Really weird. He's used to basically playing pretend all the time and he's familiar with stories about fairies and wars and magic and what-have-you but that's just it. They're stories.] Exactly. Why us? Don't they have, like, an army on reserve or something?

[He looks down at the map again, just sort of turning it this way and that.] I'm not really sure. I haven't really had a chance to see what's around here that looks interesting.

[noirant]

A wise friend once told me that if you can't fight your own battles, then those battles can't be much worth fighting. And I can't speak to your own qualifications, but I'm certainly no mercenary.

[ He lacks the temperament. Felix gestures out to the map, pointing as though it'll make any difference through the screen. ]

You'll want to start by figuring out where you are -- that'll be one of the Caers, with luck...though I suppose I wouldn't put it pasts our hosts to fool with it. Go ahead and circle it for reference. And then you've your cardinal directions, of course. On an aside, I highly recommend you acquire a compass before venturing anywhere very far, because the constellations here are utterly different from what I'm used to.

[ As though he wouldn't get hopelessly lost even with familiar stars overhead. ]

The dashed lines doubtless indicate main roads, but it may be trickier in the going -- saints know the last time that a cartographer's been through.

But enough of my blather. What interests you? Broadly or specifically, academically and emotionally, take your pick. What sorts of things do you find interesting?

[choreographics]

Definitely, definitely not. [It's a wise way of looking at things though. As Felix explains the map though he's busy following along, nose practically glued to it as he takes in the information. Truth be told it's not too complicated but let's be honest, he's certainly no boy scout.]

I know what Caer I'm in at least. I guess I'll figure out where to get a compass later. [And how to use that, too.] The rest of it makes sense though...thanks.

[At the question though he looks back into the video feed. Hmm. What interests him? Well.] Art. [That's not hard.] Performing arts, visual art, whatever. Movies, plays, acting, singing, dancing...that kind of stuff.

[noirant]

You're quite welcome. The stables seem happy enough to provide for horses, they may be able to give direction as well.

[ He doesn't have a single clue what a movie is, but sure, acting -- that he could picture. Ryan's certainly dressed outlandishly enough for it. The hat's alright, but where on earth is his cravat? Felix beams. ]

A multi-talent, the troupes must adore that. [ Not every would-be virtuoso can pitch a note on key, if past productions have been any indication. ] I haven't had hide or heard of any performances yet, but there must be some contingent at court. Perhaps they'd consider newcomers.

video

[truecaptain]

You might be dreaming it. You never know, but I don't think anyone could dream up something like this by themselves.

[ It's teasing and light, but she shakes her head. ]

Mm, I don't know about happier, but it's not the worst place someone could be. As for a map, you could find a compass and just follow the corresponding parts to north. That's the best way to if you can't read one yet.

video

[choreographics]

[She's probably the first to comment on his dreams, but he grins anyway.] Trust me, I've dreamed up some pretty big things before.

Definitely not the worst place, but it's pretty inconvenient don't you think? [He looks at the map again though.] Would you believe me if I said I'm not really sure how to use a compass either..?

video

[truecaptain]

I wouldn't admit that around here. Someone might find a way to use it against you.

There's plenty of things that are inconvenient, but you could think of this as a new adventure. [ That gets a sheepish laugh though. ] You don't really have to know anything, it'll point to north on its own and you follow it.

video

[choreographics]

[Man, he didn't even think of that.] Do you really think so?

I don't mind new adventures but what happened to "choose your own adventure"? This is kind of like I just skipped a bunch of steps. [That's the part he doesn't like, but he grins in response.] Sounds easy enough. I always sort of just used a GPS to find my way around but I'm pretty sure the lockets can't do the same thing.

video

[truecaptain]

Anything could happen in a land of magic, right?


Maybe it's a little strange to arrive here like this--[ more then a little, really, but comforting people means don't say "really strange" ]-- but I'm sure there's plenty you can do since we're stuck here for a little while. I'm not sure what they do either. You can always ask someone to make it like one if they could. Someone might be able to.