001 - In which Howl is Pulled from Elsewhere

[likepaleglass]

[A man’s voice, louder than it should be.]

Sophie! SOPHIE.

[A man flickers into view on camera. He’s decidedly handsome, well-groomed and dressed, a blue jewel hanging from one ear. One might almost be able to smell a whiff of hyacinth perfume. For a moment he turns the NV over and around in his hands until the viewer just gets a jumble of him – flashes of hair and hands and eyes that are strangely pale, green, reflective like glass. Finally the window comes to rest on him again, and he is glaring.]

Never hire a cleaning lady. If they come nosing their way into your life, boot them out the door, as you value your sanity.

[Hard to say if he knows he’s talking to you. In all honesty, it probably doesn’t matter. He pushes the hair back from his face, handsomely perturbed.]

All right, since there seems to be no immediate way back: I’ll need the nearest junkyard. Preferably magical. Non-magical will do in a pinch, though I’ll have to recreate my notes.

Also: A book of poetry. Promptly.

Comments

[princeofpictionary]

You should respect your servants more!!

[likepaleglass]

She's not my servant. She's my cleaning lady.

. . .

An overly cleanly one.

[Wait for it.]

And this time she has cleaned far, far too much!

[princeofpictionary]

...There's a difference?

[likepaleglass]

Of course there's a difference. "Servant" would imply I had a choice in her. Cleaning lady . . . she's an incredibly nosy old woman who wandered into my castle, insisted on staying . . .

And cleans everything.

[towerlocked]

There is such a thing as a magical junkyard?

[likepaleglass]

Of course.

[No evident concern about these people talking with him. Maybe he just enjoys the audience.]

It doesn't just disappear.

[towerlocked]

I've never heard of such a thing before, but it doesn't sound safe.

voice;

[motioned]

A poetry book? There's probably a bookstore somewhere nearby.

What for?

video

[likepaleglass]

[A flicker -- a rustle -- of a grayish paper which, if Ahiru is familiar with them, looks very strongly like a photocopy.]

A poem. I need the second half. My cleaning lady cleaned me out of it.

video

[motioned]

Well, what poem do you need?

[pullsheavendown]

There's a library if you need books.

[likepaleglass]

Excellent!

Take me to this library.

If they have a good selection on magic, all the better.

[pullsheavendown]

Um...I can give you directions?

I don't know if they have much about magic, though.

[madvaporskillz]

Why, whatever would someone want with magical junk?

[likepaleglass]

The better question is what wouldn't someone want with magical junk?

It's quite useful in the right hands -- and I am the right hands.

In this case, we'll be building a portal.

[madvaporskillz]

We? What need would I have of doorway.

voice

[rewritter]

A book of poetry? What for?

video

[likepaleglass]

For finding the second half of a poem.

[rewritter]

What poem is it? And why are you looking for that, anyway?

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

[ ....eavesdropping.... ]

Why, I believe I might know someone with access to magical materials. But - perhaps you could tell me more about this portal you're building, hmmm?

[ Video ]

[likepaleglass]

[Why hello there, eavesdropping stranger. Howl seems unconcerned, marble-like eyes flicking sideways towards the camera.]

A portal to return to my own country. One of them, at any rate -- if I can get to one, the other is easy enough.

[ Video ]

[maddeninghatter]

Myyyyyyy, how fascinating.

[ He waves a floppy sleeve. ]

I take it the other portal is in your country, right? So if you can build one here, they'll connect?

[video]

[faustianism]

A magical junkyard? I've never heard of such a thing in this place. I can help with the book of poetry, however. What do you need it for?

[video]

[likepaleglass]

Magic always creates junk.

[And if it doesn't exist in Siren's Port, it likely will by the time Howl is through.]

Someone must be hiding one somewhere.

[A flick of sleeve, and he produces a grayish bit of paper.] I'm in need of the second half of a poem.

[video]

[faustianism]

Magic is... one of many forms of abilities, here, from what I understand. But to have a junkyard... you may have a better deal from a pawnshop.

Ah, I see. A specific poem, do you know the author?