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

[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.

[choreographics]

The stablehands, or the horses themselves? [It's meant as a joke, but oh god if the horses talk here he's literally going to lose his mind.

But…he understands the word multi-talent and he practically beams himself. It's…maybe it's a little nice to be acknowledged on his own merits without someone shoving him into the background. That's what this year was all about anyway.]

Troupes…like an acting troupe? [Because he could totally get behind that.] I didn't think there would be one here. Actually I wasn't sure if there would be other people that understood how important theatre is.

[noirant]

[ Felix laughs, a short, merry thing. He doesn't really find the joke funny, but he's an actor of his own sort, and Ryan deserves some warmth; he's a welcome reminder of home, if perhaps, a bit of a peculiarly pink one. ]

Gracious, I do hope there is -- I suppose if there isn't, you'll have to go and found one. Civilization lives in the arts.

[ As though Felix of all people should be considered an expert on either. ]

Now you'll have to tell me -- and do be honest! -- Comedy, or tragedy? Which do you prefer?

[choreographics]

Founding a troupe doesn't sound like a bad idea. Kinda makes me wonder what other artists the fairies or whatever led here. [Felix why. Why are you giving him all of these ideas what is wrong with you, this is the opposite of Ryan being useful.] I am the co-president of the drama club back home. I guess this is just the next step.

What's the fun in tragedy? I like it on a base level but hey, high school's traumatic enough without having to act it out as somebody else. [His grin's amused enough, but there is a little bit of a truth to that.] Definitely comedy, mostly musical theatre. Does that count?

[noirant]

[ what's a high school when did we start educating actors ]

I'm certain they'd be delighted to meet with similar company. Myself, I'd be happy to make inquiries while about Caer Scima. [ If he remembers. That's a bit of a toss-up. ] What assistance -- other than more bodies -- do you believe you'll require?

[ Yes, he is making an assumption with tense. A pretty big one. ]

Heavens, though, it must be years since I've seen a good comedy. The companies in Melusine are -- [ Felix wavers a hand. ] -- Divided, to say the least. I'll quite look forward to seeing what you do.

[choreographics]

Hmm...it depends on what the bodies can do. I'll need people who can act and people who can help build sets and maybe people who can help write the story and I guess I can be the director...[Yeah. Yeah he's got a lot of ideas suddenly.] We're going to need a lot of resources. Think you can really find people interested?

I'll do my best. [And his best is above average when it comes to acting, just you wait. What's Melusine though?

[noirant]

My home. A city of high walls and comically misguided productions. A dear friend works with one of the better troupes --

[ That might be stretching things, but Felix is happy enough to ignore it. After all, Mehitabel isn't here to object. Didn't realize I was so dear to you, sunshine. ]

-- Perhaps you might shave some of the writing by looking to existing works? This place can't lack for stories to adapt. Don't fret over me, darling; I'll keep an eye to any promising newcomers.

[choreographics]

Kind of sounds like a laughable prison then. [Walls aren't exactly Ryan's favorite things. Nevertheless that's an idea, and he's already thoroughly distracted by his next chain of thoughts.]

There's gotta be a library or something. Or maybe I can ask the fairies. They've been around long enough, they should know some stories. [He tilts his head.]

You never gave me your name, by the way.

[noirant]

[ Felix gives a small, languid shrug. There was a time when he felt Melusine's weight, but that time has mostly passed. Home's an easier burden when it doesn't rest on your shoulders. started from the bottom now we here ]

Caer Scima boasts one, I've no doubt the Glaem will have its own -- two seem as reflections in concept, if not form.

Lord Felix Harrowgate. Felix will quite do.

[choreographics]

Yeah, but the problem is that it's probably only going to tell me stuff about what's happened in Caer Glaem. I'll think about it. [He could write a biased play, maybe, but that seems a little unproductive.]

Oh. [If he sounds surprised, it's because he is. Well excuse him, Lord Felix. Guess that makes just as much sense as anything else.] Okay. Felix. I'll remember that, thanks.

[noirant]

[ Felix has to admit, it's a cleverer point than he'd quite expected of Ryan. ]

How lucky, then, that you've a friend in the Scima with far too much reading time on his hands. Write me if you've a particular point you'd like investigated, and we can compare notes. Good luck, Ryan.