[001 - video]

[freeholding]

[Two men have settled into one of the larger rooms of the Tower. One is tall and lean and looks vaguely untrustworthy, like someone you wouldn't want to share a cab with. He's got a mean-looking scar through the right side of his face, a silver pentacle around his neck, and a dramatic black leather duster hanging off his frame. He's the one seated on the floor, a circle drawn around him (was that done in chalk?) on the lumpy carpet.

The other man is far more respectable looking, but something about him would incite nervousness and distrust if you met him in person. He's older, with greying hair and eyes the color of dead grass. Dressed like a businessman in tailored Givenchy and silver cufflinks, there is nonetheless the sense of a prowling panther as he paces slowly around the outside of the circle.]

Are you ready? [says the man in the suit.]

[The one in the circle opens an eye to glare at his companion.] Are you interrupting a wizard when he's wizarding?

We're on a time table, Dresden.

A what? [The one by the name of "Dresden" squints at the other man like he's in awe of his existence.] I don't care how OCD you are, you don't have a time table yet.

Near and present danger.

Hell's bells, fine. Operation Stress-test commencing in five... four... [His voice trails off as he closes his eyes again, focusing before:] Hexus.

[There's a quick series of pops as all the lights burst into showers of sparks, power sockets go up smoke, and the NV's feed promptly goes dead.]

[[OOC: Blue font is Harry, Green font is John and they'll be replying separately to your comments!

If you'd like to play along, Harry just hexed the electrical things (lights, AC units, TVs, anything really) in their room, and the effect may spread to anyone nearby in the Tower apartments. Feel free to suddenly have a freezing cold shower or have your radio cut out, etc.]]

Comments

[freeholding]

[John's NV is now struggling to reboot, so he replies through Harry's. He smiles, but it's like a photo instead of something on a living person.]

A calculated bout of destruction, I assure you.

[presspasskey]

[Lois has done enough press conferences to know that kind of smile. Boy has she ever. And now this is even more a 'story' and not just 'what the heck.']

As a first act? Quite a start you've got, that's for sure. You'd better hope no one tries to fine you for it.

[freeholding]

Nothing so sinister. [John affects a concerned look, innocent as a lamb.] Our experiment may have gone a little wild, but surely the case can be made that technological differences as well as differences in building maintenance codes are in play as well?

[presspasskey]

[This is the Patented Lois Lane Skeptical Expression (TM).] Does your world have building maintenance codes and technology to hold up to wizarding which apparently shorts out everything nearby?

[video]

[forzare]

[ Harry snags his NV back rudely, because his roommate was just as rude for taking it to start with. ]

Okay, not exactly. This place's stuff holds up just the same as home's stuff, which is fine by me.

[video]

[presspasskey]

[That gets a raised eyebrow, though she's also a little more amused now.]

I'm guessing you don't log many video or computer game hours, huh?

[forzare]

The first and last game I ever played was Pong. One time only, way back in the seventies.

Then I hit magical puberty, and that put an end to that.

[freeholding]

[John's reply isn't immediate due to Dresden having to shove his nose into a perfectly polite conversation, thank you, Warden, that will be all.

John's NV is recovering from the hexus though, so soon he's back on that.]

Apologies. Mr. Dresden is large in spirit, but short on... just about everything else.

[John sees your skepticism, likely-reporter-or-possibly-investigator, and raises you with an even more guileless smile. Nothing to see here but an honest, civic-minded businessman.] Every building I renovate in my city has special measures in place to handle magical interference, yes. It's only polite, and while not official city ordinance, I believe such expenses are worthwhile to make the supernatural community more comfortable.

[Granted, when John says "handling magical interference," it's possible he means "handle certain powerhouse wizards in case of a deadly final showdown." But that's almost the same thing, surely.]