maskormenace | 🎕 001 | [Accidental Video Post]

[The communication device flickers on with uncharacteristic static and a brief screech of feedback. It seems to have been an accident, as no one immediately addresses the network. The static clears soon enough; the device is apparently lying on its side, propped up against something, showing a darkened room, apparently a basement. There is an oddly ethereal glow in the distance that dies down, leaving the room lit only by dim light bulbs once again.]

Try it one more time [ Despite the dim lighting, Rita has no problems scribbling notes down in her book, muttering herself as she works out the formula] I need to get a better reading on your magic.

Are you sure, Rita? [Estellise seems pretty nervous about this suggestion, but soon enough, the glow from earlier starts up again. This time, unlike what had happened earlier, all of the already dim light bulbs start to flare and flicker, flashing bright, then dimming almost to nothing. In the background, something starts to beep repeatedly - a microwave trapped forever in its “ready” state, declaring its cycle over, again and again. It is joined by more malfunctioning electronic beeping, as if every device in the room chose that moment to go off; it is impossible to hear anything else over the din. The earlier glow disappears, but the chaos continues; sparks start to fly, and the sharp report of glass shattering joins the chaos as the bulbs flare and burn out explosively one after another.]

Uh, Estelle-- [Rita appreciates this fantastic display of science, but it’s hard to concentrate in the cacophony]

Rita-- I can’t make it stop--! [The last bulb bursts and there is a sudden near-total darkness and silence, seeming almost oppressive after the earlier mess, broken by the sound of a door opening; there is no light coming from upstairs either.]

RITA!

[The microwave starts up again abruptly, beeping and drowning everything out--including Flynn’s voice--until Rita notices the light on Estelle’s device]

--what the--

[and the feed abruptly shuts off]

[The feed starts up again about ten minutes later, this time with just a very ill-lit Estelle (apparently using the flashlight feature of her device at the same time), looking apologetic and more than a little bit frazzled.]

Um--! [She ducks her head in apology.] I’m so sorry for the trouble everyone--! But if there’s anyone out there who knows how to - Rita, what was it again? Oh right - rewire the electricity? I don’t really know what happened, but if anyone has the time and inclination to help, it would really be appreciated. [Bowing again] I’ll definitely compensate you for your services.

[OOC: This is a case of Estelle’s new energy-based powers going just a bit awry. Please feel free to react to any point in this post! I'm also available at

rizubee if anyone has questions.]

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

If you're sure. [Now he feels bad that she feels bad. Estelle, this is a feedback loop.]

Regardless of the circumstances, it's good to see you.

[It's just a little harder for her to get over the circumstance...] Y-yes! Um... Rita says she's been living here with you for a few weeks. How long have you been here?

A little more than four months, I think. Things have been quiet here for a while. [Before the dark times. Before Rita Mordio.]

[It's only getting worse from here, Flynn...]

Less busy than being Commandant, though, right? [You were working pretty hard there, Flynn...]

Yes, much. Honestly, at first I was a little bit relieved. But having so few useful things to do for so long is troubling in itself.

[Exactly the kind of mindset that has him cleaning up Rita's workshop compulsively and causing more explosions. Oops.]

[Actually, the more she thinks about it, the more she can see that this is an issue. Though...she'd just gotten here. Was there really anything she could do that could improve things?]

What is it you've been assigned to do here?

Ah... [Yuri laughed. Rita will definitely laugh. Estelle is too gracious, right? He shoots a vague glare in Rita's general direction just to cover his bases.]

I'm an imPort fashion commentator. What kind of job did they give you, Lady Estellise?

[Blink. Blink. Huh.] Do you have to write up your commentary or...? [You can get paid for that?]

Oh! I'm working at a store close to where I live. It's very... [hard to explain] niche? I guess?

Yes, it's posted online-- [Oh boy, there's probably a lot to explain there too.]

A store? [They gave the princess a retail job. This place is... something.] Ah... how do you like it?

[Yes please do, she's not letting you get away until she thoroughly understands the interwebs.] Does that mean I can read it too?

[Well...] It's...interesting. Definitely not something I've ever done before.

[He should definitely have seen that one coming, given Estelle and reading.] Well... Yes, I suppose. It's public. I don't think you'd find it very interesting, though.

[Unlike her job! He chuckles a little at that.] There's no shortage of new experiences here. Yuri thought you'd like it.

[Well, she's pretty sure she would, Flynn, nice try.] Why wouldn't I find it interesting?

He did?

It's-- [If he points out that it's about fashion will she assume that means he thinks she's not interested in fashion? Would that be a bad thing? Nope, he's just dodging this one altogether.]

This place in general, not your store. Well, it is pretty interesting.

[Don't think she's letting this go, Flynn...] It's 'posted online', you said? What does that mean?

I think this world is really fascinating! There are so many things that are different from Terca Lumireis, and people from so many places...

You can read it on your communicator. Actually, you can use it to look up all sorts of things. I can show you. [Starting with one of those websites with all the cat pictures, which might divert both her and Rita.]

I thought so, too.

[Okay, you can distract her for now.] On this thing? [And here's her communicator.] How?

[Diversion, resounding success. He takes the communicator, leaning closer so she can see what he's doing.]

Like this. If you press this button, it brings you here. You can type in things you want to look for in this box.

[But he's totally skipping ahead and bringing up a nice cat blog for her. Flynn Scifo, master of modern technology, defending princesses from even the terrors of the dark corners of the internet.]

[Oh no it's:] So cute! How does it know where to find these pictures and things? [Show her more!!] The device is so small...

I'm not quite sure. I think it's sorted similar to the libraries here? Results are filed with keywords, or something like that. [Please don't ask him about search algorithms, Lady Estellise, he's not there yet.]

There are larger devices that do the same thing, but the communicator is convenient.

So does this only look up pictures? How would you put things you wrote for your job onto it? Would it only work with your device?

One thing at a time. [But he's laughing a little, because of course she'd be this enthusiastic. Good distractions.]

Usually I'd use the library to write things up on a larger keyboard. It's a little difficult to type very much on something so small, anyway. And you can look up all kinds of things with it, not just pictures. It's... similar to books, although there are moving pictures as well, of course. I think you've seen a little of that from using it.

Right! All the [really interesting!] people talking about [really interesting!] all sorts of different things... So are all of them people who live here too?

[Wait back up...] You said they have things like this at the library?

Larger, but yes. Computers. Anyone can get one, but they're a little expensive, so it's easier to just use the public ones.

[Okay, so Flynn is maybe still a little bit cheap. It means he has savings for things like Rita blowing up the basement.]

'Computers'... [How is this not an expense you can write off for work, Flynn... :|]

I see. Do you think you have time to show me how one works at the library? N-not today, just...

Not today. [He looks around the dark basement in wry agreement. Honestly...]

Of course, whenever you're free.

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renamaer - 2016-08-31 15:40 (UTC) - Expand

knightunerring - 2016-09-02 21:52 (UTC) - Expand