video;

[knowledgably]

[ The feed begins with s i l e n c e , stillness. Pictured is a room of one of the newcomer apartments, but with no one in sight!

Except for-- Is that a teacup moving into view?, you might wonder. It is, except it isn't, as you'll discover when a big bald head with wiiide saucer-like eyes creeps up beneath it! It's actually a hat that acts as a teacup, but that's probably far from your mind now with the way those empty black eyes seem to be staring into your soul. 

And then it happens. With a twitch of its white mustache, it finally - and very suddenly! - speaks up, voice booming. ]

SAL~U~TATIONS, DENIZENS OF SIRENS PORT!

[ Throwing his stubby little arms up with exuberance, he floats back and away from the camera a good couple of feet. He is now available for view in all of his meatbun-like glory, suspended in mid-air. ]

I am Duke Rufus Barma, as I pray thee be formerly aware! I intend to seek audience with anyone that doth originate from the world of mine own - who is't familiar with the city of Reveille, the Four Great Dukedoms, and perhaps even Sablier!!

[ His cheeks swell somewhat, and he begins to go a bit red in the face ] 

I have a great many questions that require answering! 'Tis vital that I update my information!  [Bobbing up and down, his feet kick and arms wave about. ] IT IS OBSOLETE!

OBSOLEEEETE!

[ Rufus hurls himself off-camera, and bounces off the ceiling! Then the floor, a table, a wall--! All the while, he's echoing a string of "I hate iiit! Hate hate HATE hate H A T E !! OBSOLETE!!" until he flies forward and HITS the screen, shutting off the feed automatically. ]

Comments

[retraced]

[Oh look, it's another thing to add to Gilbert's list of Things He Doesn't Need Right Now. Well, at least Reim might be happy (maybe?!) even though Break will definitely, definitely be even crankier than usual for a while.]

D-duke Barma...?!

[ video ] /jacking in

[maddeninghatter]

Don't encourage him.

[ Yep. Cranky. ]

[ video ]

[retraced]

We have to say something to him, don't we...?

[knowledgably]

Aaaaaaaah, 'tis but the weak-willed Gilbert Nightray!!

[ Floating in close, until all that can be seen are his eyes peering over that big and rosy nose of his. ]

Thou hast been here for what length of time?

1/2

[retraced]

Huh--?!

[No, he's not going to let the mockery get to him this time!!]

2/2

[retraced]

...Over two years.

[whitefeathered]

[Okay. That wasn't weird. Or disturbing. Aoko stares for a good, long moment, her insides feeling as though they're twitching of their own volition.]

. . . Are you a ghost?

[It's a good answer to know, honestly. Because she hates ghosts. So creepy.]

[knowledgably]

A ghost?! Nay, I assure thee -- the monstrousness of a ghost should pale in comparison.

[ Face twisting into the most terrible grin, he toddles back and forth, cackling! ]

[jokesonthem]

[It had occurred to Reim, dimly, that his Dear Beloved Master would turn up in the city. It had also occurred to him that he would still be falling back on his giant meatball habit. But he had hoped against it, because the meatball is absurd and no one... likes... his master...

(Thank you, Gilbert, but "happy" might be a bit strong.)]

Master Rufus... [you're just sitting offscreen somewhere gazing haughtily, aren't you] ... Welcome to the city.

[knowledgably]

[ How sad - because Rufus is rather pleased to see his Most Reliable Servant. Not enough to spare him the trouble of dealing with the illusion, though. Sorry.

Its brow wrinkles up with a kick of the feet, hands slapping at its belly. ]

Aah-hoho! How fortuitous thou art here and well, Reim!

[ And yes, he is. ]

[jokesonthem]

[It sure is a good thing Reim has about twenty Infinite Patience reserves.]

Indeed; and you as well. [A beat, looking at the room beyond sir meatball. He never actually made it into the apartments, so he can't be sure-] Where are you...?

[Video]

[littlest_lord]

<sub>[Just...staring. If this...thing was from the same world as Gilbert and the others, did that mean he was going to be forced to allow it to enter his house? Not just that, but it's calling itself a Duke of all things?

Oh no, Gilbert...don't make him agree to it. This is just creepy.]</sub>

[Video]

[knowledgably]

[ Oh, this one should be fun then, he thinks.

And so, the little man creeps into the screen, hanging upside-down with the widest-eyed smile it can muster. ]

What have thee to say that should interest me, hmmm?

[Video]

[littlest_lord]

Those who are from your world..._{[Yup, he's already regretting this.]} live with me.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ Break's NV camera is trained on a stuffed pheasant (there's got to be at least one somewhere in Phancyhive, right?). Offscreen, he is speaking in a squeaky, chirpy sort of bird-voice: ]

Nope nope nope no-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o!

There's nobody here but us chickens!

[ Video ]

[knowledgably]

[ By voice alone, Rufus has his suspicions regarding who he is 'speaking' to - but the nature behind the response pretty much confirms it.

And, you know, he's enjoying it - as the hissing laughter from the round man might indicate! ]

Ah, fair pheasant, perhaps it be in good fortune! Thou art a favorable alternative to any unsavory Hatters - a treat for mine eyes, in comparison! O~, merciful fate!

[voice]

[madeinoblivion]

Nope. Never heard of 'em-

Oh wait. No. I have. Elliot's from that place, I think?

But I've never been to that world. What do you need to know about Siren's Port? I've been here almost two and a half years now, so I know most things that newcomers should know.

[voice]

[knowledgably]

[ Hey, what's with acting totally normal over all of this! That's so boring! He's about to comment on it, but some piece of information distracts him - and thus, he only HUFFS to express his displeasure before speaking. ]

Thou art speaking of the Nightray child, I presume? [ Hum! More people from his world are here than expected - even one who was deceased. ]

Mm. What thinkest thou of the municipal corporations, SERO and AGI?

Re: [voice]

[madeinoblivion]

Child? He might not be grown up, but he's not a kid!

I think they're pretty awful. Both of them. But hard to avoid.

video.

[inthejunk]

[What. the hell. was that? Have a reluctant greeter, crazy man.]

...You needed to ask some questions?

video.

[knowledgably]

Hm~.

[ A stubby hand pats his chin in thought. ]

How versed art thou regarding the inner workings of this city?

[ As he asks, the man teeters toward the screen 'til only his wide, saucer-like eyes are visible, peering into the feed. ]

Re: video.

[inthejunk]

Like plumbing and stuff? Hmm. There's probably a city planning office somewhere that can help with that.

[voice]

[rapturescreed]

The screaming is not needed. We can all hear you. I believe there are a few people who've mentioned those things before, two of them used to work for me.

[his_own_will]

[ ah, back to this were they? Oz throws on a smile and turns on his NV. ]

A little late to the party, aren't you? [ poor you. Act nice, and Oz will tell you (almost) everything he knows! ]

[knowledgably]

[ Though he was less than impressed after seeing this (boring) boy's face pop up on his screen, he's grinning wide now, when he appears to speak -- because, you see, he seemed to be rather ahead, from where he was at his point in time. ]

WELL, welllll... It doth seem so! To expect to see so many familiar faces in this foreign place, I did not!