[ The device turns on with a clatter and...purring. ]

—Hey! Cut it out-!

[ And Tyr's very annoyed voice as he tries to shoo away the two long-hair cats that are rubbing against his legs as he stands at the kitchen counter. ]

This isn't even— Sindar!

[ And a second later, another cat is plopped to the floor with the other two. ]

I don't know how Luc put up with you...

[ He finally reaches for his device to click off the feed. And probably get back to making breakfast. ]

[It's Charlie's rooftop garden again. She's watered it, removed dying leaves, straightened it up and now she and Petrichor are sitting on one of the chairs. The cat is staring at Charlie's hand expectantly, wiggling in place and with the way Charlie's hand is bent, it's almost as if he thinks maybe he's expecting food.

There's no food in it, though. From the angle of the camera, Charlie's face isn't visible. It's just her from the waist down, the device set somewhere nearby. Petrichor's paw stretches out, tapping Charlie's hand with a faint mew as he looks at her again.]

What?

[Another meow, louder, and now Petrichor has both paws on Charlie's hand, sniffing her fingers before sitting and meowing again.]

I dunno what you want, Petrichor. [Hear that? That's a ton of teasing in Charlie's voice and even the cat seems to know this because he meows again, more insistent and Charlie lets out a huff of a laugh.]

Alright, alright.

[Charlie's arm drops over the side of the ground, just barely brushing the surface and her fingers move like she's going to snap. She does but there's the added bonus of a few sparks flying from her fingers and this was apparently what the cat wanted. The sparks skitter harmlessly and the cat chases them until they die out.

Charlie reaches for the device and turns it to herself.]

Since this thing's turned itself on, I have a question. Does anyone know where I can go to practice my ability safely? Just wondering.

[[ooc; italics is an always will be Jast 'speaking' in birdsong. Check out these permissions please!]]


[This is not a boy who knows technology well. He and a pair of sparrows are, in fact, poking at the device from where it lies in the grass with a sense of uneasy mistrust. One of the sparrow's beaks clicks off of the screen, and the boy gives a little bird trill, brushing some of his wild black hair out of his eyes. Both birds look up at him attentively in response, flapping their wings. The boy's mouth twitches to the side.]

H-hello...? [He stutters slightly, and then makes a soft humming noise.] Hm. I... Am far from... far from where. [This is nerve wracking for him, and it shows on his face, his hands twisting between his knees.] Far from w-where I was.

[Several more birds gather around him, drawn by his unhappiness and clearly there for moral support.]

If... if you have. Hm. Need? Of my help, I am here.

[He heaves a heavy sigh, glad to have gotten that out, and he's quiet for a moment before he adds a string of whistles and chirps. The little song is too quick and layered for the device to translate, but for those who understand it...]

I am a servant to the earth and the wind, to all those beauties of existence, please call upon me should the tides turn dark, I am here to kneel before you and to sing my prayers.

[His expression is shy, but smiling faintly. His introductions are done, he's going to go frolic in the grass and play with the birds now.]

So. It looks like I'm stuck here for... I don't know. Could be a while. I haven't had a flatemate since university, but it's starting to look like that might be a good idea. Does anyone need anyone? Or know anyone? I like to think I'm pretty easy to live with. Sometimes I leave towels lying around, things like that, but on the whole I'm not too bad.

I'm unemployed at the moment... but if anyone needs a business analyst, I'm pretty good at that. Just let me know if you see any openings. I haven't found out whether they have a job centre here yet.

[VOICE]

Though much is taken, much abides; and though
We are not now that strength which in old days
Moved earth and heaven; that which we are, we are;
One equal temper of heroic hearts,
Made weak by time and fate, but strong in will
To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.

The first thing I ever said on the Network, three years ago, was a line from Tennyson's Ulysses; that's the end of the poem. It's still one of my favorites, even now. It reminds me of home, but of the City too; even if we have nowhere, here, to travel, some work of noble note remains. There are always new things to be seen.

Sometimes it seems like I've lived here much longer than I have; we've seen and done and known so much, I can't imagine how it's all happened in only a few years. Other times it feels like no time has passed at all. Three years; a handful of plays; hundreds of books, I'm sure; and dozens of people I never could have met, anywhere else.

I'm glad to be here. I always will be, no matter what.

I take it we are no longer as eager to impress the world today. Though, I really must applaud the energy I witnessed before. It was very refreshing, to be sure.

Let us all hope we can find a way to apply it to other areas now that the curse is finished.


( Filtered to Riffael, Jezebel, and Aion )