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

[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.

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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.

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?

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.

[...you. He likes you. Ryan appreciates people that can make a jab at themselves here and there and so he just gives Harry a slight grin in return.] Remind me to be around for those then. I've always wanted to try on a wizard's hat.

When you say started a little fire though...you mean like a flicker of a flame, or "buildings no longer exist" fire?

I can't make any promises that it'll talk, but sure. [ He shrugs. As for the question... well... ]

A whole building. Full of vampires.

Way to crush my dreams. [Not really, but you know what that would be asking too much anyway.]

Vampires. Like...? [Yeah, don't mind him, Harry, but he's actually baring his teeth and hissing like he's a vampire.] Sounds like you've got quite a story.

[ The impression gets Harry to grin a little. He had actually dressed up like a cheap 70s Vegas Dracula that night too. ]

Yep. Fangs and hissing, and if you rubbed them the wrong way, they got really ugly. [ Seriously, they were like leathery black monsters under a skin suit. ]

I don't know. I'm sure I might trade my story for one like yours if I got the chance, though.

I don't buy the movies that say vampires are pretty. [Is it bad that Ryan's attention is on the outfit? It's the little things. But at the comment he just laughs even if he's not entirely amused.]

I seriously doubt it. My story's pretty boring so far compared to wizards and vampires. This is probably the weirdest thing that's happened so far. [If you don't count Troy having an identity crisis and dragging the whole school into it.] Is it really that bad?